Take a minute... Where are you holding your tension right now? I had a wonderful convo with @kelzlovescoffee this morning about anxiety and just how much we hold tension in our bodies without even knowing it. So here's a reminder to pause and breathe - stretch - and refocus. Like the colours? I included the hex codes if you feel inspired to use these soothing colours. Wish more details on brand palettes? Head over to @be.business.chic and check out the last post. Follow @businesschicceo for more delicious, #brandbreather calming content coming your way. #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneur #BusinessTips #BusinessCoach #DigitalMarketing #digitalstrategy #BrandStrategist #brandcoach #SocialMedia #SocialMediaMarketing #businesswoman #businessowner #businessman #businesswomen #jamaicanbusinessowners #businesspassion #onlinebusiness #onlinebusinesstips #personalbranding #personalbrandingcoach #branddesign #brandidentity

Come on answer it already! Chances are, you've heard of the Serenity Prayer - but have you said it? Whether you choose to utter it as a prayer to your idea of the Divine or as a mantra to yourself... its such a powerful and short reminder to show more kindness, temperance and love to self. Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference. There's so much focus on productivity, mental toughness and emphasis on heightened performance for entrepreneurs that we neglect ourselves terribly... I hope to change that with a bit more visibility and open dialogue. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I'm excited to share some content and conversations this month with you focused on Entrepreneur #MentalHealth. Are you interested in learning more about coping and self-compassion as an entrepreneur? Lemme know... meet me in the comments. #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneur #BusinessTips #BusinessCoach #DigitalMarketing #digitalstrategy #BrandStrategist #brandcoach #SocialMedia #SocialMediaMarketing #businesswoman #businessowner #businessman #businesswomen #jamaicanbusinessowners #businesspassion #onlinebusiness #onlinebusinesstips #personalbranding #personalbrandingcoach #branddesign #brandidentity

Its been a minute... Hey Fam! For those in my DMs I wanna show appreciation for the messages and genuine check ins to see if all's well. My MIA has been a necessary break while I shifted gears into full solopreneuriship again, went back to the drawing board for my business @be.business.chic and had to prioritize existing clients. BUT that's not what this post is about. I wanted to take a moment to talk about mental health and why its absolutely necessary to make it a personal priority, especially as an entrepreneur. So much info is out there, the data exists - and it shows that the #entrepreneur is more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. In an article by @incmagazine titled "The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship" they pointed out a correlation between creatives and entrepreneurs having stronger emotional states "Those states may include; depression, despair, hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of motivation and suicidal thinking". I say this all to point out, that if you're reading this and nodding your head in agreement, you're not alone, even though this journey is INDEED lonely AF. I've been trying to shift my focus to what I really want to do with my personal brand, and while I'm still about Brand Development and Digital Strategy - follow @be.business.chic for that upcoming content - I'm gonna be posting more on emotional and psychological coping for entrepreneurs here. My first love was Psychology... it's actually what I got my degree in, so I'll be tapping into to that a bit more and looking to various experts to speak to areas around mental health, with the entrepreneur in mind. These last few months have been a personal struggle, and I wanna shine a light to remove the stigma around the psychological trauma but also the positive evolutionary aspects of Entrepreneurship that we just don't talk enough about. I'm hoping you'll stick around. Let me know in the comments. Btw... this is my #420 post too (you gotta zoom), I can't express just how beneficial cannabis has been in improving my symptoms of depression and anxiety. Big up @jacanalife who apparently now knows my voice when I call in to place my orders. Nuff love, Anika

Listen... if you're struggling you're not the only one. Don't let this platform fool you. People be low-key flat on their face and freaking theFout about the fact that this year has ended and they didn't get anywhere near accomplishing their goals this year and the anxiety about this fact makes you even more anxious about the upcoming year. But hey... slow down - think about it. Sure you didn't get through half of what you wanted to, but I bet you learnt something new. Chances are you worked with someone or met people you would likely never have, had it not been for your circumstances. That's also a massive fact you can't ignore - your challenge now is to recognize the opportunities this year has given you to either start over with these new skills and new connections OR to shift direction/recalibrate within this space you have found yourself in. I don't consider myself an optimist - I think I'm more the type of person who prefers to wallow in the depths of despair for approximately 2 months, knowing all the answers (for the most part) then slaps themselves (into submission) a few times to get up and get going. Lemme help you save some time - there are opportunities to be seen that you're not allowing yourself to see. Ask yourself, what and WHO will be coming with you into your future? This year, certainly should have helped you identify exactly those things. Nuff Love! Anika ? Follow ➡️ @businesschicceo #StrategyMaverick #SolopreneurCoach #BrandCoach #DigitalMarketing #DigitalStrategy

We're approaching the end of the year, and unlike what societal pressure would suggest I say - I'll start by saying this instead. I'm still scared and feeling insecure about where my business will be in 2021 (like many others I'm sure), I'm still battling my anxiety and depression and I'm still fat (a term I'm coming to accept and love) but ... I'm still here. There's so much to be grateful for. My company survived and adapted and actually expanded during this madness, I got to do things I never thought I would, I made some of the most meaningful emotional and personal connections this year than I've made in years. I'm more fierce, I'm loving myself more, I'm more accepting of my flaws and scars being nuances of a story I am writing for myself. I'm less worried about what others think and more focused on what I want and need to be a better person for myself and those I love. This year has taught me many things, and one of which is just how freeeeking resilient I am, the capacity of my heart, what I want for myself and what I don't. Its shown me that I can pull opportunities to me like a magnet (even this photo shoot) if I so desire and its shown me how to communicate more deeply with the people I care about. I initially thought I didn't have one of those stories of transformation to accompany this pic... guess I was wrong! What have you learned this year? Thank you to my friend and coaching client Dene for adorning me in this dress. Check out her clothing line at @wilola.wear - sooo comfy and very flattering designs for all body types.

Sooooo... We have a natural tendency to only consider December as the festive month (which it is) but there are so many international, noteworthy and monumental days observed in the upcoming month which speak directly to Human Rights and the celebration of Freedoms. Certainly not a month to be just glazed over in tinsel, holiday decorations and sales promos. Check it out. How will your brand be acknowledging December? Oh and btw, if you were on my mailing list you would have gotten this last week - just saying. ? - wanna be added for early updates? Drop me a quick DM. #StrategyMaverick #ContentMarketing #DigitalIQ #DigitalMarketing #futurwolfpack #digitalbranding #BrandCoach #BrandStrategy #brandstrategist #Branding #SolopreneurCoaching #Solopreneur #Entrepreneurmindset #SocialMediaMarketing #SocialMedia

This was my surprise karaoke themed bridal shower/ birthday party. I wish I could recall every second of this night with my Mom, but what I remember is the feeling - knowing I was making a memory in this very moment. At this very second I hoped someone would snap a picture of me dancing with my Mom (thank you). I can't remember what song was playing. I don't remember everything, though I wish I could, but I have this very moment. My complete and utter happiness dancing with my Mom and seeing the slightly awkward reservation on her face as she was just on the cusp of letting go and being free despite the people around to just dance with me. Always cautious of her public persona, because she had to be. She did - she let go right after this pic was taken and I believe that this was the beginning of our true friendship. Yes she was dancing with her daughter, but I believe in my heart, she knew this too that this was the blooming of our friendship and the culmination of our soulmate travel - from mother to daughter, to sister and friend. Today, as always, she's on my mind. Make memories with the ones you love. Make that call, set that date, spend more time on the things that matter to you. Because in the end, the only thing you have, is memory.

Not a side I show too often here... But got a reminder today that sometimes I still need my own Mommy. Then Seth ran in the room with an onslaught of hugs. I pray I'm even half the mother my mom was to me for him. In my feelings today. ? Thank you to a couple kindred spirits who reached out to me today; whether you know it or not, my Mom may have forced your hand.

Proof of life and something to probably pick you up too. ? I've got so many of these notepads still sitting my cabinet btw - my old company logo is on it. This was one of my first attempts at merch for my company. Was a hit with clients and got us referrals and orders for notepads. Online to Offline Branding. Learnt a lot from this small investment. Will likely refresh the design and update the branding in the new year. If you'd like to order a few - old logo and all - drop me a DM.

I'm not a big fan of birthday posts but when I first saw this challenge I knew I wanted to participate and I knew what I wanted to say. I also knew I wanted to share it near my birthday, I just didn't know how to say it, or how much the lead up to putting this out there would affect me. I also didn't anticipate that this time of year would affect me so significantly, as though it were years ago. Over the last few weeks I've been supported in surprisingly unexpected ways and from surprising places and have been also surprised by the lack of support from others and I thank each of them for the lessons taught. Because through the years, and through the lessons I have discovered more about myself and have come to fall in love with myself over and over again - a wonderful love affair. So here's my gift from me to me (and you). Thank you @marketingforhumans and @themichellepenny for kickstarting this cathartic opportunity for even more realness on this platform.