📅Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a day dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Last year I dedicated this edition to all those actively working to making their workplaces better and highlighted previous newsletters to inspire change. 

This year, I decided to compile a list of sources of inspiration to help ✨spark your creativity and give your inspiration a boost. ✨

Because we all know how hard it is to make real change.

But it’s not impossible.

In the 57 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated we have made strides as a nation but there is still so much work to be done. 

I will never stop believing we can, and we will, change workplaces for the better. 

I’ll never stop shouting how HR is perfectly positioned to make REAL and impactful changes in our organizations. 

And there are really hard days. But what gets me through those days is remembering my mission and having things on hand that can bring me inspiration and joy to keep effing going

I wanted to share 3 things that help inspire me and maybe they’ll inspire you too. 

Music:

🎵Music is my go-to for inspo and that boost I need to get my creativity flowing. 

Music has the power to connect us to our emotions, memories and dreams. 

For me a great song can spark feelings of joy, help me get into the rhythm and give me a boost of energy. 

I have playlists for every occasion, from driving to navigating breakups to taking showers. If you’re ever wondering what I’m doing there’s a HIGH chance I’m vibing to music. 

My love language is making playlists. If I’m curating one for you – you know what you mean to me. 

🎧So, without further ado – some playlists for you:

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I know music isn’t everyone’s thing – so let’s take a look at what else can ignite that spark for you. 

Stories:

Stories are EVERYWHERE…

Whether it’s through books, films, personal stories, or even history – never underestimate the power of a good story.

Stories have the power to unlock our empathy, give us a lens to see the world differently, connect us to one another and YOU GUESSED IT spark our imagination and give us inspiration. 

So the next time your inspo battery is feeling low – reach for a good story. 

Here are some my all time faves:

📺Show: Industry. Never have I wanted to shake an HR team harder but what makes this story so good to me is the characters and their development. The backstabbing! The twists! The highs! The lows! So many feelings. 

📖Fiction: The Harry Potter series. The story of standing up for what’s right and good triumphing over hate. I always admired the bravery of the Gryffindors but knew I was about as Hufflepuff as they came. Loyal to the end. 

📖Nonfiction book: Into the Wild. I reread this book at least once a year. I’m fascinated by this story of adventure, idealism and self-discovery. I read it for the first time when I was 16 and something still brings me back year after year. 

📺Movie: Star Wars. As a child allll I wanted was to be a Jedi. Imagine my surprise learning that wasn’t possible… I love Star Wars and the themes of the series like hope, resilience, the never ending struggle between good and evil, and the corruption of power. 

What’s your favorite story? 

If you can’t think one – here are some questions to consider:

  • What stories do you revisit?
  • What themes draw you in? Think: love, epic adventures, redemption 
  • Which characters stick out to you the most? 
  • What stories have made you have an emotional response?
  • What genres draw you in? 

Your favorite stories will likely be ones that resonate with your values, emotions and perspective and usually leave a lasting impression on how you view the world. 

🎧 Dive deeper into this topic and the superpower of storytelling in this week’s episode of the podcast. 

Community: 

When a week is REALLY dragging – there’s one thing that pulls me out of my slump…

No, not a jumbo sized coffee but that does have its merits. 

My community. 

TBH: The power of connection & collaboration is unlike anything else. 

Honestly, I won’t shut up about how lifechanging it was to find my HR people. Sorry, not sorry. 

Because more HR people should know that they don’t have to do this work alone!! 

Being surrounded by folks that:

✅ Share your passion for improving work

✅ Share similar values

✅ Encourage you to push through your challenges

✅ Help you realize you’re never alone 

IS DREAM COME TRUE. 

Don’t believe me? Check out Safe Space and see what the hype is about. 

I’m confident you’ll find the inspo there that you need to navigate alllll the challenges we’re currently facing. 

What’s next:

Ahh Buffy, one of my idols AND a great example of a type of leader. 

Next week, by popular demand, I’m diving into the different HR leader profiles. 

Think Buzzfeed quiz + HR insights. 

I’ll cover common challenges and how to embrace what type of HR leader you are. 

P.S. The power of the reader is strong – this next edition is dedicated to everyone who replied to the email asking for it!

You ask and I aim to ALWAYS deliver. <3 

Hebba Youssef
Hebba Youssef
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