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BGM || Interview with Naomi Destiny on the Power of Networking.

Ever heard of the saying “Your network is your net worth”?

Yes, a man is only as wealthy as his association.
Networking involves rubbing minds with people of the same passion and assignment as you. Getting to learn and grow in your area of specialty.

You’re as good as the association you keep.

Stay with me as I go into the crux of networking with Naomi Destiny.

Welcome to Dupe’s Blog ma’am. Let’s meet you.

Thank you for having me.

I’m Naomi Destiny, a purpose-driven lady passionate about inspiring young ones unto living a well meaningful and productive life. I write and own an inspirational blog naomidestiny.com focusing on career, lifestyle, productivity, and personal development. I’m a faith influencer, a certified Accountant by profession, an entrepreneur at Sensationals (a gift brand and consultation company), the curator of Inspiration Diaries and the 21st Century Woman (a faith-for-purpose platform that celebrates inspiring people making impact). I am obsessed with personal growth and development, as I help others develop themselves and inspire them unto living the life God wants them to live.
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What do you love about being a black girl?

I love being a black girl because I am a proud black African woman.

Black girls are determined, strong, fearless, bold and courageous. We have so much resilience within us and we are confident in who God made us to be.

I love that I am unique in my own way and accepting who I am inspires others to do the same.

What do you think about Dupe’s Blog?

I think it’s an ever blooming blog. Lifestylebymo.com is your online destination for all helpful tips relating to faith, lifestyle, and women. You are doing a great work here and I pray God multiplies you. Keep shining the light!

What is your definition of networking?


Networking is all about building quality relationships and genuine connections with real people. It’s not just about forming cliques or some association of cool girls or fine boys, it’s about establishing valuable connections with people who you are genuinely interested in and are also interested in you.

Who needs networking?

Everyone needs networking. These days, without the right kind of connection, it’s a bit difficult getting a sit at the top. It’s not just about who you know, it’s also about who knows you. The right relationship can give you what money cannot buy. It can give you access to information, opportunities, and places you may not be able to afford. And that’s why it is important we value the people we meet daily because we never can tell where we will meet them in the future.

Of what importance is networking to the black girl?

Networking is one of the most powerful thing a black girl can leverage on to attain success in life. We all need people on our journey to success, people who are able to laugh with us, cheer us up, support us, and recommend our great works to others. If you check your life and you cannot boast about having 3-5 valuable relationships right now, then you must be joking. Robert Kiyosaki said, “The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work”. You don’t have to wait for people to come to you, make the first move. Reach out to people doing great things you admire or hope to do someday, tell them how encouraged you are by what they are doing and if you are able to communicate value, they will connect with you too.

Have you networked before and how has it benefited you?

Most of the significant people I have met in life and places I have worked, came as a result of me being able to network with someone who knows someone that knows someone that recommended me. I believe so much in the power of divine connections through networking because I have benefited a lot from it. I have gained useful insights from the people I meet daily in life, learnt from their mistakes and experience, followed their meaningful advice and shared wisdom, gained worldwide exposure, etc. And you know, it’s always encouraging having a strong support system, including people who are able to walk you through some really difficult aspects of life other than just doing it alone. That’s what networking has been able to do for me.

What’s the first step into networking?

Be interested in others – Serving others is one of the first step into networking. If you are not interested in other people, what makes you think other people will be interested in you?

Smile – People’s perception of you has a way of influencing them to network with you. Smiling at others increases your likeability factor.

Offer value – After meeting people or getting to know about them, try to offer them something valuable. It gives a good impression about you and makes it hard to forget you.

Don’t try to be what you are not – My spiritual Father, Apostle Joshua Selman will always say; Genuine people are scarce. And that’s so true because in a world where we have people faking it until they make it, it’s rare to find people who are sincere and true. Don’t add to the number, be who you are and don’t try to be someone you are not.
Network with a goal in mind – Don’t just connect with people anyhow, be mindful and strategic about it. We all hope to meet great people on our path to success but how many of us are actually prepared for it? Do you just want to meet Mark Zuckerberg because you want to take a selfie or because you have a goal in mind?

Say hello – First impression is also very important in networking. Don’t wait for introductions before saying a word to people, you can start by saying “hello, your dress is stunning”.

What are the benefits of networking?

As it is commonly said, your network is your net worth. The kind of people you associate yourself with determines the quality of your life. Networking expands your network, it gives you the right access to people, advices, places, and opportunities. Networking can also help you generate referrals for your business, increase your level of confidence, and improve your online visibility.

Who can network?

Networking is for everyone who is serious about building the right kind of relationships. We were not created to do life all by ourselves and that’s why God often make us cross paths with certain people. No matter what you want to achieve in life, there is someone that has made an attempt of it. Reach out to those people, don’t die in isolation.

You can find Naomi Destiny on her blog at www.naomidestiny.com or follow her on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Facebook: Naomi Destiny David
Twitter: Naomidestiny
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BLACK GIRL MAGIC || WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

My name is Sarah Modupe Olomola and I’m an African woman from Nigeria and Yoruba by tribe.
I’ve always loved being a black woman, always been proud of being African.

Africa is a beautiful continent and though we’re called “people of color” with the aim of making us feel and look less, our color is a major part of our strength and beauty.

Black first judges you before it gives you a seat on the table, black first seizes you up before you even have a chance to present your case but then I think the irony here is black always has an element of surprise in it especially when it wants to “clear your doubts. ”Ene Elizabeth Adeka

An entity that has always surprised and awed me is the African Woman.

What then is Black Girl Magic?

Black Girl Magic is actually a concept and movement that was popularized by CaShawn Thompson in 2013. The concept was born as a way to “celebrate the beauty, power and resilience of black women”, as described by Julee Wilson from HuffPost, and to congratulate black women on their accomplishments. Referring to a speech made by Michelle Obama at the Black Girls Rock Awards, Thompson explains that black women around the world persevering despite adversity inspired her to spread the concept of Black Girl Magic. With these women in mind, Thompson created the social media hashtag, clothing campaign, and rallying cry “Black Girl Magic”, in the hopes of counteracting negativity society places on black women. – Wikipedia.

The aim of Black Girl Magic Category on Dupe’s blog is in line with this.
Dupe’s Blog Black Girl Magic attempts to celebrate the beauty, attractive features and strength of the black Woman. It also seeks to celebrate her ability to thrive against all odds but that’s not all.
We attempt to push the black woman to reach for more.

Women (especially African) are usually reduced to very little, thereby making them feel relaxed, satisfied with mediocrity and unmotivated to do anything out of the ordinary.

The black woman is a concept that is underemphasized because the opportunities, treasures and limitless abilities that lie beneath her skin remains untapped most of her life. She’s almost like a seed planted in the earth, until she is cultivated by the right hand and just the right amount of water and sunshine, she remains what she is: a seed. You know what they say about a seed, until it buds and bring forth, nobody benefits from it.Ene Elizabeth Adeka

We can do more! We can be much more! Starting from the little things we do to the really “big” things, we can attain excellence. We have the power to shake the universe from our little part or world.

Every Black Girl Magic interview on this blog is aimed at sharpening and perfecting a particular area of the Black Girl’s life.

Related post: The Black Jewel

Remarkable women have come on here to share powerful knowledge on how to be a better woman through practical ways we all can relate to.

So far, I have interviewed women on areas of the Black girl’s life like relationship, money, love, hate, fashion, friends etc. Some have even shared their touching life stories.

History has shown how much a black woman can do when allowed to fully explore and utilize her potentials.

Women like Folorunsho Alakija, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Joyce Banda, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ava Duvernay, Ayanna Howard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Hadiyah-nicole Green, Marley Dias, Serena Williams, Yara Shahidi, Zim Ugochukwu, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and the list is endless have shown us that we (black women) are beyond just plain or ordinary hence the tag ? “BLACK GIRL MAGIC”.

Not “Magic” as in the use of rituals, sorcery or witchcraft but Magic as in being wonderful, amazing and of great value, capable of going beyond expectations and wildest imaginations.

My desire is that every Black girl magic interview you read here makes you a better woman.

Black Girl Magic on this blog was inspired by Nigerian women, dedicated to every Black woman and made for EVERY woman on earth.

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Black Girl Magic ✨|| Interview with Emmanuella Olisa on Love

On last month’s episode of Black Girl Magic, we delved into the issue of “Girl hate”. We carefully dissected it’s origin and effects and promoted the need to spread love as far as possible.

Today, Emmanuella speaks with us on Love; what is Love and how should we love? How do you love people who are “hard” to love?

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It’s all here on today’s episode of Black Girl Magic.

I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing.
Welcome to Dupe’s Blog ma’am
Thank you so much ma’am… It’s a great honour.

Let’s meet you.

Alright
My name is Emmanuella Olisa.
I hail from Delta state, Nigeria, a graduate of the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
More so, I am an emerging entrepreneur (I have lots of plans in this area).

I’m passionate about helping people in any capacity that I can, I’m also passionate about seeing people being healed from emotional pain of any kind.

I love to encourage people and help them see their worth.


What do you think about Dupe’s blog?

Hmmn The amazing Dupe’s blog?
I think your blog is amazingly unique.

It stands out as a fountain of pure inspiration in a perverse world. I must commend you for birthing a vision like this, trust me, you have no idea the lives that are being educated, touched and changed by the quality, kingdom oriented content of your platform. It’s a great honour to be here. Thank you so much ma’am for having me

It’s entirely my pleasure! Do you love being a black girl?

Absolutely! I love the unique virtues we possess. I’m glad God made me a black woman.


What’s your definition of love?

Love for me, is perfect understanding and accurate knowledge of someone. I should emphatically state that love is not a feeling even though feelings are a component of love. More so, from another perspective, love is a person.

“God is love”
There are various words translated love in the scriptures. The greatest is “Agape ” the Love of God or the God kind of Love. Until a person encounters God, he/she cannot express this dimension of Love.

Would you describe yourself as someone who loves?

Yes I would (by the grace of God). One of the reasons is that I have been in the position where I felt unloved, misunderstood and misrepresented, so when I meet people, I find it easy to love them because I can relate with them regardless of their countenance and attitude because my experiences in life has taught me better.

Are you then of the opinion that everybody is easy to love?

Yes, like I said, if you understand people, loving them will be a natural response. A great mentor, I honour and respect so much Apostle Joshua Selman said, ‘love is a choice and an act of your will” and I believe so. Love is something you choose to do and you do it willingly.

It is also worthy of mention that, loving people doesn’t make you weak rather it says something about your enormous strength. It may be taken for granted sometimes but don’t pay attention to that.


Profound.
Some people could be unreceptive to love. What do you do when people respond to your love with hatred or cold indifference?


Yes, there are difficult people who seem almost impossible to get along with, but the truth is no one is really difficult if you understand them.

When you learn to put yourself in their shoes you will relate with them better. Some of these difficult people may just be victims of low self-esteem, they don’t feel they are worthy of being loved, some may have been really hurt and have developed a though skin to shield themselves from being hurt again, so they try to mask their weaknesses with toughness.

Some are just ignorant and intimidated. My experiences in life has taught me to see beyond what everyone see on the surface.
Intricately, everyone needs love, but our backgrounds are different which affected a lot of us on this matter.
Like I said earlier, understanding makes the difference. Once you understand people, that’s 90% what you need to love them.

The Bible makes us understand that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. There was no assurance that we were going to receive His Sacrifice of love but He died and gave love regardless.

Thank you so much for these wisdom nuggets ma.
It’s been a blessing speaking with you

Glory to God!
Thank you also for having me. It’s a privilege.