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I discovered my uncanny ability to protect my peace in storms at a music festival in 2017. During the festival, a fight had broken out and, while everyone was panicking, I was plotting. As the crowd began scattering, I realized I was standing by a bar and stepped behind it to take cover. Nearby, I heard a co-worker and friend who was also there yelling my name. Understandably shaken, I instructed her to climb under the table that was now blocking the bar to avoid the crowd. Maybe it was as light as thinking on my feet or as deep as a trauma response, but either way, I immediately went into safety mode.
I share the short version of that day because it reflects a similar scenario I think we’re experiencing now. America has become the world’s most entertaining reality show. Technology advances are moving at a pace that makes it hard to keep up. Every day there’s a new “Did you see?” or “Did you hear?” moment. Personally, I learned my lesson the hard way before – when he who shall not be named held the highest seat in the country and inflicted psychological warfare on us for sport.
But after years of going through it, I decided I wanted to experience the world differently, which meant doing things differently. I had to have a serious sit-down with myself – several actually – to deal with insecurities, FOMO, and feeling like I had to do things a certain way or be a certain way. When I started tuning into both the tangible and intangible responses I was having in the world, and making small adjustments in my habits, life got brighter. Not only did I not feel like I was one more life test away from crumbling, I re-discovered the peace of being present in your own world. I became more intentional about the people and things I loved. I remembered what life felt like pre-internet, as much as one can these days, anyway. Most importantly, I found peace again… and I’m committed to doing everything it takes to protect it.
If you’ve made it here, you may be seeking a bit more balance in your world. Things may feel off or just plain on fire, and you want to do something to feel better. No worries, I’ve got you with these tips for your ‘protect your peace toolbox.’
Let’s get into 7 ways to protect your peace this year (and forever).
You are not missing out on anything that requires you to sign up for daily chaos. Filtering out foolishness is increasingly difficult on social media, which includes content posted or shared by family and friends. This seems obvious, but stepping away when you need to is good for the soul. It might feel like you won’t survive being out of the loop, but I promise you’ll be better for it. The anxiety you feel in the matrix is much worse than anything you’ll feel during your social media hiatus.
If you have an overwhelmingly negative reaction to your social fast, then it might be time to figure out why. Those of us of a certain age (read: millennials and older) grew up without these platforms, so why do they have so much control? When was the last time you frolicked? Or walked in your neighborhood? Or read a book? So that last one was me calling myself out, but the amount of time many people spend scrolling, liking, and commenting could be spent with people you love (like the old days), exploring that long overdue hobby goal, or getting some uninterrupted solo time so you can (finally) hear what you really want in this lifetime.
Work-life balance schmalance, I know, but, anytime I’ve over-indexed on either side, my nervous system has paid for it. When I find myself working too hard, eventually, I can be short-tempered, have trouble sleeping, and life starts to feel like a never-ending strategy session. On the flip side, when I’m neglecting my goals and dreams in favor of unbounded good times personally, that often leads to regret and ultimately doubt as time creeps in and “the dream” gets less clear than the initial spark.
I’m not saying to not be on a mission professionally or skip the personal invites – find what works for you. Life is made for living, so do plenty of it.
“What brings you joy these days?” It’s a question I’ve asked every guest on my podcast, She Looks Like Me. It’s my signature question because, as the world amplifies negativity, I want people to understand peace is available in the simplest forms. Peace often hides in the mundane or everyday activities that fast-paced folks tend not to appreciate until it’s too late. But, truly, do you know what makes you happy? Not the, “Oh that’s cool” kind of happy, but the giddy, smiling for no reason, joy oozing out of your pores so much that people want to know what’s got you so radiantly happy kind of happy.
For me, it’s simple things like taking a nap at my grandma’s or going to TJ Maxx with her and my mom for absolutely no reason. I love reading, though much of it has been digital lately and I want to reconnect with old-school physical books. Surprisingly, moving back with my mom to a new-ish city and a different part of the country has brought me so much joy. Being near and exploring Washington, D.C., making regular plans with her, and simply seeing her face daily is something I only got to do a few times a year during the 12 years I lived in Atlanta with no family nearby.
Identify the little and big things that bring happiness into your world. Do them as often as you can. Whether you love monthly staycations or hot yoga, commit to your joy as much as you commit to everything else.
In my best Meredith Marks voice (RHSLC fans will understand this reference) I’m not yelling, I promise… I’m just passionate about protecting my peace and helping you do the same. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s watched strangers go at it on the internet on the posts of people who they also don’t know.
Whether it’s someone you know well or not at all, sometimes the answer is not answering. Sometimes the closure is the lack of care and concern on BOTH sides of the fence. Disengaging from certain connections will undoubtedly be followed by some grief, especially those you’ve held close for a long time. But, do you really want to continue entertaining people, places, and things that half-heartedly hold space for you or have no regard, respect, or forethought about how they’re handling you? Yeah, we’re going the other way moving forward in peace.
I’ve been loving author Mel Robbins’s book tour for her latest release, The Let Them Theory. Though I haven’t purchased it yet, the theory essentially says to let people do and be however they choose. That’s not to say you’ll let people run amuck in your life or overstep your boundaries, but rather that you no longer get riled up over whether people do or don’t or will or won’t. Adopting this habit will unlock new levels of self-assurance and inner peace. Just make sure you’re detaching from the person, place, or situation authentically. You can lie to yourself and others, but you can’t lie to universal energy, so let them have it and mean it (with love).
I understand this privilege isn’t the same for everyone, or possible at any given time, but can we talk about the power of a nap? When you work a job that requires physical labor, it’s easy to understand the toll it takes on your body. Jobs that require your mental labor, though? Whew… those can downright leave you feeling like a zombie. Staring at computer screens for hours on end, being sedentary day in and day out, and working in environments that are constantly scaling, growing, and chasing goals can wear you down in ways that aren’t as quickly felt.
On an episode of Amanda Seales’ Small Doses podcast, she said something along the lines of, “When you’re tired, go to sleep!” It was like a lightbulb went off and life has never been the same. Before that, I thought I was being productive by pushing myself to the brink. Now, I’m clear that most of the things I’m working on, while important, can wait. Besides, my dreams, goals, and work obligations don’t deserve a half or a quarter of me; they deserve me at my best, and, at the very least, in a coherent state.
If you can, take the unanticipated nap. If you have something to do, simply commit to a new time to make it happen and stick to it. Your body and brain will thank you for it in the long run.
The overstimulation of the present day can make it easy to opt out of socializing, but the world can be lonely when you consistently put people off. If you’re not careful, the calls and texts will become less frequent and the invites to hang out slow down or stop altogether. Instead, be intentional with people you say you love.
To love, support, and show up for people requires action. That’s not to say you have to be everywhere all at once all the time. If you can’t do something for whatever reason or you don’t have capacity, honor that. But so many people opt out of nurturing their connections because putting in effort is too much to handle. For those who are experiencing this, I hate to break it to you but real friendships require effort. Would you rather have someone who’s been in the game of life WITH you? Or someone who casually stands on the sidelines, popping in when it’s convenient for them?
Listen, I’m not here to tell you how to make friends or how to keep them. But, in these times, you’re much better off loving on and receiving love from people who get you.
Brunch & Budget
Pockets Change
See Change Financial
Website Design & Strategy
Digital Marketing
Email Marketing (Newsletters)
Copywriting
Graphic Design
SC Creative Group (freelance)
From 2017 to 2021, I worked alongside the passionate team behind several brands to lead their website, email, and brand design strategy. What started as a 5-month marketing management project for one brand (covering brand asset consulting, advertising & social campaigns, social media and website design and strategy), expanded into 3-years of on-going collaboration across three brands in the financial education space.
The network of brands included: Brunch & Budget, affordable financial planning for people of color; Pockets Change, an organization that builds intergenerational financial resilience with students, families, and educators through hip-hop pedagogy; and See Change Financial, a radical financial community for creators of color who are taking control of their finances as a liberatory catalyst to lead value-filled lives.
During our 3-year client/consultant relationship, our work together supported the increased visibility and brand amplification they sought to achieve in unifying their brand message, mission, and visual identity.
We redesigned the site architecture, layout, copy, and visuals of each brand, creating an engaging, ever-updated online presence that kept each community informed and engaged. I also led the creation and implementation of marketing management systems including newsletter and social media content planning, design, and scheduling.
By helping Pam, Dyalekt, and Andrea (the creators) spend less time on promoting their business, they were able to lean into more programming and serving more educators, young adults, parents, and youth. In addition to re-purposing their decade-plus history of financial planning wisdom via their Brunch & Budget podcast, I also made sure during our time working together that they leveraged all opportunities to raise awareness, dollars (fundraising), and impact through storytelling.
One of the biggest achievements of supporting their brand growth goals came through a fundraising campaign for Pockets Change. After implementing a new donor engagement strategy and amplifying the initiative across platforms and partner networks at my recommendation, I helped the organization raise $19,000 in November 2021.
[Graphic Design] Social Media Content Management
During the era of social highlights via quote cards and brand-forward graphics and insights, I designed a set of social media templates for the team’s internal use. These templates helped onboard their interns into social media management while I supported by spearheaded strategy and copy for social and email behind the scenes.
Pockets Change Website Revamp Preview (2019)
Brunch & Budget Website Revamp Preview (2018)
Greenlight
Creative Strategy
Experiential Marketing
Copywriting
Fizz (Atlanta, Georgia)
Greenlight is a financial technology company on a mission to raise financially smart kids. Through its debit card for kids and application subscription, the company makes it easier for parents to teach their kids about money management while giving them a parent-monitored space to learning about things like saving, stocks, and direct deposits. The “all-in-one money app for families,” Greenlight gives kids independence while giving parents peace of mind.
The fintech company contracted Fizz, a word-of-mouth marketing agency based in Atlanta, to help expand brand awareness as it sought to increase users and identify ways to penetrate the market on a national scale for the first time.
As a contracted strategist, I worked alongside the in-house agency team to develop a robust creative WOM marketing strategy that included more than a dozen experiential digital and live brand activations. The goal of the overall strategy was to identify niche sectors within the broader target demographic and pinpoint opportunities (events, life moments, everyday activities, etc.) that would allow the brand to organically make life a little easier – as on-the-go parents and schedule-stacked kids – creating a chance to get curious and engage with GL market managers about the brand.
Working alongside the in-house strategy and design teams, my role was to develop word-of-mouth-marketing concepts into detailed experiences. This included researching a calendar of brand-aligned community and sporting events, developing a go-to-market plan for each concept, and presenting relevant branded swag ideas along with identifying vendors, costs, specs requirements, etc. to pass along to the project manager for execution.
The link below is a preview of one of the concepts I spearheaded the research, copywriting, and strategy development on. This concept was part of a larger word-of-mouth marketing strategy deck.
[Word-of-Mouth Strategy Concept] Greenlight ‘Very Invested Parents’ Strategy
Jim Ellis Automotive Group
Event Planning & Management
Vendor Procurement & Management
Budget Management
Copywriting
Design
Jim Ellis Automotive Advertising Agency
One of the joys of maintaining great professional relationships is being able to work with old employers on new initiatives. Jim Ellis Automotive Group is Atlanta, Georgia’s largest family-owned automotive group.
While the company’s marketing manager was out on maternity leave, I was tapped to step into her role. As the interim marketing manager, one of my responsibilities was to lead and execute the grand opening celebration of the automotive group’s 18th dealership – Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough Grand Opening – a newly remodeled 57,000 square foot facility.
This project was exciting for a few reasons. Namely, the ability to lean into the breadth of my expertise. During this project, I led every aspect of the event, from securing vendors and media communications to run-of-show planning, invitations, and on-site management.
On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Jim Ellis Automotive Group celebrated the official grand opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough. By all accounts, the affair was a successful introduction of the trusted Jim Ellis brand to Atlanta metro’s Southern region.
The event was well-regarded by those in attendance including Jim Ellis Automotive’s President, Jimmy Ellis, special guest executives from Toyota HQ, and – most importantly – the dedicated dealership staff, family, and friends. Special guests included Jim McEachern (Vice President, Southeast Toyota Field Operations) and Billy Copeland (Mayor of McDonough, GA).
The dealership’s acquisition and grand opening received media coverage locally and in notable national outlets including Business Insider and Auto Remarketing.
This project is a great example of my ability to work across teams, using my diverse background to easily navigate multiple corporate brand standards and guidelines, coordinate design projects, draft promotional and media-related communications, manage vendors (catering, event decor, entertainment, photo/video) and budgets, handle experiential logistics, and oversee on-site execution.
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Group Acquires Toyota of McDonough
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Celebrates the Official Grand Opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough
Jim Ellis Automotive Group
Event Planning & Management
Vendor Procurement & Management
Budget Management
Copywriting
Design
Jim Ellis Automotive Advertising Agency
One of the joys of maintaining great professional relationships is being able to work with old employers on new initiatives. Jim Ellis Automotive Group is Atlanta, Georgia’s largest family-owned automotive group.
While the company’s marketing manager was out on maternity leave, I was tapped to step into her role. As the interim marketing manager, one of my responsibilities was to lead and execute the grand opening celebration of the automotive group’s 18th dealership – Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough Grand Opening – a newly remodeled 57,000 square foot facility.
This project was exciting for a few reasons. Namely, the ability to lean into the breadth of my expertise. During this project, I led every aspect of the event, from securing vendors and media communications to run-of-show planning, invitations, and on-site management.
On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Jim Ellis Automotive Group celebrated the official grand opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough. By all accounts, the affair was a successful introduction of the trusted Jim Ellis brand to Atlanta metro’s Southern region.
The event was well-regarded by those in attendance including Jim Ellis Automotive’s President, Jimmy Ellis, special guest executives from Toyota HQ, and – most importantly – the dedicated dealership staff, family, and friends. Special guests included Jim McEachern (Vice President, Southeast Toyota Field Operations) and Billy Copeland (Mayor of McDonough, GA).
The dealership’s acquisition and grand opening received media coverage locally and in notable national outlets including Business Insider and Auto Remarketing.
This project is a great example of my ability to work across teams, using my diverse background to easily navigate multiple corporate brand standards and guidelines, coordinate design projects, draft promotional and media-related communications, manage vendors (catering, event decor, entertainment, photo/video) and budgets, handle experiential logistics, and oversee on-site execution.
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Group Acquires Toyota of McDonough
[Blog Post/Press Relase] Jim Ellis Automotive Celebrates the Official Grand Opening of Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough