Good manners, kindness & respect for others will still take you through the world

And if you add excellence, integrity, perseverance & delivering real value, then others will actually pay you to travel the world

That’s been my life for years & it’s a beautiful thing.

I like when people share real examples of how...so here’s one I love.

A few years ago the US State Department emailed some info about a newly launched global program for women leaders. I decided to apply!

It took dayshttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😩" title="Mattes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Mattes Gesicht"> to complete the application. In fact...

Several entrepreneurs I sent the application to didn’t even complete ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥺" title="Pleading face" aria-label="Emoji: Pleading face">.

I remember one of my colleague saying it’s too long & detailed and she doesn’t have the time.

But if you know me, you know I don’t give up. I may fail for a minute but I will never stop trying. So..

I completed the application and clicked submit. Weeks later I got an email that I had been shortlisted for this amazing program to accelerate the growth of my biz. I was overjoyedhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">. Hundreds of applications from women around the world- only 20 spots. I was nervous

Because there was an interview process, and this was a new program. I didn’t have anything online to prep. Couldn’t find anyone who had done this before. And me a di research queenhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😩" title="Mattes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Mattes Gesicht">. Yikes! Anyway I did the interview, and they didn’t seem impressed. At least it never showhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😞" title="Enttäuschtes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Enttäuschtes Gesicht">...

But sure enough, as we say inhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇯🇲" title="Flagge von Jamaika" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Jamaika">“what is fi yuh, can’t be un fi yuh” & a week later I got an email that I was accepted. Just like that I’m enrolled in this amazing global program for business growth accelerationhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🎉" title="Partyknaller" aria-label="Emoji: Partyknaller">. It’s a mix of virtual, in person...22 countries represented.

Later we learned the applications were so impressive they added 4 more spots.

Top business trainers & coaches from around the world would be helping me. It was surreal

But here’s where the story gets unbelievable...a year later I would be selected as, get this, LEAD TRAINERhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥳" title="Partying face" aria-label="Emoji: Partying face">

So I’m in this program & working my butt off. At the same time I’m seeing great ways to improve it. It was already amazing - but my mind is always “how can we make this better”. After the program they ask us to submit our ideas for improvement - would you believe

2 weeks after submitting my suggestions I get an invite to come to Washington to share. What?!! Now here’s where you follow faith & purpose. I wasn’t being offered any pay for this. Yet in my heart I knew if my ideas were implemented it would help many. So I went, it was amazing.

I leave DC & think “my work here is done. Thanks Lord for the opportunity”. I was grateful

But then, the following month I get an email inviting me to apply to be a trainerhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👀" title="Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Augen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👀" title="Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Augen">. Mi seh, no sah! This cya realhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😩" title="Mattes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Mattes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😩" title="Mattes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Mattes Gesicht">

Applicantion process neva normal, but I’m https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇯🇲" title="Flagge von Jamaika" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Jamaika">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇯🇲" title="Flagge von Jamaika" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Jamaika">. We confidenthttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏽" title="Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittlerer Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="♥️" title="Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Herz">

Looong story short I get selected to become the trainer for Latin America & the Caribbean.

3 years of hard work, dedication & it’s paying off. The HQ team is pleased.

I think “God you not easy eeeh. Look how you send me this program to build the biz & look where me reach.”

But it didn’t end there. Not at all

A few years ago, I was offered a new opportunity- become the Global business trainer - all regions. Middle East, Africa, Europe, Americas

And so here I am, the program fellow now famed for becoming the program lead. https://www.vitalvoices.org/2020/04/voices-of-resilience-yaneek/">https://www.vitalvoices.org/2020/04/v...

Almost forgot - I went in the program with aim of expanding The Innovators TV series.

At the time it was only in Jamaica

Thanks to that program we completed 8 seasons of the show & expanded publication to 18 countries, plus signed a franchise agreement for Innovators Nigeria