I guess I'm not who I thought I was.

Hey, Reader!

A friend checked me this week, and I need to tell you about it, because so many of you have watched me play the wise-auntie role up close.

I told him that's my energy with clients: tell you the hard thing, wink, hug. He laughed and said, "You're NOT the wise old sage. You're more like the 8th grader playing kickball with the 6th graders."

(Eleven seconds of offense. Then clarity.)

Because an 8th grader is useful precisely because she was just there. I walked away from my career at 41. My scars are fresh. My map is current. And I've stopped thinking of myself as a gatekeeper with a velvet rope. The gate is already open. I'm just standing outside it with a torch, hollering, "Hey, Y'all! The door is over here!"

Here's what's up this week:

Name one woman who's a few steps behind you, and show her the door. Make the intro. Write the letter. Forward the opportunity you've been sitting on. You don't need a title to do it. You just need to turn around.

But wait...There's more:

Seven days out from sweeping victories across our nation for Black, Brown, and Female candidates, I was inspired to write a bonus piece for Substack! Now that the confetti has been swept up, we have to turn our focus to...THE TRANSITION. You know I could shout right there! Read and share both of these pieces and welcome them into the conversation!

I'm Not Gatekeeping. I'm Holding the Torch. 👉🏾 Read the full letter on Substack ​ The 8th grader, the velvet rope, and why I'm never the one to put the brakes on someone's dream. Read it here!

BONUS: Madam Governor-Elect Has A To-Do List. 👉🏾I'm still riding the blue wave, but what can we learn about effective transition from the winners? I break it all down in this piece and guess what? No paywalls! This was too good to hold. Read it here!

Can you believe this one?

The Countdown Has Begun! I've released my brand new series, "Learning Kwanzaa" on Instagram and Tik Tok! New videos are released every day so we can go beyond the red, black, and green to learn where Kwanzaa came from, what it means, and how you can make it your own. Get your FREE Countdown Companion so you can track your personal progress with every episode. ​ Download it here!

Now the part I mean most. A lot of you have held a torch for me at some point: a recommendation, an introduction, a "go do it" when I wasn't sure. Thank you.

If you're the one standing in the dark right now and you can't see your next door, book a call with me. Let's find it.

And if you've got a project, a new adventure, or a partnership you want to talk through with somebody who still remembers what the hallway looks like, grab a virtual coffee with me.​

Chanda Branch Torch Holder, Kickball MVP (Self-Appointed) | J9 Collective

Reply and tell me the name of the woman who held the torch for you. I'll start: Mrs. Diana K. Poe! Love you, Mama!🖤