by Michelle Porchia Change – something most people do not like or are afraid of. There is a saying, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Change is inevitable. I, for one, like change (most of the time). I like new things. I like doing something different. So, why don’t most people like change?
People want to know what is going to happen. They have a comfort in knowing what was and what they think will be. Often people fight change before they even know what the change is and how it will impact them. The unfortunate thing is, if one does not get on board with change, you may get left behind, be “left in the cold” or locked out entirely. The business world and the world as a whole is ever-changing. We have gone from an agricultural to a manufacturing to a technological society. Many people embraced the change and have been able to keep up and/or move forward. People have reinvented themselves, their business and even their lives. Continue to revisit this webiste for tips on retooling (http://www.ebonyspeakers.com/ebony-speakers-blog.html.) I retooled my life from being a corporate trainer for almost two decades to being an entrepreneur in the midst of a recession. Yes, that was scary and challenging. At the same time it was exciting and invigorating. Recently I embarked on a huge change. I jumped without a net so to speak. I decided to make my move from Connecticut/New England to the South. I have lived North, West and East and I now live South. This move meant I put my business on hold, although I am still coaching clients via the phone. It also meant disposing of most of my belongings and storing the rest. I gave up my personal space to share space in someone else’s home until I can get financially set and get my own place. HUGE change. It is scary and exciting. I have the opportunity to meet a new group of people – potential clients. I also have the opportunity to expand my circle of friends. I get to try new and exciting things. Wow! It is Fall, a time when the earth is changing. In New England the foliage is beautiful as all the leaves change colors (I will miss that this Fall). After a while though, the color goes away and the trees are bare as the earth rests and prepares to reappear in the spring more vibrant and beautiful than before. I don’t know what direction my business will take other than continuing with my coaching clients. I don’t know what direction my life will take. What I know is that I am looking forward to resurfacing more vibrant, ready and innergized than before. Here’s to the season of change! Your Comments are Welcome Below.
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NECN-TV News Anchor Latoyia Edwards with Carole Copeland Thomas at this summer's National Association of Black Journalist Convention in Orlando, Florida by Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP
Latoyia Edwards, one of the most enthusiastic and spirited television personalities in the New England region is our opening keynote speaker at the November 7th Multicultural Conference. She kicks off the morning of more than 20 GREAT speakers, panel presenters and diversity advocates who will be a part of our upcoming event. Did you know that Latoyia is a former Miss Massachusetts??? If not...read on!!!! With two weeks to go, we hope YOU are planning to attend this exciting conference. The Multicultural Conference and the Multicultural Symposium Series (MSS) are the brainchild of entrepreneur Carole Copeland Thomas. DESPITE THE ROLLER COASTER ECONOMY, MSS has been going strong since 2008. It is the only initiative of its kind started and operated by an African American business owner in the region. Here's more information on Latoyia Edwards. Hope to see you at our exciting Nov 7th event. ======== Latoyia Edwards is the weekend Anchor for New England Cable News (NECN) in Boston, Massachusetts. For 13 years Latoyia has had the privilege of covering breaking news and human interest stories for television and radio outlets in New England and in New York. Latoyia is a regular on Boston's WGBH's Basic Black, a live television program hosted by a panel of the region's sharpest observers, who discuss and debate current news, events, and topics that impact the black community locally and nationally. Latoyia recently served as president of the Boston Association of Black Journalists. During her spare time Latoyia enjoys delivering keynote addresses and motivational speeches to youth groups and school children. Latoyia's story of her rise from the projects to the pulpitis able to connect with young and old alike. Prior to joining NECN, Latoyia worked as the weekday 5pm News Anchor for WWLP TV Channel 22 in Springfield, MA. Latoyia's experiences with Channel 22 took her as far as Paraguay, as fast as Richard Petty and as high as the Blue Angles. Before joining Channel 22 Latoyia was crowned Miss Massachusetts, USA 2002. Latoyia accredits the pageant experience for helping project her career. Before joining the 22 News team Latoyia provided local new updates on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Drive Radio Show for WILD 96.9 in Boston. During that time Latoyia taught Performance for Television at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Latoyia first anchored television for Media One Cable News Network in Lowell, MA where she covered local news and political stories for Billerica, Tewksbury and Lowell. Prior to that Latoyia got her start in television as a news reporter for WICZ Channel 40 a Fox Affiliate in Binghamton, New York. She began her career in news during her college internship as a news writer forWBZ-1030 AM radio. Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College in 1998 Latoyia where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Broadcast Journalism. Latoyia was a scholar athlete who not only excelled in the classroom but on the basketball court breaking numerous NCAA Division III rebounding and blocked shots records. Latoyia currently ranks 5th in the nation in blocked shots per game 5.1 and 4th in the nation in rebounds per game 15.2. While at Boston Latin Academy High School Latoyia knew she wanted to be a news reporter - it was in her blood. Latoyia is the oldest on 9 children who grew up the notorious Columbia Point Housing Project in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. As a member of the Strand Theatres Teen Players Latoyia found her solace in competing in city and school sponsored oratorical, speech competitions and plays. Latoyia is a proud Boston native who was recently names to Boston Business Journal's 2010 Top 40 Under 40 a recognition of Boston's top 40 young professionals who have established themselves as leaders to be watched in their fields. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE NOVEMBER 7TH CONFERENCE. Carole Carole Copeland Thomas C. Thomas & Associates 26 Years In Business 1987 - 2013 (508) 947-5755 by Debra Gould
Debra W. Gould, President of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. was nominated for an Excellence Award from the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council (LAMSDC). The nomination puts you among the best that our supplier diversity community has to offer. From our corporations and MBEs to individual buyers and advocates that are so important in ensuring supply chain diversity. It was so exciting to be celebrated and recognized during LAMSDC 40th Anniversary Awards & Scholarship Gala on August 23, 2013 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. since December 2000 is certified with Louisiana Minority Business Development Council and National Office as a minority-owned business. Year 2002 Silver Award Recipient, Year 2003 Nominee for Entrepreneur of the Year and Year 2013 LAMSDC Excellence Award Nomination - Supplier of the Year Tier I from the Louisiana Minority Business Council. LAMSDC network serves to promote procurement opportunities among the Council's minority suppliers and nurture relationships between buyers and sellers that increase the number of minority firms actively engaged in corporate supply chains. The Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council (LAMSDC) provides both advocacy and business development services to certified Asian-American, Native-American, Hispanic-American and African-American owned business enterprises. The business relationship that Debra Gould & Associates has been able to participate and leverage my company through LAMSDC services that specialize in facilitating new and existing sourcing opportunities from their corporate members to their certified minority owned businesses. The MBE certification is the designation that Corporate America uses to track direct and indirect spend with businesses owned and controlled by ethnic minority owned suppliers. Leveraging over 40 years of experience in advocacy and ethnic minority business development, LAMSDC and NMSDC offer: MBE certification Business consultation Sourcing assistance to buyers from our member corporation Souring assistance to certified MBEs Technical assistance Access to capital resources Economic impact assessments Exclusive networking events Corporate and MBE training programs Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com Debra W. Gould Motivational Speaker Keynote Facilitator Trainer Coaching Author LAMSDC NMSDC Supplier of the Year Tier I LAMSDC Excellence Award Nomination Promotional Items Your comments are welcome By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC
Today’s workplace is filled with uncertainty, chaos, and change. We are seeing things happen in business and with employees that is unprecedented. Downsizing, resizing, mergers, organizations simply going out of business is becoming all too common. As a result of this you have more and more people looking for jobs in totally different industries. So how do you retool your career? You look within and identify who you are, what your strengths and attributes are, and what you are good at doing and enjoy. Retooling is about being authentic and true to your core values and recognizing how to turn challenges into opportunities. What are you passionate and energized about relating to work? What dreams have you been sitting on? Now is an opportunity to see if you can align your dreams with your passion as you retool your career. You must get into action and take steps to retool your career. It means reviewing and making sure your resume reflects your strengths and highlights your accomplishments and successes. It requires letting people in your network know you are looking for an opportunity to share your skills and attributes in a progressive company that values stars. This is not a time to sit back and hope someone finds you. Remember it is not what you know or who you know, rather who knows you and what they know about you. You must BRAND YOU! You must be willing to learn and develop skills in areas that you have not been exposed to before. It might require going back to school for a degree, taking professional development courses at a local community college, or getting a mentor or a coach. It may mean having to do research/reading on an area of interest you know little about. The important thing to remember is you must commit to lifelong learning. In retooling, you take your transferable skills and apply them to your next career opportunity. If you were good at marketing, technology, teaching, etc. how can you leverage those skills in your next career move? It is vital to build on what you have learned in life and be willing to utilize those same skills in a new career. You can no longer guarantee that jobs you have had in the past will be what you do in the future. You must be open minded and have a willing spirit to adapt to the constant world of change. Retooling makes you look at what is important to you and then begin a plan of action for moving forward in the face of change to achieve greatness in your life. Remember to ask for what you want, engage others in your job search, commit to life-long learning, look at failure as a detour and not a destination, keep a positive attitude, and continue to walk in integrity and faith. Your Comments Are Welcome Below |
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