This year has come and gone so quickly. And if you’re like me, you’ve already started making plans for how to make 2017 a better year than 2016. I can’t say that 2016 has been a terribly bad year. It’s actually been quite productive. This is the year I introduced I Press On, so 2016 will always be memorable. I Press On has had so many successes during its first year, and I would like to share with you three influences that helped to make 2016 a great year for I Press On.
1. My Publicist
If you’ve ever started a business, you know exactly how difficult it can be to find like minded people to work with. And how important it is to find people you can trust to have your best interest. Two years ago when I started working on my vision for I Press On, there was one component I knew I had to have, a publicist. My vision for I Press On is huge (I’m starting a movement after all). I knew I needed someone who could see all the possibilities that I Press On could obtain. I spoke with several publicists and for one reason or another, it never worked out with any of them. Some of the publicists I reached out to didn’t grasp the vision, or they didn’t see the magnitude of the purpose, or they wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money, or they wanted to brand me as a local non-profit and limit my reach, or better yet, they never responded to any of my messages. I really began to feel a bit hopeless. Meanwhile, timing is everything. Right when I was about to give up on my search for a publicist, I met Kiedra Tyson through a mutual friend. She has a genuine interest in working to help people fight depression and that matters a great deal to me. As my publicist, Kiedra Tyson’s main objective is to grow brand awareness for I Press On, but it is not what she does for I Press On that makes her so invaluable to me, it’s that she does it with such patience. Since I Press On launched in January 2016, Kiedra has patiently helped me to find my rhythm. It took me a minute to get there, but I never felt rushed or pushed and she never gave up on me. Thank you Kiedra for believing in me and I Press On! I am looking forward to growing our partnership even the more in 2017!
2. My Best Friend
Keva Brooks Napper is my best fiend. We have been friends our entire lives. Every important memory I have includes her. Needless to say, she’s special to me! After being diagnosed with Lupus, Keva founded a non-profit Beautiful Butterflies that supports lupus awareness. Over the years I’ve watched her work tirelessly to create an amazing impactful organization. Of course I’ve talked to Keva about my non-profit and she has been gracious enough to offer advice and support. But it is her actions not her words that motivate me most. In addition to supporting people and families affected by Lupus, she also has a monthly support group for people with invisible illnesses, an annual luncheon, a beauty pageant for girls in grades K-12, a 5K race and a golf tournament. She does so much and asks for so little in return. Keva describes herself as a Lupus thriver, but in my eyes she’s a champion! Thank you Keva for mentoring me from a distance. I’ve learned so much by watching you and I’m so thankful that God gave me you as a friend!
3. The I Press On Community
There are so many people I would like to thank for helping to make 2016 a great year for I Press On. First, I would like to thank my pastors Harvey and Eva Melton and Fellowship of His Glory Ministries, Inc. for supporting my vision with your prayers, love and resources. Next, I would like to thank Monica Boyd, Deana Brim, Theo Chunn, Kate Noelke and Theresa Willie. They offer me daily encouragement. I can always count on them to help me, especially with the blog. They are literally the wind beneath my wings! Then there’s my sister, Yvetta Melton. She always shares my posts and networks for me. I’ve never once asked her to support me the way that she does which makes everything she does even more special. I also want to thank Aris Poole for all of her behind the scenes work. I appreciate you Aris for believing in I Press On. I also want to thank my cousin, Attorney Christopher Young for offering support and answering questions. I expect 2017 to be a productive year for us. And most importantly, everyone who has ever read and/or shared the IPO blog, thank you. I’m always amazed at the number of people the blog reaches each week. I couldn’t do it without you. I appreciate all of the emails, messages, and verbal reactions you give. It makes it all worth it to know that I am helping someone. I plan on featuring a few of you in a few of next year’s blog. Thank you in advance for your support with this new venture. I already know I can count on you!
There are so many negative things that happened in 2016 that I could focus on and remember. But, I choose to celebrate the positive. Last week I listened to an interview with Terry Crews on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. I’m sharing this interview with you because I like what he says about dealing with depression. If we focus on what we have and stop complaining, we will be less likely to give into depressive behavior. This is the attitude I have as I leave 2016. Thank you again to everyone who has helped me and I Press On this year. Let’s make 2017 even better, and as always, let’s press on together!