Every time I go home, my younger siblings like to point out that my big 30 is right around the corner. I recently had an honest and realistic conversation with myself about longevity and sustainability.  Growing up I was extremely physically active, I ran track and participated in swim camp during the summer but regardless of those activities, I didn’t always eat the healthiest foods available. Especially, after starting college -- where my love for pizza became well acquainted with my hips. Gaining that freshmen 15... I mean 20 pounds was my first indication that I wasn't taken the best care of myself but instead of doing something about it, I just pretended it was normal. 

I even started using the fact that I was "busy" as my excuse not to take better care of what I was putting into my body and eventually, that bled into not working out either. Or when I did exercise, it was for all the wrong reasons, for short term results. Which after accomplished, I would go back to my old habits. All of that came to head, when two people very close to me became extremely physically ill. All three of us shared many things in common, age, race, lack of physical activity and exercise the habit of preaching self-care but never personally practicing it (which for me, I later learned was centered on the guilt I felt for taking time for myself).

So at the start of the new year, I wanted to make wellness a priority that wasn't "just" superficially related to my looks but also something that would allow me to feel good.  Where I didn't feel like I was going to pass out after running to the bus or walking up a few flights of stairs. It's been a little over five months since I implemented many of these changes and the results have exceeded my expectations both physically and mentally. I should highlight, that by no means are these habits new and innovative but what I've learned, is that it's all about long-term consistency.

• Replaced stress eating with high active workouts: Since as long I can remember, I have always equated my love for junk food to my unhappiness at the moment. When I was stressed, or sad, I would always have an appetite that never seemed to end. Now when possible, I run two miles in the morning and then workout in the afternoon for about 1.5 hours, mostly doing free weights. I know, most people don't have that kind of time but trust, when you make something a priority you find the time... space and opportunity to do so (its not easy but worth it). Which means, I'm not a morning person but now I find myself getting up early in the morning to run because I've learned overtime, I'm actually more productive for the rest of the day when I do so. Also, as someone who travels at least once or twice a month and for days at a time, I now travel with a portable yoga mat and resistance bands for those occasions when I don't have access to a gym. 
• Meal Prep is your friend: If we're being honest with ourselves, who wants to stand over a stove every night to cook... not me.  Especially, after working all day and sweating my life away at the gym, so what has been extremely helpful in preventing me from ordering takeout or stuffing my face with potato chips, is meal prepping for the week. Every Sunday, I spend about 1.5 making dinner and lunch for the next five days. All of my meals, consist of a seafood and veggies and quinoa but don't take that as confirmation that I'm Pescetarian ... because I love chicken and beef and I allow myself to have it, on the rare occasions I eat out. When I'm traveling I try to avoid fried and processed foods.
•  If there is no record, it didn't happen (Track your progress): After doing weeks of research and watching dozens of youtube videos, I finally purchased an apple watch. Not just because it's sexy as hell but also it enabled me to track my efforts without it becoming an additional burden. I track my process not because I'm addicted to watching weight fall off (especially since I mostly use free weights and one normally gains more weight with lifting vs with just cardio alone, so in that case numbers can lie) but rather because I want to make sure I'm moving throughout the day, taking time to stand and tracking the impact of doing workouts.

It's not easy and there are still days that I struggle with keeping up but I remind myself of the progress I've made and why its so important. Working in the social impact space, I often forget that my survival, my health is just as important as the people that I'm fighting for and I can't expect to fight affectively for them -- if I'm not in top condition. Hopefully this information was helpful and as I continue on this journey of seeking a more healthy life style, I'll be sure to share my tips and tricks. 

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the City College of New York, to their Entrepreneurship Student Club; about my own journey but also everyone's responsibility to join the movement. While all, if not most of the students there were interested in creating or maintaining their own business. They were also deeply concerned about the state of our world and what they could do, to solve some of our most pressing issues. Below are four pieces of advice I gave to them.

1. Own your truth: Don't allow anyone (including yourself) to make you feel a shame for where you come from or your experiences. Rather use that to fuel your passion and to inform how you show up in the work.
2. Purpose Not Position: If you lead with why this work is important to you and what you can contribute to the space, you don't have to worry about having a title. Also, one doesn't have to be the President of the United States to make an impact. Many of our victories have been led by ordinary people. 
3. If it's for the clicks and retweets, you're doing it for the wrong reasons: In the era of social media, many people equate the number of followers to success and that drive, for social media recognition will never be more important than the lives at risk. 
4. Empathy isn't enough: Feeling sorry for someone isn't enough, we actually need you to fight alongside us, with you feet in marches, with your vote at the ballot or with your wallet, when the work needs to be funded. Just caring without doing anything, won't save lives. 

February 2017 -- View the conversation: HERE

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to attend a private reception for Professor Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (originally known as the European Management Forum). Since its creation more than thirty years ago, the World Economic Forum has remained true to its purpose, to bring together world leaders, the business community and members of civil society to build relations and create dialogue on a range of issues that cross borders with its international implications. Many of the questions directed at Professor Schwab were of course centered on the current political climate since the election of President Trump but there were also concerns raised regarding the future of the workforce, in the context of the ambiguity for future workforce needs and with the growing use of artificial intelligence.

The one thing that stuck with me after that dialogue, is how the Professor emphasized the importance of the growing interest to move from materialistic gain to well-being or purpose-driven work. It is with that understanding, that for businesses to survive, one has to evolve its business model to address this growing appetite -- sparked by changing workforce. As a millennial, I'm well aware of the need many of us share to do something we can feel good about, something that gives us purpose and feeds more than our bank account (although money is welcomed… especially considering our growing student loan debt). For instance, five facts employers and businesses should keep in mind:

• By next year, millennials will account for 36% of the U.S. workforce and by 2025, they will account for 75% of the global workplace. [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics / The Business and Professional Women’s Foundation]

• 92% believe that business success should be measured by more than profit. [Deloitte]

• 81% have donated money, goods or services. [Walden University and Harris Interactive]

• 75% see themselves as authentic and are not willing to compromise their family and personal values. [Bentley University’s Center For Women And Business]

• 61% of millennials are worried about the state of the world and feel personally responsible for making a difference. [Huffington Post]

To help adapt many companies have increased their corporate social responsibility contributions, that tags at the values of its workers and consumers. It creates opportunities for transparency and it allows for people to feel like their hard earned money, is being reinvested back into the communities where companies are profiting off.  It’s important to note, that the added value for CRS doesn’t just seem like the “right thing” to do but it also can positively impact a company’s bottom line and builds brand loyalty. A report published in 2013 By Cone Communications and Echo Research, showed that 82 percent of the U.S. consumer take into consideration the corporate social responsibility ( CSR) when deciding what products to purchase.  To help consumers decide, there are now a number of online tools, like “The Good Guide”  and “B Corp”.

If there were ever a  misconception that business has no role to play to improve social conditions, that can no longer be the case. I deliberately, went to college for a business degree because I understood the implications of using business as a tool to fill the gaps that government either can’t or won’t;  I also knew that I didn’t have to work for an NGO or elected official to change the world. Which is why I have also been conscious of where I work and how I spend my money because it’s a direct representation of my who I am and how I show up in the world around me.