🗣 How your skills got their groove back.

🎉 Yo! We are back at the weekly office party, where everyday feels like #casualFridays. Dropping mics and sounding off.

Have you made it into the holiday Twilight Zone phase? We joke about the weird timing between now and the beginning of a new year - I barely know what day it is. WHEW! I traveled last week (back to my beloved city of Houston 🤘🏽) and was crazy excited to connect with family + friends.

This week we are sitting at the intersection of passion + purpose. While I love sneakers and working in the industry, I believe my true contribution is to help others unlock their superpowers through common bonds and shared experiences.

In a previous episode of Yo. You’re on Mute., we touched on the first stop in 2024 investments with networking smarter, not harder. Today, we are diving into building up our skills. So, let’s get into it.

⛽️ Fueling creativity + community + connections ⛽️

🗣 Special Sound Off: As we get closer to the holidays, my heart truly goes out to anyone that isn’t feeling as joyful as they would want. If you know someone who might be struggling, send them some kind words today.

If this email was forwarded to you, tap in and join the cool collective.

“You’re too loud, too defensive, too angry.”

A common misconception (read: stereotype) that women of color are faced with on the daily. It took a teacher and mentor to help me understand the power of words, and how energy can be redistributed in the right ways to help enable growth. A re-emergence was required. A better skill set was the achievement.

Working in a dynamic environment like a startup has taught me quite a bit more about how the success of team members, through the lens of a growth mindset, is tethered to the overall organization’s results.

Why not dig into and take inventory of our own skill sets. We may find areas that need more reps; more practice.

🏆 Sharpening your skills can be the secret sauce, but why?

• Adaptability: Especially in a startup, roles often evolve rapidly. Team members with a diverse skill set are better equipped to adapt to new challenges and responsibilities.

• Innovation: A team with a varied skill set can bring unique perspectives to problem-solving, driving innovation and creativity.

• Competitive Edge: Skilled team members can perform tasks more efficiently, giving orgs a competitive edge in the fast-paced business world.

🚀 Skill Sets: Your Secret Weapon

The wild startup jungle is not for the faint. When you’re thinking about your skill sets, versatility is key. Picture that toolkit and all the resources you need (read: skills). The more, the better equipped you are to handle company curveballs.

You can innovate, adapt, and outpace. As you build up your skills, focus heavy on 1-2 that you want to develop each quarter.

🧩 Transferable Skills: The Swiss Army Knife of Talents

These are the skills that keep on giving, no matter where you find yourself. Communication, leadership, problem-solving – they're like your trusty Swiss Army knife, always useful, no matter the friction that you might be up against.

🏆 Championing BIPOC Brilliance

Your BIPOC team members, are unique and each have individual journeys that matter. Are you nurturing these skills? Inclusive development, mentorship, and a safe space for learning are essential, helping you connect and empower every team member.

📈 Resume: Your Origin Story in Bullet Points

Your resume can serve as your skills’ origin story. This is truly your moment to salute those accomplishments! Lean into your success versus just a list of responsibilities. Remember, a growth mindset is important – stack up those skills (and use keywords 😉)

✋🏽 Everyone has a gift. Sometimes it takes us more time to uncover these gifts. They are always there.

Now let’s dive into a fun, mini case study about skill sets… powered by one of my favorite holiday classics.

"Home Alone" – a beloved holiday classic that taught us all that sometimes, the best way to learn new skills is through the misadventures of a resourceful 8-year-old. We’re tapping into six lessons that Kevin McCallister brought to life during the holidays.

Just in case you haven’t seen Home Alone 😱 here’s the context. Kevin's parents accidentally leave him behind while heading to Paris for the holidays. Instead of freaking out (minus a little screaming), he adapts to the situation. Did I mention that two burglars target his home??

1️⃣ Lesson: Adaptation Skills - Life doesn't always go as planned, so be prepared to roll with the punches.

2️⃣ Lesson: Problem Solving - He devises elaborate traps that would make any engineer proud, while showing us that creative problem-solving can be a real home defense strategy.

3️⃣ Lesson: Time Management - He has just one day to prepare his house for battle, and he leaned right into efficient time allocation. Sometimes, the clock is your biggest adversary.

4️⃣ Lesson: Resourcefulness - I mean, if arranging mannequins, isn’t a testament to Kevin's resourcefulness, I don’t know what is. It's a reminder that you can achieve a lot with what you have on hand.

5️⃣ Lesson: Independence - This lesson created moments of self-reliance. It's a great example of how independence can lead to personal growth.

6️⃣ Lesson: Communication While Kevin can't directly communicate with his family, he finds a way to send them a message. It's a reminder that clear communication can solve many problems, even when you're "home alone."

time to sound off.

Turning negatives into positives is an art form. We are all about refining those superpowers (read: skills) for good.

🙌🏽 Turning "Overly Detailed" into a Positive

• Example: If you're often told you're "too detailed," consider it a reflection of your thoroughness and precision – essential in roles involving data analysis, project management, or quality assurance.

🙌🏽 Reframing “Too Emotional” as a Strength

• Example: Being labeled as "too emotional" can be seen as a sign of empathy and emotional intelligence, valuable in fields like HR or customer service. Work on managing your emotions constructively, using your empathetic skills to understand and respond to others effectively, while maintaining professional boundaries.

🙌🏽 Converting “Stubborn” into a Positive Trait

• Example: Being "stubborn" can also mean you're resolute and determined, traits that are beneficial in entrepreneurship, sales, or any role requiring persistence and resilience. Balance that determination with flexibility. Learn to recognize when standing firm is advantageous and when adaptability is needed to achieve the best outcomes.

🗣 Don’t let naysayers distract you from your own development.

If you’re not too sure how to do that or you’re struggling, please reply to this email so we can chat.

A quick TL;DR moment.

💫 determine your strengths.

Still not sure how to jumpstart building your skills or identify where your strengths land? Ask yourself…

• What tasks do I enjoy doing the most?

• When have I felt most fulfilled in my work?

• What are the common themes in the feedback I receive from others?

💫 for the People… people.

The HR/People Operations folks can really center into how we support BIPOC team members with skill acquisition.

📚 Inclusive Training Programs: ensure that development initiatives are inclusive and considerate of the unique experiences of BIPOC employees.

🤝 Mentorship Opportunities: encourage mentorship and social learning programs within your organization.

⛑ Safe Spaces for Learning: create an environment where BIPOC employees feel safe to express their needs and seek help in skill development.

⚡️QUICKSTRIKE HR SOUND BITES

The HR/People Operations landscape is evolving. As the HR World Turns 🌎 could be its own show. Check out some of the happenings below.

• I’m centering into my intentions with my ‘You Got This’ journal - powered by our amazing HR friend Cassandra Babilya.

• I loved reading JooBee’s newsletter on developing your people with ZERO budget.

• The PeakHR cohort applications are open! Grab the opportunity to learn from some amazing leaders in the industry.

👟 SNEAKER INDUSTRY SOUND BITES

Some HR people may like pilates and shopping trips to Ulta. You could say my thing is sneakers + streetwear. If you enjoy sneaker culture - this section is for you.

• BIG NEWS for CNK Daily!! We are embarking on a new experiential retail experience in Texas. A new brick and mortar will be a safe space for HER, a welcomed space for him, and a community space for all.

• Huge CONGRATS to Jason Mayden on his new role as Chief Design Officer at Jordan Brand! 🎉

🗣 COMMUNITY SOUND BITES

Supporting the small biz/brand owner is important to me. Each newsletter, I’ll introduce you to some talented people in my network and beyond.

• Stay connected with a really dope platform, BlkCreatives, a digital collective where you can reset, re-strategize, and chill.

🎧 A SONG I DIDN’T SKIP ON MY PLAYLIST TODAY

I am still sad that I never got to experience Usher’s Las Vegas residency. Here’s one of my party faves for a few reasons 1) the dance battles to this song were always elite 2) this reminds me of the ‘business casual’ fits we used to wear in the club and 3) Lil Jon of course. YYYyyyyeaaahhhh!

If you are a Corporate Creative, Entrepreneur, or slanging knowledge through the startup space - I am rooting for you. 👏🏽. Your work [and rest] is important.

Next week is the final (and most important) investment piece for 2024 - WELLBEING.