Month: October 2017

Serena Williams, Jennifer Lopez: Found Love on a Two-Way Street and New Dreams on the Big Stage

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The baseball World Series is here and fans are psyched. Often seen as America’s pastime, the players look forward to starring in their October surprise. Those times can be some of the most excitement-filled highlights in sports. They leave a lasting feeling of working, playing and rising to the occasion.

Serena Williams and Jennifer Lopez are two ladies who have a knack for big moments. Recently, they’ve found love on a two-street and keep striving for new game & dreams on the big stage. Williams found hers giving birth to her first child. She’s also looking to return to the pro tennis circuit early next year.

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Word is J-Lo’s making plans to move in with former baseball slugger A-Rod. After organizing fundraising efforts for Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief, she’s ready to share more love and affection at home. With Williams it’s a focus at home and on the court while for Lopez it’s one of taking care of home and abroad.

When you think about their rise up the ranks it’s on different career tracks. But they might share similar things about achieving new game at work, play and the everyday. Plus, they know when you dare to dream you learn the greatest lessons from having more empowering moments in the daily grind of life.

It’s the kind of aha you might get from watching an Oprah Super Soul Sunday. She’s good on interviewing guests who help us bring more awareness from things we go through. What you’ll find common in those stories as well as that of Williams and Lopez is how they impress with talent and express with gift.

People have been following the journeys of Williams and Lopez from the streets of Compton and blocks of the Bronx. As they found their ‘it’ factor they developed talent into their ‘hit factor.’ Williams became a star on the tennis court. Lopez as a performer became more than just eye-candy on TV & movie screens.

Where their current work is taking them now is to a new level in ‘grand – slam – glam’ for social causes they champion. From a Super Soul viewpoint it’s creating personal/professional flow in the work you do as a calling, on purpose and with passion. This raises your degree of shine as you express with your gift.

In my own ‘journey of love’ at home and in biz I realized why calling, purpose and passion help us make a difference. Think of ‘calling’ as the way you make ‘Big G-o-d’ look good. Purpose is how you serve some earthly good. And passion is how you ‘do you’ as people say about Williams or Lopez ‘damn she’s good!’

Said one way, “you can’t get much more ‘gooder’ than that!” It’s how we reach towards being our best self. On the tennis court Serena brings passion in every swing. On the recent telethon we watched J-Lo bring purpose to the relief efforts. And in serving with their presence or essence they reflect true calling.

Williams and Lopez know the importance of working on their game. Fans at the recent Brooklyn concert saw Lopez perform on stage in full-effect mode. Seeing Williams back on the court again will sure be exciting from watching her juices flow. Rising to the occasion can come with such memorable moments.

Tip: Some of the most empowering moments in the daily grind come from how we impress with our talents and express with our gifts.

Talkback: What about J-Lo for the Superbowl halftime show?

Tracks: India Arie – Do You – https://youtu.be/qXpaJMg3q8I

Pressure – Love and Affection – https://youtu.be/KHVQVVNmh1U

Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson Describe What They Did to ‘Bring It’ Which Helped Them Move into the Spotlight

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The Forbes list of ‘Top 400’ richest people in America is out. Guess who’s again #1? It’s not someone in real estate. Instead you might be reading this from a Microsoft-powered gizmo he made famous. Then there’re those on the list who’ve made their names in the retail, media, and financial services sectors.

Going from ‘loss to boss’ is something they may have experienced. Along the way they figured-out how to find their power, turn the tide, shift their stride and rock a new pride. That’s true for Gabrielle Union & Taraji P Henson as their careers and dreams look to celebrate with a toast; wine or champagne anyone?

They describe what they did to ‘bring it’ which helped move them into the spotlight. Union is on a book tour talking about going beyond the bumps and stumps. For Henson, it’s been a journey of believing and delivering the goods in ways that when she looks back she might say to self “I always knew I could.”

It’s kinda like now you see them and then you see them even more. They’re in a zone for sure that has something to do with more than their celebrity. They’re bringing it like an athlete who’s got things working in his or her favor. The ball just responds to their every move. The effort seems to roll in a good groove.

Their stories of ‘pomp and circumstance’ are the lessons that got turned into blessings. Union spent her early years as a modeling agency intern. That helped open the doors to her passion and ‘sista girl’ appeal. While it seems to some like they’ve taken us by storm, they’re really becoming a market force.

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At times it took meeting the right people and getting the right breaks to move them into the spotlight. But in between those times, it took powering their game the way we charge our devices. They made themselves plug-compatible to career situations that would either make that money or break that barrier.

Union has been sharing her personal take on some of the social issues of our time. But she’s also been giving us a peak into her infertility struggles. Henson spent some time sharing the loss of her long-time pet. But it’s the parts of their stories that hit dead center that can be a charging source to push us further.

I remember years ago when a co-worker shared feedback that hit me dead center. It took a while to get what they were saying with these words: ‘You’re good at speaking to and speaking through people.’ That comment was a great charging source on my journey. Since then I’ve been using it to power my dreams.

Plus, the feedback put things on a course where I’d ‘bring it’ with a new flow. I’d see how going through the motion wasn’t enough for a promotion. There’s a time for going through the motion just like there’s a time to blink. But Union and Henson saw how to turn their flow into a source, a force and showbiz course.

They might tell us what work, play and everyday are about. It’s starting off sexy, keeping things alive and doing their best to strive. When it’s all said and done we may remember a line from their movies. But the things that tend to move us most are people’s storylines of doing something brave or achieving the rave.

Tip: Making work, play & the everyday come alive is about doing something brave or achieving the rave.

Talkback: What’s the part of their story that hits you dead center?

Tracks: Chaka Khan – Keep Your Head Up – https://youtu.be/88DS-T7Ypa4

Neyo – Champagne Life – https://youtu.be/gqayCgvI_uI

Eminem and U.S. Soccer’s Christian Pulisic Bring Their Star Power and American Dream to a New Level of GB – ‘Game Bonafide’

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Wait, how’m I gonna start this blog? That’s a question that gets asked every week. With so much to write about in celebrity pop it’s a matter of bringing the right vibe. It makes sense then how Eminem would start his freestyle rap that way. For him it’s a case of lyrical content with the right touch of street cred.

When it comes to US Men’s Soccer star Christian Pulisic some say he’s got next. Not in the rap game but as the face of the game. It’s true, professional dreams in the biz world don’t all take rap skills or great foot-work. But there’s usually something that moves star power to a new level of GB – ‘Game Bonafide.’

That’s kinda what went down with Eminem’s rap cypher on the BET Awards. Some think he’s on a comeback after being off the radar for a minute. He’s not retired, he’s just re-wired. Maybe this says something about what happens when your flow gets bumped. Things either become a hit or take a hit.

In political terms it’s said that after a good debate performance a candidate is likely to get a ‘bump’ in their poll numbers. It usually means more people are feeling the message or the messenger. That happens in how they might make a strong point or deliver a wow-like performance.

Folks are raving on social media how Eminem did that. He brought strong points and a wow performance that left memorable moments. He even shows how to move your career track or biz dream forward by having a spinoff of your vision. Shady hasn’t let his mojo get stumped or his mass-appeal get dumped.

It’s interesting that his rap cypher is called ‘The Storm.’ That’s a metaphor of-course for the current political climate. But it might also be how Pulisic and his teammates are feeling after not qualifying for the soccer World Cup. If they could have even pulled-out a draw in the match they would have advanced.

Soccer federation honchos are probably looking at how they’ll ‘right the ship’ after the disappointment. It’s like when a biz dream or project team goes through some kind of setback. Who knows if it’s just a matter of taking care of the little things that has had Eminem staying low. But now he’s back for another go.

One of the biggest setbacks in my dream journey was while hosting a community radio show on a college station. It was in year five as things were coming together. Then one morning some dude shuts down the power while I’m on air. It was where I not only took a hit but decided I was no longer gonna take that..

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Pulisic might be having a similar ‘sick feeling’ right now. The sting of disappointment is sometimes felt for a while. But there’s something that happens in those down times that moves things from the brink to a place of clearer think. Plus, it’ll pave the way for Pulisic to bring more edge to his game as with Eminem.

In pro sports you hear players being sent down to the minor leagues or brought up from the practice squad. Those who’re sent back have things to work on while those brought up are ready for the big-times. But along the way you’ll either take a hit or become a hit especially when you put your dreams on the line.

Tip: As you upgrade the flow in your career or dreams you’ll either take a hit or become a hit.

Talkback: How’d you describe the edge that Eminem or Pulisic bring to make them ‘Game Bonafide?’

Tracks: Beyoncé ft Jay-Z – Upgrade U – https://youtu.be/6nr8hPnZfMU

Pitbull ft Flo Rida, LunchMoney Lewis – Greenlight – https://youtu.be/R7xbhKIiw4Y

Jennifer Hudson & Yara Shahidi, Doing a New Thing and New Show With Fresh Brand Appeal for Real

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Did you catch that photobomb moment with fans of the Voice? A few friends were hanging out and taking pictures in the spinning chairs used by the judges. Then out of nowhere Jimmy Fallon and Miley Cyrus worked their way into the picture. It was one of those ‘star struck’ moments those fans weren’t expecting.

This season the newest Voice judge is Jennifer Hudson. During blind auditions she’s busy building-up her team. Meanwhile Black-ish star Yara Shahidi is building on her dream. Hudson is doing a new thing and Shahidi is doing a new show called Grown-ish. These gigs are giving them fresh brand appeal for real.

They’re also finding ways to up-tick their passion and up-level their game. Hudson is flexing her singing chops as she looks to mentor a new crop of emerging talent. Shahidi is off to college as a Harvard freshman. She wants to keep the acting thing going as she continues towards higher learning.

It didn’t take Hudson long to learn the rules of the road and it won’t take Shahidi long either in her new role. For Hudson it’s in how she’s been able to unlock the flow and handle the nitty gritty of the show. In business and the work world that also means being able to make things stick, click or do the trick.

Most of us have had to open a new tube of glue by removing the seal and unlocking the cap. Then you’ve got to press to get the glue flowing. Depending on what’s being glued you’ll also have to press the sides together. Whether it’s with doing finger nails or working career trails we’ve gotta press and then press on.

In one sense Hudson’s story is one of having to press on to the mark of a higher calling. Even though she was cut before the finale during her time on American Idol she’s gone on to win Grammys and Tonys. She went through a painful period of losing her mother to violence and has gained a greater anointing.

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For Shahidi as a Black Girls Rock recipient, her college and career moves are more like pressing on to gain a higher standing. She’s ready to spread her wings and do even bigger things. She’ll have lots of material to work with as she begins doing the Grown-ish TV shoot and building on her career routes.

Their road to a higher anointing or professional top-ranking reminds me of my own journey. There’ve been setbacks and disappointments. I sometimes liken my journey to the ‘Joseph’ story. As with Joseph I’ve learned to press on thru whatever comes my way and discover what my life’s purpose has to say.

As Hudson brings her passion she’s gonna add more soul in how she rolls. We’ve seen it on Idol, Broadway and the pop concert stage. With Shahidi’s next move to raise her game it will bring new life experiences. She’s already shown her maturity and command for social issues to be well beyond her age.

When passion and purpose come together or set it off, it makes things click. Oftentimes it happens on the dream side the way you open a safe. Life turns things one way, then another way until you find the right way for your efforts to do the trick. That’s what makes the rewards glorious so you just ‘gots make it!’

Tip: We get career awards and personal rewards in how we unlock the talent & passion flow to make things stick, click or do the trick.

Talkback: How does it feel to see sistas like JHUD and Yara shine on the big stage?

Tracks: Trey Songz ft Twista – Gotta Make it – https://youtu.be/x7I-GOcPo64

Macklemore ft Skylar Grey – Glorious – https://youtu.be/7OrLroFa0AI