An Introduction to Block Head

About two months ago, after I finished creating the entire line up for the magazine, I couldn't help but to feel like something was missing. This magazine is for the offbeat and fly creative, and the sections are pretty straight forward; Style, Hair Etc., Sound, Life, Hood, Body, Art +History...It seemed to me like these sections together would amount to a well rounded book, that touched on every aspect that was important in a young adults life. Then I thought..something still seemed to be missing..Then I thought about how other magazines end their book...some have horoscope, some have words of wisdom, some have throw back tributes and others have a fashion or trend page..well of course since everyone is doing this...none of these will work for N3 Magazine.

I knew that I wanted to close the book in a special way..I wanted to end with something that the readers was "great" enough to sum up all the amazing content that would be prior to it. All of a sudden, I figured it out..it was like a light went off in my head..and I knew what I was missing. At that very moment my idea of Block Head was born. Block Head is the main character in a comic strip that will run on the closing page of N3 Magazine. The Block Head comic strip will address famously debated societal issues, stereo types and norms. Additionally, it will offer solutions to these issues, and introduce a more "free" alternative way of thinking. Block Head is a non-age, non-race, and non-gendered being that accidentally lands/arrives on our planet. Block Head is foreign to this planet, and there for is not bogged down by the some of the weight that we have been forced to carry and except as humans.

A comic strip is historically the perfect way to get "heavy" information and opinions out to the public. Its like saying not so nice things, but doing it with a smile. Animation is comforting to young and old, and is the perfect place to either hide or expose a message, it just all depends on what the messenger has to say. I guess the old saying is really true..say along with me now.. A picture is worth a thousand words!!!

Please feel free to leave a comment with some issues that you would like to see the Block Head Comic Strip address...remember, think global issues, societal issues, religious issues, racial issues, etc..aka "the sticky stuff"

"How does it feel to follow your dreams?" she asked...

So I had an interesting FB IM conversation last night. I was on FB, checking messages, updating my status, all the usual stuff, when I decided to check the side panel to see who was online. Immediately I was so happy to see that one of my girlfriends, a fly and very talented PR Director at FILA, was online. With her busy schedule this is very rare. So I decided to start the IM convo..it went a little something like this:

"Hey Lady!" I typed and hit the enter key. "Hey Gwen!"She replied. "How are you? How has your summer been?" "Good I answered, the start of the magazine is gaining much interest, and speaking of it, I'm still waiting for your email so I can send you the press release!" She typed back quickly exclaiming, "I'm sorry hun! I have been so busy, doing it asap right now, I am so proud of you for doing this, starting your on magazine, how does it feel?" I thought about this question, and got chills over my whole body.."I feel lifted," I typed, "I know that lifted is a strange word to use, but I feel free and in sync with what I should be doing right now. Some days I wake up with panic, and anxiety, thinking "What did I do? I already told so many people, so now I have to go through with this" and then I am immediately calm, because I know that I have my family, an awesome idea, seven years in the magazine publishing world, and the support of so many people who believe in me" "Wow" she said. "It is nice to hear an honest answer. When you ask most people how it feels to start something or do something big, they just say it feels "great" or "amazing," they never speak of the down side or the scary side." "Well," I started.."It's not an easy thing to follow your gut, leave what you know, and try something different. Most people who do so are so busy trying not to acknowledge the fears that they have, because they want to keep moving forward, and they know that moving forward in fear really means that your moving backward from success. So it's just easier to say that everything is going well, even when you may feel nervous that it won't."

When I decided to start a magazine, I new the reasons for which I made the decision. For the past seven years of my life, after graduation from Howard, moving from my home and family in MD, and coming to New York where I didn't know anyone, I always felt like it all was amounting to something. That feeling I had was right. The issue is, when we normally get these feelings, or "gut reactions" or the "little voice" that we hear inside of us, we ignore it. We go against ourselves. The world and society has made it this way. So this innate feeling that we get is unfamiliar, and through out history, the unfamiliar is what we neglect, what we run away from and what we destroy.

Its time for all of us to get familiar with our "gut instincts." Like all the sayings go:

"Pressure makes a diamond"

"No pain no gain"

"The early bird gets the worm"

"Only the strong survive"

"No guts no glory"

You know them, you've heard them..so there you go. What I have learned so far is that when you become the maker of the map, the direction is easier to follow....

Passing The Torch...

After a very relaxing Monday at the office (aka my sofa..lol) It feels so good no longer have the anxiety about getting up, getting dressed, cramming myself onto the Q or B trains and beginning my journey to Rockefeller Center for work. I spent the first half of my day doing some research for my web designer, another part running errands, and the evening making spaghetti while waiting for the BF to get home from work. I was in my own little Bravo TV world, watching the Rachel Zoe show, and I couldn't help but to sigh as she laid across her bed after a long day of work (there is work with styling..TRUST) with her hubby wearing an ever so chic white terry cloth bath robe..This is what I need!!! I thought...to feel pampered after a long day..and to fall into my own "spa like" robe and slippers. My brain kicked in, as I broke to the closet to finally open a press gift that I got almost 2 years ago! A lush white bathrobe with matching slippers! Wow! My wishes turned to reality almost instantly. This made me remember all of the cool press gifts that Fashion/Accessories Editors get..the cool shoes, show invites, concert invites, dinners, bags, jewelry etc...I suddenly began to panic. I left ESSENCE Magazine..I left that fab editor lifestyle..which means I also left behind loads of free goodies :( But then panic turned to pure joy as I remembered that I am starting my own magazine, and even more exciting than editor gifts, will be the Chief Editor gifts!!!!! So I am gladly passing the fashion/accessories/beauty editor torch to my future editors of N3 Magazine...cheers to you, whomever you will be..gifts galore await you!

xx

N³ Magazine: Hard work helps...Smart work pays off..

N³ Magazine: Hard work helps...Smart work pays off..: "This past week was a very special one for me. I realized that after seven years in the fashion publishing industry, everything that I have d..."

Hard work helps...Smart work pays off..

This past week was a very special one for me. I realized that after seven years in the fashion publishing industry, everything that I have done, all the great people that I have worked for and met all believe and support me. Being a girl from the small town of MD, PG County to be exact, I always had big dreams of moving to NYC and being in the fashion industry. There were many times when it all seemed to hard, the people seemed to mean..and my life was all about work. All through life we are taught to work hard...in school, in our personal lives and of course in the job world. But what about working smart?
My very first boss that hired me at Essence Magazine, Ms. Pamela Macklin, used to always say "Don't work hard G, work smart." At that time, I may not have realized it..but I understood and followed this mantra, and it led me to be the powerful person I am today. What is the difference between working hard and working smart you may ask? Well here is the breakdown for me:

Working hard- just hearing the word often causes a gut reaction fill with anxiety and panic. We assume the worst, imaging our selves as manual laborers with sweat rolling off of our brow and stained uniforms showing the days many difficult tasks forced upon us by our bosses and employers. You may go over looked, under paid and never acknowledged for the work that you do, but you do it anyway. Often you even take on the work of others, which only tires you out, makes you angry and bitter. Remember, this is what "working hard" means to me..

Working smart- who doesn't want to feel like they are smart? No matter what your degrees, your accomplishments or experience..everyone wants this word to be associated with them. Working smart means having a good attitude, standing up for what you believe in, and having your own process to get things done in an accurate and admirable manner. When you work smart, you never feel used, because you know your boundaries...you know what you will take, what is fair, and what you deserve. When you work smart your head is clear. You focus on getting the job done, you have a "can do" and if necessary "team spirit" attitude that people can only respect, remember and ultimately repeat.


Because of so many years that I spent working smart..I now have some amazing industry titans (cant name names lol) that believe in me. When I sent them the email about N3 Magazine, telling them that I left Essence to start it, they responded. They remembered me as positive and strong person, who ALWAYS got the job done, and done well, that was fair to everyone and had a good attitude. Working smart pays off..and it was totally worth the wait!!!!!!!

Gwen

N³ Magazine: ABDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

N³ Magazine: ABDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: "Just got finished watching the season finale of The Next Great Artist on Bravo..WOW..ABDI won!!! I watched the whole season as he faced red..."

ABDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just got finished watching the season finale of The Next Great Artist on Bravo..WOW..ABDI won!!! I watched the whole season as he faced redicule, harsh critiques all with a humble attitude and infectious spirit. In the end, his work did all the speaking. At 23 years old, he has accomplished what most spend a lifetime wanting to. He is confirmation that now is the time for N3 Magazine. A new renaissance has begun, and ART will be the vehicle through which we come together and grow. Im so amped...hopefully I can sleep. I plan to inbox him directly tomorrow and propose that we colab together, introduce him to N3 Magazine and see if he would be interested...will keep you posted...until then... KEEP IT CUBED