Celebrity News
Nowadays, everyone wants to be a boss. From social media influencers to the women side-hustling just to make ends meet, there are so many different definitions of what being a “boss" really means. But when you take a closer look at the most successful, most impactful businesswomen of today, there is one factor that they all have in common: the ability to empower others.
Whether it's through their words, their actions, or their ability to use their platforms in order to help others find hope for a better future, empowering others has played a pivotal role in any boss babe's success story.
Variety recently held its annual Power of Women event in Beverly Hills to honor women who inspire and influence change through their work in their careers and in the community. As one of five honorees at this year's luncheon, Emmy winner Regina King took the time to highlight the idea that there is no such thing as power without the ability to empower others. The 47-year-old told the crowd:
"You can't feel and understand real power unless you feel and understand what it means to empower… Civility, respect, the ability to make a difference in someone's life by supporting or lifting them up, are qualities I don't take lightly."
And for every success story, there are tales of someone else inspiring them to run toward their dreams in pursuit of greatness. The Seven Seconds star says that she wouldn't be where she is today without the tribe around her--including her mother--encouraging her to dream big. She told the audience:
"I wouldn't be standing here right now if I didn't have a mother who encouraged me and my sister to dream beyond the sky."
Regina isn't all talk and no action. The actress currently works with the "I Have A Dream" Foundation - Los Angeles, whose mission is to provide children and youth in underserved communities long-term support and financial resources. This allows them to understand the value of higher education and, in turn, pushes them to reach their full potential.
In a world where it's almost impossible to avoid the constant onslaught of negative news and salacious headlines, empowering news stories are few and far between. However, over the last year, we have seen an insurgence of women sharing their experiences and supporting one another. Women are using their voices and banding together in an "all-inclusive sisterhood" that the world really hasn't seen before. For Regina, this movement is another example of power. She says:
"There is an all-inclusive sisterhood that's happening right now. Women are supporting, loving, and protecting each other outwardly on a grand scale… It's a beautiful thing, and it makes my heart smile. And that is powerful."
In an intimate, behind-the-scenes video of her cover shoot with the magazine, Regina also reminds us that we are individually created to fulfill our own personal destinies. Our paths are intended to be unique, and when we try to compare ourselves to others, we rob ourselves of the chance to be our true, authentic selves.
She told Varietythat we shouldn't try to "outbloom the other flower" and, instead, we should focus on how awesome we already are.
"Don't compare yourself to the person next to you. A flower just blooms, it doesn't try to outbloom the other flower… I think we get so consumed with what someone likes about another, instead of just kind of focusing on, 'You're pretty fantastic in your own skin.' The world needs to see your fantasticness."
When we take the time to evaluate and understand our own personalized skill set, we can then move towards using these skills to improve our own lives. As we hone in on our gifts and talents, we can start the process of empowering others simply by being ourselves. As we become more of what we wish to see in the world, others will inevitably take notice. You never know who is watching and who you might be inspiring, so why not make it really good?
I encourage us all to stop and think: how can we become more encouraging to those around us? How can we use our own "fantasticness" to help uplift and empower others?
To read Regina's feature story with Variety, click here.
Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com
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