On Terrible Tariffs, Tenacious Transformations, and Timeless Testament
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Hey Reader, After getting to spend time in community with dope women last week, this week I’m missing my besties. 😭❤️ We live in different states and we're all trying to do our best and make things work. But LAWD, I miss them. This the raggedy part of adulthood. We all live too far apart. It's one of those things about growing up and building your own life. Distance happens. Speaking of besties, my girl Bozoma Saint John just announced a TV show about marketing with Jimmy Fallon producing and co-hosting. EEEEEE!!! It’s winning season (which is why we all are barely seeing each other) but it’s incredible to watch my friends reap their harvest. So that’s one thing I’m celebrating. But yeah, let's jump into what's been on my mind this week. 👇🏾 RANTThese Tariffs from Tangerine Titan 🗣️🗣️🗣️ Not only do I pay more taxes than the Felon President of the United States (and that really pisses me off after sending these checks off to the IRS this week), now with these tariffs I'm paying more for everything else too! What in the whole entire economic HELL is happening? He got China at 245% tariff rates now, just making up any old raggedy number. SIR YOUR STRAW HAIRHAT PROLLY FROM CHINA STOP PLAYING WITH ME. 💀💀💀 I see these people on social media talking about "just go to China and buy stuff there" and I'm like... you think they're not ready for that? You don't think ANY inbound plane from China is gonna be well-searched? You thinking customs ain't gon search luggage b/c they want their duty taxes? Whatever loophole you think you got to bypass these crazy tariffs, they're probably solving for it b/c: greedy bastardery. China clapped back that they’re over 1,000 years old. They think in terms of centuries, not 4 years. In other words: “I’M NOT YOUR AGE MATE. RESPECT YOUR ELDERS.” And they are not wrong. Cuss us out, China! And now he’s making exemptions after finding out iPhones would cost $30K if made in the US. The mess of it all. People really be out here stupider than a box of nails and end up holding the nuclear codes. This whole tariff business makes me wanna cuss to high heavens because it is just unnecessary and America is out here looking like the kid who messed with the other kid and then ended up getting stuffed in the locker at lunch. Stop writing checks your mouth (and your diplomatic relationships) can’t cash. 💰 REFLECTIONSometimes, your assignment is to MOVE without knowing the full plan 🙏🏾 In 2010 (15 years ago) I had a job that I considered my dream job (at the time). I was a marketing coordinator for a nonprofit organization in Chicago, making $35,000 a year, as a 25 year old. I was comfortable. I had benefits. I had a routine. And then in April, (almost EXACTLY TO THIS WEEK), I got laid off that job. What I didn't know at the time was that it was God pushing me to take the leap of faith I wasn't going to take myself. That is how I started working for myself. I kept writing on my blog, was doing social media consulting, was helping people design their websites. I was hustling! I started speaking professionally then too. I was piecing together income from multiple sources because BILLS. WRITING, though. That was where my purpose was. I didn't stop writing. Not for a day. And my blog kept getting bigger and bigger. People were sharing my words. I was building an audience I didn't even realize would matter so much. And then in 2014, a book agent who read my blog reached out to me and asked to represent me, because he saw I had a book in me. 😭 Well 10 years ago, in March 2015, I signed my first ever book deal, for I'M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual. I just wanted to write a good book. I wasn't thinking about much more. I wasn't plotting world domination or a book empire. I just wanted to do the next thing that was calling me. This week, I received and unboxed my fifth book (Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name). FIFTH! As I opened that box, I got reflective. I was so deeply grateful, because what a wonder it is, to hold my 5th book in my hand, when 10 years ago, you could not have convinced me this would happen. I could've never strategized this life. I didn't map it out. Had I known 10 years ago that I'd write five books in 10 years, I might've been too overwhelmed to do anything. "FIVE BOOKS?! That's a book every two years! How? When? With what energy?" But God didn't give me the whole vision. He just gave me the next step. And that was enough. I just kept saying yes to the next assignment. I moved without a full plan. So I wanna offer this to you all: Stop waiting to know every detail before you start. Stop needing the whole plan before you take the first step. Do not be bogged down by the fact that you don't know what the whole plan is, and don't let it keep you stuck. You're not supposed to know it all: you're simply supposed to take one step at a time. And every step gets you closer and closer. Every step matters because the entire journey matters. So if you're sitting on something that's been nudging you, pulling at you, whispering "Start," I hope you listen. That business idea? That book? That podcast? That course? That career change? Whatever it is. Don't wait for perfect clarity. Don't wait for certainty. Don't wait until you can see the full staircase. The dream that you have, the plans that you want to happen, the things that you want to unfold in your life, maybe it's not your job to strategize. Maybe it's just your job to move. And hold the dream, and then God will order your steps and open doors you never even knew existed. Move. Let this be your sign to take the step. Write the thing. Launch the idea. Apply for the opportunity. Just move. The universe can't guide a parked car. You gotta at least turn on the engine and pull out of the driveway. I'm rooting for you like you all root for me. I'm rooting for you, and faithful that what is yours awaits you. Just move. RECOMMENDATIONRead my Bible recaps this Good Friday. In the beginning of the year, I decided to do a Bible in 365 days plan, and it’s been a ride! Because the Old Testament got more drama than any reality TV show because humanity has been a dumpster fire from start and God has been tryna get us together! 😇 So I’ve been recapping what I’m getting from my reading. I’m calling it Bootleg Bible Study. Since it's Good Friday, I thought I'd recommend this to you because folks have been saying it’s a good time! ‘Cause one thing the Israelites gon do? CUT ALL THE WAY UP in the worst ways! Here are the posts I’ve written on them so far:
So tap into these for some good for my full recaps on AwesomelyLuvvie.com and get your bible study the fun way. I want to hear from you! What is something you're waiting on, that you haven't moved on because you aren't certain yet? Let me know by hitting reply so I can hear about it and potentially lovingly drag you a little bit more. 😏 To standing in our truth,
P.S. If you haven't already, grab your copy of Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name. It's available wherever books are sold! Little Luvvie is back and teaching kids to stand their ground and defend their names. Because our names MATTER! P.P.S. My friends at Mighty Networks / Mighty Summits are hosting a FREE 2-day virtual event that could help you turn your passion into a million-dollar community. If you're looking for a sign to MOVE on that community idea you've been sitting on, this might be it! We actually use Mighty Networks to host The Book Academy community, and it's been amazing for keeping our authors connected and supported. Check out the People Magic Summit details below. Sometimes the universe sends you exactly what you need when you need it. 👀
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