“When He assigns, it’s aligned. When they are attached, they malign.” —Dr. Cheryl Polote-Williamson

One of the most impactful lessons I have learned along my journey is that when you set out to do God’s work, He will send the people you need to carry out His mission. Specifically, he will assign and align the key players that are necessary for your elevation, which is directly tied to accomplishing His mission for your life.

For years, I have prayed for divine discernment to reveal and remove individuals who may be attached to me but not truly aligned with my purpose. Now, I can clearly see and feel the results of those answered prayers. In this winning season, I am walking in the life-changing power of collective wisdom that has resulted from working with the team that He has sent me. For this, my heart and soul are continually overwhelmed with gratitude.

Time and time again, I’ve witnessed God’s hand at work gently yet consistently removing those who were attachments, while seamlessly guiding me towards those who are true alignments, destined to play key roles in my story. When I reflect on those who are assigned to me, a couple of my team members stand out, one of them being my brand manager, Alaina Pinkney, Founder & CEO of Pinkney Creative.

I first crossed paths with Alaina nearly three years ago at an event. Our connection was instant, and it wasn’t long before I hired her to be my brand manager. Since then, her influence on my business and personal growth has been nothing short of spectacular. Alaina’s remarkable skills, expertise, and dedication to my brand have propelled it to new heights. Whenever I find myself facing a critical decision or at a crossroads in my business journey, I know I can rely on her wisdom to provide clarity and direction. Working alongside her has been a testament to the transformative power of collective wisdom in both life and business. Not only has she drastically enhanced my business, but she has also become family. I genuinely consider her a sister. The love and care that she shows me ripples through to the business aspect of our relationship. I could not be more grateful.

Another shining example of the power of alignment is my Executive Curator for Cheryl Magazine, Shannon Skipper-Green. In 2021, I was introduced to Shannon by my then public relations manager. Before meeting her, I prayed and affirmed that I would find likeminded thinkers to join my team. Shortly thereafter, I met Shannon. She is incredibly talented, dedicated, and experienced. Her extensive background in editing, writing and graphic design is exactly what I needed to take the magazine to the next level. In meeting Shannon, I experienced another instant connection; our lunch meeting quickly turned into dinner as we laughed and talked for hours. Since joining my team, Shannon has played an integral role in the success of the magazine. She has connected me with other key players and encouraged me to keep forging ahead when I wanted to quit. Much like my relationship with Alaina, our bond transcends a typical business working relationship. We pray for each other; we uplift and encourage one another, and we push each other to be the best version of ourselves in every way.

In my business endeavors and personal relationships, wisdom is my compass, guiding every interaction and decision that I make. Wisdom is the discerning voice or gentle nudge that lets me know when to move forward, when to rest, and when to gracefully release that which no longer aligns with my mission and vision. My wisdom has been cultivated through years of experience, prayer, countless failures, reflection, and most importantly, having the right people in my circle.

Sis, prune your circle accordingly. Make it your mission, and part of your business plan, to carefully and prayerfully weed out the attachments. Prioritizing this will organically clear the way for assignments. With the right people and energy around you, you can confidently move forward in working to accomplish God’s mission for your life.

When you are aligned with the divinely assigned people in your life, you can safely lean on the collective wisdom of your circle. This allows you to draw inspiration from the collection of experiences and insights that each person brings to the table. Through genuine connection and mutual empowerment, we have the power to cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose that propels us towards a brighter, more prosperous future.

Sis, the collective strength of your circle is limitless. With the love and support of your circle, you possess the resilience, determination, and endless potential to overcome any obstacle and achieve the life of your dreams. I challenge you to join hands and hearts in solidarity with your circle, and to forge ahead with relentless resolve, knowing that collectively, you can accomplish far more than you ever could alone. With each step forward, let us reaffirm our commitment to supporting one another, uplifting each other, and building a world where every sister is empowered to thrive. Sis, how have you benefited from collective wisdom?