06/01/2026
My great-grandfather never said "I'm going to work." He said, "Let's get to work." This subtle shift in language reflects generations of identity lost.
When work became a place you go instead of something you do, an entire generation began to believe that without jobs, they had no worth. As a workforce development specialist, I witnessed this firsthand while working with Black women in a TANF program. Many would enter my class stating, "I don't work," expressing a sense of non-existence.
The issue was never the work itself; it was the definition of work. If your body works — if you can see, hear, feel, think, and create — you're already winning. The real question is how you will channel that energy.
This understanding goes beyond personal philosophy; it extends to organizations. Leaders who grasp this concept foster cultures where every team member recognizes that their value isn't tied to a job title. Schools that embrace this transform student beliefs, and communities that understand this stop devaluing themselves.
This is the foundation I bring into every room, whether I'm speaking, coaching executives, or supporting school transformation.
Workin' & Winnin' With Great Care launched today and every Monday on the Yushaverse, and the newsletter is free.
What’s your definition of work?
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