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#SmartBrownGirlCareer

Disrespecting My Time is a Problem and a Lesson

I hate when people waste my time in ways that could have been prevented. I especially hate when those people look like me, are people who I want to uplift and respect but instead I'm looking at my phone trying to figure out how to even process the bullsh*t. How often am I inclined to start thoughts with "as Black people," "we Black women are..."? It's a reflex because I live and work within my own community so it's anecdotal to say that this is behavior uniquely reflective of Black women; it is not. However, it does hurt more as
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Tech Tips

How to Write & Self-Publish A Book

Almost two years ago I self published my first book, Send It On, a collection of short stories. I am a horrible self-promoter and haven't spoken much about the book or the process behind publishing. Since every one can't get a land a book deal like your favorite YouTubers, I'm here to give you a very highly requested #TechTips post, on how to write and publish your own book! 1. Writing I think a lot of people have some pretty dope storylines that they could put to paper, but they’re allowing their insecurities to overwhelm them. That’s one of the underlying missions
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Career

The Fear of Success | #SmartBrownGirl

The fear of success is a peculiar feeling to try and articulate, though it is something that many of us deal with multiple times in our life journeys. Its been an ongoing thing for me, and a constant conversation of half sentences and mumbled words trying to place exactly what this insecurity is, what is this waning feeling... The latest manifestation has come about as #SmartBrownGirl continues to grow. I started my YouTube channel, in all sincerity, for free weave and here 3 years later, I'm doing something that I never set out to do nor ever thought could be
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Tech Tips

Turning Your Ideas into an Online Shop | Tech Tuesday

Since launching the #SmartBrownGirl line of t-shirts and sweatshirts, I've been receiving questions about how did I take an idea, produce and then sell it. So I dedicated this #TechTuesday to answering all those questions and providing a few extra tips to help folks get their ideas off the ground and selling. 1. Google.com is your best friend. And there's not an ounce of shade in that sentiment. Any business venture is going to take research, there is no way to circumvent that and it's really for your best interest. 2. Friends are not always the best people to do
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#BTVF - Beyond the Valencia Filter

#BTVF – Suna L., Johnson & Johnson Scientist

My jaw hurts because I've been smiling so hard at my computer screen the entire time it took me to edit down 1.5 hours of footage to this 20-minute interview. I really want to drop all types of expletives to explain the level at which this young lady makes me so proud to call her a friend. But we'll keep it cute and professional here instead. #BTVF, Behind/Beyond The Valencia Filter, is an interview series showcasing young people of color who are in non-glamourized industries with a focus on inspiring others to pursue their own path to defining their success story. And
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#BTVF - Beyond the Valencia Filter

#BTVF: From the Grammy’s to Tech Start-Up w/ Devon Harris

#BTVF is Behind the Valencia Filter, where I profile successful people of color in industries that are not glamorized by the mainstream. This one sits more on the fringe of that sentiment but I felt it was still a worthwhile interview to bring to my audience. Devon Harris, formerly known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy award-winning producer who helped his cousin Kanye West start the G.O.O.D. Music Label. Devon attended undergrad at University of Pennsylvania, where he introduced his college roommate, John Stephens (now Legend), to his cousin and the rest became history. I met Devon during my brief
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#BTVF - Beyond the Valencia Filter

#BTVF: Interview w/ Dr. Kareem Merrick, DDS [Dentist]

The #BTVF: Behind the Valencia Filter series showcases successful Black professionals in industries that are often overlooked because mainstream likes to glamorize life in 2D. This episode features a college friend, Dr. Kareem Merrick, DDS. Dr. Merrick is a graduate of Howard University (both undergrad and School of Dentistry) and he currently practices in New York City, where he sits in several boards, is a member of faculty at Columbia and works with low income patients as well as private practice. He's clearly passionate about dentistry and I thought he would be a great fit for #BTVF because dentists are
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Tech Tips

#JouelzyTech: Tips for Good SEO & Why Online Branding is BS

I ain't forget about you doh! Tech Tuesdays (or Thursdays or whatever day I actually get to hitting the publish button) is back at. #JouelzyTech is ready to roll. I've been unduly slacking, but I loves you and so this tech video is finally one for all peoples, just not YouTube content creators. We're talking the basics of SEO and how the term "online branding" is a swindle for folks trying to make a quick dollar off of useless webinars. You know I'm always out here to save you coin and empower to being a smart consumer. Now off to
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Tech Tips

Tech Tuesdays: Tips on Building a Successful YouTube Channel & Growing Your Audience

Second video in my #jouelzytech tip series. I'll be catching up soon! Life man, sometime it just gets ahead of you. But here's my tips on building a successful youtube channel and working towards growing your audience. When should you start your channel? Whenever you want! There's no better time than now. Don't stress about having high quality production equipment, that will come with time. Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has a different success story. Also people who have been on YouTube for a while, may have deleted their older videos that show you what they really started with
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Tech Tips

Catch Up!: #JouelzyTech | YouTube, Networks & Google+

Did you miss my first #jouelzytech Tweet chat? I got you covered, here is the feed with the most pertinent info I discussed. You can also check the #jouelzytech hashtag on Twitter for some of the additional commentary and questions that I answered. Be sure to catch the next one, every 3rd Tuesday of the month (March 18th) and follow me on Twitter @jouelzy! We have one more week left for the weekly tech videos and then it will become a monthly feature on my YouTube channel, check for my recent tech videos here.
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Tech Tips

Tech Tuesdays: Tips & Info on Joining YouTube Networks While Being a Brown Girl

In honor of Black History Month, every Tuesday I'll be posting a video on Technology and using the Internets to your benefit for the month of February, culminating with a tech tweetchat on Tuesday, February 18th @ 7:30pm EST! First video up was inspired by Chescaleigh's How YouTubers Make Money video, where I left a short essay of a reply. There is so much negative misinformation in the Black Beauty 'Guru' silo on YouTube about networks and how they work. The correct term for a YouTube network is Multi-Channel Network (MCN) and is defined by Google as: entities that affiliate
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#BTVF - Beyond the Valencia Filter

#BTVF: Interview w/ Jovian Zayne [Teach for America]

Beyond the Valencia Filter is a new series, where I'll be showcasing people who have reached success that isn't often portrayed in the social media infatuated world where success means jet setting, exotic locations and heavily filtered pictures. My first feature is Jovian Zayne, Managing Director of Teach for America. This is a two fold interview, providing information on Teach for America, which is a great opportunity that I advocate at least researching and how Jovian has achieved success in her own right, her own definition. This is not about defining success. It's about exemplifying how success is a personal
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