Write the Vision: My Magical Encounter with Fawn Weaver

As a matter of ritual and reflection, I usually create at least four vision boards each year. There is something cathartic about taking out the scissors, flipping through magazines, and curating designs that reflect the colors, vibrancy, and vibes I am calling in for the year or season ahead. On December 22, 2023, I created a vision board that reflected my hopes and dreams for Kairos & Heart, the company I launched in August 2021. This board serves as a reminder to focus on the building blocks that will carry Kairos & Heart from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Only two Black women are on this board: Venus Williams and Fawn Weaver.

Earlier this month, Hello Seven hosted ROI: Millionaire Summit in Huntington Beach, CA. This conference brought together almost 400 participants on their journey to grow seven figure enterprises. From financial coaches to authors to leadership coaches, the audience was ten out of ten, only surpassed by the caliber of speakers in breakout sessions and on the mainstage. Throughout the month of July, I will share highlights each week from ROI: Millionaire Summit along with how I am integrating the gems into my business processes. First up, Fawn Weaver.

On Juneteenth, I MET FAWN WEAVER! I am not usually lost for words but when I saw her walking in my direction, my head and my mouth had a short circuit. I was overcome with joy, tripping over my words and talking too fast. She exuded such warmth with her signature glowing smile. I was timid about asking for a photo but elated when she said yes. Eeek! I was on cloud nine then and still am weeks later.

She is a powerhouse who contains multitudes: New York Times Bestselling author, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, angel investor, and so much more. My splendid encounter happened hours before she took the mainstage to be in conversation with Rachel about “failure.” I was even more overjoyed after hearing all the gems she dropped about legacy, mindset, and the Holy Spirit. It is evident beyond a shadow of a doubt that Fawn knows who she is and WHOSE she is. I was so blessed by her testimony – that’s what the conversation was – full of practical advice to help me navigate my next chapter.

1.       Shift your focus from challenges to solutions. Whatever you concentrate on tends to grow, so deliberately direct your attention to opportunities and growth.

2.      Practice not worrying. Worry occupies the part of your brain responsible for problem-solving. When you stop worrying, creative solutions emerge more naturally.

3.     Expect challenges as part of your growth journey, like levels in a video game. See obstacles as "tokens" or lessons needed to progress to the next stage.

4.     Adopt a mindset that every challenge has a purpose. While experiencing difficulties, think about how overcoming them will help others in the future.

5.     Practice authenticity. Being true to yourself attracts opportunities and people who recognize your genuine spirit.

There were many moments in their conversation that really resonated with me. I may have even said amen more than once. At the outset of the conversation, Rachel asked Fawn about a recent failure. Fawn’s response, “What’s that?” She continued with this sage guidance: “Failure isn’t failure unless you give up before you succeed. We should level set here on how I see life. I believe that whatever you focus on grows. So when people ask me about challenges, the reason I can't answer those is because I didn't focus on those. I focused on finding the solution.”

Thank you, Fawn Weaver, for your beautifully generous and wise spirit. I am so grateful for our encounter. Xoxo Makiyah