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Chasing greatness? Why you need to make sure you self-reflect first

Greatness may be the road less traveled, but it’s not because there’s limited access or strict barriers of entry.

The pursuit for more — or the denial of mediocrity and denouncement of complacency — once realized, is one of the most obsessive spells to be under.

Though difficult, it’s an understood difficulty; although there’s long-suffering, it’s expected; and while humbling, those who are committed welcome it.

Still, greatness remains elusive even to the those who are aware of its tangibility. You can have the highest motor, be the most ambitious, set the highest goals for yourself, and still find yourself lost at times.

That’s why when it comes to achieving excellence I’d argue the single most important quality one should hold on to is self-reflection.

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If it seems rudimentary it’s because it is. Self-reflection isn’t some new-aged, cutting-edge concept. It quite literal: a reflection of one’s self. Yet, it’s something many creatives, entrepreneurs and any pursuer greatness tends to overlook.

With all that putting of the head down and locking in, it’s easy to miss crucial sings and even easier to end up headed in the wrong direction. And for what, the sake of hustling? 

When we self-reflect we give ourselves a chance to process what’s happening to us, we allow ourselves to asses the journey, and more importantly, it gives us a realistic layout of what we can and cannot do. 

Self-reflection is nothing more than fine-tuning who you are as an individual to best suit your quest for greater. But first, you have to slow down.

Slowing down

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You cannot achieve greatness without slowing down. While it may seem counterproductive, when we slow down what we’re really doing is giving ourselves time to see the results of what we’ve already done.

A lot of times when we get inspired we hit the ground running, which is completely fine. It’s just that there’s a point after running so far that we have to stop and see where we ran if it was in the right direction or even if we should try different running shoes.

People who refuse to slow down are the ones unaware of the muck they find themselves in. Not saying that stopping to evaluate your life suddenly reveals future potholes along the way, but it certainly prevents you from being blindsided or unaware of how you go to where you are.

Self-reflection doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair, either.  When we’re slowing down we’re journaling, we’re taking notes and being mindful of major decision, we’re listening to our bodies, our happiness, and our desires — because all of these are constantly telling us something. It’s just hard to hear when we’re not paying attention.


Where you’ve been/where you’re going

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Anyone that’s mastered and maintained greatness is always cognizant of two things: where they’ve been and where they’re going.

Evaluating progress is an aspect of self-reflection and lifestyle management that far too many of us neglect. We’re either discontent of how far we’ve come or daunted at what lies ahead and as a result, we choose to be ignorant to both.

The “hustle” and “work” you put in does not justify not knowing where you are in your journey. At all times we should know what our current execution is, what the next move looks like and the results from past efforts. Not being on top of information as crucial as such is akin to not recording stats during a game to make an adjustment at halftime.

Self-reflection is an ongoing analysis of how we’re doing. Once we lose the fear of possibly not being where we want to be we can gather the strength to push ourselves where we’re not.


You’re only as good as you think you are

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We will only ever be as good as we think we are — as good as we see ourselves being. And the only way to truly know is to find out.

While self-reflection is a great tool to asses what you need to improve or adjust, sometimes self-reflection is just as useful in building confidence.

At times it takes seeing what you’ve already done to gather hope to conquer what’s ahead; when we reflect on our past hurdles and obstacles that’s what we’re doing.

If only to remind yourself of what you can do and jog your memory of what you’re made of. Self-reflect — it’s the pathway to greatness

How this female-founded handbag company built a product unlike any other

In an industry that often views style and practicality as irreconcilable ideas, it’s no surprise that Melissa Mash, CEO and co-founder of the handbag company, Dagne Dover, saw an opportunity to challenge this conception in the market.

Mash, alongside co-founders Deepa Gandhi and Jessy Dover, have created a stylish and functional handbag that’s changing the game.

Offering plenty of variety in the form of tote bags, backpacks, travel bags, fanny packs, wallets, toiletry bags, pouches and card cases, all of these bags are highly compartmentalized and designed for ultimate efficiency and organization.

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Back on the hustle. 👊🏼 #AlwaysOrganized

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In discussing her product to Forbes, Mash said,

“It’s not just about having a bunch of pockets on the inside, which some brands do. It’s about making sure that the pockets are so intuitive to the consumer that she doesn’t have to think twice. Of course, that’s the sunglasses pocket. Of course, that’s the laptop sleeve.”

Wow, imagine that for a concept. Not having the bottom of your bag transforms into an endless abyss that prompts you to tip out the entire content of your bag just to find your pair of sunglasses, a pen, your business card, chapstick, hand sanitizer, etc.

In short, actually being able to find the items in your bag!

Mash, however, is no stranger to retail. In her undergraduate days, Mash vehemently embraced what the city of New York had to offer — landing internships with a clothing and bedding designer, and the jewelry company Henri Bendel.

During this time, Mash even managed to get the contact details of a sample maker for bags, whom she would later reach out to years after when the idea for Dagne Dover began to take shape.

Later working in various positions for Coach, from wholesales to account management, Mash was able to attain different experiences and a level of training that would be crucial in eventually co-founding Dagne Dover.

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Your favorite products, only bigger. Say hi to the Extra Large Landon and the Large Dakota, available on the site now!

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Mash was also able to garner international experience, as she oversaw and helped turnaround Coach’s first UK store in Heathrow Airport.

But, it was during this time at Coach that enabled Mash the opportunity to speak directly to customers; hearing what they want out of a handbag, their frustrations with the handbags they owned and the handbags that are currently on the market.

In speaking with ABC News, Mash relayed the countless times’ customers would complain about their struggle to have an organized bag and Mash having always wanted to start a bag company, saw this a business opportunity.

What is apparent is that Mash seized the networking opportunities her internships provided, absorbing all the knowledge that came with each company.

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Happy Memorial Day!

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Mash was and remains highly attentive to what consumers seek after, and it is this insatiable curiosity and investment in her customers that have instrumentally shaped her project of developing a product that is so intimately tied and catered to consumer’s needs and wants.

Despite all her retail experience, Mash and Gandhi made the decision to go back to business school. She attended The Wharton School that proved to be not only an educational site but one where Mash and Gandhi, were able to network and identify consumer wants through conducting surveys with a pool of men and women.

It was there that Mash also began to search for a person to design the bag, leading her to cross paths with Jessy Dover, who then became one of the companies founders along with Mash and Gandhi.

Financial Backing

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This one’s for the girls. Happy Women’s Equality Day!

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Though the company launched in 2013, the three female partners had been working on the brand for two years prior.

In terms of finding investors and financiers, Mash, Gandhi, and Dover found the patience to be a critical component in the process of product development. The company’s three founders decided to consolidate long-term capital instead of acquiring venture capital who often expect an immediate turn-over in profit.

In other words, they chose individual investors and small funders that were willing to wait and expend in the business’s long-term success.

Speaking to Cheddar TV, Mash stressed the importance of finding the right investors. That is to say, she advised carefully evaluating whether the financier truly understands your product or brand, and is willing to invest in the product for the long-term. After all, success in the world of entrepreneurship rarely happens overnight.

In the interview with ABC, Dover also expressed a level of uncertainty in regards to the company’s potential decision to make deals with venture capital,

“We would have probably had to make the wrong decision for the long term of the brand and I can’t guarantee that the business would be where it is today.”

Dover also concurred with Mash on the idea of “patient capital,” maintaining that it was crucial to the design process since it enabled her to actually to take the time needed to create and formulate the final product.


Workplace Culture

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Team work really does make this Dagne dream work. ✨

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Not only has the brand done significantly well in terms of revenue, but the company has also been dedicated to building a flourishing workplace culture.

Drawing from their experience in the corporate world, the three founders wanted to foster an environment, where employees could feel as though they could freely be who there are, be motivated and happy to go to work, feel appreciated and trusted in their domain of work.

In fact, Dagne Dover was high amongst the list of 100 companies voted by Mogul as being the best workplace for millennial women, in the years 2016 and 2017.

So how do you purchase a Dagne Dover bag? The bags are available on Nordstrom, in Equinox boutiques, Bandier, Revolve and other boutique retailers.

The company also had a pop-up store in Manhattan over the summer and the pop-up resurfaced this month, this time in Soho.

With their revenue doubling from the year 2016 to 2017, Dagne Dover demonstrates the success of the companies philosophy of that refuses to see stylish aesthetics and functionality as mutually exclusive and instead has crafted a bag that perfectly marries these two ideas together.

How Priyanka Chopra is using her platform to boss up and give back

Priyanka Chopra’s career is a testament to one completely embracing the opportunities that are afforded when being an actress on the global stage.

Chopra has immersed herself in various projects ranging from activism, philanthropy, and business. What serves as the common thread between each of these enterprises is that Chopra is utilizing her celebrity status to create change and bring awareness to critical issues.

As a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, she has been a vocal supporter of women’s rights and wellbeing and has condemned violence against women and the tradition of child marriages.

 

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I’m in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh today for a field visit with UNICEF, to one of the largest refugee camps in the world. In the second half of 2017, the world saw horrific images of ethnic cleansing from the Rakhine State of Myanmar(Burma). This violence drove nearly 700,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh – 60% are children! Many months later they are still highly vulnerable, living in overcrowded camps with no idea when or where they will ever belong…even worse, when they will get their next meal. AND…as they finally start to settle and feel a sense of safety, monsoon season looms…threatening to destroy all that they’ve built so far. This is an entire generation of children that have no future in sight. Through their smiles I could see the vacancy in their eyes. These children are at the forefront of this humanitarian crisis, and they desperately need our help. The world needs to care. We need to care. These kids are our future. Pls Lend your support at www.supportunicef.org #ChildrenUprooted @unicef @unicefbangladesh Credit: @briansokol @hhhtravels

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But Chopra’s latest venture is in tech. The actress has invested in the coding education company, Holberton School, as Chopra is dedicated to exposing women to the fields of computer science and technology in a larger attempt to eliminate the gender inequity in STEM industries.

The school’s educational mission is to teach students to code and providing them with the crucial skills and experiences to occupy jobs in STEM that are available now, and are expected to grow significantly within the decades to come.

Interestingly,  The New York Times reported that tuition for the school is required after graduation with “17% of their paycheck is deducted by the school for three and a half years.” Her recent business initiative aligns with the actress’s commitment to creating more opportunities for women and women of color in particular.

A South East Asian Woman in Hollywood

Chopra also isn’t incognizant to Hollywood dominance over the global film distribution market. In an interview with the BBC, she stressed how she finds the term ‘Bollywood’ itself to be reductive and leads to the misconception of Bollywood being simply “a spoof of Hollywood,” instead of being considered as a serious and huge film industry.

In the same interview, Chopra also revealed how she pushes back against the label of being a ‘Bollywood actress’ that is often ascribed to her by media outlets.

It is for these reasons that Chopra is invested in creating more narratives orientated around South East Asian individuals and communities. Chopra wants to show that cinema from and about this region of the world goes beyond the widespread Western idea of characters breaking into song and dance on an over-the-top colorful set.

In speaking with Variety, Chopra relayed her feelings and experience when meeting with the executives of the ABC network after being granted the lead role for the series Quantico. She said,

 “What happens with a lot of South Asian actors or actors who come from different countries is you get stereotyped into just what studio execs think that Indians should be.”

Indeed, the lack of representation and limited (and often derogatory representation) of South Asian populations inspired her to head her own production company, Purple Pebble Pictures.

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The production company has much to be excited about. Their film Pahuna: The Little Visitors, has garnered critical praise amongst the European film festival circuit and earned the accolade of winning the best film award at the Schlingle Film Festival in Germany.

Pahuna tells the story of three Nepalese children that are separated from their parents and then undergo extraordinary circumstances to return back home.


Opportunity and Success

While her career certainly demonstrates her desire to create opportunities for others, in an interview with Teen Vogue, Chopra also emphasized the importance of one creating opportunities for yourself. She says,

“You have to create your opportunity, you have to fight for it, you have to demand it. Yes there will be times you will be let down, you will be disappointed and people will tell you, you’re ahead of your time or that’s not how it is. At some point, you will find some success. At some point, you’ll be able to find a crack in the door. Even that’s enough. Don’t let anyone tell you your dreams are too small.”

This is how you body your first impression, according to science

It’s bright, early, and your shot AF but it’s your lucky day.

A high-level executive just walked into the elevator and you’ve been working on something great for the past couple of months.

All you have are 30 heartwrenching seconds to pitch your life’s work. What impression will you leave on the man or woman that can possibly change your life? According to science, the first impression may all depend on the pitch of your voice.

A recent study from researchers at the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Paris has revealed the way that we say “hello” can uncover some truths about who we really are.

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But how Sway? French researchers developed a computer program called CLEESE which generated thousands of different ways people say “bonjour.”

After testing 44 male and female participants, who were told to listen to 100 different versions of the word, the analysis showed that depending on the high or low pitch of your salutation people can determine if you appear more dominant or trustworthy.

A low pitched “hello” showed that you as a person appeared more dominant when it came to first impressions. Taking “howdy” an octave higher revealed that you were seen as more trustworthy.

Low key, this info can be applied to any entrepreneurial career.

After all, all you do have to garner a relationship with a possible client is your voice. Peep Jordan Belfort schooling DJ Envy on the Breakfast Club about the sales pitch he used when he was a young telemarketer.

What’s even better the tone of your “hello” sees no gender. According to the study, researchers concluded that those tested were able to pick up on social traits regardless of someone’s physical traits.

The researchers added,

“The linguistic and social judgments we make when hearing speech are based on intonation… Just as we have a mental image of what an apple looks like — round, green or red, with a stem, etc. — we form mental representations of others’ personalities according to the acoustic qualities of their voices.”

This is a great tool to use for those looking to get into the sales industry. In fact, the CLEESE software has been made available to those who are on a quest for finding a better way to communicate.

Practice and step into your next elevator pitch with confidence. You can perfect your tone of voice by using the free CLEESE software here.

YERRRRRRRR!

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How ‘Cup of Rahman’ creator Celine Rahman grew her brand by following her passions

Celine Rahman’s blog, Cup of Rahman, doesn’t dish out delicious hot cups of ramen noodles to customers, despite what ideas the title may conjure up.

But what the site does dish out, are the bloggers’ intimate thoughts and the showcasing of her self-customized products — from key rings, key chains, jewelry, illustrations, and apparel. The printed t-shirt that reads “stay woke, make change” is a definite favorite!

Although starting out as a music blog during her freshman year of college, Cup of Rahman evolved into a blog and was an extension of Rahman’s Instagram account @cupofrahman.

The site combines Rahman’s love of photography and fashion while also offer an outlet for Rahman to discuss her thoughts, moods, and feelings that are particularly inspired by fashion and film.

Both her writing content and products are highly relatable. She creates entertaining illustrations that tap into the female millennial horoscope culture, as well as pictures that feature the faces of prominent celebrities and quotes that go with their star persona.

 

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She creates cards that remind us of when our hearts soared during moments from our favorite romantic comedies of the 90’s. Such content is fitting given that Rahman expressed that her ultimate vision for C.O.R. is,

“To spread goodness and consciousness. To let people know that there’s always that little kid inside of you and it’s ok to let them out.”

In deciphering which themes and ideas that her products will be orientated around Rahman told Kulture Hub, that her product development is influenced by things that simply interest her, as well as the desire to instill a feeling of wonder, excitement, and childhood nostalgia for her customers.

 

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@emilyarlook setting the vibe 💜✨

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Though her background as a multimedia artist has informed what products she has created, Rahman also emphasized that she always knew she had the creative gene.

“I’ve always known that I’m the type of person who was just born to create. I thrive through it in every way and I try not to give myself rules when creating.”

Rahman, however, like most artists, is no stranger to the fear and doubt that comes with putting one’s work out to the public, as she stressed the importance of believing in one’s own creations and ideas.

“Not everyone’s business is the same as yours and when in doubt, do your own research. It takes a lot of self-teaching to create a business by yourself.”

She continued by expressing that her desire to create and share her work ultimately supersedes the fear, because at the end of the day,

“If you don’t want to share anything with the world, what are you living for?”

Importantly, her intimate blog posts reveal how it is okay to not be okay.

Her posts are a source of comfort and offer an important encouraging message against a culture that socializes women to identify and hyperfocus on their supposed flaws and imperfections. In short, Rahman says stay true to yourself and just be you.

 

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👏🏽✨💅🏽✨💖 MANTRA (@bulletin.co)

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Her Instagram account @cupofrahman and blog ultimately share posts that are funny, entertaining, and affirming. In regards to what advice Rahman has for young aspiring entrepreneurs, having resilience and organization are key, as she says,

“With Facebook controlling the Instagram algorithm, it’s been annoying at times, but I just keep pushing the content I want to be seen. It’s an ever-evolving process for me, I’m still learning and I always will be.”

 

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New logo 💖

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Celine finished off her advice by telling us,

“Always have a plan, save every dime you can, do your research and know that under no circumstances is it going to be easy. You have to know that you want to wake up every day loving what you’re doing.”

The myth of the ‘Glo Up’: The truth behind what it really takes to level up

Although never formally taught or introduced in an educational setting, I’ve never had to have the term ‘glo-up’ defined for me.

I can’t recall when it became popular but I distinctively remember a time when the word wasn’t used at all. In fact, now that I really try and recollect, catching your “big break” was probably the closest thing to “glo-up” prior to the term being coined.

Either way, “the glo,” your “big break” — or whatever kids are using to describe that ascent from where you’ve always been to where you’ve always wanted to go — seems to be the subject of attention for millennials, teenagers, and whoever else on social media needs something to brag about.

Don’t get me wrong, seeing and wanting more for yourself is phenomenal. In fact, it’s necessary for success — too many are incapable of believing they can achieve more.

It just doesn’t stop there.

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The myth of the glo-up is that it’s something that one day just happens. As if one day, after so many hours logged in on earth, you suddenly evolve to that next level of success you’ve always wanted for yourself.

Newsflash: we aren’t Pokemon.

I blame social media. If you were to type “glo-up” in any of the many platforms, chances are you’re going to see before and after pics. Before and after the weight loss. Before and after the degree. Before and after the red carpet event, etc.

But in reality, if you want to reach the highest of peaks, it takes practicing a combination of different disciplines to gain habits necessary to actually do so.

Disciplines like going back to the drawing board, sacrifice, and consistency. With these principals, a glo-up is more than possible, it’s inevitable. You’re fooling yourself thinking you can level up otherwise.

Drawing Board

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The drawing board is a window into your soul. It’s an instrument that frames where you are in contrast to where you want to be. It’s a reflection of your strengths and weaknesses. And it doesn’t sugar coat.

It’s why those who refer to it do so regretfully and why those who don’t remain stuck.

Because when you are intentional about evaluating your progression there may be habits you pinpoint which could have been impeding your journey. Habits that, if remained caught up in the hustle, may have gone undetected.

Not all viruses have symptoms and not all issues let you know they’re there. A lot of the time, the reason why we don’t see ourselves going anywhere is due to our inability to “see” where we’re going wrong.

Which is why a regular trip to the drawing board is key to your glo-up. Doesn’t mean you have to erase every time you go back there. As long as you’re keeping up to date with the plan and making the changes that need to be made.


Sacrifice

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If anything, going back to the drawing board teaches us that to get somewhere you’ve never gone, you have to do something you’ve never done. This is the reason glo-ups take sacrifice.

Nothing in life is free, including the non-material. Be it the hours you put in, the lifestyle you give up, or the diet you adopt, there’s a price to pay if you ever want to see anything of significance happen in your life.

If the lack self-awareness doesn’t stop you from your big break your non-willingness to change will. There are athletes where the only thing standing between them and going pro is a sober lifestyle. There are artists who can be household brands if they put it in the time. All it takes is deciding to do so.

It comes down to how bad you want it. If want to glo-up like you say you do, you’d take the necessary steps, especially after seeing what those steps are.

There is always something you can do differently, and there is always something you can change today, to help you tomorrow. Your glo-up counts on it.


Consistency

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Anyone you consider an idol, star, or great at their craft got there by deciding to never give up. It’s the secret ingredient that everyone already knows. Literally, being the last man standing is one of the most important factors to success, but it’s also how most people fall short.

The problem with consistency is that it’s boring. It takes patience in doing the same thing, over and over again and wears old on most people because it doesn’t have awards or accolades.

Consistency doesn’t feel like you’re doing much but in reality, you are. You’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing.

The myth of the glo-up is that it’s something you wait for. The glo-up is happening and it’s every day. It’s what you do, what you don’t do, and how long you do it for.

There is no doubt in my mind if you are careful and intentional about assessing your progress, willing to sacrifice as the process sees fit, and consistent then you can get whatever it is in this world that you want.

Now that’s a glo.

4 keys to mental strength that we learned thanks to Princess Nokia

Not everyone is equal when it comes to mental strength.

For some, mental toughness is equivalent to flexing a muscle, something that needs to be built over time with reps of patience in order to get where you want to be.

The capability of handling situations depends entirely on a person’s mindset and sensitivities. We all go through hard times, but have you ever been around that one friend who shrugs casually while recalling details of the unfortunate experience they went through last week?

Or that other friend who’s been there, done that, remaining effortless in their usual tenor? Some of us just are built that way, while others still struggle with balancing the cyclical and monotonous tasks of everyday life.

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At the end of the day, there’s always someone who has it worse and is overcoming their situations quicker. It’s not a super power, they are not immune to emotions or trials, they’re just better at going about their day without allowing the past to weigh them down.

And many of these people go on to do great things? How many celebrities have you read about who have come from a background of hardships?

Rihanna sold her clothing to make ends meet on the streets of Barbados, Cardi B started stripping to escape an abusive relationship at the age of 20, and Oprah found her way out of sexual abuse and poverty.

The stories of these women are as inspirational as they are brave, united by the same common theme: they never gave up, no matter what experiences they went through. They surpassed their hardships by grinding through the struggle, eventually persevering on the other side.

Much like our leading lady figures, Princess Nokia’s childhood wasn’t a typical one. Born Destiny Nicole Frasqueri, she alternated between the LES, Harlem, and Brooklyn as a kid.

Losing her mother to AIDS at a young age, Princess Nokia grew up with her abusive foster mother who worked at the school she attended, limiting her chances of getting faculty involved with her home life.

At the age of 16, shortly after recognizing that she was being abused, she ran away from her foster family with only $3 and a cell phone in her pocket.

“I fucking ran out the house and never went back.”

These days, Princess Nokia is heading down a path that starkly contrasts her younger years.

Widely successful in the underground music scene, she has decided to remain an independent artist and work on her sound and image on her own time, without the pressure of being attached to a label.

Stand up for what you believe in

Known for her perfervid views on feminism, Princess Nokia displayed signs of heroism many times before. She punched a man in his face at a Cambridge University show after hearing him shout sexist comments like “Show me your tits!” After the show, she said,

“I’m so sorry, but when a white boy (in this particular case) disrespects you, you punch him in the fucking face.”

And who can forget that time she threw soup at a belligerent racist on the subway? She tells Tidal that she’d always been a warrior for the people.

“I forget that I’m Princess Nokia all the time.”

Now, I’m not saying square up every time something difficult comes your way, but if there’s something you deeply believe in, you should approach the situation with the pride and confidence it deserves.

If this means punching an ignorant ass hater spewing racist vitriol, so be it.


Be unapologetically you

If Princess Nokia’s artistry and success have taught us anything, it’s that it’s more than okay to be who you truly are.

Her song “Tomboy” focuses on pointing out her perceived ‘flaws’ and placing them in a sexually empowering paradigm.

With my little titties and my phat belly/ I could take your man if you finna let me/ It’s a guarantee that he won’t forget me/ My body little, my soul is heavy

“Typical” would be the last word used to describe Princess Nokia. An Afro-Latina revolutionary with a thirst for challenging the construction of gender and race, signing to a record label would only deter her of her individuality, so instead, she’s turned down five record deals. Five!

That’s a whole lot of opportunity strewn to the side in hopes of allowing your inner self to shine through and do the work for you.

Of course, we have no doubt this will happen. Embrace what you have and abandon the idea of “changing” who you are. And if you don’t fully know who you are just yet, that’s okay too — some of the most fun you’ll have on your journey is during the trial and error of becoming who you need to be.


Don’t be so hard on yourself

Practicing self-love and compassion is harder than it sounds. We are our toughest critics, our own insecurities often limit our potential if we allow them to.

Recalling the moment she recognized there was something wrong with the relationship she had with her foster mother, rather than blame herself for the events proceeding, Princess Nokia sought out to make a change.

She explained in her documentary with The Fader titled “Destiny,”

“I remember it was picture day. She beat the shit out of me. I had a black eye. And she made her sister put makeup on me. At 10-11 years old, I had to get put makeup on that morning. By 15 years old I realized it’s not okay to abuse a child. That something is being taken from me and I didn’t want to be silent anymore.”

If you’re capable of showing others compassion, let it align with your practices of self-love and care. Just because you’re going through a rough time doesn’t mean you have to suffer through the pain. If something isn’t right, it’s time for a change.

If the universe is shooting blaring hints at you and you’re doing everything in your force to ignore them, don’t.

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Your intuition is your best friend. It tells you when it’s time to take a look around at the situations you’re in and what to do about them.

It tells you when you need to move, when you need to take a different approach, and to pay closer to your situations.


“Failure” is another made up construct

The only failure is not trying. When you fall, you pick yourself back up again and come back with your focus even stronger than before.

There’s no room for failure when you’re following your passions. If plans don’t turn out the way you expected them to, consider yourself being steered into a different direction.

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Princess Nokia, much like the other empowering women challenging the constructs of our media and continue to be pioneers and role models, upending the typical perceptions of women we look up to.

These women give everyone hope that forgoing all that we’ve been taught and following ourselves to the ends of our journey is all that we can do to ensure our own happiness.

Keep pushing: 3 reasons why good things happen to those fail forward

Will Smith celebrated his 50th birthday by bungee jumping from a helicopter over the Grand Canyon. Will ended up jumping 550 feet and was held by 200 feet of active cord, not to mention that heli-jumping is one of the more dangerous types of bungee jumping because there’s no solid foundation.

The Fresh Prince star has become a sensation on Instagram of late, showing us common folk how regular-degular our lives are with unfair cool jaw-dropping content, but that doesn’t mean this feat was a cake walk.

Will was dared to do the jump by Yes Theory but admits to having a “lifetime of feeling squashed and squelched and controlled by fear.” After his dad died a little over a year ago he’s been inclined to live more freely, and he wouldn’t let some jitters stand in between he and his goal. Will said after the jump:

“You cannot experience the joy the is intended for you in life if you don’t go. Life is hard. you might get hurt. Your heart might get broken. But you still gotta commit…Don’t hesitate—GO.”

We all have been at the crossroads of comfort and risk — standing between familiarity and going for it all. We all have had to decide at one time and time whether we should stay where we are or try something new that could change our lives forever.

What Will Smith was talking about after had jumped from hundreds of feet in the air — that feeling of having accomplished something you were uncertain about — is one that we all deserve to feel and is one that a lot of us are standing directly on the other side of.

When we commit and go full-on and completely fall into the direction our intuition is telling us to go and when we allow our hearts to lead us, we allow ourselves to live and to be one with the flow of the universe.

As Will said, it is hard; it does take faith and it isn’t always pretty. But on the other hand, you’re allowing yourself to set new dreams and you’re giving your imagination the jurisdiction to explore new terrain.

It’s in you for a reason

When it comes to fully commit to something new, whether it be a lifestyle, practice, or anything for that matter, it’s important to remember that the ambition came from somewhere.

I don’t think we appreciate our desires enough. The mere existence of an urge — a longing for, well, anything — is a blessing that thousands of apathetic, unmotivated and even suicidal people long for.

We have to respect these impulses. Your desire to pick up and instrument, travel the world or move to a different city, should be contingent one thing,  and that’s your own self. Don’t be afraid to go for it, it’s in you for a reason.


Failing is okay

A huge reason many of us fail to commit to our dreams and desires is that we’re afraid to fall flat on our faces. But falling on your face is good.

Perfection is a myth. We’re supposed to get bruises and scrapes; we’re supposed to fall down and get up. That’s how we gain experience and grow.

We stop learning when don’t allow ourselves to fall. It’s when we’re doing everything right all the time and are the leaders of the pack and when we’re comfortable when stop growing.

Failing to learn to code or failing to get a job position or failing an entrance exam, is not as bad as continuing to do the same thing for the rest of your life. The sooner we get over the stigma of imperfection, the sooner we can master new crafts.


Doing nothing is going backward

There are tons of people in life who will grow old having never challenged themselves to go higher, push farther or to dig deeper. There are individuals who, despite it not being their dream, settled on a life that provides and does just enough.

These people think they’re maintaining, but in reality, they’re going backward.

No progress is backward progress; unless we’re evolving we’re dying, and no one wants to spend life as a zombie. So if we don’t ever commit to that thing we’ve always been prompted to do, we’re just withering instead.

It’s hardly failing when you’re at least making an attempt. If anything, it’s failing forward. And when we ditch the fear of not getting it right directly out the gate we leave ourselves open to life’s endless possibilities.

‘Growing Up Black’ Podcast creator Kyle Davy on turning his passion into a career

Working a job you hate? Going to school for something you aren’t passionate about?

Host and creator of the GrUB-cast, aka the Growing Up Black Podcast, Kyle Davy was in your exact position! Now he’s doing what he loves for a career and positioning his brand to take it to the next level.

Originally from Ossining, New York by way of Kingston, Jamaica, Kyle Davy started the GrUB-cast after constantly moving and traveling around the globe.

Inspired by the similarities of individuals’ stories in vastly different areas, he wanted to create a forum where Black people could learn from one another and realize that they weren’t alone and thus Growing Up Black was born.

 

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The newest episode of the GrUBcast: Soundbites is up! (Link in Bio) . . Happy Thursday GrUBfam! We’ve got another segment of Soundbites for season 3 and today I want to remind you all to show someone in your inner circle some love. . . We all have many people out there that inspire us. And not just celebrities. Maybe it’s an old neighbor, a friend from college, your parents, whoever. And for whatever reason, even though we live in the most communicative and accessible era of all time, we tend to appreciate in silence. More often than not we don’t reach out to those people just to say “yo, you’re dope” or “that piece really touched me” or “that thing you did inspired me to do xyz” etc, etc. And why not? What’s stopping us from showing appreciation to the people in our inner circle who deserve it? Today I’d like to encourage you to remove all hesitation and go ahead and show love. You never know who might need to hear it. . . Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Also be sure to check out @toptiervisionllc! . . With that said ya’, have a great week, much love, and as always, keep eating. . . #Soundbites #GrowingUpBlack #ShowLove #advice #SouthAfrica #Austin #business #BlackPanther #NewOrleans #Deebo #Friday #blavity #thegrubcast #WillSmith #Szn3 #PBS #blackexcellence #listen #nyc #podcasts #JordanPeele #Oscars #soundcloud #media #blackexcellence #TopTierVision #CrewLove #selfdiscovery #blessup #keepeating

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Now as full time as a Media Production Manager for a Fortune 500 company, Davy spoke to Kulture Hub about why he started up the Podcast in the first place. It wasn’t before his first corporate job out of college forced him to pursue his passions. He explained to me,

“Upon quitting my first job out of college that I hated, I decided to start GRUB! It started out as me just interviewing my friends about whatever they might’ve been going through at the time, then the more I began to travel the more traction the podcast began to gain.”

Davy is a Dartmouth College graduate who during his time there, studied finance. Being at an IVY league school with a small minority population, this was one of the things early on that inspired him to create a platform like GrUB.

Today, Davy wears many hats, serving as a consultant for other podcasters and entrepreneurs, while officiating weddings (from time to time), and speaking on panels that intersect between music, culture, and technology.

 

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I’ve been asked to do a lot of amazing things in my life, but I have never felt more honored than when two incredible people asked me to officiate their wedding. . . A year ago I was recognized as a wedding officiant throughout the United States, and three weeks ago I joined two phenomenal individuals in holy matrimony for the first time. The ceremony was amazing, the reception was a lituation, and the memories we made that day I will cherish forever. . . A major thank you @marissa.b__ and @ryes_father1st , for having the faith in me to do this, for blessing the world with Young Ry Ry, and for loving each other the way that you do (also special shoutout to Marissa for the Patriots shade in the vows, it was appreciated by many). Like I said at the wedding, your love is an example to us all. . . “Love is beyond the connecting of the hearts, it’s the intertwining of the souls” . . To say that I am blessed would be a severe understatement. . . #bars #JobNumber5227 #TheJamaicanWay #MinisterDavy #wedding #BerriosPartyof3 #MyFaithKnowsNoLimits #NewYork #marriage #Success #chosenphotoinc #MoreJobsPonYourHeadtops

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“Being able to see people that look like you pursue their degree does something for you, it’s comforting to relate to others… I think you can take more advantage of the world like that!”

In starting up GRUB Davy began to find his real passion which was in conversing.

Looking for an outlet to leave his then position and fully immerse into the Podcast world, Davy began job hunting and networking. The persistence and diligence of both helped him to become the pioneer of the media arm at his company.

“I found another role that I was going take, then that same day a different manager called me and basically said they’d heard my podcast and that they wanted me to fill a new position they were making where I’d manage the development of podcasts full time”

 

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The first episode of the GrUBcast Season 3 is up! (Link In Bio) . Today’s episode features Rah and @i_am_the_investment , better known as the Hip Hop group the @welldressedvillains . Throughout the episode we keep a focus on their musical journey, discussing the state of hip-hop today and the importance of investing time, effort, and authenticity towards your passion. . . As an artist in any form, the journey to truly mastering your craft is never linear. It’s difficult to shut down naysayers, find your own niche and most importantly building the right team to move the art to the next level. On today’s episode the Well Dressed Villains and I talk about everything from how they got started, the evolution of hip-hop, the difference between pulling vs. pushing as an artists, and why they’re continuing to follow their dreams despite the obstacles that are thrown their way. Whether you’re a musician, a painter, or aren’t artistically inclined at all, there’s a multitude of advice to learn from here. You can really hear the passion in their voices and I know you’ll appreciate their story and knowledge throughout the episode. . . Definitely check out their music on Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook by searching for “Well Dressed Villains”. And most importantly their new album “Hide Your Valuables” drops this month (January 2018!) so keep an eye out for that as well. . . Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. . . With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating. . . #WellDressedVillains #Brooklyn #GrowingUpBlack #HipHop #NewYork #music #thrive #Passion #NewYork #betweenthelines #consistency #vulnerable #BeUncomfortable #humble #fear #interviews #dope #advice #art #HideYourValuables #blackpodcasts #podcasts #nyc #loudspeakersnetwork #JVargasTheInvestment #Rah #radio #success #grateful #keepeating

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Despite being a native New Yorker, Davy had spent a few of his adolescent years living in Jamaica. This undoubtedly gave him the awareness he needed to listen to other’s stories.

“Living in a different country helped me to put things into perspective. Now things have become so trivial to me. People may complain about Wifi being slow, somewhere abroad one may complain about not having somewhere to live.”

Upon his return to the states, Davy lived in Westchester County. Being a frequent traveler and having lived in another country, Davy has a pretty well-informed worldview.

 

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The newest episode of the GrUBcast: Soundbites is up! (Link in Bio) . . Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to the first segment of Soundbites for season 3! Today I want to encourage you all to stop worrying so much about things that are out of your control. . . When it comes to achieving our own dreams and goals we are often our own worst enemy. We question and worry about so many possible outcomes that we end up stagnant, not taking any action at all and in turn, delay possible success. So today I want to remind you of a phrase we all (hopefully) learned as children. Hakuna Matata = No worries. Let’s all try to use this childhood message to push ourselves further as adults. . . Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. . . With that said ya’, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating. . . #Soundbites #GrowingUpBlack #HakunaMatata #advice #CombatJack #RIP #Preacher #BlackPanther #BlackHistoryMonth #CapeTown #LivingSingle #blavity #thegrubcast #blacklivesmatter #Szn3 #PBS #blackexcellence #listen #nyc #podcasts #DapperDan #Gucci #soundcloud #media #blackexcellence #AKing #GodsPlan #selfdiscovery #blessup #keepeating

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He also had the opportunity to study abroad while at Dartmouth, giving him even more perspective of the world, especially from the eyes of a Black man.

“In the broad sense of the world, the stories of people of color aren’t aren’t necessarily highlighted unless you are like a top athlete.”

Having been in the Podcast world for a little while now, Davy has had many interesting situations as a result. One of his guests once voiced that he will never date black women. He explained,

“This was actually one of the dopest things of done on GRUB! When he made that comment I knew there’d be an uproar.”

https://soundcloud.com/thegrubcast/unlearning

After this episode, a lot of people, black women, in particular, expressed their disappointment in said person. Davy then did a reaction episode in which he had three black women express why they feel one may have that type of mentality.

“When all was said and done we were able to trace his malice towards black women all the back to him not having an unhealthy relationship with his mother.”

For Davy, this was especially dope, because of what he aspires for GRUB to do for people!

“We often think that our adversity, shortfalls, and triumphs are unique to only ourselves. In reality, many people share similar, and many times, identical stories. From the way we’ve grown up, to the way we react to things on an everyday basis. The main goal of this podcast is to create a forum for the diversity of the minority experience.

 

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The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up! (Link in Bio) . . Today’s episode features World Startup Ecosystem expert, Christine Souffrant Ntim, and how she’s been able to run 4 successful startups and speak in over 20 different countries a year, all while raising a newborn daughter, building with a loving husband, and somehow also keeping up with 14 different TV shows. . . Often, we see successful people throughout our lives that seem almost godly in their continued pursuit of achievement and growth. And often, while we are engulfed by their wins, we often forget that they were all once where we ourselves might be now. Today’s episode features one of my idols and friends, Christine S. Ntim as we talk about how she’s gotten to where she is today. We discuss how she’s become a World Startup Ecosystem expert, how she’s dealt with loss, and most amazingly how she’s managing being an entrepreneur as well as a new mother and wife. It is an INCREDIBLE interview. The longer you listen, the better it gets. There are gems in here that are (literally and figuratively) priceless. . . Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. . . With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating. . . #entrepreneurship #Haiti #GrowingUpBlack #StartUps #motherhood #Vendedy #Disrupt #1804List #Forbes30Under30 #noexcuses #decode #vulnerable #Ebony #Superwoman #interviews #dope #advice #Caribbean #Beyonce #Rihanna #blackpodcasts #podcasts #nyc #loudspeakersnetwork #Superwoman #radio #success #grateful #ChristineSouffrantNtim #keepeating

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Davy continued,

Hopefully, you hear something that relates to you, a story that shows you that you’re not alone, and better days are to come. You may laugh, or cry, you may even learn, but you will most certainly feel.”

In any career field, networking is imperative Davy explains how networking got him to where he is today!

“Being at work whenever I would talk to someone I would tell them how I have podcast, give them the run down of the theme, and concept… And the eventually the higher ups at my company got wind of GRUB and that was pivotal in getting to where I am today!”

Despite not having a straight path to where he currently sits, Davy made connections, worked hard, believed in his brand as well as himself! With this new endeavor for Davy, Kulture Hub will be excited to see what’s next for him!

Kidz ‘R Evil proves that the next-gen is taking over digital content

Queens-native Adisa “Felix” Sobers is changing the way we digest digital content through his creative agency Kidz ‘R Evil. His duty to create dope visuals stems from a need to serve as a truth to those being miseducated by universities and mass media.

Sobers has managed to combine his talents. He is a jack of all trades being well-versed in marketing, advertising, photography, cinematography, editorial design, and literature.

Blending his innovative skills, Sobers allows us to see something we’d see as ordinary in an uncommon manner. Simply put, Kidz ‘R Evil was created to invoke thought, help people think outside the norm, and allow artists to use their creative talents as a method of expression.

Truth be told, the platform speaks for itself. Still, we reached out to Sobers over IG to get the inside scoop on his aesthetic. NYC, definitely, has had an influence on the young visionary. Sobers said,

“NY is pretty much one of the main media capitals of the world and it’s multi-cultural. The vast amount of cultures here has raised my taste level because it exposes me to things outside the norms of my own community. You can easily take a trip to Chinatown or Little Italy and be exposed to a completely different culture and that definitely has an impact on my art.”

The creative agency first started out as a blog on WordPress. Back then, Kidz ‘R Evil was already on fire and in 2008 the digital portal would be voted “Best Blog” by WordPress MU.

After that, Sobers knew he had to “up the par” and in an attempt to stay at the top of the electronic food chain he would pick up a camera, get lost in another creative realm, and allow his lens to tell its own story.

Sobers explained how Kidz ‘R Evil became “bigger than a blog, smaller than a magazine, and more exclusive than a cult.” He said,

“The idea behind Kidz ‘R EVil is a satirical look at how the older generation demonizes and refuses to understand the interests and behaviors of the younger generation. We are dismissed and cast aside like we are “evil…”

Sobers continued,

“It originally started as an online magazine revolving around art, music & culture but it evolved into what you see today because I took up an interest in creating video content. I knew that to make content interesting you have to focus on originality instead of the current trend and that lead me to create content for others.”

With no effort, Sobers seamlessly connects to the culture because he is a product of it. He shows his respect for the visual arts through film fan edits and syncing anime cartoons to dope rap tracks.

Sobers touched on connecting to the Kulture through his content. He said,

“Actually, most of my friends make music so I’m always in a studio session or shooting music videos. I got the bright idea to merge them [anime cartoons to music] when I realized some of the characters I remembered from my childhood had the same kind of personality as the artists I knew and I could make the gestures match as well as I can sync the words. It started to give the characters a personality that you can relate too if you are a fan of the music and a fan of the character…”

Over time, Sobers has mastered his craft. Be like him, pave your own creative path, and rely on a pure passion to drive you to the top. He left some words of wisdom (WoW) for any youths looking to collab or follow in his footsteps. He said,

“Focus on mastery, not clout. All you need to focus on is your passions and your interests because there are going to be days you want to quit but passion will carry you through. Clout will get you fucked up out here but the pursuit of mastery will take you far beyond your own expectations.”

You have the power to create your own world… homie.