The First-Gen Lounge

I’ve been wanting to do a show about being a Black Greek for years. I never really got around to it because, if I’m for real, I hadn’t fully grasped how I wanted to approach it. When I realized that this year’s founders' day actually fell on a Thursday in 20 TWENTY-TWO, the 10NINEth year of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., I just haadddd to finally make it happen. While there are several ang...

We're making history today with the shortest session of the show that's ever aired! What's even more interesting is what we're talking about... success. People look to other things and people to tell them how to be successful. People look to other things and people to tell them how to be successful—wake up at 5 am, work out an hour a day, practice self-care, eat whole food, max out your investment...

2021 was, without a doubt, a year full of ups and downs. But looking back at what I accomplished and what you helped me achieve, I can confidently say that despite the lows, this year was just full of blessings. So, thank you. A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend of mine, and one of the things she mentioned that really stuck with me was milestones. Like, what are some of the wins from this y...

There’s a lot of advice out there on how to double or even triple your revenue. And to be honest, I feel like I’ve consumed it all. I’ve taken courses, attended conferences, read books, and obsessively analyzed my income reports; however, nothing beats trying things out yourself and learning from your experiences. And it all starts with having a plan. Business revenue will not increase without a p...

The more I talk to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially as I'm getting ready to re-launch my business development program, I hear folks mention that they're scared. I can understand fear is normal when we're facing anything that's unfamiliar. For me, I wasn't scared when I started. I'm about 99% sure that is because I loved speaking, and I didn't see what I was doing as entrepreneurship. (More about...

More often than not, life offers us beauty, experiences, and uniqueness that we miss. Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you overlook the little things—so many moments that’ll never happen again. What in your life are you missing out on because you're not paying attention? Check out the full session notes: www.evehudsonphd.com/196 . Join the movement: https://jointhemovem...

We are all born with an innate desire to learn. Kids go from discovering their toes, gripping, kicking, crawling, and before you know it, it's time to run. Children are like sponges for information--always anxious to learn new activities and how best to do them. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, we stop learning more than what is required of us. We begin to evade the challenges that don't fi...

The best leaders use their voice to stand up for what's right rather than what is easy. And if there's one thing that rings true every time a person stands in front of an audience to implement change is that the voice can be quite powerful. When used with the best intentions at heart, the voice is a tool that transports us into the future-- a future full of possibilities, equality, and solutions....

As first-gens, we all go through moments in our lives when we feel like completely giving up. In times like these, we cannot help but feel like there's no genuine reason to keep on moving. After all, what's the point in striving for something when the probability of success is almost zero? What's meant to happen will happen, right? No, the world doesn't work like that. The universe often rewards t...

College is supposed to be, as they say, the best four years of your life. Students get the chance to create new friendships, memories, and experiences. Some cruise through with minimal effort, while others find it a bit of a struggle. But one thing's for sure; no two college journeys are the same. And for most undergrads, the thing that rings true is the idea of building a four-year plan: four yea...

The average age of a first-year law school student is about 24. And so when someone spends years in another profession and decides to try their hand at law later in life, it becomes a little complicated. For one, deciding to go to law school is a big decision, no matter the age. It demands huge financial commitments and significant time sacrifices. Add the age bias present in many industries and i...

According to a 2020 report by MarketWatch, only 3.7% of Google workers were Black, less than 4% at Facebook, and 7.5% at Uber. The primary argument behind this heartbreaking statistic is the notion among corporate executives that finding capable Black talent is a challenge. It’s not clear whether they even looked at all, they didn’t know where to look, or that they didn’t look hard enough. All we...

Do Black people support each other? The answer to this hugely subjective question is both yes and no. First, Black people do support each other. In fact, they don’t just care about their families; they also care about the communities they live in. However, people in business who say Black people don't support each other often target the wrong audience. They complain that their families and friends...

According to the Kauffman Index, more than 27% of entrepreneurs in the US are immigrants despite representing only 13.5% of the population. Furthermore, 43% of the companies on the 2017 Fortune 500 list were founded or co-founded by first or second-generation immigrants. This data speaks volumes about their ability to overcome obstacles, create a life for themselves, and successfully achieve the A...

Did you know that in the US, only 0.3% of students get full-ride college scholarships? With such short odds, it can seem like there’s no point in applying for scholarships. Add that to how stressful the application processes can be, applying for scholarships can seem like additional stress that students would rather live without. However, there’s nothing quite fulfilling as going through college,...

The one thing that’s consistent among all successful businesses is not their ability to attract customers; it’s the ability to spot and fill gaps in the market. Every successful business out there serves a specific market gap. And the reason they’re successful is that they create a business that provides unique and necessary products or services to willing buyers. Sadly, most aspiring first-gen en...

There are numerous benefits to working a corporate job. The job is often pretty well defined; employees boast a fairly good salary, health insurance, and for the most part, they don't have to worry about work once they leave the office. Sounds great, right? However, Gallup reports that only 30% of Americans are actively engaged at work. Which means most Americans wake up unhappy each morning think...

We all make mistakes. Some are gut-wrenching, and others are minor that nobody ever notices something happened. Regardless of the size of the mistake, the worst thing anyone can do is attempt to sweep it under the rug. It's one thing admitting an error and totally another thing crossing your fingers, praying that nobody notices. Moral people don't make futile excuses or drag other people down with...

As kids, we all had dreams, aspirations, and plans for when we grow up. Some of us wanted to be doctors, engineers, astronauts, and all those other high-end professions. No matter the dreams, we all wanted to be great. But as we grew older, many of us let limiting beliefs take root. We learned to repress our dreams and started expecting less from ourselves. Our below-average expectations placed a...

With a population of approximately 9.9 million people, North Carolina is the 10th most populated state. Of those 9.9 million people, close to 3.9% of adults in North Carolina live with severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. (This is according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA). What's more worry...

Did you know that most entrepreneurs are scared? They are scared of failing. They are scared of losing customers. They are scared that their friends were right — this was a ridiculous idea. And as intriguing as this may sound, some entrepreneurs are afraid of success. Yes, enormous amounts of success can provoke anxiety issues. So, how do the more successful first-gen entrepreneurs overcome fear?...

According to a 1986 report by the American Psychology Association, the percentage of psychology PhDs awarded to men in 1975 was nearly 70%. As of 2015, the lack of men graduating with doctorates from psychology programs was both alarming and disappointing. But what's even more worrying is the number of Black men pursuing psychology. In essence, 76% of the students in US universities that earned ps...

The past decade has seen an increase in the number of first-generation students in the U.S. attend four-year colleges and universities. This unprecedented shift is linked, in some part, to college initiatives aimed at reducing structural barriers to college access. Interestingly, social scientists believe improved educational opportunities for low-income students is among the most potent methods f...

We talk a lot about success on The First-Gen Lounge, but today we are going to do something a little different. We’re talking about failure. Things aren’t always going to go right for you. I know we’re still in January, but some of you may already be falling short on your resolutions and goals, and that's okay. We have to make sure we don't get stuck in failure. Tune in today as I talk about 5 way...

According to the Education Advisory Board data, 69% of first-generation college students say the main reason they attend college is to help their families. The problem is, most of these students end up feeling guilty about pursuing a college education. Furthermore, the pressure to succeed is overwhelming, and the idea of just having to finish college is stressful enough, let alone focusing on havi...