Play to your Strengths

Do you know what your superpower is?  The thing that you naturally do best; maybe the thing that you don’t even realize you do better than anyone else!

I learned for the first time around age 40 what my true strengths were; those things that just came easy for me and gave me energy.   To my surprise, not one of my top 5 strengths had ONE thing to do with the 20 plus year career I had been in!

After becoming aware of my strengths, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery which led to diving deep and exploring my true passions. 

Marcus Buckingham, an author and strength strategist says that doing tasks that play to your strengths are identifiable around the following criteria:

1. You are great (not just good) at it

2. When thinking about the task, you are excited — you anticipate the activity

3. When doing the task you find it easy to concentrate and get absorbed in the activity, even losing track of time

4. Once the task is completed, you have more energy than before

When I have a new client; one of the first things I want to know about them is if they know what their strengths are and if they are playing to them!

Do you know your strengths?  Let’s discover them today,

Shari Godley

Chief Relationship Officer

I Was Here

Welcome to the Gray Corner, a blog about entrepreneurship, youth in education, community and creative disruption. Aja Price here. Founder and Lead Strategist of Notably Gray.

Lover of nostalgic hip hop, red wine enthusiast and advocate of all things related to women in business and youth in education. As a grown adult, I often find myself entertaining the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Is it socially okay to say, I don’t really know? Even at the age of 30?

It was not until one particular family vacation  in New Orleans, that I recount experiencing many great firsts.  I was surrounded by business professionals who were confident, knowledgeable, powerful, and passionate. They were women. Stunned that these individuals  looked like me, and heartbroken knowing my time with them would be short lived.

As a child, I was stricken with blissful ignorance, but I knew then, that I wanted to be those women. I grew up, I did and I am. However, perhaps the greatest gift was not the experience itself, but rather the women who helped get me there. And that has made all the difference.

Currently I’m sticking to social media strategy. Becoming an entrepreneur was hands down one of the most difficult opportunities I have ever pursued. I wasn’t entirely sure what the journey would look like but I knew several things. I liked writing conversational copy, I had a knack for connecting with people and I delivered. For me, taking chances is inherent.

I knew in building Notably Gray, that I would never sell. Instead, I promised myself and my audience several things. I would share. Share experiences, insight and value on what my team and I have learned about connecting on social media. We do things a little different. What better way to educate than to show? No, we’re not a personal brand. We’re just really good at connecting...the way social media was meant to be. In an industry that’s incredibly noisy, we decided to stand out, by giving.

Notably Gray is a social media marketing company. It is the tool or catalyst of our “why.” And our “why,” well...that’s supporting women in business and youth in education, always. Because we believe that’s what makes all the difference. It certainly has with us…

As always be Notably, you!

Learn more about Notably Gray here: https://www.notablygray.com/graycornerblog

Don't stop until you get what you are after!

Adrian J.R. Davis is an entrepreneur, author, former state executive, business coach, mentor, motivational speaker, and host of the Momentum empowerment conferences. He has a passion to assist “Intrapreneurs” and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing thriving businesses with the knowledge and personal contacts he has acquired working in the non-profit, corporate, and government arena. He provides coaching and motivation to clients in the way of strategy for innovative thinking and ways of increasing value to their most valued customers.  

Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Davis matriculated through the University of Tennessee with a BS in Architecture. After graduation, Davis worked as the Marketing Coordinator for the non-profit housing agency, Citizens for Affordable Housing, Inc (CFAHI). His innovation and strong administrative skills helped the organization triple its annual operating budget. As a result, the organization has assisted thousands of families in the state of Tennessee in homeownership and mortgage default assistance. Proving his services in upper management, Davis was soon promoted to Chief Operating Officer for CFAHI. 

Davis branched into the entrepreneurial world by founding Developmental Resource Group, a real estate investment company. Davis now provides affordable rental homes around the State of Tennessee. Davis also founded Crown Davis Memberships, Inc, a business coaching and leadership training company. His clients range from aspiring entrepreneurs to state and local governments to global companies such as Nissan and Bridgestone. He has expanded his reach globally as of April 2018.   

Davis was scouted by Tennessee State Government as an Executive Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner of the largest state department: The Division of Adult and Family Services. Davis helped oversee a 35 million dollar budget, 2600 public service employees statewide, built a team environment while working to level workload distribution and caseload structure, and was an intricate part of the legislative process during bill season.  

Davis transitioned from the Adult and Family Service Division to focus on his passion of Training and Customer Service by joining the Department of Human Resources for the State of Tennessee as a Trainer. There, he rendered services in a most needed initiative from the Governor’s office. Davis continued to be an innovator and trail blazer by developing the first database for tracking job plans and course prerequisites for State departments to providing e-learning modules for non-profit housing counseling agencies.  

Davis continues to work with communities sharing the knowledge of Personal/ Business Development, budgeting, business management, and taking back personal economy through discipline. He is resolved to teach common sense and discipline-driven approaches to successful living, banking and personal economy. He lives by the ideal that “ If you can think it, you can do it”.  

Adrian J. R. Davis is certified in the following:  

Franklin Covey’s: 

• 7 Habits of Effectual People 

• Leading at the Speed of Trust 

• 5 Choices to extraordinary productivity 

Ken Blanchard’s: 

• Discovering Self and Others (Disc Profiles) 

• Coaching Essentials 

• Situational Leaderships 

• Situational Team Leadership 

• Leading People Through Change 

Authored a Content Manual for Customer Service:  

“Beneath the Surface of Customer Service” © 2015 

Developed Trainings:  

• Resolving Conflict  (global) 

• Customer Service ( national)  

• Motivation in Business (national) 

• Goal Setting for Success ( Digital) 

Learn more about Crown Davis Memberships, Inc here: http://www.crowndavismemberships.com/

Be what you want, but always be you!

In honor of Nashville Entrepreneur Week, I’ve often been asked why I left the last company I started to create something new.  The main reason – to once again be passionate about what I love - helping companies grow.  Either by mentoring an individual with an idea to help launch their business or by advising seasoned entrepreneurs through empowering them through my past experiences to help them get to what’s next.  I am a creative, forward thinking, strategic person.  My role had become rigid, black and white and very historical thinking.  I knew that I needed a change.  As scary as it was, I knew I needed to get back to being me and realign my priorities in life.  So, I took the step. I did it, and I was all in.    

I have often been asked why I didn’t launch something new before I left.  Now that really wouldn’t have been me.  There is no way I could have given 110% to my current company and my new company, so I jumped.  Then I spent time thinking and renewing my focus on my priorities in life, especially my family.  I felt free and so much like me again.  It was the first time in 11 years my kids weren’t going to school or camp from 7am-6pm.  Leaving what was so familiar and secure and jumping into the unknown was scary yet freeing.  I didn’t know what was next, but I knew that I wanted to start another venture and I was ready for my next challenge.  My entrepreneurial spirit was once again sparked.  At this point, a good friend encouraged me to not focus as much on the destination, but “Enjoy the Journey” along the way.  I am thankfully reminded of this with the bracelet she gave me with this theme etched on the top.  To this day, I find comfort in wearing it when I feel lost in my path.   

So, started my next journey, not quite certain where the path would take me, but I knew I was ready.  My passion to help others start and grow their own companies and begin their own journey to what’s next for them and help make their dreams a reality is extremely fulfilling.  Now in the fourth year, BluePrint Strategy continues to grow and pivot as we refine our vision.  I am thankful that I am now able to help others be who they want to be.  

I am also thankful that I was able to continue with my second passion/hobby of real estate and able to create something that supported both my needs, my hobby and help others start/grow their companies.  Three years ago, I created Collaborate | an entrepreneurial community and co-work space to help small businesses get started.  Many people come through the door just starting out.  We create the community for them to be able to have access to the resources needed to grow a business.  I’m a firm believer in elevating everyone to their highest potential: all tides rise together and helping those that come behind you elevate to success is extremely gratifying.  

So what’s next for you?  Find your passion and create your journey.  If you need help along the way, please feel free to stop by Collaborate for Office Hours or reach out to schedule a coffee.  Just remember, “Be what you want, but always be you.”