What is a lesson you learned from our elders in the barber shop, Zamunda, or McDowells? In 1962 in Memphis Tennessee, a barber met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who encouraged young people to wear their hair natural. Today, just like that barber, I encourage you to be your naturally beautiful self. The world only gets one of you and if you don't be you, we will all miss out on the experience of you. Takeaway: Don't betray yourself. Just be yourself. What is a lesson you learned from our elders in the barber shop, Zamunda, or McDowells?

What's one major goal you want to accomplish in June and what is one thing you will do this week to make progress? We are here to make progress. Let's make moves.

I was reminded today that it's the thousand quiet moments nobody sees that look like a quantum leap. - The practice. - The preparation. - The pivots. - The healing. - The courage. - The consistency. - The inconsistency. - And all of the NOs People often see the shine without seeing the stretching that produced it. What looks “sudden” is usually built little by little: - One conversation. - One risk. - One application. - One rejection. - One more try. There are plenty of days where I experience - NOs and delays. - Moments I question myself. - Rooms I wasn’t chosen for. - Seasons where the work felt invisible. - Requests for my specific proposal or application, and then radio silence or rejection. - And the list goes on. But we gotta keep going. I know it's the practice that builds the muscle and makes the progress. As I continue to build and look for opportunities to speak, teach, research, coach, and serve, I know nothing happens overnight. And while rejection hurts and stings, it's not always proof that something is missing. Instead, I view it as refinement, redirection, and preparation for the next level. "No" is a part of the process. And my family and the horses help me stay grounded and give me joy along the way. What are you working on that has all the twists and turns and how do you keep going?

Today, I had to make a big decision as the host of the Saint Louis University Summer Learning Institute—choosing the keynote speaker. It was a tough call between a state rep, who would ground us in policy, and an AI expert, who would inspire us for the future. I went back and forth, but something kept nudging me toward the state rep. After days of rumination, I asked the person focusing on AI, and in five seconds, he said, “No brainer. State rep.” And just like that, I realized two things: 1. I’ve always known more than I give myself credit for; and 2. When I tell the truth and trust myself from the start, the answers come fast. So, what’s a decision you’ve been overthinking lately? Where could you trust yourself and just tell the truth? I’m rooting for you! Interested in learning more about the Saint Louis University Summer Learning Institute July 22-24th, write interested in the comments. We'd love to have your genius in the space. And it's FREE!

For our third interview, called, Liberated Genius Conversations, we talked with Dr. Afua Bromley about acupuncture and how a well balanced body can unlock our full potential. About Dr. Afua Bromley: My journey to becoming an acupuncturist was marked by a single turning point – a friend harassing me to try acupuncture for a stubborn upper respiratory infection that left me without hearing in my left ear for a month. Though I did not expect the treatment to help at all, within 5 minutes my hearing returned and the rest of the symptoms of my upper respiratory infection were gone within 24 hours. Curious, I did some additional reading on acupuncture, then decided to enroll in acupuncture school instead of a pre-medical post-baccalaureate school while I waited a year to begin (allopathic) medical school. Two months into my first year at the National Institute of Oriental Medicine (now the Florida College of Integrative Medicine) and I was hooked! The cases I saw during my observational clinic hours along with my classes opened a more holistic and (I felt) comprehensive approach to treating the root of health issues and actually resolving them in many cases. For me, the opportunity to actually offer a variety of solutions for patients made all the difference. I gave up my spot in medical school and completed my master’s degree in Oriental Medicine in 1998. Learn more here. Afua Bromley, DACM, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac-NCCAOM https://share.google/Mkq8T2Hu6FlF5eqRl