All Things Winifred

 At the tail end of 2021, I was ill. I had a handful of days off that I intended to use to pray and plan for the future of my business and my life in general but getting sick basically put a temporary stop to my world. I was barely able to function for about 5 days. I wasn't able to write, I couldn't concentrate long enough to read, and I had to be super careful about what I ate and drank. Fun right? What I found in the stillness is a lesson. Life is full of the unexpected. 2021 was victorious, but also plagued with sadness as I went through (and still go through) intense grieving over the loss of loved ones. This pandemic has also brought changes that no one saw coming in the workplace and how we access goods and services. Everything we're accustomed to can be wiped off the face of the earth in minutes, leaving you in confusion, frustration, and doubts. We can plan all we want (and we should) but at the end of the day God is the source that we should always seek to help us...

  A lot of people have been pivoting from one career to another due to having the extra time to develop new skills, a sudden boost of confidence as a result of watching people glow up with small businesses, or out of last resort due to unexpected layoffs and trouble finding another job. Yes, the COVID 19 global pandemic came into the world and catastrophically broke many, but also managed to motivate and rebuild some. Some people began tapping into dreams and talents that laid dormant within while they burnt themselves out in the rat race living someone else's dream. I applaud everyone who fell and got up in addition to those who were already up and saw it fit to go for more. I am happy to see people winning in new and unexpected ways. Salute

Ever heard of Roc Nation? How about rapper, Jay-z? There was a career fair in Madison Square Garden, created for job seekers to get resume tips, information about job openings, and free barber/salon services to look their best for interviewing. Dream opportunity! They were looking for volunteers to help with resumes and being the HR wiz that I am, I emailed the contact person and was given the details of the event with a request to confirm my plans of attendance. One problem., I had jury duty. Mandatory jury duty that totally made me ineligible to attend. I was heart broken. This was an opportunity to lend my expertise for a cause I am passionate about on one of the biggest platforms in the world. There in my email was an invitation and unfortunately, I couldn't accept it. Roc Nation was also accepting donations and a lightbulb went off in my head, this would be a great opportunity to donate copies of my book. It's totally on topic; helping people navigate through the workforce...

 I want to help people. The knowledge I have about HR, careers, and education have served me enough that I can serve others. That is what it's all about. I get referrals from people I know from previous jobs or from family/friends. But lately, people who have seen my posts on social media have reached out to me. People who don't know me from a can of paint. What they do know, however, is they like my content and trust that I know what I am talking about. My passion is brining people in. Influence..it's happening. It is a slowly growing thing, I don't want you to think my DMs and emails are flooded (yet). But the beginning of brand establishment has started. All those things that happen when you post consistently. When you be yourself. When you trust God and allow Him to lay out your purpose despite whatever may appear to stand in your way. It's happening.  I started this blog to give a look into my world as a millennial who cares about the way we (humans) make a liv...

 I was bored with healthcare. To be honest, I don't think I ever really belonged there to begin with. When I decided to transition from healthcare to human resources, I knew that I had to come with my A game. HR is an industry that makes and breaks businesses. No matter how good the product or service, the business isn't right if HR isn't on top of policies and procedures, work culture, employee performance, and so much more. HR is more than just the department you engage with upon hire and exit. They are more than the department you run to when there's tension between you and another staff member. HR is the glue. The mirror. The wishing well. The police. The unsung heroes that save the day, every day.  At first I thought I could just saunter into HR and become part of the tribe, simply because I wanted to. I had a strong and long history of medical credentialing where I reviewed resumes, participated in the onboarding process, hosted orientation, managed provider files...

 The road to the seat of HR was a climb. I faced boulders of fire rolling down on me and harsh winds threatening to sway me off course. There were times I couldn't see the top, but I'm here. When I say the top I don't mean I have reached my peak in success, but I have ascended to a level where I can finally be of service. Service to people all over the world who deserve to work in healthy workspaces and walk proudly in their industry of choice because they can. I believe they can. I want them to know that they can. I dreamed about working in human resources. I prayed about it. I dedicated time, money, and brainpower. If you know my story, you know I went back to school to obtain my masters degree in human resources management after what seemed like a dead-end. Toxic job after toxic job. Quitting left and right in search of more. It was my purpose gnawing at me. Telling me to go for more and once I took that plunge, the world seemed to open up to me.  If you work in HR, I sa...

You'll get suggestions. Sometimes even be pressured. It happened to me, and I caved.  The very first thing I wanted to be was an English Teacher that hosted a radio show at night, but I was steered in another direction as soon as the word teacher left my lips. I was heavily swayed into healthcare; a career in healthcare would deal me the best cards that life could offer. Financial security, social leverage, and prestige. As a young and single (at the time) African American woman, surely, I would be in the running to be courted by some of the world's most eligible bachelors. I can't lie, it was a plan fueled by good intentions and appeared to be a fool-proof equation. The only thing missing was passion. The fiery ingredient that many adults leave out when teaching their kids, the recipe to success. As quiet as it's kept, passion is the secret sauce. The deal maker and the game changer.  ______________________________ My name is Winifred and I am a creative writer who adv...