5 Things / Diversity Stand-Up
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This week I’ve been feeling really discouraged about the 650 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year. The good vibes can be elusive. One way I’ve kept my energy up is by testing out some stand-up and looking for ways to bring more comedy to my keynotes. Yesterday I was playing around with Chat GPT and was delighted by this AI-generated stand-up comedy bit about diversity. Enjoy:
"Hey folks, how's everyone doing tonight? So, I'm a big believer in diversity. I mean, who doesn't love variety, right? It's like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet and only sticking to one dish. Come on, mix it up a bit!
But you know what's funny about diversity? It's that people always talk about it like it's this magical thing that just happens on its own. Like, 'Oh, we just need to be more diverse.' Yeah, because the Diversity Fairy is going to come down and sprinkle some magic dust on us and suddenly we'll have a rainbow of different backgrounds and perspectives.
No, folks, diversity takes effort. It takes intentionality. You can't just wish for it and expect it to happen. It's like planting a garden. You have to prepare the soil, choose the right seeds, water and fertilize it regularly, and keep the pests away. Otherwise, you'll end up with a bunch of weeds and dead plants.
And let's be real, sometimes diversity can be messy. It's like trying to mix oil and water. It doesn't always blend seamlessly. But that's okay because when you have different people with different ideas, you're going to have some disagreements. And that's when the real magic happens. When you can come together and find common ground despite your differences.
So, let's embrace diversity, folks. Let's mix it up and create something beautiful. And if you see the Diversity Fairy, tell her to stop by my house. I could use some more diversity in my life. Thank you and good night!"
This week's Good Vibes, in honor of yesterday's Transgender Day of Visibility, I’d like to introduce you to some amazing transgender business owners, many of whom are authors. I hope you’ll consider following and supporting them:
Celia Daniels (she/her)
I am an Asian Indian trans woman of color who is an entrepreneur, public speaker, activist, motivator, musician, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Growing up as a lonely closeted kid from Southern India with stigma, discrimination, and gender dysphoria, I write and speak passionately about the struggles and challenges I faced in my family, work, school, and community both in the US and India. Visit Celia's Linkedin page
Robbie Samuels (he/him)
I'm an event design consultant and executive Zoom producer, with a passion for creating engaging and unforgettable experiences. With two decades of experience in the meetings and events industry, I have honed my skills in designing and executing events that leave a lasting impression. I'm openly trans and own a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Visit Robbie's Linkedin page
Ashley Brundage (she/her)
I advanced my career from a part-time bank teller to a vice president of the national diversity and inclusion team at PNC Bank in less than 5 years. I celebrated my authenticity, and empowered myself, and others, to create a stronger community…Everyone’s journey will look different, but these methods can produce similar results and the takeaways of the book (Empowering Differences) can be applied to anyone. Visit Ashley's Linkedin page
Lily Zheng (they/them)
I help leaders achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion as real and measurable outcomes of organizations, rather than just the aspirational intentions of individuals. My clients are organizations and leaders of organizations looking for approaches grounded in data of all kinds, rooted in outcomes and effectiveness, and informed by a systemic approach to organizational problem-solving. Visit Lily's Linkedin page
Rhodes Perry (he/him)
I help leaders build psychological safety, trust, and belonging at work. I created the Belonging at Work Summit, an annual virtual conference empowering DEI practitioners to build community, gain new skills, and recommit to building healthier workplace cultures. Visit Rhodes' Linkedin page
Call to Action:
Follow some of the amazing people above and buy their books. And, please, please let your transgender employees know that you’ve got their backs. Here are Rhodes Perry’s tips on Ways You Can Show Up for Your Transgender and Nonbinary Colleagues.
Watch here: