This year I am launching a #vivagordita campaign to promote self-love, body acceptance and an end to body shaming once and for all! I will need a candid group of women of color to talk about their experiences around food, family and diet culture! T-Shirts and details coming soon!

January 31st I’ll be sharing space with 4 other Latinx media makers who use their platforms and artistry’s to give our community a voice! Come through to Center on Halsted! I’ll be talking about the blog, campaign, and Latinx identity! This is my first panel publicly speaking about my platform so I am very excited!

Now onto today’s topic….

Are you ready to challenge your current thought process and transform your minds this Tuesday mi gente? We’re going to dive right in! Last week, we dove into the topic of “skin privilege” in the Latinx communities. If you haven’t checked it out, go show some love and learn how we can dismantle colorism by acknowledging our privileges and talking about it honestly. This week we will be delving into the topic of negotiation skills as WOCs; although difficult, we have to advocate for what we want!

Whether I’m convincing a customer service representative to waive my late fee, lower my bill, or ask my employer for my well earned and accrued paid time off (PTO), I have a way of getting what I want when I want it. That being said, fear of failure and self-doubt still creep up in my mind with an attempt to suffocate my confidence and relentlessness. But what would you attempt to do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

I get what I want by going after it with full force! Ladies, lift up the queens around you! Let’s work for each other and not against one another. If it wasn’t for body positive queens and lady bosses that chased their dreams with every fiber inside of them, I would not have had the inspiration to launch this body positive blog and cultural awakening movement. Ladies– collaborate, support one another, and silence that voice of failure that tells you that you are not enough. The world awaits and although there are some challenges, we are going to negotiate with our power and silence that voice of fear. Own your truths!

As women of color, we navigate through a society that believes we take up too much space. We are taught to keep our heads down and be less vocal than our male counter parts. We have internalized the idea that we are unworthy of that raise, of that job, of that dream. That’s some bullshit ladies! Own your autonomy;–you are a lady boss and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I accepted abuse in my previous workplace. During my college career I was convinced that I was not as smart as my white counterparts who went to private school and were better equipped than I was. At the end of the day, I gained my confidence when I stopped comparing myself to others and owned my strengths and truth to their fullest potential. Let’s be real, we’re human y’all! All of our heroes, influencers, mentors, despite all of their successes and achievements are still people. There will always be someone who is prettier, more successful, mas inteligente, y sabes que? Who cares! No importa! Our job at the end of the day is to work towards a clearer idea of what we want, take that leap of faith, and not look back.

It’s so difficult for me to take no for an answer. You’d swear I was a Taurus as opposed to the Aquarius that I am. Esa cabeza dura me tiene loca. Pero like, that is if you believe in horoscopes! No te rias de mi! Don’t laugh at me! Today, I’m here to teach you one of my biggest strengths and that is the art of negotiation. Here are some steps I take:

1. Don’t take no for an answer!

• There is room for compromise, especially if it is related to someone else cutting your check. This chica is working really hard to change that and eventually write off my own checks! However, stand your ground and advocate for your needs and wants. Communication and delivery of the message is key. Talk it through with a trusted friend or therapist before you make a request or demand your wants.

2. Communicate your needs clearly:

• I constantly struggle with this! Do not assume that a person you’re dealing with knows your exact needs: elaborate and be specific all while showing kindness. As a Latina, I struggle because my automatic response to not getting what I want is sass. In order to change that, I am seeking therapy from a Latina who presents communication tools & strategies. Contrary to popular belief, it’s okay to be vulnerable.

3. Find a win/win solution to success

• Do not let your limits stop you from chasing your dreams. Create a plan where both parties benefit. For my #vivagordita campaign and business, I am utilizing my resources to execute my goals. I’m working with freelance artists to advertise their artistries & businesses in exchange for creating my Gordita’s Way brand. I am doing all this from my saving account & collaboration efforts! Team work makes the dream work!

4. Stand your ground!

• Nobody is entitled to your time and energy. That time is a gift. When you compromise, communicate your needs, and know what you want, the world is yours. Not everyone is going to understand your mission & dreams, but if they’re not paying your bills or contributing to your success, then their opinion doesn’t matter. Fight for what you want. Only you know what’s best for you.

5. Walk in Confidence:

• A key component to negotiating your wants and needs is confidence. Be confident in everything you do queens. If women were taught the value that they bring to this world, there are no limits and there is nothing that we can’t do! Confident women refuse to be disrespected, mistreated, or taken for granted. Strong women fall deeply and live fiercely. Ladies, live your truth because you’re destined for greatness. Be bold. Be you!