21 Ways to Elevate to Your Best Life

BY: UCHE JOHNSON

Reading time: 4 minutes

It’s only been over a week and I am going through withdrawals from the Summit21 Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia on June 9th and 10th, 2018.

Imagine walking into a room with 1,000+ beautiful black women smiling, laughing, and hugging each other.

This experience was like nothing I’ve seen before, and if you missed it, you need to be there next year.

The Summit 21 conference is hosted by 21Ninety, a lifestyle brand of Blavity for women of color to come together to learn about the new things in beauty, wellness and health. The conference gathered entrepreneurs, bloggers babes, influencers, side hustlers-in-chief, and other women of color from all walks of life.

For two full days, participants engaged with and learned from amazing, talented women of color. Myleik Teele, founder of curlBOX, led a masterclass on limitless living, Sarah Jakes Roberts gave a fireside chat on faith and purpose, Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche hosted a breakout session on securing the bag (Okurrrrrr *in my Cardi B voice*) and Ashley Blaine who plays “Joelle” on Dear White People imparted major gems about her journey from Howard University to Los Angeles.

These masterclasses, breakout sessions and fireside chats inspired the attendees to create the greatest vision of their lives and identify actionable steps to make their dreams come true.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Enrich & Elevate to Your Best Life” and I made sure to take lots of notes!Here are 21 takeaways that you can use to elevate to the next level of your life from Summit 21:

Make sure your actions match your values. The Migos have a song that goes, “Walk it like I talk it”. Same thing

Be in a relationship where your priorities are being challenged. (Ask yourself, “Does this person (friend, partner, family member, or colleague) PUSH me to be a better human?)

Build a business that can be successful big and small. Sustainable growth is key for my entrepreneurs.

Learn authentically who people are not just the transaction of what they do. True partnership happens in this space.

The happiness of black women is revolutionary. It starts from within. Share your happiness.

Just do it. Whatever “it” is to you – just do it. Figure out the details later. (This is the best way to overcome self-doubt)

Don’t forget to invest in yourself and the people around you. Transformation begins when you invest.

We put self-imposed, deceivable, and removable limits on ourselves. Accept this fact, then act. Magic happens when push past your limits.

Create your own value. Do you know what you are worth? Do you understand what you bring to the table?

10.

You attract what you are. You attract who you are. Do the work to become the best version of yourself.

Wendy Osefo | Founder & CEO, 1954 Equity Project

11.

Silence the noise around you. Everyone will always have something to say, advice to give, and opinions to give out. Learn to turn down the chatter and listen to your own voice.

12.

Be intentional with your actions. Be deliberate. Be conscious. Be thoughtful. Be purposeful.

13.

Check your pulse before your status. Check your connections before your contacts. PSA: Be in the moment. Stay in the moment. Live in the moment.

14.

Pass the mic. Giving someone else a seat at the table is important.

15.

Be like a squirrel or the ants. Work the hardest and save when things are in abundance.

16.

Write down three big, audacious goals. Watch them manifest. (Example: I want to own a private jet one day.)

17.

You must become uncomfortable with being comfortable making others comfortable all the time. Progression and change do not take place in the comfort zone.

18.

Success does not have an expiration date. You can become your version of “successful” at 25 or 75.

19.

When you feel yourself in a space where you cannot see, adjust your vision.

20.

Connecting with authentic voices will help you evolve and grow.

21.

Self-care should be a priority. Note: Self-Care is NOT Self-Maintenance. There is a difference.

Ladies, most importantly, remember that you need to be your OWN best friend.

Start from this place when making decisions and begin the work. Whether in the corporate boardroom or in a shared community start-up space, these tips will push you to LEVEL up.

This conference empowered, inspired, and challenged all of us to be the best version of ourselves, and I hope to see you at next year’s conference!

#LiveYourBestLife

Uche Johnson is a DC native that studied Communications.

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