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Dr. Banks-Hall, shares the butterfly story. This story is a reminder of perserverance.
Category: 2019
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Dr. Regina Banks-Hall, shares a message on what we learned in 2020 that we can take with in 2021
Hello everyone,
I know it has been a while since I shared a post. I took some time, spending the last few months, conducting small business workshops, finishing up two books for a fall release, and getting ready for my fall teaching season. As I began to reflect on the first half of this year, I was reminded that no matter how strategic your plans, life will provide you some unexpected twists that can impact your future.
As an Leadership Expert, Assistant Professor of Business, and Small Business Coach, I am always reminding everyone within my reach that life is a risk. Today, I was looking at the board game called, The Game of Life. It is a game I use often, while teaching my economics class. In this game, a person travels through his or her life, from early age to retirement. During this journey around the game board, it covers jobs, marriage, career opportunities, pitfalls, and the possibility of children that can be added along the way. It is a reminder that in real life, these things can happen, and we can also experience a twist or turn, along the way.
As I was looking at this game, and reflecting on the year, I was reminded that we cannot control the events that come our way. Some of the events I am referring to are, the loss of a job, a bad relationship, or a death in the family. We certainly can’t control these events, however, we can control how we respond. We must always keep in mind that pitfalls can also be stepping stones. For instance, the loss of a job may open the door to a future opportunity that you never noticed. Getting out of a bad relationship may open the door to you meeting the right person. A death in the family, though painful, can give someone a renewed sense of how important life really is, or how important it is to spend time with those you love.
When you view life as a journey, you open yourself up to embrace the unexpected. The journey into the unexpected is where you discover who you really are. It is where your character is tested, yet you make the choice to maintain your integrity. It is during the journey of the unexpected that you send a message to your critics that you are still standing, in spite of their attempts to bring you down. It is during the journey of the unexpected that you find yourself on top of the world one day, and down in the valley the next. The key to success here is to remind yourself that these small setbacks do not define who you are. When you know who you are, you know you can recover, and you are always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
History reminds us that some of our most successful people did not succeed because they knew they would. They succeeded because they would not allow doubt, and the fear of the unknown, to derail their progress. They understood that the unexpected opened the door to opportunities.
I believe that the thing that hurts people the most is banking on the status quo. Successful people understand that they can lose it all. However, they know by pushing through the challenges and setbacks, they will achieve a winning outcome. The game of life is a reminder of what could happen. Yet, real life is not a game at all, and should be embraced in a meaningful way. Success is often determined by the choices you make, and your ability to embrace the unexpected. These two variables will help you navigate towards a winning outcome. As we move through the rest of the year, choose to implement these measures, embrace the unexpected, and prepare to win.
Dr. Banks-Hall
As a business coach, professor, and leadership expert, I have the opportunity to witness up close, new entrepreneurs launch their business ideas. These entrepreneurs have fresh and exciting ideas, big dreams and a boatload of optimism. This excitement is contagious and their energy is overwhelming.
However, I have also seen individuals stumble, fall, and ultimately fail in their business pursuits. Sometimes, this happens, because success is a tricky thing, and not easily achieved. Therefore, if you are ready to launch into a new business, let me share five tips that will increase your odds for success.
#1 Keep your vision in sight. When things go wrong, you can use your vision to maintain your focus.
#2. Understand your competition. As a professor of economics, I share with my students all the time, that every business must understand the market in which it operates. Therefore, you must identify the competition, and determine how your business will compete.
#3. Provide a good service. It is important to know your capacity to deliver what you’ve promised. Therefore, do not overpromise and under deliver.
#4. Keep track of your expenses. As a new business owner, it is important to create a system for managing your expenses. Managing your expenses, allows you to track your progress and keep a handle on your debt.
#5 Hire a business coach. If you are starting a new business and are unsure of what you should do, hire a professional to assist you. There is no substitute for experience, and a business coach will provide the expertise you need.
If you are launching a new business, I recommend that you attend my workshop this weekend, (Saturday April 27th at the VisTa Tech Center in Livonia), entitled: “Handle Your Business.” See the video below for details.
Dr. Regina Banks-Hall
Today, I want to talk about the word GRIT. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, GRIT is defined as, “firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger”. Angela Duckworth, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in a Ted Talk, associated GRIT to the passion and perseverance you need to achieve long term goals. Perseverance, of course, allows you to maintain your commitment to overcoming obstacles that lie in the way of you achieving your goals.
As a motivational speaker, professor, author, leadership expert, and business coach, I beleive that our understanding of ourselves helps to define our GRIT. As people, we have to know how we feel about courage, our knowledge, our skills, and our ability to handle adversity. Often we can determine our grit when we overcome an obstacle.
As I look at the word GRIT, I agree with Webster and Duckworth, that it includes courage, perseverance, firmness of mind and spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship and danger as you pursue purpose and long-term goals. Therefore, examine your grit today, by examining yourself. Define who you are as it relates to courage, passion, purpose, and firmness of mind. Utilize your strengths to overcome adversity, and learn from your weaknesses to challenge failures.
We are all uniquely made, however, when we truly understand our GRIT, we can strategize for success.
Dr. Regina Banks-Hall President, RBH Professional Development Institute
Contact us today to learn about our leadership development programs, vision board workshops, business coaching, motivational speaking programs. Please visit our website at http://www.rbankshall.com to learn about our upcoming workshop, entitled handle your business. Let’s take what you know about your GRIT, and launch your dreams.
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In celebration of Women’s History Month, Dr. Regina Banks-Hall sits down with Dr. Tamara Jefferson, Director of the Joyful Tots Childcare and Learning Center. To learn more about Dr. Jefferson and her childcare center, please visit her website at http://www.joyfultots.com
Also, please visit http://www.rbankshall.com to learn about Dr. Regina Banks-Hall’s upcoming Small Business Workshop, “Handle Your Business.”
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the cultural, economic, political, and social achievements of women. As a female business owner, professor, author, business coach, public speaker, daughter, and wife, today I reflected on my own journey.
As I reflected on my life, I thought about all my experiences good and bad. I acknowledge the journey has not been easy. I have overcome adversity, negative people, and others trying to hold me back. I realized that my focus, commitment, and determination to my dreams has allowed me to press forward. Therefore, my message to my sisters, is to never give up on yourself. Recognize your value and continue to push forward towards your purpose.
Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, give thanks to those who have created a pathway for us to follow. However, take a moment to celebrate and honor yourself. Use this moment in time and determine what trail you will create for others to follow. Please enjoy this video in your honor.
Dr. Regina Banks-Hall
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In this episode, Dr. Regina Banks-Hall interviews Ms. Kia Sweeney, the Program Director for Girls Group. Ms. Sweeney shares the organization’s mission, and their efforts to transform the lives of young women. To learn more about this organization, please visit their website at www.girlsgroup.org.
Photo courtesy of http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:Nelson_Mandela-2008 (edit).jpg
Today, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to talk about Authentic leadership. Authentic leadership is often considered a process, approach, or style. By definition, Authentic leaders are confident, hopeful, optimistic, resilient, transparent, future oriented and focused on developing others to become leaders. They lead with their core values and have courage and self-discipline. They understand the importance for establishing trusting relationships and they are driven by a purpose.
South Africa was ruled by a white minority government for almost two centuries, while blacks made up over 75 percent of the population. Nelson Mandela, tapping into the frustrations of his people, began to focus on overturning the prevailing domination. On trial in South Africa, he said “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an idea I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an idea for which I am prepared to die.”
He was sentenced to life in prison. Throughout his imprisonment he rejected offers to be released. He would ultimately be released from prison on February 11, 1990. After being released, he got involved in the political process to end white minority rule and was elected ANC President in 1991. Nelson Mandela, would vote for the first time on April 27, 1994. He never wavered in his cry for democracy, equality and learning, despite his experiences. He is an inspiration for all who have been oppressed and deprived. He remained authentic to his values and purpose. Please visit https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography to learn more about his life.
Authentic leadership is important, when you look at the impact you have in your home, workplace, school, church, etc. Followers take a look at your words and your values. They want to see if your talk matches your walk. As you think about yourself today, determine the authenticity of your leadership, and evaluate how that impacts your organization or those you have influence over.
If you are struggling today with vision or identifying your purpose, I end this post with this quote, “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times, I fell down and got back up again” – Nelson Mandala. Sometimes when we experience adversity, it is preparing us for greatness. Therefore, “fall forward your purpose is waiting for you.” – Dr. Regina Banks-Hall.
Please visit http://www.rbankshall.com to learn more about our leadership development programs. Let’s make 2019 a banner year for leadership.
Leadership is a fascinating subject that influences every aspect of the human experience. We all can identify good leaders, bad leaders, and people in between. Over the next few months, I will be focusing on the impact of leadership, leadership styles, and why leadership is so important in our homes, organizations, schools, churches, and the community. In a previous blog post, I asked if you were a ruler, teacher, or hero when identifying your influence as a leader. Today, I begin this conversation talking about Servant Leadership. Robert Greenleaf, coined the phrase, Servant Leadership based on a philosophy that a leader is called to serve first. Servant leaders place the needs of their followers first, over their own self-interests. They are also concerned with the development of their followers.
For the servant leader, the leader is a servant first, and that attitude of service becomes the secret to their greatness. Servant leadership can be used effectively in so many diverse areas because the leader empowers their followers to develop to their full capacities. I think Winston Churchill successfully, introduced the spirt of servant leadership when he said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.
Here are 10 characteristics in Robert Greenleaf’s writings that are central to servant leadership
1. Listening – Communicate by listening and acknowledge the point of view of followers
2. Empathy – Understand what followers are thinking and feeling
3. Healing – Care about and help to heal your followers
4. Awareness – Be attentive and responsive to their surroundings
5. Persuasion – Be able to convince others to change, by using kind nonjudgmental arguments
6. Conceptualization – See the big picture in your organization, church, home or school. This will allow you to visualize and provide direction solving complex issues
7. Foresight – Anticipate the future and the consequences of your behavior
8. Stewardship – Take responsibility for your role when managing people considering the greater good of society
9. Commitment – Commit yourself to helping followers grow personally and professionally
10. The building of a community – Build communities in organizations, churches, schools, and homes, by making people feel safe and connected, while still being able to express their own unique individuality.
As you can see servant leadership is a philosophy associated to a particular style of leadership. Every leader has to determine their style of leadership. As you evaluate your servant leadership potential, know that servant leadership works best when leaders are interested in helping others. The impact of these efforts cannot be viewed as a short-term fix. The results of true servant leadership is recognized over the long haul, but produces a lifetime and meaningful impact for the leader and those that follow.
Dr. Regina Banks-Hall
Breakthrough and Build Your Dreams 4-week Virtual Workshop, February 24th – March 17th
Join Dr. Regina Banks-Hall, for a 4-week virtual workshop where she provides solutions so you can breakthrough issues, challenges, negativity, and fear and build your dreams. You will gain clarity and insight as it relates to your vision. This virtual workshop begins on February 24th, and will meet for 4 weeks. The cost includes the book and workbook. It’s time to move forward. To learn more about the workshop, click on the link below.
$89.00
Dr. Regina Banks-Hall, DBA, SHRM-CP 