Championing Diversity From the Inside Out

Having been raised by Mississippi Civil Rights foot soldiers (my grandparents, parents, and family) I was spoon feed diversity and inclusion. I knew first hand that 'isms" of all sorts existed in many Southern, rural communities. But raising my children in Tennessee taught me "isms" were not exclusive to rural communities of my youth. I, like the two generations before me, have always embraced everyone. My deep close personal friends in my private life backgrounds and racial makeup are as beautiful as the rainbow and are uniquely and wonderfully made as the boots I wear. My professional careers mirror my personal life. My customers from my pest control business look like the UN and my radio audience has grown to globally.

My multiculturalism-loving lifestyle was giving a wake-up call seven years ago when my son became a Marine. We were suddenly immersed in all things Marine morning, noon and night. We drastically shifted many of our focuses to support his desire to serve his county. We served along with other families and suddenly realized how small the world is when you become part of The Few, The Proud. At the exact same time, I started a radio program, Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes, that gave voice to the veteran and active duty military communities and their families that grew listeners rather quickly.

Initially, many of the voices heard on the show were of WW II MontfordPoint Marines who were the first Black Marines in our country, women in the Marine Corps, and retiring Marines. I was booking guests that I knew well, Marines. The texters loved the stories and gave positive feedback back after each show. One day as I browsing through my text messages, I ran across a text that stated, "There are five branches of the military just in case you were not aware." That simple truthful text reminded me of the many times I have sat on planning committees and have had to remind the committee members of whatever event was being planned more voices than their personal friends who looked like them were needed. In many civic organizations, I have usually been the only woman or person of color and my disdain for the lack of "flavor" for any program is quickly known upfront. My observations at the lack of the diversity are often met with indifference, defensiveness, or "Can you contact the them for us?"

WW2 Veteran Mark H. McCann, Sr. welcome parade at Nia House Montessori School

After reading the text message, I became the defensive one. I mulled over the comment for days and explained the many reasons why there were only Marines on my program. Most of my points were valid and I truly was not trying to omit any other branch. I was booking my friends and who I knew. But to a member of the Army, Navy, Airforce or Coastguard who are much larger in numbers and were loyal followers of the show as well, none of my of excuses sounded reasonable. 

Taking a page out of my grandparents and parents book of life, I decided to be intentional about immersing myself in lives of them, the “other” military branches. I spent time with members of the military who did not say ‘ooh-rah’ until it was as natural for me to contact the Army or Navy as it was the Marines for great profiles. The benefit of being intentional not only grew my audience but my programs became rich with content that everyone could relate too not just The Few, The Proud, The Marines. 

Being diverse and inclusive are active ways to begin addressing race relations. Too often, good intentions start with awkward race relation initiatives before organizers or well meaning folks have tried one of the most effective means of breaking down barriers, being intentional in getting to know someone else, personally and professionally, first. We must be the change we want to see in the world.

(The Nashville Business Journal ran a special issue devoted to Diversity and Inclusion. An edited version of my thoughts from above were posted on Friday, September 9, 2016 titled Expand: I was a champion of diversity, until I wasn't.

Thanks NBJ!)

Erik Milam on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers  embody, "Be the change you want to see in the world.

 

 On May 2, 2015, tune in to hear TrustCore's Erik Milam share about overcoming, beating the odds, and dealing with self doubt. Erik Milam, a former Montgomery Bell Academy football player turned financial planner will share about his challenging childhood and college years and how those challenges did not deter him from being successful in life and at life.

Erik Milam speaking at the NBJ's 40 Under 40 Luncheon on March 27, 2015

Erik Milam receiving a standing ovation after his inspirational speech!

Milam, 34, was chosen as one of the top 40 Under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal in 2015 and in 2014 by the inaugural Investment News 40 under 40 for being a leader in his industry and in his community. Listen to Milam talk being told as a child he will never be able to climb stairs because of cerebral palsy but years later is running in marathons. Hear him discuss his speech impediment but is now a sought after motivational speaker! Overcoming odds and difficulties are woven into Milam's DNA and he lives his life to the fullest. Milam is truly an example of turning obstacles into assets. This interview will keep you empowered, inspired, and motivated to live your BEST Life long after the show is over.

Erik living life to the fullest!

Living Your Best Life, can heard on 760 The Gospel in the Middle Tennessee region, Tune-In, www.UStream.TV and military bases from 9-10AM CST.


More About Erik Milam

How My 2013 Networking started off with Good Signs

I have long advocated for courses to be taught on networking  and relationship building. It should be mandatory for future business leaders, especially in the age of social medial. Social media can take the human factor out of getting to know a person long term. I have started three very different business without any experience in either field by networking with others to learn the ropes of each industry. For me, networking has always been about building relationships and relationship can not exist without getting to know people.

At this stage in my life, I have learned the value of my time. I try to focus on quality vs. quantity in every area of my life. I take meeting people seriously and have developed a few ways to eliminate time wasters and energy drainers. Meeting people is an art form that must be cherished.


Dependency on the Internet has diluted the value of meeting with individuals. In 2012, I spent most of the year growing Living Your Best Life Radio's audience. It was very different from working in the fashion industry, pest control, or writing for media outlets. As odd as those combinations of careers are for one person, I know them fairly well. Expertish even. But in the world of broadcasting, I was a newbie, a babe with a mic. While focusing on developing content for the show and learning the industry, I could not meet with my breakfast clubs.

Breakfast club meetings had become a steady diet of referrals for Holmes Pest Control. Business breakfast clubs are groups of small business owners who have gotten to know each other well and refer customers regularly. Meeting with individuals who were like minded two to three times a week had become my main source of new business for nearly two decades. I have learned over the years if I wanted to build an exclusive list of pest control customers, small clubs were a gold mine for building relationships with other business owners who only referred if they knew you well. No yellow page shopper types were allowed in this network of relationships-first-then-business individuals.

In 2013, I will start back meeting with my Brentwood breakfast clubs. But I also decided I needed to meet new people. Before taking the plunge, I called a friend, Dawn Rutledge, in December to ask her about a few recommendations that would make the most of my multiple networking needs. I told Dawn I had three requirements: small, no crazies, and no drama. I put emphasis on crazies and drama. Laughingly, she understood my emphasis. She gave me the names of several organizations to look into.

After researching the groups and their membership rosters I was given, I settled on two groups to visit. One of her recommendations,  IABC Nashville, peaked my curiosity because of it's January speaker, Kate Herman, President and Publisher of the Nashville Business Journal. I have long wanted to have a one on one conversation with her. Listening to someone speak and observing them with others is a great way to learn their world view. I made my reservation and jotted down a few notes on signs to look for if the group would be a mutual fit.

Arriving late from a volunteer outing, I entered the room as everyone was introducing themselves. The room was packed so I stood in the back waiting for an opportunity to find a seat. When asked to introduce myself, I hastily said "Genma Holmes of Holmes Pest Control."  Ms. Herman, not knowing she was the hook to my being there, offered me her seat. Hmm. Good sign, I thought quietly.

Shortly after giving me her seat, Ms. Herman began her presentation titled, The Changing Face of the Media and What PR Pros Need to know. Upon hearing the title, I nearly fell out my chair. This topic is one of my hot buttons. Not the PR PRO part but the Changing Face of the Media. I thought immediately, "Lord, when you deliver, you deliver!" Good sign. .

The presentation was chock full of stats, information on the business community, partnerships and events galore. She emphasized over and over the importance of relationships. I was in heaven. Heaven! I took pages of notes as if I was studying to become a new PMP (pest management professional). That's big for you non-bug industry people.

After her presentation, I could not stop myself from going up to her to add my unsolicited two cents about some of the statistics she gave. Instead of bristling, she agreed. The more we talked, the more I wanted to follow up. Kate Herman was engaging, informative, confident ("We really do not have competition."), and was not afraid to ask the lunch crowd for email addresses to stay in touch.  I asked her about a future appointment and she said, "Yes." Then she turned to make sure I had her business card. Good sign. Wait...great sign!

IABC Nashville's first meeting of the year was a good way to start my networking through relationship building in 2013. I called Dawn to thank her for her recommendations. I shared with her how impressed I was with Kate Herman, the presentation, and the group. We discussed the presentation and Nashville's business community, the printed and unprinted. We chatted about a few other things and promised to talk later.

The very next day, I got a call from someone who attended the meeting. She knew of Holmes Pest Control and wanted extermination service for her home and business. Yes ma'am, I will kill your bugs! An appointment was set. This was more than a good sign, this was a new customer in a New Year from a new group! I immediately thought, "I attended a meeting for communication professionals for lunch and managed to nab a pest control customer out of the deal." Manna. Networking, when done right, will net results. Excellent signs for 2013.  Now that's what I am talking about!

Photos: Genma Holmes