I love to read and I want to break down some of the books I’ve read from black authors on this website so once or twice a month look for some book breakdowns. I read Bevy’s book a while ago and I had to reread it. I thought I would share some lessons from Bevy Smith’s Book.

Lessons from Bevy Smith

What others say and do has nothing to do with you. 

It’s their life.

Don’t make assumptions

Don’t assume what someone means when they say something or nothing. Ask for clarification! Even when we email a lot can be left to the imagination. It’s best to ask. When I send an email off, especially when it comes to business, I always say if I didn’t make sense, let me know and we can hop on a call to clarify something. Don’t assume because a lot of times you can be mad for no reason or be dead wrong about something you thought was said.

Be in the room where it happens

You can’t always just do a good job. Sometimes relationships take place outside of the workplace. You can actually go further if you do stuff outside of your job with others in your job. For example, if your job says we are having bowling night, go and have bowling night. Shared extracurricular stuff goes further than your work sometimes. Going bowling gets you noticed. Maybe you can showcase another skill that you can bring to the table. Maybe you can get to know your coworkers and how they do things outside the job that will help you handle them when on the job.

Being comfortable with being uncomfortable is a hallmark of every successful person’s trajectory. 

What are you uncomfortable doing? I know I’m uncomfortable on camera. It could be the very thing that takes me from she is ok to wow, I didn’t know that about her I must hire her today. Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone?

Anyone who says they’re bougie probably isn’t. 

What does bougie mean to you? I think bougie to me means someone who shows off their expensive stuff to others all the time and pushes their lifestyle in your face no matter what. Creating an air of wealth even if it’s not true. Being called bougie can be an insult to some because who wants to be known for being bougie. I have been called bougie before and I’m like girl you don’t even know me. I wear sweats and bonnets all day. Bougie where lol.

When you decide to buck the system, there will be people in your life who won’t support you, even though you supported them. 

People will get mad that you aren’t playing the supporting role in their life anymore and be mad at you for making your life the main role. The audacity!

Confidence is nice, but it doesn’t pay the bills. 

I know a lot of people who have mad confidence but they aren’t doing anything with it but being confident. It’s in their head, and they it will somehow magically make money fall. Sometimes people can be overconfident about things, and then they get a bap when things don’t go as planned.

Likability is a major social currency

Your favorite content creators…they are likable. Your favorite marketing gurus… likable. People have to like you to follow you and hang on to every word you say. Either that or they are haters, and that happens. People buy from people they like…remember that.

Anyone can come up with an idea. Can they execute the plan? Strategy and execution are what manifest a dream into a reality. 

I have ideas all the time but executing them is the hardest thing ever. I can have an idea to open a food truck but if I don’t execute that idea into reality all I have is an idea. Also, with this, you can’t get mad when someone else takes your idea (even if you don’t tell them about it) and executes it. They put in the work and executed it.

We have to create our own opportunities just to get noticed. 

I agree with this. There is a photographer her name is Cyndi B. She did a mock campaign with a beauty brand. She created the opportunity on her own dime and used models and everything. She did it as if she was getting paid. Guess what it got the attention of the actual and brand and boom they offered her to come on as a photographer for real. I was like that also when I couldn’t find a job…I created my own. Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

There were so many good nuggets from this book, but the above references were my favorites. I hope you purchase the book, and if you do let me know how you like it!

What book are you reading right now?