Early Accountability

EAP 18: Branding Your Battle

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is marketing and public relations specialist Sheree Oats, who is also the founder of the group “Not Built to Break”. Sheree started this group to create a safe space to discuss mental health issues among women of color, a subject that has often been viewed as taboo, but is so important to talk about. During Sheree’s own transition from college to her professional life, she experienced depression for which she was prescribed medication. She talked with her parents about her depression, but they were not equipped to know how to respond or provide her with the support she needed, and due to the tendency within her community to not admit or discuss mental health issues, she did not know who to turn to. So in 2016, she simply asked her Facebook community if they would be interested in joining an online support group focused on mental health, to which she received an overwhelming response. From that point on, the “Not Built to Break” Facebook group has been an outlet for members to discuss their highs and lows, share inspirations quotes or stories, and simply support each other. To anyone looking to start something to help or support their community, Sheree recommends this three step process: (1) Understand what the community needs (2) Research the need further and survey what resources are currently available, then ask your peers and others in the community what would be most helpful (3) Execute your idea – allowing yourself time to fully develop the brand and create things like the logo and mission statement at the right time

EAP 17: Navigating School Difficulties & Response to Intervention

On this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast with Kimi Walker, our guest is Marvin Prather, an educator and intervention coordinator who spends his days working with kids who have math or reading deficits to get them up to grade level. Marvin has seen students make great improvements in their math and reading skills as well as their behavior in the classroom by partnering with the student’s classroom teacher to create a plan of action specifically for that student. Typically, the first step in helping students in subject areas of deficiency is to put them in a small group of students to go over the subject matter to give each student more personalized attention and the ability to ask more clarifying questions if they do not understand. If this method does not show improvement after a few weeks, the classroom teacher will have a meeting with the student’s parents to discuss what has already been done to help their child and they will discuss together a plan for increased interventions, such as increasing small group time to 2-3 times per week or reducing the number of problems being presented for the student to solve. In most situations, Marvin has noticed measurable improvement within 2-3 months. Marvin’s advice to parents is to talk to the child’s classroom teacher to see if there are any resources they can be using at home to help their child progress. Additionally, if the child’s teacher has contacted the parents to discuss their child’s behavior in school, it is likely that their behavior is linked to difficulty understanding some of the subject matter being taught, so this should be handled appropriately and consistently. Marvin’s advice to teachers is to set clear expectations and maintain a consistent environment for all students, using rewards or incentives to encourage good behavior and a rapport with the students that will create trust.

EAP 16: From Rape Survivor to Entrepreneur

Kimi Walker's guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is Robin Clark, an overcomer of life circumstances who has found belonging and purpose as an aesthetician. During Robin’s freshman year of college, she was the victim of sexual assault.  She transferred to a different school closer to home, but eventually moved back home before completing her schooling because she needed to properly cope with and process what had happened to her.  She found great satisfaction and achievement in teaching herself yoga, which connected her mental and physical body in a way that allowed her to compartmentalize her trauma and give her an outlet to express her feelings. Robin also participated in counseling and with groups of other assault survivors, where she felt validation and affirmation in the emotions that she had been feeling, and through talking with other survivors and by publicly telling her story, she has been able to forgive her abuser and find a way forward in her life.  She now finds immense purpose and excitement as she serves her aesthetic clients, allowing them to feel better about themselves and their appearance.  Robin encourages anyone who might have been a victim of sexual assault to find the help you need and not be ashamed of what happened to you; things will get better if you just keep pressing on. Topics Covered in this Episode: -Robin’s journey of processing her sexual assault -Healthy ways that Robin has found to heal -Pursuing a career that aligns with your passion

EAP 15: Achieving Career Success + Wellness

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is Stella Odogwu, founder of Intelle Coaching Solutions which offers services in career coaching and wellness. Intelle’s goal is to empower black women in corporate America to achieve career success and personal wellness. Stella knows that everyone’s career situation is different, so she starts out working with each client to map out their ideal career path, determine where on that path they currently are, and discover any barriers that might be standing in the way of the client achieving their ultimate career goals. Stella works to help her clients know how to deal with the “Imposter Syndrome” that they may be experiencing, learn how to respond to microaggressions, build strategic relationships within their workplace, and negotiate their compensation. Ideal candidates for career coaching are very ambitious and driven and are ready to put in the work that their career coach recommends in order to get to the next step of their career plans. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Characteristics of ideal candidates for career coaching • The process that Stella takes her clients through during coaching • How to get more information about Intelle Coaching Solutions

EAP 14: Becoming a Mindful and Effortless Eater

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is Angela Douge, the dietician and nutritionist behind the Effortless Eater.  Angela grew up in a home with strict parameters about the types of food that the family would eat, so she never had sugary cereal or candy as a child, and to this day has never tasted pork.  After completing college and additional schooling to become a dietician with a master’s degree in public health, Angela taught nutrition at the college level for 7 years before venturing out to do her own thing along the same lines. She now works as a consultant and coach offering meal planning, nutritional counseling, elementary student education services, and personal chef services as a part of her Effortless Eater venture.  Angela’s tips for mindful eating are: (1) write down your vision for your overall diet, (2) determine the actionable steps that you can take today that will help you fulfill your vision, and (3) never leave home without a snack, to remove the temptation of stopping at a drive-thru that does not have food aligning with your vision. Topics Covered in this Episode: -How eating can be mindful and effortless at the same time -Improving your overall well-being by practicing clean eating -Ways that Angela and Effortless Eater can help you reach your health goals. Keep an eye out for Angela’s upcoming cookbook entitled “The Bitter Breakfast”!

EAP 13: Defining Success and Creating Opportunities

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is Meredith Moore Crosby, a leadership coach with her family’s company, Leverette Weekes. After growing up in Minnesota, Meredith attended Howard University and worked her way through corporate America for many years, including working as the speechwriter for Don Thompson, the first African-American President and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation. During her time in the corporate world, she faced difficulties and limitations, but rather than surrendering in defeat, she decided to use what she had learned to help individuals and organizations as they navigated their corporate strategies and employee relations. By helping people walk through and comprehend what “success” means to them, and what goals beyond success they would like to achieve, Meredith provides an invaluable service to her clients that creates opportunities both now and in the future. In addition to her one-on-one services, she is in her second year of offering the PR Bootcamp course that gives entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs a community to bounce ideas off of and further solidify their business plans. Meredith also conducts a writing challenge in which she encourages everyone to write daily in order to dispell the fear associated with writing and develop this crucial skill for the participants’ personal and professional lives. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Using your definition of “success” to guide your aspirations • Creating opportunities in your spheres of influence • Advocating for yourself in the corporate setting

EAP 12: Fulfilling Your Life Purpose + Becoming a Mindful Techie

Kimi Walker's guest on this episode of the Early Accountability podcast is Meico Whittlock, founder and CEO of the Mindful Techie, an organization that helps high-achievers reclaim their time and refocus on their life purpose. Meico uses his experiences on the brink of burnout to coach individuals and organizations on the topics of reducing digital distractions, reclaiming work/life balance, and refocusing on their purpose or mission in life. Meico identifies two key tools in this shift in perspective: (1) deciding to live in a way that will fulfill your own life purpose, rather than in reaction to other people’s priorities, and (2) a very helpful Gmail tool that helps you spend less time in your inbox. It is easy to view your inbox and your calendar full of meetings as someone else’s to-do list for you, but Meico recommends shifting your mindset when an email comes in so that you see it as a way to fulfill your purpose rather than someone else’s. In Gmail, Meico uses the “when inbox ready” plugin that allows you to hide your inbox until you are ready to see it and then it provides you with metrics about how long and how many times you access your inbox over a specified timeframe. The three life-changing questions that Meico wants us to ask ourselves are: (1) What am I grateful for? (2) What would I do if I knew that I couldn’t fail? (3) What will people say about me after I die? The answers to these questions can either affirm that we are on the right path or alert us that we have strayed from our life purpose and we need to evaluate our vision and priorities. The items that we put on our calendars are the items that take precedence over everything else, so be sure to schedule time for what is important to you. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Meico’s tools for focusing on your life’s purpose • The three key questions to ask yourself about your life’s purpose • How to still be able to spend time on social media without feeling guilty • Multitasking is a myth

EAP 11: Melissa's Story

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Melissa Calixte. Melissa has gone through quite a journey to arrive in Atlanta working with the homeless population, but she would be the first to tell you that God has guided her every step of the way and provided for her in every area of her life. After going through a season of inconsistent employment in the Tallahassee area, Melissa felt led to move to Atlanta. Melissa faced significant hardship there, including a 2.5 year stint of homelessness and sleeping in her car and the loss of support from some of her family and friends who didn’t understand why she was staying in Atlanta during such hard times. But she persevered because she knew that God had led her to Atlanta. Through all of her struggles, Melissa kept a journal of the specific things she was praying for, and now she can go back and read all of the ways that God came through for her. She is grateful and thankful for every day and for the opportunities that come her way, including this opportunity to work with the homeless population with the respect and dignity of someone who has been in their shoes. The lessons that Melissa has learned and is still learning are to be generous with what you have, to reflect on the past and move on, and to embrace the journey.

EAP 10: Conquering Law School in Her Father's Memory

Kimi Walker's guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Zana Williams, a second-year law student and motivational speaker in the San Diego area. From an early age, Zana knew that she wanted to become an attorney, and she is very close to achieving this dream, despite experiencing the difficult loss of her father in 2014 and the difficult grieving process that followed. Zana made it through that very dark time only by the grace of God, who relentlessly pursued her and showed her His love even when she was angry with Him, and by watching the incredible strength that her mother demonstrated in the middle of her own mourning. Zana is dedicated to motivating people to reach their potential, from young people in Lesotho, Africa, to first-year law students that she intentionally mentors. Her life experiences have encouraged her to just keep pushing through struggles, to be transparent with your friends and family, and to seek accountability in the midst of struggles to go hard and focus on taking the next step. To aspiring lawyers, Zana recommends that they focus completely on their grades while preparing for and being in law school because it will be worth the lost networking and social time when it is all said and done. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Zana’s advice for aspiring lawyers • How Zana got through the loss of her father and grandmother • The importance of transparency in struggles • How her father’s funeral sparked Zana’s passion for motivational speaking For more information, visit earlyaccountability.com

EAP 9: Conquering Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction Through Art

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Kina Fields, a massage therapist, trainer, and artist. Kina has struggled with anxiety and depression since childhood, but only in the past couple of years began seeking help for the resulting addictions and mental health issues, and she is here to tell us more about the role that art played in her journey as well as provide some needed advice to listeners who might also be struggling. After battling alcohol and drug addiction in an attempt to self-medicate the anxiety that took over her life and surviving multiple suicide attempts, Kina sought help through a group therapy program. In combination with her self-expression through her art, this therapy program has put her back on solid footing and given her the perspective that she desperately needed to realize that depression is real, but no one is alone in their struggle. She also encourages listeners to think about everyone in their lives who need them and the positive change that only they can bring to the world by making the best version of themselves the priority of their daily life. Kina has found freedom in creating her art and she hopes that any listeners in Atlanta can come out to her art show on March 16-17th. Topics Covered in this Episode: -How Kina uses art in her battle with depression and anxiety -Kina’s advice to others struggling with addiction or their mental health -How to react if you relapse into your old ways