BusinessFashionMy Life

On Contributions, Coachability and Chicness

Happy Women’s History Month! Also, it’s Money March. So what are we gon do this month? Mind our coins and take up space. All while trying to maintain some semblance of balance and sanity.

This month is truly March Madness for me. I have 7 work trips for this month ALONE, plus I’m 2 months away from the launch of my newest book Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess (BTW, if you haven’t yet, preorder it now! Little Luvvie is the cutest thing ever)! All this is to say, I’m headless chickening right now. I ain’t even gon lie to you: this is hustle and grind season for me. For many reasons. 🥴

Little troublemaker Book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

I like March. It’s an energizing month. Winter is winding down and spring is coming. But there’s one thing I HATE about March. So let’s jump into it because I know I’m not the only one.

RANT


I LOATHE tax season. 😩😩😩

Ever since I stopped working full-time for someone else in 2010, tax season has been the Voldemort in my life. It is my boogeyman. It is the monster in my closet. It is the edges I’m afraid of losing. It’s the thought of flying roaches or giant rats. It petrifies me every year. It is also the time I wish I had kids already. They’d be great write-offs (although they cost way more than the write offs soooo… net zero?).

As the saying goes, there are two things guaranteed in this here life: taxes and death. I know better than to avoid taxes, because we all know that the IRS will get theirs, come hell or high water. They are the ULTIMATE kings of the shakedown. People have gotten off for heinous crimes like murder, money laundering, and being professional criminals only to be caught up by the IRS for tax evasion and end up behind bars anyway (See: Al Capone).

I have an amazing accountant and CFO, but I still hate tax season. Even though I pay taxes throughout the year, as a salaried employee of my company Awe Luv Media and I pay the company’s taxes (quarterly), it still ain’t enough. And writing 6-figure checks to the government is an uppercut straight to the jaw. 💸💸💸

Like WHY DO I OWE Y’ALL MORE MONEY? I JUST PAID YOU. Tax season stresses me out cuz I already know that even though the money is earmarked for it, watching it leave my accounts be having me hit a *wall slide* like…

Maybe I’d feel better about it if I didn’t know that really wealthy people do all sorts of legal tax evasion. I pay more in taxes than Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump, I’m sure. Or maybe I’d tolerate it more if I knew my money was going to build socially just systems but we still have schools with 45 kids per class, and we still have people who experience homelessness and our healthcare system is still a scam. SO WHAT AM I PAYING ALL THIS FOR???

Ugh. I’ll still pay what I owe as an upstanding citizen who wants to contribute to the greater good. BUT I WILL COMPLAIN THE ENTIRE TIME. Every year. Like clockwork. March 15th comes nearer? I get real ornery.

The good news is that I’ve learned so much between now and the first year I had to file taxes as a CEO, and while it doesn’t make me hate tax season any less, what I’ve learned has taught me to still work for and earn more – which leads me to the importance of always being willing to learn…

REFLECTION


Being a forever student has served me well.

One thing about me: I commit to learning more than I know, at all times, about as much as I can. I’ve always been really curious, and I think it’s one of the engines behind my forward movement, as a thinker, leader and human. I am always asking questions, always looking to see “how could this be better?” I’m always seeking information. I read voraciously, I research random things and I look for new ways to grow.

I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve learned about myself and business in general in the last 3 years, as I’ve been scaling my company, building a team, expanding my work suite. And I had to stop and give myself some credit because I realized how much better I am at so many things. How different I show up, and how much I’ve sought out more information.

When I was in high school, I took a Microsoft Excel class, and my teacher was this dope Black woman who reminded me of Claire Huxtable. In that class, we learned so many tips and tricks of that software. Things that I still use TODAY as I run my own business. Shoot, I use those same skills when I’m going on vacation and create a spreadsheet so everyone knows how much they owe.

When I graduated from college, I took an Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator class at a local community college. The design classes helped me shape and maintain a tight visual branding, which is prevalent all throughout my socials.

I’ve hired 3 executive coaches in the last 6 years and have taken many online courses to help me level up in whatever area I find gaps in. Nurturing my sense of learning has elevated me in ways that never could have come from choosing to be comfortable with whatever works.

“We are forever students who are constantly learning and growing, even at what we’re already good at.” This is one of my company’s core values and something that every member must agree to before they get onboarded. Because not only do I wanna constantly seek knowledge, I want the people I work with to do the same. Cuz we’re not just gonna be stagnant. We can’t disrupt and innovate if we don’t grow.

Take the “boring” classes. Take the unsexy courses that will give you lifelong skills. Listen to the random podcast. And commit to never being too old to grow and know more.

And just as much as I want to always learn something new and keep my brain sharp, I want to keep the devices I’m using in this process looking sharp too… 😂

REFLECTION


Let a woman-owned business level up your tech.

We carry keys to knowledge in our pockets every day, and as a long time techie, I’m especially tied to my tech, carrying 2 phones, an iPad and a MacBook, usually on every trip I’m on.

And you know I do like to look TF good on a regular. Sooo why can’t my gadgets match my swag? THEY DO.

Since March is International Women’s Month and Money March, I’m doing a double celebration! You know I believe in the power of supporting small businesses, especially those run by women. You might recall that’s why I’ve created the Black Biz Luvv project back in 2021.

One of the first businesses I featured in Black Biz Luvv was Chic Geeks by Candice Adams, a tech accessories store that will have your laptop, iPad and iPhone looking like LUXURY! Chic Geeks’ covers have been my go-to for years, and when I’m working in public, folks will stop me to ask about it, cuz it’s faux crocodile print and in my signature color: red (but of course, it comes in a variety of colors to match whatever color you like).

Chic Geeks offers other accessories like laptop sleeves, keyboard covers and more too. So don’t just stop at getting a new case. They’ve got collections for MacBooks, iPhones, AND iPads so you can get all of your devices together at once! And when you use the code LUVVIE10, you get a 10% discount!

Let’s make this Money March more meaningful by intentionally pouring money into women-owned businesses. You can also share this post using the buttons below. Send it to your family and friends who love to support small businesses (or just want to go on a shopping spree on a discount!), and let’s create a ripple effect

BE A CHIC GEEK!

BTW, what’s your favorite small business owned by a woman? Comment below and let me know, because I’m looking to expand my support of women-owned businesses.

 


Disclaimer: I receive commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this newsletter. All thoughts and vouching are mine. I keep it true and 💯.

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