June is here!
Ok, so it has been awhile since my last post, but I did begin to write one last week and the draft is way too long. I stopped myself because I began making all these commitments to myself about organization, focusing on current projects, etc. and I realized that I was getting wrapped up in the vision of it all and not doing the work. Instead I spent last week actually accomplishing some things. I have also decided what I need to accomplish during this next month so that my year end goal is met.
1. "The Other N Word"
When you "log out of the Matrix," the clarity you are able to attain is quite amazing. My decision to write a book, like all of my ideas, was an evolutionary process. When I left my firm, I made a promise to myself that I would get my business to a level where I could land my firm as a client. This was, on the one hand, a reasonable goal and, on the other hand, an irrational need to validate my creative endeavors with the type of "legitimacy" acceptable to those who were dumbfounded (read disappointed) by the fact that "I was no longer a lawyer."
After about 5 or 6 months, I finally came up with a potential proposal. I thought that I could come in as a consultant to help young associates get a clearer and more straightforward understanding of what it take to be successful at the law firm, including the need to network inside and outside the firm, navigating associate-partner relationships, debunking the myths about what it takes to be successful, etc. I had kept in contact with one of the consultants, Jeff McKinney, who came in to help with diversity issues right before I left the firm. Of all the people any corporation I'd worked for had brought in, Jeff was the only one that was truly helpful in a practical way. In fact, I used many of the tips he suggested when I started networking on behalf of what was to become Muse CAA. We were going to work together to come up with an actual sellable idea and approach and I even broached the subject with my law firm mentor who said that when I came up with something solid she would present it to the right folks at the firm.
I began thinking about how this idea would work, would I work directly with associates? In groups? One on One? Would I be able to be honest about what it takes? Would I simultaneously work with partners? Etc. The more I thought about it, the more the idea began to narrow itself and the more realistic it became, but I was not sure I could reach my intended audience with my intended message in a PC way. I also thought about the fact that I did not really want to spend my time being at a law firm when I had just escaped that environment 6 months prior. I was enjoying spending my time with non "A-type" personalities and I realized that I had uncovered something that had more (and less) universal appeal and worth.
Particularly, by going through this journey of entrepreneurialship I had uncovered the reason behind most of the shortcomings, for lack of a better term, African-Americans experience in the business world. More importantly, I have come up with a simple and straightforward way to both explain and remedy the problem. As I type this, it sounds pretty cocky, but "it is what it is."
Needless to say, I want you to read the book and find out if I am right, but for now I will say that the other N word is networking and our particular relationship to that word and the connotations and implications that come with it have, heretofore, acted as a barrier to true success. Like the "real" N word, we need to understand its historical context, assess our relationship and sensitivity to its use, and remix it so that those connotations and implications become empowering instead of disenfranchising.
In terms of my goal for the end of the year, I have decided to commit to writing every Monday since I already take no meetings and try not to have too much work to do since Mondays suck so much.
When you "log out of the Matrix," the clarity you are able to attain is quite amazing. My decision to write a book, like all of my ideas, was an evolutionary process. When I left my firm, I made a promise to myself that I would get my business to a level where I could land my firm as a client. This was, on the one hand, a reasonable goal and, on the other hand, an irrational need to validate my creative endeavors with the type of "legitimacy" acceptable to those who were dumbfounded (read disappointed) by the fact that "I was no longer a lawyer."
After about 5 or 6 months, I finally came up with a potential proposal. I thought that I could come in as a consultant to help young associates get a clearer and more straightforward understanding of what it take to be successful at the law firm, including the need to network inside and outside the firm, navigating associate-partner relationships, debunking the myths about what it takes to be successful, etc. I had kept in contact with one of the consultants, Jeff McKinney, who came in to help with diversity issues right before I left the firm. Of all the people any corporation I'd worked for had brought in, Jeff was the only one that was truly helpful in a practical way. In fact, I used many of the tips he suggested when I started networking on behalf of what was to become Muse CAA. We were going to work together to come up with an actual sellable idea and approach and I even broached the subject with my law firm mentor who said that when I came up with something solid she would present it to the right folks at the firm.
I began thinking about how this idea would work, would I work directly with associates? In groups? One on One? Would I be able to be honest about what it takes? Would I simultaneously work with partners? Etc. The more I thought about it, the more the idea began to narrow itself and the more realistic it became, but I was not sure I could reach my intended audience with my intended message in a PC way. I also thought about the fact that I did not really want to spend my time being at a law firm when I had just escaped that environment 6 months prior. I was enjoying spending my time with non "A-type" personalities and I realized that I had uncovered something that had more (and less) universal appeal and worth.
Particularly, by going through this journey of entrepreneurialship I had uncovered the reason behind most of the shortcomings, for lack of a better term, African-Americans experience in the business world. More importantly, I have come up with a simple and straightforward way to both explain and remedy the problem. As I type this, it sounds pretty cocky, but "it is what it is."
Needless to say, I want you to read the book and find out if I am right, but for now I will say that the other N word is networking and our particular relationship to that word and the connotations and implications that come with it have, heretofore, acted as a barrier to true success. Like the "real" N word, we need to understand its historical context, assess our relationship and sensitivity to its use, and remix it so that those connotations and implications become empowering instead of disenfranchising.
In terms of my goal for the end of the year, I have decided to commit to writing every Monday since I already take no meetings and try not to have too much work to do since Mondays suck so much.
2. Muse CAA
My commitment to limit my business development efforts has been difficult to keep because after being on the scene for a year and a half, people are starting to reach out to me. My focus is to be in a position to have an official launch party at the end of the year. This means that I would have had enough successes under my belt that I will feel confident that Muse is what I say it is, all of my administrative paperwork, etc. is taken care of and I have an official business plan going into 2011.
To this end, I am organizing the next few months of my life to make this happen. I am not taking on any pro bono projects or jumping onto other people's endeavors unless it is for pay and directly related to the fulfillment of my Muse goals. I am setting realistic, but high goals for my current clients and projects and I am moving forward everyday.
My commitment to limit my business development efforts has been difficult to keep because after being on the scene for a year and a half, people are starting to reach out to me. My focus is to be in a position to have an official launch party at the end of the year. This means that I would have had enough successes under my belt that I will feel confident that Muse is what I say it is, all of my administrative paperwork, etc. is taken care of and I have an official business plan going into 2011.
To this end, I am organizing the next few months of my life to make this happen. I am not taking on any pro bono projects or jumping onto other people's endeavors unless it is for pay and directly related to the fulfillment of my Muse goals. I am setting realistic, but high goals for my current clients and projects and I am moving forward everyday.
3. Sheila Johnson
One of my projects is an AIDS campaign that I would love to get Sheila Johnson involved with. She recently executive produced a documentary about AIDS in DC that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and it is an issue near and dear to both of our hearts. DC leads the nation in HIV and AIDS cases, particularly in the black community and, therefore, we should be the leaders in fighting the epidemic.
Sheila Johnson is my "Millionaire Muse" because, first of all, she is the first black female billionaire...yes, before Oprah! She is also a great example of "The Secret" in practice. I first heard her name when I was having lunch with a partner at my firm, Bill Hall. He is a big name in sports here in DC and really on the scene. I had met him at the firm a few times, but I did not gain a relationship with him until I decided to leave the firm. I was still officially working there, but had given my notice and was in full networking mode. My mentor, Warner Session, had invited me to the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and Bill was being honored for the major part he took in getting the Nationals Stadium built here in DC. I got up my nerve and went over to say hello to him and the next week I sent an email inviting him to lunch. I told him about what I was trying to do and he asked if I knew Sheila Johnson. I had no idea who she was, but quickly found out that she was previously married to Bob Johnson and they started BET together and she went on to be a mogul, owning the Washington Mystics, Market Salamander, investing in tons of other endeavors and just being smart and saavy. I googled her and it was over, I had found my model for mogulhood.
I told everyone I spoke to that I wanted to meet her and I even emailed her directly (bad move...but gutsy...lol). I was 1 degree of separation from her in like 20 directions. Then I started seeing her at the Mystics games and by that time I was deliberately trying not to meet her because I decided that I wanted to work with her. I wanted to be introduced with "gravitas" and not simply as someone who "loooooved" her. Because when you put something out in the universe it really does get closer to being real, it has been difficult not to meet her and since everyone knows that I admire her so much, I get calls/emails all the time about opportunities to meet her and stories about how they met her.
Anyway, having her as a Muse has changed my life and gave me confidence when meeting people who I would have previously been intimidated by. "Are you the first black female billionaire? No? Oh, ok." No one was any better or different from me since the only person who I really wanted to meet was Sheila and whoever I was in front of could not say that they were the first black woman billionaire. This really helped me be myself and confident, which is the real secret to networking.
All that is to say that I plan to have my campaign essentials completed by the end of the summer so that I can take that meeting and impress my "Millionaire Muse" if not with my idea, with the esteem that I am introduced with and my hustle and drive.
This is the next 7 months of my life in a nutshell, now back to work!
One of my projects is an AIDS campaign that I would love to get Sheila Johnson involved with. She recently executive produced a documentary about AIDS in DC that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and it is an issue near and dear to both of our hearts. DC leads the nation in HIV and AIDS cases, particularly in the black community and, therefore, we should be the leaders in fighting the epidemic.
Sheila Johnson is my "Millionaire Muse" because, first of all, she is the first black female billionaire...yes, before Oprah! She is also a great example of "The Secret" in practice. I first heard her name when I was having lunch with a partner at my firm, Bill Hall. He is a big name in sports here in DC and really on the scene. I had met him at the firm a few times, but I did not gain a relationship with him until I decided to leave the firm. I was still officially working there, but had given my notice and was in full networking mode. My mentor, Warner Session, had invited me to the Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and Bill was being honored for the major part he took in getting the Nationals Stadium built here in DC. I got up my nerve and went over to say hello to him and the next week I sent an email inviting him to lunch. I told him about what I was trying to do and he asked if I knew Sheila Johnson. I had no idea who she was, but quickly found out that she was previously married to Bob Johnson and they started BET together and she went on to be a mogul, owning the Washington Mystics, Market Salamander, investing in tons of other endeavors and just being smart and saavy. I googled her and it was over, I had found my model for mogulhood.
I told everyone I spoke to that I wanted to meet her and I even emailed her directly (bad move...but gutsy...lol). I was 1 degree of separation from her in like 20 directions. Then I started seeing her at the Mystics games and by that time I was deliberately trying not to meet her because I decided that I wanted to work with her. I wanted to be introduced with "gravitas" and not simply as someone who "loooooved" her. Because when you put something out in the universe it really does get closer to being real, it has been difficult not to meet her and since everyone knows that I admire her so much, I get calls/emails all the time about opportunities to meet her and stories about how they met her.
Anyway, having her as a Muse has changed my life and gave me confidence when meeting people who I would have previously been intimidated by. "Are you the first black female billionaire? No? Oh, ok." No one was any better or different from me since the only person who I really wanted to meet was Sheila and whoever I was in front of could not say that they were the first black woman billionaire. This really helped me be myself and confident, which is the real secret to networking.
All that is to say that I plan to have my campaign essentials completed by the end of the summer so that I can take that meeting and impress my "Millionaire Muse" if not with my idea, with the esteem that I am introduced with and my hustle and drive.
This is the next 7 months of my life in a nutshell, now back to work!
No comments:
Post a Comment