Gifted. Dedicated. Extraordinary. These are the first words that come to mind when I think about the woman they call Beyoncé. Beyoncé is one of the most legendary performers I’ve ever seen and to see how she continually dominates, impacts, and influences the game in music, movies, clothing, and business shows that women can be as powerful as they want to be. I could go on and on about her legendary status, but in an effort to keep things concise, I’ll move on. One of the things I admire about her most is how she manages her private life and the vulnerability she chooses to share in her work. She’s known to be relatively private when it comes to her family and personal life, but when she dropped Lemonade I was blown away and impressed. To see her openly share her heart through her visionary album isn’t something often seen in the music industry – especially from someone who’s selective about what parts to share and not share with the public. Beyoncé is a living legend and I anticipate seeing her releasing even more great work in the future. Below, are my top five favorite Beyoncé songs. Choosing one favorite Beyoncé song is like choosing one favorite Michael Jackson song – it’s nearly impossible. Such is the case with legends. Check em’ out and enjoy.
As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...