The Phoenix Affect

What his tattoo states… “Don’t believe everything you think.” (Especially in a world that wants to control your self reflection and narrative.)

Red carpet at the 3rd Annual Black Influencer Weekend

In America we live on an installment system. Everything from our mortgages to our Netflix is on an installment plan. This renders us to work or hustle till we can’t anymore. Although most of us may have to work forever (sheesh)… we can pause and mentally make a point to end our personally rat race. We can make a choice that we have ENOUGH and that we are enough. I recently looked around and said, “Yeah I’ve made it. I don’t want for anything.” (I mean I got bills lol but you know what I’m saying.) I don’t need another dress, towel set, candles, nothing! There is something peaceful about knowing that I created the life I have and it’s BEAUTIFUL… and that I’m supported and loved by the seen and unseen to continue to charge forward knowing that everything is going to be alright.

And so it is.

I’m going to dive in on delayed gratification and how being satisfied is a key to true success on my podcast. Dm me your email if you want in!

I took 2.5 months from social media and it was NICE! We are so distracted that it stifles our clarity. In the time I was off socials I did the following:

♾️ Had my first White House meeting with officials
♾️ Spoke and helped to orchestrate an event at the United Nations General Assembly 79
♾️ Had a time in my annual trip to Martha’s Vineyard
♾️ Spent half the time traveling for work (last slide- I’m happy to be home!)
♾️ Sent my son off to college🥺😭🥰
♾️ Met with some pretty powerful folks from State Supreme Court Judges to journalists at some of the top national media outlets (yeah I have a story to tell… stay tuned.)
♾️ Doubled my portfolio ownership in tech firms while simultaneously converting my long time firm Phoenix Affect into a family office.
♾️ Cleared the slate so that I could start this new era of my life fresh. (Empty nesters unite lol)

Taking a break even allowed me to see social media differently. How it can be used against you (by incompetent media outlets) and how it can be a tool for deep change. I have never made money from it, I’m not an Influencer but it was always a way to show the wins of my journey. What I was missing was telling the story of HOW I got to where I got to. I’m definitely learning to do more of that.

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Hugs and love to y’all! - 🐦‍🔥
(Pictured… myself and founder Kanyinsola Onalaja of the international fashion brand Onalaja)

Last week, a group of global leaders stood with the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, as we accepted our awards for being the Global Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent - the United Nations created the International Decade of Excellence for the Diaspora and I am grateful to be amongst the ones chosen to accept this honor.

There were royalty, entrepreneurs, parliament leaders, government ambassadors and officials, private spear-headers (like myself), scientists, and bankers who were in attendance. We all are “Moving the Human Collective Forward”… starting with those who have been left behind, the Black citizens of the planet.

Thank you to Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) and the United Nations for their hard work in bridging the divide for the next generation of global change makers. Congratulations to Jonathan O. on becoming the next CEO of MIPAD! I’m excited for everything that’s to come!

The last 2.5 months have been a whirlwind…
I’m quite indomitable and formidable to say the least, and I have been tested on many levels. I’m super excited for all the blessings and peace that has manifested in my life. The network is a testament of the ground work I’ve laid and will continue to lay as we create a new world that works for ALL.

Thank you to the sponsors JPMorganChase and Harvard Club of New York City for helping to create such a memorable afternoon.

The Journey Continues.

FULL CIRCLE MOMENT: If someone would’ve told me that my first event with my new role as Chief Communications Officer (they call me Chief Jackson *snaps finger*) would be with the beauty Karyn Parsons aka THE Hilary Banks from the Fresh Prince of Belair… I would have said, “Chile, the Universe ain’t that precise…” oh… but it is!

I met her yesterday while having an event in partnership with Saint Louis Public Schools, Scholastic Inc, our Parent University sponsored by our Family and Community Engagement Department. She was kind, present, full of light and wisdom. She took time to communicate with every baby and every adult while sharing her knowledge around her love of being an author. I admire when a celebrity gives of themselves in the moment. It leaves such a lasting impression. She’s our first episode of our upcoming Literacy for the Lou reading series… one of my brain childs… more on that soon.

The full circle moment is that Will Smith was my first PR/Communications event many years ago for his movie 7 Pounds. So to have Karyn be the feature for my first event participation in my new role is serendipitous. I had a moment to chat with her and spend time and she was amazed as well. CIRCLES.

It’s always moments like these that remind me that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m deeply appreciative.

Ps: I’m the new CCO of Saint Louis Public Schools… our cabinet are a group of avengers ready to shift it all for these students. I’m excited for the journey ahead.

Quick story: a friend came to me who is the CFO of a $400M a year company… the first thing she said was, “Phoenix…. I hope I’m not wasting your time… but we need you.”

See she’s aware that I’m making a shift in the Phoenix Affect and ONLY taking on consulting clients and servicing those who want to join our Phoenix Affect University. No more direct to business projects. Lucky for her… they needed what I still provide, strategic communications consulting. However for many others I have simply stated, “I don’t have the capacity.”

That’s my new way to say NO. I’m being thrown projects and that’s a blessing but NO. I have leveled up my work. I’m also honoring my need to rest. I know I have the skills to pay the bills but sometimes you outgrow certain work. I’m more than willing to SHOW you how to do it yourself though.

If you teach a man to fish…. You know the rest.

Dm me your email if you want to join the free newsletter that upskills your life and your career. It’s real out here and the folks that are thriving are doing so by feeding themselves high vibrational content.

Life is amazing! I love that I have the courage to talk to strangers, because of it, I’ve been able to open doors for myself and many others. Talk to people, especially in places like the airport.