Life Lessons Learned Archives

Location Matters

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in both business and life is that location matters. When I was 21, I landed my first job that wasn’t as a waitress, cashier, or in retail. I became a call center rep for a company I had never heard of growing up: T. Rowe Price. On my first day at 100 East Pratt Street, sitting in the call center answering phones, I knew I had found my calling – business. I felt at home, even as I was starting at the bottom. It was just a few miles away from where I grew up on a street in a redlined neighborhood in Baltimore City. It was a different world. People in my community didn’t talk about working at a financial services firm. My childhood mentor, at nine years old, taught me how to shoplift a swimsuit (though I didn’t follow through) and how to sneak into the public pool after hours. By fifteen, she was on welfare. Yet here I was, in an office with people in suits, discussing the stock market. It wasn’t just a job – it was a window into what was possible. Although I didn’t climb the corporate ladder there, it gave me a glimpse of a world I hadn’t known existed. That’s why I wanted my current cohort of Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) entrepreneurs to experience something similar – a beautiful office space that reflects the success they can achieve. They’re underrepresented in the business community, but part of climbing the ladder is feeling like you belong. A big thank you to COPT Defense Properties for making this vision a reality! And a special thanks to Lawrence Twele CEcD for making the connect. Not only did COPT provide an incredible space, but they also did so free of charge. It took some time to work out the details – special thanks to Omoré at MBOC for helping with that process – but the support from COPT, including CEO Stephen Budorick who was quick to say yes, and VP Krysta Herring who handled the details, was truly outstanding. COPT is a great example of community leadership. They understand the power of building an ecosystem and giving back. Let’s continue to support and invest in anyone who has the courage to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Thank you, COPT, for being a partner in real change!

MBOC Annual Showcase and Pitch Competition

ummm…I think…you know… I had the honor of giving the keynote at the Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) Annual Showcase and Pitch Competition, where six amazing companies were selected to showcase their business ideas. If I’m being honest, every single one of the entrepreneurs in this cohort (~12) could’ve delivered a great presentation. But here’s the thing: no one’s immune to nerves. I shared with the entrepreneurs: “Everyone gets nervous. And that’s okay.” It’s true! Even the most experienced speakers have moments where they wish they’d said something differently…or remembered something afterwards they wanted to say. Just ask anyone who’s stepped onto a stage! One of the presenters had a technical glitch with his slideshow. The video wouldn’t play—but he handled it like a pro. 💪 It happens! And the filler words…let’s talk about those little transitions we all use… After hearing a prominent person on TV yesterday say “I think” 20x in 5 minutes, I was reminded of the importance of self-awareness. ✨ So, here’s a pro tip: Record yourself, then watch it. You’ll catch the habits you didn’t even know you had! 💡 For me, it’s “you know”…at least that’s what my podcast manager (and son) had to say…Ouch! But we’re all growing, right? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years about presenting on stage, even when you’re feeling nervous: 🔹 Acknowledge the nerves: They’re normal! Even seasoned speakers feel them. Stepping out of your comfort zone means you’re strong! 🔹 Focus on your message: Shift your focus to the fact that you know this content. No one knows it better than you. 🔹 Practice makes perfect: The more you practice, the less it feels like memorizing…and the less you have to rely on notes. 🔹 Don’t fear the glitches: Whether it’s a technical issue or a forgotten line, roll with it. The audience appreciates how you handle the bumps. 🔹 Slow down: Consciously slow down your pace…and take pauses to let your message sink in. 🔹 Visualize success: Before you step on stage, take a moment to picture yourself succeeding—it’s a powerful mindset shift! 🔹 Learn from every experience: Reflect after each presentation—what went well, and what could be better? We’re all learning, improving, and growing! I wrapped up my speech by celebrating the incredible people I’ve had the privilege of working with. Check them out—these entrepreneurs are the real deal! And a shout-out to the amazing MBOC staff: Virginia Dinzey-Taveras, MBA | Niani McDonald | Jada Riley | Jasmine Simms

Mother

I’ve waited a full year to share the lessons I learned from the most influential person in my life…my mother. There was no funeral, no service. The children who could move away, did. She was alone in her last days. The obituary read simply: On Thursday, June 8, 2023, Diane Clifford Neuman, age 81 of Baltimore passed away. My mother did not inspire confidence, or kindness. But I learned so much from her. I learned that no matter where you start, you can choose the person you want to be, you can decide how hard you will work, and how kind you will be to others. When I was born, the nurse came to my mother and said, “Would you like to see your daughter?” “No thanks, I have the rest of my life to look at her,” she replied. I know this story from her. My mother taught me to be afraid, and that I was never enough. She was a serial criminal, lifting groceries from the local store to feed her family, and going into business with a corrupt politician who was caught by the FBI. Despite those early lessons, or maybe because of them, I decided in my twenties that character and integrity matter to me. That I can be bold and take initiative. Instead of looking for an easy payday, I learned to work hard. To deliver results. I didn’t get it all right, but I never stopped trying. When I built a company, and it was sold, she said, “I could have done what you did if I had the same opportunities.” This surprised me because we both dropped out of high school. She started a family, and I lived out of my car while I saved the money for a down payment on an apartment. The first time she publicly called me a liar was six months later when, still a teenager, I was attacked at gunpoint. She joined the police in not believing me. It would take me almost twenty years to prove I had been telling the truth. My mother threatened to sue CBS News if they shared my story on 48 Hours. I did it anyway. That story led to connecting the perpetrator to twenty-five more cases. Stand in your beliefs, and don’t let others define you. Politics was what she loved the most. So I thought she’d be proud of me when I was sworn into public office. “Mother, did you hear about my new job,” I said. It was an attempt to open the lines of communication. “Yes, I heard,” she responded, and walked away. She joined my opponent’s team and worked to see me lose my coveted seat as county executive. When a journalist was writing a profile piece on me, she was a prime source. He opened the interview with, “Your mother said you’re a liar.” It would take ten years, but I have proven that I was telling the truth about how I grew up. I look forward to sharing the journey with you. Invest in the people who care for you and don’t waste the years I have wasted wanting resolution, closure or forgiveness. Forgive yourself for wanting their love and then focus on loving yourself.

Adventures with Leslie: Sunglasses

“Laura. I need you to come and get me. I need sunglasses.” I thought this was just a ploy from Leslie to get me to visit her. I hadn’t been able to drive for six weeks and she wasn’t having it anymore. She wanted to come to my house and take care of me. When she couldn’t do that, she reverted to something she knew would work – a request. A new one. Never did I imagine Leslie asking for sunglasses. She barely set foot outside for decades. Leslie is in a great program. In the last few weeks, she’s been to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Hershey Park, and Toby’s Dinner Theatre. It’s a full life. But there is no substitute for the joy Leslie experiences in her family relationships. Every single person who regularly interacts with her, including her Direct Service Providers, is family to her. They are what she talks about. “Which rides did you ride at HersheyPark,” I asked. “The monorail. Laura, Conrad took a cruise. You should call him and talk about it.” And then she’d tell me about Conrad’s trip. Conrad works at her day program. Leslie’s joy is in being connected to family, and for her that includes community. She enjoys the other activities but it’s connection that matters most to her. That’s why I invited every member of our family to her recent birthday party. It was the first time she has been celebrated in years. I ordered pizza, dozens of balloons, and we made a cake. In our family, we always make our own cake – even if it’s from a box. Decorating it is half the fun. Family members who’ve barely spoken to each other in years all celebrated and smiled together. That’s the power of Leslie and of the special people like her in our community. They love everyone. I get big hugs from her roommates every time I visit. It’s lovely.

Golf

I’m not sure if it was a love of athletics or an occasional need to get out of the house, but my son took up golf last summer. My sister, Leslie, had come to live with us and he was helping me clean out 50 years of mementos, trash and furniture from my mother’s house – it was a bit stressful. Without a single lesson, Alex became an almost-scratch golfer with an entry-level set of clubs…yes, he put in some hours He had his first lesson this spring. He loved it so much he signed up for the Maryland State Golf Association Amateur Tournament. Guess what you don’t think to get if you’ve never played in a tournament? A caddy! Guess who he asked? At the last minute. Mom! I drove him over, thinking I was dropping him off. With groceries in the car, no makeup, and zero experience, I was his caddy….fortunately, they offered me a golf cart! It was so much fun!! I went to the snack shack, ordered sandwiches, snacks and drinks…put the groceries on ice…and rode around in a golf cart all day. So fun!! I was on the cart path, not in the fairway, when one of the guys in his group hit the ball into the back of my cart (photo). It actually saved him a stroke.