Philadelphia, PA | Feb 01, 2018 – Brenda K. Reynolds, founder of BKR Consulting, will be launching a giving campaign to donate 500 “Now What?” Transformation™ Clarity Card Decks to Wings for Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting women in need who are in pursuit of employment and economic security. “In efforts to inspire and inform women who are experiencing a major adjustment as they transition into the workplace, our goal is to contribute 500 decks of this brand-new product to this cause” states Reynolds, seeking an outreach approach to meet her goal. “Teaming up with Wings for Success is a perfect collaboration to help support women navigating a major change in their lives.” A complimentary deck of cards will be contributed to Wings for Success and its clients with every deck of cards someone purchases to help themselves navigate their own life changes. “We are perched between the new year, marking new starts, and Valentine’s day, a time of caring. It costs nothing to make a difference in someone else’s life, while enhancing your own!” says Reynolds. Purchase a deck and have one donated by visiting https://www.gofundme.com/transformational-donation-campaign. This brand new product, The “Now What?” Transformation™ Clarity Card Deck is a 56-card deck that brings answers to the palm of your hand-- inspiration, information, thought-provoking questions, and actions that can be taken to help make any transition easier. To learn more about the product, visit www.bkrconsult.com. Why Wings for Success? Wings for Success empowers women in need to pursue employment and economic security through apparel, advice, and advocacy. By helping women access free, work-appropriate clothing and offering support and confidence-building, Wings for Success helps their clients make the best impression at interviews and new jobs. Ultimately, the goal is to help women gain financial stability and self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. With sites in Frazer and Kennett Square, they serve clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. Since their start in 1997, Wings has helped more than 11,000 clients tackle this often overlooked barrier to employment and economic security by providing clients with work-appropriate clothing, free workshops, and client transportation. ### Brenda K. Reynolds is an organization and leadership consultant specializing in navigating change. She is the author of the newly released Amazon best-selling book TBD - To Be Determined: Leading with Clarity and Confidence in Uncertain Times, and a keynote speaker, recently featured at the TEDxWilmington Women’s Conference talking about Navigating Transition FOG. She has worked with hundreds of major corporations, nonprofits and organizations for over 20 years. For more information about Brenda, visit https://www.bkrconsult.com/ or email her at Brenda@BKRConsult.com.

Are you inherently a “yes” person or a “no” person? That’s the question my dear friend Shonda Rhimes, (you know, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator and producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and owner of all things Thursday night) has me thinking about lately. Now she doesn’t know she’s my dear friend, but I’m reading her 2015 New York Times bestseller Year of YES, and since she’s dared to write a book in such an authentic, relatable, girl-next-door way, she is unwittingly, but most definitely my new best friend. In 2013 when her sister muttered the words “You never say yes to anything,” introverted Shonda woke up and began to consciously say yes to scary things that she otherwise avoided—a commencement speech at Dartmouth, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, her health, and playing with her children any time they asked to name a few. Making a conscious choice to say yes to things she’d routinely said no to created breakthrough after breakthrough for Shonda and those around her. So, on this January morning as I packed my bags to leave icy Pennsylvania for equally-cold Chicago (where my new best friend Shonda just so happened to be raised), I gave myself a challenge. To say YES to things I’d typically avoid. I said yes to getting up earlier than I had to for my trip to the airport—and had time to catch a great podcast on life purpose. I said yes to actually holding a conversation with my shuttle driver. (Morning conversation is not my thing.) In return, I got his compelling life’s story, worthy of being featured in my next book. In gratitude he gifted me his umbrella when he learned I hadn’t brought one and might need one. I said yes to listening instead of talking-- and got my Uber driver’s fascinating life story about the war-torn life he left behind to make roots in Chicago and what it was like to move to a country where you didn’t speak the language. I said yes to spontaneity over hibernating in my hotel room and scored a last minute ticket to Hamilton at the box office! Here in 2018, I’ve decided to pause before taking action and rethink my typical “no” reflex. Where is “no” a reflex for you? Join me and others in saying yes to things that don’t come easy. My airplane seatmate told me she says yes to guilt-free in-flight naps. My friend is saying yes to tackling cluttered spaces in her home—closets, kitchen cabinets, the pantry. My client is saying yes to fewer meetings on her calendar, making room for more think time and time out of the office. An exec I know is even saying yes to scary green kale breakfast drinks to boost her health! I’m saying yes to me more this year. My empty nest is a luxury to treat myself to things I need or want. Just yesterday I started by saying yes to some new throw pillows and a sponge holder for my kitchen sink (yep, call me crazy!) Saying yes can be our own personal 3-lettered superpower. Shonda’s online network encouraged her to “power pose like superwoman” when she needed courage. “Power posing like Wonder Woman is when you stand up like a badass—legs in a wide stance, chin up, hands on your hips. Like you own the place. Like you have on magical silver bracelets and know how to use them. Like your superhero cape is flapping in the wind behind you.” Go ahead. Assume your power pose and complete this sentence… This year I will say yes to__________________________. According to my new BFF, “every yes will change something in you. Every yes is a transformation. Every yes sparks some new phase of evolution. “ I’d love to hear what happens for you!!

“How did it go?” everyone asks. Truth is, I’m not sure. It was somewhat an outer body experience to take the red carpet on November 2 in front of a sold out theater and live streamed worldwide audience. Cameras poised to capture these 8 minutes that could live on forever. What I do know for sure is it didn’t go as expected or planned--from issues uploading my demo video, fog machine controversy, an unexpected flurry of competing priorities, and 2 disorienting weeks leading up to the talk. Instead of practicing my talk, I found myself sitting quietly by my 97-year-old grandma’s bedside for a week as she made her peaceful transition “home.” Instead of nailing down what I’d wear on the TEDx stage, I was dressing for the service to mark this inspirational lady’s life. Instead of practicing my talk in front of my TEDx notes wall at home, I was delivering a eulogy. My preparation time and plans were being disrupted at every turn. So, you could say I was living the topic of my talk—uncertainty and a whole lot of a fog. I was also experiencing the emotions that come with it—fear, worry, and anxiety. But it reminded me why I wanted to give this talk in the first place—because life is uncertain, and we have no choice but to navigate it. At the dry run, one impressive, experienced speaker after another took that stage. We took turns struggling through our talks and supporting each other. We were strangers sharing 2 common bonds—a major case of nervous energy and important messages to share. And the next day, we did. We prevailed. So, back to my original question, how did it go? Well, the first person to greet me when I left the stage asked if she could hug me. I panicked. Was it that bad? Then she whispered in my ear, “I’m in the midst a big life transition, and your message was just what I needed to hear right now.” And with that, I hugged her back and smiled at the red carpet for giving me the space to help others find their way in uncertainty and fog, while navigating my own.

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