As a coach, facilitator, and speaker, I have come to realize that our dreams don't always welcome us with open arms. The journey towards our aligned future can often feel lonely and unwelcoming, especially when we are made to feel isolated.Join me as I share personal stories and revelations about overcoming isolation and finding support in our journeys. From a significant encounter in 2018 that solidified my commitment to working with women of color, to the transformative power of finding and fostering authentic connections during the pandemic, this episode is a heartfelt testimony to the necessity of community for thriving.Tune in to discover how prioritizing connection can unlock your potential and lead to greater success in both your personal and professional life.MENTIONEDI'm opening three exclusive spots for women CEOs ready to redefine their leadership. If you're at a pivotal moment—launching a new fund, leading a team, or stepping into a new role—and feel the weight of what's next, I’m here to support you. Ready to invest in your growth and tackle challenges head-on? Visit www.moniquershields.com and fill out the simple contact form to get started.GEMS DROPPED“Success ​requires ​community. Success requires ​belonging. ​Someone ​needs ​to ​be ​​looking ​out ​for ​you, ​holding ​space ​for ​you, ​sending ​up ​prayers ​for ​you, thinking ​of ​you, ​knowing ​what's ​going ​on ​with ​you, ​knowing ​a ​few ​layers ​deep, ​understanding ​the ​dimensions ​of ​your ​life, ​because ​enough ​of ​them ​overlap ​with ​theirs, ​and ​because ​they've ​spent ​the ​time, ​the ​intention ​of ​both ​working ​on ​themselves ​and ​making ​it ​known ​that ​they ​are ​serious ​and ​invested ​in ​your ​success, ​that ​they ​want ​you ​to ​win. ​There's ​no, ​like, ​weird, ​threatening, ​frenemy ​energy ​going ​on, ​right? ““Your ​primary ​concern ​must ​be ​about ​connection. ​It ​must ​be ​about ​community. ​ ​It ​must ​be ​meeting ​the ​needs.”“As ​a ​black ​woman, we're ​used ​to ​counting ​on ​ourselves. ​And ​so ​the ​help ​that ​we ​really deep, ​deep, ​deep, ​deep ​down, ​that ​desire, ​the ​vulnerability, ​the ​sadness, ​the ​emotions, ​the ​joy ​that ​we ​wish ​we ​could ​not ​only ​express, ​but ​to ​be ​witnessed ​and ​to ​be ​held ​in ​and ​celebrated ​in ​or ​whatever ​needs ​to ​be ​amplified ​or ​just ​held, ​ ​we ​don't ​know ​how ​to ​do ​that. ​Nobody ​has ​taught ​us ​how ​to ​do ​that. ​ ​And ​so ​it ​is ​the ​medicine ​for ​so ​many ​things. ““There's ​a ​whole ​different ​experience ​of ​human ​interaction ​in ​the ​world. ​And ​I ​think ​we ​think ​about ​this ​just ​for ​our ​kids. ​We ​are ​greatly ​impacted ​by ​this, ​• ​and ​I ​think ​it ​is ​costing ​us ​dearly. ​And ​I ​think ​for ​those ​of ​us ​who ​have ​layer ​upon ​layer ​of ​subjugated ​and ​or ​marginalized ​identities, ​however ​you ​hold ​that ​language ​in ​your ​mind, ​​it's ​even ​more ​so. So we ​are ​under ​attack, ​like, ​our ​humanity. ​And ​what ​becomes ​possible ​for ​us ​is ​under ​attack ​because ​of  ​what ​kinds ​of ​patterns ​and ​practices ​have ​become ​normalized ​in ​our ​societies.”“When ​belonging ​is ​blocked, ​or ​you're ​not ​getting ​enough ​of ​that, ​it ​has ​far ​reaching ​impacts ​over ​the ​rest ​of ​your ​life. ​It ​has ​everything ​to ​do ​with ​how ​much ​money ​you ​believe ​you ​can ​make ​as ​well. Make ​it ​happen ​like ​you're ​fighting ​for ​your ​life, ​because ​you ​are.”STAY IN TOUCHCome and follow me on Instagram @moniquershields and I would love your feedback so send an email to [email protected].