By Natalie Goode-Henry

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. knows how to maneuver his career like pieces on a chessboard. After receiving his master s and law degree from Drake University at 23, he strategically shifted his role from lawyer at a major law firm in Florida which was replaced by human resources positions at Blockbuster and Viacom to finally nabbing a plum CEO job for IAC/InterActiveCorp. Before he could say CHECKMATE, an opportunity he didn t foresee appeared.

Taylor s immediate answer was no. He couldn t be president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), a national association that provides scholarships and training programs to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), because he didn t think he was qualified.

I didn t attend a HBCU, didn t have a Ph.D. and never worked in a not-for-profit role, Taylor recalls when approached by the TMCF s selection board.

But it was his experience and skills as a lawyer and businessman that sparked their interest.

They came back and said we want [you because of] all the discipline and training [you acquired] in the corporate world. Everything you learned is transferable. Taylor tells Regal.

A lesson Pamela Mitchell, founder and CEO of The Reinvention Institute (organization that mentors professionals wanting to transform their careers), teaches her clients.

Reinvention is a life skill. It s about managing your life; what kind of life do you want to be living and what career can support that, says Mitchell who penned the book The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention: Essential Survival Skills for Any Economy (2010 Dutton). [Your career] will change and you can pull out that skill and reinvent yourself again.

A Yahoo education article reports an average worker changes employers every 4.4 years, based on a 2010 U.S. Department of Labor report. Whether it s a voluntary transition or a forced career revamp which has pushed 13.9 million (16.2 percent of Blacks) unemployed workers off a bridge and into a sea of uncertainty reinventing yourself to suit your passion can be your life jacket.

Detroit-native Jamawn Woods, 34, did just that. After losing his job at an automobile company he turned his cooking hobby into a catering business, selling wings and waffles out of his house for six months.

The biggest challenge was money. It takes money to start anything. I wasn t employed, so I just stepped out on faith, Woods told Black Enterprise. Scrapped up all the money I had, and bought the supplies I needed.

A little over a year after posting pictures of his food on Facebook, a talent scout recruited him for a reality TV show. Fast forward 10 months, Woods is the winner of NBC s America s Next Great Restaurant, opening three Soul Daddy restaurant chains in New York, Hollywood, Calif. and Minneapolis by flipping soul food as an unhealthy food option on its head with the creation of a healthy menu that includes baked chicken and sweet potato salad.

Woods’ leap of faith converged with his destiny, but if you re like most people reinventing themselves fear can prevent you from taking the plunge.

Expect yourself to feel fear, says Mitchell. Manage fear and be able to move despite the feeling. Look to times when you didn t think you would be able to [overcome it]. You can break it down into small pieces; get it to a manageable level to move forward.

It was fear and doubt that guided Taylor s walk in April of last year, after meeting with the TMCF s selection board in Washington, D.C. in a last attempt to convince him to head the non-profit.

He walked out of the Gallup building and traveled up F Street and 9th to 6th Street. The pros and cons listed on paper were being weighed in his mind. He thought, what if you don t like this, what if they don t like you? You would have thrown your career off kilter. I m changing careers altogether. I know my way around corporate America, and then I failed at a nonprofit.

He took a left and walked down to the Verizon Center and wondered how it would benefit his career. Another chapter to your resume and one day you could be president at a college. It would give me attributes that I didn t have. You could really help people. Taylor left the Verizon Center and walked back to his hotel, ending his two-and-a-half hour walk by heading to the airport.

May 2011 marked Taylor s first year at the fund. He embraced the position by thinking that there was no distinction between for-profits and non-profits. Now, Taylor s job satisfaction stems from getting calls from students and graduates, rather than the bonuses he received as an executive.

I get calls from headhunters, says Taylor. But I m not going anywhere.

Pamela Mitchell s Four Tips for Career Reinvention

1. Develop a vision for your life that your career caters to. You know that old saying if you see it, be it? If you want to reinvent your career, you should start by jotting down some elements in your life you want to change (i.e. what does your ideal day look like?).

2. Trust your gut! Reinventing your career means having to rely on your instincts, so look to your body for clues on what path you should take.

3. Network! Network! Network! Mitchell advises targeting companies and making contacts at that organization, rather than applying for a job online that is likely to be flooded with candidates.

4. Sharpen those skills. This law is most important of them all if you re planning a career reinvention. Be sure to make a note of any skills you used in your previous job, those skills and talents can be used as a foundation for your new career.

About the Author: Natalie Goode-Henry is a writer for

; Regal Black Mens Magazine

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Submitted by: Kaja Gam

It’s hard to pick up a newspaper today without reading another alarming headline about the impact global warming is having on our planet. This growing concern has caused a number of our clients to ask how they might be more environmentally-conscious in their home designs and renovations.

I have to be honest and tell you that it takes a lot of green to “go green,” so it often becomes a choice our clients make for ethical reasons rather than financial ones. Environmentally-friendly materials and products can bring long-term energy savings, but the initial costs of green materials may be nearly double that of traditional building supplies. Yet it is important to remember that going green can entail something as simple as lowering your thermostat setting to something as elaborate as installing a water filtration system to recycle household grey water.

Regardless of the scale of your renovation and despite the fact that the notion of going green is still relatively new, it is possible to go green in every room of your home thanks to a growing number of environmentally- conscious products, materials and installations. Demand from the commercial building sector has resulted in the growth of visionary companies, including Going to Market and Bettencourt Green Building Supplies to name just a few, which specialize in green and develop and promote several different environmentally-friendly materials and green products for the home.

At this point in time, however, many green materials have not yet made it to the consumer market and retailers do not necessarily see that green can be an incentive to their customers, so you have to look harder to find these materials – either by looking carefully at content labels or by specifically asking for them. They are out there, though, so since bathroom renovations are popular for many homeowners today, let’s take a look at the ways you can go green in the bathroom without sacrificing the luxuries consumers look for in this private getaway space:

Floors: There are scores of rich floor surfaces available, ranging from those made of renewable bamboo and cork to carpets and tiles made from recycled materials such as rubber, glass, and plastic.

Walls: A growing number of manufacturers are developing natural-based paints and clays as an alternative to latex and oil paints as well as mold-proof sheet rock. There are also many other environmentally-friendly wall surface materials to choose from, including translucent glass tiles, formaldehyde-free fiber panels made from agricultural waste products, and man-made stone products.

Vanities and Counters: Thanks to commercial farming and harvesting techniques, elegant wood vanities don’t have to come at the expense of old growth forests, and soy-based glues are replacing formaldehyde adhesives in furniture plywood. Recycled lumber is available – at a price – for both cabinetry and floors. And a growing number of manufacturers are creating beautiful stone and tile counter surfaces made of recycled content – even paper.

Plumbing Fixtures: In addition to low- flow and dual-flush toilets (which provide stronger water flow when needed), many toilets and tubs manufactured today feature porcelain that is made of up to 50 percent post-recycled content as well as super-slick surfaces that will save on frequent use of bleach cleaners. If you are doing a major plumbing make-over and remodeling several baths at the same time, look into water timers that can divert cold water to a recycling system until the warm water has reached the faucet (thus savings many gallons a day), or change your plumbing feeds altogether to a direct piping system such as PEX.

Heating: Long-considered luxurious extras, things such as radiant floor heating and heated towel warmers are actually environmentally-friendly design choices. Unlike traditional room radiators which line (and tend to heat) the outside walls of a room, radiant floor heating warms the entire room and everything it touches, from floor tiles to tubs and shower floors. Many of our clients are surprised to learn that electric radiant heat pad floors are not exorbitantly expensive and ultimately offer more energy-efficient heating.

Lighting: Although halogen lights are always a better choice than traditional incandescent lights, they do tend to produce a lot of heat, so look for Xenon, compact fluorescent and LED lights (which produce low voltage from tiny semiconductor chips). One of the common complaints about these lights is their color, but advances are constantly being made to make these light sources appear softer and warmer.

Fabrics: Of course, when selecting towels and rugs, you can’t go wrong with the plush, natural content of 100 percent cotton fabrics, but bamboo spun into a soft fabric is another alternative. Also, there are a number of mold-proof hybrid fabrics that were originally designed for outdoor living that are moving inside as shower curtains and liners as well as upholstered seating for moisture-laden bathrooms.

Proper Installation: Don’t forget about opportunities to go green with some of the mundane, but necessary, bathroom accessories including fans and vents. By installing separate and timed fan and lighting switches (including a separate fan in the shower stall), you can run only the fans that are needed and eliminate wasted electricity and heat. Also, don’t forget to insulate exterior walls properly and install double-paned windows that resist moisture and minimize heat loss.

Choose a Green Contractor: Talk to your contractor about your desire to go green. Question him or her about their interest in green materials and construction techniques. In general, check your contractor’s commitment to recycling and eliminating wasted materials. Ask that old fixtures and cabinets be recycled, if possible, and that demolition debris be separated so recyclable materials can be reused.

Repair, replace, sustain: Although most of what I have discussed to this point refers to new materials, I would be remiss if I didnt address another important facet of going green: the value of repairing and/or refinishing existing materials to help reduce the amount of waste going into our landfills. Renovations that sustain the things we already have through facelifts and some good old-fashioned TLC are as valuable to the environment as those that involve the latest eco-friendly products. For example, floors and other hard surfaces, including cabinets and countertops, can be refinished if they are structurally sound. Energy-saving elements, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, can be incorporated into existing fixtures rather than buying entirely new pieces. Regular maintenance on existing appliances and systems can ensure they operate at maximum efficiency and minimize energy use. When you make a commitment to use things until they are no longer operational, you can contribute as much to our environment as those who choose the latest green products.

For the truly environmentally-conscious homeowner, the opportunities to help the environment are growing every day and it is getting easier to be green.

About the Author: Kaja Gam offers

interior design in New York

. Recently featured on HGTV.com, Kaja is famous for designing rooms that are comfortable, functional and make a distinct statement about your personality. Sign up for Kaja’s free e-zine today at

kajagamdesign.com

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