Hey Reader!

Yesterday was Juneteenth, and we took the day off as a company to honor the holiday. May Black people continue to get free, rising like phoenixes out of the fire they try to throw us in. ✊🏾

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There's something powerful about taking a beat to acknowledge where we've been and where we're going. Yesterday wasn't just about celebrating emancipation. It was about honoring the continuous work of liberation that happens every single day.

Let’s get into what's been on my mind this week. 👇🏾

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RANT

People need to be less confident about stuff they don’t know about.

Folks are way too wrong and strong about stuff they don’t know nothing about and it perpetually pisses me off.

Frankly, the internet is the headquarters of stupidity. It's democratized loud stupidity and lack of self-awareness. Because everybody has a platform, everybody can sign up for an account. There are some people that are actually stupid.

I mean, our country is run by stupid people who don’t know they’re stupid. This week, Ted Cruz the Terrible sat down with Tucker Carlson the douchebag, and was so clueless about all things International policy even though he is whole ass senator whose policy choices affect everything. This goofass even thought the country of Israel was the same Israel from the Bible. And sir WHAT?!?

A Bible professor, Scott Baker, stepped up and said "It's like how my friend David isn't the Biblical king just because he has the same name."

But this type of thing happens ALL THE TIME online. Folks talmbout things they’ve never done, experienced, have credentials in. With FULL confidence. Everybody is an expert on everything and it’s giving Jack of Some Trades, Master of None.

I AGREED WITH TUCKER CARLSON THIS WEEK. Do you know how devastating that is?!?! That's how you know we're in the great upside down. Tucker Carlson is somebody who has made some good points. That is when you know the world is in shambles. Even HE is making sense? That's crazy work. 😩😩😩

All I know is, as a society we gotta know what we know, admit what we don’t and commit to learning. Cuz all this fake bravado in standing on wobbly business needs to stop. When did “this ain’t my lane” become illegal??? 😒😒😒

A mess!
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REFLECTION

We contain multitudes, and nuance is our friend.

Nuance be beating people's asses on the internet because folks refuse to let it in the room. When did we become so unable to receive feedback and to consider other viewpoints? 😩

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as I watch people online turn every conversation into a battlefield. We forgot that human beings are walking contradictions who can hold multiple truths at the same time.

As James Baldwin said, "I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." You can support a cause AND question some of its methods. You can change your mind about something AND still be a person of integrity. You can support someone and know you won’t agree with every single thing about their lives.

The pressure to pick a side on everything is exhausting. We've turned complexity into a character flaw instead of recognizing it's the most human thing about us. 🗣️ You can't create change by canceling everyone who doesn't move exactly like you. You can't win by being the only person left standing after you've eliminated everyone who wasn't perfect enough. 🤷🏾‍♀️

I think about how many times I've watched people get dragged because they dared to say "it's complicated" instead of choosing a lane and staying in it. Or how many times folks watch a video, disagree with ONE line from it and spend days talking about how terrible the person is.

In a world where we have MAGATs who are truly unhinged and ridiculous, spewing hate, and DESERVING of every ounce of smoke we give them, I think we need to start giving each other grace.

The most important conversations happen in the gray spaces we're afraid to enter.

The spaces where you can acknowledge harm AND believe in redemption. Where you can celebrate progress AND demand more. Where you can hold people accountable AND still see their humanity.

That's what I want in leadership. That's what I want in friendship. That's what I want in myself.

What if we gave ourselves permission to be as complex as we actually are? What if we stopped performing certainty and started practicing curiosity?

I'm not saying we abandon our values or stop standing for what matters. I'm saying maybe we can stand for things while still being open to learning something new. Maybe we can be principled AND flexible. Confident AND teachable.

Inflexible things break.

Everything is not black and white all the time. And everyone we disagree with is not the devil (unless they support Trump and well… let’s just fight cuz you on my sht list). And at a time when we need each other more, we probably need to make more room for growth.

RECOMMENDATION

Your book dreams need a business plan and I got you.

I have a chip on my shoulder about the publishing industry. And it’s that 75% of the books that have been written in the last 5 years are by white authors, mostly men. That grinds my gears SO BAD. Because in that remaining 25% is the REST of us.

And I can’t even say “no shade” (because it IS shade) but I don’t think the world suffers if white men learn to take up less space. In fact, it would actually be better for it if they stopped dominating so much. We’re on the verge of World War III because they refuse to let women lead.

But when it comes to books, we need more stories, more joy, more expertise, from people who aren’t Chad or Brock. We need to hear about the mountains YOU have climbed. We need to know how funny you are. We need to know how you’ve built a career that thrives in spite of the glass ceilings in your way.

That is why I created The Book Academy. I wanna change that 75% stat and it feels urgent. Because the shelves are INCOMPLETE because they are too white, too male, too monolithic.

And every great book begins with a book proposal (aka a book plan).

The book publishing process is:

• IDEA
• OUTLINE BOOK
• BOOK PROPOSAL
• ACQUISITION/BOOK DEAL
• FINALIZE MANUSCRIPT
• BOOK COVER
• MARKETING
• PUBLISHING

That BOOK PROPOSAL is important, even if you are going to self-publish, because it is a plan that helps you handle everything else about the book coming to life. YOU NEED IT.

So for the first time EVER, I'm sharing my Complete Book Proposal Guide outside of The Book Academy. Because I'm tired of watching brilliant people stay stuck in the "someday" phase.

This isn't some generic template you can find anywhere. This is the ACTUAL framework I've used for every single one of my books. The same system my students use to get those life-changing deals. 🤌🏾

The question isn't whether you're good enough to write a book. The question is whether you're ready to stop letting the words you feel called to share stay trapped in your head.

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Your book is sitting on your spirit for a reason. It's time to honor that and get started with a proposal.

So reply back to this and tell me: What is a topic you know A LOT about? And what is a topic you WISH you knew more about? I'm always curious what random Jeopardy trivia we're carrying around.

With love and truth,

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P.S. Those custom name keychains are still available! Because we all deserve to see our names celebrated. 💫

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