imjustdrew

I just had two great podcast recordings on yesterday. One was a best selling author that continuously praised her mentors. She kept plugging in to them every step of the process and still does.

It’s very important to give folks their flowers. Also continue asking for help. I believe in mentorship and seeking help. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you’re set up for failure.  You can have it all and still not know it all.

It’s all about ironing sharpening iron and simply continuing to grow. This author collaborated with several others and pinned a best seller in her first attempt. Just think what you can do and achieve with similar effort.

#ImJustDrew ##fromdarktosunshine

I won’t lie, I didn’t know what I would write about for my 8 year anniversary of #imjustdrew. I see the latest dancing (twerking) online challenge that rappers Meg Thee Stallion and GloRilla have out and I figured that can do.

Basically they have a song where women can twerk to for clicks and likes by tagging them. I haven’t seen many responses lately but I expect that to increase towards the weekend.

Now what I love is the love and support other women are showing to each other. They are even tagging their favorite ladies for this. It’s the unity for me! They are watching the videos harder than the men.

I feel women have been getting a lot of love lately from International Women’s History Month to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. I like seeing this as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.

Some feminists and such may say these females are objectifying themselves and there’s truth there. However, they’re not hurting anyone else, they’re not completely nude, and twerking has aerobic/historical significance.

Here’s to 8 more years of #imjustdrew!

It seems like I was just blogging about the 2017 one.

I’m still not going to get all hype like others did then. I do plan on viewing it with the proper protection.

The after effects are what seems the coolest. That’s an extra special day as that’s the day my cousin Sean is inducted into the Gastonia Athletic Hall Of Fame and the NCAA Men’s National Championship is also that day.

I will always respect anything positive that brings us together. I only hope we utilize this well in this election year and being 4 years since/into the pandemic.

#imjustdrew #fromdarktosunshine

It’s easy to get on a roll and have your confidence high. Confidence is important to success and life happiness. Being humble keeps you grounded. 

I’ve been humbled quite a few times in my life and recently. You cannot ever take your eye off the prize or overlook the little things. Some call it overthinking. I call it being in control.

How many times have we seen a person or a sports team get the big head or think they’re entitled to continued glory and success? Nothing happens by accident now.

I’ve found for me daily and weekly evaluations are the best to keep myself in check. It’s great to have connections that will hold you accountable and tell you the truth even when it hurts.

Keep improving and rising high in 2024!

#ImJustDrew

I love Kelly Rowland and the Black experience.  Tyler Perry, meh.

After a long weekend and a slow Sunday, I decided to cue up Netflix and watch Mea Culpa. I didn’t hate it either.

The movie had depth even with all of the action packed in the final 30 minutes. Kelly’s character, Mea, had a troubled marriage and fell for her client, the seductive Zyair. He was an artist and basically made love to her admist paint and a canvas. There’s much more and you must follow the story carefully but she nailed her role. She wasn’t just eye candy or relying on her singing, she was acting!

Tyler Perry has certainly did some good for the Black community and Netflix has given him that platform to continue when the movie theaters were tired of Madea. He still has flaws and a lot of holes in his productions. Mea Lupa is not his best work but it’s watchable with depth.

Good bad or in between, movies like this bring my culture and people together in this month.

#ImJustDrew

I’ve supported local my entire life, especially once I realized the importance of it.

I will continue to support local. You may not see me as much in Cherokee County, specifically Blacksburg, for a while.

Blacksburg and Gaffney have businesses that I will make time to support for sure. I’m focusing on cities like Spartanburg, Clover and Rock Hill with sustained growth and community support.

In just the past week, both the 440 Grill and the Aunt Ms have announced or already closing. Yet you see more Dollar Generals and QTs (I am a fan of both).

Blacksburg, and in a larger part Cherokee County, goes through these phases, especially when there isn’t a large base of support and more big business around. It takes numbers and more people to support local and speak out against these changes.

I was talking to a small business owner just last night and he cited his space and setup being a barrier for doing bigger things. The $1 million dollar insurance policy being levied onto bar and grills also hurts.

It’s a hard deal and I won’t give up on those small businesses I see fighting for sustainability and growth.  I will simply go where I feel change is happening and like minded people like myself are and are looking at the future.

#ImJustDrew

By this, I don’t mean the highlights from social media.

This calendar year, I will record my 100th episode of the ##imjustdrew podcast and I’m 72 episodes in currently. I have interviewed several different folks and have reached out to a couple of bigger names. It seems my audience connects with more and senses the energy when I have local guests or at least someone I go back with.

During my weekly podcast evaluation, I looked at the episodes that got the most views and the ones that were more high octane. Interviewing more guests I’m familiar with and through my connections embodies the #imjustdrew brand as well. I will continue to interview and seek guests that I don’t know as well and are doing great things/have great stories. However I’m going to make more of a focus on the people in my circle/sphere to keep the energy of the podcast the best it can be.

Either way, stay tuned for more big things from the #ImJustDrew podcast. I look forward to being able to do another Live show as well!

#ImJustDrew

Another person tried

But nobody died

Get out of my face

You’re just spiteful and undelightful

What a disgrace

You have to backstab and make up lies

You don’t get your way and you pout and try to catch flies

Flies with vinegar? No! Use honey

This has never been funny

You wanted a competition! You got it champ!

Let’s run it, y’all will see my stamp

I earned this the hard way

You’re in for a war, forget a battle

You have to really make things shake, roll and rattle

Throwing stones and hiding your hands won’t work here

Hard work and integrity wins dear

I am preparing my guest lists and am about to record Episode 71 of the #ImJustDrew podcast, the part of the #ImJustDrew brand.

To the naked eye, it would seem that I focus simply on making friends and basically networking. That’s the purpose of the #imjustdrew brand. The podcast goes deeper and focuses on a broader variety of topics. These come into play whenever I interview a guest. I’ve had more than a dozen guests come onto my pod. I ask them questions about themselves and what they’re doing. They are the focal point. We may talk about other topics and things but the guest is the spotlight.

I was taught by my mentors in podcasting and communications to produce the content I am comfortable with and to keep it consistent. I like to stay socially conscious and even talk about my family and friends in a positive light. When you’re on the airwaves talking for 30 minutes, the game does change.

Shakespeare knew several different ways to tell the same story. I’ve did that on all of my platforms. The technique on the #imjustdrew podcast is to explore different angles of the parts of the whole. I continue to learn, grow and adjust with all of the content readily available.

I hope this helps for those that wish to listen, become a guest or recommend a guest.

#imjustdrew

Unlike middle Earth where winter is here, middle age is in my case and the ones that grew up around and near me.

We are now the new adults, aunts/uncles, influencers, role models, and even grandparents. Many in my age group are watching our friends, classmates and family pass on.

My mom and uncle both said by the time the 50s come so many around you have passed away. This is definitely the truth. It isn’t the youth I once knew.

I’m glad I founded a brand based on forming constant connections and friends. You miss your old ones forever but like Job, you can start anew.

I often tell people saying goodbye in any form is not easy. I haven’t grasped how I’m going to live the rest of my life without my mom. I know I have the strength and resources. This is a part of life also. However one day we will all be together!!!!

#imjustdrew ##fromdarktosunshine