The Goal Standard

In this week's episode I am talking to mompreneur Nicole Lashae about her journey of balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and a full-time job. Nicole has a bachelor's degree in fine art and interior design, however she learned early that the life of an entrepreneur was the only role that fit. 

In this episode we talk about:

• Nicole's first business and why she had to let it go
• How she learned to create a balance between raising her son and fulfilling her purpose as a business owner
• How to become clear on your purpose and passion

Learn more about Nicole:

Nicole teaches mompreneurs how to master product development and create scalable sales strategies. Nicole has worked for multi-million dollar product manufacturers for the last 6 years, and now she helps women reach their business goals through private and group coaching. Nicole works with mompreneurs to help them refine their product offering and create strategies that will help them confidently sell their inventory. 

Reach out!

Nicole Lashae

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicolelashae

Website: www.nicolelashae.com 

In this week's episode I am talking to Majesty Acheampong, an amazing Influencer Marketer. Majesty is an expert in all things influencer marketing. 

Majesty started off in Charlotte, NC as a pastor's kid. Those beginnings gave her the comfortability that she would later need to take the Influencer Marketing industry by storm. She started a blog in 2013 due to the peak of interest in her style and beauty techniques. She learned to love fashion from the way her mother used to dress up for church. She knew early that she wanted to help other women look just as beautiful. 

Majesty has since opened up a boutique and run a blog, all while still working her 9-5 corporate job.

We talked about:

-Her journey after college into retail marketing

-How she learned when she felt burnt out and how she had to make decisions to switch up the pace

-Her mission to teach women of color to kill it in the marketing industry

A little about Majesty:

Majesty Acheampong has created an online community for content creators that features her lifestyle blog, podcast, coaching services, and Ignite Your Influence event. Over the years, Majesty has grown her influence by working with brands such as Pantene, Urban Skin RX, Olay and Coca-Cola to name a few. Majesty has also been featured as a keynote speaker & panelist at many events & conferences highlighting her experience within the Influencer Marketing industry. Majesty now teaches bloggers and creatives industry skills through her courses, podcast, coaching services and Ignite Your Influence Conference.

Reach out!

Majesty Acheampong

Instagram: www.instagramcom/majestyacheampong

Website:  www.Majestyacheampong.com | www.Igniteyourinfluence.co

In this episode, I'm talking to Atlanta photographer Mecca Gamble. 

In this episode we talk about:

-Her start in journalism school that led to finding her passion as a photographer

-How she learned to balance her life and business

-Her journey to realizing that she was working in her God given purpose 

Background on Mecca Gamble:

Over the last 8 years, Mecca has made a name for herself by photographing well-known brands, influencers and having her work published by popular mediums such as Essence, Upscale, Xonecole, and The Knot.

Her bold personality, style, and worth ethic have allowed her to stand out in her industry and shoot nationwide. She also enjoys helping other photographers gain confidence and clarity in their businesses through her coaching platform For the Photographer™ and hosting an annual retreat-style workshop, porter street, that supports growing photographers with building their businesses on a solid foundation.

Mecca lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Quincy. When she's not behind the camera, she enjoys running, biking, reading, and cooking.

Reach out!

Mecca Gamble 

Website: www.meccagamble.com 

Instagram: @meccagamble

Have you thought about leaving everything you know behind and traveling to the other side of the world to live? I have, and I've done it 7 times in 7 different countries!

In this episode I am speaking all about my journey of traveling for college and then further for work and lastly for love. I also break down 5 things that you should keep in mind before making that jump for yourself.

If you are thinking about moving to another country or are currently planning to, this episode will lead you in the right direction.

Reach out!

The Goal Standard Podcast

Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @goalstandard_

In this episode, I am talking to Martinique Lewis, a Digital Disruptor whose immensely in love with all things travel and also creator of "The ABC Travel Greenbook". 

In this episode we talk about:

-Her journey from Oakland, CA to college in North Carolina where she developed her black excellence mindset

-How she went from the fashion industry to advocating for the Black Community in the travel industry

-How travel has changed the trajectory of life for millennials

-The growth of the black travel and how social media has played a part

Background on Martinique Lewis:

Named after the Caribbean island of Martinique, Marty's love of travel started early. Her first experience of travel outside of home was to college in North Carolina. She then ventured to London her senior year of college, where she learned of her love for travel. 

In 2018 that passion for travel became a career. Marty started working for Black Travel Journey, a job that opened her eyes to the fact that black people were not very present in the travel industry, she was determined to change that and the lack of diversity in many marketing campaigns for major hotels, airlines and brands.

Her mission is to change the face of tourism forever, so that we all feel represented and see ourselves reflected!

Reach out!

Martinique Lewis

Website: http://abctravelgreenbook.com | http://audacityfest.com/ 

In this episode, we're talking to both Carla George and Shaunté Saphire. This conversation is all about finding your purpose and what that means to you. 

Both Carla and Shaunte grew up in small towns in Bermuda. They both attended law school and realized that there was more to their lives and their potential than their communities had presented to them.

This episode walks you through their journeys and how they came across their passion to get to where they are now.

Learn a little more about them:

Carla George, aka your purpose pusher, is determined to get you through roadblocks and to a life of purpose! She will push you in your career, relationship, and spiritual life. In her island home of Bermuda, she has served on many government boards as well as serving in several capacities in her church, Mt Zion AME Church. She has spent over 15 years in the corporate world in insurance and as a lawyer. Carla has a background in law, however, she is now a speaker, author, and podcast host. 

Shaunte Saphire is a fellow Bermudian that has helped over 85,000 women in over 45 countries around the world through coaching, online courses, podcasts, ebooks, newsletters, speaking engagements and other events. She is passionate about using her skills to impact the lives of all who she comes into contact with.  She has been featured in Fearless Magazine, The Royal Gazette, Bernews, the Pushed Into Purpose Summit & Podcast, Activate Bermuda and Tea with Tunisia O, to name a few.

In 2018, she launched the Pray Plan Slay Podcast which was created to discuss everything we need to know as women to SLAY the purpose that God has given us. This podcast is for those who are ready to get out of their own way and create the life of their dreams.

Here's what we talk about:

• Being open to change and aware that it is not always a bad thing
• Realizing that there is sometimes more to life than working in Corporate America
• Finding that "thing" that sets your soul on fire!

Reach out!

Carla George

Website: http://www.iamcarlageorge.com | Instagram: @iamcarlageorge

Shaunte Saphire

Website: https://www.shauntesaphire.com  | Instagram: @shauntesaphire

In this episode, we're talking to a close friend of The Goal Standard Taylor Mills about her journey from Ivy league to finding her path as a digital entrepreneur.  

Taylor grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs, including both of her parents. She knew she wanted to work in business, so she applied and was accepted to The Whaton School, an Ivy League business school in Pennsylvania. The experience forced Taylor to be in a completely new environment with people who came from a completely different background. 

At 19, Taylor moved to Spain which again put Taylor outside of her comfort zone but essentially prepared her for the world of entrepreneurship.  After returning to Wharton and graduating, Taylor quickly felt the pressure to follow in the path that was expected by her based on her Ivy league education. 

Now, Taylor is a Digital Nomad and Online Marketing Entrepreneur focused on helping businesses have 5+ figure launches.  Something that all her professional and personal experiences had prepared her for. 

We walk throughout Taylor's journey of figuring out what she wanted for herself, while shedding society's expectations of what her life should be. 

Here's what we talk about:

• The impact of comparing your journey to others
• How to stay on course, even during periods of self-doubt
• The real journey after college and the pressure of finding a job in your career field
• How the fear of failure can put you in situations that don't always leave you fulfilled 

Reach out!

Website: [email protected] | Instagram: @taymakesmoves

In this episode, we're talking to Fatimah Williams of Beyond the Tenure track who shares her journey through academia to becoming a professional development and career coach for academics. Finding her own authentic pathway to a fulfilling career and helping others identify and achieve success on their own lead to the creation of Beyond the Tenure Track.

Fatimah moved beyond what she should be doing with her degree to what she wanted to be doing and knows firsthand that reinventing yourself is extremely difficult. She created Beyond the Tenure Track to help other academics on the same journey. 

Beyond the Tenure Track is a multi-step process that helps academics who have discovered the disappointing reality of the career they worked so hard to achieve discover new avenues for success. You worked hard for that degree, make it work hard for you in a new way! She also helps prepare graduate students for life after school and faculty members to take on leadership roles successfully. 

Fatimah is now a full-time global speaker and career coach living her dream job helping other reluctant academics live their dream job. For any graduate student, faculty member, or PhD looking for advice on how to craft the career you truly want, this episode is for you! 

• Details on Fatimah's career choices and how she created her own pathway to her authentic self. 
• Differences between cultural anthropology and sociology and how studying cultural anthropology helped Fatimah understand how people make decisions in society. 
• Benefits of having a sense of self and being able to separate yourself from your career to keep it from becoming all-consuming.
• Strategies for preparing people on the personal cost and cultural codes that are involved in academic positions and how to avoid looking "stale" in your job. 
• Details on Fatimah's career change framework Beyond the Tenure Track that helps people in academia identify and achieve their dream job.

Listen on iTunes

Reach out!

The Goal Standard

Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @goalstandard_ | Twitter: @goalstandard_| Facebook: The Goal Standard

Beyond the Tenure Track

Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @fatimaphd

We're getting weary, and there's a lot happening right now, so we wanted to take a minute to talk about some of the things that we're feeling within our community.   We aim to provide some solidarity and sister-ship during this time. 

In this episode, we share our experiences, share support around what's happening in the US and around the world, as well as providing advice on how we can practice self-care in a situation like this. 

DONATE

Hawai'i Community Bail Fund

Bail fund run by the Democratic Socialists of Hawaii.

Black Mamas Bailout Fund

Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists working to end pretrial detention and mass incarceration.

National Community Bail Fund

Split a donation between bail funds across the country.

LGBTQ Fund

Relief for jailed LGBTQ people who can't afford bail in over 15 states across the country.

Minnesota Freedom Fund

Community fund assembled after George Floyd's death, allocating funds to pay bail funds and immigration bonds for individuals arrested for protesting police brutality.

Black Visions Collective

Led by Black, trans, and queer community members, this Minnesota-based organization is dedicated to shutting down oppressive and violent systems towards long-term transformation.

Reclaim the Block

A coalition that advocates for and invests in community-led safety initiatives in Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Peoples City Council Freedom Fund

This Los Angeles-based fund is paying for fines, bails, court fees and legal support for protesters across the city, as well as medical and transportation needs, and direct BLM support.

Colorado Freedom Fund

A revolving fund that provides relief for protestors.

Free Them All

A Miami-based organization, run by Fempower, freeing people through a bail fund.

Atlanta Solidarity Fund

A fundraiser covering bail expenses for arrested protest supporters.

Buy Black Atlanta

Funds to help restore black-owned Atlanta businesses that were damaged throughout the protests.

Chicago Community Bond Fund

Bail fundraiser for arrested individuals in Cook County impacted by structural violence.

Louisville Community Bail Fund

Community fund providing bail, legal support, and post-release support for Louisville activists.

New Orleans Safety and Freedom Fund

Community fund working to bring equity to the New Orleans criminal justice system through providing drug testing, fines, jail fees, and bail.

Baltimore Action Legal Team

Black-focused legal relief and bail funding for Baltimore activists.

Massachusetts Bail Fund

Providing bail for low-income people in Massachusetts.

Detroit Bail Fund

Activist-launched relief fund designed to provide bail for protestors.

Kansas City Community Bail Fund

Freeing arrested individuals in Kansas City.

Neighbors for Common Good

Providing bail for protesters in Omaha, Nebraska.

Brooklyn Bail Fund

Nonprofit community bail fund for Brooklyn's incarcerated individuals.

May 2020 Buffalo Bail Fund

Funds for releasing protesters in Buffalo, New York.

Columbus Freedom Fund

Helping protesters reach bail in Columbus, Ohio.

PDX Protest Bail Fund

Legal support offered to protesters by The Portland General Defense Committee since 2017.

Philadelphia Bail Fund

Direct bail funding and assistance in Philadelphia.

Bukit Bail Fund of Pittsburgh

Working to bail out incarcerated individuals in Allegheny County Jail. In memory of Frank "Bukit" Smart Jr., a victim of a preventable death at ACJ.

Nashville Bail Fund

A nonprofit working to free local, low-income individuals from jail.

Restoring Justice Community Bail Fund

Restoring Justice, the Bail Project, and Pure Justice have teamed up to raise bail relief in Houston.

San Antonio Freedom Fund

Directing funds to arrested demonstrators.

Richmond Community Bail Fund

Freeing individuals from jail and the burden of bail in Richmond, Virginia

Northwest Community Bail Fund

Bail for arrested individuals across the Seattle area.

Milwaukee Freedom Fund

Collecting donations to bail out black and brown Milwaukee organizers.

Toronto Protester Bail Fund

Generating funding to release and support Toronto protestors who end up incarcerated.

I recently quit my job and became a full-time entrepreneur!  As exciting as it is, I feel super blessed to have the support of my partner.  When I first told him that I planned on quitting my job, he was shocked because for him, The Goal Standard was just a hobby and something I did for fulfillment! But it didn't take long before it was fully on-board, and I'm super happy to have him as a support system throughout this entire journey. 

A lot of us are looking forward to full-time entrepreneurship, and having the 'talk' with your partner about your dreams is one of the first steps that we should take.  Having a supportive partner as a creative or a dreamer is super important, and they honestly don't get enough credit!  That's why I'm shining a light on their contribution to our success.  We're talking about what it's like to be the one with the steady income and having to be the backbone and support for a creative who's forging a new path. 

Even if you're not going into entrepreneurship, but you want to go back to school, taking a lower-paying job, you'll still get a lot from this episode. Our partners and family members are the ones that are supporting us, and it's important to see things from their perspective.  

In this episode we talk about:

• A look at what it's like to be the partner with the steady income and the struggles they face. 
• What it's like being in a relationship with a creative
• The best way to communicate our goals and dreams, and what we need
• How to make sure you're still working as a team

The Goal Standard Podcast

Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @goalstandard_ | Facebook: The Glow Up Podcast