It’s been almost three years since COVID first struck. In my house, everything seems to have finally normalized. That includes work-related travel. Since August, however, my wife Princess has had to take five business trips. Admittedly, after a long break from this intensity I’ve been rusty as the “sole parent”.

The other night, I was scrolling through Facebook. I saw a post from my Dad with a picture of my nephew Jacquan proudly holding a check in the living room of his Washington DC home. The post read, “as a son of Roger Banks and grandson of Elydia Lyles – Thelma’s daughter

This book is my first public book review. It is also fitting as Valerie Jarret was the last author I met prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Actually, my good friend Khary Barnes arranged a small, private group consisting of community leaders, executives and public officials who were able to speak to Ms. Jarrett about her book and life

I suppose it was it around 2002 when I picked up Vernon Jordan’s memoir. Although I had never seen or spoken to him, Mr. Jordan in my mind, became my inspiration, mentor and friend.

I am an entrepreneur. I do not have a boss. I have partners. I am loyal to my partners. I am also fully authentic with who I am. It has not always been this way. For the majority of my career, I was an employee. One thing I know is that it is impossible to be fully authentic as an employee.

It’s been quite a while. We have probably seen more action in the last 45 days than we have in the last several years combined. Over the last week, COVID has actually become an afterthought.

Welcome to my first blog. Admittedly, this is something that I have been planning to do for years - but life. Like the rest of the world, I have found myself operating topsy - turvy through the last six weeks.