The Connect Magazine_Spring 2017

Welcoming 

Diversity 

At Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ® , we think a key to our success 

is welcoming diversity in our company, our country stores, 

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Welcome 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

PUBLISHER, CEO 

ERIC JORDAN 

ejordan@theconnectmagazine.com 

PARTNER 

DR. EDDIE D. HAMILTON, MD, FAAP 

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

DAWN M. MASON 

dmason@theconnectmagazine.com 

MANAGING EDITOR 

LACEY JOHNSON 

ljohnson@theconnectmagazine.com 

PRODUCTION EDITOR 

C. HUGH SHELTON 

chshelton@theconnectmagazine.com 

Maria Colomy 

Maria Colomy joins The Connect Magazine with nearly 20 years of 

experience in marketing, print production and web design, along with 

more than a decade experience in creative direction. Her expertise began 

in the late 90s while working for a software company in California. With 

a natural eye for design strategy, she saw an opportunity to rebrand a 

growing company in order to attract larger clients. Within four years, 

the company quadrupled in size and her passion for creative direction 

and marketing strategy was born. 

In 2003, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Nossi 

College of Art, where she now teaches graphic design, print production, 

social media, small business and art direction. She spent several years 

working at a digital media agency on Music Row and now splits her 

time between her personal clients and her students. 

Colomy has worked on numerous multi-faceted projects, assisting 

countless entrepreneurs and small businesses to realize their start-up 

dreams. From helping a local makeup artist open a cosmetics store to 

managing live social media for the Iroquois Steeplechase, her design 

career is multi-dimensional, rewarding and never shy of stimulating. 

Because of her background in marketing, online strategy is a natural 

fit. Every aspect - from social media presence to the style of an email 

signature or website is an opportunity to make an impact. She believes 

that branding is based on trust and consistency, and is an extension of 

the relationships that exist behind the brand, itself. In short, a brand is 

about the people behind it, which is why The Connect Magazine is such 

a perfect fit. 

Colomy understands that creativity in business is not mere artistic 

indulgence, but rather a commitment to effective communication and 

problem-solving. A compelling creative strategy improves results by 

presenting a message in the most effective way possible, to the most 

relevant audience. 

This understanding of a bigger picture enables her to generate 

lasting and effective results for her clients. 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

MARIA COLOMY 

mcolomy@theconnectmagazine.com 

DESIGN DIRECTOR 

JESSICA COLEMAN 

jcoleman@theconnectmagazine.com 

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY 

BARBARA POTTER 

bpotter@theconnectmagazine.com 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

NATHAN ZUCKER 

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

CAROLYN MCHANEY-WALLER 

bpotter@theconnectmagazine.com 

SENIOR WRITERS 

DR. MING WANG JACKIE NENTWICK 

JOE SCARLETT KEELAH JACKSON 

SHAWN WHITSELL TONI LEPESKA 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS 

EDDIE ARROSSI PHOTOGRAPHY - EAPHOTO-NHCC Summit 

GRAHAM HONEYCUTT - Empowerment 

JAMES BANKER PHOTOGRAPHY - GRAHAM HONEYCUTT 

JOSHUA MACLEOD - Growability/Business 

ZACH WATSON - JumpCrew 

DIRECTOR OF SALES 

ERIC JORDAN 

REGIONAL PUBLISHERS AND SALES REPRESENTATIVES 

Help Wanted: Join Our Team 

ALABAMA FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY 

LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI TENNESSEE VIRGINIA 

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 

advertise@theconnectmagazine.com 

If you would like to place an AD or write an article for our next issue, 

please contact Lacey Johnson at info@theconnectmagazine.com 

“Putting your business in Clients’ Hands” 

4 THE CONNECT MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017 THECONNECTMAGAZINE.COM

WITH EVERY ARTICLE—in print and 

online—our goal is to provide the 

most inspiring and worthwhile 

information possible. For this issue, 

I feel inclined to focus on positive 

behavior. Every day, we have a choice to be positive, or to 

allow the circumstances of life to weigh us down. When we 

reflect upon our lives, we often realize how certain situations 

led us where we are today. Perhaps you remember praying 

for the things you have now. I know I do. 

Becoming a successful entrepreneur has been an 

emotional rollercoaster. I recently had a conversation with a 

good friend, discussing the obstacles of trying to monetize 

value while encouraging complete strangers to become the 

best versions of themselves. I took a minute to ponder the 

different challenges presented while trying to grow the 

presence of The Connect Magazine in eight states. My first 

thought was: What is successful living? 

Quitting my previous career to launch this publication 

has been extremely challenging. During the worst times of 

overdue payments, cash flow problems, nearing deadlines, 

negative energy and doubts from those closest to me, I 

never allowed that to taint my positive outlook on my 

vision of The Connect Magazine. I ponder no longer, 

for this I know: Successful living is the actual journey of 

changing lives, hearts and souls of complete strangers. 

As I look back over the previous three years, the 

constants are faith, family (my support system) and a 

positive attitude. People who know me as a person will 

tell you that my motto is “Trust the Process!” I’m a firm 

believer that everything happens for a reason. Mostly, 

I encourage all eyes taking in this message to remain 

steadfastly positive despite the obstacles life presents. 

“Positive thinking is more than just a tagline. 

It changes the way we behave. And I firmly believe that 

when I am positive, it not only makes me better, but it 

also makes those around me better.” — Harvey Mackay 

The Connect Magazine will inspire thousands of 

individuals throughout the world. Each person reading 

these words has already been given a gift. We are all here 

for a reason, believe it or not. Trust me when I say that 

strong positive habits can and will carry you far in life - to 

heights you cannot imagine. 

The Connect Magazine is not the secret tool to change 

your life. However, it is a positive platform to assist you in 

viewing the world more abundantly. I made up my mind 

several years ago that I will serve and help others while 

maneuvering through this mystery we call life. I challenge 

you to be intentional about helping others while remaining 

positive - regardless of unwanted outcomes. 

Make an effort to be a blessing to a stranger. That 

feeling deep inside after being a blessing is the first step 

to living successfully. Listen to the voice inside your heart 

while making every decision. For those reading this with a 

negative spirit, please take five minutes to close your eyes 

and be still to hear that whisper in your mind. It is there if 

you listen beyond the fearful chatter. 

In closing, I declare this my Season of Hope for one 

reason only: The whisper inside of me is speaking to 

individuals right now. 

To Be Continued………… 

CEO/PUBLISHER 

THECONNECTMAGAZINE.COM SPRING 2017 | THE CONNECT MAGAZINE 5

18 

Cover Story 24 

Contents 

Spring 2017 

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, CELEBRITY TRAINER 

& MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR ASHLEY BLACK 

IS CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE BODY 

AT A TIME 

38 

Features 18 

NASHVILLE SCHOOL MAKES HISTORY 

WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO 

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT 

24 

30 

BALLIN’ IN THE BOARDROOM 

Sheila Gibson Dribbled Her Way From All-American 

to Corporate America. 

34 

FROM SIGHTLESS TO VISIONARY, 

DR. MING WANG IS ONE UNSTOPPABLE 

IMMIGRANT 

38 

THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CORPORATE 

COUNCIL’S ANNUAL SUMMIT WAS A 

SPRING HIT OF OPPORTUNITY 

45 

MY MISSISSIPPI BURNING 

A Tale of Racism & Religious Hypocrisy. 

46 

ARTIST UPLIFTS COMMUNITY WITH PASSION 

AND VISION, ONE BRUSHSTROKES AT A TIME 

48 

ENTREPRENEUR, INTERNET SENSATION & 

REALITY STAR NAJA RICKETTE SPILLS HER 

SECRETS ON ABUNDANCE 

Columns 14 

16 

SPRING IS THE SEASON FOR REINVENTION 

BY THE DAILY DOLL 

Spring is for coming alive and growing out of corners. 

I SHOULD BE DIVORCED BY NOW 

With the odds stacked against us, this is how 

we make it work. 

46 

48 

22 

DO YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS SEASON 

Doing the right thing at the wrong time will not 

produce great results. 

29 

SWITCH IT UP: FIVE WAYS REVAMP 

YOUR PROFESSIONAL ROUTINE 

Infuse the freshness of spring into the renewal 

of your mindset. 

The Connect Magazine is a quarterly lifestyle publication and online 

media source committed to engaging our diverse audience through 

empowering and impactful stories of entrepreneurs, young professionals, 

and businesses on the pursuit of positively changing the world, through 

efforts large and small. 

16 

30 


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#1 NATIONAL BEST SELLER 

- 

, 

r 

ver 

each 

y 

as 

s 

, 

! 

, 

- 

th 

The Cellulite Myth 

ASHLEY 

BLACK 


IT’S NOT FAT IT’S 

Fascia 

Ashley Black, inventor, fascia pioneer, best-selling 

author, and educator unveils never-before-known secrets 

to obliterating cellulite and changing your personal health 

trajectory! For years, we’ve been conditioned to believe that 

cellulite is a fat problem, yet skinny girls have it, fit girls have 

it, sedentary girls have it, curvy girls have it, older women 

have it and younger women have it. In fact, 90% of women 

struggle with it…you are not alone! Get ready for a radical 

paradigm shift in health and beauty…discover “Fascia: The 

Lost Science.” 

“Fascia: The Lost Science.” 

What happens when you team up Ashley Black, 

international business woman and healthcare revolution leader 

– Nancy Schwartz, Woodridge, IL 

with bestselling author, Joanna Hunt, who has brought to life 

the message of some of the most famous inspirational authors 

of our time? A dynamic interplay packaged – Crystal Ferren, in a Mullica light-hearted, 

Hill, NJ 

down-to-earth style that will resonate with every woman. 

Change your life, join the 

sisterhood, be the BARCODE 

movement. #SquadUp 

Forget everything you’ve ever been told 

about cellulite—it’s a myth! 

Ashley Black, inventor, fascia pioneer, best-selling author, and educator unveils neverbefore-known 

secrets to obliterating cellulite and changing your personal health 

trajectory! For years, we’ve been conditioned to believe that cellulite is a fat problem, 

yet skinny girls have it, fit girls have it, sedentary girls have it, curvy girls have it, older 

women have it and younger women have it. In fact, 90% of women struggle with it… 

you are not alone! Get ready for a radical paradigm shift in health and beauty…discover 

What People Are Saying 

Not only are my ugly dimples smoothing away, but the way my entire body feels after each 

session is almost unbelievable! I feel like I’m getting the best workout I’ve ever had. 

I just can’t believe how much this has changed my life! I previously made peace with my 

flaws and thought I would just have to live with cellulite and all the aches and pain I was 

having. Well, not anymore. I’m a new person thanks to Ashley! 

I have had lipo twice and sure, for $3,000 my legs were smaller, but NOT smooth. I was 

told there was NOTHING that could be done. They were wrong! Now, after 3 months, 

my 46 year old legs have never looked smoother! 

– Karen Smith, Schnecksville, PA 

Ashley Black & Joanna Hunt 

What happens when you team up Ashley Black, 

international business woman and healthcare 

revolution leader with bestselling author, Joanna 

Hunt, who has brought to life the message of 


some of the most famous inspirational authors of 

our time? A dynamic interplay packaged in a lighthearted, 

down-to-earth style that will resonate with 

AS 

B 

every woman. 

BY ASHLEY BLACK WITH JOANNA HUNT 

Change your life, join 

the sisterhood, be the 

movement. #SquadUp 

BARCODE 

12 THE CONNECT MAGAZINE | SPRING 2017 

THECONNECTMAGAZINE.COM

EMPOWERMENT 

WRITTEN BY: LACEY JOHNSON | THEDAILYDOLL.COM 

IONCE WATCHED AS a rose garden bloomed. The flowers were 

contained within a wooden box at the entrance of a café I 

frequented each morning. In between sips of coffee, I gazed 

with foggy eyes and admired the buds as they gradually 

appeared - as though cutting through the final winter frost and 

announcing the ascension of spring. 

Every day I glanced over at new colors emerging, like witnessing a 

fresh stroke of paint onto a canvas. Before long, harmonic explosions 

of fuschia, blood orange and crimson created a symphony of movement 

and texture. And, when the petals formed together in completion, they 

were like the pivotal line in a love song that punches you in the gut. All 

you can do is clutch your heart and sigh. 

I have never forgotten the spiritual significance of observing that 

garden as it formed so gradually and poetically. It offered a lesson in the 

beauty of trust and patience. 

All human progressions evolve the same way. 

We do not become something new overnight, nor do we build 

something new overnight. Reinventions are gradual, rhythmic doings 

which honor all seasons of life. And, the garden’s caretaker and 

environment will always be the result of its bloom. 

WHAT IS NATURE TRYING TO TELL US? 

If fall is a romance between nature and man, spring is an incitation for 

reinvention. If fall is for slowing down and crawling into corners, spring 

is for coming alive and growing out of them. 

Look at it this way: If the magic of autumn puts us under a 

spell of stagnation and winter is spent buried under it, spring is an 

announcement that the spell has been broken. 

This shift is more than just a luring from hibernation. Spring asks us 

to drop those layers of heavy covers we have been hiding under, sweep 

through the residual dust of our disappointments and mistakes, step out 

of the shadows and dare to be born again. It is a migration from what 

is cozy and familiar, and an entrance into open-aired vulnerability. All 

reinventions require a departure from comfort, but their pathways - 

though laced with unknowing - always lead us to the fun. 

On the first day of spring, Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor 

away from the sun. This is also true on the first day of autumn. The 

difference is this: autumn marks the progression of turning away from 

the sun, while spring marks the progression of tilting toward it. 

SPRING IS FOR SWEEPING OUT & BURSTING INTO BLOOM 

One of the most bittersweet spring seasons of my life was when I was 20 

years old and recovering from a broken heart. A relationship I had sworn 

would last forever finally ended after months of stalling in a state of 

ruin. I could not cling anymore, nor could I spend another day feeding 

our dead garden. I was trying so hard not to know it, but our trees were 

barren. And, that realization was gutting. 

But, I say it was bittersweet because - though excruciating - I was 

cultivating seeds of independence. Having recently signed a lease for 

my first apartment, it was to me a 600-square-foot palace. That voyage, 

though unwanted, marked a “crossing over.” And, it was colored with 

explorations such as figuring out which foods I enjoyed cooking - even 

discovering that I had culinary potential at all. I was learning the kinds 

of art I wanted on my walls, the varieties of candles I enjoyed burning 

before bedtime and the genre of movies which most engulfed me when 

I wasn’t consumed with entertaining a lover. I was discovering me. 

My heart had endured a beating and was undoubtedly impaired, but 

it was still pumping blood. Together, we were teaching each other how 

to be strong. I was hurting, but I was crawling back to life. I was being 

stretched, but it ached so sweetly. 

Ever since, I have never forgotten that awful yet beautiful feeling of 

awakening. I now approach every spring with a special fondness for not 

only my own resilience, but for life’s opportunities for reinvention. 

I think of spring as being like a child who will not allow me to hide 

behind the bushes or rest on the sidelines. It instinctively knows my 

hidden longings. It beckons me with the ripeness of its fruit and lures 

me with its lushness. Its emerging sun pursues me, pulling and tugging 

at my arm, demanding, “Let’s play! Let’s play!” 

It asks that I put down my steaming mug of comfort and become a 

participant of its verdant playground. That I sink my bare feet into its 

fertile soil. That I pump my bicycle tires full of air and go along for the 

ride. That I bare my shoulders, zip myself into its backless dresses and 

lower my inhibitions. 

Cherry Blossoms woo me with enchantment, and budding trees 

beckon me to climb and hang from them. Spring asks that I - that we all 

- come back to life. It asks that we dance in its rain, shout in its parades 

and delight in its festivals. 

Just as the songbirds spent the winter months incubating their eggs 

and preparing to hatch when it warms, spring is an incantation for us to 

give birth to something we have never done before. 

No matter who you are or where you have been, you are being 

summoned to grow and reinvent. 

Whether an album’s worth of aural euphoria, a movie script full of 

hilarious characters, an innovative marketing idea, an entrepreneurial 

venture or a health and fitness endeavor that has been inside of you 

incubating for too long now - dying to come out kicking and squealing, 

this is the season to bring it forth. 

Because spring extends its invitation for reinvention to all. It only 

requests that we take an honest assessment of our internal gardens, 

discard what isn’t growing, step outside of our zones of comfort and - 

ultimately - burst into bloom. Just as nature has. 

TheDailyDoll.com is the brainchild of writer and celebrity journalist 

Lacey Johnson. The site was created to encourage readers to get 

real, get liberated and live boldly by serving up beauty, wellness 

and inner life illumination. Stay tuned for her upcoming e-book, 

“The 21-Day Inner & Outer Life Illumination Reboot,” landing to 

the site early summer 2017. 



EMPOWERMENT 

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JAMES BANKER 

WRITTEN BY: GRAHAM HONEYCUTT 

CONDUCT A QUICK Google search on the divorce rate among 

families with a special needs child and you will quickly 

find a plethora of articles that show the divorce rate is 

higher than the national average. Similarly, run one on the 

divorce rate among families with twins or multiples and 

you will also see a similar result. These statistics are understandable when 

considering the difficulties that come with these types of family dynamics. 

My wife and I have experienced both, and our marriage lives to tell. 

We have a 4-year-old daughter named Mikayla who has significant special 

needs: a rare congenital brain malformation called Dandy Walker syndrome. 

This means she requires considerable care, therapies and medical attention. 

We also have 2-year-old twin daughters named Ainsley and Hailey who are 

typically developing, but keep us running until we collapse. 

The statistics don’t lie. 

My wife and I have significant risk factors for divorce. We choose 

to make a very concerted effort to keep our marriage intact despite our 

significant challenges. We have learned some tricks along the way, and I 

would like to share them with you in hopes of helping your marriage. 

WE GET REMARRIED EVERY DAY 

When did my wife and I get married? This morning. Marriage is not 

one day in your life. It is every day for the rest of your life. My wife and 

I get remarried every day. Every day is a continual choice to get married 

and stay that way. It is not always roses and rainbows, but that continual 

reminder of getting remarried every day helps us to remember that our 

marriage is a priority. 

COMMUNICATION IS OUR LOVE LANGUAGE 

You may have heard of the best-selling book by Gary Chapman called 

“The Five Love Languages.” As much as we enjoyed reading this, we have 

found that our love language is communication - a language not outlined 

in the book. 

My wife and I communicate constantly about everything we experience. 

We check in often with how each other is doing. We even have a weekly 

meeting to talk about our schedule, meals for the week, finances, future 

goals, and frustrations. This allows us to stay on the same page. 

WE ARE OPEN ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES 

We remain open about our struggles with each other. If we are 

frustrated with each other or just in general, we keep an open line of 

communication about it. We don’t try to mask or hide it from each other. 

This creates a genuine connection with each other and allows us to be real 

with each other. 

WE HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY 

Even with all we have going on, we make sure to maintain a strong 

community. We stay involved with groups of like-minded individuals, 

such as small church groups, book clubs and friends with whom we can 

share our story honestly. 

WE CREATE CLEAR BOUNDARIES 

We set clear boundaries around our time and schedule. We say no a 

lot of things that are good things, but aren’t the most important things in 

life. This is hard for two people pleasers like us, but we have found over 

time we have become more confident in saying no and staying focused on 

the most essential things in life. 

WE PRIORITIZE OUR MARRIAGE ABOVE OUR CHILDREN 

We prioritize our relationship over our kids. We love our kids very 

much, but the best way to ensure they have a bright future is to model 

for them what a good marriage looks like. As parents, we also have to 

prioritize time for self-care because we can’t give what we don’t have. If 

we don’t have stability, harmony and patience, then we won’t be able to 

provide this for our children. 

Maintaining a strong marriage is a cornerstone for achievement in 

life. I hope these tips help strengthen your marriage, just as they have 

strengthened ours. 


HOT TOPIC 

NASHVILLE SCHOOL MAKES HISTORY 

WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO 

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT 

WRITTEN BY: TONI LEPESKA 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BARBARA POTTER 

SCHOOL IS IN session at a former Best Buy in a nondescript strip 

mall in Antioch, Tenn., and not only is the whole community 

invited, but a history-making publication is in the works. 

Knowledge Academies relies on the premise that children 

learn better when family members, business leaders and 

community partners involve themselves hands-on in student education. 

KA is using all sorts of methods to encourage participation, such as 

health and career fairs and even enlisting a Jazz band to play at one of its 

monthly family meetings. 

“That opens the door to show them how we can best support their 

student in other areas,” said President Art Fuller, who founded KA 

after teaching mathematics in New England schools and working as a 

policy analyst and fiscal budget officer with the Tennessee State Board of 

Education. “You have to be real intentional with it. It doesn’t just happen.” 

While engaging parents and other family members, KA also enlists 

businesses and colleges to demonstrate students are preparing for the 

real world in a classroom. One way the real world will be brought 

into the classroom involves a partnership between KA and 

The Connect Magazine. With 48 text pages, the student-driven 

magazine, Stay CONNECTed! Knowledge Academies, will be 

distributed throughout the Nashville community. 

During the six-week program of interactive lectures and hands-on 

training, students will brainstorm story ideas and magazine content, 

including photos and graphics, to create the professional-quality 

magazine. Students will be given credit for their work, information that 

may be used on college applications and resumes. Officials also expect 

the program to build critical-thinking skills and improve student bonds 

with their communities. 

Another business that’s involved in KAs efforts is Cavalry Logistics, 

which helps companies like Wal-Mart transport goods. Cavalry provides 

up to a dozen mentors at a time for KA students and requires vendors in 

its building to set aside some of its sales in the building for KA. Cavalry 

moved to Antioch not too long ago, and the company founder, Bob 

King, picked out the location with an eye to community involvement. 

“We want to change people’s lives,” said Mitchell Blom, a business 

development analyst with Cavalry. “What we hope is more organizations 

will get involved. Education is a responsibility for everybody.” 


HOT TOPIC 

Stay CONNECTed! also will serve as a fundraising mechanism for KA 

through advertising revenue. The school is supported by tax dollars and 

grants primarily. 

KA’s first classrooms opened in 2012 in Crossing Plaza, across 

from the Chevy place on Hickory Hollow Parkway. Situated outside of 

Nashville, the charter school network moved into empty strip mall space 

with a burger joint, dental care and gem store as its neighbors and a 

public library less than a mile from its doors. The school started out with 

fifth and sixth grades, then gradually ramped up each year. Taking up 

more and more of the strip mall space, KA is expected to use 125,000 

square feet next year when the enrollment of 625 is projected to bulge 

to 850 students. It’s not a small school. 

What’s got KA and its community partners so excited is the potential 

impact the school could have on economically-challenged families. 

Fuller, who comes from a family of educators, said he decided on 

building a charter school after seeing that many communities “didn’t 

have access” to choices. “Education is the pathway to get the best 

opportunities in life,” he said. “Families play an important, critical role.” 

Ninety percent of the KA students are eligible for free and reduced 

price lunch. Enrollment is open to anyone who lives in Davidson 

County, and students represent a diversity of cultures: 42 percent 

African-American, 34 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Arabic, 3 percent 

Caucasian and 1 percent Asian. English is a second language for many 

students’ families, which complicates their helping children with 

homework and speaking with teachers. But KA, in partnership with 

Nashville Literacy, is helping those families by holding language classes 

on campus twice a week for family members. “In some countries, the 

teacher is given full authority,” said Cheryl Hadley, manager of the 

English for Language Learners class. “It’s been really cool to watch 

(parents) become more empowered and engaged.” 

Also complicating involvement is the complexity of what students 

are being asked to learn these days, Fuller said, thus, it is harder for 

parents to help with homework. KA tries to bridge the gap by making 

the school a welcoming place that family members feel they can visit 

and ask questions. The school also has provided information to adults on 

how they may further their own education. At Family Council Meetings, 

held the third Thursday of each month, 100 or more families are 

typically represented. Fuller says that’s a significant show of support and 

not a one-time event. “We see our level of engagement is a lot higher 

than the norm,” Fuller said. 

Adults also connect to the school through cultural celebrations 

held from time to time and “Saturday school” events like a walk for 

breast cancer awareness. School leaders work on inserting “real things 

happening in the community” into the atmosphere of the KA campus. 


HOT TOPIC 

With an eye to getting students to further their education, KA 

exposes high schoolers to college life in a variety of ways. Students 

and families go to specified game nights at local colleges to watch 

basketball. In the classroom, Meharry Medical College graduate 

students worked with KA students on a dentistry project, and Belmont 

University’s Enactus student club taught business and entrepreneurship 

principles to some 55 KA students who then examined the financial 

ramifications of redevelopment projects using mathematics to 

determine profitability. 

“It really is very in tune with Nashville now,” said John S. Gonas, 

associate professor of finance at Belmont. “These students are seeing 

whole neighborhoods torn up before their eyes.” 

To further drive home the real-world application, KA’s students and the 

Belmont club piled into buses and visited a new investment property. The 

students peppered the property’s representatives with questions. They’d 

learned to apply all the financial considerations just as an investor would. 

“We couldn’t get them back in the bus, they were so intrigued,” Gonas said. 

Students also will engage the real world while producing their 

magazine. They’ll learn to relate to an audience beyond the classroom. 

Students will be encouraged to write about issues beyond the surface 

and to consider alternative angles for stories and development. Each 

week, a Connect Magazine representative will visit with students. While 

production of a magazine is one goal, a broader-picture objective of the 

program is that students will learn the value of magazines in modern 

day society as a forum of debate and new ideas. They’ll become better 

thinkers and communicators. 

While the anecdotal evidence appears strong, KA does not yet have 

statistical evidence that its way of teaching students leads to higher 

participation in college and better outcomes. The first students who 

started at the school at its inception don’t graduate until 2019. However, 

Fuller said there is an early indicator that Knowledge Academies is on 

track. The percentage of students enrolled in college AP classes is at 

the national average, whereas students of the same socio-economic 

background are typically below it, Fuller said. About a fourth of KA’s 

eligible high school students are enrolled, and that is actually at a rate 

higher than the state average. 

“It’s very challenging work,” Fuller said, “but when you see that 

kind of stuff, that helps make it all worthwhile.” 


COVER STORY 



COVER STORY 

WRITTEN BY: LACEY JOHNSON 

IT ISN’T EVERYDAY that a girl born in Montgomery, Alabama 

grows up to not only land on the speed-dial lists of celebrities 

and pro-athletes, but become a best-selling author, multimillionaire 

inventor and one of the most buzzed-about public 

figures on the internet. If Facebook were an empire, Ashley Black 

would be the reigning queen of sisterhood: crowned with paradigmshifting 

science and cloaked in robes of comment mentions, anatomy 

assessments, before-and-after images and shrieks of gratitude - her 

throne surrounded by her court of loyals. 

Add a debilitating childhood illness and a brush with death in 

early adulthood to the already-unlikelihood of her magnificent list of 

achievements, and it is easy to declare the 45 year-old’s life a royal miracle. 

Diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis as a young girl, 

doctors swore she would be confined to a wheelchair before having the 

opportunity to graduate from college. But, Black was no ordinary child. 

Determined to reclaim her presence in the world, she viewed her 

body with a blend of curiosity and awe - as though her own science 

experiment. Relying heavily on her intuition, she developed exercises 

and stretching therapies to not only manage her pain, but allow her 

to aggressively compete as a dancer and cheerleader throughout high 

school and college, and later teach fitness classes in her 20s. 

But, her days of glory were soon to reach a terrifying halt. 

Shortly after giving birth to her second child, a 27-year-old Black 

found herself in a nightmarish pit of near-death. Having contracted a 

fatal staph infection that gnawed into her hip and leg, and found its way 

into her spinal fluid, her postpartum body was riddled with excruciating 

pain. Every time Black exhaled a breath and shut her eyes, she was 

prepared for it to be the last. 

“Less than 10 percent of people live through what I had, and that is 

a scary statistic. But the truth is that I actually started to welcome the 

thought of death because it was the only way out of the insane level of 

pain,” confessed Black. 

After being discharged from the hospital, covered in bed sores from 

head to toe and a morphine pump in her leg, Black retreated home to 

be mother for a small child and a newborn. She was armed only with a 

formidable life sentence: irreversible disability. 

Her traumatized senses were overwhelmed - from the sound of birds 

chirping in the distance to the warmth of the sun on her skin. “Even 

being in nature was more than I could handle,” said Black.” It was 

like I had survived a war, and I was trying to figure out how to live 

normally again.” 

Every moment blurred by the desperate management of her pain, Black 

began to view her misfortune through a supernatural lens - one which 

invited her to not only discover how to live more fully, but enlighten the 

rest of the world to the information needed to do so as well. 

Lying in her bed, she became a sponge for anatomical literature of 

every kind. She devoured ancient and modern medicine principles, 

alternative and integrative therapies, while making the difficult venture 

from her home only to receive the care of chiropractors and physicians. 

As her own well of knowledge expanded, it became abundantly clear 

that she was staring into a giant black hole in medicine - one she was 

possessed to fill with real solutions. 

When asked if doubt ever threatened to consume her during this 

grim period, Black replied with a laugh, “I don’t really know that word. 

My whole life, anytime someone told me something was 90 percent 

impossible, I was only ever interested in the other 10 percent.” 

The idea of endless suffering was granted no interference with her 

fighting spirit. Instead, she dared, in her typical brazen and unstoppable 

fashion, to no longer rely on doctors for the answers they were never 

going to give her, and to continue exploring all of the shadowed 

hallways, hidden trap doors and obscure realms of medicine in order to 

find the vault of answers needed to heal her mangled body. 

After witnessing a human dissection, she was struck with an epiphany 

- one that crowned her with absolute hope: “I saw with my own eyes 

that the body has a thin interconnective webbing called fascia, and 

it penetrates and protects absolutely everything internally. If it isn’t 

healthy, nothing in the body is healthy. I knew it was the missing key I 

was searching for.” 

Black held tightly to such key - unlocking every door of medical 

discovery she could find, determined to find her kingdom of healing. 

Through experimentation on her own flesh, the science of Fasciology 

was ready to be developed. 

As her body began to ‘miraculously’ heal, she shared her discoveries 

and self-experiments with a chiropractor. He was so impressed by 

her findings, he asked that she work on his patients. As a result, and 

through a fateful series of twists and turns, she was introduced to 

male professional athletes, Oscar award-winning actors and actresses, 

supermodels and countless affluent public figures - from NFL star 

THECONNECTMAGAZINE.COM 

SPRING 2017 | THE CONNECT MAGAZINE 25

COVER STORY 

Marcus Coleman to icon Leonardo DiCaprio - who were lining up to 

have their body parts manipulated by Black’s virtually unknown yet 

heavenly hands. 

“I did not seek breaking into the business of working with proathletes 

and celebrities; it sought me. All I did was listen, learn and obey 

the call,” said Black. 

Then a mother of three children, Black opened multiple successful 

clinics in Houston, Texas - employing and training hundreds of 

practitioners. As the clinics grew busier, the demand for her technique 

continued to explode among the rich and famous - her information 

being passed around in locker rooms, on movie sets and at afterparties. 

Because of her increasing popularity, it became clear that there 

was a need for a tool that would grant her the ability to reach more 

people with the transformative power of manipulating fascia. 

Having a client who was in the business of manufacturing, Black 

experimented and tested tirelessly before her hand-held, bodyscrubbing 

invention, the FasciaBlaster®, was distributed to her highprofile 

clients. But never 

in her wildest dreams did 

she imagine what would 

happen next. 

On an ordinary day, an 

extraordinary revelation 

was had - a revelation that 

would eventually lead to 

the launching of a viral 

movement. “Your stick 

got rid of my cellulite,” 

read a text from a proathlete’s 

girlfriend. 

“I nearly fainted and 

died laughing at the same 

time,” said Black. “I never 

considered that unhealthy 

fascia was the culprit for 

cellulite, but of course it 

rang true. I instantly knew 

that this was something 

women would gobble up, 

while getting out of pain in the process. I had to take it to the masses - 

no matter the risk or cost.” 

Already a multi-millionaire from her busy clinics and sophisticated 

clientele, Black saturated her fortune into mass manufacturing of the 



COVER STORY 

FasciaBlaster®, while joining forces with a team of savvy social media 

experts to help her spread the word. A website, Facebook page and 

private group were among the key promotional efforts. 

It was early in the spring of 2015, and hers was an exhaustive season 

of planting seeds while gaining an unforeseen perspective. “As I was 

building the private group, I began messaging back and forth with more 

and more women. I was shocked to learn how many have a poor selfimage, 

and so I became determined to not only provide them with a tool 

to help them reclaim their quality of life, but also be a true ringleader 

for the importance of loving themselves.” 

Black opted to serve as no ordinary ruler of such evolving 

movement, however. Just as she was determined to unlock the 

knowledge of fascia and invite the world in, she also opted to unlock 

the gates to her most down-home and intimate moments, welcoming 

these women along for the ride. 

She was on a mission - sacrificing time, sleep and the 

charmed lifestyle she and her family had grown 

accustomed to. She became consumed with 

getting a FasciaBlaster® in the hands of every 

person crying out from injuries, chronic 

pain and bodily concerns. “I was dumping 

everything I had into this venture 

because I believed in what it could be,” 

confessed Black. “There were times I 

would look at my three kids and say, 

‘Y’all, I’m going to be real with you. 

We only have $100 to stretch until 

Friday.’” 

It was a family effort with so much 

at stake. Even her son Luke, 14 years 

old at the time, was responsible for 

packaging and shipping. Nightly gatherings 

at the dinner table were often surrounded by 

mountains of boxes and equipment that stretched 

into their living room. Their home was serving as a 

warehouse and headquarters to a venture with an outcome 

no one but Black could predict - and, predict with absolute clarity 

she did. 

“As difficult as it was, I could always see the whole movie of what 

was to come. I knew that, one day, it would transform lives globally and 

be worth the sacrifices we were making.” 

And, it wasn’t long before Black’s mental movie was projecting in real life. 

At the time of this writing, a little more than two years after the 

FasciaBlaster® went to market, Black has gone outrageously viral. Her 

number of private group members, though stalling initially, absolutely 

exploded in 2016. It is now the largest closed Facebook group geared 

toward women, boasting more than 243,000 members - a number that 

increases hourly. 

She and her co-author, accomplished writer Joanna Hunt, released 

their book, “The Cellulite Myth: It’s Not Fat, It’s Fascia,” which hit 

shelves in February 2017. But it was already declared a national bestseller 

before the stores received their first shipment. 

Within three hours of the book’s pre-release, in fact, it was number 

one in three categories and landed at the number three spot on Amazon. 

com. Hunt recalled her Facetime meeting with Black that evening: “We 

were completely dumbfounded, but then again we had known all along. 

It was truly an ominous moment.” 

Not only is Black revolutionizing the beauty and healthcare industries 

with her extensive clinical studies, materials and products, while being 

featured on the “Today” show and in top magazines, she has created a 

sisterhood that has taken on a life of its own. 

Coined “blaster sisters,” women of all ages applaud one another 

when their dimples diminish, their spines straighten and their c-section 

scars return to smooth. There are declarations worthy of turning even 

the iciest cases of skepticism into gushing fountains of awe: women 

with chronic illnesses posing on the beach for the first time in decades, 

lifelong scoliosis sufferers shocking their doctors with their ultrasounds, 

women hiking with their grandchildren, pain medicines being tossed 

into the trashcan, dark glasses being left on the bedside tables of former 

migraine sufferers and so much more. 

And, every book signing draws a rush of tear-jerking stories from 

women who flock to Ashley’s table, asking for a picture and 

echoing the same sentiment: “Thank you for changing 

my life.” 

Although the needs of these women may 

have driven them to Black for different 

reasons, their outcome is always the same: 

the external manifestation of internal 

transformation. 

“When Ashley and I were writing the 

book, I was working from 5 a.m. to 

midnight day after day,” said Hunt. It 

was like the newborn baby crying in the 

night; we just had to stay awake and get 

it done because the message had to be 

known. Hearing these stories at the book 

signings has made me realize why we felt 

there was such a divine order to get this 

information to the world.” 

As shorts and skirts are being pulled from 

hibernation and surgeries are being cancelled, the 

conversations people are having with their medical 

providers are changing. Still, it is as though the movement 

transcends the health- and vanity-related aspirations that beckon 

individuals to it. It is one of empowerment, yes, but a most infectious 

one that bleeds to other aspects of living. 

Many devotees are beginning to ask themselves: “If my doctor was 

wrong about my condition being incurable, what else is possible that 

I once believed to be impossible?” This means the magnitude of the 

movement not only transcends the shift in dialogue between doctors 

and patients, and between friends over coffee, but even welcomes a shift 

between the mind and body - between the facets of self. 

Black’s rapidly-growing empire may be earth-shattering and surreal, 

but it came to pass because of a simple decision: She bravely and 

persistently chose not only life, but abundant life. Informed life. A 

life that doesn’t subscribe to doubt. A life aligned with the totality of 

possibilities. And, when she chose it, she also chose to invite the rest of 

the world to join her. 

“So many times I have been told that something could not be done,” 

said Black. “I was told I would never leave a wheelchair or be off of pain 

medicine. I was told my book and products were not marketable. But, 

over and over, I chose to focus on the vision I was divinely given. And, I 

wish I could tell the whole world what I know for sure: Whatever vision 

you focus on is guaranteed to become your future.” 



BUSINESS 

WRITTEN BY: KEELAH JACKSON 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! The newness of this season signifies 

rebirth and renewal, and it carries with it an electrifying 

energy needed to jumpstart your mindset about your business 

or area of expertise. In being your professional best, you 

may want to switch things up a bit in order to stay alert and 

rejuvenated. Below are five ways to infuse the freshness of spring into 

your professional routine. 

1 - POLISH YOUR SOFT SKILLS 

Evaluate your listening abilities and abilities to adapt to the office 

culture. How are your interviewing skills -- on both sides of the desk? It 

may be time to strengthen your game. Although this seems to be a new 

concept in the professional development toolbox, the trendy term only 

repackages an old aptitude. 

Soft skills are interpersonal skills that have nothing to do with 

technology but with how you mentally, socially and emotionally handle 

yourself within your modes of communications. A soft skill reboot is not 

just for employees seeking upward mobility. It applies across the board to 

employees, managers, owners and CEOs alike. It never fails to know how 

to appropriately relate to and interact with people. 

2 - GO GREEN 

Not only does being friendly to the environment help everyone, but 

it also is a cost-saving option for businesses. There is no need to overhaul 

your whole system of operations. Just a few small changes make a 

difference. Offering a recycling receptacle for employees, or choosing to 

recycle as a personal experiment, are fantastic ways to start. Likewise, most 

offices are paper-based, thus, even trying paperless forms or processes 

could motivate a new order of less waste and unwanted clutter. 

3 - LIVEN UP 

Try live-streaming or another platform as a means of learning new 

information about your profession. The new platforms of live-streaming 

have become the staple of social media and fast-paced advertising. You can 

begin live-streaming brief sessions of business tips for fellow professionals. 

Also consider filming a short web series to teach others what you know. 

If live-streaming isn’t a fit for you, perhaps you can listen to upto-date 

streams, podcasts and webinars for learning and networking. 

What’s powerful about the internet is it provides the ability to teach what 

you know and learn what you want to know. Opportunity and credible 

information are always present. There is no excuse for not reviving your 

professional growth. 

4 - CREATE BALANCE 

Get professionally centered by including personal balance in your day. 

This balance could include exercise, prayer, meditation or a mantra of 

some sort. It was recently reported that highly innovative and ambitious 

individuals use some form of guided meditations or mantras to center 

their attentions and focus their brains for success. It is not a guilty pleasure 

to align your mind, body, spirit and soul in favor of effectively navigating 

the business world day after day. 

5 - TREAT YOURSELF 

The small act of getting a massage, adding a new piece (or two!) of 

clothing or an accessory to your wardrobe, or splurging for a new piece 

of office furniture or decoration can totally brighten your outlook for the 

coming season. Routine can sometimes forcefully create a tunnel vision 

aimed towards daily responsibilities and professional expectations. Yet the 

different vibe of rewarding yourself restores life and meaning to why you 

work so hard. 

Try inserting some of these new things into your business and 

personal approaches. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy the 

benefits they bring. 

SOURCES: 

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/businesses-should-green-766.html 

http://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/life/books/2017-03-20-telling-tipsfrom-the-top-tim-ferrisss-tool 

s-of-titans/ 


FEATURE 

WRITTEN BY: SHAWN WHITSELL 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BARBARA POTTER 

Sheila Gibson Dribbled Her Way from All-American to Corporate America 

S 

HEILA GIBSON, a once-shy little girl from Oak Ridge, Tenn., 

and self-proclaimed “tomboy,” thrived in the world of sports. 

This included softball and a brief stint as a football player. 

Running up and down the court, however, is where she found 

her true voice - guarding her opponent and scoring baskets. 

It would be basketball that would cultivate her as a leader and give 

her the kind of confidence that would help make her a high school 

All-American - earning her an athletic scholarship to the University of 

Alabama-Huntsville, where she was awarded All-American honors as 

well. She played there for two years before transferring to the University 

of New Orleans, where she continued her collegiate basketball career for 

another two years. 

“Basketball helped me understand the importance of dedication, 

identifying what you want, going for it, sticking to it and working 

hard,” she says. In addition to having the support of a hard-working, 

dedicated mother and loving family that always made me feel I was the 

best thing since sliced bread”. 

Gibson had plans to dribble a basketball all the way oversees. This 

was pre-WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), so going 

abroad was the only option for women in professional basketball. Before 

her pro hoop dreams were realized, she suffered a serious knee injury 

during her junior year, which resulted in surgery. 

She redshirted that year, recovered, worked hard and snagged her 

starting position back. However, the first game of the season, she blew 

her knee out again. 

Though Gibson was able to make a full recovery and continued 

playing, the second knee injury was more mentally daunting than the 

first. The physical ability of her basketball skills and the confidence 

instilled in her at a young age took a huge hit, impacting her dream of 

playing overseas. The mental lack of confidence and physical limitations 

proved to be one opponent she couldn’t easily beat. 

It was then that Gibson, who was already a good student, refocused 

her perspective and re-prioritized her goals, taking academics even more 

seriously. It wasn’t just her own education she wanted to enhance; she 

started tutoring other student athletes as well. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business 

Administration, Gibson went on to play semi-pro for Athletes in Action 

for two years, before trading her basketball uniform for a business suit. 

She settled into corporate life at Lockheed Martin (Oak Ridge National 

Nuclear and Research Laboratories). 

While working there, Gibson discovered a male counterpart, who 

was doing the exact same job, was earning more money. She questioned 

this - eventually taking the issue to the ethics department. She was told 

the difference was due to her co-worker having a master’s degree, which 

she did not. So, in true Sheila Gibson fashion, she earned a master’s in 

Business Administration and Information Systems from Bristol University. 

After graduating, she didn’t receive the raise she worked hard for and 

felt she rightfully deserved, but she continued her fight. As with many a 

basketball game, she found herself the victor. Lockheed Martin eventually 

honored the raise she earned and demanded - including back pay. 


FEATURE 

Shortly following this win, after five years at Lockheed Martin, 

Gibson dribbled her corporate basketball to Healthcare Corporation of 

America (HCA). HCA is the largest healthcare management company 

in the United States, with healthcare entities in the United States and the 

United Kingdom. 

Though she knew nothing about the healthcare industry, the idea 

of traveling across the country utilizing her education to implement 

computer systems in hospitals was very appealing to her. 

In September, Gibson celebrated her 20th year anniversary with 

HCA. In that time, she has had quite a climb up the corporate ladder. She 

progressed from being a System Consultant to a Manager over Clinical 

Consultants to a Director of PMO/Project Management to Client Liaison 

and finally to her current position as the Assistant Vice President of HCA 

Acquisitions/Divestitures. 

In her more recent position, she has nine employees that report 

directly to her, in addition to, a large number of matrixed team members 

during each acquisition project. Sheila’s primary role is leadership , 

oversite and strategic planning for the technology scope. Additionally, 

she spends a great portion of her workday responding to emails 

providing guidance and support to corporate and divisional stakeholders 

throughout the organization. 

“Eighty percent of my job is communication and building and 

maintaining good positive business relationships with my stakeholders,” 

she says. “I put a lot of time into communication.” 

With HCA having 14 divisions across the United States, Gibson has 

to adapt to many different personalities and leadership styles within 

the company, which is why strong leadership and building positive 

relationships are top requirements for her role. 

When asked if it was more challenging being an African-American 

woman in corporate America, specifically IT, Gibson says she’s sure 

there are all types of people, in addition to black women, who may feel 

prejudice at some point or another. Though she knows discrimination 

exists, she tries not to harp on it. 

“Any situation is going to be what you make it, as long as you 

understand your environment and do whatever it takes to get where you 

want to be,” she says. “At the end of the day, it’s up to you.” 

“I really try to focus on making sure that if I don’t reach the point 

I’m striving to get to, I have no one to blame but myself.” 

The confidence she developed through playing basketball has served 

her well in the corporate arena. 

“I am confident. I have courage. I’m not afraid to question if something 

doesn’t seem fair, whether it’s personally toward me or a process” she says. 

“If it doesn’t seem right to me, I don’t hesitate to question it. I think that’s 

important in corporate America. That’s an important quality not just for an 

African-American female but a female period.” 

In addition to her high-powered corporate job, Gibson is highly 

committed to serving others, and does so in a wide range of capacities. 

She currently serves as the board chair of the Education Equal 

Opportunity Group (EEOG), a nonprofit organization that exposes high 

school students to community and business leaders to foster education 

and leadership. 

She is a current board member and board chair elect for the YMCA 

Donelson/Hermitage location and Community Outreach Committee, 

serves on the National Sports Council/Women’s Sports Committee, and 

on the executive board for Music City Classic. Sheila also serves as a 

mentor for both the HCA IT Girls Mentoring Program and Music City 

Girls Lead! Program. 

“I take a real high level of pride in mentoring young leaders,” 

shares Gibson, before adding she keeps a database of all past and present 

mentees, which includes high school students, HCA employees and others. 

She instills in them the importance of confidence, courage, 

preparedness and being proactive. 

“Mentoring is a big part of my leadership journey,” she says. “I 

definitely think it’s a win-win on both sides. I get out of it just as much as 

they get out of having me as their mentor.” 

Gibson, who experienced a third knee injury playing in an NAACP 

basketball tournament, has accepted her days of running up and down 

the court are long behind her. However, she still remains active in the 

sport, through coaching in the Amateur Athletic Union (which she’s 

done in the past and hopes to continue in the future) and cheering in 

the stands for her 17-year-old son Corey, a rising senior at Donelson 

Christian Academy, who has followed in her footsteps. 

Whether on the court or in the boardroom, Sheila Gibson has proven 

herself to be a strong competitor, fierce leader, humble servant and - 

ultimately - a winner. Swish!!! 


ESSAY/OPINION 

WRITTEN BY: GRAHAM HONEYCUTT 

WE LIVE IN a culture that tells us doing more 

means having it all. But studies tell an entirely 

different story. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics determined 

that employee productivity has only grown an 

unfortunate .3 percent over the past three years, yet we are working 

longer hours than ever. The average work week has increased from 40 

hours to 50 hours, in fact. 

The key to productivity doesn’t lie in trying to do more and get 

more done, but rather in doing less and getting the right things done. 

“Hustle” is a buzz word, but what if it is a direct road to failure? We 

cannot succeed in any area of our lives by working on only a few of 

them. Compartmentalization is a myth. Therefore, we must realize that 

how we do anything is how we do everything.. 

Productivity lies in spending considerable time in the short term 

to bring more awareness to what is most important in one’s life, then 

putting systems in place to execute these items. The most effective 

tool I learned for this comes from Greg McKeown’s book entitled 

“Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.” 

The exercise is as follows: Take a seat, get still and list out every 

time-consuming activity in your life. If you are married, do this with 

your spouse. Once all items are listed, place a numerical value of 

importance of one to 10 next to each. Once you have completed the 

activity, physically cross out those activities with a value of eight or less. 

Stop doing these activities. 

The time has come to say no to all activities which are not part 

of your highest point of contribution. If as you read these words you 

feel a pit in your stomach or are thinking this task sounds far-fetched, 

you likely need this message. Trust me; I heard those same voices and 

had those same thoughts which enabled me to postpone doing the 

exercise. However, once my wife and I completed this activity and 

began eliminating the values of eight and below, our lives changed 

dramatically. 

We eliminated a vast number of time-consuming engagements 

from our lives - including cable television, fantasy sports leagues, friend 

gatherings, book clubs, church activities, among other things. We also 

began evaluating new requests on our time and filtered it through our 

revamped gauge of what we determined to be important. We thought 

we would be disappointing other people by saying no gracefully. What 

we found is that people began to have more respect for us when we 

gave an honest “no,” rather than half-heartedly acquiescing out of a 

feeling of obligation. 

We learned to stop doing things out of mere obligation, and began 

focusing on things that we love and deemed truly important. As a result, 

our lives became exponentially better. The items we gave up were mere 

distractions to the most important parts of our lives. 

Our result has been incredible: We no longer feel like our lives are 

spinning out of control, going from activity to activity. 

The moral here is simple: Make time for what is most important 

to you and let go of what isn’t. We often wear badges of busyness 

like it is an honor. It doesn’t have to be. You have permission to 

live differently - more fully, in fact. True productivity lies in doing 

less and ensuring that the things you get done are what are most 

important to you. 


BUSINESS 

FROM SIGHTLESS TO VISIONARY, 

Dr. Ming Wang 

Is One Unstoppable Immigrant 


IN THE DARKEST days of his life, renowned ophthalmologist, 

scientist and founder of Wang Vision Institute in Nashville, 

Tenn., Dr. Ming Wang, was a 14-year-old boy trapped in the 

Chinese Cultural Revolution. He never imagined - in his wildest 

dreams - that he would one day immigrate to the United States 

and later create jobs for Americans. 

This grim period was defined by the Chinese government forcing 

Wang to abruptly slam the books on his high school education. Because 

of this, he began waking hours before the sun rose each morning - 

filling the cold blackness with sonorous melodies from his erhu (chinese 

violin). His fingers maneuvered across its strings until rendered numb, 

swollen and bleeding. 

His were never songs of pleasure and solace, sadly; instead, they 

were of sombering and sightless desperation. Becoming a professional 

musician was his only hope of being spared the devastating fate of 

deportation and, thus, a life sentence of hard labor and abject poverty. 

Wang practiced his violin compulsively for 15 hours a day, curiously 

drawn to the music of blind composer A-bin - as though pouring his 

painful uncertainty into those notes and allowing the instrument’s 

vibrato to resonate as his heart’s cry. “I connected with A-bin’s music 

emotionally because, much like the composer could not see physically, I 

could not see any future at all,” said Wang. 

Through every bow and strum, there amplified a deeply-held desire 

to one day dedicate his life to helping those confined to a life of darkness 

be granted the deliverance of sight. 

Although his musical pursuits did not continue, the internal experience 

of that shadowed period would resound throughout his personal 

ambitions for decades into the future. Wang passionately ached to study 

medicine; even doing so privately and illegally while under the constraints 

of the government. And, he was determined to fulfill this unmet desire. 

Once the revolution ended and Wang was permitted to finish high 

school and attend college, the whims of fate tuned to the vibration of 

his dreams, granting him an opportunity to impress a visiting professor 

from America. This led to him being offered a paid teaching assistantship 

with the University of Maryland in 1982, where he would earn his 

graduate degree in laser physics. 

But, his story would not become an unwavering anthem of 

celebration and victory from there. Further emotional hardships, 

loneliness and periods of adjustment would threaten to consume him. 

“In my waking hours, I was in America studying, attending and 

teaching classes, and taking myself to the movies in order to learn the 

language and culture. But, every night in my dreams, I was always back 

home in China,” confessed Wang. “It was like living two lives.” 

Although the early days of transition were difficult, he held tightly 

to his mission - a young man determined to further his education and 

“realize the American dream,” which - for Wang - meant devoting his 

life’s work to providing the visually impaired the luxury of illuminating 

their connection with the world. 

Wang pushed forward, earning postgraduate degrees from 

Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

(magna cum laude). 

Since, he has built a remarkable career spanning more than two 

decades. Wang has performed more than 55,000 successful eye 

reconstructive surgeries (an approximate 4,000 of them having been on 


BUSINESS 

the eyes of fellow doctors), has taught 3D LASIK and cataract correction 

seminars and privately trained thousands of other surgeons all across the 

globe. Most astoundingly, he founded a nonprofit - helping countless 

blind orphan children see the world for the first time. 

The aforementioned are only a fraction of his personal and professional 

accomplishments, yet the energy and tenacity sustaining his ambitions will 

not be taking a bow anytime soon. Rather, his drive is only increasing in 

volume and expanding its presence into yet another endeavor. 

After a 15-year affiliation with Aier Eye Hospital - a rapidly-growing 

Chinese eye hospital chain, currently operating 154 hospitals in China 

and dominating 10 percent of the country’s eye care market - Wang 

decided to merge his already-successful practice, Wang Vision Institute, 

with the chain and launch a U.S. operation: Aier-USA. 

“This is a unique project connecting two countries. For China, it 

is a huge investment opportunity which will improve education and 

technology for doctors. For America, this means Chinese money will 

be used to improve the U.S. economy by creating a huge number of 

jobs,” said Wang. 

Though the financial investment will come from China, 100 percent 

of the workforce of Aier-USA will be American citizens - employing 

doctors, nurses, technicians, administrative and support staff. 

Wang echoes an immense sentiment of pride to be the one heading 

the effort: “As a minority and an immigrant, I cannot imagine any better 

accomplishment than creating quality jobs for the people of my adopted 

country - a country I have come to truly love.” 

When asked how many clinics were being planned for the Aier- 

USA project, Wang was not yet certain. Although acquisitions are 

being considered and planned for 2018, he warns that Aier’s growth 

in the U.S., while powerful, will not necessarily be resemblant of its 

trend in China. 

“For one, not only are the countries’ governments different, but 

the healthcare regulations and eye care markets are different,” said 

Wang. “Also, the room for growth in China is much broader than it is 

in the U.S.” 

Wang Vision Institute will serve as the flagship and headquarters for 

all Aier-USA clinics he and his partners plan to gradually build. 

Creating a mutually beneficial relationship between the country 

of his birth and the country of his adoption in order to synergistically 

improve the economy and further help the visually impaired is a grand 

culmination of Wang’s already-extraordinary journey. “This is taking 

everything I have done professionally and bringing it to a higher level,” 

he said, proudly. 

As our interview was nearing its conclusion, I asked Wang why, in 

light of him having already achieved a level of prosperity many of his 

colleagues may never realize, he remains so driven and unstoppable in 

his efforts to continue being personally responsible for more and more 

eyes realizing the experience of sight. 

He paused for a moment, glancing upward at the row of framed 

newspaper features, degrees and awards lining the walls of his office. 

With a blend of caution and vulnerability, he replied, “I think it is 

because, although my suffering was not physical, I remember well the 

hopeless feeling of being in darkness. I call upon that often, and am 

driven by it. In some ways, I am rescuing myself over and over again 

through my work.” 


TECHNOLOGY 

WHY MOST ENTREPRENEURS 

STILL DON’T USE 

SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECTIVELY 

WRITTEN BY: ZACH WATSON 

BETWEEN 2014 AND 2016, Instagram grew its user base by 100 

million people every 9 months. Facebook is expected to surpass 2 

billion monthly active users this year. 

By any measure, social media platforms are among the fastest 

growing, most frequented enterprises in history. And yet, a 

significant portion of entrepreneurs still fail to capitalize on the 

historical opportunity social media provides them to grow their 

brands and expand their reach. That’s not to say entrepreneurs 

aren’t on social media – most do have social accounts – but 

those accounts are rarely cohesive or measurable. Research from 

Infusionsoft indicates nearly half of small business owners have no 

idea what their return on investment is for social media. 

This disconnect between opportunity and effort is driven by 

the widespread misconception that social media is nice to have, 

but isn’t critical to growing a brand. A growing body of research 

points in the opposite direction. It’s quickly becoming evident 

that social media marketing can deliver tremendous business 

results. So why don’t more entrepreneurs prioritize their social 

media strategy? 

SOCIAL ISN’T A PRIORITY 

It’s easy to think that your social presence is ancillary to your 

business growth, but this view simply isn’t supported by data. 

Consider the power of reviews. Whether on a Facebook page or 

Yelp profile, reviews are fueled by social media, and they have a 

significant impact on the bottom line. 

Research from Harvard Business School indicates that a one star 

increase in your Yelp rating can be correlated to a 5 - 9 percent 

increase in revenue. Additionally, BrightLocal found that 88 percent 

of consumers trust online reviews as much as they trust in-person 

reviews. The reality is word-of-mouth marketing – which has always 

been the gold standard for marketing new businesses -- now lives 

online and looks like a one to five-star rating. 

Consumers require validation before they visit a retail location or 

use a service, and social proof through online reviews and social 

content is the primary way they find the information that informs 

their decisions. 

For entrepreneurs building new brands, few things are more 

influential than social media. 

THERE’S A SKILLS GAP 

Serial entrepreneur and author Gary Vaynerchuk wrote, “In 2017, 

if you are a business or organization of any kind that wants to be 

heard in the world, refocusing the content you put out on Facebook, 

Twitter, Instagram, YouTube…and whatever else has the market’s 

attention at the time, is a huge factor.” Vaynerchuk’s advice is good, 

but what it doesn’t address is the difficulty most entrepreneurs face 

when they building a social strategy. 

If entrepreneurs understand the value of social, then they’re likely 

stuck on the content strategy side. It’s a fallacy that determining what 

to post and when to post are easy questions to answer. Measuring 

the effectiveness of each post presents another problem, because 

the reading social analytics represents yet another learning curve. 

This skills gap in content strategy and social analytics leads many 

entrepreneurs to delegate social marketing responsibility. All too 

often the recipient of this new responsibility is someone with only 

marginally more experience than the entrepreneur. Without proper 

training or oversight, an inexperienced social media manager likely 

won’t produce noteworthy results. 

THE TIME ISN’T THERE 

Time is precious resource for entrepreneurs. Whether it’s involvement 

in day-to-day operations, analyzing profits and losses, or planning for 

the future, there are myriad demands for an entrepreneur’s time. 

This doesn’t leave much time for social media, despite it’s obvious 

importance to businesses of all sizes. The result is a social media 

strategy that’s sporadic at best and non-existent at worst. When 

your business page looks like a ghost town, it’s difficult to convince 

people to show up at your store. 

HOW TO HAVE IT ALL 

Given the obstacles, it may seem like an impossible task to maintain 

your current level of productivity and focus on social media. What’s 

going to give? 

The answer is nothing if you partner with JumpCrew. 

Our social media services are designed for entrepreneurs and local 

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media strategy i.e., more reviews, more web traffic, and more 

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NON-PROFIT 

WRITTEN BY: TONI LEPESKA 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: EDDIE ARROSSI PHOTOGRAPHY 

TERRY DEAS WALKED away from the National Hispanic 

Corporate Council’s annual summit this spring with 

the wonderful feeling that he’s been getting it right. A 

diversity strategist for 16 years, Deas was surrounded by 

like-minded representatives of Fortune 1000 companies 

at the Atlanta event, which centered on the sharing of best corporate 

practices in the capturing of the U.S. Hispanic consumer market. 

At about 57 million people, Hispanics represent almost 18 percent 

of the population, and in 2015, possessed $1.3 trillion of the buying 

power, larger than the GDP of Spain. The group is expected to make up 

nearly a quarter of the population by 2040. 

“Being at the summit,” said Deas, director of diversity and outreach 

the past five years at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, “confirmed and 

reaffirmed that understanding, and working to better understand and better 

connect with this community group, is a competitive necessity. The group 

is so large that corporations cannot afford to not get this right.” 

The two-day affair, attended by 185 people representing at least two 

dozen companies, began with a welcome reception at the Ritz-Carlton, 

Atlanta. Summit attendees were bused to the media conglomerate Cox 

Enterprises for sessions like “Unconscious Bias as the Barrier to True 

Innovation” and “Leading with Cultural Intelligence to Deliver Better 

Business Results.” 

On the final day, attendees went to the Georgia International Convention 

Center for sessions like “A Conversation on Latino Civic Engagement: 

The Era of Inaction Has Passed.” Between presentations by subject matter 

experts, participants were exposed to networking opportunities to share 

successful strategies among themselves. 

While predecessors of the annual summit were held for years, the 

event is only in its second year in its present form, said Octavio A. 

Hinojosa Mier, executive director of the National Hispanic Corporate 

Council, also known as NHCC. Companies represented at this year’s 

summit included Shell Oil, State Farm Insurance, Marriott, Coca-Cola, 

Home Depot and UPS. NHCC is in the midst of determining what city 

will host next year’s summit. 

The corporate world has been taking notice of the Hispanic market 

in varying degrees for years. NHCC formed in 1985, when a dozen 

Fortune 500 executives met to discuss the business potential of the 

rapidly emerging Hispanic market. According to experts, to successfully 

market to Hispanics, corporations must recognize the groups within the 

group. Not only are there generational differences among Hispanics, as 

in other groups, but differences in culture and language, depending on 

the country of family origin. Knowing the market requires research and 

a grasp of consumer trends. 

“It’s important to understand the nuances of key consumer groups,” 

Hinojosa said. “In the case of the Hispanic market, it is understanding 

how diverse Hispanics are. It’s complex.” 

Michael Gonzales, director of diversity and inclusion at Hallmark 

Cards, sat on a panel at the summit and was a presenter the previous year. 


NON-PROFIT 

He said within that diversity are points of consistency, such as family pride. 

Coca-Cola tapped into the importance of family names with 

its “tattoo can” marketing campaign, said Hinojosa. The soft drink 

company put transferable, temporary tattoos of common Latino family 

names on cans so they could be pressed onto arms or other body parts. 

It was a hit and was the subject of one of the sessions at the summit. For 

diversity strategists and others pressed by corporate leaders for facts and 

proven successes, the Coca-Cola campaign could be a useful tool to win 

support within their companies. 

“Coke is a great example of how tailoring a campaign in a way 

that shows culture inclusion and celebration can really build brand 

connectivity for an organization or a company,” said Cracker Barrel’s Deas. 

Deas, who is NHCC chair-elect and calls diversity issues “a passion 

of mine,” said that in addition to the affirmation he experienced, he felt 

the summit highlighted the opportunity for corporations to better utilize 

employee resource groups. These like-minded people who gather for 

development and networking can provide valuable market insight for 

their companies. Coca-Cola utilized them for its “tattoo can” campaign. 

The insider information they provided illustrates the saying “our 

employees are our greatest asset,” Deas said. 

Hallmark Cards’ Gonzales was on the summit panel “The Return 

of Investment of Employee Resource Groups: How Innovative Actions 

Impact the Bottom Line.” He called ERG groups “a valuable, internal 

resource … and it’s free!” 

When executives recognize everyone comes with a bias, or a lifelong 

lens through which they look at the world, Gonzales said, corporate 

leaders can utilize the diversity within their companies, get “out of 

autopilot … and listen objectively.” 

Hallmark capitalized on its employee resource groups in reimagining 

its product offerings in the Castro district of San Francisco, Calif. At a 

local Walgreens, Hallmark struggled with sales. Instead of pulling its 

product in the neighborhood, which is reportedly 95 percent LGBT, 

Hallmark decided to bring relevant products into the community that 

illustrated the relationships in it. 

“We flipped that store from double-digit red to double-digit black,” 

said Gonzales, who is certain this example is applicable to the Hispanic 

community. “The model is portable,” he added. 

NHCC’s executive director said he thinks attendees left the summit 

with a better idea of what is working with the U.S. Hispanic consumer 

market and what is not. In the “safe environment” of the summit, 

participants were able to ask questions and get expert advice. In response 

to the success, NHCC will be offering webinars for corporate members 

who were not able to attend the summit, and may open up the webinar 

as “paid opportunity” to nonmembers. 


BUSINESS 

HANDLING 

WITH GRACE 

WRITTEN BY: JOE SCARLETT 

MOST OF US know the basic formula for achieving success 

professionally: work hard, build solid relationships and 

do the tasks that lead to real achievement — not just 

busy work. 

However, when we are successful, handling it with grace is not 

always so straightforward. In the business world, I often see very 

successful people slide into the “star zone,” a place where resting on 

laurels quickly leads to a rude awakening. 

In fact, I remember way back when my own success was going to 

my head, although at the time I wasn’t cognizant of this descent into 

Starland. But before I hit rock bottom, a wise old man took me aside and 

told me the truth about how I sounded. What a wakeup call! From that 

day forward, I stopped hustling to promote myself and tried harder to 

stay grounded. 

That same mentor taught me to accept praise politely, always 

responding with a simple “thank you.” Not downplaying my 

achievement, but not tooting my own horn, either. Like me, you 

may have hit a few home runs in your organization, but that doesn’t 

qualify you for superstar status. Today’s savviest entrepreneurs know 

achievement yesterday is no guarantee of success tomorrow. True leaders 

are always looking forward, not backward. 

IT’S THE OPPOSITE OF ‘ALL ABOUT YOU’ 

We tend to see success as a solitary feat, but the truth is very few of us 

achieve any kind of success alone. Rather, most accomplishments are the 

product of our efforts in a team environment. Our relationships with those 

around us mean everything, and we can leverage them by cooperating 

with our peers - treating our employees with respect and communicating 

clearly with the boss. 

Early in my retail career there was a guy who drew the most 

admiration in this area: Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, who for years 

Forbes ranked the richest man in America. The measure of “Mr. Sam’s” 

success was not the massive number of items his company sold, but 

rather that he alone could make you feel like you were his first priority. 

A conversation with “Mr. Sam” was like talking with your best friend. 

He was constantly curious about which products were selling and 

how he could improve his stores, which required talking to people on 

the sales floor. Wal-Mart was never about him. Good business was about 

customers, associates, products and stores. And when he left the store, 

it was in an older pickup truck. That image of humility stuck with me. 

Walton never let success go to his head. 

Handling success with grace means finding time for other people 

and then always putting them first. No matter how successful you are, 

stay closer to the ground than the stars and you will earn the respect and 

admiration of everyone around you. 

Joe Scarlett is the retired CEO of Tractor Supply Company 

For more on leadership, see joescarlett.com 

You may contact Joe at Joe@joescarlett.com 


TRAVEL/CULTURE 

It’s Shockin’ 

Ya’ll 

A 

S I TOOK a deep breath, I inhaled a thick, heavy 

stench of stale produce while dragging my sandals 

through stagnate sewer water in the side alleyway. 

Sweat dripped off every inch of my body, as if I had 

intentionally been sitting in a sauna, unable to hold my 

eyelids open any longer. 7/11, where are you? My blurry gaze led me 

through the Suphan Buri day market. 

“You, try this!” A 70-year-old, wide-eyed, grinning Thai woman 

aggressively shoved a charcoal-fried scorpion on a stick in front of 

my nostrils. 

Using all of the energy I had, I cracked a gracious smile with a 

simultaneous head shake. I continued the maze through severed pigs’ 

heads roasting on a spit, to the most delicious scent coming from rice 

noodles in a wok the size of an industrial-sized kitchen sink. Then, the 

most beautiful, intricate designs of woven silk robes caught my eye. My 

natural instinct urged me to stop, try some on, play dress up, but my 

body would not rest until it found the 7/11. 

I quickly realized, I’ve lost my acquaintances. I’m on my own. 

Survival of the fittest at this point led me astray. Unexpectedly, I saw the 

light at the end of the tunnel. About 30 yards ahead sat the convenient 

store I had longed for all morning. As soon as I entered the doorway, I 

closed my eyes and sat down on the cool, air-conditioned tile floor until 

I felt alive once more. 

After the fatigue subsided, I reached into my pocket out of habit to 

check the messages on my phone. I gazed down, still in a brain fog, and 

WRITTEN BY: JACKIE NENTWICK 

saw the photo of my four best friends on my home screen. No messages. 

It was only 2 P.M., meaning it was 2 A.M. at home. Home. The euphoria 

drew a knot in my stomach I swallowed, along with my longing for 

what I knew. My normal. 

The first of many flashbacks began as I continued to sit on the now 

chilly tile floor of the sacred 7/11. I thought about how naïve I must 

have been to think I had any idea what this experience would feel like. It 

was shock, longing for the familiar, wanting everything to be easy, not 

having to think whether or not I had enough toilet paper in my pocket 

to last me the rest of the day. Just as I began to doze off dreaming of the 

familiar, I heard: “Jackie, wake up weirdo. You’re sleeping on the floor 

of a gas station.” 

It was Susie, my American partner in crime. She had quickly and 

happily snapped me back into reality. 

Fast-forward eight months. I found myself in the same Suphan Buri 

market. This time it was rainy season, and instead of being drenched in 

sweat, my feet were soaked in water pouring down from the sky. This 

time I was not searching for the nearest air-conditioned store or miserably 

trekking on my own through the market. Umbrella in hand, I found 

myself bargaining for the popular tamarind fruit that was in high demand. 

“Lot noi dai mai kah,” I said - persistently - to the vendor behind 

his fruit truck. It took a few more tries until he finally lowered the price 

by fifteen baht. As I walked away from the vendor and in the direction 

of a pineapple stand that had caught my eye, my good friend Aey (who 

happened to be a Thai native) flashed me a wink. He taught me well. 

There is something about embracing change that brings out a 

different person in all of us. Although it wasn’t an easy concept or 

experience for me to wrap my head around, culture shock is a good 

thing. It’s not something that should be dreaded; it’s how we prevail 

in tough, life-altering experiences. Immediately after my first few 

weeks enduring the “shock” of immersing myself into a new life, I 

realized how incredible the human body and mind truly is. The fact I 

felt comfortable enough calling Thailand my “home” after about four 

months in, is remarkable. 

I believe that culture shock is anything but a bad thing. Overcoming 

this shock to the system is what truly turns a tourist into a traveler. 

Learning how to make the best of an overwhelming experience helps 

you understand and appreciate your own culture: Where you came 

from. What you know. 

It will also help you understand your own biases, but at the same 

time enhance the confidence of your own cultural maturity while living 



and being a native of the melting pot of our world. I believe once you 

are able to understand and accept change to be a positive thing, you have 

officially overcome the biggest obstacle of culture shock. The beauty of 

experiencing culture shock will teach you the valuable lesson that this 

world is a small place, and despite our differences, we are all similar and 

interconnected. Just remember, wherever you may be, if you stop and 

take a look around, life is pretty amazing. 

One year and six new countries later, I returned home. As my plane 

descended into the Pittsburgh airport, I glanced through the window to 

see the famous Heinz Field where my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers play 

every home game. Excited, I turned and peered into my lap while the 

plane took what felt like the longest landing of my life. As I stepped off 

the plane, what I knew to be my normal was no longer. 

As I was got off the plane, I thanked my flight attendant with a 

kind bow, hands in praying position, “Kab-Kuhn-Kah.” The “you’re 

welcome” from the flight attendant really threw me off as I had to 

remind myself I was back home. My real home. My first stop off of the 

airplane, of course, was for a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Although my 

usual order rarely twisted my tongue, I began to have trouble thinking 

about what to say. 

“Welcome to Starbucks, can I take your order?” My initial reaction was 

to laugh because I could actually understand what a stranger was saying to 

me. I tongue tied my order, and then was able to get it out to perfection. 

“Okay, that will be $3.50, please.” As I rummaged my pocket for 

some spare change, I placed 3.50 Thai baht on the counter. 

“Excuse me ma’am, but it is three dollars and 50 cents.” 

I glanced down in total oblivion to what I just used to pay for my 

order. My cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, and without even 

taking my coffee, I excused myself from the counter. 

“Oh no, here we go again.” I chuckled to myself, and rushed to 

reunite with my family. 




MY LIFE BEGAN in rural Mississippi, in a small town 

about 30 miles south of the state’s capital. It was 

a place where I stomped on ant piles and made 

lightening bugs my captive every long and muggy 

summer, and said an unrequited prayer for a 

dusting of snowfall every winter. 

It was a cozy pocket of America - where family ties were made of 

a fireproof fabric, then threaded through the simplicities of day-to-day 

life. It was where strangers became instant acquaintances, worthy of a 

greeting and a smile. But, it was also a sanctuary of unspoken rules: the 

most important being that if you did not bow your head and raise your 

hands while suited in your Sunday best, you were branded an outcast. 

Every Saturday venture to the nearest mall contained an offering of 

billboard sightings - many warning those who were unprepared for 

Jesus’ rapturous return. And, every time a mighty storm rolled through 

and the trees began to sway, I held my Bible tightly to my chest. My 

flesh trembled in fear at the thought of my soul being left behind. 

Fire and brimstone were occasionally served with dinner, but we all 

soothed the burn by washing it down with sentiments as sweet as our 

tea: “But, you know Jesus loves you despite that you were born evil; 

don’t you?” By the age of seven, I had dined on so much fear, guilt and 

contradiction, I was burping it all back up in rebellion. 

And, there were other unspoken rules I took notice of - rules of a 

far different breed. These were the rules every shred of innate decency 

within me wanted to reduce to ashes. 

One summer afternoon when I was about seven or eight years 

old, I was nearly trampled upon as I stood on hot pavement, my body 

dripping wet and shivering - not because I was cold, but because I was 

an immobile and synergistic blend of shock and confusion. 

I watched as several dozen children and their parents - most of whom 

were my classmates, neighbors and fellow church attendees - splashing and 

ejecting themselves from our community swimming pool. The expressions 

on their faces sort of resembled the masks the boys in my neighborhood 

wore on Halloween. I thought something filthy or horrendous lurked in 

those waters. Is there a dead animal afloat? Is someone drowning? 

It was bordering on a frenzy - reminding me of the way the ants reacted 

anytime I dared to aggravate their pile: scattering and fleeing in terror. 

I quickly learned, though, that their frantic movements had not been 

provoked by any danger in those waters. No. Rather, it was because 

three black children - newcomers to town - decided to join other 

children their age for an afternoon swim. 

Race & 

Reality 

IN AMERICA 

You see, these newcomers were not acquainted with the unspoken 

rules. They were unaware they had crossed over into ‘forbidden terrain’ 

- for the pool they selected that day was the “white pool.” How dare 

they not know they belonged at the “black pool” - the smaller, dirtier, 

‘lesser than’ pool on the ‘lesser than’ side of town. 

It was the end of the 1980s - early in the Bush administration, and 

more than two decades following the end of segregation. But, not long 

enough to dispel the culture of racism still alive and well within that town. 




Everyone in the pool’s vicinity continued to scramble. There were a 

collage of sun-drenched white bodies wrapped in brightly-colored beach 

towels, all huddled together in clusters along the fence railing. Some raced 

to the bathroom in hiding. Some tiptoed to the sidelines. Some fled to the 

parking lot. And, some abandoned their pool day entirely, seeking ‘safety’ 

in their cars - locking every door and driving away in haste. 

But, not a single one of them remained in the pool. Not one. 

My sister - seven years my senior - grabbed my arm and dragged 

me behind her in order to dodge the commotion. She rushed us to 

the payphone to call our father, who served as the town’s mayor and 

was among the rarities in that mecca of Bible studies and southern 

hospitality: a young white man who was boldly unwilling to swallow 

the racist messages he was expected to digest. And, as a result, we were 

occasionally penned “n*gger lovers.” 

“Your dad helps n*ggers!” a boy had hissed at me on the 

playground one day. 

I remember thinking he looked like a demon when he said it, and it 

provoked me to wonder why I was so worried about being penned as 

the weirdo. 

I scanned the pool grounds for a moment before landing on his 

face. He was with the other classmates who were snickering about the 

black children’s swim caps. Their folded arms conveyed that they were 

impatiently waiting for the ‘lesser than’ visitors to leave. 

I thought about how ironic it was - how funny that they deemed 

themselves superior. They all looked like stumbling drunks - delusional, 

intoxicated, and toasting to their cocktail of white supremacy and vile 

religious hypocrisy. 

Wait, I thought; If Jesus loves me, doesn’t Jesus love them, too? 

Doesn’t Jesus love “all the little children of the world? Red and yellow, 

black and white”? The color of skin and the texture of hair could not 

possibly make such a difference in regard to a person’s value. 

So, why did it? 

Wasn’t this venomous hatred a slap in the face to the savior they 

bowed their heads, raised their hands and wore their Sunday best for? It 

didn’t make sense. 

I remember one of the black children in particular - a girl about my 

age. It was as though the sun had sought her out, as though ravished 

by her. And, though I was not brave enough to approach her, I badly 

wanted to. 

In my mind’s eye, I can vividly see her, still - her spine straight and 

long legs dangling in the pool. I can see the drops of water creating a 

collage across her frail, mahogany shoulders. I remember the way the 

sun shone like a spotlight over her, illuminating her profile softly - such 

beauty seeping through her veil of oppression and pain. 

I never locked eyes with her, but empathy asked that I take a front 

row seat. And, a trajectory of grieving, vulnerability and expansion 

swirls around that memory. I wish that I could stretch back in time to 

that moment and - with mighty fists - grab ahold of her shoulders. I 

would announce what a powerhouse of courage she was. 

I wonder how her recollection of that day differs from mine. I 

wonder what other stories she lived to tell. 

I wonder these things not because of mere curiosity, but because she 

did something I have never forgotten in all of these years: 

She stayed in the pool anyway. 

She stayed - despite the snickers and side glances, despite the 

arrogantly-folded arms and tapping feet. Daringly, she stayed - as though 

her will were as strong as the cement. 

An innumerable amount of times since that sweltering Mississippi 

day, I have been moved to tears reflecting upon it. 

I sobbed into my pillow when Barack Obama was elected in 2008. 

I wondered if the girl from the pool was somewhere crying, too. I then 

sobbed even harder watching Oprah sob as he delivered his acceptance 

speech. And, I sobbed at Michelle Obama’s words at the Clinton rally 

mere months ago - when she so eloquently defended every objectified 

woman - of every racial background - since the dawn of time. 

I watched from my bedroom with my husband and dog on either 

side, wondering if the girl from the pool was also cheering and shouting 

at her television screen. I’ll never know for sure. 

This I do know: There has been astounding racial progress since that 

afternoon at the pool, but there remains a monumental divide we have 

yet to close. And, it’s time we get honest with ourselves about it. 

Recently, I read a field experiment conducted by The National 

Bureau of Economic Research in 2003. It determined that racism was 

still enormously rampant in the workplace - one of their findings being 

that college graduates with “black-sounding names” - in order to receive 

a “call back” - had to send out 50 percent more job applications than an 

equally capable individual with a “white sounding name.” 

And, although those findings are 14 years old, the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics determined in 2016 that the unemployment rate of black 

Americans was 8.8 percent - more than double that of white Americans. 

Furthermore, it doesn’t take much google-searching to be smacked 

with evidence that the residue of racism still reveals itself among our 

day-to-day interactions. A video of a passionate Trump supporter 

enraged and leaning into an automobile on a street in Memphis, 

Tennessee, shouting, “Black lives don’t matter!” landed in my phone on 

the day of the 2016 presidential election. And, it is one of many of its 

kind I have stumbled upon since. 

I will never know what it is like to be black in America. I may never 

realize all of the ways I, too, have mindlessly expressed racism in my 

public interactions and private thoughts. But, I do know this: It requires 

an impenetrable amount of bravery to be a black person in America - a 

kind of bravery I cannot fathom and do not believe I will ever grasp. But, 

I know it exists. I know it because I have seen evidence of it: 

To know that your opportunities may be fewer than your fairskinned 

neighbor, but to perfect your resume, steam your shirt and 

devote yourself to excellence anyway. To know that the security guard at 

the movie theater stared at you suspiciously and, perhaps, a little longer 

than he did the white gentleman three feet from you, but to buy the 

popcorn and enjoy the movie anyway. For the cells in your body to be 

alive and well with the memories of the generations before you who 

lived through oppression, slavery and violence, but to rise with your 

community in hope anyway. 

To sit alone - surrounded by the echo of snickers and the dissonance 

of prejudice, but to stay in the pool anyway. That isn’t freedom, but 

it is bravery. And, I suppose that is what black Americans have been 

doing for generations: They sit on the edge of this country’s vast pool 

of opportunity - not deaf to the snickering, not blind to the side glances 

and not oblivious to the oppression. 

But, they swim anyway. 

Conversations on 

Race 

a talk worth having 

TheDailyDoll.com is the brainchild of writer and celebrity journalist 

Lacey Johnson. The site was created to encourage readers to get 

real, get liberated and live boldly by serving up beauty, wellness 

and inner life illumination. Stay tuned for her upcoming e-book, 

“The 21-Day Inner & Outer Life Illumination Reboot,” landing to 

the site early summer 2017. 



ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

EPHRAIM UREVBU’S LIFELONG love affair with the arts began 

when he was a young boy. Precocious and smitten by 

the pencil and brush, he fondly remembers drawing and 

painting as early as 7 years old. 

Years later, his intelligence and hard work in the 

classroom landed him in one of Nigeria’s most elite high schools, 

putting him on track to be a medical doctor, lawyer or engineer – 

professions considered to be most respectable in Nigeria. 

According to Urevbu, in his country a man is 

not successful unless he chooses one of the three 

aforementioned careers. “Anything outside of that, 

you’re a failure,” he said with a laugh. 

Urevbu showed potential to be “successful” 

in the eyes of his people, but his love for the arts 

would not play second fiddle to a more traditional 

career path. He was forced to choose. 

“That was one of the reasons I left the country,” 

he confessed. “The pressure was too much to 

conform. Leaving the country gave me the freedom 

to pursue my passion, which was the arts.” 

Urevbu said goodbye to his family and native 

land and embarked on a journey that would forever 

change his life. He found himself in the Volunteer 

State, in the late ‘80s at Memphis College of the 

Arts, where he completed two years of coursework 

before transferring to the University of Memphis. 

He earned a bachelor’s of arts and a master’s of 

business administration while there. 

After college, Urevbu realized there weren’t many opportunities 

for black artists in Memphis, a city he described as “beautiful with 

great potential.” At the time, he was creating work heavily influenced 

by the blues, which Memphis is famous for. 

A local gallery showed interest in his work and 

extended an offer for him to do a showing. Part of the 

deal was that he’d be responsible for inviting people. 

According to Urevbu, he understood this was code for 

inviting black people. 

Urevbu was not a business-minded person and had 

no interest in entrepreneurship. Little did he know at the 

time, however, this endeavor would serve as a catalyst for 

owning and operating his own gallery. 

It was his art showing, along with his creativity and 

the discipline instilled in him in Nigeria, which would 

help him start Art Village Gallery, an artistic institution 

he envisioned as a center for cultural diversity. 

Though he didn’t have the capital to buy the building 

he wanted in downtown Memphis, he used a creative and 



WRITTEN BY: SHAWN WHITSELL 

business-savvy approach to convince the property owner to enter into 

a lease-to-own agreement. The terms of the deal were that if Urevbu 

didn’t pay off the building in three years, the owner was free to sell it to 

another buyer. Urevbu paid for it in only two years. 

He didn’t know anything about running a gallery but was so 

intent on proving it could be done, he put all of his energy and 

creativity into it. He accomplished the feat with very little resources. 

“When I focus on an issue, I focus,” he said of his determination to 

succeed. “I get it done, especially when people tell me ‘you can’t do it.’” 

The gallery didn’t just exist, but it grew to become what he calls, 

“one of the epicenters of Memphis.” 

In addition to the gallery, Urevbu helped the City of Memphis 

create the South Main Arts District. Over the course of four years, 

he wrote the proposal, encouraged artists and arts-related business 

owners to move in and convinced the City to offer tax incentives to 

those who made the district their home. 

He also put together the Arts Trolley Walk, a popular event on the 

last Friday of each month. Along with the general public, the walk 

also provides Urevbu with the opportunity to engage his corporate 

partners, their employers and families. Everyone gets together to 

explore the arts over cheese and wine. 

But, he didn’t stop there. 

With only a $9,000 budget, Urevbu organized the first South 

Main Arts Festival, another successful endeavor that would later 

become the River Arts Festival. 

Though he’s had success in business, Urevbu doesn’t let 

entrepreneurship overshadow the passion and purpose behind his 

efforts, which is to uplift his community and “bring passion into 

people’s lives” through the arts. 

One of the many ways he pours into his community is through 

service (sitting on the board of the local Boys & Girls Club, and 

participation in other organizations) and mentoring young artists. 

“I do a lot of mentoring because I feel I’ve been blessed 

tremendously with wisdom and common sense,” he said. 

He also mentors veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder who come to his studio to paint and talk. In addition, he’s 

currently raising money to build the West Tennessee Veterans Home. 

Urevbu said he wanted to use the district as a way of bringing 

people together and to focus on using creativity as a means of 

resolving troubling issues. 

Today, the work he does is more social commentary. He uses his art 

to address issues such as diversity, homelessness and mass incarceration. 

“As an artist, I’ve been given a beautiful gift to be able to tap into 

the consciousness of humanity,” he said. 

In addition to his own work, he works with the Diversity Through 

Art program, which incorporates culinary arts, music, theater, dance, 

fashion and poetry. 

Urevbu admitted it can be difficult balancing his business and 

creative sides. 

“It’s the most frustrating combination of things you could ever think 

about because the artist in me is beckoning to the studio. The business 

person in me is saying ‘you got this deal you’ve got to close.’” 

Still, he seems to believe the two worlds can coexist, even if 

managing them is challenging. 

Two years ago, Urevbu convinced his wife to leave her job as a 

human resource manager to work at the gallery. Having her on board 

full time provides more time and space for Urevbu to focus on his art. 

He said he’s happy when he’s in the studio. He’s dancing, drinking and 

painting. “That’s what I’m created for,” he said. 

He also believes corporations can help make a difference. He signed 

a deal to lease walls in diverse neighborhoods to display art. Every three 

months, he refreshes the work. He also has a line of “Freedom” candles 

with inspirational messages he uses in his corporate dealings. 

Whether he’s wearing his business hat, his creative one or both at 

the same time, Urevbu wants his efforts to touch the hearts of people. 

“My whole purpose is to tap into that beautiful, creative soul that 

exists in all of us,” he said. 

He wants to empower us all to “make this world a little better than 

we found it.” 





Fierce, Female & Unstoppable: Naja Knows the Scoop on Successful Living 

In 19th-century America, it was characteristic of audience members 

to boo, shout expletives and throw rotten tomatoes at the actors, 

comedians and opera singers they were least impressed by. In the 

more rowdy venues, some attendees went so far as to coerce one 

another to rip apart their seats and sling them toward the stage. 

This created a culture of anxiety and fear surrounding one’s creative 

endeavors. More specifically, this meant that - despite having prepared 

for weeks or months, straightened their tall halls, smoothed out their 

petticoats and bravely given their artistic best on stage - after the curtain 

closed, there began a private war zone. These brave individuals were 

doomed to spend the remainder of their evenings slouched in their 

dressing room chairs, silencing the hiss of defeat and picking rotten 

tomato bits from their faces. 

This process became, in part, the bane of the creative person’s 

existence. Out with abundance and reward; in with the culture of 

creative martyrdom. Gradually, the mentality toward an artistic life 

shifted to one of luck, struggle and the ‘hope’ for a chance victory. 

The synergy of creative worthiness and abundant living became an 

enigma - a puzzle only a select and extraordinary few ‘geniuses’ could 

solve. God must be smiling down over them, the less fortunate assumed. 

And, so, an imaginary divide between creativity and financial prosperity 

was concocted and served to the masses - rendering the majority of the 

world drunk and spinning from this poisonous nonsense ever since. 

In an effort to destroy this epidemic, Naja Rickette (known by 

her fans as “Naja Nail Guru”) - reality star of “L.A. Hair,” celebrity 

nail artist, internet sensation, Guinness World Records holder and 

quintessential abundance ninja - is tapping the whole world on the 

shoulder. She is eager to throw ice cold water over our delusions of 

scarcity and rattle us awake from our drunken stupors. 

Continue reading as I draw back the curtain and welcome you 

inside for a glimpse at our intimate interview. Prepare to activate the 

components of creating your most abundant life possible. 

SUCCESS BEGINS WITH EMBRACING ORIGINALITY 

Rickette did not always feel abundant. She spent her youth insecure, 

void of fulfillment and - begrudgingly - dressed in uniform. “I went 

to Catholic school my entire life, so when I moved from New Jersey to 



Los Angeles at 26, I was in search of a new life and career where I could 

demonstrate my own style,” she says. 

She was pleased to find that a day spa in Marina Del Rey, California 

needed a front desk attendee. Best of all, she could express herself in any 

fashionable assemble of her choosing. 

Although Rickette swears bravery did not come to her naturally, 

she unquestionably had an innateness for honing the principles of 

originality, however. At that day spa, Rickette found an untended itch - 

one she was first in line to scratch. 

Having noticed that customers requested - almost daily - manicure 

and pedicure appointments on Sundays and Mondays, she observed 

that no nail technicians were ever willing. Puzzled by this, Rickette’s 

marketing wheels began to turn, provoking her to wonder, “What if 

I go to school and learn to do manicures and pedicures? There is no 

competition on Sundays and Mondays. I can take all of the business for 

myself.” 

So, she did exactly that. 

“One of the reasons I have become successful,” confesses Rickette,” 

is because I have never been a copy of anyone else. I’ve always looked 

for new ways of doing things. If everyone stopped trying to copy the 

people they admire and just became the best ‘them’ they could ever be, 

they would be surprised with what they could accomplish.” 

ACCEPT YOUR WORTHINESS 

Rickette was not always so agile, confident and suave in her mindset, 

however. 

Her internal world shifted during a simple phone conversation in 

2008 - considered by Rickette to have been “a force of grace.” 

While organizing a training for a newly-launched product, a fellow 

nail artist expressed an aversion to the $389 price attached to Rickette’s 

four-hour class. Appalled, the colleague gasped, “You’re going to make 

$100 an hour for this!” 

Without pausing to concoct a nervous rebuttal of apology, Rickette 

retorted, matter-of-factly, “Well, I’m sorry, m’am. That’s what I value 

my time at.” 

Awed by her own brazen words, she was riddled with chills - 

surprised that she felt no urgency to offer further elaboration. In 

that moment, a seed of unapologetic abundance was planted - a seed 

something from deep within her had revealed to itself. 

Rather than continue her resistance, the colleague responded in awe, 

“Oh, wow,” she said. “Can you teach me more of... that?” 

“Right there, in that conversation, I knew something had changed,” 

says Rickette. “Never again would I make myself small or be afraid of 

my own worth.” 

From there, she began to teach other professionals within the beauty 

industry about the art of living in alignment with their value - sans 

excuses and second-guessing. “You don’t have to get into some verbal 

Kung Fu battle with people about why you charge what you charge or 

why you do what you do,” says Rickette. “If you consistently bring the 

best of yourself to your craft and area of expertise, others will begin to 

agree with you.” 

It sounds so foundational - even trite, but is actually quite paradigmshattering 

when considering how few live in support of their own 

prosperity. Perhaps the key is simple: Decide what you are worth and 

then begin to act in a way, produce in a way and expect in a way that 

matches that decision. 

“No one is more worthy than the next,” adds Rickette. “It doesn’t 

matter what you look like or what others have said about you. Every day 

is an opportunity to draw from the abundance in the Universe.” 

Rickette has realized that her passion for helping others hone their 

worthiness is rooted in a place much deeper than that conversation a 

decade ago, however. 

She concedes: “My mother had a wooden paddle that read, ‘Children 

should be seen and not heard.’ I endured a lot of abuse in my early days, 

and the worst was being unable to express myself. I think this is what 

fuels me to speak so fiercely - not only speak for myself but for others. 

I find that, in creative industries, people are afraid to ask for what they 

deserve, and I am determined to change that.” 

BRAVERY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE 

Rickette’s infectious cackle and feisty remarks can be heard resounding 

through electronic devices all over the country. Her platinum blonde 

hair, dancing blue eyes, edgy style and body-positive stance are 

splashed all over the internet. She has groomed the hands and feet of 

A-List celebrities - including Lady Gaga, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and 

many others. She has been photographed posing on red carpets, and 

has commanded innumerable stages before ample crowds. One may 

assume she is a prodigy of the great spirit of fearlessness - a darling child 

conceived in the belly of bravery. 

But, she swears it isn’t true. 

“People think that because I have had a radio show, been on 

television and taught internationally, I am somehow unafraid. But, I am 

afraid like everyone else. The difference is that I hone the element of 

courage, making sure it is always stronger than my fear.” 

While it is commonplace to assume that those who dare to share 

their work with the masses were blessed with superhuman fearlessness, 

I - like Rickette - have identified this as a myth. Having interviewed 

and collaborated with more than my fair share of celebrities and 

affluent public figures, I have invariably detected some level of fear 

and insecurity in each of them. No is is immune. In that regard, highly 

accomplished people are no different than anyone else. 

While sharing my perspective with Rickette, she chimed in, voicing 

her opinion on what does make these individuals different: “Courage is 

not the absence of fear. Courageous people feel the presence of fear, but 

it never stops them from walking through it.” 

Rickette credits her father for having planted seeds which flourished 

her growth mindset: “The greatest gift he gave me was that he ingrained 

hunger and hustle into my mentality. It is amazing what people will get 

done when they realize others will not do their work for them. Miracles 

happen when you are forced into the urgency of hunger.” 

DECIDE TO BECOME UNSTOPPABLE 

When Rickette coaches her legion of clients, she breaks down their 

goals into “bite-size pieces,” for she has learned that the “big picture” is 

oftentimes overwhelming. “I force them to ask themselves, ‘What will 

happen if I try for this?’ People are often shocked by the things they fear 

- things that are hardly scary at all.” 

My interpretation of her message, simplified: You can thrive as a 

creative person. Your art matters. You can be well-compensated for 

honing your hustle and talents. You are as abundant as you decide to be. 

Rickette solidifies this message as she concludes the interview: “What 

people fear and dread most are often not facts, but of their own creation. 

Stop forecasting lack, and decide - here and now - that the climate of 

your life is in your favor.” 

The original version of this article was published to TheDailyDoll.com 


Welcoming 

Diversity 

At Cracker Barrel Old Country Store ® , we think a key to our success 

is welcoming diversity in our company, our country stores, 

our restaurants, and our communities. 

crackerbarrel.com • © 2016 CBOCS Properties, Inc.

The Connect Magazine_Spring 2017

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