 Self-care has become a bit "on trend" and a buzz word lately. But what does it even mean? And if you're like me, and back in graduate school, what does it even look like?
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I can’t tell you how many times I get “How long have you been writing?”, You’re such a good writer”, “You are so bold”, “You write with so many emotions”, or a whole lot of… “How should I write my personal statement?”
Personal statement. In reality, we take everything else personal...but with a pen to paper, we never want to get down and dirty about ourselves. It’s hard. Kinda like going to therapy, no one actually wants to write into their wounds...or wrack their brains with “Why am I doing this?”...or share how a potential opportunity fits into their dream. Their REAL dream. Because in doing so, you must expose some sort of vulnerability. You must bleed love, pain, guilt, regret, and/or hope into 500-1,000 words and wait. Wait for whoever is on the other side of the paper to like your statement enough to say “Yes”. Or wait for whatever version of yourself is needed if they say “No.” Some will write for the sake of just listing accomplishments, whether for a prospective employer or university. A resume bottled up in a page or two that shows moments and reasons why you deserve a spot. And that’s cool. But what about your story? What about the trials that made you? The sacrifices that starved you? The experiences that you will never forget. What about...YOU? It goes without saying the road to success is not easy. There is the first walk...the first crawl..the first time you run. And then...whether or not you'll be able to keep a sprint? Will you burn out fast and stumble? Will you get back up and run again? The stops, turns, and climbs to our goals is nothing but hard. And if you're a cycle breaker? Even Harder. Breaking chains you didn't choose to be in. Accomplishing new "firsts" in your family. It's all a part...of your marathon. And as one of my favorite rapper's, the late and GREAT Nipsey Hussle stated....the marathon don't stop. And neither did Dr. Keiko Cooley. In this Q&A, we won't talk about from "rags to riches" or "trials TO triumph" ...because we know now our journeys are simultaneously filled with both...and never one without the other. So, instead we will learn about Dr. Cooley, or Dr. KC as I'll now be calling her, her own marathon to becoming a physician, the race along the way, and just how far she was willing to run. Welcome, Dr. KC!
 If you're thinking about creating another stream of income outside of your day job, you're not alone. In fact, nearly 57 million people in the United States (US) alone, have one (Forbes 2020). We're all just trying to go get it...whatever "it" is. Whether it's hustlin' for generational wealth, pursuing multiple passions, or pursuing creative outlets...side hustles offer benefits that every woman should want- 1) ownership and accountability, 2) new skills and experiences, 3) self-awareness and development, 4) a sense of purpose, 5) networking and opportunities, and much more. But, if we're not careful...side hustles can also become taxing...like the jobs some of us want to escape from...resulting in burnout, exhaustion, and frustration. Furthermore, some of us never get started. Some of us doubt our capabilities, spending the precious time we do have with our own Impostor...instead of out in the world and shining. So, how does one get started? How can one flourish in their entrepreneurship? How do you even know if you're ready? How can you thrive? Well, today we're going to find out in a Q&A with none other than Keirsten Hoyle, a District Sales Manager for Frito Lay and serial entrepreneur.  Feeling stuck in a career you no longer want to be in? Or perhaps it's time for a detour because you've found another calling? No matter your reason for your career switch...some of us face the same questions when faced with approaching a new professional change- "What am I doing?", "Will I be good at it?", "What will other people think?" Looking back, I now realize none of those questions REALLY matter. There are two things that do, though. Fear. And faith. I am continuously learning that the one thing we are most afraid to do...is the very thing we SHOULD do. And in that fear...when we don't know what we're doing, how we're going to get by, or if we'll even succeed....it's our faith that saves us. It's sure what has saved and kept Tiesha Rena', an up and coming...and RADIANT realtor in Atlanta, Georgia. This month is Women's History Month, and what other way to highlight women making herstory...than highlight women killing their careers, goals, and pursuit of their own happiness. Tiesha joins Dialosophy for a Q&A on her career switch, her story, and why it's OKAY to give yourself permission to make a change. Welcome, Tiesha.
COVID-19 & Remembering Your 'Why'5/20/2020  What's up everybody? I hope that you are well and if you're not..I hope that you are spending time with yourself or talking to someone safe to get what you need. Here we are again with another "staying sane during COVID-19" post. If you missed the last post, don't forget to check it out here about loving yourself while we're inside. And what's equally important as self-care during this time...is remembering your "why".  "Dialosophy is pure inspiration. 2 Corinthians 12:9 speaks about finding power and strength in our weaknesses. When I picture powerful women, I think of those who have personally shared their darkest stories with me, yet live life out loud and achieve greatness despite obstacles. I think of people who own their choices in a way that produces joy, even in the midst of struggle. Dialosophy means embracing duality and rejecting cognitive dissidence. Practically, I believe strength is in one’s ability to share their stories, and lives, and ideas and trust that the truth of their struggles is worthy of being known." - Lauren Brooks Alright y'all...We're back. And we're back with Part 2 on what it means to love the life you live AND the career you choose. It's the new year and goal setting can be...overwhelming. You could be thinking, "Am I even going in the right direction?" You could be scared of making a switch into a new career, due to what others might think. In short...you could have all this "2020" vision...but how do you make the vision become clear? How...do you live out...your dreams? In Part 2, we meet Lauren, a Culinary Arts student in Atlanta, GA. Welcome, Lauren Brooks.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. - Confucius We've all been there, right? Maybe stuck trying to "figure it all out" or....having it all figured out, but not knowing what to do next. Maybe it's the college major you really want to do but everyone else seems to say "You won't make enough money." Or maybe you're good at a lot of things and you just can't seem to narrow your playing field. Or the big one....maybe you know what you want to do, but it's taking you longer than you thought to get there. No matter what it is...we all want to be "happy", right? Or find ourselves living this life that brings us immense joy. But, how do we get "that" life? How do we step outside the box and love the life we live AND love our career, too? It takes courage. It takes patience. It takes gratitude. It takes fearlessness...in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire (one of my favorite quotes). But most importantly, it takes dedication. Today, we meet Erika...a rising make-up artist in Atlanta, Georgia. Erika has come to Dialosophy to share her journey starting out as a theatre major in college, and how she is now pursuing the life she loves and her dreams...as an aspiring award-winning makeup artist. Welcome, Erika Moore.
 Photo by PALMS Casino Resort on giphy.com Salary negotiation. This process describes when one party (usually the potential employee) negotiates the amount of their pay, income, earnings, commission, salary, wages, or salary raise with their employer (Negotiation Experts 2017). For women, this can be tough. In fact, it has been proven that men are more likely to negotiate their salaries compared to women (Leibbrandt and List 2014). Furthermore, The State of the Gender Pay Gap in 2019 identifies significant differences between men and women’s earnings. But what about salary negotiation is so difficult? Is the fact that we'll be less "likeable" if we argue our worth? Are we just trying to remain "nice"? Are we underestimating on our own professional contribution and value? Or are we really just socialized to believe that assertiveness is a negative thing? Today, we learn of one woman's story about her experience with salary negotiation and advice she has to offer. Welcome to Dialosophy, Mrs. Marilynn Simmons.
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