Well, I am stepping out of my comfort zone and I am stepping out on faith as I launch my first webinar series. I have been writing material for this blog since 2008, and maintaining a passion for writing is very challenging. I have long desired to expand the scope of this site. Specifically, I have held dreams of establishing a mentoring program for under-served and at-risk youth in the community. I wholeheartedly admit that the courage required to undertake such an objective has been weak on my behalf. However, there has been a dramatic shift in our societal landscape. The current global pandemic and cries for racial justice has presented an opportunity to expand the mission and vision of this blog. I had become increasingly irritated by individuals that utilize social media to complain or spread negativity yet offer no solutions or ideas that will add positive value to our shared dilemma. And so, I began to prepare material to help displaced workers, aspiring employees, new employees, and seasoned colleagues find footing in this uncertain job market. Working from home, I use Cisco Webex nearly every day, so I determined this platform would be perfect to host webinars. My first topic – 10 Highly Effective Work Habits That Will Help You Succeed – is designed to help an individual develop the best strategies to maximize success in the workplace. I am very nervous, as this is my first webinar, although I am no stranger to presentations or leading meetings. Nevertheless, I could not sit idly by without adding my voice to the conversation. I just hope people care to hear what I have to say.
Join me for an interactive webinar August 15, 2020 at 11 a.m. EST. I will be discussing strategies that have helped me navigate the workplace over the last 20 years. I am a health care professional working in supply chain management (procurement). I started my career as a lab technician and now I am supervisor that has led a team of 15-18 direct reports with the responsibility of 4-7 major hospital systems and their corresponding off-sites. I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two. E-mail me at gentlestandard08@gmail.com if you plan to attend. A link to the webinar will be sent to you prior to the presentation.
I have struggled tremendously over the past few weeks; desperately flailing in a sea of words, unable to find the necessary stillness and bearings to form meaningful sentences. In terms of blog content, returning to normal did not feel at all normal. A return to writing about shoes, cologne, or neckties felt painfully tone-deaf and superficial at this point in time. I wanted to add something substantive to the current conversation. In the midst of the pandemic and civil unrest, I wanted to be more than an angry voice on social media, albeit absent action. And so, I decided to dust off an idea conjured up perhaps over a decade ago. I always wanted to establish a support group that mentored young men, specifically young black men that were underserved and marginalized in the community. That concept never arrived to fruition. However, the overload of current events has renewed that old passion within me. So, I have not been writing because I have dedicated my time to developing material for informational webinars. Working remotely has basically forced me to communicate with my team 100% of the time. Combining this new skill with more than a decade of new experiences in life (fatherhood, management, etc.), the hope is to virtually mentor men. Of course, more information is on the horizon as I work out details. The main focus of the group will revolve around scholarship, style, service, and embody the overall theme of this website. I hope you follow me on this journey as I am excited and nervous. Wish me luck.
