Best of 2023: My year in review
My top 10 moments of the year.
If you asked me what I did on Feb. 11, I could tell you.
I was in Las Vegas, hanging out on Fremont Street after coming dangerously close to dropping $650 on Bruno Mars tickets.
Ask me where I was on Aug. 13 and before long, after pushing only a few buttons, I would tell you I spent an evening with LL Cool J and friends at the United Center in Chicago.
This was the easiest it’s ever been for me to reflect on the year that was. I enjoyed milestones, many memorable moments and a few maddening ones. But I can remember all of them better now.
Money Talks made the difference.
I had no idea when I launched Money Talks in February how much it would organize my life. But it’s given me purpose and direction. It’s brought greater clarity and bolstered my commitment to long-term goals.
But this project also has equipped me with a detailed catalog of my life events, big and small. It’s become the place where I track my spending, share my struggles, convey my vision and celebrate our victories.
Money Talks morphed into my very public journal in 2023. Publishing my first column, which announced my mission, was one of the highlights of my year. It was the morning I told the world exactly who I am, what I’m about and where I’m going.
Regardless of what’s come my way over the past 11 months, Money Talks has helped me to keep it in its proper perspective. I’ve proudly embraced my evolution while maintaining a mostly sunny disposition.
It’s made me a believer in the power of journaling, which studies show can help improve your mental health.
If you’re the type to make New Year’s resolutions and you don’t already journal, jot it down on your list. Give yourself a goal of, say, one entry a week. Shoot for more days if you’re up for it, or even journaling daily.
Write about the matters closest to your heart. Be honest. Be consistent.
In time, you’ll exude the changes you wished to see.
Here were my top 10 moments of 2023.
Money Talks has changed my life
This was one of those maddening moments. My old vehicle needed another major repair. But this time, I was prepared for the four-figure bill. After learning the hard way, I began to focus on funneling money to my freedom fund. Because I did, I had peace of mind when the crisis came. It was a new level of preparation that opened my eyes to the importance of having a nest egg.
I stepped out of my comfort zone to attend this three-day event in Atlanta back in August. I’m glad I did. Because I couldn’t help but to be moved by 20,000 Black people convening for a business and investing conference. But the event also steered me in the direction of other groups more specific to my niche. I learned about FinCon at Invest Fest and came across the Plutus Impact Summit in September after registering for FinCon, which was held in October. I closed out my year of conferences at the ForbesBLK Summit in Atlanta in November. I met some great people at every stop, learned a lot and grew to look at the value of attending conferences differently.
Me with Wallstreet Trapper at Stock Market in the Streets in Chicago, Ill., on Saturday, July 22, 2023. Meeting my first real financial mentor will go down as a memory of a lifetime. It was unexpected. It was free. It was awesome. Leon Howard, or the Wallstreet Trapper, has had a major impact on how I view investing. More than anyone, he has helped me to believe that I could become “the architect of my family’s legacy.”
Parker’s first lemonade stand requires no further context on this list. It’s a memory I’ll cherish. It also was my first lemonade stand. And we made a profit!
The legendary entertainer is one of my favorite artists. I’ve always wanted to see her in concert. It took some time for me to make it happen. But she was worth the wait.
It doesn’t matter that we’re 2-4 since I lost my mind and my voice being in the building for the Vikings’ 31-28 victory in Atlanta last month. I didn’t plan to attend a Vikings game this season. I ended up catching the start of Josh Dobbs’ 15 minutes of fame. For a time, I thought we had a new quarterback for the future. Whoops.
A Father’s Day weekend to remember
My annual trip to my home state of Oklahoma took on additional meaning this year. It also proved to be my most peaceful 84 hours this year.
Early readers of Money Talks have read plenty about what my mother has done for me. This was the day we did what we could to show her our love by celebrating her 75th birthday with a surprise party.
Partnering with Advance Ohio, parent company of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, was the first milestone for Money Talks. It made us a profitable family business. It revived my dormant entrepreneurial spirit. It confirmed to me that people near and far could benefit from our message.
The first batch of Money Talks shirts arrived on Aug. 3, 2023. On Aug. 3, our first batch of Money Talks shirts arrived. I’ve never felt so much pride for a material possession. But none of my previous prized possessions were products I created. Money Talks is ours. Every article of company merchandise I sport is an explicit, almost defiant, show of belief in the Money Talks mission. That’s why I wear it every day and have since Aug. 3. The vision is clear. The journey is just getting started. And there is no turning back.
Can’t get enough Money Talks?
1. MY 75TH Birthday Celebration
2. - 10, Everything else!!
JOURNALING!! I am as bad at that as I am at financial management. I have six or more beautiful journals given to me as gifts. RIGHT NOW, I'm going to open one and journal the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. I pray that I will keep it up!
Your End of year column is a "Count Your Blessings, name them one by one" LIST that helps You to see what God has done!! Remember that song?
What an amazing year you had!! So glad to have met you. You will do great things!