For a long time, I was the woman who was trying to do it all because I felt like I should. I saw other women managing to be mothers, business women, socialites, etc., all at once and thought, “If she can do it, why can’t I?” I had to take a step back and remind myself that I don’t need to do everything to be a warrior. I work hard, I’m a good daughter, I’m a supportive wife, I’m a dependable friend– I am enough.

As we embark on Women’s History Month, I encourage us all to take a moment and download Chaka’s, Whitney’s, or Tinashe’s version of “I’m Every Woman” and add it to your playlist. Listen to this anthem when you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep at night.

Whoever said “beauty is only skin deep” didn’t know Danielle Gray! Our Friday Feature showcases Danielle Gray, a Creative Entrepreneur who built multiple platforms that UPLIFT and speak to every beauty lover in the BIPOC community.

The pain of knowing this quickly kept me from sharing what I've overcome in my personal life. My story is riddled with the stereotypes that stay with Black and brown families, silencing me so much that there have been moments of shame from circumstances I couldn't control.

The color pallet of life uses brushes of perseverance and discipline to show how bright one can shine. Our “Black Is Beautiful” theme leans into the moments where we all need a little extra sparkle. Our Friday Feature is Nikki Brown, a professional freelance Makeup Artist, and Licensed Esthetician who knows how to use the world's colors to help her clients get to that sparkle.

When I hear “Black Is Beautiful,” I often think about my hair and how growing up as a child, I didn’t think my natural hair was. It all started in elementary school. My mother didn't have the patience to do my hair because it was hard to maintain. So instead, she would take me to the hair salon once a month to get cornrows with the beads on the end.

Beauty should have no shape, no color, no size, and most importantly, NO JUDGMENT. The interpretation of one's inner beauty should highlight all things confidence. The world doesn't always give minorities the opportunity to become a FULL expression of our best selves. This week's Black Is Beautiful Friday Feature helps women build their inner and outer beauty no matter their race, region, or origin.

Beauty can also be your presence, your voice, your influence– beauty is whatever you feel it is. For me, I think being a strong communicator and speaking up for what you believe in is beautiful. It’s also a trait that many women of color are afraid to showcase because of the perception that comes from being “loud” or “aggressive” when you express an opinion that differs from the masses.

#HaveYouHerd

Our Friday feature is someone who is known to refocus, refine and reimagine the world around her. She personifies the “Black is beautiful” theme and expands it with her work in journalism, activism, and television.

#HaveYouHerd: Our last #FridayFeature of January is someone who not only helps others get their money right but has used her own advice to get out of debt. Ciera Wilson is a Certified Financial Coach and full-time Accountant. She lets us know the real deal when it comes to money management, so if you want someone to give it to you straight, then we recommend you keep reading.

Let's admit it, I know we have all listened to Cardi B. Her line that speaks to me the most is, "Nothing in this world that I like more than checks (money)," because that's why I wake up every morning and go to work-- I have goals that I want to accomplish.

Navigating through the current housing market can take a lot more energy than many think. We all have questions about homeownership, the process, and if it may even be the right choice, so we talked to Trevor Meeks, Vice-President of Single-Family Lending for the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) to get some answers.

As we continue to focus on money matters this month, I’ve started to think about the role that money plays in my life. I know that I need it for the basics– food, shelter, clothes, bills– but why do I crave more beyond that? That’s when the line from the song Money Trees by Kendrick Lamar came to mind: “Money trees is the perfect place for shade.”

In 2008 Jay Z wrote a song that I truly believe is my theme song, my walking music, and the song that has defined my professional career. He hit the mic with the words “I’m a hustler and I just want you to know … it’s not where I’ve been … it’s where I’m about to go.” Let me tell you something. I loved that song and to this day, I can sing it word for word. It is my anthem for business.

For January, Herd Strategies’ theme is centered around money and making the most of our money. I am a recent college graduate, and I thought life would be rainbows, champagne every night, and money would never be an issue; boy, was I wrong. Why did no one tell me that once you graduate, you have to pay bills all by yourself!?

“I miss my friend, but I’m thankful for the memories he left me”

Today is World AIDS Day. Forty years is too long for an epidemic to last. Let’s join together and vision a world where a cure is found, and AIDS is no more. We deserve this.

#HaveYouHerd: Today’s #FridayFeature is someone whose legacy has paved the way for many Black, female-owned businesses to rise and be successful. We are happy to highlight Kristian Stricklen, President of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, whose mission is to preserve the legacy of the female, self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker. To learn more, keep on reading.

This year has been rough. If you’ve read recent blogs written by Denise, Rachon, and Kierra, you probably share a few of their sentiments. In spite of it being a long year, I have found that if you begin your day by writing down one small thing you’re grateful for, it will start a chain reaction.

Can you guys believe that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK?! Time is moving insanely fast, and when time keeps passing, it can be difficult to hold onto all of the beautiful moments that flew by. The difficulty doesn’t negate the existence of beauty, though.