The Importance of Pursuing your Passion with Ken L Polk

Are you pursuing your passion in life? 

Meet Ken L Polk. One of the people who pursue their passions with all they are. Ken is a husband, father, a preacher, teacher, chef, a caterer, counselor, and culinary chef.

Ken grew up in Chicago. From childhood, he was always involved in the kitchen. He would grill meat with his father and help his mother in the kitchen. His passion for the kitchen was undeniable, but he felt like it wasn't his place; little did he know that he would become a culinary chef and touch many lives.

When Ken joined a culinary school, he knew without a doubt that he wanted to swim with the big fish. After school, he focused his efforts on working for big restaurants. The most amazing thing about Ken is he never got intimidated by anything. 

Ken has worked for restaurants, a bank, and the Chicago Public Schools and is currently collaborating with chefs and consulting with restaurants. In this episode, Ken shares how he has transitioned to different roles in his career all while Pursuing His Passion in Life. 

Listen and learn.

Key Talking Points of the Episode: 

[04:39] Getting to know Ken L Polk

[06:42] Ken as a city boy

[10:16] The difference between a cook and a chef

[11:43] How Ken got into culinary school despite not wanting to be a chef before 

[13:31] Ken's culinary experience

[21:10] Ken's experience after culinary school

[25:44] What was it like for Ken to work in Michael Jordan's restaurant?

[28:31] What made Ken so ambitious when he was 

[30:04] How Ken got to work at the Chicago Public Schools

[37:25] What inspired Ken to teach children culinary lessons?

[38:33] What made Ken leave teaching after 14 years?

[43:24] How Ken got into consulting for businesses

[46:18] Ken's collaboration with other chefs

[53:17] Why didn't Ken quit when the light bulb at CPS went off?

[55:28] Ken's current projects

[59:20] How to try out new food

[01:01:15] Top of the dome

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

"Anyone in an element doing anything is a wonderful thing to watch."

"Everything gets stored in your brain in the combinations in which you had it."

"Cooking is feeling and technical at the same time. It is subjective and objective."

"If you can reach one, you've done your job."

"If I'm going to win, we all have to win. It's not it's not competition. It's an expedition for me."

"Brand recognition makes all brands stronger."

"Brand collaboration builds brands."

"Everybody great is great because they are serving somebody something."

"Intimidation is what keeps people from learning."                       

Connect with Ken L Polk:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/chichefken 

Website: https://chefkenlpolk.com/        

Be on the lookout for Ken's podcast, The Black Skillet. 

Free To Be Me with special guest  Candace Meredith

Today’s episode is exceptional. We are speaking to a guest whose career journey sounds like a story from a novel or a movie on Netflix or Hulu. Please allow us the opportunity to introduce you to Candace Meredith - a true POLYMATH. In this episode, you will learn how Candace carved out a way in this life so that she could be "Free To Be Me."  

Candace’s life story challenges us to think about how can we become "Free To Be Me"  in ourselves and the power of our dreams. She grew up knowing she was different from others. She did not try to act normal. Instead, Candace embraced her uniqueness. At age 21, she discovered the power of manifestation and the law of attraction.

Candace graduated from Howard University with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. She got a job working in a law firm that made her realize she wasn’t ready to spend the rest of her working life in that environment. Candace transitioned into the music industry, where they were managing artists. She worked there for some time and later felt there was more. She went to a barber school in Manhattan and became a renowned barber. Currently, she is a chef.

In this episode, Candace will share her journey and how she transitioned to different careers. If you are looking for motivation and inspiration, this episode is for you. Listen in!

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[04:11] Candace’s youth and growing up

[07:05] How Candace’s dad army career impacted her

[09:33] The power of being different

[15:24] How Candace became so mature mentally at 21

[17:10] Candace’s tribe in Howard University

[20:07] Candace’s journey from legal paralegal to makeup artist

[27:45] Working in a male-dominated world

[30:24] Candace’s manifestation process

[31:48] Candace’s experience at Universal

[36:38] What did Candace learn from working in the music industry?

[40:33] Candace going to a barber school

[47:15] Candace’s most memorable 

[53:36] The importance of showing up

[55:01] Candace’s career as a chef

[01:00:11] Candace’s golden nugget

[01:00:46] Top of the dome questions

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

“Those of us who believe in a higher being, the spirituality, it tells you, when it’s for you, it’s for you. sometimes, when it’s for you, it’ll take you from A to Z without any explanation.”

“Thoughts travel faster than sound, faster than the spoken word. That’s why we must be careful of what we’re thinking.”

“When the floodgates open, just be ready.”

“As a black woman, one of my professors still insists on always rising to the occasion, no matter what.”

“All these gifts and abilities which have been bestowed upon me are here to bring light and love to whomever I can.”

“Follow your heart. That keeps you going, you know, outside of breathing.”

Connect with Candace Meredith:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theveganouslife/ 

Finding Your Sweet Spot with Patrick Sutton

Have you found your sweet spot yet? 

 Patrick Sutton has found his sweet spot and he joins us on the show to share his journey to finding his sweet spot. From a tender age, Patrick knew the screens were meant for him. He even made it to the movie ‘A Time to Kill.’ It was such a moment for him, but he never realized what it meant until some years later. 

Patrick deviated from the creative industry and got into the corporate world. He dreamed of retiring as a vice president of the firm he was working for. Most of us do not change our lives until changing becomes the least comfortable option. Patrick’s stay in the corporate space always made him feel something was amiss, but he didn’t want to quit the space before becoming the VP. In 2019, Covid came, and Patrick was among the people laid off. It gave him an opportunity for a fresh start. 

In this episode, Patrick shares his journey to finding his sweet spot, going back to the creative space and how he put together a whole film without going to a film school. 

Listen to hear more.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[03:36] Who is Patrick Sutton?

[04:27] Patrick’s journey to finding his sweet spot

[10:18] How Patrick got into ‘A Time to Kill’ movie

[22:14] How Patrick transitioned into the creative space from corporate America

[26:40] How Patrick made his movie

[34:18] Patrick’s fear

[39:41] Patrick in tech

[42:42] How Patrick dealt with his layoff during Covid

[47:20] Patrick’s projects

[54:03] Top of the dome segment

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

“When we hit those successes at work or in our lives, it should make us feel good.”

“When you are confident of who you are and what you bring to the table, no one can take that away from you.”

“If you’ve been fired or something, don’t let that one moment stop you from doing what you need to do or being the best, you can be.”

“When you can’t bring your whole self to work, it’s not them that’s missing out. You miss out because you deserve to be 100% happy.”

“Friendships are seasons, and people come in for a season. Some stay longer. Some don’t. When they end the season, be okay with it. Don’t harness it too much. And accept it for what it was, appreciate the good and the bad. And keep it moving.”

“You are the creator of your script. When you are at that stage in life, remember, it’s all about you.”

Connect with Patrick Sutton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-sutton-/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_speaks/ 

Are you a law lover? If yes, you are in for a sweet treat! Today we have Natasha L. Robinson, Esq joining us on the show. She is a retired attorney who is passionate about the law, practicing it, and teaching it to others. She is committed to championing the criminal justice system’s legal rights. Also, she is dedicated to teaching and exposing our young people to 

She is also the creator and curator of “Legaleaze Please!™”. A space that empowers the development of individual and collective comprehension of criminal laws, cases, and policies through decoding, deconstructing, and demystifying legal language.

Today, we will seek to hear about Natasha’s career journey because it is so interesting that we cannot afford to miss out on any minor detail. It is the perfect combination of determination, dedication, and commitment. I am sure if you are keen enough, you have noticed her name has Esq at the end. What does it stand for, and how did she earn it?

Also, we have been seeing some TV shows on law, and many people must wonder, is that how courtrooms are? Natasha has all the answers for us. 

Listen to this episode to learn more. 

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[06:38] Who is Natasha Robinson?

[10:25] How Natasha decided she wanted to become a lawyer

[13:55] How Natasha acquired the Esq title 

[20:35] Natasha’s transition from studying to the workforce

[23:58] How Natasha’s law career affected her circle

[30:31] How Natasha’s career as an attorney has transitioned

[33:46] Lessons Natasha learnt from her clients

[38:48] Natasha’s plan as a retired legal eagle

[45:30] Why do we have an imbalance of people of color in the legal system?

[52:09] Where to find Natasha

[01:01:26] How to act in a courtroom

[01:05:54] Top of the Dome questions

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

• “There’s no way I cannot share my story and make way for others because others have made way for me.”
• “Despite what people may project, none of us have all of it together.”
• “You can’t speak for me if you don’t see me.”
• “When I teach, I teach with the understanding that at the same time I am a teacher, I’m also a student.”
• “Language is a way in which people can be oppressed.”
• “There are no such thing as single topic issues because there are no single topic lives.”

Connect with Natasha L. Robinson, Esq:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legaleazeplease 

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/legaleazeplease/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZWf962vbDBw81HV2smNkg/featured 

Running for my life..A Marathon to find me - with special guest Stephanie McSwine.

Have you ever committed to everyone else besides yourself? Chances are you have especially if you are a mother. Mothers tend to be the worst culprits when it comes to taking care of others and forgetting themselves. 

Stephanie McSwine was a stay-at-home mom, and she home schooled her children. Her target was to make sure she raised children who would be successful adults. She did an excellent job. Unfortunately, she lost herself. Her wake-up call came when she was walking with her son one day, and he challenged her to run. She was always the person making sure her children were active but did nothing for herself. 

Stephanie kept running and would use different things at targets during her runs. Little by little, she started loving it because it was a moment to have time to herself. She kept getting better at running until she managed to run around Stone Mountain Park nonstop and participated in Black Girls Run.

Through running, Stephanie managed to reclaim herself. At age 40, she left her marriage to start life again and build a life for herself and her children. Imagine being out of the workforce for 20 years and getting back to earn an income. It wasn't easy for her, but her determination and commitment weighed heavier than the challenges. She was determined to change the narrative not just for her but for future generations too.

Out of her passion for running, her venture Muscle Mom LLC Lifestyle was born. It aims at helping every individual to work toward being their best self not only for themselves but for their future generations. 

In this episode, Stephanie will share her journey and how running saved her. Listen to this episode to hear more.

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[01:40] What has Elliot been up to lately?

[06:19] Who is Stephanie MCSwine?

[12:47] What drove Stephanie to run?

[16:47] How Stephanie balanced the different aspects of her life

[19:56] The essence of committing to yourself

[23:13] Was Stephanie selfish when she decided to commit to herself and her children?

[30:43] Stephanie's venture, Muscle Mob Venture, and how it has affected her life

[34:35] How Stephanie manages to maintain high energy in her 50s

[39:23] Stephanie's thrifting skills

[47:54] What's next for Stephanie

[50:14] Top of the dome segment

[55:11] Stephanie's last words

Magical Quotes from the Episode: 

"If you can't commit to yourself, shame on you because you commit to everything else, but why can't you commit to yourself?"

"You can't put a price tag on peace. Money, come and go. My peace and my sanity are more important."

"When the woman and the wife are at peace and happy, the whole family benefits from it."

"We as a society need to recategorize where it's selfishness. People use selfishness as if it's a negative thing. There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself."

"There's nothing more honourable than knowing your purpose and being purposely driven as you age."

"Sometimes difficulties make you better. You have to learn through difficulties, and you study difficulties."

"Children and elderly people will break you down. They will tell you the truth. And they will break you down."

Connect with Stephanie MCSwine:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musclemomlifestyle 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musclemomlifestyle/ 

In this episode of The Shift and Pivot Podcast - Erika welcomes guest Joffrey Holloway to share his story about life - and how it has steered him down paths he never thought he would journey. His humble roots are firmly connected to Mississippi and the South in general, but life also had plans for him that took him away from the comfort of his modest upbringing. 

Joffrey shares experiences and how they have shaped and sharpened his many skills in athletics, corporate America, and entrepreneurship. According to Joffrey, "your network is your net worth." 

So, prepare for this fantastic journey that Joffrey shares with us - we are sure you will hear and receive some dynamic nuggets of wisdom, hilarious random life events, and uplifting motivation to help you seize the day. 

Key Talking Points of the Episode:

[02:02] Who is Joffrey Holloway?
[03:06] Jeff’s experience growing up in Mississippi 
[04:19] Jeff’s love for sports
[06:45] The educational side of Jeff’s upbringing
[10:43] What always inspired Jeff to do better?
[14:04] The first thing Jeff did on campus that made him feel he was in the right place
[16:24] How Jeff made relationships with other players in college
[17:13] Jeff’s senior year
[19:30] What did Jeff’s job at the Ford Motor Company entail?
[22:14] Jeff’s engineering career
[26:33] Jeff’s move to Dallas and the relationships he established
[33:38] The birth of Dallas Cigar Events
[35:15] How Jeff and the rest of the team raised money to fund the Dallas Cigar budget
[38:13] Top of the dome questions

Magical Quotes from the Episode:

“Everything about the Southern University was just a vibe that meant success.”

“I will say that engineering degree, helped me see and gain a lot. It also taught me that I wasn’t just going to be an engineer based off the book knowledge that I got in college, you must adapt to the job.”

“Theoretical never helps in the real-life situation itself sets the foundation.”

“God and family first. Also, take advantage of those opportunities to establish those networks value those friendships. Stay fast with those friendships.”

“Opportunities are plentiful. You just have to maintain those relationships and keep things healthy between those friendships that you establish.”

Relevant Links:

Check out http://dallascigarweek.com/ to see the activities they have lined up. 

 Did you enjoy this episode? Check out more episodes at http://www.theshiftandpivotpodcast.com/ and don’t forget to subscribe to our email list for regular updates.

Also, if you loved the episode, share the goodness with a couple of people. 

This week's episode of the Shift and Pivot Podcast - Elliot and Erika interviews Nomtha Makhosana. Nomtha shares with us several critical life events that shaped the most instrumental shifts and pivots of her life, the secrets to her happy life, and most importantly, the unbeatable power of perseverance, which she holds on to even today. 

Nomtha also opens up about her different experiences living and working in two continents, including facing racism, the many kinds and sides of corporate life, life in different American cities as a person of color, and her love for travel. In the end, Nomtha says, it all boils down to your priorities in life. Create for yourself a life you enjoy.  

We have tons of laughs, moments of inspiration, and a lot of general life introspection in store for you on the episode -- have fun tuning in!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro

[02:14] Meet our guest, Nomtha Makhosana

[04:11] The prejudices faced when growing up as a person of color in Cape Town

[08:06] The experience living in a racist environment

[11:00] The path to accounting and finance

[13:30] Nomtha’s South African friends in Cape Town and the paths they took in life

[15:04] Pursuing Accounting from the University of Cape Town

[17:42] What Nomtha thinks she could have experienced in college that she did not when studying there?

[19:21] Joining a big 4 corporate consulting company in Johannesburg

[22:11] Working for a big 4 company straight out of college

[24:35] Slowing down amid the fast and tough corporate rat race and why quitting has never been an option for Nomtha

[26:56] Nomtha’s plans for her career moving forward

[28:19] Did Nomtha have a plan for her career starting out right after college?

[30:22]Preparing herself to start afresh in America

[33:08] Being open to opportunities and new possibilities

[39:27] Two years of living in Atlanta: traveling, exploring places, making the best out of opportunities

[41:48] The experience heading back to Cape Town after living in US and the differences in pursuing an Accounting career in US as compared to South Africa

[45:03] Going back home to Cape Town with no plans absolutely about her career and founding a consulting company there before landing a good job

[53:58] The perks of living in a city familiar to you and why Nomtha headed back to Cape Town, quitting her job in America

[54:58] Nomtha’s future career plans

[57:45] What Nomtha wants you to remember from this conversation

[59:48] Waiting is different from not giving up

[01:01:15] Nomtha’s place of refuge in Cape Town

[01:01:31] Nomtha’s guilty pleasure

[01:01:47] The one person Nomtha would have a conversation with if she could go back in time

[01:02:01] The conversation Nomtha would have with herself if she could go back in time

[01:02:16] The one thing Nomtha would do if she had the opportunity to have absolutely anything in the world

[01:03:08] Nomtha’s favorite food combo 

Connect with Nomtha Makhosana

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomtham/              

Growing up is never easy…trying to navigate from being a boy to a man is an epic feat. Closing the chapter of childhood and embarking on the next stage of life as an adult comes with many physical, mental, and emotional challenges. 

In today’s episode, Erika and Elliot interview Al Williams, whose own unbelievable shift and pivot led him from a life of crime to a level of success most can only dream of. Listen as Al describes his Growing Pains - Shift and Pivot from a young boy in Savannah, GA—enduring abuse and hustling; to being a misguided teen incarcerated and searching for his true purpose in life.

AL WILLIAMS WORDS OF WISDOM: 

• “I should have been dead, man. I had a dude shoot me at point-blank range with a .357, and I heard a bullet slide by my head. He missed all seven times. He missed me. You can’t tell me that ain’t the hand of God on somebody’s life saying, ‘Man, I got something for you. Not today’.”
• “Failure is not an option. Even when you lose, you [got] to look at the fact you won. Because you just learned something from the fact that, whatever it is you [was] trying to do, it didn’t work that time. So you should have learned something from it.”
• “That’s what I’m doing. Being the best human being that I can be in life. Period.”

TIME STAMPS:  

0:00 Intro

1:42 Who Is Al Williams?

12:50 Hustling As a Means of Survival

16:16 The Turning Point and Al’s First Arrest

26:14 The Worst Parts About Prison

30:47 Better Than This

34:16 Prison and Finding God

37:23 Life After Prison

42:45 Moving Forward

49:30 Reflection On Good Advice

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