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No Time Like the Present to Reinvent Yourself

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BY KEISHA JOHNSON

Someone recently posted an XFactor USA video on my FB feed of an unusual competitor. Asked why she was there, Lillie McCloud told the judges, “To win, this is my time,” she said. “I have waited for a long time for this opportunity.”

Seemingly not a day shy of twenty four years old, Lillie McCloud left the judges and audience dumbfounded when she disclosed she was fifty four, a mother of three and grandmother of seven.

Touched to the core and tearful after Lillie’s stirring rendition of Cece Winan’s Alabaster Box, the audience rose in a standing ovation. Simon Cowell, himself a little lachrymose, confessed he had never heard the song before.

“Where have you been, where have you been hiding?” an emotional judge Kelly Rowland asked of Lillie while wiping tears from her eyes.

Thirty years after her debut album in the 1980’s, Lillie had brought to the X Factor an undeniable gift of connecting with the soul of an audience through her voice.

She had always wanted to be a popular singer. Had actually launched her singing career in the 80’s, made albums, been on tours and started to garner a following, but never quite made it. As family came along she said she gave them priority because she wanted to be present for her children.

“Maybe I feel like your time wasn’t supposed to happen until now,” another X Factor judge commented.

This story is three years old, but still very current not for the entertainment value, but because Lillie demonstrated the kind of courage and determination that is required to pursue a dream after setbacks and even after a lifetime has passed.

In our society, the number of persons transitioning into retirement (age 65) is at its highest ever, currently representing 16% of the population and projected to grow to 20.1%  by 2024 according to Statistics Canada. “In 2014/2015, the growth rate of the population aged 65 years and older was 3.5%, approximately four times the growth rate of the total population.”

Among many baby boomers like Lillie there is an anxiety about the future and what value or contribution they can continue to make in our ever transient society.

This reality is even more daunting because for many retirees, their nest egg is insufficient to sustain them in retirement, suggesting that a significant number of boomers will have to again seek gainful employment.

If you find yourself in such a time of transition, like Lillie McCloud, embrace this change as a second chance and the opportune time to make your mark with what you’ve always wanted to do and not done.

Lillie at age fifty four, like Colonel Saunders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at age sixty five; Julia Child, first woman to host a popular TV cooking show at age fifty one in the 1960s; Noah Webster, creator of Webster American Dictionary at age sixtty six and so many other ‘late bloomers’, remind us that it is never too late to pursue your passion and be successful at it as long as you are willing to be open, to realign, reinvent yourself and forge ahead.

Lillie’s story also reminds me that there is a time and place for everything. Although life may have seemingly detoured you from your desired career or dream, it doesn’t mean your dream will never become your reality – if you do not give up but pursue it.

Despite the many setbacks throughout Col. Saunders’s life for example, including divorce, multiple career changes and losing his livelihood, to surviving on a security check and meager savings for a while, he remained resilient.

He would retool, from gaining a law degree via a correspondence course and seeking mentors before he practiced law, to completing a restaurant and hotel management course when he decided to pursue this later line of business.

Today KFC has outlived the Colonel and remains hugely successful with over 18,000 locations in 115 countries. In fact in 1988 Col. Saunders sold KFC for $2 million in addition to negotiating a reasonable annual lifetime income from it.

As I watched Lillie progress through the rounds on the X Factor, it was amazing how every week she had to adjust and apply herself to remain current with a much younger voting audience. And each time she nailed it.

I learned that she didn’t win the competition. She made it to the top eight but even then her parting words were, “I learned a lot…. God knows what he is doing.” She has since launched two albums and is pursuing her music career.

Lillie McCloud’s story like Colonel Saunders assures us that there is hope for everyone who dares to persist and take a step of faith even after years of delay. So whatever your age, guard your dream. The journey to it may be winding, arduous and even long, but to never give up is the secret of glory.

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

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Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

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Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

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BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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