The Robyn Graham Show a Podcast for Christian Women - Become Calm, Confident, and Consistent

Our goal with this interview was to bridge the gap between the black woman and the privileged white woman and discuss how can we work together to decrease racism and build healthy relationships across communities and between individuals, personally and professionally?

During this empowering conversation we discussed white privilege, vulnerability, micro aggressions, assumptions, humanity, human decency, accountability, and more.

Our goal with this interview was to bridge the gap between the black woman and the privileged white woman and discuss how can we work together to decrease racism and build healthy relationships across communities and between individuals, personally and professionally? Vulnerability June's Thoughts Acknowledging that I don't know everything. There's much left for me to learn. Even as a black woman, there is much left for me to learn about relationships and inclusion that's left for me to learn. In the state of vulnerability, it's about being patient, trusting that I can learn, reaching out, asking questions and having conversations. And sometimes, getting feedback about something that I did as a leader and not taking it as a personal attack upon myself for the sake of being vulnerable. Being vulnerable allows us to learn things that we don't know. Learning is positive and what we're in taught in the moment is valuable. Right now, in our society, we are at a vulnerable state. Tracy's Thoughts When doing the racism evaluation at Bucks County Community College, Tracy received results that surprised her. She didn't think she had any racists tendencies, but she wasn't as tolerant as she thought she was. One thing she learned was that saying "I don't see color" actually takes away from a black person's identity. Not having bad intentions, Tracy felt like since she and her black colleagues worked together, and they were friends they were all the same. Tracy had never thought about the color of her skin being an advantage. She hadn't never thought of back women she went to school with were any different than her. Timing God has a knack with timing. The COVID pandemic has forced us to face the issue of racism and really learn and be educated. Learning is more powerful than a training on racism that you have to do. Education is more sustainable than trainings so if we can work together to educate others on racism, we will have a better chance of bridging the gap for good. White Privilege and Racism Being privileged is not about money. It's about access. The important thing is to recognize privilege and not pretend it isn't there. Both Tracy and Robyn admit they were ignorant as to what white privilege is. Neither one of them associate with racism, but they also didn't recognize white privilege. June points out the difference between her upbringing in an impoverished area with little resources. College was a dream, not a reality. Minimum wage was considered success. It took being outstanding in order to make it out of the neighborhood and go to universities. There is much more pressure for the impoverished black people who have to do ten times the amount of work to be able to get to college. Leadership How can we as female leaders change the landscape of racism? Take the entrepreneurial mindset of risk taking and channel that energy into conversations about racism like the one we have on the podcast. It would be easier to keep quiet instead of getting uncomfortable, but if we are going to channel the entrepreneurial mindset, we have to bring it into conversations. That is the only way any measurable change is going to happen. Female entrepreneurs are the people who can do this because we have the support of other women who are willing to come together and work with each other. Bring the spirit that drove us into entrepreneurship is what is going to do it. We must be willing to take the risk and be supportive when other women are taking the risk and let the uncomfortable conversations happen. Being a Leader Comes from Within Being a leader of ourselves must happen first. Open the channels to improve and build relationships. It must start with the individual. We must take the action to improve ourselves first before we can lead others. Take the time to reach out, ask questions and seek resources to education ourselves and then use our knowledge to lead. Assumptions We can assume that others are in the same situation we are in. Once we focus on our-selves we can realize that there are differences and accept the things we don't know. Accountability We need to have accountability partners to ensure that we are taking action and not only listening but taking the necessary action. As women we need to hold each other accountable for taking action. But also, if we do something or say something in accordance with what I'm saying about mutuality and inclusion and decreasing bias, then also call each other out on that. Micro-aggressions of Racism Behaviors or things done or said that are offensive but not directly done or said towards someone. Doesn't have to be directed at you but will offend you. Being aware of what we say and do is critical to avoid committing microaggressions. Humanity We should live with humanity as a core value. Human decency may not be measurable, but we can certainly hold each other accountable for human decency. Everyone commits microaggressions, not just white people. But do we have the decency, once called on it, to do better. Without human decency, all of the training on racism, all of the speakers and education on racism, will not do any good…it has to happen internally with each and every one of us. Learn More and Connect June Rogers June is the Program Director of a social services initiative (KEYS). Keystone Education Yields Success is a collaborative program between the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and PA's Community Colleges. KEYS is designed to assist recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) attending PA's community colleges and ensure the successful completion of the students' courses. June also serves as co-chair of the college's advisory group on race, ethnicity, diversity, and inclusion. She is passionate about human decency and creating change. To learn more about the KEYS program, click HERE. Tracy Timby Tracy is the Dean of Business + Innovation at Bucks. While growing her legal practice and specialty in Alternate Dispute Resolution, she served as the Director of the Paralegal Program at Bucks County Community College. In 2014, Tracy became the Dean of the Business Department. She loves inspiring faculty to be innovative and creative in teaching and collaborating with the local business community in support of the business programs at Bucks County Community College. The Department's Speaker and Networking Series features prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. The series is now presenting events in the local business community on various topics such as Social Media Marketing and Customer Service. Entrepreneurial Movement Tracy is thrilled to be a part of the growing entrepreneurial movement on campus and in the County. The daughter of one of the founding partners of a local law firm and the granddaughter of a small businessman, she grew up knowing the value of charting your own course. She is also thrilled to have had the opportunity to develop the Faculty Innovator program to revise learning goals across disciplines to include the entrepreneurial mindset, collaborate with small business in Bristol Borough to present a series of seminars addressing their needs and most recently develop Bucks+, a program to encourage and track co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences that build the competencies employers are seeking. Tracy continues to support the Collaborative Divorce movement in Bucks County. When you work with a Collaborative Professional, you are empowered to make your own decisions based in knowledge not fear or emotional reaction. Website: https://www.bucks.edu/academics/department/business/ Instagram: @businessatbucks LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracytimby/ Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Are you tired of client's not finding you online?  Your visual content probably needs a revamp!   Melissa LeMay tells us how to use Canva to create a recognizable and memorable brand.

Brand colors and graphics are a strong component of a visual brand and necessary to create and convey the message of the brand.  Having brand colors and graphics helps with consistency and staying on brand.  It is easier to be recognized when you have consistence with brand colors and having them prevents confusion.

Are you tired of client's not finding you online? Your visual content probably needs a revamp! Melissa LeMay tells us how to use Canva to create a recognizable and memorable brand. Mélissa is a Canva Certified Creative and Content Strategist who loves to work with solopreneurs. She helps them achieve their visual goals easily (and fast) and saves them 10+ hours every week by creating custom Canva graphics! After being in sales and customer service for over 15 years, Mélissa pursued her desire for more freedom by starting her own business. Born creative, she loves designing different graphics for her clients and coming up with the right solutions. With her strong background in customer service, helping other business owners to succeed is what she's passionate about. Mélissa loves calligraphy, dancing and travelling but home to her and her 3 silly kids is Ottawa, Canada. First Phase Melissa was a salon and sales manager in her 9 to 5. There was a moment in time that really triggered her desire to leave the 9 to 5 to have freedom to be available for her kids when they needed her. Second Phase Melissa's first attempt was to consult in the salon industry. She became a salon management coach. It was a difficult start because she wasn't well known in the industry. However, she was determined to make it work and was able to make the same income that she made in her 9 to 5 job. She found her clients by tapping into her existing network. Melissa started small, as is often necessary for entrepreneurs. Networking online and hiring a business coach were two additional resources she used to grow her business and gain clients. As time went by, people started to notice the graphics Melissa was creating for her own business content. She started creating graphics for her clients and then realized, if people are asking for this, there is clearly a need. Melissa then slowly transitioned into the graphic design and became a Canva Certified Creative. Canva for Creating Visual Content Canva has a community of creatives who test their designs and tools. This is now an invitation process but at the time, it was an application process. Melissa now creates Canva graphics for solopreneurs for use online. She creates the templates and then her clients can edit the graphics as need as their brands or businesses change. Canva is a fabulous tool. You can do brand editing with the free version, but you must have the paid or pro version to manipulate fonts. Melissa works with her clients to create graphics that are brand specific and help engage and create an emotional connection with their audience. The Benefits of Using Visual Content for Branding Brand colors are a strong component of a brand and necessary to create and convey the message of the brand. Having brand colors helps with consistency and staying on brand. It is easier to be recognized when you have consistence with brand colors and having them prevents confusion. Likewise, having branded colors saves time. You don't have to guess about the colors you are going to select every time you create or use a graphic. In addition, consistency across social media platforms is so important. Having branded graphics can help with this. The Benefits of Having a Niche for Identifying your Ideal Clients It's really important to identify who you are serving and how you are going to serve them. Melissa niched down to only work with solopreneurs. Specializing has helped her business grow and has simplified her processes and consolidated her offerings. Melissa works with solopreneurs who are primarily female and business coaches. Graphics are one of the easiest and first things that business owners can outsource. Delegating is very important and can make your business run more efficiently and saves you valuable time to focus on your expertise. Book Recommendation Blue Fishing by Steve Simms Favorite Quote "Just Do It" - Nike Learn more about Melissa and connect with her: Website: www.graphicmaven.ca Instagram: www.instagram.com/graphic.maven Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraphicMavenShop/ Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/graphicmaven LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graphicmaven/ Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. The Etsy Shop

How would you like to become a speaker and own the stage? And even better, build a business around your signature speech?

Dionne McGee, empowerment author, coach, and motivational speaker teaches how to use your story to create your signature speech and build a business around it.

As a diversity and inclusion expert, Dionne also shares philosophies on how we can all work together to improve relationships and break down racial and gender barriers.

Dionne McGee is an empowerment author, speaker and coach charged with impacting the lives of women, helping them to not only find their seat at the table, but find purpose, and write their signature speech and create a business from it. Take Your Seat at the Table and Write a Signature Speech Dionne created the acronym ROAR, which means Relentless, Optimistic, Ambitious and Results Driven and is known as the roaring speaker. She helps women in the workplace become the leaders they are meant to be and take their seat at the table. Dionne is a leader in diversity and inclusion and helps women find their ROAR. She also helps women find purpose when they leave corporate and write their signature speech and/or books that they have within them and others need to learn from. Having her seat, as the only African American woman, at the executive table within the organization she worked for, she advocated for other women and women of color to take their seats at the table. But these efforts were met with resistance and she decided that her work would be more impactful if she left corporate, wrote her book and started speaking. The Book and The Dream Dionne was writing her book not even knowing that she was writing a book. She took notes while working in corporate, thriving in sales success, receiving the accolades, but not feeling fulfilled. As she was asked to speak at conferences, she came to live. Event planners started asking her to continue to speak. The thought of leaving the security of a 9 to 5, bi-weekly pay, etc. hadn't crossed her mind, but every time she spoke, she became more emotional and people started praising her for her ability to inspire. Just like so many of us do, Dionne ignored God's calling to become a professional speaker. Until, he spoke to her in the dream. After the dream where God told her she had done great things on earth, but that she hadn't become the empowerment speaker that he had called, equipped and created her to be. When we don't follow God's calling, others on earth whose goals, dreams and opportunities will die because they didn't have the opportunity to hear our signature speech or work with us. The reality is we will not rest until we accept our calling and act on it. ROAR came from Dionne's calling and her need to be relentless, optimistic, ambitious, and results driven to answer it. We won't find happiness until we answer our calling. The Guilt Women often feel guilting about doing what is fulfilling themselves because they have so many people to serve and do things for, spouses, children, parents, church, etc. If we follow our calling and do what we are called to do, we will become fulfilled. The more fulfilled we are, the better we can serve others. It's time to put the guilt aside and start doing what we are called to do and squeeze in time for ourselves. Becoming a Speaker A lot of women are walking around with the stories that they don't even realize they have in them. We have to own the story that happened to us that is going to help someone else. This story can become your signature speech and you can build a business around it. Once the story is identified, points have to be created that will inspire and teach others. If you have a product or service that you have to offer, you have to speak. If you aren't speaking, you are missing a large part of your audience. Identify your target audience and reach out and speak to them. You know you niche, you know your audience, where are they located. Then start reaching out to the organizations, churches, businesses, etc. that need to hear your message. At first speeches may be pro bono, but that's OK because we need practice. If you do speeches pro bono, have a product offering that can be monetized within the speech. Components of a Signature Speech Music Come out to music. What music goes along with the message you want to convey. Music will energize the audience and get them ready for the speech. Humor Humor is a must. It's a heartbeat. A signature message is like an S-Curve. They have to feel different types of emotions. You need to have them stand up, raise their hands, talk back to you, laughter, tears, etc. Think of it as taking the audience on the journey with you. The audience needs to not only hear your journey, they need to feel your journey. Speak to the Pain Speak to the pain that the audience is experiencing and solve their problem. Diversity and Inclusion When you have said the same thing over and over again, it gets exhausting. A person can only take so much. A race of people can only take so much. And at the end of the day, as a race, African Americans are looking for equality. Nothing Happens Overnight The reality the problem of inequality and racism isn't going to be solved overnight. To begin moving the needle, we as individuals have to look at our hearts. How can a Christian woman be racist? How can a Christian be racist? It doesn't fit. "All lives matter, but black lives are the lives that are more in danger and have the inequality and injustice." – Dionne McGee A Boring Life If we were all the same, how boring would life be? We need at accept our differences. If there is racism or discrimination against any race, we need to deal with ourselves first and then go and do what is right to support the change that is needed. Silence is alliance so people need to get involved in the community to make a difference. As individuals we need to speak up for those who don't have a voice. Self-Esteem Race is not a factor when it comes to women and self-esteem issues. If we could ever grasp the value that we as women bring to the table, we wouldn't "need" men to validate us. As a single mom, the focus should be to raise the children. Don't bring a man into the picture until you have yourself together. You bring a man into the picture to help you feel worthy, then what happens when the man leaves? You lose your sense of value again. How long does it take to get to where we were created to be, but if we know who we are and whose we are, man or no man, we can make an impact do what we were called and created to do. The focus has to be on self and children to break the vicious cycle. If the children see the mom seeing herself as having no value, they begin to see themselves as having no value and the cycle continues. We are powerful creatures. If we as women could just wake up and see the lion within us. It's there. We all have that strength. One huge way women can get involved and help other women and younger generations to believe in themselves and find their purpose is to mentor. About DG McGee Transformational Leader. Change agent. Thought guru. Author. Energy and Empathy Dionne Griffin McGee brings her insane energy and compelling empathy for those in leadership to her speaking, writing, and coaching roles. Her career, built on more than 20 years of corporate life, has included in excess of a decade in the executive suite. What she's learned there has been both painful and powerful. It was in that same executive suite that she discovered the next season for her own growth and her dreams took on a new shape. Drawing on Experience Drawing on a wealth of life and work experiences, Dionne has developed a keen understanding of the power of leadership. She has made it her goal to embrace and engender that power in others. To that end, her first book was released in 2019 "Finding Your ROAR". She has had the good fortune to travel the country to inspire thousands to chase after their dreams and goals and not settle for the status quo. Her fresh tactics rekindle hope, and spark restoration. Dionne has brought her insane energy and fierce personality to her own company, DG McGee Enterprises (DGME). Being a seasoned executive, certified Project Manager, Scrum Master, and Six Sigma (Practitioner), Dionne has a voice curtailed to ignite a room and champion a company. Anything is Possible DGME modifies the way individuals think by encouraging them to believe in what seems impossible, just as she did for herself. Through dynamic sessions of listening and learning, building cherished relationships, and participating in phenomenal instruction, clients will learn to live a harmonious life that exceeds expectations and embraces excellence. She earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S) from North Carolina Wesleyan, Rocky Mount NC. She is married to Corey McGee Sr., (Firefighter) and they have two beautiful children. Learn more about Dionne and connect with her: Website: www.dgmcgee.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionnegmcgee/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dgmcgeemotivates/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DGMcGeeMotivates/ Free Masterclass Book: Finding Your R.O.A.R Email: [email protected] Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Have you thought about becoming a coach?  Could coaching be the right option for you?  A way to supplement your 9 to 5 income, or even a segue into entrepreneurship.

There are now so many opportunities. 

Becoming a coach is a great way to supplement your income working just a few hours a week.

Coaching is a way to become more fulfilled.   If you are working in a 9 to 5 but don’t feel passionate or like you’re fulfilled, coaching may be your answer.

Have you thought about becoming a coach? Could coaching be the right option for you? A way to supplement your 9 to 5 income, or even a segue into entrepreneurship. Coaching Opportunities There are now so many opportunities. A certification is not necessary to own the title of coach and the opportunities are endless. The coaching industry has grown to a 2 billion-dollar industry, indicating that more and more people are using their life experiences and expertise to serve others. Coaches aren't just for athletes anymore. There are business coaches, health and wellness coaches, lifestyle coaches and more! Becoming a coach is a great way to supplement your income working just a few hours a week. Coaching is a way to become more fulfilled. If you are working in a 9 to 5 but don't feel passionate or like you're fulfilled, coaching may be your answer. Being an entrepreneur is a roller coaster ride. There are battles with self-worth, confidence, etc. We also have to discover what we can give up, to begin something new and find the time and energy to do it all. Listen to episode 1 of Put your Passion to Work and hear how Michelle found her calling and made the decision to become a coach. Things to think about when considering coaching as a career: Certification Certification is not necessary. If you love schooling and want to invest the money on certification, that is a personal choice. Certifications can cost up to $10K to $15K. Think about being a couple of steps ahead of others. As long as you are ahead of others, you can teach what you know to others coming up behind you. What is a Coach A coach is anyone who can help or teach about an area that they know more about than their student does. This can be business, health and wellness, fitness, lifestyle, etc. Passive Earning Opportunities You can create something and sell it online. The online course industry is a powerful source of passive income. Transforming Lives Coaching transforms lives. No matter the niche or expertise, there is an opportunity to serve others and make a difference for them. Opportunity Coaching is a fantastic way to make a supplemental income while continuing to work a 9 to 5 if you need to stay for the benefits. You can have something that fulfills you and serves others while making additional income. Pricing Good, better, best philosophy. Good – $1K to $2K per month Better - $5K per month Best - $100K per year Set your goals based on what you want to use the money for. The goals are very personal to you. Decide how many hours per week you want to work. If you want to make $20K per year, divide by the number of hours you want to work and you have your rate. Getting Clients Build your online presence, a website and social media. Create a brand. Invest in a coach to learn more about how to start a business. You will make your money back. Facebook Take 20 minutes a day a few times a week visiting groups and commenting and engaging. Answering questions and providing value. Showing up will build the know like and trust factor. People see your expertise and hire you. Free Course About Michelle Michelle Marie is the creator and producer of Put Your Passion to Work podcast and Profitable Coaching Academy. As a business and success coach, Michelle teaches women who to start profitable coaching businesses. She believes success comes from having a positive mindset and simple business strategies. With her intuitive mentorship, you'll feel inspired to take her tangible tips and put them into action – even if you're a mom and work full-time because she does too! Learn more about Michelle and connect with her: Website: www.putyourpassiontowork.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putyourpassiontowork/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passiontowork/ Link for FREE online course on becoming a coach About Robyn Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. And get featured on the podcast! Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

We are almost to 50 episodes and I want to celebrate with a giveaway!  You have an opportunity to win from June 20th to June 30th.

I am giving away 2 prizes:

1. A brand Audit. 

In a 30-minute call with me we will review your overall brand including your website and IG page. I’ll give you actionable feedback on how you can improve your brand & get more clients.

2. Summer 2020 Bundle

Go to my ETSY Shop and choose 3 items: a journal, a package of note cards, and a face mask to wear & keep you safe!

Drugs and alcohol are a symptom of the disease of addiction.

After interviewing Mary Fran Bontempo for episode 41 I felt it would be beneficial to also tell the addiction story from the addicts perspective.

Dianna Dubbs is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. After leaving rehab she had a desire to serve other women and help them find treatment for their addictions.

She is now successfully employed by Dream Life Recovery and using her own experience with addiction to transform lives.