*The FLY Life experience that I invite you to join me on manifests itself in so many different ways – love, relationships, lifestyle, career and last but not least, the celebration of fly and fabulous women.
August is always an exciting month for me, filled with conferences, events, travel and of course, the national holiday on August 17th, my birthday.
But seriously, I am always honored to be in the presence of women who are in the midst of their journey to greatness, all at different levels but very much in real time.
What I know for sure is that even when you are at the top of your game professionally, it does not always mean that you’re experiencing that same good fortune in your personal life. In fact, women at the top of their game don’t often spend a lot of time talking about how they fare through the personal, professional and even spiritual dynamics of their lives. But it’s most necessary because many young women are building their professional muscles and are really weak in the development of personal relationships and dynamics.
For this reason and many more, I was extremely refreshed when I attended the ColorComm Conference for the first time. This conference draws the who’s who of women in media. It’s known as the ultimate business conference and retreat for women of color in communications, with an intimate group of approximately 300 multicultural, professional women.
There so many jewels and tools shared to empower aspiring, talented and accomplished media professionals. But there was also a sense of sisterhood that created a safe space for women in leadership to remind us of the importance of making room for love and solid personal relationships in one’s life. The irony is that even those of us who work as professional communicators often miss the mark when it comes to communicating effectively about love and relationships. So to engage in real life talk and topics along with professional development is refreshing, to say the least.
Further, so often when you attend these types of conferences, you don’t always fully know how a person’s words and works match. That is why when I attended the Miss Black USA Pageant just a few days later to be the keynote speaker at the orientation for the 2015 contestants, about how to turn your Failures into Fuel, I was super happy to see the Beautiful Textures gift bags in their chair.
Just the week before at ColorComm, Charlene Dance, the Global Marketing Director – Strength of Nature Global, talked about the importance of giving back and supporting young black women. And while these contestants were in the middle of vying for a national title, I know the struggle that it takes to get there, having worked for and won the title 20 years before. I know first-hand that the struggle to become great and realize your beauty from the inside and outside is real. Something seemingly as small as having product to get your hair done both during and after a competitive process goes a long way.
https://youtu.be/XOWY37oWGv0
We all know that a woman’s hair is her glory. And let’s face it, even if you made an amazing speech, had a terrific interview and an inspiring performance, if your hair isn’t right on any level, it’s distracting; just ask Gabby Douglas or Serena Williams.
So to Charlene Dance, and all of the powerful Fly and Fabulous women that I look forward to featuring, I want you to know that it’s the big and the small gestures that go a long way. And your willingness to remind us all about the importance of building strong communications skills, both personally and professionally, and looking fabulous in the process is exactly the kind of fuel that we need to help us get to the next level with style and grace!
Share your story: What woman has taught you a great lesson and provided a kind gesture to help you soar a little further in life?
Deya “Direct” Smith, also known as the Go-to-Girlfriend, is the creator of Fly and Fabulous Women of Purpose. She is an inspirational speaker, national producer and her latest e-book Failure is Fuel is available on Amazon.com.
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