Week Ten of my Creator Journey: Chess Not Checkers

I move onward, the only direction

Can't be scared to fail in the search of perfection

Gotta keep it fresh girl, even when we sexing

But don't be mad at him when it's on to the next one! ~ Jay-Z

As LinkedIn's 10-week Creator Accelerator Program ends today, I'm thinking about and unpacking what I learned, the tools I've used, new content I've tried and the valuable connections I've made.

But the biggest lesson I've learned is to evolve and reimagine myself. In two years I've managed to gain 125,000 followers and more than 45 million content views on more than 1,000 posts. I've posted almost daily without fail since the day George Floyd was murdered. And that journey has been one of self-discovery. I've been able to recapture my own love of writing and regain the confidence that I had as a freshman on a full ride scholarship at the University of Florida in one of the best journalism programs in the country.

The past two years have taught me about the power of my voice. And the last ten weeks have showed me that I'm not "just" a social justice warrior, passionate about advocating for those that don't feel that they have a voice on the issues that matter for Black liberation, racial equity and change. I'm also a CREATOR. I have my own spiritual beliefs that are probably different from most people's. But this journey reinforces my personal belief in the absolute power of creation and what it means to create life, speak life and breathe life. I know I have that power because the world was born from the womb of a Black woman. I AM A CREATOR. That's my legacy, and I receive it.

These last ten weeks have taught me the importance of leaning into that power and leveraging it to the best of my ability. That applies to the people I connect with, the content I create and the bigger purpose in the big picture for me. My divine purpose is to change the world. I've thought about that a lot. Up until 2022, I never thought a lot about what the next step in my journey might look like. I just knew that I wanted to help people.

But as I go forward into this year, I'm thinking more intentionally about how and where that "helping people" will take place and the opportunities opening up beyond the LinkedIn platform. I'm also thinking a lot more critically about how to "help myself" to avoid feeling burn out, fatigue and frustration in my personal mission and goals. LinkedIn is a phenomenal place to connect with leaders both internationally and even globally. It's also an amazing place to develop a community of like-minded people - friends and supporters. It's a great tool to create space for those voices, as well as the voices of those who are not seen both on and off the platform. Being a part of this program made me really reflect on my value in that process, my worth beyond that, my full unbridled potential, being mindful of exactly what that is and ensuring that I leverage it where its needed and appreciated the most in every single way to the absolute max - financially, emotionally, and spiritually!

As a Creative in this Creator Accelerator Program, my biggest lessons have been reimaging how I see myself. Someone I respect greatly, who I met recently on this platform, told me, "Liz, you're a multi-millionaire. You just haven't received the check yet!" Hearing those words brought me to tears. Because it's not about the monetary value expressed in that declaration. It's about the validation in value that exceeds what's accessible in the moment, the appreciation and actually being SEEN for who I am beyond the physical right now. I receive that blessing. I received that positive affirmation because I needed it.

Someone else I love dearly, who I also met on this platform, just thanked me and said I'm causing change for many. That was so heart-warming, and I am grateful for that as well! It means a lot. Another very close friend I met here, who is always a voice of support and encouragement, said my name is being spoken in rooms by important people when I'm not even present. That made me so happy! I receive all of that because it helps me to stay the course in a purpose that I know is bigger than me and is national or even global in reach beyond LinkedIn or any social media. My purpose is a legacy of change that will remain after I become dust.

I used to think my only sphere of influence was the college classroom and I didn't consider anything beyond that. Then my sphere of influence became LinkedIn and I couldn't imagine beyond that. Being a part of this program has opened my eyes to the value of platforms like LinkedIn, but it also made me aware that my presence is much like my previous influence on college campuses. I have to be sure not to limit myself or my potential because of lack of confidence, fear of disappointment or inability to personally evolve. I stepped out on faith and posted on LinkedIn because I wanted to make a difference. I know that I will continue to step into my purpose to fulfill my ultimate potential.

Being a part of this Creator Accelerator program has helped me to understand the importance of controlling my own destiny and what that means beyond my activity on the LinkedIn platform. My biggest opportunities to leverage the power of my voice have come from connections made in my DMs. So another lesson is the power of LinkedIn lies not necessarily in the voices that are visible on the platform but in leaders who never post or even have a visible presence on the platform. But they're DEFINITELY here. And since I'm not in their industry or connected to them, my visibility in being a Creator and posting content that resonates with them personally has actually given me the ability to build a relationship with them on a deeper level to advance my purpose to change the world beyond my posts on LinkedIn.

There was a message from a NY Times writer who wanted to write a piece about Black voices on LinkedIn. That article ended up on the front page of the NY Times Business section. And that woman has gone from a reporter to an amazing friend, who I love and trust. There was the DM from an editor at CNN that led to me writing an an op-ed piece on racial profiling that went viral on their website, with more than 2 millions views. There have been opportunities to speak, consult, and create content for some of the biggest organizations and brands in the country. I'm grateful for that because they would have never even known I existed if they hadn't seen my content on LinkedIn.

I've now had the chance to develop a podcast on EBONY Media's podcast network. This opportunity also came to me via my DMs with a leader from the organization who had seen my content on LinkedIn. This is a magazine that used to sit on my Mom's coffee table! It's an iconic brand in the Black community. And I CREATE CONTENT for it! 🤯 I have interviewed more than 100 leaders across Black America to inform my listeners about Black culture, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and history. My guests have included Black tech leaders, college presidents, community leaders, trail blazing business and social entrepreneurs, educators, and cultural icons. 

Some of my guests have included Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, the City of Atlanta’s Chief Equity Officer, April Walker, General Manager of the US Microsoft Technology Centers, Glenn Woods, Senior Brand Social Media Manager for Hulu, Kimberly Evans, Vice President for JP Morgan Chase & Company, Sheldon Louis, Partner Manager for Twitter Sports, and Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the CIAA.

I've interviewed Adjoa B. Asamoah, Co-Founder of the CROWN Coalition, Manuel Godoy, CEO of Black Sands Entertainment, Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College, Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Founder of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation, Natalie Miller, Owner of the Historic Magnolia House, Jackie Iloh, Diversity & Equity Strategist at Lyft, and Donna Dozier Gordon, Head of Inclusion & Diversity in the US at H&M.

Most recently, I've spoken to Dana Brownlee, Senior Contributor for Forbes, Janeen Uzzell, Chief Executive Officer at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Charlene Polite Corley, Vice President of Diverse Insights & Partnerships at Nielsen, and Tempestt Young, Senior Booking Producer for Black News Channel. The list goes on and on of absolutely amazing leaders. And in every conversation I think about the words of wisdom they are sharing, the journeys they have traveled, the challenges they have overcome to achieve their success, and their drive and determination to continue making a difference.

Having those conversations has helped me internalize the message that the universe is abundant. My world was expanded when I became active on LinkedIn two years ago. Now it's time to see what lies beyond the reach of this platform and how I can create change in greater and more meaningful ways using what I've learned here. And for that I will be eternally grateful! 🙏🏽