Transforming perfectionist service-providers into VIP's: Valuable, Imperfect yet Profitable business owners.
 

April 2021

My pledge to build an anti-racist business, from founder Kylie:

I’d like to acknowledge that white supremacy is the reason why it took me this long to make this pledge. It’s the reason why I hesitate, erase, and rewrite these sentences. It has been ingrained in me that speaking out is inappropriate / stirring the pot / negatively acting out and I realize that is incorrect - that is white supremacy! By choosing silence like I have in the past:

1. My white privilege has afforded me the ability to stay silent about racism and know my livelihood is not harmed because of it,

2. My silence is violence towards the black community.


White supremacy is woven into the society I was raised in and the beliefs that are ingrained in me. I acknowledge that a white supremacist, capitalist society is one that I actively participate in and pledge to unlearn white supremacy, actively fight against it both in how I use my words, my dollar, and my vote.

Before taking this pledge, these were the values of my business:

  1. When you shine, I shine:

    I understand that lifting others up will lift me up as well. Competition is healthy and I thrive when supporting my clients, my team and my community.

  2. Make your bliss:

    Harnessing the freedom that comes with running a business and making choices that bring fulfillment, joy and ease to me. As an entrepreneur, you do you - and you can choose fun!

  3. Yes, And...

    Approaching every challenge or opportunity with a “yes and” attitude means leading with curiosity and seeking the lesson to be learned or opportunity to be found along the way.

As of taking this pledge, I would like to revisit these to see if they are truly aligned with this anti-racist pledge or if there is white supremacy baked in. I would also like to add more values to incorporate the following sentiments to my business values:

  1. Anti-racism, diversity & inclusion

  2. Empathy-based approach / language

  3. Service-minded growth

  4. Conscious capitalism

I pledge to complete my values revision by EOY 2021.

—

I pledge to regularly engage in anti-racist education for myself, and my future team. I pledge to hold my partners, affiliates, and collaborators to the same standard as I do for my business.

What I’m currently doing to engage in regular anti-racist education:

  1. I am a patreon member of The Great Unlearn and attend a town hall once a quarter

  2. My reading goal for the year is 50 books - I am working towards 50% of my books read to be by black authors

  3. I am taking Alyssa Hall’s “The Antiracism Mini-Course for Coaches” (it’s a podcast)

  4. I am saving to join Alyssa Hall’s 6-month one-on-one antiracism program

    1. Update: I am a member of Alyssa Hall’s The Anti-Racism School for Leaders starting May 2021

What I plan to do better:

  1. Attend a town hall in The Great Unlearn community once a month and read 1 essay from the monthly recommended syllabus

  2. Commit to saving 30% of my monthly income toward hiring Alyssa Hall

    • Update: Enrolled as of 5/1/21

  3. Do 1 action a week from White People 4 Black Lives’ weekly newsletter 

  4. Moving forward, I will ask for pronouns at every event, retreat, etc.

  5. Watch this small business town hall by July 15, 2021


—

I commit to allow discomfort and welcome open-conflict. I acknowledge that the instinct to want to hide, erase, delete or ignore mistakes is harmful and fueled by white supremacy. I accept that I will make mistakes and I pledge that with every mistake I make, I will stop, listen, and correct myself - but not erase the error. It is important for me to show my clients, community, and team members that speaking up is encouraged, to learn from mistakes, and call in (not call out) and correct mistakes when we witness them.


Note: as of writing this pledge, I learned about digital blackface, which upon learning about it I learned I was doing it. I pledge to remove digital blackface from any living content or documents on my social media channels, newsletters, and website. I pledge to never use it again. I realize digital blackface is a modern way of perpetuating harmful stereotypes of the Black community.

—

I pledge to spend 30% of my budget on hiring Black employees, vendors and contractors, using Black-owned software and services, and purchasing Black-authored books. (See step #2 for where I’m currently working on this).


—

I am committed to my anti-racist work for life. I pledge to continue to unlearn white supremacy and be completely transparent in my unlearning with my business - both internally and externally. I pledge to be explicit with my values as a business and not do business with any client or entity that does not align with my business values - including severing ties with anyone who uses harmful, racist, hateful language or participates in organizations that want to preserve and grow white supremacy. I pledge to hold myself accountable in the form of checking in on the goals stated in step #2 every quarter, and ensuring that my anti-racism goals are always designed to be a daily habit rather than a quarterly binge. I pledge to speak, listen, vote, and spend as though the lives of the Black community depends on it -- because it does.