In Episode 14, I have the privilege of interviewing Cecilia Akuffo the author of a blog entitled "Workplace Fairness & Dignity".  As you will hear, Cecilia is an articulate woman who has a passion for shedding light on an issue not often talked about - workplace abuse.  Cecilia approaches this issue from a social justice perspective. The definition of social justice is:  "the fair treatment of all people in society, including respect for the right of minorities and equitable distribution of resources among members of a society".

Think of it this way, there is all kinds of racial injustice and oppression in our daily lives.  When you think about social justice, it refers to being fair and just in terms of the individual and society. Individuals have a fundamental right to basic human dignity. No one should be judged based on who they are, and when this happens bullying and bullying behavior becomes a social justice issue. 

I encourage you to check out Cecilia's blog: https://workplacefairnessanddignity.blogspot.com and listen to the first episode "From Fired to Fired Up" to hear her entire story. 

To explore this issue further, Cecilia offers the following resources:

2017 Workplace Bullying Institute U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey, Gary Namie, PhD, Research Director.

https://workplacebullying.org/download/2017-wbi/

https://workplacebullying.org/hwb/

Pfeffer, Jeffrey (2018, May 2) How your workplace is killing you. BBC.com.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180502-how-your-workplace-is-killing-you

Yamada, D. (2008) Workplace Bullying and Ethical Leadership. Values Based Leadership Journal. 1(2).  http://www.valuesbasedleadershipjournal.com/issues/vol1issue2/yamada.php

https://fairygodboss.com/articles/real-talk-i-am-being-psychologically-abused-at-work?utm_source=link&utm_medium=share#.YDpP4k97zYw.link

On the issue of racism and diversity in the workplace: 

Networking in these challenging times of COVID-19 has become real.  In order to move your career forward you have to understand the value of networking and how to make the most of your network.  Over the past several months, I've been networking like crazy and was fortunate to be introduced to Kevin Thai.

Kevin Thai is the Founder and Lead Photographer of Three Circles Studio, which specializes in headshots that are simple, powerful and genuine.  In order to get the best result for his clients, he has to develop trust and build relationships so that the headshot will portray the person as warm, genuine and happy.  Like most of the individuals I interview for the podcast, Kevin didn't start out as a headshot photographer.   There were three events in his life that caused him to pivot from teaching to owning Three Circles Studio.   

Kevin is a great guy and I urge you to consider him for your headshot. For more information,  visit:  www.ThreeCirclesStudio.com

Here are a couple of articles:

1.  thebalancecareers.com - I highly recommend following Alison Doyle, she is very thorough in her career articles.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/take-a-professional-photo-for-linkedin-2064035

2. Forbes.com 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2018/09/05/the-best-linkedin-headshots-and-how-to-create-yours/?sh=4c9174396d2f

3.  Meero.com

https://www.meero.com/en/news/corporate/411/11-Tips-To-Follow-For-The-Perfect-Linkedin-Profile-Picture-In-2019

Enjoy the journey!

In 2015, Tailored for Success was given a grant to start a program to assist women veterans called - Boots2Suits, A Program for Women Veterans.  Since the program began, we have been working to increase awareness around the issues affecting women veterans. This episode is a lighthearted but honest look at the issues affecting women veterans.  Mary-dith Tuitt tells her story of joining the Navy right after high school, pivoting to bootcamp and working on the flight line.  

The interview covers what it was like for her to be in the military as a woman and especially a woman of color.  We also cover the controversial topic of gays in the military and the "inconsistent policies" the military has had concerning gays.  

For the sake of history, it is important to remember that dating back to the Korean and Vietnam wars, the military viewed homosexuality as a “mental defect” and officially bared gays from serving in the military based on medical criteria.  Then in 1982, the Department of Defense officially put in writing that “homosexuality was incompatible with military service”.  Then by the end of the 1980’s the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy came into existence.

In December of 2010, the House and Senate voted in favor to repeal and over-turn the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." President Obama then signed it into law December 22, 2010. The nation decided that by September 20, 2011, homosexuals would no longer fear discharge from the military by admitting to their sexual preference. Homosexuals have the freedom to serve in the armed forces openly.

Lastly, we discuss the issues affecting women when they transition out of the military and attempt to reintegrate back into civilian life.  The importance of the American Legion and D.A.V. posts and the camaraderie of veterans from Korea to Vietnam to Desert Storm. 

In this episode, I pick. up my conversation with Lovern Gordon, President of Love Life Now (www.lovelifenow.org). The episode begins with a listing of the different types of abuse: coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying and blaming, using children, economic abuse and male privilege.  These all come from the Power and Control Wheel by the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence website www.ncdav.org. 

Lovern and I continue our discussion focusing on the warning and tell tale signs that the relationship you are in could turn abusive.  We also discuss the complicated issues of why a person stays in an abusive relationship.  Domestic violence is not black and white; the shades of grey can keep someone in danger for a long time.  

Most importantly, we talk about what bystanders can do to help and how just being a listening ear helps victims.  Below, are the resources listed in the first episode.  My hope is that someone who needs help will reach out or that a bystander will get familiar with the domestic violence resources in their community.  That way, the bystander can (when the time is right) offer suggestions for the person they care about.  

Although Domestic Violence Awareness month is celebrated in October, this issue should be openly discussed all year long.  Thank you for listening and your interest in this important topic.

National Domestic Violence Resources:

Massachusetts Domestic Violence Resources

Further Reading Resources

Mashable - https://mashable.com/article/how-to-help-domestic-violence-survivors-social-distancing-covid-19-coronavirus/

The Joyful Heart Foundation - www.joyfulheartfoundation.org

Sometimes success is getting out of an abusive relationship and reclaiming your identity.  In this episode, I interview Lovern Gordon, President and Founder of Love Life Now Foundation (www.lovelifenow.org).  Lovern is passionate about giving victims of domestic violence the information they need to become survivors.  In this frank, honest interview Lovern describes how her first experience with domestic violence started in her home island of Trinidad

During her childhood she and her siblings were exposed to brutal domestic violence of their father on their mother that was culturally accepted in her community.  After achieving permanent residency in the United States, Lovern began to live a good life of attending college and working in corporate America. Unfortunately, the good life she was building turned dark when she met her abuser and started a two year abusive relationship.  Like many victims of domestic violence Lovern's story started as a fairy tale romance but as you will hear there were warning signs along the way.  

This is part one of a two part episode where we lay the ground work for how abuse can start, answer the age old question of "why did she stay" and finishes with the birth of Love Life Now Foundation.  In part two, we will explore the different types of abuse and the warning signs.

National Domestic Violence Resources:

Massachusetts Domestic Violence Resources 

Further Reading Resources

Mashable - https://mashable.com/article/how-to-help-domestic-violence-survivors-social-distancing-covid-19-coronavirus/

The Joyful Heart Foundation - www.joyfulheartfoundation.org

A quick podcast on taking responsibility for your success in life.  

Once you start looking inward as to why you are not achieving the results you want, circumstances in your life will change.  The podcast is a departure from my typical interview of successful people, but I wanted to talk about the first step in getting to where you want in life.  That first step, is taking 100% responsibility.  

To read the book I reference within the podcast, go to www.thesuccessprinciples.com.  

The book title is "Success Principles, How to get from where you are to where you want to be" by Jack Canfield. 

Enjoy the journey!

Black & Golds – Green Dynastea – The Flood

These are just some of the cookie flavors of Top Shelf Cookies.

In 2014, Heather Yunger started Top Shelf Cookies after several job changes that resulted in being told she’d never be promoted because she lacked a degree. Heather didn’t let that stop her and with hard work, passion and determination Top Shelf Cookies became Boston’s Craft Cookie Company that ships cookies to 30 out of 50 states.

To describe Heather, you could use the word “superstitious”.  Like most sports fans, especially in Boston, when you do something and your team wins – you keep doing it.  An avid Bruins fan, Heather decided to take some cookies to one of the home games for luck.

Not just your average chocolate chip cookies, but Black & Golds; cookies that represented the Bruins colors of black and gold and were made of dark chocolate and peanut butter.  The Bruins won that game and Heather brought Black & Golds to every home game. That year, the Bruins won the Stanley Cup and the rest as they say is history – or sweet history in this case.

To learn more about Top Shelf Cookies, and try their amazing cookies: www.topshelfcookies.com

Heather loves talk to budding entrepreneurs.  You can reach her via  email: [email protected]

For information about Brewing the American Dream small food and beverage business loan program: www.brewingtheamericandream.com

Crowdfunding opportunity - www.kiva.org

In this episode, I talk with Nicole Lawrence O'Brien, the Founder of Ruth's Way for Women.  Ruth's Way for Women is located in Lynn, MA and started as a recovery house for women.  After a few years, the organization pivoted to be a sober home where they provide independent living in a structured environment.  In this way, the women who are in recovery have a safe, secure place for them to heal.  Nicole goes into detail about her own struggle (and awareness) of addiction to alcohol and how she through being a recovery coach empowers women to take charge of their own recovery.  

As Founders, Nicole and I share laughs over the trials and tribulations of starting and running a nonprofit organization.  Some lessons learned include:  (1) Board development - we all start with friends and family, but to grow you have to find people more interested in supporting the mission than supporting you; (2) funding the nonprofit, (3) getting good counsel and reaching out for help.  

Addition doesn't just affect the individual who is abusing substances, it can affect families.  Here are some resources if you are in need of assistance for yourself or someone you know:

Ruth's Way for Women - www.ruthswayforwomen.org

Massachusetts Substance Use Hotline - www.helplinema.org

Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration - www.samhsa.gov

This podcast episode goes into detail about the limiting beliefs we all have at times.  Limiting beliefs which are really excuses, bad habits and rationalizations for not achieving our goals.   The book Once Upon a Cow by Dr. Camillo Cruze uses a parable to illustrate how sometimes what we think are valid reasons for not improving our lives can be shackles to keep us in mediocracy.  

Take aways from this podcast:

- limiting beliefs can keep you bound in mediocracy

- to have success in life you must face adversity 

- be careful not to learn to accept your circumstances, even if you are dissatified

- a "cow" represents every excuse, pretext, rationalization, justification, lies or fear that prevents you from living the life you deserve and were meant to live.

Kisoboka means "it is possible" in the Uganda language.  Kisoboka Uganda is a Lexington, MA based nonprofit that has had a significant impact on a village in Uganda called Bakka since 2008.  Hear from the co-Director of Kisoboka, Sandy Gannon of how she first learned of the issues affecting the village from a visiting pastor from Uganda.  Upon hearing of the need, she decided to help by raising funds and collecting clothing for the people of the village.  Upon arriving in Bakka, Uganda, Sandy was struck by the lack of running water and no electricity even though Bakka was only 17 miles from Uganda's capital, Kampala.  

The children she met on her first trip to Uganda were suffering from malnutrition, had extended stomach due to worms, lice and no clothes.  But the joy in their hearts for God touched Sandy and she made a promise to devote the rest of her life to helping these children.   Sandy and her team in the United States and Uganda have helped hundreds of children get access to education, helped adults start businesses and has been instrumental in creating 8 bore (water) holes to provide clean water to the village.