#celebrate – Yellow Owl

2021 Reflections: The year that was.

Another year of growth. I’m grateful, proud and exhausted. I think this year has been a continuation of the previous year 2020 – by now most people have pivoted their mindsets, businesses and lifestyles to future-proof their environments.

There’s so much to be grateful for: Fulfilling my life’s purpose everyday, my loved ones are alive and well, the opportunities to meet new people and learn new skills. I honestly can’t complain.

As an entrepreneur, my leadership skills have been tested and stretched in every sense possible; today Yellow Owl is well on its way to establishing better systems, a loyal client base, and delivering more valuable services to our communities.

So many people and clients have contributed positively to Yellow Owl’s achievements – however, there are three specific entities I’d like to make special mention of: Lionesses of Africa, the New Generation and Signs & Stories: the silent podcast.

Lionesses of Africa

I’ve been fortunate to being selected for two mentorship programs: The Cherie Blaire Foundation for Women Business Mentorship & the Sunlight Accelerator Program. I got introduced to my mentor Micheal Muchkin and learned from many inspirational business women sharing their stories.

The programs are intensive and require much commitment. Other than that, it’s a great opportunity to network, collaborate and get valuable advice from successful entrepreneurs.

2. New Generation Silver Award

We recently got award the New Generation Silver Award for our collaboration with Cliff Central.com’s Blind History podcast sponsored by Taylor Blinds and Shutters. This accolade is validation that what we do as Yellow Owl matters, a proven model which solves a problem in the online podcast industry. We found a niche in the market and are claiming that space!

I’m excited about reaching new frontiers in 2022!

3. Signs & Stories: the silent podcast

This project is very close to my heart, an absolute dream come true! Another first of its kind for both Yellow Owl, the Deaf community and the podcast industry – a visual podcast using SASL to capture the experiences, stories and shared values within the Deaf community.

Our first episode premiered on 18th November 2021 and the response has been overwhelmingly positive; a few things we can improve as a team, but overall it’s been a great learning curve and milestone towards empowerment and ensuring more inclusive content.

Conclusion

A big THANK YOU to everyone – family, friends, clients, mentors & creative collaborators for their support. Personally, I can definitely look back at 2021 and celebrate several small wins. As an entrepreneur, the desire to inspire people and drive positive change wherever possible, has only gotten more intense!

My message of Hope: Pay close attention to those whispers, in your heart, mind and surroundings. Embrace change & take a bold step each day towards showing up fully – here and now.

God Bless, Stay Safe.

The Power of Progress: One Year Later.

As we celebrate the first year anniversary of Yellow Owl’s existence, we reflect on our journey and celebrate the small wins. Progress is a powerful motivator to drive inspiration, even when setbacks happen.

I recently read an article published by Harvard Business Review explaining that acknowledgment of the best and the worst days are central to innovation in any creative environment. Emotions run high when things go according to plan: excitement, joy, happiness, satisfaction and validation. But the same is true when we hit a dead end: self-doubt, frustration, darkness, worry and temptation to quit. It’s all part of the journey.

The progress principle highlights that true motivation lies in ordinary everyday wins – we should try and find at least one thing to celebrate, an achievement, a victory lap, a tick on the to-do list. Some of Yellow Owl’s greatest moments over the passed year include taking the bold step to register the business and putting ourselves out there, particularly online for everyone to see.

Another proud moment has been collaborating and pioneering with leading brands, organisations and content creators like CliffCentral.com, Mav Inc., The Mayors Office & Lionesses of Africa to make valuable information more inclusive using SASL interpreting. There’s so much to be grateful for!

Equally discouraging has been the rejection from incredible digital platforms who unfortunately can’t see possibility beyond their own fears and rigid business model. Nothing happens over night, and patience is one painful trait that gets better with time – just wait, it will come. Sometimes failure and setbacks are not always a true reflection of the value we offer – sometimes it’s other people who don’t understand the bigger vision, they just don’t get it.

Some helpful tips to keep you going when the going gets tough: surround yourself with supportive, accountable and positive people. Secondly, remember your WHY – very important when it feels like you are losing direction. Lastly, create practical deadlines and timelines to keep track of progress made.

THANK YOU to everyone who believed and continues to invest in the vision of Yellow Owl. Here’s to more extraordinary interpreted stories, pioneering, and collaborations. Onwards and upwards!