Motivation for Anti-Racism Initiatives Shifted after 2020, says Thought Leader ChrisTiana ObeySumner

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

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As a social equity researcher and in the area of anti-racism initiatives, Christiana ObeySumner, the owner of Epiphanies of Equity, LLC, has seen a significant shift in the way organizations approach this work in the wake of 2020’s tumultuous year. 

Before 2020, many organizations were beginning to recognize the importance of anti-racism initiatives and were taking steps to make changes within their own structures. However, 2020 brought a new level of urgency to this work. Many companies dove headfirst into committing to the anti-racism cause before understanding the full extent of what it means to be authentically anti-racist. 

According to ChrisTiana, organizations have faced a number of challenges as they’ve taken on anti-racism initiatives post-2020. A lot of organizations have struggled to achieve their goals, and there have been instances where people have lost steam when the journey didn’t unfold as expected. ChrisTiana has also noticed that the resources being invested in anti-racism initiatives have shifted dramatically over the past 18 months.

Before 2020, organizations that wanted to take on anti-racism initiatives would invest anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 for consultants or roles. However, since 2020, Christiana says that those budgets have dropped to $20,000, $15,000, and even $10,000. 

ChrisTiana points out that if we want to continue making progress towards achieving the goals of anti-racism, it’s essential that organizations are willing to invest the resources and effort necessary to make real change happen. This means not just putting money towards anti-racism initiatives but also making sure that people have the support they need to make those changes happen.

“Overall, there’s a general feeling of change exhaustion or fatigue among people. This is not only due to internal changes within organizations but also to the societal changes that have been taking place. The way we talk about these issues has changed so quickly and can be very upsetting, especially for those who have experienced them firsthand.” – ChrisTiana ObeySumner Epiphanies of Equity, LLC.

As the owner of a social equity consulting and advocacy firm, ChrisTiana says that they’ve seen a significant shift in the last two years in how businesses are showing up to the social equity support and training conversation: 

When people initially came to do DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] work with my company, whether it was anti-racism, disability justice or gender equity, it was evident that there had already been some conversation and some grappling around the subject. They’d accepted that it was going to be hard work and that they would have to invest themselves. After 2020, specifically after George Floyd, the tone of those interested in DEI changed. My hunch from working with others and talking with colleagues is that companies were moving into the DEI space because they felt socially obligated, as if they were afraid of what it would mean to not do this, especially at the height of everything at the end of 2020. 

ChrisTiana also noted that there is a low-risk tolerance for the extent to which people are willing to make the necessary shifts and changes in all spaces—individually, culturally, institutionally, and socially—to achieve the goals of anti-racism. 

“It’s important to recognize that a lot of organizations that reached out for anti-racism work before 2020 did so out of an authentic desire to make changes. However, in 2020, anti-racism became more of a ‘have to’ than a ‘want to’, as organizations felt that they had to have some sort of plan in place or risk being seen as an organization that wasn’t equitable.”- ChrisTiana ObeySumner

As a result, the changes that many organizations made after the events of 2020 were more superficial and less impactful. ChrisTiana emphasizes that real change requires more than just a plan or commitment—it requires resources, effort, and most importantly, a genuine willingness to make changes.

Changing the Conversation

How do you join the equity conversation with authenticity and transparency? It begins with social and emotional awareness. If your strategy doesn’t consider the social, cultural, and psychological realities of the people who will be designing and implementing the equity initiative, it’s nearly impossible to be successful.  

“When we talk about any strategy, bottleneck, or problem regarding inequity (including justice, accessibility, diversity, governance, inclusion, etc.), we are inherently talking about a sociological
problem. If we want to be specific, a foundational, psychosocial situation—humans are the most volatile variable in the equity equation.” -ChrisTiana ObeySumner

ChrisTiana stresses that inequity is a process and outcome of our social structures and culture, so fixing it is more than just creating a 10-point plan and quantitative benchmarks.

The framework for social equity begins by asking the tough questions: 

  • How do you get and sustain buy-in for social equity on all levels? 
  • How do you address resistance to change? 
  • How do you address fatigue and intersectionality? 
  • How do you help others have a shared sense of ownership? 
  • How do you communicate your vision in multiple ways so as many people as possible feel a sense of a shared goal?  

As ChrisTiana and the team at Epiphanies of Equity, LLC continue to strive for transformative change and true social equity, their hope is that companies will open their minds to the possibilities that change management and sociological awareness can bring. It’s only when people are willing to infuse risk, change and growing pains into their social equity strategies that real solutions begin to emerge. 

ChrisTiana ObeySumner advocates for undervalued and underestimated communities and amplifies the voices and leadership of those most intersectionally impacted through research, strategy, and storytelling. Learn more about ChrisTiana ObeySumner and Epiphany of Equity on their website.

Brand Story of Luxury watches Spain | Start your brand

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Image commercially licensed from : Unsplash

 

Owning a business is not simple. Once you get through the initial phase, it’s difficult, annoying, exciting, exhausting, and unpredictable, but it’s also gratifying. Even though every beginning is challenging, you shouldn’t give up without a fight.

If you’re new to the entrepreneurial world, you’ll undoubtedly run across some difficulties you needed to prepare for.

Nevertheless, you shouldn’t give up. Make use of this chance to come up with answers for any roadblocks you could run into. Being an entrepreneur takes time, effort, and money; therefore, you need to carefully consider every aspect.

We’ve decided to assist you in getting ready for your start-up experience by listing some of the main challenges faced by entrepreneurs and how to successfully overcome them because we are aware of how frightening this all may feel at first.

You must have an idea before deciding to launch a business. Finding the perfect company ideas can be challenging, whether you want to believe them. After all, not every company’s idea will be successful. How do you identify the person who is worth venturing into the unknown?

It must be something you are passionate about and that you believe in. Even if you have the most lucrative business concept, you shouldn’t count on it to succeed if you lack the will to implement it. Most significantly, a successful start-up story requires that your idea offer a solution to a specific issue.

Brand Story luxury Watches Spain

Two business partners started their business in 2012 selling pre-owned brand-name luxury watches in Spain. Both guys have different personalities, which allows for powerful cohesion when they combine their individual skill sets. They did their best from the start to take over the watch game, and they did it. They are one of the best advisers when it comes to buying a luxury timepiece, following years of experience buying and selling luxury watches of the best brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.

Reason to start Luxury Watches Spain?

Their love for the watch game is the major reason to start this business, and the transition from buying and selling gold seemed like a natural progression of the business.

Top Customers

They have sold watches to many consumers, but here are a few of their top famous celebrity customers: 

  • Pooyan Mokhtari: They are a pop-culture Musician band.
  • Omar Montes: He’s a very famous Spanish singer.
  • Joao Felix: He is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Premier League club Chelsea.
  • Cristian Tello: He is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

The best advice of Co-founder Ray Charrington to you if you’re starting your business today

Co-founder Ray Charrington said in an interview: “Try and find what it is that makes you stand out. What differentiates you from the next person? Focus on that quality and make it your biggest commodity. If you have contacts where you can buy desirable watches at good prices, then middleman the deal to buyers. Likewise, if you have good clients who are looking to buy watches, you can find sellers who are willing to negotiate their prices. You don’t need to start with a fancy shop or a lot of stock, you can start with just the desire to do deals, and make a quick commission here and there until you gain enough trust and clients to take a deeper plunge into the business”.

 

Which Type of Funding is Right For Your Business: Your Ultimate Guide

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Image commercially licensed from : Unsplash

 

Starting a business and going out on your own has never been easier than it is today. The last decade or so really opened up the floodgates for entrepreneurs, sole proprietors, and freelancers. Even mainstream media bit into the buzz floating around the world of freelance and entrepreneurship. The popular TV show Shark Tank, for example,  is about a group of venture capitalists who take pitches from small business owners and entrepreneurs for investment. The show has plenty of drama, plenty of high-stakes, and plenty of good reviews. The popularity of entrepreneurship can somewhat be tied to the emergence of the internet and the smart technology that followed suit. These major technological advancements opened up access to resources, information, and networks that were previously untouchable for the average person. 

With all the excitement there is about startup culture, small business ownership, and freelancing, you might be considering joining the entrepreneur race, if you will. As such, you might also be wondering how in the world you can get funding for your venture to get things off the ground. The following are a variety of funding resources/stages that businesses go through in order to develop and establish their operations. 

“Companies always seek sources of funding to grow their business. Funding, also called financing, represents an act of contributing resources to finance a program, project, or need. Funding can be initiated for either short-term or long-term purposes.”

– The Corporate Finance Institute – 

Sourcing Pre-Seed Funding

The initial funds that a startup organization or new business venture gathers is typically regarded as seed-funding. This is money that will often come from the founders of the business themselves, their friends, and sometimes even their families. This is the money that is used to really get the ball rolling with the business and help the founders set up the basic operations. 

While it can sometimes feel awkward to ask friends or family for pre-seed funding, if you’re truly confident in your business idea, strategy, product, or service; then this conversation should be a lot less awkward. Not only that, but the people who are closest to you should have the easiest time being honest with you. As such, this is also a good time to garner feedback to see if you’re on the right track with the brand that you’re envisioning. If you’re open minded, this feedback can lead you to productive pivots that benefit your budding business in the long run. 

“Yourself, your friends, and your family. Those are really the only places that any sort of pre-seed money is going to come from. At that stage, you really don’t even have a business yet. You sort of just have an idea, and hopefully a good one at that.”

– Miles Beckett, CEO and Co-founder, Flossy Dental –

One benefit of using pre-seed funding, though, is that it allows the founders to really control the direction of the company in its entirety. This will help the founders define the organization in their own vision as they take steps to realize the business. Following pre-seed funding is a seed-round of investments. This is the first official round of investment funding and provides the founders with the resources they need to elevate their operations. 

Seed funding can be used to further product development and market research, as well as expand the business strategy and cement sustainable operations. At this stage, investors will likely be buying equity in the company itself, rather than expecting a quick turn around on profit or ROI. 

“Seed funding is a crucial part of the startup process. It’s important because as the business owner you want that seed funding, but you also want to make sure you’re choosing strategic partnerships, since these investors will be walking away with equity in the company.”

– Omid Semino, CEO and Founder, Diamond Mansion –

Series A Funding and Beyond

After pre-seed and seed funding comes more official rounds of investing. Typically at this point a brand will get into what’s considered series funding. Series A funding is the first round in this type of funding and is still considered a round of early-investing. Series A investors generally take a more hands-off role than seed-investors, though, and also have a little less say over the direction of the company in general. 

“Every once in a while a series A round of investing will be pitched directly to the big capital firms that the brand is targeting, but more often than not these investors get referrals from the seed-investors.”

– Jesse DeBear, Fractional CMO, Renew –

Beyond a series A round of funding, an organization can also plan additional investment series from B to C, to D and beyond. As the series of investment rounds progress, so too do the dollar amounts being exchanged. By the time a company reaches series D funding the figures can reach into the hundreds of millions.  

“You have to be fairly well established and successful in order to reach a series D round of investments, but this can be a really great strategy to help you ramp up for an IPO.”

– Jeff Goodwin, Sr. Director, Performance Marketing & E-Commerce, Orgain –

Going Public

After establishing success with private investors through rounds of seed funding and series investments, many organizations decide to take their company public. Going public is industry jargon for releasing shares of company equity into the open stock market. When going public, an organization will have to plan for an IPO or initial public offering. 

“Going public can be an awesome way to see a massive influx in cash. There are some downsides with going public, though. One of the biggest being the pressure to perform profit-wise for the sake of the shareholders.”

– Cody Candee, Founder and CEO, Bounce Luggage Storage –

An initial public offering is the first time that a company becomes available on the publicly traded stock market. When a large and well-established company goes public, it garners a lot of traction, and can create a big buzz in the stock market and trading industries. 

“There is some finesse in timing an IPO just right. You want the economy to be in a welcoming place, you want your cash-flow to be in a strong position, and you’ll likely want to launch an IPO on the back of another organizational success, announcement, or achievement.”

– Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO, OSDB Sports –

Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing is a really amazing option for a lot of startup organizations and entrepreneurs who don’t have access to much pre-seed funding themselves. Crowdsourcing or crowdfunding uses the power of the masses, and the internet, in order to distribute your message and garner pre-seed funding that can be used for product development, market research, and manufacturing operations. 

“Crowdfunding can be great. It’s just a unique way for someone to get their company off the ground. It truly offers anyone with a good idea a platform to share that with the industry and see if it’s viable.”

– Baris Zeren, CEO, BookYourData –

Some of the popular crowdfunding platforms include IndieGoGo, GoFundMe, SeedInvest, and MightyCause. Each of these platforms caters to a niche-market of startup founders and entrepreneurs, and could help you win the funding you need to realize your next big idea. 

“There have been some amazing projects and companies that got their start with crowdfunding. I think there are elements of crowdfunding that could be essential to the future of investing strategies in general.”

– Alex Novak, CEO, SexLikeReal –

Angel Investors 

An angel investor is one of the best types of fundings you can find. Angel investors are individuals with extremely high net-worths, extensive professional networks, and well-established business success. Taking on an angel investor can truly help you bring your organization to the next level. 

“Angel investors are great because they can take on such an active role in the organization. Because of the fact that it’s just an individual, there are a lot less hoops to jump through paperwork and bureaucracy wise as well.”

– George Fraguio, Vice President of Bridge Lending, Vaster Capital –

Since angel investors come into the picture with passion and belief in your brand, they’ll be more willing to take on an active mentorship role. This can be extremely beneficial for your overall growth as a business person because you have a chance to learn from someone who has already walked that road. 

“Real business people, no real leaders, are never done learning. No matter how far they’ve come, how many organizations they’ve led or started, or how much  money they’ve made. A true leader never stops learning.”

– Christy Pyrz, Chief Marketing Officer, Paradigm Peptides –

Wrapping up on Business Funding 

With the current economy small business ownership and entrepreneurship are extremely popular options for the working professional. Finding the funding for these ventures, though, isn’t always easy. If you evaluate where you are in your business journey, you should be able to determine which type of funding is right for you to pursue. 

“It is well-known that finding funding is not an easy task, but to get your business idea off the ground, it is important. And when your business begins to operate and becomes self-sustaining, it is the most rewarding thing in the world.”– Eqvista –

Chronic Homelessness on the Rise in America: Insights from the HUD Report

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

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According to the recent Annual Homelessness Assessment Report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on a single night in January 2022, there were 582,462 individuals experiencing homelessness in America, an increase of approximately 2,000 people since the last complete census. Security.org’s team of industry experts, a company that simplifies home security and personal safety, has analyzed the report and provided a comprehensive breakdown of the issue.

The data report shows that about 30% of individuals without homes are experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness, defined as being without a home for more than 12 months or experiencing extended periods of homelessness over the past three years. Furthermore, most states have seen an increase in their homeless population since 2019, with four states experiencing more than a 100% increase.

Additionally, the report found that 60% of individuals experiencing homelessness are male, while unsheltered homelessness rose by 5% among women and girls. It also revealed that more than 25% of individuals experiencing homelessness were with their families and children.

The results paint a worrying picture for the future of America, as it grapples with the increasing homeless population and stymies the worsening factors that lead to homelessness. This highlights the urgent need for effective and comprehensive solutions to address the humanitarian crisis plaguing the country.

Despite the overall increase in homelessness, there has been a significant reduction in homelessness among military veterans. The report states that homelessness in this population declined by 11% over the past two years and has been halved since 2010.

Security.org is a company that utilizes cutting-edge research to educate, empower, and inspire individuals to stay safe. They have used the report to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness in America and are committed to working towards finding solutions to this pressing problem. The full report and findings can be found on the company’s website, https://www.security.org/resources/homeless-statistics/.

Super Apps: Naysayers, Contenders & Vezbi

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Move over, basic apps. Super Apps are here to steal the spotlight and make your life a whole lot easier. But what exactly are Super Apps? Think of them like a superhero that can do it all – from ordering food delivery to booking a ride, paying bills, and more, all in one convenient app. No more flipping between a million different apps to get things done. It’s like having a personal assistant in your pocket.

Now, you might be thinking, “But wait, isn’t the US already saturated with apps? Do we really need another one?” And to that, we say: “Honey, please.” Just because there are a lot of apps out there, doesn’t mean they’re all good or that they all do what they’re supposed to. Super Apps are like the Avengers of the app world – they’re the best of the best, and they’re here to save the day (or at least make your day a little more manageable).

If Super Apps are so great, how come all I ever hear about is how they won’t make it in the US?

The reasons are numerous and varied about why Super Apps won’t make it – the US isn’t China; the US has too much infrastructure; people won’t accept or use it; people won’t give up their apps; US phones are better than foreign phones, so you don’t need Super Apps; side loading is for babies; and basically any other alphabet soup of words you can put together on your metaphorical digital spoon.

Perhaps one of my favorite responses is comparing Super Apps to the old saying, “Jack of all Trades, master of none .”Ignoring for a moment that the original quote didn’t say ‘master of none’ and was actually talking about Shakespeare (yes, that Shakespeare), all this blustering feels like arguments from an old man on his lawn.

However, these naysayers may not fully understand the shifting desires of the modern American consumer. According to the PYMNTS.com Super App Shift study, a majority of American consumers (57%) are open to using a single app for multiple tasks, instead of having multiple apps for different purposes. This is particularly true among younger generations, with 63% of millennials and 70% of Gen Zers stating they would prefer to use a single app for multiple tasks.

The study also found that convenience and efficiency are the top priorities for American consumers when it comes to using mobile apps. A majority of respondents (67%) stated that they would be more likely to use an app if it made their life more convenient, and 63% said they would be more likely to use an app if it saved them time.

These statistics show that there is a clear demand for Super Apps in the US market, as they provide a convenient and efficient way for users to access a wide range of services and features within a single app. Younger generations, in particular, are more open to using a single app for multiple tasks and prioritize convenience and efficiency when it comes to mobile apps.

But don’t just take math or our word for it. Even big companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google are considering creating their own Super Apps. They know a good thing when they see it.

Interest and talk is great, but I want my Super App now. Is there any out there to try?

As of the writing of this article, there appears to be only one US Super App that meets the standard criteria – the Vezbi Super App. There are several start-ups that keep talking about being first (sorry, kids, but you clearly aren’t) and other apps that have cobbled together some extra features and are marketing themselves as a ‘super app’ but don’t meet the real definition. 

It does appear that the lone candidate is just starting out, but it does seem that they are keyed in to the ideas and concepts that Americans want not only in a Super App but in their apps generally (no algorithm, data privacy, etc.). Will they be able to make it in this new tech landscape? Will Big Tech come up with a better concept? 

Sure, there might be some hurdles to jump over, but that’s what makes the Super App journey all the more exciting. It’s like a real-life game of “Mission Impossible” but with apps. I know I will be rooting for Vezbi and other Super Apps that may come because Super Apps are here to make your life easier, and honestly, who doesn’t want that?

Visionary Realms: Changing The Perception of Crowdfunded Games

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Image commercially licensed from : Unsplash

 

Numerous studies have been conducted detailing the relationship between crowdfunding and innovation in gaming – however, despite this, there remains a certain level of investor and community distrust that has been fostered through a lack of transparency between developers and users.

Visionary Realms is challenging that notion through community engagement and complete transparency in their relationships with investors and players. This is representative of the original aim of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, or MMORPGs. The interaction between players has always been key to the industry, and in this spirit, Visionary Realms has made a point to have a good relationship with the community – a relationship that is built on trust.

Crowdfunding allows game developers to move away from the funds typically provided by large publishing companies and move towards an alternative. With crowdfunding, the players of video games pay back the efforts put into game development, and this has become a popular way of investing as well.

Instead of gaining large amounts of money from a small number of big companies, game developers are now gaining small amounts of money from a large number of people. People typically become interested in investing in a game if they believe in its greater purpose, if they connect to the rewards it will offer them, and if they resonate with the creative aspect thereof.’

What stigma surrounds crowdfunding, especially in gaming?

According to Christopher Rowan, CEO, “oftentimes, people give time and money to a game which they honestly believe will change their lives, but once the initial funding has been secured, they feel out of the loop. There is no longer any real access to or communication about the game’s development. Seeing as the type of immersive and quality games we’re producing takes years, it’s no wonder that people lose interest and become disheartened if they no longer have any access to its progression.”

All too often, the community comes second to the pledges, but Visionary Realms aims to change this perception regarding crowdfunding in the game developer industry. The company reaches out to those who have pitched in, and continually ensures that they are aware of the game’s progress.

Visionary Realms Gives Complete Transparency to their Community 

Reports indicate that open levels of communication have an immense impact on the likelihood of crowdfunded projects succeeding. Especially in this fairly novel way of procuring sufficient funds to start a business, there are numerous people, or entities, who are wholly invested in the success of the business. In essence, transparency leads to success. Developers and players need to have open communication in order to ensure a successful game, and as such, a happy community.

Seeing as their game, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, received $3M in crowdfunding, the game developer recognizes how together we can do great things. They did not need to rely on one or two massive investors who looked at them as only another source of potential income, but rather the everyday gamer who simply wants to be a part of something great, and inspire the creation of a world where they meet others who are like-minded. 

The company, founded in 2013, was only able to succeed due to a community that was excited at the prospect of what these developers would be able to offer – notably, a sense of community and connection.

From this dream of new and meaningful relationships has sprung a large community who are fully aware of the processes and operations which govern the developer. There are numerous facets to this transparency, including screenshots of the game’s progress.

The community gives a lot of its time to the game, and the developers at Visionary Realms dedicate that same time back to them.

Visionary Realms Continually Ensures Community Engagement

Community engagement and appreciation has always been at the core of the business model, and as the company itself grew, so too did its commitment to the people who made it happen.

Visionary Realms currently has two new Community Managers who are charged with ensuring that investors and players are always in the loop. These managers have the sole aim of making sure that everyone who gives their time and their money to the business receives the consideration which they deserve.

“We never would have reached this stage without people – without gamers who looked at us and thought, ‘they will make a new world, and I can be a part of it.’ That is exactly what we are doing – creating a space for people to chat, to foster friendships, and to grow not only as gamers, but as people,” says Rowan.

Final Take

In a world where big businesses tend to forget about the little man, and the people who made them who they are, Visionary Realms has the goal of doing the opposite – of remaining exactly what, and who, people invested in in the first place.

Fear to Fail Doesn’t Stop Entrepreneur Rich Somers From Becoming a Successful Real Estate Investor

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Rich Somers is an active real estate investor and entrepreneur holding a portfolio of luxury apartment buildings and short-term rentals. With a valued excess of $35 million, Somers defied everyone’s expectations of him. Before entering the real estate field, Rich used to be a federal government employee. Deciding it was time to change his career path to gain financial freedom, Somers walked away from his pension and cashed out his 401K. Not letting the fear of failure stop him, Rich began obsessing over real estate.

Rich didn’t waste any time starting his business. Somers says, “Don’t sit around and ponder an idea and wait for the perfect plan to get started. Most people wait for the perfect plan, which is why they never actually get started. Successful entrepreneurs have an idea, take action, then figure out how.” Recognizing that failure is inevitable with trying to build any new business, Rich focused more on finetuning his mindset to overcome the fear of losing.

Realizing that everyone was buying multifamily apartments or short-term rentals, Somer was inspired to start buying boutique hotels. “Everyone right now is buying multifamily apartments and short-term rentals, but no one is buying boutique hotels. It’s important to zig when others are zagging,” Rich says. His two companies, Somers Capital and FortuneCribs, use unique business models to propel Somers through the competition. Rich is often able to quadruple his annual revenue of these boutique hotels through his renovation plan and new-age operations. 

Rich founded FortuneCribs because he discovered a growing need for an all-in-one acquisition, design, and management firm. This company helps clients buy short-term rentals around the country and assists with onsite remote management. Being able to operate remotely creates a huge opportunity for Somers and his team. Today Somers controls over $50 Million of real estate and has built a strong community of friends working together while doing so. All of his team members receive equity in the real estate deals they buy; Rich wants everyone to win and works hard for his team to also achieve the same financial freedom he has. 

Somers didn’t become the entrepreneur he is today by remaining stagnant in his career and keeping comfortable. Rich says, “We grow the most when we are uncomfortable, therefore we’re happiest when we’re uncomfortable and unhappiest when we’re too comfortable. Never stop growing.” With plans on purchasing more boutique hotels in 2023, Somers is expected to double his investment next year. Continue following and learning more about reaching your full potential with Rich Somers and listen to his upcoming podcast, “The Rich Somers Report,” available for download on Apple Podcast & Spotify at the end of this month. 

Kimi Johnson, the Inspiring Fempreneur Behind PurposePals Publishing

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Over the years, success has taken on new faces. Redefined in innumerable ways, it no longer requires following the traditional path of entering college, earning a degree, and landing a nine-to-five job. However, while the definition of success has become highly subjective, its ingredients remain largely constant, and countless widely accomplished personalities have attested to the power of certain must-have values. Among those shared by today’s powerhouses, influential figures, and up-and-coming names is bearing a sense of purpose. The fuel behind their efforts, one’s purpose serves as a lighthouse amid the darkness and a beacon when odds may turn too overwhelming. Kimi Johnson, the mind behind the fastest-growing Black woman-owned publishing company, PurposePals Publishing, believes in the importance of having a purpose. Currently capitalizing on her influence and reach, she has taken on the mission to help people who are running after their publishing dreams. 

An entrepreneur with an impressive portfolio attached to her name, Kimi Johnson dipped her toes in the world of business over twelve years ago. She started her journey by delving into the field of cosmetology, bringing to the table her background in business and writing. Throughout the process of expanding her brand and making her mark in several locations, she strategically married her education in business with her passion for writing and experience in cosmetology to develop and design training programs that support new entrepreneurs.

Years down the road, Kimi Johnson began sharing her insights with other establishments, consulting with several agencies and crafting the curriculum for non-profits, for-profits, and federal governments. It didn’t take long before she fell in love with bringing content to life, and this deep-seated interest led to her first publication: the Purpose-Driven Women Magazine (PDWM). A magazine that aims to support women in lifestyle, fashion, health, and faith, PDWM secured over eight thousand subscribers within the first two hours of its release. 

Later on, Kimi Johnson published Purposefully Driven Magazine, but this would not be the peak of her career in the industry. In the midst of the pandemic, the highly dedicated entrepreneur launched PurposePals Publishing, a venture aiming to help authors cultivate and formulate their stories and bring their inspiring manuscripts to life. Boasting a signature 12-week program, this trusted company assigns each author a PurposePal, who edits their manuscripts and provides support during the entire publishing process. 

Today, Kimi Johnson and her brainchild, PurposePals Publishing, are both enjoying a coveted position at the forefront of the industry – a place that speaks of her success and potential for reaching greater heights in the future. 

“For me, success is threefold,” shared the acclaimed CEO. “It encompasses my ability to achieve personal and self-goals through Godly principles. Second, it involves being able to nurture my family, which is my first ministry. Lastly, it means using my talents to support clients worldwide and, at the same time, make the world a better place.”

Although her rise may seem quick, it took years of determination and hard work before Kimi Johnson could build a reputation and cement her standing in the publishing industry. Getting there was also nowhere near easy. On top of navigating the complex waters of the entrepreneurial realm, she also had to deal with the loss of her mother and learn how to have faith in strength she did not see. 

Through it all, Kimi Johnson relied on the Lord, seeking God for strategies and executing them. Additionally, she continued to operate with her overarching purpose in mind and the extent to which she religiously adhered to her personal why is one thing she wants to emphasize to others.

“I would tell someone aspiring to be successful first to find their purpose,” Kimi Johnson said. “Be bold enough to commit to what you are passionate about. Create your own definition of success that aligns with your purpose and stay true to it. You have to become obsessed with it. Throw out your plan B. There is no plan B. When you think of plan A as all you have, you go after it as if your life depends on it. But first, you must have a clear picture of what success looks like for you. Otherwise, you will always be chasing a moving target. Lastly, as my late mother once said, when life gets tough, remember to be light-hearted and dance.”

What are the Best Addiction Treatment Facilities Near Northfield, IL

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

Image commercially licensed from : Unsplash

 

Illinois has seen a sharp increase in drug abuse and overdose deaths in recent years. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, there were 2,944 opioid overdose deaths in Illinois, an average of eight Illinois resident deaths per day. This represents a 33% increase from 2019 and is 2.2 times higher than homicides and 2.3 times higher than car accident deaths. In response to this growing problem, Recovery Centers of America has opened facilities in Northfield, IL, to help those struggling with addiction.

“We have seen an increase in the fatal overdose from multiple substances, from the combination of using multiple substances,” said Karen Wolownik Albert, the Chief Executive Officer of RCA at St. Charles. “We see a lot of scary things in the community around. Very dangerous substances like synthetic opioids in the drug supply, and how people are overdosing. It’s very scary what’s going on in the world right now, and we are all continuing in this fight to make the world a safer place and to save lives and to help people find recovery and safety in life.” (source)

Illinois is one of the states with the highest rates of addiction in the country. This has led to a growing need for quality rehab facilities like the ones offered by Recovery Centers of America. RCA has two facilities near Northfield, IL, one in St. Charles and the other in South Elgin, IL. These facilities provide specialized treatment options and resources for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. A holistic approach helps patients address all aspects of the disease and restore their mental, spiritual and physical health.

Best Addiction Treatment

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“Our approach is innovative, founded on science, and delivered with compassion and respect,” read a post on RCA’s website. “We will be by your side through the full continuum of care, inclusive of detox, inpatient and outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and active alumni with activities and meetings.”
Recovery Centers of America at St. Charles

RCA at St. Charles is 41W400 Silver Glen Road, St Charles, IL 60175, about 50 miles from Chicago, Illinois, and offers medically-monitored detoxification and residential inpatient treatment. It also offers PRISE for patients who relapse. The campus sits on 125 acres of beautiful property with outdoor recreation areas and a fishing pond. 

It includes eight residential cottages, comfortable and well-furnished semi-private rooms (separate for men and women), a modern gym, nutritious homemade meals, a cafeteria, and an administration building. RCA is a Joint Commission Accredited healthcare company, so its priorities are always patients’ comfort, safety, and quality of care.

“While going through inpatient treatment at RCA at St. Charles, patients enjoy comfortable accommodations and the peace that comes from getting away from it all,” the post added.

Recovery Centers of America at South Elgin

Best Addiction Treatment

Sourced Photo


RCA at South Elgin, IL, is located at 460 Briargate Dr, Suite 150, South Elgin, IL 60177, about one hour from Chicago. It offers outpatient programs like Intensive Outpatient Services (IOP), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), and General Outpatient Services (GOP) in-person or online via HIPAA-compliant web and video conferencing. They also offer Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) as part of our outpatient care. OBOT is a type of Medication Assisted Treatment that uses medication to help clients reach long-term recovery. First responders and military members struggling with alcohol or drug addiction can get help through RCA’s RESCU program.

“The South Elgin facility is accessible to substance use disorder patients seeking general outpatient treatment as well as intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization care,” said Karen while speaking at the St. Charles Open House event. RCA can now provide a full continuum of care, including a convenient, nearby outpatient program at RCA at South Elgin. The South Elgin facility is about 10 minutes away from St. Charles.

RCA has partnered with health insurance companies like Aetna, First Health Network ComPsych HealthSmart, and Ancillary Care Services to make treatment as accessible and affordable as possible. The center believes that no one should face barriers when receiving treatment. RCA offers 24/7 admissions, interventions, and transportation at no extra cost. They also offer other services, including family therapy, at affordable rates thanks to being in-network with most insurance providers.

“RCA is in-network with a variety of insurance plans to help as many people as possible get the care they need,” Karen added.

Patients and their loved ones can access different programs at St. Charles and South Elgin facilities. The programs are designed to help patients through every step of the recovery journey so they can live sober, fulfilling life. These programs include medical & psychiatric evaluations, immersive 12-step meetings, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, individual, family, and group therapy, motivational interviewing, and specialized therapy for co-occurring disorders.

Speaking about RCA’s treatment process at the St. Charles Open House, Steve Holtsford, Medical Director at Recovery Centers of America, said, “What we do is provide a safe and stable place for them. We provide medication for withdrawal management, make sure their detox is safe and comfortable. We provide a lot of counseling, individual, group, family – they can be very powerful. And then we do a lot of case management – what’s going to happen if we needed a smooth transition from RCA to the community and we get that setup. And then we have a strong alumni community.”

The experts at RCA facilities understand that addiction is a disease and that everyone’s experience is unique. So, they customize treatment plans to each person’s specific needs with the goal of long-term sobriety.

“One of the things about RCA is we believe that recovery is an individual path,” said Karen. “And I think we strive as an organization, and here in St. Charles to help provide all of the tools that our patients might need for their own individual recovery plans. It is our job to work with our patients. Understand who they are. Understand their individual challenges and work with them and their plan for their own recovery.”

Beyond the two best addiction treatment facilities near Northfield, IL, RCA has treatment centers across the county.

“We started as a company a little over six years ago, and we have treatment centers in multiple other states across the country. We have treatment centers in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and the Indianapolis area, which is the closest center here. And, of course here in St. Charles,” Karen added.

 

The Importance of Adapting to Different Employee Learning Styles in Remote Teams

NY Weekly Staff on January 26, 2023

The new remote work ecosystem has tremendously benefited many businesses, but it presents a unique set of challenges for interacting with employees. Generally, it can be much more difficult to connect with employees via a remote medium rather than an in-person one, which can be a frustrating obstacle — especially during onboarding. 

However, during an employee’s initial training and continued coaching, adapting to their needs is essential. For Hannah Lloret, VP of Headbackers at Cyberbacker, understanding the needs of a virtual workforce is second nature.

Coach instead of teaching

The goal of coaching is to guide the employee to understand themselves rather than telling them how to do something. “A good coach must help the employee identify the source of their struggle and give them the skills to come up with a solution to improve it,” explains Lloret. “This is the primary difference between ‘management’ and ‘coaching.’ Management is largely about making the decisions for employees, whereas coaching empowers employees to make those decisions themselves.”

When dealing with large workforces — such as the group of over 500 Cyberbackers that Lloret works with — the temptation can be strong to fall back on management rather than coaching strategies. “The more employees you have, the more generalized training tends to become, but it is essential to resist this urge,” she says. “Make sure you take time to adjust any training to employees’ specific needs, as this will lead to better retention and performance.”

Lloret suggests that employers take the time to focus on each employee’s learning, development, and coaching early on in their time at the company. “I give my Cyberbackers extensive coaching before they ever work with a client,” she says. “This ensures they are prepared to handle any circumstances that may arise.”

Still, coaching is not a one-and-done process — a commitment must be made to continuous learning by both the employer and the employee. As the duties and responsibilities of an employee evolve, it is crucial to continue to guide them through their development. “If the goal is for your employees to grow, and the company alongside them, striving for continuous improvement is key,” says Lloret.

How to best build employee engagement

The biggest obstacle that must be overcome is creating employee engagement. Engagement and retention go hand in hand, so finding a strategy that maximizes employee engagement is essential. However, the methods that may work to keep one person engaged may be ineffective for others.

There are several different types of learners; some are kinesthetic learners who learn best by doing, whereas others are auditory or visual learners. While standing and giving a lecture may be an effective way to help auditory learners, a kinesthetic learner could become completely disengaged and retain very little. Adapting coaching strategies to employees’ unique needs is the best way to ensure engagement.

One of the biggest challenges employers face regarding coaching their employees remotely is that it tends to be much more difficult to grasp employee engagement. “Whereas in an in-person training, it’s easy for the trainer to see the reactions of employees to understand how well they are absorbing the information, this can be much more difficult through a virtual meeting or webinar,” says Lloret. “Employers must find different ways to gauge their employees’ engagement in training and coaching.”

Of course, the easiest (and most important) strategy to better understand employees’ engagement and needs in a remote workplace is to listen. “Coaching should be a two-way street,” Lloret asserts. “If you coach employees as if you are just enjoining, they will likely see you as condescending and won’t absorb your advice and information as well. Instead, aim to create a mutualistic mentor-mentee relationship where you learn from each other.”

The best way to create this dynamic is by asking questions. Not only does asking questions serve as a tremendously effective way of aiding recall and ensuring information retention, but it can also serve as a valuable method of collecting feedback to improve the coaching process. 

“Ask open-ended questions like, ‘What did we discuss that you found most valuable today?’ or ‘What else would you like to learn about this topic?’ to help start a conversation,” explains Lloret. “Then, most importantly, listen to and apply this feedback to the best of your ability. Employees want to know that you value their input.”

Summary and repetition can also be effective ways to ensure that employees get the most out of coaching. That being said, there is a delicate line to be struck when using this method. 

“Too much repetition can easily start to feel condescending and counterproductive,” says Lloret. “Make sure you are reinforcing what was taught instead of saying it to remind them of what they already know because that could be misconstrued as patronizing.”

Strong coaching involves creating engagement to promote employee retention. This is a continual process that employers must work on — not only during the onboarding process but throughout the employee’s time with the company. Committing to continuous, adaptable improvement is the only way to ensure maximum efficiency in a remote workforce.

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