I was recently able to chat with the marketing guru behind so many of the My Black Is Beautiful campaign executions I was involved in. Teneshia Jackson Warner is not only a marketing expert, but also an expert on entrepreneurship, hosting an annual conference for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Here is an excerpt from my article which appeared in the the Huffington Post.
<Teneshia had reservations and fears, but she moved in spite of them. In her work with entrepreneurs, she encourages them to do the same, "If you know you are currently walking a path that you know isn't your purpose path and won't be fulfilling for you, you could end up living a life that's not fulfilling and doesn't have meaning." She reflects one of her favorite quotes by Anaïs Nin, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom," and says she was able to leap knowing "what was on the other side was much greater than the comfort zone."
Whether you're an entrepreneur or a working professional, Teneshia suggests knowing how to move in the face of fear. "I think people need to develop a relationship with fear. You have to! It's there, it doesn't go anywhere," She laughs, "I don't want to say I'm friends with fear, but we have a relationship where I know when it comes into my body. I don't try to run from it. I give it its space to be fear but then I have to choose to move forward in the face of that fear."
Teneshia notes fear is a constant in her life, but refuses to let it immobilize her. "I'm fearful a lot and it's always a sign that you're up to something big. If you're just moving around and you rarely feel a moment of fear, you are probably playing it too safe." Getting comfortable with fear comes down to positive self-talk. "When I bid for pieces for businesses, the fear is right there. 'Am I good enough? Am I ready? Are our capabilities strong enough?' When the "am I good enough" conversation is there, you have to program yourself to have another conversation to speak back to the voice of fear in your head.">
Really powerful words by Teneshia. Read the full article here.