The Swirl World

Celebrating and Elevating Black Women - mind, body, soul and spirit!


Tech Talk with Entrepreneur Chrissy Jackson Marquardt

By Leave a Comment

Tech Talk with Entrepreneur Chrissy Jackson Marquardt

Here in The Swirl World, we’re busy setting blog and podcast goals for 2017.

One of the goals we’ve set is to bring you more posts featuring Black women entrepreneurs.

Why? Because this:

We’re Every Woman

When I think of Black women and how utterly amazing we are, the song I’m Every Woman by Chaka Kahn cues in my head.

https://youtu.be/Q8xuUdI1an0

Swirling isn’t all we’re doing.

We’re pursuing higher education.

We’re starting businesses. Per Fortune and Black Enterprise magazines, Black women are entering the entrepreneurial arena in record numbers.

The number of Black women entrepreneurs is high – and we know some of you are in the number! For this reason, expect more entrepreneur-related posts in 2017.

(Stay tuned – we’re going to give you the opportunity to sign up for an exclusive list. The list will present carefully curated, entrepreneurial-related posts). Woot!

Let’s Talk Tech

Recently our podcast Co-Host Adrienne London Leach engaged in some “tech talk” with online web designer and entrepreneur Chrissy Jackson Marquardt.

The Jamaican-born Marquardt is the married mother of 3 boys – and a Swirler!

Chrissy talks tech, and also discusses how she balances being a wife, mother of 3 and an entrepreneur.

If you cannot see the podcast player, click here or here.

If you cannot see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over and listen to the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, or PlayerFM – and now on iHeart Radio!

Tech Talk with Entrepreneur Chrissy Jackson MarquardtChrissy is a WordPress Diva and the Website Branding Guru you wish you had in your back pocket. She helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs bust through the tech blocks that are standing in the way of their business and their bank accounts.

Her ultimate mission is to help entrepreneurs create beautiful websites that communicate, connect and convert.

To snag Chrissy’s 1 Week DIY Website Course, click HERE.

To join Chrissy’s Facebook group for entrepreneurs, click HERE.

Chrissy offers a Quick and Dirty Website Starter Kit. To grab it, click HERE.

Shout Out!

Amber Wright1Our shout out for this episode goes to Conversation Coach Amber Wright, MA of TalkToAmber.com. Amber says, “Getting what you want – from the boardroom to the bedroom – is all about having the right conversations.”

Talk To Amber is the place on the web for bloggers and entrepreneurs who want to step up their public speaking game. I love tuning in to Amber on Periscope – you can find her there, on Twitter and at other places on the web at @TalkToAmber.

 

Want to be a guest on The Swirl World Podcast, or know someone who should?

Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio. You can also hear us on PlayerFM!

Copyright © 2016 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™ LLC, The Swirl World Podcast™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. 

I’m Every Woman (Whelp, Most of the Time!)

By 4 Comments

Kozzi-sleeping-asian-woman-1591 X 2387

Do you have a “Theme Song?” You know, the song you believe personifies your philosophy of life, contains your mantra, and gives you an immediate lift every time you sing it?

Since the day I heard it, the song “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Kahn has given me life. I can do it all, be it all, have it all, _______________ it all – you name it, I’m it. 

Whelp, sometimes I have to sing that song to myself when I feel down, or tired, or not-quite-as-invincible as I’d like. Tonight is one of those times – not because life sucks right now, but more so because I’m extremely sleep deprived. 🙂

 I’m going to let the imitable Chaka Kahn speak for me tonight, and I’ll hit you guys up tomorrow. 

http://youtu.be/Q8xuUdI1an0

(Whitney’s version is pretty sweet, too!)

http://youtu.be/jpGmuhBhR7w

Join in the Fray: What’s your Theme Song?

I’m blogging every day in the month of April in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

Hitting the Reset Button . . . . .

By 8 Comments

So on July I started the 31-Day Reset Challenge with Rosetta Thurman, creator of The Happy Black Woman. I’m a Woman, I’m Black, and I’m all about the Happy so I’m excited to do this challenge! According to Thurman’s website, the challenge is designed for “Anyone who wants to manifest a change in their life, design a more fulfilling existence, make room for new possibilities or simply gain more clarity about their path to happiness and success. This challenge will especially be of benefit to you if you’ve felt stuck or in a rut during the last year.”

Needless to say, 2011 didn’t rank as one of my Top Ten best years because I was definitely stuck. Sometimes, whether you like it or not, life decides to smack you all upside the head (I believe the politically correct term is “blind side.” Same difference – and definitely the same effect. I’m just saying.).

The event that blindsided me left me stuck, yet I’m happy to say that I’ve recovered and I’m no longer reeling and rocking. Now, instead of being in a rut as a result of being blindsided by Life, I’m agreeing with the assertion that Life Goes On. I’m on a mission to keep it moving and this 31-Day Reset is just the ticket to propel me forward.

Day 1 of the challenge required us to pick a journal to write in, decide on a mantra,  and select a personal theme song. Because I’m now navigating some very pivotal areas of my life (more on that in later posts), my mantra for the 31-Day Reset is this:

“I am not afraid. I was born to do this!”

~Joan of Arc

My personal “theme song” is “I’m Every Woman” by the imitable Chaka Kahn. This song has run in the background of my head from the first time I heard it. It’s so much of part of me that when I find myself in difficult situations, I often say to myself, “I’m every woman; it’s all in me” to give myself an extra boost of courage.

This reset could not have come at a better time, because I’m afforded some much-needed down time as I wait for my dissertation proposal to undergo review. Each day I’ll try to post some tidbit from the 31-Day Reset Challenge. If you’re interested in jumping in on the fun, sign up here while there’s still time to take the challenge for free.

Want to do the 31-Day Reset Challenge vicariously through me? Then stay tuned for updates! Follow me on Twitter on @ASwirlGirl or on Facebook at The Swirl World.

Join in the fray: What areas of your life need a “reset?” What practical steps are you taking to “reset” your life?