Why I Am Sick and Tired of Fluffy, Phony, and Overpriced Empowerment Conferences and Brunches

From time to time, I go off on a tangent on social media, especially when I come across expensive, fluffy, fake, straight cash homey, empowerment conferences, and brunches. I love brunch. I brunch so hard. I will wake up early as hell for brunch because I am a foodie, let's face it. Back to the topic... I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of just discussing the same ole same ole... Girl Boss, Black Girl Magic Boss, "How to X amount of dollars even though I haven't made those dollars," rah-rah and blah-blah empowerment workshops and brunches. I can admit that I have fallen victim to this kind of empty empowerment brunches and conferences once upon a time until I woke the hell up and realize that it really didn't solve the root of the issues. I realize at these empowerments, we didn't talk about the realness. The realness such as the severity of mental health, medical apartheid within the Black Community, infant mortality rate, miscarriages, postpartum, poverty within the Black Community, food deserts, environmental racism, lower level socio-economics, self-esteem, and more.

When will we have those conferences on physical health, mental health, socio-politics, economics, spirituality, quality of life, self-esteem, confidence, and healing?

We need these things intact as a community before getting the coins, looking fly, and being a BossBae. Honestly, I’m burnt from empowerment conferences and brunch, and I’m a speaker! I’m tired of the feel-good-ism/rah-rah for 72 hours and back to the suffering in silence until the next highest price and nonsensical workshop/conference/brunch!

We must think in terms of Community because too many of us are suffering as a collective. As Fannie Lou Hamer states, "Nobody's free until everybody's free."

Since we are on this topic, I would like to discuss the cost of these said conferences and brunches. Many of these conferences are for women of color or Black Women per se. Black Women's net worth is only worth $5. Yes, you read that correctly $5 Effin Dollars! You don't have to believe little ole me... Check out this article: "Median Wealth For Black Women at $5 and We Don't Care". Some of you might say, well, "those" women aren't part of my demographic because they cannot invest x amount of dollars. What? Don't you understand you to are part of that demographic, Beloved! Please don't you are excluded!  African American women are only worth $5, but we are the most educated, underpaid, broke, and hard-working people who deserve full health! Some of those women would love to attend a life-transforming conference, but you tell them to find the money from somewhere or somebody. Some don't offer scholarships or payment plans because you are all about getting straight cash money. I am often disgusted when I hear people state that folks should find the money from somewhere to invest in said programs and conferences. We are in the State of Emergency as a collective. We live paycheck to paycheck and one mishap away from homelessness or unemployment. How dare anyone of us tells anyone to pull themselves by the bootstrap and find the money from somewhere, and folks are out here trying to survive? I live in reality, and it is real in the field out here.
Yes, being in business, you are want to make a profit, but stop trying to guilt trip and manipulate your attendees into "investing" into mediocre products and services they cannot afford. Yes, many of your attendees cannot afford these products and services, especially if your target is Black Women trying to make something out of nothing.  If you are going to provide a product/service, make it affordable, life-transforming, and investment-worthy. We all have something to offer, especially resources, but stop selling hope and dreams to people already in debt and one paycheck away from homelessness.

A question to the tribe: How do you feel about empowerment brunches and workshops? Do you attend them? Has your life transformed from one? What topics would you like to see discussed at said events?

As always, thank you for reading the blog post. Thank you for rocking with Brown Girl From Boston Tribe!

Peace, Love, and Light!
Drea

Invest in Yourself....Yes, You Can Afford It

                         "Invest in yourself and people will invest in you." -Andrea C. Imafidon

How many times have you denied yourself of something you need such as a financial coach, mentor, or investment in your business? How many times you said you cannot afford something but your splurge your money and time on mindless shopping, going out to eat, switching hairdos weekly and other things that don't serve your purpose? I am all for looking beautiful but don't you think it is time for you invest in your inner beauty and essence to match the outside?

We all have done this once upon a time because we either feel guilty or ashamed into investing in ourselves. Many times, we will invest in frivolous things such as a new outfit, shoes, expensive handbag or something tangible that doesn't provide substances within our lives.  How many times do you "reward" yourself with an expensive gift but still feel guilty or empty within? (Coaching Question)

When you invest in yourself, you are proving yourself with an unlimited wealthy of opportunities. Investing in yourself is a part of self-love and self-care which are two valuable personal experiences that are organic and natural. When you denied yourself of investing in yourself, it will show within your personal and professional life. When you don't invest within yourself, you suppress your inner passion, interests and growth/evolution. How can we be truly free and independent when we don't provide investment and self-love for ourselves? You will always be caught up in the rapture of brokenness and chasing after a deferred dream when we don't invest in ourselves.

Remember, investing in yourself take patience, persistence, prayer, and payment. Yes payment. You are going to pay one way or another, you are going to pay money to attend that long over due workshop, conference, or class to help you achieve your lifelong goal. You are going to have to dig a little deeper in the closet and shop for that cute outfit to wear for that investment meeting with the big investors who are looking to invest thousands into your company. You are going to stop asking your fellow sister-friend for the "hook up" because that sister-friend is worth more than asking for the hook up. She invest in her business, have home and business bills to pay and she is worth it.

Now is the time to invest in yourself and building your empire! Don't defer your dreams and goals for something else.

Here are three ways why you should invest in yourself:

1. Pursuing your passion.  Time is one of the most important things you should invest in when you are pursuing your passion. You cannot get time back. When your pursue your passion, you are providing self-love and perseverance. Your passion is within and at your fingertips but you must discover it. Discovering your passion, being persistence and investing in yourself are valuable tools. When you invest in yourself, you have to be willing to make sacrifices such as cutting back from getting a manicure and pedicure weekly, you have to go shopping within your closet and at times you have to minimize your lifestyle. (Some of you all are probably rolling your eyes but you have to sacrifice something to achieve your dreams.)
2. Creating and Increasing Your Wealth. When people think of wealth, people think of finances. Wealth is not always about finances. The definition of wealth have a plethora of meanings but for this article we will stick with abundance of anything. We should invest in our wealth of knowledge, resources and wisdom. When we increase our wealth, we should also invest our wealth in others who have the wisdom, knowledge and experience in a certain field or business. We should invest in books, workshops, a coach, our community and organization to increase your net-worth, network, and self-worth
3. Holistic Self-Care. “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” – Steve Maraboli Great quote! If you don't love yourself, don't expect anyone else to love or invest in you. We live in an ADHD and microwaveable society in which we are constantly on the go. Stop, breathe and connect with yourself. Invest in healthy and unprocessed foods which we save you money and sickness. Invest in your health by working out. You don't have to invest in an expensive gym membership in which you may never use but one time. Go put on some shorts/sweatpants and sneakers and work it out. Turn off the TV and sit in your thoughts. Be still, meditate and listen to that voice within called intuition. All these things cost you nothing but time and effort. 

Providing self-care and self-awareness doesn't cost you nothing but time and effort. You must be willing to invest into you, your dreams, your wealth and health. You deserve to love yourself and care for yourself. Stop investing your wealth into tangible and material things which will slowly fade away. Invest into things that matter which is you and your well-being. If you cannot invest and give to yourself, there is no way you will be able to give whole-heartedly to others. Invest in yourself. 

Invest wisely!

Coaching question: What's really holding you back from fully investing in yourself? Share and comment below?

Thank you for reading and investing your time in Brown Girl From Boston!
XOXO,

Drea