harry and meghan

Prince Harry’s Swag, Serena Williams’ Bag and Other Stories of Fame & Fortune That Put a Spell on Fans

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The redhead’s in the building! When Prince Harry and Meghan arrived for the ESPYs, it turned a few heads. They were in town as Harry was being presented with the Pat Tillman Award for service. Tillman lost his life on the battlefield. After the events on 9/11, he decided to quit everything to serve his country.

In a sense, Harry’s story got a similar thread. He decided after the events surrounding his mother Princess Diana’s death, that when the time was right, he’d quit his Monarchy duties for a different career & life track. Maybe his upbringing of royalty and privilege was holding him back from living his best life.

Serena Williams Stylings

From the other side of the tracks, there’s Serena Williams who served as host for the TV broadcast. Hers is a more ‘rags to riches’ story. Growing up in Compton with her sister Venus, they started playing tennis at a young age. Daddy Williams saw it as a way for them to change the trajectory of their lives.

Williams has become bosom buddies with Harry and Meghan. She attended their wedding and reportedly gave Meghan a baby shower. Williams has had an impressive tennis career with record-breaking feats. Harry has turned the corner from military man to public figure and champion for veterans causes.

The Invictus Games, which he helped launch 10 years ago, is a kinda lifeline for those who were injured in combat. So, the Pat Tillman Awards he saw as an honor on behalf of those who benefit from his life’s work. It’s as if Harry, Williams and other celebs have a way of putting a spell on fans in areas of:

  • Sports:- As one of the most appealing displays of passion, sports is where teamwork comes alive. The lessons easily translate to work, play and the everyday. Even if you’re not good at a sport, there’s still the excitement of sports that gets our juices flowing.
  • Public Good:- When Harry met Meghan, it was while on a service assignment. He realized she had similar intentions and aspirations so their hearts would beat faster and grow closer. It wasn’t love at first sight but sounds like it was love at first kiss which sealed their shared purpose.
  • Enterprise:- Now that she’s retired from tennis, Williams is doing big things in philanthropy and commercial ventures. With a people focus, she’s got her hands in the pot of investing in other entrepreneurs and branding her net worth. Sista got the frame, fame and game for any court.  
  • Lifestyle & Legacy:- As she rolls out new products and prospects, her on-the-court personality got transferred to her fierce biz sense. Whether it’s in launching a new company or marketing her own fashion/makeup line, she’s ready for any red-carpet runway or corporate boardroom.  

What makes Williams and Harry such a treat for fans? In one sense, we saw them grow up right before our eyes. We think we can relate to any mistakes they’ve made or the gambles they’ve played. For Williams her ‘rags to riches’ story is truly amazing. For Harry, his royalty & privilege breakout is inspiring.

Prince Harry Receives Award

Some think Harry’s swag had the Palace tied-up in knots. When he chose to step away, they didn’t think he had options. With her new Netflix special ‘In the Arena’, Williams’ journey and her father teaching himself tennis to then train his girls for the next level, dem dollaz made she gonna throw it in the bag.

Talkback: What stories capture folks’ interest and money most: royalty & privilege or rags to riches?

Tip: You don’t have to be a celeb to put a spell on folks by how you flex passion and flash personality.

Tracks: Fabolous ft The Dream – throw it in the Bag – https://youtu.be/zJOeXh6HyvU?si=KgKwtLc57GY6RR8x

Pitbull & Stephen Marley – Options – https://youtu.be/xALCpLXcIYY?si=J7qLaF0ibh9GLKWS

Oprah and Tim Cook: Two Master Leaders Working with Others to Turn Personal Crossroads or Career Setbacks into Life Skills for the Ages

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This isn’t a sequel, but it might as well be now that the Oprah interview with Harry and Meghan has landed. The much-anticipated sit-down with them had its share of ‘ooh and ahh’ moments. Oprah is known to celebrate aha moments too, but those will come later as she reads the media tea leaves.

Then there’s the story of Malala Yousafzai who is now a college graduate and working her way into the biz world. She’s teamed-up with AppleTV+ and CEO Tim Cook in developing human-interest stories that bring hope and connects with hearts. Malala sees him as a mentor and he sees her as a walking miracle.

The Orpah interview attracted 17 million viewers. That’s just for starters as folks who missed it are likely to stream it. The ‘tea spills and bombshell kills’ from them has royal watchers gasping for air. But there’s a growing divide between those who think they were brave and those who think it was attention crave.

In Malala, Cook sees someone who has already created a shift in her home country. It’s the kind thing where “if people can see it then they can believe it even more.” That’s what Malala represents to girls in her recovery for near human tragedy. If was a kind of personal crossroads that she had to face head on.

With Harry and Meghan, it’s confusing if they left the Palace or the Palace left them. He gave up his military role and lost his royal title. She gave up her partnership with his many causes. But once folks get pass the Palace intrigue and tabloid drama, their life skills lessons for the ages include what they:  

  • Learn

How they got here isn’t just about what happened to them, but also what happened in them. For Harry it’s probably what he learned watching how his mother was treated when he was a child. For Malala it’s in how she found strength, courage and wisdom during recovery, even with the threat of further harm.  

  • Share

Meghan tried to dance a delicate balance in what she shared and how she dropped some nuggets. Those nuggets provided insight but might even bring some foresight for how she plans to make a difference from the experience. Sometimes what we share is invaluable, especially for others in the same boat.        

  • Plant

Everyone understands the idea of “you reap what you sow.” But the pain of loneliness that Meghan mentioned isn’t something she brought on herself. Nor were the multiple surgeries that Malala had to go through. They’re turning those personal crossroads and career setbacks into a bigger field of dreams.    

  • Sell

At the top of the interview, Oprah made clear that they weren’t getting paid for the ‘tell-all.’ But that’s not where the story ends. She asked Meghan how she plans to apply lessons learned to the company they formed. Her answer of “using the company to capture stories” wasn’t only a tell but also a sell.  

The total footage of the interview was three hours plus. They had to pare it down to around 80 minutes. There’s probably other stuff that didn’t make it to the highlight reel but might be important life lessons on how to heal. How they get there is as much about feelings of melancholy and not to sweat the technique.              

Tip: How we move past personal crossroads and career setbacks might mean handling feelings of melancholy and working through things but not sweat the small stuff.

Talkback: What was the most surprising bombshell from the Meghan & Harry interview?

Tracks: Nailah Blackman  – Melancholy – https://youtu.be/qsu1rYipDOU

Eric B & Rakim  – Don’t Sweat the Technique – https://youtu.be/6Y1Emb7Jyks

Queen Latifah and Naomi Osaka Might Not Have Royalty in their Veins But They Have Star Power in Their Gains

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The first big celeb interview of the year is set! As Oprah plans to do a sit-down with Harry and Meghan, word is their royal titles and privileges will no longer go with them. They’ll be on their own in how they’re seen in the eyes of celebrity, aristocracy and world diplomacy. But that’s not slowing them down.

Meanwhile, the comeback stories of Queen Latifah and Naomi Osaka have also got folks buzzing. Latifah who’s seen her career go through twists and turns is now back on TV, with 20+ million who watched her debut on The Equalizer. It’s a first to have a woman as the lead for that showbiz franchise.

Not sure how many eyeballs watched the Australian Open in tennis, but Osaka put on a show in winning her fourth grand slam championship. The win moved her up to the #2 spot in the rankings. It also put her in the company of a handful of tennis pros who’ve won at least that many majors.

Latifah’s career has spanned entertainment from music to sitcoms to her talk show to the big screen. She’s gone full circle in now starring in her latest project. Osaka has gone through some circles of her own where she showed signs of being a rising star and then had a few “crash and burn” moments.

They credit bounceback-ability to having folks in their corner who keep them lifted but at the same time grounded. They seem to have a similar fierceness where even while they don’t have royalty in their veins, they have star power in their gains. They wrap their magic on the screen or on the court around their:             

  • First love

Latifah says she gets to do some of the stunts in the show. But when it gets to the really crazy stuff she leaves that to the experts. What she’s excited about is how the role draws on her skillset and experience over the years. She gets to ride a motorcycle which is one of those ‘first loves’ she had in younger days.

  • Comfort zone

Osaka shared how she’s seen able to maintain poise under pressure. At the young age of 23, she’s got a lot in her view and expectations on her shoulder. She’s gotten to a point of being comfortable in what she can do on the court while stepping outside of her comfort zone in how she sheds light on social issues.          

  • Drive lane

In sports, athletes have a way of figuring out their ‘drive lane.’ It’s where they can make a move to change the game or dominate the moment. It’s a special effort or effect that puts their passion on full display. Well, when Osaka can up her game with big serves and powerful groundstrokes, she’s in her drive lane.   

  • Inner Strength

Both can give you that bright smile on the outside with turnt-up firepower on the inside. It’s a kinda yin and yang that they seem to balance in their work, play and around the way. They have an easy-going personality but when the game’s on the line they can turn off the charm and deliver the swarm.

Latifah says one of the things that helps her in those kick-butt scenes is the music playing in the background. She gets into a rhythm and tries to step to the groove as she connects the blows. They’re both enjoying the roles they play in being seen as bad to the bone but like royalty on the throne.           

Tip: How you wrap your magic around your passion and purpose will help determine your rise & shine and your claim to fame.

Talkback: Will Harry and Meghan be able to move on from royalty without a penalty?

Tracks: Protoje Ft Popcaan  – Like Royalty – https://youtu.be/WFxyPB_LcBA

George Thorogood  – Bad to the Bone – https://youtu.be/MAb81olgCNs