LaKesha Womack

Archive for the category “It's all about…”

23 Jan 2013

It’s all about… Anthony Dorsett Jr.

When I first moved to Nashville TN, I knew very little about professional football.  Please keep in mind that I am from Alabama… Roll Tide and War Eagle are ingrained in our spirits.  Yeah, we watch professional football on some Sundays but when you get this far south; Saturday is for football and Sunday is all about church.

Anyway, one day I was at work and this very handsome young man comes into the restaurant.   I had the pleasure of being his waitress and some of my friends were like, “do you know who that is?” and of course I’m like, “No…” and they say, “that’s Anthony Dorsett…” as if its supposed to mean something to me.  Mind you this was before smart phones so I couldn’t whip out my iPhone and Google him while putting his order into the computer so I had to rely on my friends to give me the quick rundown on his father being a Hall of Fame football player and how he was a player for the Tennessee Titans.  Sadly to say, I wasn’t impressed lol

I was impressed with his humility…

Anthony came into our restaurant on a semi-regular basis (not too often because we were not known for our healthy food selections) and I had the pleasure of occasionally being his waitress and getting to know him.  Growing up as the son of a professional (Dallas Cowboy) player and being a NFL player, I would have expected his arrogance to be through the roof but he always came across as a genuine and humble young man.

So when I heard about his latest initiative, I knew that it was something that I wanted to share with you all because part of my passion is highlighting people in our community who are trying to have a positive impact on the lives of those around them.

The Dorsett Health Spectacular’s mission is to provide free health fairs and screenings throughout the country.  This year, they will be kicking off in New Orleans during Super Bowl week to provide local residents and visitors with a variety of medical services.  These health fairs have the potential to go into many under-served communities and provide access to medical services that might not otherwise be available.  If you will be in or around New Orleans on January 30, 2013; make plans to join Anthony Dorsett Jr, Dr Corey Hebert of Black Health TV and Dr Kimberly Clay of Sisterbration for free health screenings and medical services.

Dorsett Health Spectacular - New Orleans 2013

 

Dorsett Health Spectacular 2013

Get to know Anthony Dorsett Jr.

Follow him on Twitter: @DorsettJr

Like him on Facebook: Anthony Dorsett Jr

Get tweets from Dorsett Health: @DorsettHealth

Come hang out with me at one of his Super Bowl 2013 Events!

Super Bowl Watch Party with Anthony Dorsett 2CHAINZ FINAL SuperSundayNObashside2theirflyer

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18 Aug 2010
2 Comments

5 Ways to Use Hootsuite to Build Your Online Presence

When I first started social networking (using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn), I didn’t think that it was for me.  It seemed like too much work and trust me, I already have A LOT of work to do.  I considered the value it would add to my business but needed a system to make it all manageable.  One day a friend told me about Hootsuite.  I checked it out and fell in love.  I would not have the connections or social media presence without this online application.

Check out 5 ways I use it to build my online presence.

  1. It allows me to integrate my Twitter, WordPress, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.  From one master screen I can toggle between all of these accounts and read updates as well as post status updates.
  2. I have ten columns per tab.  I take full advantage of those tabs.  On my main Twitter tab, I have a list of timeline updates from all the people I follow, mentions so that I can see when someone posts something directly to me, a list of sent tweets (because I sometimes forget what I tweeted or retweeted), a list of pending tweets (more about that in a second) and timelines of several of my Twitter lists and keyword searches.
  3. I can schedule posts.  When I tell people this, they are surprised.  First surprised that I admit it and second surprised to know that I am not really online as much as it seems.  There are a million things that I want to say and retweet but it feels rude to bombard someone’s timeline with my thoughts.  So… I play nice and schedule tweets to post about every 15 to 30 minutes.  It is amazing how many followers I have attained since using this system.  It also allows me time to respond to someone before the next scheduled tweet.  I also like the fact that I can schedule posts to my Facebook personal and business pages.  Sometimes I will schedule a full day of tweets and only respond to mentions when I receive them on my phone.  *Remember, the object of the game is to work smarter, not harder.
  4. It is easier to view profiles.  From the Twitter site, you have to go to a person’s page to read their profile and get a general idea of whether you want to follow them.  My #FF (Follow Friday) can get crazy and I don’t have time to visit a hundred profiles.  Hootsuite allows you to click on their name and get a profile synopsis then you can follow or unfollow from that screen shot.
  5. You can shorten urls and track their statistics.  Many applications provide the ability to shorten an url but I like being able to see whether people are actually clicking through.  I’m a statistics junkie (which is part of my love affair with WordPress).

I hope this nugget of information helps you build your online presence, after all, social networking is not only fun but it is also FREE.  What better way to establish and build your brand?

Posted in Business Dollars and Sense, I Got Five On It, It's all about... and tagged , , , , , , ,
28 Jul 2010
3 Comments

It’s all about… Stephanie

Clever people make the world go around.  While tweeting, which I do quite often, I ran across someone with the username @candycoatedbags.  Unlike the typical username that includes a first and/or last name, I didn’t have a clue who this person was but was intrigued by the username.  After a week or so, she began popping up everywhere in my Twitter timeline so it was time to do some research.

Stephanie Valentine, Owner, Candy Coated Bags

Meet Stephanie Valentine, Owner of Candy Coated Bags.  Currently, she operates an online handbag store, sells items by appointment and has plans for a retail location in the near future.  When  asked what made her start the business, she said that she bought purses that she liked and sold them.  The key was purchasing items that she liked, in case no one else wanted to buy them.  Somehow with her great sense of style, I don’t forsee this being a problem.

What makes Stephanie so special that today is all about her?  Like many of the people in my network,  Stephanie understands the power of using social networking to build her business.  Many would question the need for social networking to sell purses, but a key business fact is “people do business with their friends.”  So often, we discount the role that relationships play in growing a sustainable business; however Stephanie is embracing this fact and using it to her advantage.

Take a few minutes to check out Stephanie’s sites and see how she is using her network to create a successful business.

  • As you would expect, you can shop online at Candy Coated Bags for new purses and plans to add gently used at bargain prices are underway.  Not only are the bags supercute but the prices are very reasonable.  Order one today!
  • Be candy coated and share what’s in your bag…. Stephanie uses her blog to discuss color therapy, engage her readers and offer fun giveaways.  Make sure you subscribe to her blog to stay up to date on all of the exciting things happening on her site, read posts from guest bloggers and submit pictures of your favorite handbag.
  • Show how much you “like” Candy Coated Bags on Facebook
  • Don’t forget to follow on Twitter so that you can be a part of the handbag conversation.  Stephanie also provides inspiration and encouragement throughout the day to keep you uplifted.
  • This successful sister is definitely a BOSS, if you haven’t joined, do so and send her a friend request.  She is the person you need to know when searching for the perfect handbag.

Thanks for taking some time to get to know my friend, Stephanie Valentine.  She has taken selling handbags to another level and is creating a powerful network along the way.

Don’t forget to check back next week, it could be all about YOU!

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14 Jul 2010
3 Comments

It’s all about… Darrell

Last week, I went to Las Vegas for a girl’s weekend.  My flight from Montgomery AL to Dallas TX was uneventful and I had a chance to pull out my laptop and get some work done.  On the way to Vegas, I realized that I was sitting in the back of the plane (row 35) and imagined being able to do the same.  As I was boarding the plane, I noticed quite a few really tall guys milling around and most of them had similar symbols on their clothes.  I am not a basketball fan and know very little about the teams but could probably do a decent job associating the city with the team name but symbols and mascots… forget about it.  Imagine my surprise when  most of the guys started filling in the seats around me.

One particular guy sits down next me and immediately starts talking to everyone around us.  As you have probably gathered from my writing, I am personable (easy to talk to) but not personal (it takes me a minute to open up).  Knowing nothing about basketball, I figured it to be an utter waste of my time to ask his name because I wouldn’t know him anyway, plus I’m not a “fan” of people like that and don’t do the whole autograph thing.  His personality was so infectious that it was hard not to get caught up in conversation with him.

As the trip wore on, we were stuck on the runway for an hour before the 3 hour flight, I got to know a little bit about Darrell Armstrong and found him to be someone that I would like to share with you.  We all know the stereotypes that surround professional athletes and basketball players, in particular, so I was prepared to be unimpressed with his conversation.  But as the saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a man by his profession.

Darrell, in the short period that I spoke with him, was one of the smartest, funniest and humblest guys that I have met in a long time.  He spoke at length about his wife, Deidra, and their three kids.  It wasn’t that artificial conversation where you feel like someone is just saying the right things because it’s what they are supposed to say but I saw his eyes light up when he spoke about his family and what they meant to him despite the horror stories you hear about the NBA.  Of course, I had to tell him about my book and it was great to hear him acknowledge the need for such conversations to exist.  He reiterated that communication and getting to know your mate is so important in a long-lasting relationship because all relationships experience up and downs but you have to be able to work through those times to stay together.

We talked about his daughter who is entering her first year of college and how his responsibility as a father has been to set the standard for the type of men that will be in her life.  He didn’t come across as one of the shot-gun totting fathers who would challenge anyone that came near her but he talked about how he has tried to prepare her to make the best decisions for herself while doing his best to support her and prepare her to be independent (i.e. not always depending on daddy for money).  From the sound of things, she is doing pretty well… she will be playing Division 1 basketball at a school in Texas this coming year.

As is the tendency of most professional athlete, Darrell has a charity that was created to help people through something that hit close to home.  His organization, The Darrell Armstrong Foundation for Premature Babies, is based in Orlando FL and was established after his wife gave birth to two premature babies.  Through the DAFPB Development Center at the Florida Children’s Hospital, they are able to assist families of premature babies with diagnosing developmental problems early on and providing the necessary intervention and care that will lead to a healthy life for the child.  Additionally, through their fundraising efforts, they purchased an ambulance in Orlando that is specifically for the transportation of premature babies to the Development Center so that they can receive medical treatment that may be needed to save their tiny little lives as quickly as possible.

Please take a moment to check out Darrell’s website (DarrellArmstrong10) and show some love for the Dallas Maverick’s Assistant Coach.

Darrell Armstrong - Success comes to those who persevere.

This week is all about Darrell Armstrong.  Thanks for taking a moment to show him some love and his organization, The Darrell Armstrong Foundation for Premature Babies.  Don’t forget to come back next Wednesday… it could be all about… YOU!

Posted in It's all about... and tagged , , , , , , ,
30 Jun 2010
2 Comments

It’s all about… Traci

Traci Smith, Owner, S.H.E. Agency

I have a huge admiration for young, positive professionals trying to make a difference in their community.  I hear so many older people questioning the leadership skills of our generation and wondering if we really have what it takes to control the destiny of those who will come after us.

It gives me great pleasure to know Traci Smith, Owner of S.H.E. Agency.  Traci uses her Public Relations Agency, not to highlight celebrities and throw parties but to promote events within her hometown of Montgomery AL that have a positive impact on those around her.  She recently worked on a conference to promote self-esteem within young girls and is currently working on “All Tied Up” a conference for young men that will not only provide them with life skills sessions but also teach them the art of tying a tie.  A single girl in the city, Traci could be partying it up but has chosen to focus her entrepreneurial spirit on working with the teens in the area.

I met Traci, in person, a months ago for dinner and I was happy to find that she is just as pleasant in person as she is online.  I am particularly fond of her #SHEtips posted daily on Twitter because they remind me of some very common sense lessons that we often forget.

Today is all about Traci Smith, an extraordinary young woman making a huge impact in the lives of the teens in her community.  Please take a moment to show Traci some love…

Style. Hot. Energy.

S.H.E. on Twitter

S.H.E. has a page on Facebook

S.H.E. has a website

View the S.H.E. monthly newsletter

Thanks for taking a moment to check out Traci.  Don’t forget to come back next week, it could be all about YOU!

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