May 31, 2018
A few years ago, I sat in a meeting where an agency was giving us a pitch to provide marketing communications services. As they got further and further into the presentation, it was clear they were not connecting with us. At times, a few individuals on our team shifted in their chairs and even impatiently […]
May 17, 2018
During a coaching session on effective presentations, a client asked, “Is it okay to incorporate a personal story into my presentation?” “Absolutely,” I said. “Especially if it’s relevant to your audience.”
May 10, 2018
This week I presented a “Storytelling” webinar for approximately 66 New Jersey nonprofits. Each organization received funding through the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network (NJHCN) grants program to implement healthy eating and active living strategies to advance environmental, policy and system changes. As part of their deliverables, each organization must contribute six stories/blogs to the […]
May 3, 2018
Over the years, I’ve delivered a lot of presentations. During one of my recent Personal Branding workshops, a person walked up to me and asked, “How did you learn how to be such a good presenter?” I responded, “practice makes perfect.”
April 26, 2018
I just returned from a fabulous five night/six day girls trip in Jamaica where we celebrated our dear friend Cathy’s 50th Birthday. The privately-owned villa we rented came with five-star services that included a butler, private chef and many other vacation indulgences that catered to our every whim and need. Our jam-packed agenda during the […]
April 12, 2018
Last week, I facilitated a breakout session on GRIT at the Community College of Allegheny County Women’s Empowerment Conference in Pittsburgh. Most people attended the session out of curiosity.
April 5, 2018
I recently read a story on Thrive Global about a farmer who was ready to retire and wanted to turn his farm over to one of his sons. The older son felt he was entitled to inherit the business based solely on birth order. However, the father was not convinced he would be the best […]
March 29, 2018
Think about a carton of eggs. They are usually all white, and there’s nothing different about them. However, if one egg happens to be gold, it will automatically get noticed. Your personal brand is what differentiates you from everyone else. It’s your unique value proposition and what separates you from your peers and, as a […]
March 22, 2018
A few days ago, I went to Sammie, my esthetician, for a bi-monthly facial. Sammie had just returned from a month- long trip to China. After a few minutes of small talk, I asked, “Did you do anything fun while in China?” “I wouldn’t call it fun,” she responded.
March 15, 2018
After 10 years of running my own business, I recently received my official certification as a women-owned business from the Women Presidents’ Education Organization (WPEO). The certification will help open additional business opportunities and will allow companies to include me in their respective supplier diversity counts.
Often, when I tell someone to “Keep Dreaming,” it comes from a sarcastic place and means “this will never happen.” However, as I reflect on the crazy, challenging year we all experienced in 2020, I think it’s time to get back to our dreams literally.
At the beginning of 2020, I had big dreams. I had planned a February vacation trip to Thailand, a women’s conference in March, Florida in April, Aruba in June, and Hilton Head with cousins in October. All plans were canceled indefinitely. Getting refunds/credits from travel agencies, airlines and hotels became a significant challenge and took lots of energy.
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Hi! I'm LaNella Hooper-Williams. Through my blog, my mission is to give you tips and practical tools that will help you build a powerful brand and accomplish your personal and professional dreams. You’ll learn strategies that help you manage your personal brand, get noticed and rewarded for your unique talents, and gain greater career focus.
