• Business

by Dr. Jessica Braden

August 2, 2021

Meet the Celebrity Life Coach Helping Couples Get Their Mojo Back After Break-Up

---

Rachel G. Woodson has been the saving grace for many married couples on the brink of divorce.

For the past 12 years, the celebrity relationship expert, author, and life coach has dedicated her life to helping people heal from the trials and pains of life that often accompany messy break-ups.

Woodson has helped motivate women to heal from heartbreak by helping them conjure up the confidence and courage to love again. She has also helped men and women overcome their challenges of self-esteem, love, and blended families within their marriage. Through her work, the relationship coach and matchmaker has been featured on BET, helping some single folk meet new people, learn to date better, and even find love while in quarantine.

The love advocate says that along the way, God has guided her in creating programs like Mentor ME, Help Me Save My Marriage, Life After Divorce, Life After the Death of a Spouse, and I’m Single Now What?, just to name a few. In these programs, she helps her mentees turn their pain into purpose and help them prepare for life, love, and marriage. We got an opportunity to have a chat with Woodson.

BE: Please introduce yourself to the reading audience.

Woodson: I’m Rachel G Woodson, wife, mother, and dog mom. I started my career over 12 years ago. With the quest, I’ve come to help many men and women live the life they deserve. I practiced what I preached. I’ve been able to lead individuals to marriage—like I did after 30 days of prayer, fasting, and completing my relationship program. I was found by my husband in 30 days, engaged in 25 days, and married in 11 months. I believe you have the power to manifest the life you deserve. I did so by using my life struggle to help anyone in need, heal, and live the life they deserve.

BE: What is your definition of Influence?

Woodson: Influence is the ability to inspire someone else to impact themselves greater; when your words make them search for themselves on a deep level. It’s not just about seeing my life as inspiration but grabbing hold of my story to do the self-work so that they can live through their story. I tell my clients that if they are looking for inspiration, they can follow my internet pages. Now, if they are looking to change their life, they have to impact themselves. True influence is impacting someone to see their life and change it for the better.

BE: How have you used your influence to enhance the lives of others?

Woodson: All my life, I’ve used my influence, granted I didn’t know it, but I was. It was seen and acknowledged about 12 years again. I didn’t know social media, so I used speaking events. When social media ignited, I was able to take my influence to another level.

BE: How do you keep going when you want to give up? Or, have you ever experienced this before?

Woodson: When I started living the life I deserve, it upset a lot of people. My tribe and closest circle at the time was nowhere to be found. My “why” when I created my brand was for my two boys. My “why” was added to my daughter in the Navy, my husband, and two bonus babies… They are depending on me to be great, so I can’t let none of them down.

BE: What are you currently working on for this next quarter in 2021?

Woodson: 2021 has been amazing! I’ve been tapped for a show called Love and Quarantine on BET; Netflix and other appearance deals are in the works. Not to mention two books and kennel breeding. Yes, despite my schedule, I’m a dog mom of 7 dogs and one rehomed bully xl. So it’s safe to say that 2021 is full of dog breeding, filming, and book publishing.

Please keep up with Rachel:

All handles are @RachelGWoodson website www.RachelGWoodson.com.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

August 2, 2021

Create A Professional Website That Fits Your Purpose With Wix

---

It’s not hard to make the argument that having a website is important nowadays. I mean, you’re reading this article on a website right now. But in order to build a strong online presence, you’ll need to create a site that encourages people to take action and can stand out from the billions of other websites out there.

Whether you’re running a business, advocating for a cause, or building a personal brand, having a website is expected of you. The only challenge is creating one that can help you fulfill your bottom line. Wix is a website creation platform that was designed just for that: to help build, grow and manage your business online.

Enjoy total creative freedom

No matter if you’re a first time creator or a long-time expert, anyone can enjoy Wix’s feature-packed web solutions, designed to help establish a professional web presence. Strengthen your rankings on search engines with their SEO tools, promote your site with dedicated marketing tools, drive more traffic with blogs and more.

Get a hands-on approach with Wix Editor and choose from over 500 designer-made templates that you can personalize. Build your website with tools and features designed to meet your exact needs, whether it’s starting an online store, writing a blog, taking bookings, promoting events and more.

Want a little more help with design? Answer a few questions to get a full-blown website in minutes with ADI, Wix’s Artificial Design Intelligence that builds the site complete with images and content. Everything can be customized to match your brand’s specific look and feel.

If you prefer an open source development platform, then you should check out Velo by Wix. Manage all your content, add your own code, connect 100s of APIs and more for total design freedom.

Millions of people have enjoyed success marketing their products and services through Wix. Now, you can, too. Grow your business online with your own website.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

August 2, 2021

You’re Likely Overpaying For Your Phone Bill—This Service Can Help You Cut Costs

---

The average American overpays for their phone bills. Over the course of the average lifespan of 78.5 years, Americans will pay $36,445 on cell phone plans alone, a truly jarring amount. But the cost to stay connected shouldn’t be this expensive. 

Luckily, there are many things you can do to lower your phone bills significantly without compromising coverage. You can either negotiate with your current provider, or you can terminate your contract altogether and switch to a prepaid service like Boost.

With bundles currently available for an additional 30 percent off, Boost Mobile gives you everything your phone carrier already does, except that it does not tether you to an annual contract, nor does it require credit checks. It doesn’t charge monthly bills and roaming charges, either. 

To the uninitiated, Boost Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that uses the same network as major carriers, but it doesn’t charge a hefty fee. You get to enjoy unlimited talk and text, high-speed data with 99% nationwide coverage, and a mobile hotspot. You also pay nearly everything upfront, so there are no surprise bills will arrive in the mail. You’ll only be getting exactly what you paid for. 

Right now, you can snag a discounted mobile bundle and enjoy 6 months of unlimited talk, text, and 2GB of LTE data every month for only $35, provided that you enter the code ANNUAL30 at checkout. This deal nets you a free 3-in-1 GSM SIM kit, free shipping, and a prepaid plan that’s worth $90. 

It’s high time that you ditch your unreasonable monthly phone bills and switch to a highly-rated prepaid service that is more cost-effective. 

Prices subject to change.

• News

by Charlene Rhinehart

August 1, 2021

Rapper Fetty Wap’s 4-Year-Old Daughter Lauren Has Passed Away

---

Fetty Wap and Turquoise Miami’s 4-year-old daughter Lauren Maxwell has reportedly passed away. The exact cause of death has not been revealed. Hot 97 reported that the child was ill and had died in her sleep.

Turquoise Miami confirmed the heartbreaking news on Instagram this weekend.

“This is my amazing ,beautiful , funny , vibrant, loving ,talented , smart and hardheaded princess mermaid Aquarius,” Turquoise wrote alongside a video of Lauren joyfully moving around in a swimming pool.

“If you see this post scrolling by with her comment or just say to yourself ‘i love you LAUREN’ because they say that souls can feel your love #rip.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @fineassturquoise

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zavier Jordan Maxwell (@fettywap1738)

Grambling State University may become the first Black university to offer women’s gymnastics.

According to the Associated Press, the historically Black educational institution hosted a conference of Black and brown gymnasts from the Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG) program.

Grambling’s Doug William’s Center Marketing and Public Relations Director Raven Thissel explained its interest in having a gymnastics program on its campus. She expressed that although the road may be difficult for minority athletes– the institution wants to lighten the load.

“Our university leadership is looking at young gymnasts in our community, and realizing and understanding the path from toddler gymnastics tumbling to the Olympics for a Black and brown gymnast is arduous. How can we make it a smoother one?”

 One hundred Black and brown girls attended the conference on Grambling’s grounds last weekend. The event takes place annually.  

For the last six years, BGDG has been opening the path for athletes to come through to compete at an elite level.

As described on its website, the organization stated, “Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG) is an advocacy organization striving for more diversity and inclusion in gymnastics and circus arts.”

 “Founded by Derrin Moore in 2015, BGDG provides access, coaching, training, and other forms of support to athletes from underrepresented and marginalized groups,” it continued.

BGDG gives Black, and brown girls access to an otherwise white-dominated sport.

“It’s just giving families a little edge. We want to give them information so they can step into the gymnastics arena and be confident and advocating for their girls,” Moore told AP.

Gymnastics is primarily a female-dominated sport with about five million gymnasts within the United States, and 10% of gymnasts who compete nationally– self-identify as Black.

If Grambling University takes on offering a gymnastics program, there will be more Black excellence to come.

Beyoncé is celebrating the ‘Black is King’ anniversary with the release of two music videos. On Saturday, July 31, the music icon dropped “Mood 4 Eva,” featuring her husband Jay-Z. She also released “OTHERSIDE”.

“A year later and the impact is still a mood 4 eva,” a fan commented under the Mood 4 Eva video. “That’s what the Black culture is… impactful in every aspect of the word.”

The Release of Black is King

Black is King was released on Disney+ on July 31, 2020. The visual album and musical film was written, directed, and executive produced by Beyoncé. It was designed to be a companion piece to The Lion King, celebrating the “breadth and beauty of Black ancestry”, she wrote in an Instagram post.

“The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey,” Beyoncé wrote. “We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

A Journey of Discovery

Black is King highlights the journey of a young prince as he transitions into adulthood. The visual album reimagines the lessons of “The Lion King” in human form. It walks through the trials and tribulations that come on the path to discovery and gives today’s generation of kings and queens a sense of identity on their path.

“With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy,” Beyoncé said.

The success of Black is King led to Beyoncé’s historical Grammy wins at the 63rd annual awards ceremony this year. Beyonce’s Grammy collection spiked to 28 after she received an award for best R&B performance for “Black Parade”.

Black is King Anniversary Celebration

The two videos are approximately seven minutes each. The videos feature other artists and blotches of cheetah print throughout the entire video. The eye-catching visuals and cinematic shots capture Beyoncé’s creative genius. 

“I am Beyonce, Giselle Knowles-Carter. I am the Nala – Sister of Naruba….I sold my whole chain. I be like soul food. I am a whole mood”

• News

by Keka Araújo

August 1, 2021

Grifter or Nah? Shaun King Lives It Up In Luxe Jersey Estate While Begging For Money For His Wife

---

Transracial activist Shaun King is moving on up. The controversial “advocate” has left the hustle and bustle of New York and moved to his new luxury home in New Jersey. 

According to the Daily Mail, the lavish five-bedroom, four-bathroom home that sits on Farrington Lake came with a hefty price tag of $842,000. The news outlet reported that King bought the house last November.

The stately abode’s purchase comes when King has been accused of grifting Black folks in the fight for social justice, stealing money, lying about his racial identity and abusing Black women. 

In 2019, a lengthy exposé by the Daily Beast revealed a long, salacious history of money disappearing or not being accounted for in various efforts, including Haiti and Black Lives Matter. 

The publication came back with more receipts of King’s sinister and shady behavior in 2020. 

Imani Grandy broke down the now-defunct hustle of King’s North Star media project on a Twitter thread. The project promised to be the second coming for Black media. King didn’t deliver there either.

If we are doing day 2 of “wtf Shaun King,” let’s talk about North Star.

His website suggests that he’s close to 50K members. At 10 bucks a month for membership, that’s a half million dollars a month—

For what? A blog? Where’s the original reporting? The podcasts? Video content?

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) September 4, 2019

King’s antics don’t stop there.  

Tamir Rice’s mom, Samaria, didn’t mince words when she called King a “clout chaser” after raising $60,000 in honor of her son. The still-grieving mother lambasted the wayward activist stating that she didn’t receive the money until a court intervened on her behalf. She also didn’t permit him to raise money on her family’s behalf. 

In July, King came under fire on social media after he said he was taking a sabbatical from social media. He deleted his Twitter account and made his Instagram private. The sabbatical didn’t stop the hustler from soliciting donations for his wife for no reason at all.

​​

Scumbag #ShaunKing lives in a million dollar home bought with your donations.

Currently on a 4 week family vacation 100% funded by your donations – hotels, travel, food, activities – you’re paying for it all.

Also Shaun King 5 hours ago: pic.twitter.com/DxZdYA9FDz

— vaya con dios (@VayaConDiosGL) July 16, 2021

In that same month, screenshots emerged of King allegedly leveling up his beggar’s act globally. King’s Facebook status reportedly targeted his followers and fans in the Caribbean and Canada.

Y’ALL! Ain’t Shaun King supposed to be on hiatus from social media?? Ahora, el se va pa’ Caribe y Canadá? How is ANYBODY in 2021 still drinking this flavorless Kool-Aid? Bruuuuuh! Ain’t nobody buying the “I’m my Daddy is Black” schpiel either. He is aging like an 🥑. pic.twitter.com/Q8RZfk6DcP

— Keka Araújo (@KAraujoNWT) July 22, 2021

With the news of King’s palatial purchase hitting the news, Twitter users are yet– again raising valid questions about his finances.

I like how two weeks ago Shaun King was begging for money for his wife to “alleviate pressure,” but now it’s reported she bought a 5 bedroom house in Jersey. Lol

How.

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) August 1, 2021

Why did Shaun King purchase his $800k lakefront home solely in his wife’s name? 🧐

— chris evans (@chris_notcapn) August 1, 2021

Shaun King lives in a house that costs over $800k that was signed in his wife’s name.

He had the audacity a few weeks ago to ask his followers to Cash App her money.

When we say “grift,” this is exactly what the fuck we mean.

Anyone who still chooses to support deserves it.

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 1, 2021

How is it all of these socialists, like Shaun King and the BLM leaders, are living rich as their poor followers give them donations. https://t.co/7IJmhqWVaL

— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) August 1, 2021

Shaun King is qualified to lead BLM at the executive level now that Patrisse Khan-Cullors has stepped down.

What do they both have in common?

They got rich pretending to care about blacks, only to go drop tons of cash on luxury properties in predominantly white neighborhoods. https://t.co/yS3fBHAekR

— Suburban Black Man 🇺🇸 (@goodblackdude) July 31, 2021

Busta CRIMES? LOlolololol, Shaun King, lol!! https://t.co/qiOTjqVXjH

— Aggressively Black Bianca (@TheeKHiveQueenB) August 1, 2021

King has yet to respond.

When business coach and millennial mom Ellie Diop received her $1,200 stimulus check last year, she started her coaching business.

Ellie knew it was time to invest in herself after getting laid off from her six-figure job and going through a divorce. The 28-year-old moved in with her mom and purchased the essentials for her online business.

A year later, she has accumulated 230,000 followers on her “Ellie Talks Money” Instagram page. By sharing her business and money knowledge, Ellie has been able to generate over $2 million in revenue, Business Insider reports. These numbers are defying statistics, exceeding the $24,000 average revenue numbers found in the 2019 State of Black Women-Owned Business report.

“I leveraged my experience in the corporate world to get started,” Ellie told Business Insider. “I spent 45 days scrolling through Instagram every day, researching, following hashtags, before making my first post. It is important to look at who is having success in the field, analyze what they are doing that is working, and identify which needs they are not meeting.”

Ellie’s researched helped her to find her place in the social media space.

“I saw a lot of unanswered questions,” Diop said. “So many business coaches were either men or single women without kids or women in a relationship without kids. I did not see anyone who could offer my point of view, so I decided to become that person.”

From Stimulus Check to $2 Million Coaching Business

The 2020 global pandemic presented a time of uncertainty for everyone around the world. With unemployment rates rising to record highs and mandatory shutdowns hurting the revenue of small business owners, Ellie knew that she had to leverage the digital space to provide for her family.

As soon as she received her stimulus check, Ellie purchased graphic design tools, good lighting, and a website. She secured her essentials for less than $500 and built her own website to save money. Then, she committed to transforming her knowledge into courses. Within 10 months, she reached the seven-figure mark.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ellie ✨Your Business Coach 💎 (@ellietalksmoney)

“The only difference between where you are now and where you want to be is information and execution,” Ellie shared on Instagram. “Information changes situations but only when applied.”

Ellie has reached the $2 million mark in her business by managing her sources of income. She’s earning five streams of income from business coaching, courses, rental properties, life insurance, and speaking engagements. She’s looking to add more income sources to her portfolio.

“I remember that my first weekly payout from my business sales was $74.09,” Ellie posted on Instagram. “Now I see that number with some more zeros behind it. Don’t give up!”

Ellie says that she leveraged business credit, email marketing, and exclusive offers to scale her business.

She adds, “In order to build a 7-Figure business you have to make sure you start with a 7-Figure foundation. That’s my strategy! When we start strong, we build stronger and faster.”

• Technology

by Kia Morgan Smith

August 1, 2021

Game Changers: 8 Black Apps and Developers You Should Know #NationalBlackBusinessMonth

---

If you’re looking for the best soul food restaurants down south or Black-owned boutiques or just about anything that Black folks have curated or created, wouldn’t it be great if that information was compiled in one convenient place without the need to go slogging through the interwebs to conduct your own research?

There are many apps created by Black app developers for users who are interested in everything from the best places to dine to tips on money management. There are apps that occupy children’s time and those that help galvanize Black people to social justice causes.

Today, to kick off National Black Business Month, BLACK ENTERPRISE is showcasing a few apps that will help give you guidance in the hopes that you will find something to download that will make your life easier while also supporting a Black-owned business.

Scroll below to find apps for the whole family.

FindMe Mobile app

(Credit: JenniferBrantley)

This app connects minority military members, spouses, and others within 200 miles of a military base anywhere around the world, to local businesses that welcome both their dollars, and their presence. FindMe Mobile goes beyond anything other, similar directory services do, by connecting the Black military community to vetted, community-recommended businesses.

Legal Equalizer

This app allows users to record real-time videos of police encounters. Mbye Njie came up with the idea for the app after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. He thought an app with the capability to record video might have resulted in a different outcome for Brown and others.

Color Noir

Color Noir is a coloring book app created by Muoyo and Nicaila Matthews Okome, to celebrate black art, people, culture, and beauty. To the husband and wife duo, it all boils down to representation. “Black people & culture power so many technology products and platforms to massive success without us truly benefiting, participating in ownership, or being properly represented,” Muoyo told Black Enterprise. “That needs to change. Color Noir is our first attempt to be a part of changing this dynamic, and the response thus far has been incredible.”

We Read Too

Kaya Thomas built the app to bring diverse characters and stories to picture, chapter, middle grade and young adult books penned by Black authors. For Kaya it’s a two-fold goal – to improve representation in stories read by Black children and to celebrate and spotlight Black authors.

‎ReDawn

Sofia Ongele created this app while a student at Fordham to offer resources and advice to sexual assault victims, and to also give them a support system. Ongele told Bloomberg that when she started to look at the law surrounding sexual violence, it seemed to benefit abusers. “It seemed as though the road for abusers was paved with yellow bricks and the road for survivors was barren and unpaved.”

Plain Sight

James Chapman said he created his networking app to “commercialize serendipity,” according to WRAL TechWire. Users get suggestions of people to connect with and get alerted when people with similar profiles have logged on to the app or are in their proximity.

Kiddie Kredit

Evan Leaphart designed Kiddie Kredit to help educate children on the importance of maintaining good credit. Leaphart learned firsthand the cost of poor credit when he struggled to get a mortgage and business loan. He decided that teaching youngsters about credit could give them an early start at financial success down the line.

EatOkra app

This app was started by husband and wife team Anthony and Janique Edwards and features a directory to help diners find listings of Black-owned restaurants and culinary events.

Dawn Onley is a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

• Career

by Charlene Rhinehart

August 1, 2021

Meet the 28-Year-Old Who Lives in a Van and Earns Over $300,000 a Year as a UX Designer

---

Last December, Jasmine Wilson packed her bags and decided to live the good life as a UX (user-experience) designer in her van.

She got laid off at her first job as a UX Designer and ended up with three six-figure remote jobs at companies located in Austin, Texas. Wilson negotiated a total salary of over $300,000, according to pay stubs and offer letters verified by Business Insider.

Now, the 28-year-old techie is living the van life. She’s on a mission to visit every National Park that’s drivable in her van while she takes her UX design skills to the next level.

“I chose van life because I enjoy traveling and being stuck in one place for too long isn’t what I enjoy,” Wilson tweeted. “There isn’t one way to live life, I do what I want and what works for me, it may not work for you and that’s fine. I would just rather work at a beach than in an office.”

I think this is a good time for an intro.
Hey, I’m Jasmine. I’m a Sr Product Designer and currently working at a few tech companies and I make 6 figures+ at each of them… that’s how my 9-5 makes me $300k+ a year.
How do I live rent free?
I’m a vanlifer, by choice.
Simple. pic.twitter.com/TjKc30H83L

— Jasmine (@247px) June 14, 2021

Becoming a Six-Figure UX Designer

Wilson has always been a creative and tech junkie. After graduating college, she pursued the best of both worlds: UX Design. 

With no experience or formal education in UX Design, Wilson relied on YouTube and blogs to learn the ropes. She spent an entire summer watching tutorials to develop her portfolio. By the end of the summer, she landed her first full-time role in UX Design at a company in San Francisco.

“I didn’t have direct experience,” says Wilson during an interview with Black Enterprise. “But I have done 3D modeling, robotics, web design, coding, and marketing. Those are assets. Knowing what sets you apart from other candidates is key. I negotiated my salary because I knew my value.”

The Interview Process

Wilson interviewed for at least 10 positions and noted how strenuous the process could be.

“One job can consist of six separate interviews, panel, and a design challenge. You have panels where you have to present your portfolio. You may even have to critique apps for an existing company. I was intentional about the interviews I decided to participate in.”

Wilson wasn’t intimidated by the interviews because she was clear about the strengths she brought to the table. She earned two degrees from Arizona State University — one in digital-culture arts and one in graphic information technology. Throughout college, she worked as an AppleCare At-Home Advisor. Wilson helped people fix their computers and phones without ever seeing their devices. She turned this experience into multiple six-figure job opportunities. 

“My experiences helped me to go into interviews ‘human centered’. That’s important in UX Design. You have to understand people and have soft skills. This helped me explain my processes and decisions during the interview process.”

Within a year of landing her first position, she was able to land more positions in UX Design.

“I couldn’t decide between two companies so I decided to test both,” Wilson shared. “It worked because the companies provided a good work-life balance. Each job has set meetings every week. If there is a one on one meeting, I suggest a time. All my calendars are all in one place so it’s easy for me to see when I’m free. I work for startups and mid-size companies and you’re not required to be in meetings all day.” 

Living the Van Life As a UX Designer

Becoming a UX Designer has given Wilson the flexibility and freedom to live life on her terms.

After the world was unexpectedly hit with a global pandemic, Wilson knew it was time to make her dreams a reality. She set out to do everything she’s always wanted to do — including launching an app and traveling across the country in a van.

Wilson’s story is inspiring an entire generation of individuals to ‘just do it’. Even her work colleagues are impressed by her travels, asking every meeting where she is located so they can partake in her adventures. Wilson doesn’t know how long she will be living the van life but there’s one thing she does know for sure: she’s living in her truth and walking in her purpose right now.

“You never know what’s going to happen next,” says Wilson. “You should do all the things you want to do now. That’s how I’m living life. I had an app before that no one ever knew about because I was too scared to drop it. This year, I launched the app and I’m doing the van life. I just decided to go for it. There’s no telling how much time we have. You have to discover your truth and live it regardless of what anyone thinks about it.”