The Power of Vulnerability

In the many years I have been developing myself as a leader and a business owner, and the many consecutive years I have been supporting other artists in honing their leadership skills...there is one value many have struggled with time and time again. This value is often misconstrued in its meaning and impact. Because of this misconception, not only do people struggle more than they should have to, but they miss an amazing and freeing opportunity to strengthen their artistry and their business. This value is vulnerability.

When people hear the word "vulnerability" they often think weakness, or exposing the underbelly of who they are such that they become susceptible to being taken advantage of. The most unfortunate misconception is that vulnerability requires us to trust people that could be considered “dangerous”. But in truth, being vulnerable can be one of the most powerful ways of being that will have people trust YOU.

Two nights ago I realized how far I've come with practicing vulnerability while on a conference call with some of my most esteemed body painting colleagues. We are planning a project together that - if successful - will bring a great deal of awareness to true artistry in NYC. I was to propose my ideas prior to our call so we could discuss it during our phone conversation. For me, us working together and agreeing on a vision and concept was of the highest importance. When getting on the phone with them, I was given feedback that although the concept content was exciting and had potential, the details and ideas I had come up with were not quite there...lacking of utmost potential for impact. I will admit my ego stung a bit for a second and in a moments choice I took on vulnerability and opened my heart and mind to a bigger possibility. In truth my ideas were not fully in alignment with what I wanted to convey...and if I kept my ground out of stubbornness and protecting my ego I could have not only missed the mark but also lost the interest and respect of my peers. By the end of the call we were all pumped and agreed on a concept that excited all of us.

So how do you become aware of and practice the benefits of vulnerability? Brené Brown, a storyteller and researcher has examined vulnerability from the inside out. Her TED Talks presentation shows her personal journey in understanding the power of vulnerability. Some great insights for anyone looking to grow exponentially in personal potential, creativity, and business.

When you don't feel like doing sh@#....

There are going to be moments during building your business when you quite honestly would rather chew glass than sit down at your computer and do all the tasks you know you need to do to push yourself forward in your business. This lull in motivation could be for a number of reasons; Perhaps because you're lacking inspiration, or you've been working tirelessly day in and day out to move progress forward, but you're not experiencing enough success. These are the times where you'd rather avoid or completely surrender to distraction. So what do you do when you plainly just don't feel like getting shit done, even though the rate of your success depends on it?

Well, you can take a hefty sigh of relief because this is absolutely normal. In fact if you say you have never experienced this you either have not been in business long enough or someone else is running your business for you (that would be nice). I've said it before time and time again that running your own business is one of the hardest jobs you could take on, however it reaps the most satisfying rewards. It is not for everyone. But in those times that you hit a stonewall where you seriously cannot get yourself to send out another social media post or make another sales call, I have some tips that have worked for me in the past. I'd love to share with you what will hopefully get you through the times you don't feel like doing shit.

#1. Give yourself a f$&@ing break!

First of all, if you start to go in that place of "I suck, why can't I stay motivated?" Just stop it. Like I said, we all go through this and it just means "Yes, that's right. You do own and run a business. Congratulations." This happens. So acknowledge yourself for working hard, and being human. Does it mean you need to quit because you are experiencing these feelings? HEEEEEELLLLL NO! Do you cut your finger and run to the hospital to get your arm amputated? I think not. So relax, it's not that serious.

#2. Take A Day Off!

Think about trying to use a marker that's running out of ink. That is what it's like when you try to push yourself to work when you have no steam or stamina. The integrity of the work suffers. Now when things are due, you may need to push yourself over the deadline, but there are days when you may just need to take the morning or the day off. Go to the beach, a movie, a museum...replenish your ink. Sometimes as freelancers even when we design our own schedule we spend everyday working or worrying about/on our business, but don't schedule time to recharge/regroup/or replenish. So do it! Just don't make a habit of it such that your business suffers.

#3 Motivation Loves Company

I'll guarantee you that you're not the only business owner you know who struggles with motivational issues. Creating a buddy system or an accountability partner can sometimes push you and someone else farther than if you were going to do it by yourself . It sounds crazy but having an accountability partner really does make a difference. If you gave your word to complete certain tasks but you are the only one holding yourself accountable, it's so easy to slack. But if you share that commitment with somebody else such that they will check in on you to make sure you stuck to your word, and you them...There is a certain urgency created because it's not just you. My Chief of Operations, Caitlin is my accountability partner. We check in with each other at least three times a week to make sure that we are on task. Of course I pay her, but if you're exchanging this service with another entrepreneur, it could be valuable for you both in the support you give each other.

#4 Create Office Hours 

When you work as a freelancer where your office is in your home and your studio is everyone else's location, your schedule can be kind of erratic and doing the necessary background work for your business can seem overwhelming. When you work a day job you go to the office have a lunch break and then at the end of the day go home and hopefully leave your work at the office. Essentially you clock in and clock out and you know what times are set for productivity. But at home I find it sometimes difficult with the distractions of everything else in my life to nail my butt down to the chair work on contracts, books, marketing and branding, and customer relationships. So I created a set of office hours for myself and I base them around times of the day I feel the most productive. 

I get up between seven and eight, go for my run, come home, shower, and call Caitlin to discuss our workload. By that time it's around 11 AM which is my high productivity time frame where I am most motivated to work. Whether it's blog writing or website updating I do not stop working until 1 PM. At that time I give myself a snack or lunch break and do something non-work related. At about 2 PM I start working on customer relations (my calls or answering emails), or giving attention to the leadership program. Around 4 I switch gears to do something more creative like face charts or designs, or photo shopping pictures. These are things I enjoy to do but is also great for end of the day wind down type activities. I also happen to work really well at night time so if I do not have a webinar or conference call I also take about two hours in the evening after dinner to do some last minute things.

Now on a day that I have a job obviously the schedule gets shifted to another free day of the week. This of course gets more challenging the busier I get such that when I do have a day off the last thing I want to do is office work. This is where I create a set of priorities that need to get handled first versus last such that the more important things get handled but I don't screw myself up.

#5 PRI-ORI-TIZE 

My latest fun organization system is writing all my tasks down on post its and sticking them to my desk. I reorganize the Post-it's in order of priority such that the ones that need to be immediately handled are at the top and the ones that can be flexible at the bottom. As I finish a task or goal I crumple up that post it and throw it out and re-organize the order. That way I do have a busy week the moment I sit down at that desk I don't have to rethink the wheel and remember what it is I need to do. Motivation is much easier when you need to use less brainpower to get it going. So create a system for yourself that allows you to breathe easier and think less.

#6 Celebrate even the little things

Now I'm not one to pat myself on the back for every little tiny thing that I accomplish.  However sometimes when you don't feel like doing shit, it's because you're staring at the pile of overwhelming crap that you still need to do, and a game of candy crush with two glasses of wine seems extremely enticing (in my case this is creating five Dubsmashes or snap chatting aimlessly for an hour). It's time to look at all the things that you have accomplished as opposed to the things that you haven't. Focusing on the things that you haven't done is a recipe for taking the wind out of anybody sails. So in the grand scheme of what you get to accomplish for your business, look at how far you've come and look at all the hurdles you climbed over. When you complete even a minor project - whether its doing the books for the month, paying the bills, finishing cleaning or packing your kit - take a moment and celebrate the completion of one less thing you get to do. Where you focus your energy makes a huge difference how you feel about what you need to do.

In the end I know that when someone says to me "you're so lucky that you run your own business",  the first thought that runs through my mind "if you only knew". The struggle is real but in reality you're not the only one to goes through it. Everyday there are millions of us out there who have taken a strong amount of courage and the commitment to be their own boss do for a living what they love to do. I emphasize the phrase "get to do" versus "have to do", because in the end, being your own boss is a blessing, and a gift. Not many of us have the stamina to do it. But being grateful and thankful for that gift will take you a lot farther than cursing it every day you "don't feel like it". So remember to give yourself a break, replenish and refresh, know that you are not alone and that you can find partners to support you. Don't be a victim of your grungies (the "I don't feel like doing shit" moments), but create a system that will help push you through them, and celebrate with gratitude every day you get to create the work you love.

The Power of the F#%k It

I was in Chicago this weekend, and I was having breakfast with my former student and friend Kate Johnson. We were discussing a lot of our plans for visions of our future careers and ways we wanted to really make a difference with what we do.  I was telling her the premise of our upcoming The Body of Artists Leadership Program and how it differed from other programs. The subject came up of what actually stops people from reaching their goals, from having the ultimate success that they envision for themselves. We both agreed that on the surface it is people's internal dialogue about money, about time, about their self worth. We talked about how each person has experienced the world differently and it's been a series of events that have occurred in their lives that give them evidence of how "life is". Based on these experiences and evidence people form their behaviors around trust, responsibility, integrity, communication, self worth, abundance, and connection. People are not born dishonest, lacking confidence, thinking they'll never make enough money, or not trusting people. These are learned behaviors.  The only way to truly breakthrough these seeming limitations is to first practice changing your mind about it, then take actionable steps towards proving the opposite of the original belief, creating new evidence.

Easier said than done, right? How do you go sky diving when you are petrified of heights? How do you get up on a stage to make a presentation when the thought of speaking publicly makes you want to puke? How do you go for an interview at your dream job when you do not think you have what it takes to do the job let alone land it? How do you meet the right person and get married when you have had your heart smashed? 

Well the method is easy. It fact anyone who has ever been inhibited from their dreams and goals by their fears and reached them anyway, has used this method. It's really no secret. The method is beholding this very simple concept. If there is a thing you want more than anything, yet you can't seem to get past your own shit to get it...then you need to say to yourself "OH WHAT THE FUCK, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES!" Or in short, get a good healthy case of the Fuck-its.

Now I know this in itself sounds reckless to some.  Coming from a promoter type personality, this is the jam to my toast. But there are things I too have been trepidatious about because of past beliefs and if it weren't for me going against my screaming psyche's advice and exercise a healthy FUCK IT, I wouldn't be here blogging to you right now.

What exactly is a "healthy FUCK-IT"? Well in my experience, when one has a seeming obstacle, a road block between them and their goal, and all the safe ways of circumventing this obstacle have failed, it's going to take a level of courage to be and do something out of your box...something outrageous, to jump this hurdle. This thing may be risky, but as long as you know all the risks involved, and are prepared to deal with whatever comes, and you go for it anyway...that is a "healthy fuck-it". For example, when I was going to leave my part time job to start my freelance career and company in 2003/04, I knew my finances would be challenged. I knew I was going to lose my stream of revenue that I could automatically count on. But if I didn't take this risk, I couldn't reach my goal of becoming my own boss and creating the company that is now The Body of Art. So to be responsible, I did save a little, and started talking to many others who did freelance about what to expect...and then I plugged my nose, walked the plank, and jumped ship into seemingly shark infested waters. I had to say to myself "Oh what the fuck, do whatever it takes". Another even funnier story: a friend/colleague of mine (who shall remain nameless) really wanted to not only make it in the industry, but make it big. She idolized Crystal Wright, and followed all her work, her talks, and scoped out her programs  She didn't just want to be educated by her, but she wanted to learn from her personally, and create a relationship with her. So she sent her emails, called her...but to no avail, she could not get a response that would open a door for them to personally connect. Now I do not recommend this to everyone, because it definitely could backfire, but the brazenness in my friends fuck-it moment blew my mind.  She decided one day she would show up on Crystal's doorstep, and personally introduce herself. So she found out where she lived, and at a reasonable time of the day...showed up to her house. Now responsibly she prepared an intro that would hopefully disarm Crystal of thinking she was totally nuts and a crazy stalker. Apparently Crystal was at home that day and did open the door.  I do not remember exactly how it went, but today they are close friends, and my friend is a huge support and advocate of the PYP program, not to mention an amazing visionary, entrepreneur, and makeup artist.

So on the other hand, you may be wondering what an "unhealthy fuck-it" is. Simply, it is being reckless in your decision making and actions, which in short means you do not educate and prepare yourself for what might happen should the risk you take go awry. If you are not responsible about your risk, and you incessantly get yourself into scenarios where you throw yourself into the sea with no protection, you will probably over time lose a limb or two, and you have no one to blame but yourself. The difference may in fact be caring about the result, and not caring. Caring does not mean being overly cautious, just like not caring means being brave. If you educate yourself on what to expect into the ocean of your risk, you can go into it with the knowledge of what's out there, maybe in a cage, maybe with a knife, a bite proof suit...The reward is you can discover some really beautiful things. You don't become Jacques Cousteau by looking at the sea from the edge of a boat. You say "fuck-it" and take the plunge with the intention of going farther than any other man has gone before.

They say courage is not being without fear - It's having fear and doing it anyway. That is the beautiful moment of a "fuck-it". The ultimate human experience. Freeing yourself from worry with the intention of reaching your potential. So what have you been holding back on because there is a seeming obstacle between you and the very thing that will elevate you? And what is a healthy, actionable "fuck-it" you can embark on to have that liberating breakthrough? Come on in...the water is amazing! Just please make sure you learn to swim first...or at least wear your swimmies.

Talk - Action = Bad Gas

I have to give props to this excellent blog article that caught my eye with its fabulous title the other day: Talk - Action = Shit by Bradley Richardson (http://www.bradleyrichardson.com/blog/thoughtleaders) As we are coming up with our new leadership program in July, where being your word is the quintessential cornerstone to running a great business...it reminded me how on both a personal and business level people use the the Internet as a veil to talk a big game, but when it comes down to the action of their words its just a cloud of 'gas'.

On a business level, there are thousands and thousands of online businesses popping up everyday.  I look at their cookie cutter formats and promises, and self proclaimed accolades and quite honestly it gives me an eye-rolling headache. As an educator who has been teaching since I was 17 years old, it really makes me sad when one day someone out of nowhere claims to be "the best deal, for the most value" or have "everything you need to learn to get started as an industry professional", or "top celebrity makeup artist teaches you all their secrets"... I'm sorry, but where is the list that these people "top" artists are at the top of? And what part of the industry are you providing "everything" someone needs to get started?

Ok, so now let me push the pause button on the rant fest. Verbal vomit is great for authentic expression and momentary awareness but it really does nothing if you don't apply it introspectively. Being your word and turning talk into action is one of the most glorious experiences a human being can have. And let's be honest, the experience is probably even more amazing because in the secret hidey-holes of our souls, we all - including myself - have at some point bullshitted ourselves expertly. I have made claims on what I stand for and what I will never do, and have had my own fall-off-the-wagon moments. It's humanity. And truthfully, unless you are a monk/nun/recluse and can rid yourself of all the distractions of life, there are moments where you'll have the "fuck its", throwing your ideals to the wind. I do it personally (more often) and in my business (rarely). There have been occasions we'll cut a corners as long as it seemingly affects no one..But in the end it always affects someone. 

Someone somewhere is always being affected by cutting a corner, falling behind in their word, falling short. Usually the person is ourselves.

The beautiful thing about this is at any given moment, we can restore this integrity. In fact I have had more respect for a business owner that has fucked up, and with amazing customer service has fixed the situation and acknowledged its affect on me, rather than one that just sweeps it under the rug. You need the action to match your claims, otherwise no one will trust you... As a friend or a business.

If you are going to tell you're friend you will come to their birthday party, work function, private social engagement (fill in the blank)... and you keep dropping out, even if it is "not your fault", or "out of your control" ... It is still your responsibility to acknowledge the impact it has on your friend and make good on your word. If you are going to make claims in your business that you have the best education out there and are creating the most value for your students, then you had better be prepared to receive feedback on all ends to make sure you match that claim. It's a huge responsibility and if you want to hold that claim, you need to cross every "T", and dot every "I", double and triple check yourself. If there is something that will come across to your audience as bullshit or "hot air", then own it and fix it. We need not to strive for perfection, just excellence. Best not to claim to be the best, let others claim it on your behalf because you were too busy being it to talk about it.

What is Leadership?

If there is a question I ask myself every single day, sometimes unintentionally, it is 'what is leadership'? I may not even ask it in those precise words. I may not even ask it in the context of a group of people. But in order to take on the things I do, and the things I want to accomplish, every day this question must be posed.

Leadership is often a term people give prestigious status. It is often looked at as something only people with certain gifts can obtain. But in reality, it's something we can choose to take on at any moment. In the moment we are presented with a situation, we can choose to handle it from a context of Leadership, or not. This choice is neither right or wrong, good or bad. It simply is a choice that delineates a result with a lasting impact, for a larger vision, and likely benefit more than oneself.

I am sitting on the train this morning daydreaming of my upcoming day and what I need to get done. At a stop, a group of people walk on and I am still in Lala-Land. I notice the person next to me gets up and I see he is offering his seat to a middle aged woman. Not old per say, but older than he and I for sure. I looked to see the pleasantly surprised look of gratitude on her face as she sat next to me. He gave the woman a brief smile and held on to the bar. It was nothing to him, almost an automatic decision to give up his seat. He also did not get off soon; he was on the train for many more stops, standing. There was nothing especially unique looking about this guy. He was just a guy, but in that moment he was a leader. Why? Because he inspired me. He made me step outside my box and consider things next time I have the opportunity to bring a pleasant surprise of joy to someone else, someone I don't know, for no reason at all except to be able to. And I'm sure I'm not the only one he inspired in that moment. His act may have also opened up something for that woman, who knows.

In dealing with my clients, I have come across a plethora of situations where I not only have to ask myself what a good business owner do, but also what a leader would do. In many of these situations, a decision that may be wise for my business may not necessarily be the one a leader would make. In the end I always have to ask myself... What is the situation with a win/win? Does it mean I may need to take responsibility for something that makes me uncomfortable but in the end will have everyone benefit? Or will it be better for my business if I just choose the easier decision, and walk away knowing only one of us has won? Will I always wonder if I could have handled things better.

Leadership as whole, when integrated into my home, work, and life may take more effort and focus but has proven time and time again to manifest stronger relationships, stability, abundance...and it empowers me. It also has been known to inspire others around me to not only trust me but step up and take on a leadership context in their own lives. It sounds like a responsibility that no one would want to take on, but the point I am making is you already do, like it or not. That man probably didn't wake up and say to himself, 'I'm going to be a leader today', but by giving up his seat he was one, without even knowing it. If he did not, would it have been bad? No, of course not. People's lives would have gone on just the same as they always have. Trust me, choosing the leadership context is not something I do all the time - I'm a human being. There are days when I don't feel like it, and the world around me doesn't change. But the more I choose it, the easier it becomes, the more rich my life is, and the more I attract the people who are also leaders living in integrity.

This became such a stand, such an intoxicating way to live, that I came up with this idea...a crazy plan to take my talents, my gifts, and use them to share this idea of leadership. It's my way of improving the planet. Because as long as anyone can be empowered by a choice, a choice that may inspire greatness and potential in others, why not spread it?

Our industry was in need of support and guidance when it comes to building a business from a place of Leadership. Thus for the past 4 years I have built the The Body of Artists Leadership Program, a creative community of artists committed to growing and giving through Leadership. We are about to start our 4th program in July. I'm so proud of the artists that have come through it already... Making the world a better place with their art and integrity. I could not as a teacher and mentor, and quite honestly as a human being, ask for more.

How do you know you are on the right Path: World Malaria Day Project Conclusion

I'm sitting here with fingers paused above the keys because there is just so much to tell you, so much to share, I almost don't even know where to begin...

So let's start with a review. The past few months I have been sharing my thoughts on how you know you are on the " right path". Concurrently I have been describing my journeys in Africa working on this World Malaria Day project as an example of events that give me signs that I am in fact exactly where I'm supposed to be. In review, the key essential points I have touched on are as follows:

1. Set clear visionary intentions or prayers as to what you want to create as though it's already on its way to you.

2. When things fall apart, know that it is sometimes a bigger plan at work to bring you closer to where you are supposed to be, even if you do not know what it is in the moment.

3. Every vision and road to being on your right path has a lot of hard, committed, challenging, work to get it to be where it is considered off the ground and a success.

4. When you combine faith with committed action, everything around you conspires and aligns to open doors and free channels towards your desired result.

These all have shown up at different times and several levels of extremes throughout the journey. Especially the one that talks about when things fall apart...ha, we could write a movie script solely based on that one. There are only two more vital key points to check in with. And I'm not sure I even truly got them all until this last trip.

Upon our arrival in Nigeria for the 3rd time I soon learned our schedule for our art pieces needs to be drastically altered...this was based on a series of miscommunications, and not doing our triple check list as thoroughly as we thought. I could say it was how things work in Nigeria, but after being in Nigeria for a total of 4 weeks prior, we really cannot use that excuse. But truth be told, it was divine intervention because the way the schedule ended up was actually better than what we had planned. (No surprise).

As a result we were scrambling, as we had to find new venues for our pieces, build a model roster with a limited budget, work out a ton of logistics and get enough sleep to function. When things get down to the wire, people's tensions are high, exhaustion starts to take its toll, and emotions are raw. This last week was by far the most challenging leg of the project. Breaking down and crying at some point was inevitable. Signs you are up to something big.

But when things get this intense, and it seems like all your plans are on shaky ground, you know you are on the right path when two things happen: the very people who will be the ultimate support to getting you through to the finish line are either already around you or will show up exactly when you need them...you just need to ask.

There was a point where we were struggling to find models for our installations and fashion show. We had met some really amazing models who had been apart of our journey already from the beginning, but these were seasoned professional models who often get paid a decent agency rate. With as many hiccups as we have had, our budget was not what we would have liked it to be. We had been blessed to have had many vendors offer us discounts and donations, but we were still very limited. So I was given the task of procurring models, good ones, with only a small stipend for incidentals. I know more than anyone that in our industry models are always being mistreated and taken advantage of especially when it comes to rate. So not only did I need to handle this delicately but also was challenged to figure this out in another country. I did at one point start to panic when on Wednesday we only had 2 people confirmed when in fact we needed 12-20. So I took a deep breath, reminded myself this is all going to happen, I just needed to see with different eyes and approach with a a faithful open heart. So I first picked up the phone and called my friend Lola Maja...One of the best makeup artists in Nigeria who had come over prior to help me with production. I told her I needed both makeup artists and models and was stuck with knowing where to get them. She immediately assured me she would work on it and not to worry. Then I picked up the phone and called every model I had met up to date to connect with each about the project, and humbly request they be involved despite our lack of funds. I realized the only way this would work is if I had already created the relationship with them where they would trust who I was and what I stood for. Slowly I got in touch with at least 5 models and each one not only agreed to be 100% in but moved schedules in order to be there. By Thursday were still short quite a few and I still had not heard back from Lola. In fact I now couldn't get a hold of her at all. Simultaneously we had just found out our location for one of our biggest pieces decided to pull out because someone else offered them more money for the same time slot. So while Robin was spending three hours of our very limited and valuable prep and planning time fighting to get our slot back, I was at the apartment with Caitlin one day before our show having a major "oh shit" moment.

Just when I was literally about to pull my hair out, I said aloud to Caitlin "How the f@*%# are we going to do this without models?" Not a second later my phone rang. It was a Nigerian number, not programmed into my phone. When I answered, a woman named Bola introduced herself. She said she had bumped into a friend named Lola Maja that day and she had mentioned to her about our project, which Bola had actually heard of.  Bola happened to own a small modeling agency and she would be more than honored to supply us with models. I stared at the phone in pure awe, and started to laugh. After thanking her profusely I asked her to send specs of the people she had available to my email address. I hung up the phone and looked at Caitlin, and said "Wow."

I called Robin immediately to tell him, not just because we pretty much had our model situation handled, but to share that experience of "ask and you shall receive". Robin seemed not to be surprised, and just concurred that we were meant to do this show and everything would work out. Oh and by the way, through his own version of coercion, managed to get our space back. Biggest sigh of relief up to date.

To say everything went smoothly after that would be a nice fairy tale ending, although not true to life in the slightest. But here is the catch: Through every thing that didn't go as planned and then turned out anyway, through every disagreement we had that came to a compromise, through every epic fail that turned into an ingenious divinely designed occurrence...it all brought the biggest blessing and piece of evidence that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I knew without a shadow of a doubt because I felt so alive. That surge of energy I spoke of in the beginning of these accounts never went away. It ebbed and flowed continuously throughout this journey and stays with me and propels me even after it's over. If you do not feel utterly alive in all that you choose to do, then it's time to make different choices. Further, the energy of life comes from the movement of ups and downs, not predictable flatlines. If you take anything away from this know that life is an intricately designed wave of fabric that brings a perfectly intertwined mix of surprises and soulful knowing. Our wisdom comes from learning to ride this wave with as few attachments to how it's "supposed to be".

I know you have been waiting patiently to learn about these projects, so I'll end this blog with some amazing behind the scene pictures and subtle description of what we accomplished. Hope you enjoy it and will be walking away with assurance that your right path is the one you are standing on. You get to look for the signs as to which direction to take that will lead you to your purpose and bliss.

Piece 1: 1000 kids

In order to illustrate the horrific statistic that Nigeria loses 1000 kids a day to malaria, we decided to take on the challenge of photographing 1000 kids together in one shot. Seen here are some behind the scenes images of us capturing this beautiful image in Bathagary. This was the 2nd of two attempts to get this shot. Our intention was to raise this image on a gigantic banner on the side of the road by the 3rd Mainland bridge where over a million people a day pass by in traffic.

Shot taken by the amazing Reze Bonna, and copy edited by Mike Gibbs.

©Reze Bonna

(The little girl in the middle is my favorite.)

Piece 2: Malaria Moves

To illustrate the fact that Malaria is everywhere, we created a moving installation by body painting what are called skater boys with our 1000 kids statistic, while having some wear a sweat stained skull face, and others in our famous Moskeeto Mask. These boys skated through traffic throwing fliers in the windows of cars. The fliers brought awareness of the statistic that the mosquito carrying the malaria virus bites as early as 4:30pm. We also painted on another actor a rendition of death, who walked around with two ambiguous mosquito characters in everyday African scenarios. We ended up at the third mainland bridge where we watched our banner get raised while we spent time with the locals speaking about the project.

Piece 3: Mother Africa loses her Children

Inspired by Michelangelo's haunting Pieta statue, we wanted to recreated a body painted marble rendition of Mother Africa weeping over the loss of her child taken from her by the Malaria disease. Onlooking and observing were 9 female Mosquitos (females carry the virus) and two male. These masks were conceptualized by myself, but sculpted, molded, and cast by my amazing partner Suzanne Winwood and her awesome team, while they were painted by my self in Africa with local artists including Lola Maja, and Cass Koncept. The skater boys lured passing foot and car traffic outside into our Silverbird location by handing out flyers that said "Every 45 seconds, a mother buries her child". Eventually the skater boys became part of our installation as well.

Piece 4: Moskeeto Armor save Lives

The eve of World Malaria Day we had a fashion show primarily for press to show the wearability and versatility of the Moskeeto Armor, conceptualized and constructed by world renown designer Mai Atafo.  He spoke of how malaria affected his baby daughter and how it was not a question of if he wanted to be involved in our project, but a only a question in what capacity...

How do you know you are on the right path? (Africa Part 2)

This article is a continuation of Africa Part 1...

I'm just arriving back home in the states from the second out of three planned trips to Africa, where I'm co-creating this massive project to make a difference with malaria. Perfect timing, because I'm so excited to continue sharing more of my journey with you and how it relates to knowing when you are on the right path. If you missed the first part, travel back a post to catch up!

In part 1, I left off when Robin and I had our first fashion show together on World Malaria Day 2013. It was a great way to kick off our co-creativity together, and our first experience of doing something big outside of fashion week. We left a promise that perhaps the next big thing we do together would be in Africa. But the months and years that would follow would be tough for both of us. As with every passion business, especially ones that look to create a huge impact, there is a lot of work behind the scenes. Now I want to be clear, and not have that last part come out candidly...The road to every vision will require hard, committed, challenging, work to reach the point of success. This is the kind of work that should call into question if this vision of yours is what you are really supposed to be doing. I've seen dozens of people get excited about being a designer, a makeup artist, an actor, a painter, a musician... hell, even a salesman, a marketing exec, a teacher, a politician! They love the passionate part of the journey, but when it comes to the business grind - breaking through obstacles, maintaining a positive attitude despite the inevitable flops - a lot of people fold under the pressure. Running a business and being committed to something big, seeing it through to its fruition, can bring up many doubts about one's capability...and it can sometimes feel very lonely.

After our 2013, Robin and I had a lot of work to do in securing our visions with our businesses. I for one committed to take BoA to its next level, elevating its team members and its artistry, marketing and branding and developing and expanding its education and mentorship. This meant investing in education for myself, rebranding, hiring staff, taking risks on new classes and programs that were being tested out for the first time. It also meant cultivating relationships both new and old to reintroduce the brand and keep it relevant. Juggling all of this not only takes its toll on you physically, but artistically, mentally, and emotionally. It has you face feedback and failures head on...the type that had me break down in tears at times. It also had me need to really be conscious of my family and friend relationships so they were not neglected. I can only describe it as always being "on" my game all the time...pushing myself up when I fell down, getting support when I didn't want to bother anyone, and staying connected to the bigger vision to remember why I'm doing this, not just what I'm going to get out of it. It's not just doing amazing makeup everyday and getting paid lots of money...in fact I'm not sure that day will ever come, lol! But the passion and the pure satisfaction of what I do would not be as sweet if it were not for these challenging times. I may not be doing my art everyday (in fact, I had to force myself to write and paint despite my lack of time just to maintain my sanity) but I am working towards something big that will make a larger difference for someone else.

During this same time, Robin was going through his own challenges necessary for Moskeeto Armor to be released in Africa as a viable product. Now I do not want to discredit my own experience but most times when I thought my personal journey was rough, I would look Robin's and say to myself "Girl, shit's not THAT bad". Because Moskeeto Armor is a technology rather than just a fabric, and because essence of the brand was about how it literally saves lives, it had to go through thorough medical testing. So for three months Robin had to be in country overseeing and pushing medical trials. The areas in which Robin had to do this were the very jungle type raw villages of Bathagory and Épée. In these places there is no electricity, no hot water...it's like camping on crack, taking baths with a bucket in a grassy field, cooking over fire, dealing with all the elements. To top it off, when your body is not used to living in those conditions, it freaks out...I'll let you use your imagination for that one. It was dedicated, hard, non-creative work every single day. But absolutely necessary! Plus, imagine being in the heart of malaria's severity, being faced head on with the very thing you are trying to battle. Even in the most urban areas, Nigeria is a third world country. The main purpose of my first trip to Africa was to get acclimated to this; even in the finest of hotels electricity was unreliable, and cellular networks are shoddy. Remember our gas shortage during post hurricane Sandy? Try having that happen at least 2-5 times a month. Traffic there makes LA and New York seem like ride around the block. And most people drive with no rules! It takes a state of zen surrender to deal with it...which is why most people just hire drivers. Imagine dealing with all of this when you need to run to the trademark office to fill out one form...hoping its the right form...it could take you all day for a single errand. All the while, leaving a loving fiancé and 4 amazing children at home all anxious to see him.

I really just wanted to illustrate how intense it can get when you are pushing for a dream. But after all is said and done...I have a growing and reputable brand that people seek out and want to learn from. Robin has successfully proven Moskeeto Armor reduces infections from 95% to 5%. Do you think it was worth it? This was the only way to pave the way for what was to happen next.

Fast forward to the beginning of this year, Robin texts me: "Block out the last week of April for Africa".

I stared at the text wondering if I was reading it right, because we have all been saying for years that I would go one day, but it always felt like a distant fantasy. But since I know Robin doesn't joke like that, I simply responded "Ok. What are we doing?". He began to tell me of his idea to create a series of pop up "Banksy style" performance art installations that would raise awareness and "change the conversation" around Malaria using makeup and body art, essentially illustrating the necessity for Moskeeto Armor. I said "Awesome. Let's meet to discuss".

Our next meeting began what I would call the birth of creative miracles. This is where ideas were born and faith differentiates a dream from a plan. The ideas we came up with in that meeting could be described as precocious, far fetched, ambitious, or just down right crazy to the average ear. But it was passion and faith that made them not only doable, but game changing. We really saw them happening. I can't really tell you the details quite yet, as the element of surprise is the power of the project, but I'll be blogging the week it actually goes down to fill you in. I will tell you that the things that happened so far on this journey have been the clearest evidence to date that Robin and I were supposed to do this. When you combine faith with committed action, everything around you conspires and aligns to open doors and free channels towards your desired result.

For example, the worst possible time for me to go away was in April. I had pending trips to Hong Kong and Paris to teach at the Make Up For Ever Academies, and of course they all wanted to book around the same time. But the Paris academy suddenly postponed, and the Hong Kong academy pushed my trip to May...giving me time in both March and April to go to Africa for prep and production. My first trip was a series of meetings to discuss our project with designers, photographers, politicians, architects, and anyone who could possibly help us achieve our vision. When I tell you every meeting ended with an " I love your idea, I want to help you take it further", I even astonish myself in how receptive and positive everyone has been. We have Reze Bonna, one of the top fashion photographers in Africa, Mai Atafo, one of the highest acclaimed fashion designers, Kunle Adeyemi, an accomplished architect, and our friend Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, also known as A.K.

Our meeting with A.K. was the one of the coolest I think we've had. A.K. is the special advisor on technical matters to President Goodluck Jonathan. He also runs the Citizens Club which is an initiative for Nigerians to pursue empowering goals that promote the happiness and wealth of Nigerians. "Happiness is Local!" is their philosophy. We originally flew to Abuja (the capital) to meet with AK to talk to him about gaining his support with his in connecting us to the big news syndicates in Nigeria and spread the word about our project. But when he heard our ideas, and connected with our vision, he wanted contribute and make it bigger. He offered to fund a larger part of our project where the representatives of the Citizens Club across Nigerian states would get involved and bring our message to a wider audience. This would also include a personal meeting with the president! Robin and I couldn't believe the success of this meeting...but clearly this is what happens when you are on the right path. There are a number of other incidents where this level of receptivity boosted us to another level.

This is where a surge of energy comes in and fuels us for what's to come...

Hope you'll join us in 2 weeks when our project premieres. Get the inside scoop on how we artistically turn heads and create a platform for awareness around malaria