Collecting Participation Awards...

1. This Week’s Encouragement

Well, friends, last week I didn’t take home a blue ribbon, a gold medal, or even a shiny plaque. But, you know what? I did earn the Participation Award. I showed up! That’s right, I made it through the week, and that alone feels like a win.

Let’s be real. It’s a safe space here, so let’s climb into the tree of trust together. Last week kicked my entire a$$ (and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one). It was a rollercoaster ride of sparkly highs, unexpected lows, and more fatigue than I care to admit. I cried more than I’d like to confess—out of exhaustion, frustration, and, yes, even joy.

Usually, I’m fiercely protective of my time and rest, but life had other plans with a few plot twists that knocked me off course. I know you can relate. My plate was overflowing, and showing up was the only option. So, I participated as best I could in my vision, my mission, and my work—no matter how tired, sick, or frustrated I felt.

But here’s the good news: It’s all working out. The even better news? I got an invaluable bonus lesson: Participation is optional. So, let me share what I learned, in case it helps you this week:

Participate in your priorities: When everything feels like a million things demanding your attention, respectfully decline or disconnect from the draining stuff. Overwhelm can be a heavy weight, so put on your oxygen mask first. And lean into your support network for encouragement. A big shout-out to my sister, who took care of my puppy during an event I hosted, and to my friend Linda, whose words of support and wisdom reignited my spark for this week.

Participate in your peace: There’s no shortage of negativity and doom spirals right now—especially with the world as it is. While I’m fully aware of the turbulence around us, I don’t need to spend my energy on endless complaining or join others in that chaotic ride. I get to decide if I want to change the temperature of the conversation or opt out entirely.

Participate in rest: As a recovering hyper-achiever, balance is a daily practice. Being stuck on the achievement hamster wheel is unsustainable and honestly, harmful. So, I unapologetically rested all weekend—cozy blanket, binge-watching whatever I wanted, and clearing my calendar this week so I can focus on some personal matters without letting them slip through the cracks.

Let’s go win Participation Awards this week—because showing up is half the battle, and we’re all in this together.

2. Participating in Joy: Celebrating the Perfect Pitch Group !

I’m shouting congratulations from the mountaintops to one of my absolute favorite visionaries, Precious L. Williams "RainmakingSpeaker" !!!

Today marks 14 incredible years of entrepreneurship for her across three amazing companies: Curvy Girlz Lingerie, Perfect Pitches by Precious, and now, Perfect Pitch Group . None of this would have been possible without her relentless dedication to mastering the art of the pitch.

Precious is a 13-time national pitch champion, Fortune 100 Corporate Sales Trainer, 5x #1 bestselling author, and so much more. But it’s not just her accolades that inspire me daily—it's her unwavering resilience, her top 2% CEO mindset, and her boundless generosity. She’s not just a champion in business—she’s a champion of people building.

Precious, you are a force of nature, a true vision of strength, and one of the kindest souls I know. Thank you for everything you do. Cheers to you and all of your amazing achievements!

Let’s celebrate together—grab your anniversary special here and join in the joy!

3.? Resource Recommendation: 1535 Days by Dr. Candice Balluru (Schaefer), PhD, ABPP, BCC (A psychologist's guide to persevering through the next 4 years)

I may be a little late to share this, but it's never too late for something so powerful. If you haven’t heard of it yet, I highly recommend following 1535 Days by Dr. Candice Balluru (Schaefer), PhD, ABPP, BCC .

Dr. Candice, a trauma and resilience expert, has spent her career helping people navigate some of the most difficult and graphic experiences imaginable—from combat veterans to healthcare workers, and even content moderators who view distressing material on social media platforms.

Most recently, she’s been supporting journalists covering the tough issues facing our country and the world.

A few weeks ago, she launched 1535 Days, an Instagram and Newsletter dedicated to helping us build resilience through the next 1,535 days—because, yes, that’s how many days are left until January 20, 2029. Dr. Candice is generously sharing every psychological tool, coping mechanism, and piece of wisdom she has to help us all not just survive, but thrive, through the challenges ahead—no matter what’s going on in our personal or professional lives.

I’m so grateful for this resource and the opportunity to lean into it during these unpredictable times.

Follow along on Instagram and subscribe to have insights delivered directly to your inbox.

?4. Quote

"You don’t have to be busy to be successful. The secret to success is to learn to do less but better." – Tim Ferriss

5. Ask Keita:

Q. Hello Keita, I am a growth-mode CEO in full sprint mode toward the end of the year. I find myself overwhelmed with correspondence, particularly text messages. It feels like I’m drowning in hundreds of messages a day, and I’m frustrated that I can’t keep up. What do you recommend?

Sincerely,

Message(ed) Out

A. Dear Message(ed) Out,

Thank you for sharing—and I hear you loud and clear. Being overwhelmed with messages is a modern-day struggle, but here are two quick solutions that will help you regain control:

1. You don’t have to participate in urgency or access. Remind yourself that you don’t owe anyone an immediate response. Set boundaries and give yourself the grace and space to focus without the pressure of responding to everything right away.
2. Create a direct line for your inner circle. Set up a separate phone line (virtual or real) for close family and your most trusted contacts so they can reach you quickly when necessary. For the rest of the messages, delegate triage to your assistant. Flag anything requiring your immediate attention and let your team handle the rest.

I hope this helps...

As always, thank you for taking the time to read this week’s Take 5 Tuesday.

I truly appreciate you being part of the Success Bully community. If today’s thoughts resonated with you, feel free to share them with someone who could use an extra boost. And don’t hesitate to comment, like, or drop me a line—I love hearing your thoughts!

Did you know there are two ways to work with me? I help individual leaders and visionaries manage their Inside Bully, and I work with teams to build stronger communication skills—internally (with themselves) and externally (with others).

Book a call today to see if we’re a match.

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Let’s get after it!

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Keita – Your Favorite Success Bully