An Event to Remember: Quad Cities 2026 Black Expo
The Quad Cities Economic Empowerment Network hosted its 11th Annual Black Expo on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 1 – 4 pm. I recall the cold and snowy Saturday in February 2015 that marked the first Expo event. Although I did not attend the first one, others braved the cold and the snow to enjoy…
Read MoreRebranding: Rejuvenating Yourself and Your Business, Part I
“Everyone has a brand, whether they know it or not.” Many people do not realize that everyone has a brand. The unfortunate part is that your brand may not truly convey who you are. According to the American Marketing Association, branding is “the process of creating a unique identity for your business that resonates with…
Read More2026 Quad Cities Black Expo
It’s that time of year again for the 2026 Quad Cities Black Expo, an annual Black History Month event. The Black Expo has vendors from various industries/professions throughout the Quad Cities. These are typically small business owners specializing in fashion, hair care products, health products, authorship, jewelry, art, and many other fields. The pertinent information…
Read MoreWhy There’s Anxiety in Accountability
“It’s not personal.” In leaders, enforcing accountability can create significant anxiety. Leaders speak about holding people accountable, but their actions are often incongruent with those words. So, why is holding people accountable so difficult? Maybe because it feels personal, which can cause unforeseen problems. Why Familiarity Breeds Contempt When leaders begin to know people in…
Read MoreConnecting with Readers and Clients
If I have learned one thing as an author and business owner, it is that readers and clients want a connection with who they are supporting. The desire to connect was what helped me retain friendships with the members of the first CEO Peer Advisory Group I formed. Readers want the same connection with the…
Read MoreTrauma REBOOT Recovery Course Going Strong
The Winter 2025/2026 Trauma REBOOT Recovery Course is going strong! There’s still time to register for the Winter 2025/2026 Trauma REBOOT Course. We offer this extended registration for those who may be hesitant to pursue trauma-healing help. Once we complete Week Three, 25 percent of the course will be behind us, and registration will close. It is…
Read MoreThe “Just Because You’re Black” Question
“Some things can only be learned from experience.” Great titles are a competitive advantage for writers and authors. Some would say that my title, “The ‘Just Because You’re Black’ Question,” is great but might be provocative. This could even be considered causing trouble, but much like the late, great John Lewis, I cause ‘Good…
Read MoreCritical Thinking: How to Stay Engaged
Thinking Critically Through the Noise. That’s what it’s really about. With distractions all around us, sometimes it may be difficult to find the peace and quiet to think. So, how do you sift through all the noise to think critically? In this short audiogram, I share four thoughts passed down from father to son on how to…
Read MoreMy New TikTokion Adventure
Creating Your Product Pyramid “Sometimes you must take a chance on something new.” Book publishing is a multibillion-dollar industry, with authorship as a multimillion-dollar portion of that business. I do not claim to make millions as an author, but any increased revenue will help. So, my newest excursion is into BookTok, a section of TikTok. Now, I…
Read MoreIs Trauma Healing for You?
“Trauma is a wound, and wounds can be healed.” Wounds of the mind may start in the heart. Hurt, pain, agony, and anguish are all different ways to describe trauma. The actual definition of trauma is, “A single or series of deeply disturbing events.” Some will ask, ‘What is deeply disturbing?’ My answer is the…
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