Setting New Standards: How Exceeding Expectations Drives Impactful Leadership

The Bar is Just the Starting Point

We live in a world where those from historically marginalized communities are often told to 'meet the bar.' But what if the true challenge isn’t simply reaching it, but pushing it higher, time and again? For many women of color, our dreams and ideas are often met with the undertones of underestimation. The assumptions made about our situations—whether based on background, appearance, or circumstance—often overshadow the motivations that drive us. We're frequently greeted with lackluster support, limited resources, or even total disregard for the goals we've set. And still, it is placed on us to summon the strength to push through, to keep going against the grain. This is more than a challenge; it’s a defining part of our journey toward exceeding expectations.

The Changemakers Who Defied the Odds

Historically, systems and structures have never been designed with Black and Brown people in mind. From the very beginning, we’ve been forced to fight not just for a seat at the table, but to define what success even means for us. Take, for example, the powerful legacies of Abolitionist Harriet Tubman, Poet Langston Hughes, and Labor Leader Dolores Huerta. They didn’t just accept what the world handed them—they exceeded it. Their strength, innovation, and persistence weren’t just about survival; they were about creating new possibilities where none seemed to exist. They showed us that the struggle wasn’t a limitation but the catalyst for transformation, not just for themselves, but for the generations that would follow.

It wasn’t just about speaking out—it was about taking up space, breaking records, and ensuring that his message was not only heard but HEADLINED.

The Secret Sauce: Do It BIG

In today’s world, setting new standards isn’t just about personal wins—it’s about collective strategy, boldness, and showing up in ways that demand attention. Senator Cory Booker’s recent 25-hour record-breaking filibuster is a perfect example of what it means to do something EPIC. It wasn’t just about speaking out—it was about taking up space, breaking records, and ensuring that his message was not only heard but HEADLINED. When we make these kinds of moves, we don’t just create the impact we desire; we amplify our voices and make sure our actions resonate with the masses.

The secret sauce is doing it BIG. It’s not enough to simply participate or go through the motions. Like Senator Booker, we must take bold action that puts our mission at the forefront and shakes up the status quo. Whether it’s through a groundbreaking initiative, a game-changing partnership, or a powerful public stand, we need to ensure our message is impossible to ignore. The world won’t just listen—we’ll make them pay attention.

And guess what? You, me, WE have that very sauce. Each of us has the ability to make our own EPIC move. It’s about being fearless in our approach, unapologetic in our actions, and deliberate in our strategy. We’re not here to settle for mediocrity. We’re here to exceed, to innovate, and to show up in a way that ensures our voices echo far and wide.

I have many dreams—big ones, audacious ones, ones that push the boundaries of what’s been told to us. But there is one that stands as nonnegotiable.

Building a Legacy of Excellence

At Soul Movement Success, I have many dreams—big ones, audacious ones, ones that push the boundaries of what’s been told to us. But there is one that stands as nonnegotiable. It's the dream that drives everything I do: to create a world where everyone, no matter their background, has access to the tools and resources to excel in their own right. It’s about building a space where even the weakest chain, the least resourced, the overlooked, and the undersupported have the freedom to fail upward and thrive—not just survive—in wealth, health, and personal freedom.

I’m building a world that my ancestors fought for, that my grandparents worked tirelessly to carve out, even when they were told it was impossible. A world where the dreams of those before me aren’t just memories of struggle, but a foundation for prosperity. A world where the barriers I once faced—whether personal or systemic—are erased, so my unborn daughter, and generations to come, can exceed in their own dreams without hesitation, doubt, or limits. This is not just my mission; it’s my responsibility. It’s the legacy I will leave behind.

I am laying down the foundation for a world where excellence isn’t just an expectation—it’s a guarantee for all.

This is my filibuster! This is my stand, my move to build an empire that prioritizes Black and Brown women rising, and for EVERYONE to thrive. Nothing will stop me from turning this dream into a reality. I am laying down the foundation for a world where excellence isn’t just an expectation—it’s a guarantee for all. What will you stand on?

At Soul Movement Success, we don’t just talk about creating change—we live it. We are building a world where access to success is not a privilege but a right, where every individual can rise to their highest potential, no matter where they start. This is a movement that won’t stop until everyone has the chance to exceed, because when one of us thrives, we all rise.