It took me what seems like a lifetime to finally accept my authentic self. In so many situations, career and life, I showed up as my representative. Whatever I thought was important in the moment, that’s how I presented myself, my concerns and my interests. Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, in the secret spaces of who I am, I held back on what I truly felt. After years of therapy, I learned somewhere along the way that I didn’t believe what I thought, desired or dreamed was really important. So in every situation throughout my life— marriage, career, networking, I showed up as who I thought I needed to be instead of just showing up as who I am.
It’s a sobering realization to come to terms with the idea that you are not who you’ve presented yourself to be. And then, it’s an empowering transformation when you realize, “But wait, I can start showing up as who I am TODAY.” Today, you can walk in your life under no false pretenses. You can be unapologetically yourself and not care at all who rides with you, agrees with you, or even resents you for what will surely seem like an about face. That’s exactly where I am.
Today, you can walk in your life under no false pretenses.
When I wrote my very first book, The Blueprint for My Girls, an empowerment guide for young women dealing with self esteem issues, it was a calling for me to share ways to help others and it was a manual for me to help myself. But at that time in my life, I only saw the importance in helping others build their self esteem, I didn’t see how much of my own self esteem I still needed to build. Authors are vessels of the words that they write. Sure, some people will call themselves experts on the topics, but the words they write are not only meant to transform their readers but the words are meant to transform the author as well. In getting caught up in the idea of being an expert, I lost sight of the blessing that God was giving me and that was, “to heal myself through my work.”
My first entrepreneurial enterprise, Mad Rhythms, was another blessing that I didn’t really see while it was in the moment. I interviewed hip hop artists, movie stars, movers and shakers, and I promoted the magazine on college campuses, but inside I just wanted to write and be an artist myself. I created an entire vehicle that helped other people reach their North Star, but inside I needed to find a way to reach my own North Star. I made progress for everyone else, but I hadn’t made the progress I wanted for myself.
But inside, I just wanted to be an artist myself.
These revelations and so many more have led to the re-launch of my website and presenting myself in a different manner. There’s a part of me that always wants to help people. I love to help so much that I often get lost in the process. And so there’s this other muscle of mine that I’m developing which is to help myself as I’m helping others. I am the person on the airplane who knows I should put on my mask first and yet I will look at my neighbor and say, “No, let me put on their mask.” I am un-learning the idea of helping others without helping myself. I am learning how to prioritize myself and I’m learning that in order to truly help others, you must first help yourself.
Fresh out of graduate school, I taught Sociology and Psychology courses at the local community college in Virginia where my husband and I lived. In recent months people have repeatedly asked me for advice on career choices, and how-to-do this that and the other thing. It was during a phone call with my cousin Ronnie that he helped me see that I had all this knowledge that people want and I had somewhat siloed myself in a tower where I was not sharing and therefore was also not growing. This epiphany, of sorts, impregnated me with the ideas for my digital courses and this site being a source of growth for me and others to learn from.
I had siloed myself in a tower where I was not sharing...
My fans and my tribe have always come to me, faithfully, with their questions and I’m turning those questions into articles and courses so that we can all grow, learn and be successful. Die hard Yasmaniacs know that I’ve been a Magazine Publisher, Best Selling Author, TV producer, Casting Producer, TV Writer, Podcast Producer, Filmmaker, Entertainment Tour Creator, Marketing Executive, Government Contractor—ya’ll know I’ve gone the road less traveled. Well, now you have your guide with you in a different, empowering way.
I love learning and I love teaching. It is authentically who I am.
The articles on this website are a blend of science proven research that helps you navigate through life focusing on motivation, productivity tips, decision making skills and the other articles detail my personal journey, experiences and opinions. Ya’ll know I gotta give you some Yasmin Shiraz flavor. LOL. The reason I decided to share these kinds of articles is: When I have downtime, I spend so much time researching how to do better, be more productive, make better decisions, get better at everything under the sun. It’s authentically who I am.
The course section is a collection of digital courses based on what this audience has come to me and said that they needed or what my expertise yields based on what I think we need. You can always send me a message and ask for a specific course, but this is an excellent way to assist my audience in a way that I’ve never done before. Again, I love learning and I love teaching. It is authentically who I am. Those closest to me know I always have a solution for any problem. And if I can’t find the solution, I’m always working hard to find one.
By creating this outlet, I get to do something. I am creating content and a business that I believe will make the world a better place. I believe the things you learn here will be transformative and put you on the paths of your true desires and dreams. I wish you all health, wealth and prosperity and perhaps most of all, I wish you the opportunity to become your most authentic self.
