July 2024 – MONICA WISDOM- SPEAKER. WRITER. COACH

Embracing the Future: Celebrating Women’s Power and Unity

A Week of Transformation: Standing on the Precipice of History

What a week this has been. Regardless of where you stand politically, the world has shifted, and we find ourselves on the brink of potentially witnessing the United States’ first woman president. Emotionally, I am elated to see communities galvanizing to support this seismic shift. A new era feels possible, and I am ready for it.

Caught up in the energy of the moment, I pray it transcends mere symbolism and ushers in a time of true transformation. When we tell our girls they can be anything—even president—it will not be a scene from The Simpsons or the Barbie movie we point to. It will be Kamala Harris who receives adoration and recognition. And it will be all of us who stood in our power to ensure we have a future to be proud of.

A woman’s voice is powerful and necessary. When we fully understand our power and its impact, lives shift and transform. In business, we build empires to help people thrive and to create legacies for our families. We know all too well about being the first, opening doors, and breaking down barriers. We often stand at the intersection of survival and courage, knowing that moving forward is our only choice.

Over the last two weeks, I have been recalibrating my business to focus on helping women entrepreneurs amplify their values, voices, and vision. It is paramount that we dream bigger and elevate our power in ways that speak to and for women. Our energetic force, equally powerful as men’s, emphasizes empathy, compassion, and love.

We are the balance the world needs. Feminine power brings harmony to life and business. We enrich the rooms we walk into, but truthfully, we are also exhausted. It is hard to shrink ourselves to fit what the world needs. If this week has shown us anything, it is the example of feminine power, the strength of community, and the importance of empathy.

As we navigate these next three months, be encouraged that you are part of a sisterhood demonstrating what is possible with a laser-focused mission. When you work as a team, get support for your ideas, and share your story, we are unstoppable. Together, we will win—not only in this moment but in life.

In solidarity, now and beyond,

Monica Wisdom
Founder, Writer, Coach

Monica Wisdom Global & Black Women Amplified
www.monicawisdomhq.com

Celebrating the Vastness of Black Identity

I received a TikTok message this week saying, “She ain’t black,” accompanied by a photo of Kamala Harris with her South East Asian family. This sparked a deep, personal question within me: Am I black enough?

Reflecting on my roots, I realize my cocoa-brown skin only tells part of my story. My great-great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side was a white man from Virginia. My dad’s mom had very light skin and straight hair, hinting at a mixed heritage. Despite these diverse origins, my mother instilled in me a rich sense of Black identity. She shared stories of African kings and queens, great Black Americans like Maya Angelou and James Baldwin, and our family ties to influential figures such as Dr. Ralph J. Bunche and Alice Windom. This upbringing taught me that Blackness is not a monolithic.

Understanding my heritage and the complexities of Black identity, I embrace my Blackness fully. It is a culture I love and cherish, that connects me to a global majority and rich history. Despite being called names like Oreo and white girl in high school due to my interests and dialect, I know my story did not begin in slavery but in greatness. This perspective allows me to see the true issue behind the claims against Kamala Harris is an issue of power, not bloodline.

We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. The question we face is whether we will revert to old hierarchies or build a stronger democracy. For me, freedom means being able to embrace all facets of my identity. What does your Blackness look like?

Monica Wisdom,

Consultant, Monica Wisdom Global.

Amplify Your Voice: The Need for New Voices in Podcasting

Hey Family,

I’ve been tuning into so many voices lately, and it’s clear we need some fresh ones in the mix. Starting my podcast was all about sharing my stories and establishing my perspective. This journey has been both tough and rewarding, and it’s made me realize just how important it is to bring new voices into the atmosphere.

People create podcasts for all kinds of reasons—building a business, reviewing movies, or simply sharing their love for a great story. The scope is vast. But with AI and social media evolving rapidly, it’s crucial to find new ways to communicate and share our expertise. Podcasts aren’t just about big names like Joe Rogan or Club Shay Shay anymore. More and more companies and entrepreneurs are using them to build trust, connect deeply with their audience, and document their life journeys.

We spend so much time building a legacy that we forget to archive it. I always tell the elders in my family that our conversations need to be recorded for future generations. And truthfully, your voice and perspective are just as necessary as those we hear often. Everyone started with the idea of having something to say. Some people may be loud and wrong, but some have the keys to the queendom. Those are the voices I want to hear—the ones that inspire and make a direct impact in my life. Those who have faced challenges and don’t mind sharing their journey.

But where does one begin? You know I’ve got you covered and will share more later. For now, I just want you to examine your legacy and how you plan to preserve it for future generations. How do you plan to share your wisdom and powerful experiences with the world? Or let the world know about the hobbies you love? There are so many possibilities. You don’t have to be Oprah, but you can certainly amplify your voice and connect with people in a whole new way.

Stay tuned, and let’s amplify our voices together.

Love y’all, Monica Wisdom

P.S. Don’t forget to check out our latest podcast episode, read the blog, and join the insider email list. Black Women Amplified is on the move because of each of you. www.blackwomenamplified.com

United We Stand: The Importance of Collective Action

We often speak of independence as if it is a singular concept, but true freedom is an actuality that comes to us as a nation through a series of laws, amendments, bills, policies, and so forth. However, personal freedoms, as we are learning, are fragile. We tout our individualism, but the truth is we are interdependent and need each other to survive. The pandemic showcased that we are indeed stronger together. We learned to depend on technology and strangers in an entirely new way.

It’s said that the first will be the last and the last will be the first, and in those moments, we cheered for those who often went unseen. Now, we have moved them back into society’s shadows, forgetting how we could not survive without the sacrifices grocery store clerks, nurses, teachers, and others made to keep us safe and moving forward. We still owe them so much, those that survived. During that time, we lost so many and so much, and now we are losing the freedoms we cherish. The freedom to thrive in a nation built for prosperity is being challenged, and we continue to push for everyone to experience the fullness of this nation’s promises.

But what is coming down the pike, no longer hidden in plain sight, is a plan to deny us any opportunities to be ourselves, to fulfill our destiny, and to live our dreams of success. Though I was not born during Jim Crow, I am the first generation born after it ended, but the infrastructure was still very much alive. One thing I know for sure is that I am not interested in living in a monarchy or within the structure of Jim Crow. This time, it will affect everyone who does not conform to the plans in place.

Often, when I talk about voting, I speak of the past—how people died for our right to vote and live where we want to live, how people died for the rights of women, and how people fought to have the freedom to love who they want. But during this moment, I feel it is important to speak of the future, a future that includes everyone.

I remember when a good friend of mine was starting her business. I went through my MVP Process with her. It is a process I created to help people get clear about their future. The end of the process involves creating a vision board. She took the vision board component and added it to her business model. She had her employees add their dreams to the company’s board. This idea encompasses Dr. King’s discussion of interdependence and the wisdom that we are stronger together. This vision board not only helped make the company successful, but the employees also experienced their dreams coming true. If we focus on our dreams and understand that others also have their dreams, we can all forge a win together. That is what is before us in the decisions we will make in the next few months—the understanding that when I win, we all win. That is the fundamental focus of true community.

I was watching an interview with VP Kamala Harris and the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. It was a very interesting conversation. As much as I think I know, I try to stay open to learn more about other communities. In that conversation, they began to speak about IVF, and I was a bit confused, but it piqued my interest. I had the biggest OMG moment. In my anger about what was happening to women’s reproductive rights, I never once considered how it impacted the queer community. That is how several people in that community are blessed with children and the ability to have the families they dream of. Although I decided long ago not to become a parent, I talk about it on my podcast, I would not want anyone who is on that path to be denied the ability to have a child of their own. Not only will I support them, but I will fight right alongside them.

That is the future—the realization that not only do our issues intersect, but for all of us to build our legacy and a path to liberation for future generations, we have to do it together as fiercely as others are trying to tear us apart. We all have our opinions of each other and the lives that we live, but I love living in a country that allows it to happen, that allows debate, allows for civil discourse, and allows us to uphold the Constitution even though there are parts I wish were erased. My entire point is I am voting for an administration that sees my humanity and paves roads for my dreams to flourish. That allows me to complain and still makes sure that I have the right to speak freely, choose who I want to pray to, what I want to read, love who I want, and make choices for my body. There is a clear line in the sand, and I hope that your choices include my ability to actualize my dreams, just like my choice includes your ability to actualize yours. The future is forward.

Peace and Blessings,
Monica Wisdom
Chief Mentor, Black Women Amplified & Amplified Podcasting Academy

Trusting the Call: My Journey from Career to Calling

I was recently asked if I was happy with my decision to leave my career. For 35 years, I dedicated my life, time, and money to an industry I loved. It was all about pure creativity, expression, and the joy of helping people see themselves in a new, beautiful way. From working with celebrities to nurses and global brands, I built not only my life but also contributed to the lives of others.

As time passed, I began to feel a deep calling that, while at the core of what I was doing, was bigger than I understood. When I was young, God spoke to me during a seemingly mundane moment at the shampoo bowl. It felt like I slipped into another portal, and I heard the voice loud and clear, calling me to preach. I brushed it off as a strange moment and went back to work.

Nearly 20 years later, the question arose: What’s next? I always asked myself if I was where I wanted to be in five years, and for the first time, the answer was no. It shook me to my core. Through deep prayer and meditation, I knew it was time to move on and elevate to the realm God called me into—the space of helping women heal and see their divinity within.

Honestly, I was scared. The pandemic shifted something inside of me, cracking the cloud of comfort I was in. One day, an interaction with a client—the first of its kind in 35 years—broke the bubble, and I knew it was time to move forward. I had no idea what I was going to do. Black Women Amplified was in its infant stage, and I was still refining its mission, but it spoke to my heart.

The thread running through my life is my advocacy for women, specifically Black women. From fighting against domestic violence to cancer and social justice, speaking for the voiceless has been at my core—not because I have a deep need to be a hero, but because I didn’t have someone to stand in the gap for me. Through abuse, low self-worth, poverty, and other traumas, I built a shell of protection to feel safe.

I knew that part of my new journey was to heal and unravel the programs of society, my inner thoughts, and family expectations. This version of self-discovery has been monumental. There were so many lies I believed about myself, many misconceptions from what the world told me I was as a fat, weird, female. Why weird? Because I see life through a unique lens, shaped by my specific experiences, and it’s on the fringe of societal norms. But it’s this point of view that draws people in.

People want to hear my perspective and advice on life’s issues. I have a magnet within that opens people up, and they share their realities with me. It can be daunting, but I’ve finally accepted it as my gift. I couldn’t have reached this point without taking the step forward that God had for me—the steps I avoided for decades because I didn’t believe I was worthy until now. Evidence of my life led me to believe it for so long.

In a trigger moment, my dear friend Susan called and recognized my mood. She talked me off the ledge, helping me see my truth along with the miracles and blessings God shared with me. Evidence of all the good surrounding my life. So, when my friend asked if I still felt good about my decision, the answer was a resounding yes. I am grateful for the opportunity to explore and create the dreams God has for my life and to build Black Women Amplified into a space where Black women can heal and see the divine gift they are.

We matter! Now it is time for us to know it fully in our hearts. God is calling us home to ourselves, but like me, it requires us to heal our hearts and shift our minds to fully see our purpose and hear our calling. Because we are tired, y’all. If you are ready to make that journey within, I created a great journal called Self-Love Renaissance, and you can purchase it on Amazon here.

Have a blessed day,

Monica Wisdom

Chief Mentor

Harnessing Your Experience: Become the Voice the World Needs

The world needs new voices. Voices that have intelligence, experience, practical knowledge, and integrity. With everything being so loud, it is hard to decipher what is real and what is not. Now, with AI, it is easier than ever for people to just make everything up for clicks and views, making money with nonsense that confuses our thoughts. I miss the time of true, long-form journalism when people took months, even years, to follow a story and report on their findings. Now, with fast media, we get reports on Instagram posts and people with elevated social media numbers. This is why we need new voices.

I see this happening so much in the online space that I am unfollowing many people I once thought knew more than me. The truth is, that people are always looking for a hustle, looking for a way to elevate. I get it. As an entrepreneur for over 30 years, I know the hustle of life. But I was taught integrity and to do what I believed in. We didn’t have clicks and views when I started in business. We had a pager and our word, and we said, “word is bond.” If someone broke their word or did not deliver on their promises, it was over.

In this climate of information, we must find voices that can back up what they say. People like you, who are gifted, experienced, and have fact-based information. Speaking with confidence and conviction is not fact-based information. It is someone selling snake oil (Google it). But as women, so many of us have been conditioned to believe that our voice has no value or to allow men to lead. Don’t get me wrong, I love a strong man. But I am not a woman who stands behind anyone. It took me years to discover the courage to speak up and speak out and, most importantly, to know in my heart that my voice has value. Not only does my voice have value, but it is powerful enough to share with others without compromising my integrity for clicks and views.

I know someone reading this is thinking the same thing. Night after night, you watch the news via media or social media, and you have information to support the idea or to refute it, based on your experience and practical knowledge. But you either say it out loud or share it with a friend. Why not share it with the world? We have become so celebrity-focused that we forget everyone started with just a dream and determination. The beauty of technology is that you can begin a platform, sometimes for free. It is entirely possible to turn your “one-day” dreams into your “now” actions. With the idea of wanting to help people, you can start a newsletter, a blog, or a podcast from the comfort of your home. With AI, you have a qualified editor at your fingertips.

But I am not trying to convince you to start anything. I am simply letting you know that your voice has value, and the world needs new voices with innovation and integrity. If you were exploring the idea of a podcast, I created a Gameplan Checklist so you can see what it takes to begin a podcasting journey. Maybe your dream is to become a speaker, but you don’t know how to get your ideas out into the world and social media is not your jam. A podcast is a happy center between you and an audience without the pressure of hitting the stages of others. You will have the opportunity to get your message into the world and start building a community. Again, all from the comfort of your home.

As cliché as it sounds, if I could do it, so can you. If you are interested in talking about what is possible, my coaching schedule has some available spots. We can chat about podcasting or simply what it takes to get your voice, ideas, and expertise out into the world. And no, it is not too late. Your experience is what the world needs right now to help navigate through even the messiest of journeys. At the end of the day, everyone started right where they are; the only difference is their “one day” became today.

For more information on how I can help you develop your ideas and turn them into a platform, check out this website and book a discovery call. I promise your story is worthy of being shared. Have an amazing day and come back for more blog posts and information.

Love and light,

Monica Wisdom, Chief Mentor

Women’s Empowerment Through Storytelling: Tips for Successful Interviews

Hello,

I hope you are having a great day.

I just completed a podcast interview, and it was short and sweet. Women’s empowerment is my jam, so it was easy to have the conversation. One thing I can say if you are going into these interview streets is to have your stories ready to share and be ready to share boldly and unapologetically. You have lived your life, and no one is better at telling your story than you.

Now, here is a secret: do not share a story you are still healing from. It makes it difficult to share and continue in an impactful way. Now, don’t get me wrong, I will cry at a commercial, but if you are showcasing yourself, it is best to share stories that have a beginning, middle, and end. If you are still in the middle of it, feel free to share it but be honest that you are still trying to figure it all out. Life is real, and if you are going to share what is real, then keep it real.

Remember, sharing your story is about your audience. The people who will hear you. In order to take them through your journey, like any great movie, present a beginning, middle, and end. Tell a story, don’t just give an answer. It comes across as robotic and shallow. If you are not clear on how that works, watch interviews on YouTube or listen to other podcasts. Find some brilliant storytellers and listen to how they respond to questions. The tone of their voice, the pace of their answers, the length of the story. Storytelling is your superpower, and if you learn to tell a great story that connects with emotion while being concise, you will have a brilliant interview.

Happy Chatting,

Monica Wisdom
Chief Mentor, Black Women Amplified
Chief Educator, Amplified Podcasting Academy

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Archive for July, 2024

Celebrating the Vastness of Black Identity

Trusting the Call: My Journey from Career to Calling

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Archive for July, 2024

Embracing the Future: Celebrating Women’s Power and Unity 0

A Week of Transformation: Standing on the Precipice of History

Celebrating the Vastness of Black Identity 0

Amplify Your Voice: The Need for New Voices in Podcasting 0

United We Stand: The Importance of Collective Action 0

Trusting the Call: My Journey from Career to Calling 0

Harnessing Your Experience: Become the Voice the World Needs 0

Women’s Empowerment Through Storytelling: Tips for Successful Interviews 0

ADDRESS

EMAIL

PHONE

Embracing the Future: Celebrating Women’s Power and Unity

Celebrating the Vastness of Black Identity

Amplify Your Voice: The Need for New Voices in Podcasting

United We Stand: The Importance of Collective Action

Trusting the Call: My Journey from Career to Calling

Harnessing Your Experience: Become the Voice the World Needs

Women’s Empowerment Through Storytelling: Tips for Successful Interviews