

How This CEO Went Beyond Her Comfort Zone To Turn Her Dreams Into Reality
Adulting can be frustrating and challenging, and we all know that life gets super-hectic. Before you know it, you're too busy juggling bills, taking care of family obligations, managing everyday responsibilities, and putting out workplace fires to even think about anything close to career dreams. That's something you did as a kid, with nothing but homework, school crushes, and puberty to fret about.
Well, we beg to differ. Taking the time to not only acknowledge your wildest dreams of success, prosperity, and happiness but work toward making those dreams reality is important now more than ever. "I'm a true believer that we are human beings who are meant to grow and expand, evolve and meet new versions of ourselves over and over and over again," says Teneshia Jackson Warner, CEO of EGAMI Group and founder of The Dream Project.
Courtesy of EGAMI Group
Jackson Warner wrote The Big Stretch: 90 Days to Expand Your Dreams, Crush Your Goals, and Create Your Own Success, a book that was sparked by her own story of unapologetically dreaming big and working toward bringing career dreams to life. "I am the definition of a dreamer. I came to New York City with two bags, a Bible, and a big dream, not knowing a soul."
Early in her career, she worked as a project manager at IBM Global Services before moving on to become a general manager at Rush Communications. She then stepped out on faith to launch her own company, offering dynamic marketing strategies for major brands including Hennessy and Procter & Gamble.
"Fast-forward 17 years later: I'm in my own New York office with my own team and partners. That was a dream for me," she adds. "I wanted to be able to share any insights I've learned along the way to equip other dreamers to live the life that they dream about. I had to personally stretch outside of my comfort zone and take a leap of faith and it panned out."
Through The Dream Project, she has curated and interviewed more than 200 business, entertainment, and community leaders, from tycoon Magic Johnson to Rent the Runway founder Jennifer Fleiss. "In interviewing them or having them participate on our panels, I found that there were some universal truths across all of their journeys. My goal was to take some of those universal principles and make them digestible and simple for any dreamer to apply on their journey."
So, what can you actually do to get dreams out of your head and into real life? We know, it's great to be motivated by inspirational quotes or inspired by success stories, but what's the plan, sis? We've got you covered.
Read below to find out more about Jackson Warner's 5 types of "Career Dreamers" and how you can begin to tap into your own journey of advancement:
What are the 'Dreamer' types, and how do we know which one we might be?
Teneshia Jackson Warner: There's the 'Careerpreneur Dreamer' and this is someone who finds it important to align their passion with their day-to-day job. They don't necessarily have the same risk tolerance as an entrepreneurial person who will risk it all in the name of a dream. They are able to thrive in corporate structures or environments where there's an infrastructure and process. The 'Make It Happen Dreamer' thrives in risky environments. These people are visionaries, and they like to work for themselves. They're willing to take the risk that comes with that.
A 'Hobby Dreamer' is a professional or entrepreneur who is working in their business area, and, while they have other passions, they do not want to put the burden on their passions to take care of their families. They want to nurture their passions, but they're not going to make them the main income stream.
The 'Activist Dreamer' is a person who has the ability to see a problem in the world—a community challenge, societal issue, or social injustice—and they are compelled to do something. They will start a nonprofit or movement and dedicate their lives to [addressing] issues that impact our world.
The 'CEO Dreamer' is someone who has worked a significant amount of time in the corporate structure and they've always known that they want to be their own boss. They've made the transition from that corporate environment or that traditional work setting into a more entrepreneurial model, taking what they've learned to thrive in venturing out on their own.
You detail how a 'career stretch' is necessary in order to turn a dream into reality. What does this entail?
The career stretch is the distance between your comfort zone and your dream. Once you begin to stretch, you're expanding outside of that comfort zone. It's the expansion that is necessary for you to meet another version of yourself. I'm a big believer that you must make sure you're constantly evolving in all areas of your career.
What specifically can we do to initiate the 'stretch' and turn career dreams into reality?
My book is broken into phases. For a 'Careerpreneur Dreamer,' for example, we start by focusing on the "Dream" phase where you reflect and do some soul-searching about where you are and what's next. You really challenge yourself to do some thinking. Is the dream really yours or are you living out a dream that has expired but is safe? I encourage you to write it down and make it plain.
Second, give yourself the space to dream again. In that phase, you identify your ideal dream environment and get intentional about immersing yourself in those environments. There are other activities in that phase as well such as detoxing poor habits and taking a look at your 'Family Dreamers Ancestry' to determine what you were taught about dreaming. Were there any areas where you have limiting beliefs that might be holding you back?
Think about the end of 2022 and ask yourself, 'What are some things that I wish to accomplish but then that will move you forward to reach that dream in your career?' The "Design" phase is about taking the big-idea dream and quantifying it in a plan that can be measured. Think about that goal you want to accomplish, and think of things you need to do in the next 90 days.
It could be, 'I'm going to hire a recruiter,' or 'I'm going to commit to sending my resume to a minimum of 10 companies a week.' You map measurable goals over that time period. Be sure your goals are attainable, relevant, time-based, and specific and that the plan is as well.
Then it's the "Dare" phase in which you get comfortable with making daring moves. Let's say you think, 'I don't do well pitching,' or 'I don't do well asking for support.' This is where you have to work on getting comfortable with being uncomfortable in making daring moves in the name of the dream, and you strengthen your boldness with exercises.
The last is the "Do" phase. If you're really serious about making the 'Career Stretch' a lifestyle, you really need to be willing to stick with your dream plan for the long-term—even after the first time you lack funding, hear a no, or face an unexpected blow like the pandemic. You have to have the toughness, tenacity, and mental exercises in order to combat those obstacles when they come.
You're willing to become a 'Dream Warrior' to fight the challenges that stand between you and your dream.
How can young professionals today execute these phases, especially those who have not had the traditional in-person workplace or professional experience due to the pandemic?
Part of your job as the leader and champion of your career is to be intentional on how you build your network and be resourceful regardless of the times. If you're still in a completely remote environment, invite people to a 10-minute coffee conversation over Zoom. Send them a digital card for Starbucks. Challenge yourself to do those virtual meet-ups. I even take lunch with a person over Zoom. I call them 'Chew and Chats,' and again, lunch is on me. Create those connections, even virtually.
Also, the world is now open again in a hybrid model, and while I do think we will embrace and define new ways of working, human connection and collaboration will always be important. Keeping safety first, of course, I challenge everyone to get back out there. I took six weeks to do what I call a 'purposeful connection tour,' where I intentionally went back to building a human connection with partners, team members, and clients. And before talking business, it was about re-sparking that human connection.
It not only warmed my heart, it warmed theirs. Step away from Zoom. People do business with people, not Zoom boxes. Get outside!
Find out more about Teneshia Jackson Warner on IG @TeneshiaJWarner or via her website.
Featured image courtesy of Egami Group
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Who Is Steve Lacy? 9 Things To Know About The "Bad Habit" Artist Defining Gen Z
Compton-born singer Steve Lacy has made a name for himself in recent years, thanks to songs like the mega-hit "Bad Habit." Touted as a sonic love child of the likes of Stevie Wonder meets Prince, the 25-year-old has carved a lane of his own as a producer, singer-songwriter, and guitarist to the tune of a dazzling genre-bending blend of rock, R&B, and pop songs that are as infectious as they are intricate.
The breakout success of "Bad Habit" and the positive reception of his Grammy award-winning sophomore album Gemini Rights proves how deeply Steve has cemented his position in the lane he's decided to occupy, which according to the "N Side" artist is a place that is "far removed" from the industry.
Steve Lacy - Bad Habit (Official Video)
But who is the musician beyond the iconic braids and viral hits defining Gen Z? If you're just getting familiar, here are 9 things about Steve Lacy you should know:
1.For Steve Lacy, owning his narrative is important and he doesn't like to be placed in a box:
In a 2022 interview, he told The Guardian:
“Something big for me as a kid, and to this day, is owning my narrative. I didn’t want to do things if it would put a title on me. As a kid, there was so much homophobia. I love dance but I was like, I don’t want people to assume I’m gay, so I didn’t discover dancing. A lot of people didn’t know I could sing until I put some music out because I didn’t want my family to be, ‘Oh yeah, Steve’s a singer – Steve, sing us something!’ I just didn’t want anyone to assume something. I’m just weird!”
2.He had a near-death experience involving a drunk driver who crashed into him.
Steve touched on the topic of his near-death experience that happened three years ago for a recent cover story with Variety, where it was detailed that his car got crashed into by a drunk driver who hit him at full speed.
“Being that close to death, I had the realization that you could be doing everything right, and then some fucking dumbass can crash into your car head-on. And that could be it.”
3.Steve used to cold pitch beats to artists he admired and eventually worked with Kendrick Lamar on his song "PRIDE":
In his teens, Steve was friends with musician Jameel Bruner (who is also musician Thundercat's brother) and became intrigued by the way he created beats on a laptop. Shortly after, he was invited to play with Jameel's group at the time, a band known as The Internet. There, he would send cold pitches to artists like GoldLink and Isaiah Rashad in the form of DMs and emails.
One of his collaborators, singer-songwriter Ezra Koenig from the group Vampire Weekend eventually connected him with DJ Dahi, a producer who would become Steve's mentor and a catalyst for the work Steve would do on Kendrick Lamar's studio album DAMN. Steve revealed to The Guardian:
“I came with a laptop on my back, guitar in my hand, ready for whatever. First thing Kendrick says to me in this room full of guys: ‘Yeah, I seen your face in some music videos’. I said, ‘Hey, yours too man!’ I did it, broke the ice. We start jamming on new ideas, he’s playing me stuff he’s working on for Damn. I’m handling myself really cool, calm and collected, but I was freaking the fuck out, you know? There was a moment when it was quiet, Kendrick was on his phone, and I was like: let me play you some beats. Really scary – I jumped off the cliff.”
“I was in London the first time it came out. I walked to the Starbucks down the street and I’m listening to the album, and by the time I get back to the hotel, Pride is playing, I’m crying, the Damn electronic billboard is right there – I’m like, what the hell is my life?”
4.Steve is ambivalent to the 'queer icon' status the media tries to assign him because of his sexuality:
“I don’t like to handle that stuff in a way that’s shocking. I don’t feel brave or tough, it’s just how I exist... It should be a joke that we put so much emphasis on sexuality." - via LA Times
"I never care to speak for anyone else, because I think all of our experiences are so different from each other,” he says. “I guess I have a selfish perspective of myself in the world, and I’m just expressing myself. I’m not necessarily doing things for other people to feel good about themselves." - via Variety
5.Steve Lacy on not feeling like he 'needed' to come out as bisexual and thinking it's 'silly':
“But I didn’t really come out. I didn’t try to — it just kinda happened. I don’t care to announce who I’m into sexually. I think it’s silly. I never felt like I needed to come out.” - via Variety
6.Though 'Gemini Rights' is inspired by his breakup with his ex-boyfriend, Steve insists his art is about himself:
“I have no idea what he’s up to. This is my job, you know? Songs are not really about him. They’re about me. I’ve got to do this to feel less crazy or alone.” - via LA Times
In an interview with The Guardian that was published a few months earlier than the one quoted above, Steve said this about his split with his ex and their whirlwind seven-month relationship:
"I just felt like I tried, I kept trying, I kept wanting to try, and nothing was working. [I wanted to] just communicate openly, but it was just hard. But I made a great record, and I love him, it’s all good.”
7.He owes his curiousity to his late Filipino father:
In an interview with the LA Times, Steve acknowledged the memory of his late Filipino father and acknowledges a gift he left him with:
“I definitely feel parts of him for sure. I was really young and I didn’t get to meet the whole him. I have to rely on stories from my mom to tell me what he was like, but he left me with a curiosity to understand things deeper. My mom said he was very intuitive.”
8.Therapy helped Steve see art for what it was instead of what it could be:
In an interview with The Guardian, the singer-songwriter shared, that therapy allowed him to “be more open in creating, moving the things out of the way that will keep me from being my best self. I was getting rid of that pedestal: an Artist. No – we’re all people contributing to a collective consciousness.”
9.Steve says there's freedom in not having to conform in order to have success:
“I didn’t have to conform to whatever would make me a ‘success.’ I didn’t have to have people in my ear telling me what will work. I feel more freedom now than expectations, because I didn’t have to change anything. I just had to get better.” - via LA Times
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Featured image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images