We recently connected with FRANKIE BELL and have shared our conversation below.
Hi FRANKIE, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from deep within. I was born knowing how to be resilient and persevere through difficulties. However, as I grew, I learned through experiences that giving up is not an option. Every challenge I have faced has hardened my resolve and strengthened my determination. With each obstacle I overcome, I gain more confidence in succeeding against the odds. I did not choose the challenges put before me, but I chose how to respond. I could have become bitter or defeated, but instead I embraced the opportunities for growth within the struggles. The winds of adversity fanned the fire inside me, and with each storm I weathered, my purpose became more evident. I am a fighter not because I go looking for conflicts but because I refuse to be knocked down and stay down. My resilience springs from knowing, deep in my soul, that I have the power to rise and win, no matter the challenge.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Dr. Frankie Leshawn Bell is a native of Auburn, Al. She is the proud wife of Felix Bell and the mother of Jessica, Lamarcus, and Devin.
Together, she and her family honor God and recognize the calling of excellence He has graced
upon her life.
Dr. Bell has earned a B.S. degree in Mathematics Education from Auburn University
Montgomery (2004), a Master’s Degree in Education from Troy University (2008), and a Ph.D.
in Educational Leadership and Foundations from A.U. (2014). She commits to being a lifelong
learner.
She has proven leadership as a premier educator and master presenter. She is both a Spiritual and
life Influencer and, among other things, a transformational coach, consultant, and entrepreneur.
Her expertise and strengths have garnered her favor and recognition statewide. With more than
20 years of teaching, presenting, and corporate training, Dr. Bell has collected a plethora of strategy skill sets critical to effective leadership and professional growth. In addition, her down-to-earth humor compels audiences to laugh and learn. As a result, she feels especially equipped to catapult people into maximum capacity.
Of her many accomplishments, Dr. Bell is the author of Choose to Win, Leaders-Shift, and The
B.E.L.L. Factor, in addition to her grounded research titled, “ An Examination of Transitioning
and Relationship Building among High School Students and Mentors: A Strength-Based High
School Completion Program” published (2014).
Dr. Bell’s mantra is: “excellence is a journey, not simply a destination, and on this journey, one
must always know that “pain is inevitable, but winning is optional, so one must Choose to Win.”
This perspective inspired her to teach, develop, inspire, and mentor thousands of future leaders.
Dr. Bell brings this same dedication to her work with students, teachers, and leaders as they
strive to empower their teams and achieve greater success.
Dr. Bell’s passion for family, spirituality and education is fueled by her desire to transform good
leaders into great leaders, and great leaders into destiny seekers. God has implanted within her a
dream to pursue leadership to the ultimate level; a vision to assist God’s people in cultivating and
preparing for their future; and a need to help others become confident, competent, diverse
individuals seeking to leave a positive impact on society.
Please join us for our upcoming Educational Summit, “The State Of Black Boys.” This Summit serves not only to have much-needed conversations but to point young men, parents, and the community toward our wrap-
around services available through The “Direct Responsibility of Educating African American Males” D.R.E.A.A.M Project; The D.R.E.A.A.M Project; a
nonprofit 501-c3 of Dr. Bell’s Student Success Enrichment Center.
Dr. Bell’s Student Success Enrichment Center is broadening its reach with its programs to the Coweta and West GA area and beyond.
On July 27th, 2023, an Educational Summit called “The State of Black Boys” is happening and will be held at the University of West GA on the Newnan Campus to discuss intentionally and tackle conversations like:
Academics
Mental Awareness
Hope
Parental Guidance
Mentorship
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE AND MORE LOVE
These will be some of the many conversations we’ll have with young men and families looking for answers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Perseverance – The ability to persist through challenges and obstacles. Perseverance allows you to keep going even when things get tough and setbacks occur.
2. Resilience – The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Resilient people can “bounce back” from failures and disappointments and regain their optimism and motivation.
3. Grit – The tendency to sustain interest in and effort towards long-term goals. Grit involves working strenuously towards challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress.
These qualities require persistence, resilience and sustained effort over time. Focusing on developing them through practice and experience can help equip you to never give up on your goals and dreams.
Here is some advice I can give people who want to improve on grit, resilience and perseverance:
1. Start small and build up. Set easy goals at first that you know you can achieve. Celebrate every win, no matter how small. This builds momentum and confidence for tackling bigger challenges.
2. Develop effective coping strategies. Learn how to manage stress, frustrations and setbacks in a healthy way. Seek social support from friends and family. Take breaks when needed.
3. Stay motivated through visualization. Imagine yourself achieving your goals. Visualize overcoming obstacles and challenges. This can keep you motivated to keep going.
4. Focus on progress, not perfection. Remind yourself that setbacks and failures are normal and part of the process. Focus on continual improvement, not achieving perfection immediately.
5. Reflect on your purpose and values. Remind yourself why you started and what motivates you. Connect your goals to what really matters to you. This can help sustain your motivation over the long run.
6. Practice mindfulness. Stay in the present moment through meditation, deep breathing or other mindfulness techniques. This can help reduce negative self-talk and rumination that saps grit, resilience and perseverance.
In summary, start small, develop effective coping strategies, visualize success, focus on progress not perfection, connect to your purpose and values, and practice mindfulness. With consistent effort over time, these skills can be developed and improved to help you never give up.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My faith in God has been my solid foundation when needing to overcome challenges, as well as, my family. They have supported, trusted and cheered me through my journey.l
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fnfministries.org
- Instagram: frankieaskewbell
- Facebook: Frankie Askew Bell
- Linkedin: Frankie Bell, Ph.D.
- Twitter: @frankiebell04
- Youtube: frankiebellph.d.choose2win864110
