I know I haven't written a really personal blog on this website in almost two years but I felt it was necessary today. I would like to take this time to give a personal 'Thank You' to each and every one of you that voted for 'us' to win the Soul Train Music Award for Best Soul Site this year. It really means the world to me! When I was younger, I would record every single Award Show that came on TV on VHS Tapes and I'd watch them over and over again with my mom but I never thought in a million years that I would be accepting one of those awards one day. My mother would have definitely cried if she had lived to see this.
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As a young girl, from a small town in Maryland with limited opportunities and resources available, when I watched celebs step up on that stage, those goals always seemed unattainable to me.
However, four years ago I started a website while living in that same small town, out of frustration of constantly being rejected and not being able to find a job. The biggest lesson I've learned out of all of this is that, sometimes you can't wait around for someone to 'give' you an opportunity to get on. Sometimes you may have to create your own.
So I dedicate this Soul Train Award to every young person, who may be in a tough situation right now where they don't see the light at the end of the tunnel or that may be struggling to get an 'opportunity'. Although I didn't have an extraordinary talent (I can't sing, dance or rap), I had access to what most people in America have access to, and that is a computer. I am a true testament that there is a lot of access and opportunities out there, right at your finger tips. I also want to take a minute to talk about complacency...
Over the years, I've told the story about my aunt a lot and if you haven't heard it, here it is: I was living with my aunt when I started my website, and about a month into it, she came to me and told me I had to find some place else to live. I truly believe in her mind, I was a slacker. From the outside looking in, it appeared as though I was online all day, 'playing on the internet', when I should have been sending out resumes and trying to find a real job. In reality, I was doing my research and fooling around with the website all day, because I was determined I was going to make it pop somehow.
I remember being very distraught. I thought to myself, 'How can you make me leave when you know I don't have anywhere else to go'? I felt like there was a lack of family support and I was MAD. So I packed up all of my belongings, including my computer, and headed down to Atlanta with this huge vision, I had for myself. Meanwhile, I was thinking, 'I'm going to show them. Just watch and see'.
What I didn't understand at the time is that my aunt was teaching me, 'tough love' by taking the crutch from underneath me.
Over the years, she had sent me 'care packages' as I jumped from city to city with no money trying to make a dream happen. Every time, I had a job, six months later, I would be unemployed again. Now, I was back at her house, living rent free and getting too comfortable for her taste, so she felt it was time to let me walk on my own...
But I didn't understand that. So as I built my brand over the past few years, I have had a very distant, almost non-existent relationship with her because I continued to hold a grudge. I felt as though she kicked me out when I needed her most when in reality, if she had never made me leave, I could have gotten complacent, and I wouldn't be where I am today. Sometimes people may not support you in the way that you would like them to, but it doesn't mean they do not care and it doesn't mean that they are not trying to help you.
So for that, I say Thank you Aunt Tammy. I am so forgiving and I am so sorry. I get it now. I can only hope that one day we will have a strong relationship again. I love you.
Lastly, I want to thank my entire team (including Kimmy, Dwyane, Erika and 'Bitchie Staff') as well as Fresh, Angel Laws and Natasha Eubanks because if it wasn't for me stumbling upon their sites years ago, I wouldn't have known a platform like this existed. Those two ladies help show me through their individual sites (Crunk & Disorderly, Concrete Loop & YBF) that you can actually turn a blog into a business.
To those who have followed and support me over the years, I can only hope that you continue to stay inspired. Sometimes the road is rough but it's all a part of your journey and you'll have a great story to tell one day. Keep Grinding!
Thanks again,
Necole
Congrats.
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