Have I taken on too much? Does it make sense to start a brand, hoping people will read the blog, listen to the podcast, or buy products from the website?

I’m late.

The 2024 election has wrapped up, and as the dust settles, it’s a good time to reflect on how we can move forward with positivity and purpose.

Sound quality can truly make or break a listener’s experience. I want listeners to tune in, not tune out because of issues I can address.

As a millennial, I thrive on feedback—positive, constructive, or even critical. So, the silence has me feeling a bit uncertain.

I’ve always thought of myself as even-keeled, so this response has caught me off guard.

My passion project, E.L.I.T.E., has been a journey of growth and discovery. While I’d love to dedicate hours each day to it, that isn’t realistic.

Beyond its necessity, my decision to protect E.L.I.T.E. comes from a deep belief in the concept and the message behind E.L.I.T.E. and "Define Yourself." I’m confident that this philosophy will resonate with people, and I want to safeguard the idea in the best way I know how.

October is my birthday month, and I’m excited to celebrate another year of life. I’m grateful for the gift of another year, and while life isn’t always perfect, I’m healthy, happy, and surrounded by a loving family.

Cue the nerves—I had to deliver an elevator pitch on the spot! Suddenly, Eminem’s Lose Yourself was playing in my head: “Knees weak, palms sweaty...”

If you’ve visited the website recently, you’ve likely noticed that the products are organized as a collection. I love this term because it evokes the essence of a museum. Two of my most memorable museum experiences were at the King Center in Atlanta, GA, and the Brooklyn Museum of Natural History.

The obvious answer was Veronica Ann, but it felt impersonal. If someone scrolling through a podcast directory saw the name, it wouldn’t mean anything to them—and why should it?

But this week, I found particular inspiration in the second stanza:

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!

Here we are—fifth blog posts in. I’m feeling pretty E.L.I.T.E. for making it this far. But I’ve got a little secret to share.

We all know that not everything is Black and White, we're weary of Blue vs. Red, and the world isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.

Even the platform I use to publish is constantly asking, “Don’t you want to monetize your blog?”

After drafting my first blog post, I discovered a momentous error—one so significant that, if left unchecked, it could have led to embarrassment, financial setbacks, and complete pandemonium.

I once got an F on a college paper for writing nearly 1,000 words when only 100 were required. My professor said it was a great story, but I needed to follow the assignment—lesson learned!