It's my Week...Feedback Please!

It’s my birthday week (September babies really are the best, don’t you agree?), and as I step into this new year of my life, one word has been sitting strongly in my heart: Feedback.

I’ve learned that feedback is a gift—but like every gift, it can either be wrapped with love or delivered in a way that wounds. There’s a big difference between feedback that helps you grow and feedback that tears you down. And then there’s the kind of “feedback” that isn’t truth at all—just words meant to chip away at your morale and self-esteem.

For years, I listened to someone I love telling me, over and over, that I was not enough in the midst of all I had to deal with. And unknowingly, I started living to prove myself—reducing my own value in the process. People around me noticed but often stayed silent: “You seemed to be coping,” some said later. Others admitted, “I wondered how you managed.” Some stayed completely silent, some muttered “hmmmm, it will get better,” some dismissed me with “I don’t care,” and a few even went as far as blocking me.

Even those I considered “family”—whom I ran to seeking intervention—chose instead to excuse or condone the behavior. Looking back now, I can’t help but feel that if the right truth had been spoken instead of silence or justification, the damage could have been avoided.

But here’s the truth: only you know where it hurts, only you know how deeply it affects you—and only you can decide when to break free.

The day I finally said “enough is enough” was the day I reclaimed my worth. Now, I’m intentional about surrounding myself with healthy critics—those who challenge me to be better without crushing me—and with cheerleaders who remind me of the greatness within. Guess what? I still love against all the odds, but I’ve learned to love and pray from afar.

So, as I celebrate this new chapter, I want to ask a gift of you: your feedback.

• How has WIMBIZ impacted you, especially under my leadership?

• Do you read my weekly notes—have they impacted you in any way?

• Have you read my book Oops! The Client is Upset—what did you take away?

Your feedback is my gift this year, and I’ll treasure it. Keep it real. And because no birthday is complete without some fun—after you drop your feedback, you can enjoy my birthday dance video (from last year)!

It’s a blend of one of my favorite local dialect songs with a thanksgiving twist. Don’t miss the kick at the end—that’s me kicking my goals and stepping boldly into this new year.

Here’s to growth, gratitude, and goals kicked with style.

Cheers!

PS: Watch my birthday dance video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVsYg7MaMTo