Cultural Awakening

35-years-old has to be the wrong time for a cultural awakening.

Yet, here I am.

Through grit, I have impressed strategy into all that I do. I plan my life purposefully, visualizing how my next 12 months will look. Within my business, I have tactics I use to create systems to make my life easier as I move forward.

One part of my business involves studying successful people through the books they write. John Maxwell writes on leadership; Brene Brown writes on vulnerability; Stephen Covey writes on effectiveness; James Clear writes on habit formation; Shawn Achor writes about happiness; Napoleon Hill writes about growing rich; Gary Chapman writes about expressing love and resolving conflict in relationships. And my list goes on.

My clients have seen me bring up the 14 areas of life repeatedly. It’s how I process life at this point; it’s also how I categorize books. The system I have is a file in my OneNote drive and it’s categorized as follows:

Financial Books & Authors | Romantic Books & Authors | Emotional Intelligence & Mindset Books & Authors | Relationships Books & Authors | Health & Fitness Books & Authors | Family Books & Authors | Career & Business Books & Authors | Spirituality Books & Authors | Community Impact Books & Authors | Recreation & Relaxation Books & Authors | Effectiveness Books & Authors | Time Management Books & Authors | Virtues & Values Books & Authors

Then I have sub-categories, all alphabetized, of course.

What does this have to do with my cultural awakening?

Just two weeks ago, a Latina Attorney shared with me how powerful and meaningful it would be to study the lives of successful Latinx authors. Part of my business – in group coaching – I choose a book (or a client chooses a book) that will be read throughout the week, and then briefly discussed with our time together during the group coaching session.

Here’s the thing: Up until two weeks ago, I had never considered the race, ethnicity, and nationality of the author. They were simply a human being that had learned about success that I wanted to learn from too!

I already have my favorite books about leadership, happiness, habits, effectiveness, time management, relationships, wealth, and all the categories mentioned above.

Only.

One.

Problem.

They are all white authors. I don’t personally have a problem learning success from white people. White people have been good to me. If I am being painfully honest, white men and white women have opened up more lucrative doors for me than people of color have opened for me. I’m not mad, upset, or put off by people of color; I merely don’t have experiences with white people that others have had.

Would I consider purposefully finding a new line of books written by Latinx authors? Would I reorient my system?

My cherished system. The system I’m comfortable with.

I began having discussions with other people in my circle: my chief advisor, a multi-millionaire, and others.

Still, after discussing with others, I wasn’t decided.

Maybe the issue would go away on its own.

Then, earlier today.

A separate Latina Attorney expressed: “Maybe your next series? Sharing wealth/success stories of Latinos?”

Okay.

Universe tugging on my soul again?

Before the Superbowl today, I went to the running store with my wife to buy her some quality socks; she’s on her feet all day as a nurse and I insisted that she has high-quality socks. As we drove on 1604 toward iRun, I shared that I felt angry. It was sort of a silly anger. I didn’t want to give up my system of authors. I kind of didn’t want to adapt. She listened. Later, when we returned home, I went out for my daily 3-mile run but I only did 2.2 miles because the Superbowl was going to start. After the game, I went back out and did another mile. Upon my return, I began to create a new file: Latinx Authors & Books.

I added the first author: Don Miguel Ruiz. Then, I added another author, Sonia Sotomayor. After this author, I came across two familiar names as Latino authors: Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez.

I thought: “Hey, I know Emilio Estevez!” I mean, I don’t know him, know him. I know him as the Young Guns, Billy the Kid! And Gordon Bombay in Mighty Ducks! The book, Along the Way, is the story of Emilio Estevez and his dad, Martin Sheen.

Then, I thought: “Wait. Why are these guys listed as Latino authors?”

Google.

“Martin Sheen”

Oh, his Dad was born in Spain, Francisco Estevez Martinez. Martin changed his name for his acting career. But his son, Emilio, chose to keep the name based on the advice of his dad who regretted changing his name. Emilio was proud of his Spanish heritage.

Then.

I had this moment with Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen. In my twenties, I considered my last name because it (Guajardo) seemed too Mexican, too brown, too Latino. It wasn’t white enough. I thought it would hold me back.

Martin Sheen thought the same thing of the name he was born with: Ramon Estevez. He changed his name. And he later regretted it. His son, Emilio, would be unlike his siblings who also changed their name to Sheen to match their Dad.

I had this moment of connection. Someone out there relates to what I’ve been through in my thought process and experience. Someone much more successful has been where I am.

And that’s when it hit me.

(Tears are rolling now.)

That’s the experience that these two separate Latina Attorneys were describing. It’s beyond powerful to read about someone who is highly successful, but can share about them being exactly where you were at a point in time. They were you. They were your skin color. They had a different sounding last name. They were women in a male-dominated industry. They were overlooked and under-valued. And they succeeded anyway.

I’m listening, universe.

By the way, in my own planning, I put together a concept for an Anthology of Latina Lawyers. Then today, this group message of Latina Lawyers (that I’m in) began discussing their ambition to put together a book together!

I’m listening, universe. I’m listening.