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The Power of Mental Engineering

Michell Clark

I’ve always been a writer – I call it my superpower – but I’m also an overthinker. Both helped me get where I am today, feeling deeply fulfilled professionally and personally.

After leaving my first job as a brand ambassador for a test prep company, I felt a bit lost. Seeking direction, I turned to friends and family who offered good-natured platitudes such as, “It will get better,” and “Everything is going to be all right.” I never doubted their sincerity, but the classic pick-me-ups didn’t address the deep-rooted skepticism I was carrying as it pertained to my abilities.

So, I turned inward and started to think – and think. I committed my thoughts to paper, which eventually took shape as a long-form series of self-affirmations. The right words – at the right time – propelled me forward and ignited my resiliency and creativity.

And then it hit me: if I needed to hear these words, perhaps others did, too. This a-ha moment sparked my new professional calling. I started sharing affirmations sporadically on social media, and as I saw my words resonate with others, I shared them more consistently. This practice encouraged others and it helped me eradicate my skepticism-of-self from the root.

Those self-affirmations became the basis of my first book, Keep it 100: Daily Affirmations for Millennials who are Tired of Being Called Millennials. I wanted to help people realize the power of mental engineering – the purposeful practice of reflection, perseverance, and action. My book gave rise to a business that focused my thinking and writing where I felt it was needed most: Black-owned businesses.

As someone who has experienced the uphill battle of being the only Black man in the room, I wanted to help other Black men and women push the limits of their entrepreneurial spirit and thrive.

My wife (who has a knack for turning visions into tangible goals) and I drew up a game plan. After weeks quarantined in our apartment, Post-It notes covering our walls, we launched The Creative Summer: a company that leverages strategy, content, design, and research to empower mission consistent, Black-owned brands and businesses. We honed in on our individual skill sets – digital strategy, content design, social media management, market research and more — to give brands the freedom and opportunity to look inward. We empower business owners to empower themselves – just as I did with myself years prior.

As I sit here today, reflecting on earlier versions of myself, I feel grateful. Grateful for the ability to shape my mind, for my commitment to embrace the hustle, and for the deep fulfillment that comes from helping others take flight.

Connect With Michell

@michellcclark

The Power of Mental Engineering

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