Mindset Matters With Lashana (Ms. West Creative Coach) and Charlese (Girl at The Yellow Desk)

Mindset Matters. 

Simply stated, it’s because your perception is your reality. To combat negativity, you MUST change your thoughts to change your life.

On this week’s episode, we move beyond all the mindset cliches and what you think you know about it while we take a deep dive into the importance and methods of cultivating thoughts needed for a better and more successful life. 

I’m joined by two brilliant guests: LaShana aka Ms.West Creative Coach and Charlese - Girl at The Yellow Desk.

LaShana and Charlese share their personal stories and journeys, along with how they’ve learned to pivot, grow, and succeed despite life’s twists and turns. 

We also talked about how to build meaningful relationships, especially with your customers and the importance of active listening and research so that your audience feels seen and heard. 

Most importantly, we explored the way motivation follows movement and we covered what to do if you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, lost or frustrated so you can turn it around.

Charlese Latham is known as the Girl at the Yellow Desk. She was an entrepreneur in the beauty industry for over 20 years, but her inspiring story of resilience tells us how a devastating accident led to early retirement of the only career she knew and starting over again with a new business and life, with more success than ever.

Her strengths are Copywriting and Content Creation, especially for course launches and she absolutely loves to support other female entrepreneurs by taking away their overwhelm during busy launch seasons with her 3 steps to a 5-figure course launch system.

She’s been published in Entrepreneur.com, featured in Self Magazine, interviewed on dozens of podcasts, spoken on several summits, worked with multiple 6 and 7 figure client launches, is about to release her book, and has recently launched her very own course: Plan Your Best Launch, Ever!

You can connect with Charlese on Instagram @GirlattheYellowDesk and use the link in her profile to grab her FREE Social Media Templates for a 5 Figure Launch.

LaShana West aka Ms. West Creative Coach has been serving in the mental health field for over 20 years.  This is where she learned the importance of having true compassion and engaging in servant leadership.  All of these learning opportunities have positioned her to serve and step into a new direction by helping others in the creative and entrepreneurial field.  

With the mental health background coupled with the business acumen LaShana is able to help the "whole person".  LaShana believes that past unresolved trauma and imposter syndrome is a common barrier for most people no matter if you're a 9-5er or entrepreneur.  But with support and accountability you can do ANYTHING that your heart desires!

You can connect with LaShana on her website: www.mswestcreativecoach.com or text the word ‘Mindset’ to 678-336-7756 and she’ll send you her best tips!

👉 I promise you, THIS is an epic episode, you won’t be the same after. 

🎧 Listen HERE.

Listen to "Mindset Matters With Lashana (Ms. West Creative Coach) and Charlese (Girl at The Yellow Desk)" on Spreaker.

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The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Less is more. Truly. 

But as humans we always seem to want more. Is the desire for more causing us to lose what truly matters?

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the practice of pursuing less. 

Some refer to this as ‘essentialism’ since the purpose is to maintain a deep focus on only the most important things in life.

This discipline is just like any in that it takes a lot of practice. Mindfulness. An active re-commitment to simplifying things we try to complicate.

According to Greg McKeown, “It’s a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.”

If you feel:

• burnt out

• overworked

• unproductive

• unhappy, but too busy to change it

… then this might be the change you’re looking for. 

 A way to finally take control of your life and jump off the treadmill that’s leading nowhere, but exhausting you. 

I invite you to have a listen, to see if what’s in this episode makes the difference in your outlook that it has on mine.

🎧 Listen here.

Listen to "The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" on Spreaker.

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Confident Compassion & Thoughtful Ambition with London Jones and Rayesa Gheewala

As the US heads into the Thanksgiving season, it’s a great reminder for all of us to stop for a minute and reflect on what we’re grateful for.

Because there’s always something, especially the more you dive in.

On this VERY special Deeper Gratitude episode, we’re talking with our amazing guests Rayesa Gheewala and London Jones about what we’re each thankful for now, in this moment, and what we can do with that.

Because gratitude is best followed up with intentional actions. Thoughtful ambition. And confident compassion.

We asked questions like:

• Where are you going deeper in your life? 

• What do you want people to go deeper on?

• What are you grateful for right now?

• What is your invitation to those who are listening to this episode?

Rayesa Gheewala is a coach for women, helping them to find life after divorce. She created The Divorced Muslimah Network - a sanctuary for sisters who are divorced, or in the process, providing safety and support and helping to restore self esteem and confidence while rebuilding lives.

Rayesa describes herself as authentic, clear, patient, compassionate, confident, and resilient. She described our conversation as epic. 

Connect with Rayesa by starting at: Rayesagheewala.com

London Jones is a leader in the Black Equity Collective, working to normalize a culture of trust, collaboration, mutual respect and shared accountability, committed to building a future where Black organizations, families and communities thrive. 

She describes herself as thoughtful, ambitious, sensitive, complex, curious, and playful. She told us this conversation took her on a journey.

Hangout with London on Instagram.

You’ll find yourself inspired to share in the appreciative spirit and energy created here.

Ready to jump on in?

🎧 LISTEN now.

Listen to "Confident Compassion & Thoughtful Ambition with London Jones and Rayesa Gheewala" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Disability Awareness & Making An Impact With Catarina Rivera

How often have you reflected upon your biases, assumptions and misunderstanding of disabled people?

This week we are joined by DEI consultant and stigma smasher Catarina Rivera.

Caterina is the founder of Blindish Latina, a platform smashing disability stigmas through storytelling, advocacy, and training.

She is also a member of Respect Ability's National Disability Speakers Bureau.

Catarina illuminates this important conversation and provides knowledge and actions we can all take and shares with us about the many twists and turns she has taken on her own journey.

As we celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month and Latin Heritage Month, it’s appropriate to listen as Caterina shares with us ways we can work to be more inclusive 365 days of the year.

Honestly, I learned so much during this interview.

🎧 Ready to listen? Let’s go!

You can watch or listen here: www.tomearl.me/cr

Follow Catarina on Instagram.

Learn more on her website.

Listen to "Disability Awareness & Making An Impact With Catarina Rivera" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Resiliency & Growth Through Difficult Conversations With Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir

On our monthly deep dive conversation, we’re going into resiliency and growth with our special guests Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir.

So many things stop us from pushing past the hard stuff, but just on the other side of hard is greatness.

👉 What are the difficult conversations you must have with yourself and others to get you there?

👉 How can you get there when it doesn’t seem like it’s even possible?

👉 And what makes the difference between simply going through a hard time vs. growing through it?

Build the mindset that will get you to resiliency, starting by listening to these deep thinkers discussing their experiences. 

This may be the best thing you’ve done all week, just for yourself.

Sumiyah describes herself in 6 words or less: “Social worker. Business owner. Black Muslim.”

Moses gave us these words as a description: “Kind. caring. Fun. playful. Empathetic. Father.”

🎧 Ready to listen? Let’s go!

Watch or listen here: tomearl.me/rgt

Learn more about Sumiyah here.

You can contact Moses by email here.

Listen to "Resiliency & Growth Through Difficult Conversations With Sumiyah Mshaka and Moses Weir" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Why I Love FB and IG Ads (And You Will Too)

You may have heard that Facebook Ads are the best thing to get a high volume of fresh leads on repeat for your business. Or you may have heard just the opposite. 

I’ve heard people say they aren’t predictable, they are too expensive, or it’s not a path worth going down at all.

I don’t mean to disagree with you or someone you know, but I LOVE Facebook and Instagram Ads. And I can tell you exactly why.

This is a confusing subject for so many, but I’m ready to help clear some things up for you.

Two questions submitted on this subject led to the creation of this very episode and I answer them just for you.

👉 When you started your Facebook ad agency and then later your Facebook Ads course, how did you overcome your fear of starting a new venture?

👉 Why are you passionate about doing ads?

I have to tell you, my friend. It’s easy to talk about something I love so much. 

Ready to hear why? Let’s go!

Listen or watch here.

Listen to "Why I Love FB and IG Ads (And You Will Too)" on Spreaker.

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Creativity Is: Invigorating, Fierce, & Becoming With Dania Ayah Alkhouli & Abstract C.I.M.

What’s more empowering than creativity?

This episode explores how when we tap into our creative side, we become invigorated.

We become fierce. 

And all of us have the ability to tap into our unique creativity.

Our guests, Dania Ayah Alkhouli and Abstract C.I.M. really dive into these topics, sharing what drives them to create meaningful art. 

I am especially inspired by how Dania and Abstract are able to use their art to create change, build a movement, and raise awareness. 

In 6 words or less, Dania describes herself as: “Syrian. Perfectionist. Fierce. Dedicated. Thoughtful. Loyal.”

In 6 words or less, Abstract describes herself as: “Passionate. Creative. Empathetic. Love. balancer. Becoming.”

Ready to listen? Let’s go!

Learn more about Dania here.

Learn more about Abstract here.

​​Listen to "Creativity Is: Invigorating, Fierce, & Becoming With Dania Ayah Alkhouli & Abstract C.I.M." on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.

Reflections On ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’ With Stacey Cosden and Lloyd Wilkey

There is a widely shared photo from the era of the Nazi 3rd Reich.  In it you see everyone ‘heiling’ and saluting to the Führer except for one lone figure. 

Often there is a red circle drawn around this person.  Pointing out the only person standing against the tide of genocide and authoritarianism. 

In Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, Isabel Wilkerson opens her book by asking: 

“We might feel certain that, were we Aryan citizens under the Third Reich, we surely would have seen through it, would have risen above it like him, been that person resisting authoritarianism and brutality in the face of mass hysteria...But unless people are willing to transcend their fears, endure discomfort and derision, suffer the scorn of loved ones and neighbors and co-workers and friends, fall into disfavor of perhaps everyone they know, face exclusion and even banishment, it would be numerically impossible, humanly impossible, for everyone to be that man. What would it take to be him in any era? What would it take to be him now?”

As Isabel Wilkerson points out, while we all may assert we would be that person, the reality is that “it would be numerically impossible, humanly impossible, for everyone to be that man.” 

Isabel Wilkerson’s Book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’ provides an opportunity to strive to “be that man.” 

If there is one book you plan to read this year, it is my wish that this be amongst your top considerations. 

On this week’s episode, I am joined by past guest’s Stacey Cosden and Lloyd Wilkey to discuss and reflect upon Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste.   

Together we share with you some of the passages, insights, ahas, and emotions that deeply impacted us. 

There is no way we can do the book justice in just 1 hour. 

Which is why, once again, I highly encourage you to please buy and read Isabel Wilkerson’s Book “Caste.”

You can do so here.

More About Our Guests:

Stacey Cosden is a Marketing Coach with Tom at T.H.E. Celebration. While she is currently in marketing, she’s spent over 20 years working with the public school system. Through her various roles in the system, Stacey has been an advocate for her community, students and their families, and an activist for reform. Stacey’s true passion is building healthy community that supports marginalized voices. 

You can follow Stacey on Instagram here. 

Lloyd Wilkey is the founder of the Mindful Policing Project, He is a recognized expert on community/police relations. He facilitates law enforcement training, community dialogues, and engages in activism to advance his concept of Mindful Policing. He advocates for policies and procedures which will result in transparency, accountability, and restorative justice.

You can follow Lloyd here.

Listen to "Reflections On ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’ With Stacey Cosden and Lloyd Wilkey" on Spreaker.

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3 Stories of Failing and Getting Back Up

Today I’m sharing 3 very personal stories where I failed, big time. 

I mean, these weren’t those “Oops, I used salt instead of sugar” kind of failures. 

They were “Down on the ground, will I get up from this?” total failures. 

Talking to you about these life stories and processing them again… allowed me to uncover the meaning and the hidden gems I couldn’t see while I was going through it. 

Thank you for letting me share the experience with you.

If you’re experiencing failure, setbacks, roadblocks… I hope you’ll gain something from these stories I’m sharing in this week’s episode. 

[This is where I’m supposed to insert a cliche quote about how “it gets better” or “it is all worth it.” but I can’t because in the end, failure is always a punch to the gut.]

Unfortunately:

The more risks you take…

The bolder you live…

The more you put yourself out there…

The more often you’ll get that failure gut punch. 

I don’t know if it necessarily gets better or easier, but I’m working on learning more and more how to react in the seconds after the failure hits me. 

Maybe it’ll help you get stronger reaction muscles too.

Let’s do this. 

Hit play. ▶️ 

Listen to "3 Stories of Failing and Getting Back Up" on Spreaker.

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Creativity Is: Passionate, Laughter & Difficult Conversations with Intisar Seraaj and Mitch Del Monico.

Where there is laughter, creativity also exists. 

Creativity is more than just the art on your wall. It’s also what we tap into as we maneuver difficult conversations. 

So then what is Passion? → Creativity’s best friend. 

...And that’s just the tip of the iceberg according to this week’s guests: Intisar Seraaj and Mitch Del Monico! These phenomenal return guests get super deep each time they’re with us. 

In this episode, Intisar and Mitch continue helping us by exploring the question: “What does it mean to be a Creative?”

Get ready to explore your unique creativity. 

In 6 words or less, Intisar describes herself as: “Confident. Creative. Passionate. Loving. Loyal. Trustworthy.”

You can learn more about Intisar here.

In 6 words or less, Mitch describes himself as: “Laughter gets me through it.”

You can learn more about Mitch here.

Listen to "Creativity Is: Passionate, Laughter & Difficult Conversations" on Spreaker.

If you'd like to learn more about T.H.E. Celebration Academy.  Here's 30 days of Free Membership.