Tag Archives: Blogging

Why Did I Stop Writing?

Posted in Empowerment by

Woooooosahhhhhhh! Ok this is what happened. I didn’t stop writing, I wrote every night in my journal. Writing is soothing to me, it’s like making love when the pen touches the paper and your hands just glide over as you write (hopeless romantic here lol). Anyways, I just needed a year to be selfish and focus on me #selfishNat. I needed a year to experience life, a year where I didn’t feel guilty saying no to people, events and much more.

I needed to make sure that my cup was full before I ran out to help someone else without being drained. I needed my M.I.A session which included not picking up texts/calls from family/ friends (my squad was not having that). I needed a year to being fully honest with myself, my mistakes my actions, my failures, my past. I needed a year to fully immerse myself in everything Nat (my spirituality, dance, books, monthly massage session, full on Bob Marley, Daniel Caesar, Kompa concerts in my room, love,sunflowers everywhere and more). I needed a year to fully speak my mind and communicate my thoughts and feelings. I needed a year to be PROPERLY Dicked Down* by someone .

Gosh I know, you were not expecting that. This might be new to you, but to close friends I am known as the Queen of TMI  or Ms. Ray Charles to BS.

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But as I was saying, I needed a year to preserve my energy, to live in the moment and a time to plan for the future and I got that and more!

This self discovery I experienced in 2018 was scary. I mean gosh where do I start. I wrote down what I wanted out of the year which meant working on myself both physically and mentally. So going to the gym 3 times a week was the first task I had to tackle, and because my gym was 4 minutes away I had no excuses not to be there.
Once that started, it helped me become disciplined in so many areas of my life; professionally and mentally. I mean, who voluntarily wakes up for a 6 am gym session to run and do burpees? On many occasions every time my 5 am alarm rang I felt like throwing up, but I owed myself this consistency and sacrifice so I got up.

I also made it my duty to become financially educated and that was a huge check on my bucket list. So now we are investing, taking risks and shit.

I took the time to focus on my career as well. Recently got promoted to Senior Recruiter at my firm, exceeding my own expectations and more. I was even was featured on Black Enterprise Magazine giving out tips on how to negotiate salaries.

But most importantly I made it my mission to love myself moreeeeeeeeee. I never really had an issue loving myself but when life hits you with individuals and experiences that make you DOUBT yourself, it easy to go on into your little corner and question your worth. Yeah Buddy, not happening AGAIN. With that being said: loving myself instantly brought people into my life that SHOWED me the love I always wanted and deserved.

Spiritually, I became more connected to my body and my higher self. And in many instances God tested me and I did not like it.

Also, I started writing down five things I was grateful for every day. This little task quickly reminded me of how blessed I was. In addition to that, one night after a long day of work, I found myself in a deep conversation with my Uber driver… go figure. He made me realize how wealthy I am to be alive. He told me “Madame, you know you’re worth more than 4 million dollars?… your heart is valued at 1.4MM, your lungs $400,000, and so forth. So Madame, know your worth and take care of your body.” A bit puzzled by his statement, I went on to find an article explaining the prices of human organs and was in disbelief.  Check it out yourself

So, I know you signed up for a career-oriented blog and here I am divulging my personal life and all. I spent the past 4 years interviewing professionals about their lives and careers, and last year I  decided to turn the mic on myself. With that being said, there isn’t a word or a thing that you can tell me about myself that I don’t already know; the good and the bad habits.

So cheers to loving and forgiving. To growing financially and dancing like no one is watching, to having breakfast at Soho House and running naked in The Hampton’s! Cheers to living.

Welcome to my Freshman year of Life2.0

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmM_pEUguHV/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1c4z9ov9iozid

PS. Shout out to my tribe, my group chats for being a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and a supportive loving family and calling me out on my BS. I love you!<3

On The Rise: Ayana Iman

Posted in Career, Empowerment, Life after., On The Rise by

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Around this time last year I stumbled across an article titled Letting Go: I Quit My Job” as I was on my way home from work. Not wanting to miss the context, I held my phone tightly and searched for a nearby bench to digest every word the author Ayana Iman penciled down.  She was very clear on why following her own happiness was more important than clocking in. Since then, I have been a supporter of this amazing soul who  whose risk taking abilities has open new door of opportunities. Let’s find out more about Ayana Iman below.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Ayana Iman, I’m a 25-year-old professional speaker and aspiring life coach. I am the mother of one, a beautiful three-year-old girl named Ayo, the joy of my life. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Strategic Communications. My professional goals include creating a conference in 2018 for the expansion of #AuthenticConvos, and helping 100,000 people cultivate an attitude of gratitude

Where were you 6 months after college?

6-months after undergrad, I was fired from my first post-graduate job and on the verge of becoming homeless. Soon after, I found out I was pregnant. Let’s just say the top of the year; including graduation, a great internship and travel were a stark difference than how it ended.

You launched an e-book on gratitude last year, how important is it to be grateful?

It’s very important to be grateful, especially because it is the starting point of all abundance. Gratitude remains when happiness fades, it keeps us present and allows us to experience some joy. It is the same reason my current situation looks completely different than 4 years ago. Instead of focusing on lack, I looked at the areas I was abundant, from the love of my family to my health; it all played a role in my progression.

54c1bb94-bc3a-42ff-81e6-9e09491ee16bYou are a serial entrepreneur, how do you stay on top of things while managing your personal life?

I am still in the beginning stages of my career building a foundation and learning how to become a successful entrepreneur. However, being busy comes with the territory, and I prioritize my time with my family, especially my daughter and boyfriend. They are very involved with my projects so it makes it easier to manage my personal life.

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I Get it from my Mama: 12 Things I’ve Learned from Her

Posted in Life after. by


I get it from my MAMA! Her smile, her walk and her intelligence. As we spend today celebrating our mothers, I want to take this time to highlight a few things I’ve learned from watching my mother work her magic over the years.

1. Dance when you’re happy, dance when you’re sad.

Dancing is rejuvenating and I’m glad my mother taught me how to move my feet. When was the last time you came across an angry dancer!? Think about it

2. Treat everyone equally and with respect.

I mean from the President to the homeless, everyone deserves respect because everyone is a human being.

3. Have 1 on 1 time with God.

I was raised in a religious home. However, my encounter with God didn’t really take place until I was in my late teens; that’s when I realized that I was not in control of my life as I thought I was. Whenever I’m in doubt, I just reach for my Bible just like she taught me.

4. Be Grateful and don’t  apologize for your blessing.

Know when to say please and thank you. My mother has taught me, that no matter how big or small the gesture may be, you must always say thank you.

5. Tunnel Vision 

She’s always reminded my sister and I to focus on what we’re doing, and not what everyone else is doing.

6. Have YOU Time

Treat yourself, take care of yourself and make sure you enjoy your company. If you don’t, who will?

7. Sacrifice is part of Life

I’ve watched this woman go from having an Engineering Degree, a successful  career in NGO’s, and switch over to the Medical field when we moved back to the States.  She manages to keep both her professional and  family life in line. She’s always been about the next move and as I’m writing this, she’s currently planning her Bakery Business Plan. (Need I say more?)

8. Be Optimistic

No matter how bad things may seem, there is always a new day around the corner.

9. Wear the dress, don’t let the dress wear you.

It doesn’t matter if you bought the most expensive outfit or the cheapest, it all depends on how you let your personality shine through it.

10. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Both my parents believed in me and taught me to believe in myself and I love them for that. When I had trouble in school, my mother found a way for me to remember my citations by singing them to me.

11. Do not let anyone else dictate your happiness.

“Nope not even your mama!” she will say.

12. Be Classy at All Times

When people compliment me on my sense of fashion, ambition, poise and craziness, I say thank you but in reality, I want to tell them to thank my mother and all the beautiful women that raised me.  From time to time I would peruse her album and get ideas, asking her,  “ Why didn’t you save these dresses for me?”

A holiday cannot begin to compensate for all the sacrifices our mothers have made, so remember to always celebrate your loved ones, not just on holidays but everyday.