We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brandi Baldwin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brandi below.
Brandi, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As a millennial entrepreneur and woman of color, I’ve had many instances when I’ve been the “only” one in the room that looks like me. In my case, I always used that as leverage to stand out. I’ve always seen those situations as opportunities for the spotlight to be on me. I ask myself, how can I use this as an opportunity to pursue my mission and meet people who I wouldn’t ordinarily meet?
The effectiveness comes from being secure in who you are. Many times people automatically see being the “only” in the room as something negative, because they don’t fully understand the power of diversity. If someone needs everyone around them to look just like them in order to be confident and secure– that’s a problem.
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?
I’m the CEO of Millennial Ventures, a startup where we launch social impact brands. Right now, I’m excited about a new initiative that I’m launching called “Rare Not Relevant”. I’ve been mentoring young adults for years and after reflecting on the most common questions I’ve been asked, I realized that most of them came to me confused about life because they were too focused on being relevant. They wanted to be like the celebrities and athletes. They didn’t understand that they should be becoming their own heros. That they have the power to “win” at being their authentic selves.
This is like a ministry for me. I want to teach young women to embrace their “rare”. I want them to know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made and that the are okay exactly the way they are. Building this community is something that is near and dear to my heart. I can’t wait to see how it’s going to touch so many lives.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience is key. When you take a lickin’, keep on tickin’. Don’t allow one fail to stop you. Continue to fail, adjust, and grow. That’s super important. I’d also say that staying out of the comparison trap is essential. Comparing yourself to others is never good for your self-confidence. It’s challenging to do, but once you start running your own race, life gets easier. Finally, I learned how to enjoy all seasons of life. The ups, the downs, the busy times, the slow times. Contentment is essential to happiness. Understanding that this journey is what YOU make it is freeing and has helped me weather many storms.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
This may not be the popular thing to say, but the Bible. I grew up and went to church, but never really read the Bible. I heard of the infamous David and Goliath story, and was taught about Noah’s ark, but I never really read the full collection of books that make up the Bible. In all honesty, the whole King James Shakespearean writing style was 95% of the reason that I was turned off, lolol.
Ultimately, as my faith grew in my adulthood, I picked it up again and wow! I couldn’t believe all of the life lessons on business, relationships, and success that were still relatable today. Mainstream society would have you believe that the Bible is some ancient document of religious rules, but quiet as it’s kept, it’s better than an HBO movie! From adultery, to betrayal, murder, sacrifice, and of course the ultimate redemption, it doesn’t disappoint.
Now, I see how many of the most famous business books are actually taking principles from the Bible as the foundation of their work. It’s wild. Definitely one of the most underrated books of our generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rarenotrelevant.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedoctorbrandi
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/thedoctorbrandi
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/thedoctorbrandi
- Other: www.DoctorBrandi.com
Image Credits
Kelly Klemmenson Photography
