Color Me Brave: Diamond Gallow #artist #entrepreneur #hairguru

Color Me Brave is a blog series that celebrates amazing women that are both successful in their careers and supportive towards other women trying to make it. This series was created especially for millennial women of color because I want them to see other women of color that have been in their place, walked in their shoes and persevered. Color Me Brave is full of fabulous women leaders with dynamic stories. Enjoy and join me in applauding these industry leaders. To contact our Color Me Brave leaders, please email hello@thecolormeb.com.

Diamond Gallow

Color Me Brave: Where did you attend college? Graduate school?

Diamond Gallow: I attended college at Fordham University in New York City. In the summer of 2012, I made a conscious decision to dropout with only 3 semesters to complete my degree. Why? Simply because I realized that not only was I wasting money, more importantly, I was wasting my time in school. School had nothing to offer me. The work was easy - I mean easy - as in I've written a 10-page paper in 1.5 hours easy. And got an A. 

I realized that I was paying into a system that was not for me. You see, I've never really been interested in getting a job. I've always been an entrepreneur. I sat down with myself and I said, "Self, at your core, what do you believe in". The response was easy. FREEDOM. I value and have always valued freedom much more than security. I'm ok with hardship. I've faced hardship. Don't let my grammar, college, or marginal success fool you, I'm from the hood of Houston, Texas. I have been tested and I do not fear hardship. Fear is an almost useless emotion that most people allow to dictate their entire lives. That being said I made a decision not to fear the future, or other people's opinions of me and I dropped out. It was the best choice I've made thus far! 

Color Me Brave: What do you do for a living? Where do you work?

Diamond: Entrepreneur - a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. I work for myself. I am a licensed realtor in Texas and New York, I use this license occasionally to make some money. It has a great purpose for my future, that with time will reveal itself to the world. 

My passion, currently is hair. I was blessed to have the skills to install and style hair extensions in ways that no one else has seen, done, or experienced.  My company is called Bombshell En Route. We are currently a mobile extensions salon in Houston and we will be branching out to other cities soon. 

Color Me Brave: Why did you decide to take on this position? Is it part of a larger plan for you?

Diamond: I took on this position because it gave me peace and passion. I learned how to do hair because my family was too poor for me to afford to get my hair done. I learned a lot about hair. At my heart, I'm an artist. I think everyone is! They just don't realize their talents. I took my gift, developed it into a skill and made a lot of money from it. Now, I'm ready to branch out into a corporation much bigger than myself and a few employees.

Color Me Brave: Are you a member of any professional organizations? If so which ones?

Diamond: I'm a member of HAR, Houston Association of Realtors. That's about it. It is something I am working on. I have a tendency to isolate myself. I use isolation to focus, and network to grow. I plan on joining a few organizations this year. They're great for networking, but they don't necessarily grant success. 

Your ability to think outside of the box (playing chess) and your tenacity dictate success. The truth is I find networking uncomfortable. It (doesn't feel genuine) so I avoid it. I'm just a really direct person. I don't want to dance around what I want from you. I don't want to waste time pretending like I want to get to know you better. Genuine relationships are built over time. If I want something from someone, I find them and tell them what I want. I don't want the responsibility of maintaining my position within a professional organization. I have a husband, 3 sons, and a business. My time is extremely limited and thus valuable. 

Color Me Brave: What are the biggest challenges you face in your job? In your industry?

Diamond: Challenges are problems but more importantly they are opportunities. There are a lot of people that are in the beauty industry. I guess you can call that a challenge. It means that I have to have the discipline to execute marketing. The mental capacity and creativity to think outside of the box. I have to be flexible enough to change with the market. 

I have to stay educated about the industry and just slay (execute) it. It's really that simple. I can't call them challenges. It's kind of just a task list. Focus and commitment are key. 

Color Me Brave: How do you overcome obstacles in the workplace?

Diamond: This one is hard. Lol so my personality type is an ENTJ (look it up). My workplace is me. All begins and ends with me. I like that. That's why I didn't see the point in college. I try to eliminate obstacles as much as possible. However, they still happen. When they do happen, I try to take a moment and evaluate the situation without my own ego. It helps me see clearer. 

After this, I coordinate a plan that I feel is mutually beneficial, I present it and we make edits from there that are fair. 

So overcoming obstacles in steps: 
1. Evaluate the reality of the situation without ego
2. Weigh the pros and cons 
3. Make a plan
4. Take action immediately

Color Me Brave: What’s something you wish you could tell your college freshman self?

Diamond: Don't become trapped in other people's ideas of who you are or who you should be. You are worthy and deserving of the best. Never settle for anything less. 

Also, don't run from pain and hurt. Face it, embrace it, feel it, accept it, discern it; then, use it as power. Great people are made by their ability to overcome struggle. The struggle strengthens you. Don't fear it. It's much like building muscles. It hurts at first. You think it's impossible on day 1. However, by day 90, you really get to see results and you start feeling great about it. In fact, you cant stop doing it. You see, muscles are built by tissue being ripped apart then forced to heal. This happens over and over and over again. Each time, building the muscle. 

It really isn't about how many times you've been hurt , broken, or ripped apart. It's all about your ability to heal. Get back up and keep going. In the words of Les Brown, "If you can look up, you can get up". 

Color Me Brave: How can women show their support for other women in the workplace?

Diamond: Remove your ego. Be honest. Say what's on your mind(with tact). Look for a solution together. Be conscious of when you're not being supportive, and make a decision to change that. 

Color Me Brave: What do you do to relax with your girlfriends?

Diamond: I don't have many girlfriends lol. Every once and a while we go out for dinner, or we sit and talk. We play board games, and we get responsibly wasted. I'm socially an extrovert, but the moment I'm home, or alone, I genuinely enjoy the silence and space to be left with myself and my thoughts.... I like doing all the above by myself too. Minus the board games lol Bikram Yoga helps a lot.

Color Me Brave: Anything else you want our millennial hustlapreneurs to know about you? 
Diamond: I have failed more times than I have ever succeeded. On a yearly basis I face an obstacle I feel at one moment I can never recover from. I get the stuffing knocked out of me. But I get up and I go harder. Go hard. You don't have anything to lose. The opposite is far bleaker. For in complacency you risk losing your very being, which is the greatest thing you have to lose.

For more information Color Me Brave and other CMB services, check out our website www.thecolormeb.com ! Click here to join our mailing list!

Continue reading "Color Me Brave" and learn about Lea's work at St. Jude's research hospital...

A couple of our CMBrave honorees shared their wisdom and experiences during the #SheLeads2016 virtual conference. Our facilitators shared tips on networking, taking on leadership roles at work, self-care and more! Sign-up here and get access to interactive + fantastic workshops!

I'm the CEO of my Destiny!

I am a proud member of a black greek organization. While taking the steps to join my organization, like others that have completed the journey, I learned a poem that changed my life. I love every line of the poem but one line ignites my core every time.

"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul."

That is deep, y'all. In the context of my journey to joining my illustrious sisterhood, this line means no one but YOU can stop you from achieving your goals. It means you are in control of your life, decisions and strength. 

In my the context of my life, almost 7 years later, what does it mean?

As a young professional woman trying to make it in corporate america, in NYC, it's easy to feel like I am not in control. Other people decide my salary, how much my rent is, if my subway train will work - and those outcomes have larger implications in my life. 

My salary can dictate my quality of life. If rent is $2000/month for a one-bedroom, that has huge implications (because I am NOT paying that much for a space I do NOT own). If my subway is not working, forget it. I'm mad and not going anywhere. Like this morning, we got over 20 inches of snow in NYC this weekend and my trains were a HOT MESS.

Then I remembered, "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." I remembered my goal for 2016 to be more present. I remembered, I cannot control the subways. I cannot control how my supervisor will treat me. However, I CAN control my response.

This is how I'm stepping into this week. I have a positive attitude ready to deal with the negativity that others may throw my way. Your joy and strength should not waiver because of your haters. They're still going to hate so might as well continue to SHINE!

In 2015, I made the decision to focus on positive things in my life. In 2016, I am taking the time to appreciate those things every day and make my life the happiest it can be. My happiness and joy has manifested into success at work and with my nonprofit organization. We're rolling out two brand new programs and I've already received sooooooo much positive response. 

Email hello@thecolormeb.com to nominate an honoree!

#SheLeads, Leadership + Empowerment Conference

The positive impact is a reflection of my peers and other millennial women embracing my genuine passion for helping women be their best selves at work. 

Are you walking and talking in your truth? 

Are you letting go of fear and insecurity and embracing your true passion? 

Do it! Don't be scared, we can do it together! Sign-up for our mailing list so I can check on your progress and you can hold me to my goals!

xoxo,

Courtney

@TheColorMeB 

Confidence at Work: 8 things NOT to say

As bold and fierce as we are, we sometimes have the tendency to unwittingly undermine our own confidence. This comes out in the way we speak - little subtle phrases that we use unwittingly signal to our audience that we lack confidence. Here are 8 things NOT to say if you want to sound more confident and assertive at work: 

1. DON'T: end a sentence with "...if that makes sense"

WHY NOT? Underlying this statement is a hint to your audience that you don't really know what you are talking about. The implication is "I know I'm being unclear so you probably don't understand what I am saying."

INSTEAD:  Be very purposeful and clear in your statements. If someone needs clarification, let them be the one to ask. Or you can say, "let me know if you need further clarification?" 

2. DON'T: use the word "JUST"

...as in "I just wanted to know if you reviewed that document yet" or "just wondering if you could meet with me today" 

WHY NOT? The word "just" is a permission word. Using it makes you sound apologetic (and weak) when you don't have a reason to be. 

INSTEAD: Eliminate the "J word" altogether. "Please let me know if you are able to meet with me today" makes you look way more confident and assertive. 

3.  DON'T: say "I'm not good at..." or "I suck at that"

WHY NOT? As women, there are already so many messages out there about why we are not as good. Don't feed into that. 

INSTEAD: Draw attention to your strengths. If you actually do suck at something, say "I don't have experience in that," and then highlight your ability to learn it or desire to improve. 

4. DON'T: say "This may be wrong , but..."

WHY NOT? You already lost credibility for anything that comes out of your mouth after this phrase. Again, you are highlighting your lack of confidence.

INSTEAD: Of course, it would be best to fact-check before engaging in conversations. But sometimes you're in a situation where that isn't possible. Try to only speak on things you are confident about. If you have a hint of uncertainty, you can say "I'll make sure to double check this, but..."

5. DON'T: Use Excuses

WHY NOT? Excuses are the tools of the incompetent. And you are not incompetent.

INSTEAD: Try to avoid having to come up with an excuse altogether. If you find yourself needing to explain something, be firm and offer alternative solutions.

6. DON'T: Be Silent

WHY NOT? This is passive communication. Even though you said nothing, your audience might perceive that you don't have an opinion or you are not confident that your voice matters.

INSTEAD: Speak up! One caveat here: sometimes less is more. But you definitely don't want to be silent. Your thoughts and input are important. 

7. DON'T: use "umm", "uh" or "like"

WHY NOT? This is a tough one. We are all, uhh, guilty of, like, using these words. It makes your speech less smooth and less clear.

INSTEAD: Practice not using these words, even in casual conversations. Speak more slowly. It's OKAY to take a minute to think before you respond, so take your time and make sure your statements flow well.

8. DON'T: Avoid eye contact (I know this isn't a phrase but it is nonverbal communication)

WHY NOT: Eye contact is one of the most important, yet underestimated, communication tools. 

INSTEAD: Hold your head up and look your audience in the eye. But don't be weird about it. One trick I've learned is to look at the middle of their forehead.



By Christyl Wilson
Guest Contributor


Christyl is a currently pursuing a PhD in developmental psychology at Georgia State University. She is also a program manager at www.cinnamongirl.org.

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