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By Doni Glover, Publisher
(BALTIMORE – March 13, 2023) – I love writing. And I love writers, too. I’ve been writing since the first grade. This passion has ultimately led me to my purpose. My first newspaper gig came in 1994 in my beloved Sandtown community. I gladly accepted the opportunity, thanks to Jerry Cross, and have never looked back.
In 2002, BMORENews.com was established to provide a voice for Black Baltimore on the world wide web. So much has happened since then. Technology has changed; business, too. Politics has been transformed. Throw COVID on top of all of that and one can say that life as we know it has gone through one heck of a whirlwind. From Myspace to Facebook to the Metaverse, this little engine that could … is still swinging. To boot, we established a sister website, BlackUSA.News in December 2020 as our COVID-pivot. Because we needed a more innovative way of presenting the news amidst the pandemic, we consequently started streaming news talk shows from other cities including New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Oakland, California. We’ve even produced shows LIVE from Kenya and Nigeria.
I think a big part of our success and longevity, even through some rough patches, is in understanding our purpose. Having been a writer for various newspapers, one day the entrepreneurial bug bit me and I launched my very own news outlet. I took the lessons from the other media work experiences and toiled to present an attractive, viable news product that can outshine larger outlets.
Day in and day out, covering the Maryland-DC region, especially from a business and political bent, has been the mission. We’ve covered the White House about five dozen times since 2010 when Pres. Barack Obama was the Commander in Chief. And we’ve also covered news across America. We’ve hosted events in 9 US cities, including a Global Forum on Women’s Empowerment at the United Nations in New York. And we’ve also covered news on the ground abroad, including in Jordan, Jamaica, Canada, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
Further, we’ve covered Congress, four governors in the State House in Annapolis, MD, and City Halls up and down the East Coast including Brooklyn, Niagara, Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, MD, and of course Baltimore.
During the entire journey, we have worked to keep our purpose up front. As a Black news outlet and a member of the Black Press tradition, we have had to outwork the competition. While the big boys in media have more resources and more money, friend and mentor Brother Richard Muhammad of the Final Call Newspaper has forever reminded me to put my all into whatever we do. He’d say that nothing beats skill, hard work, and tenacity.
Sometimes, the money is very low. Sometimes, advertisers are scarce and opportunities seem far away. However, sooner or later, the money will come. In the meantime, we cannot afford to let our foot off the gas.
…. All this to say, if God put something on your heart to do, then do it. If God gives you the vision, God will also give the provision in order for you to complete the task. So, pray like it’s up to God and work like it’s up to you.
I’m not sure if I am qualified to speak on a world stage about the definition of success. It could all be relative to the individual if you ask me. Yet, many would argue that some level of financial success is a prerequisite. Be that as it may, I am qualified, however, to talk about operating in one’s gift. And, regardless of one’s bank account, the rewards of living a purpose-driven life, in my estimation, are as valuable, if not more, than having all of the accouterments of success. Some argue that you can do both.
On that note, here’s a shout-out to all of the people who are out there living their purpose. Rich or not, when we operate in our gift, marvelous and miraculous things tend to happen. It’s like magic. You find yourself exactly where you are supposed to be and at exactly the right time.
It’s like being in the center of the universe and watching everything come together. Things are happening because you are doing what you were meant to be doing. The money you need comes. The love you need comes. The support you need comes – even if it is from a total stranger. Everything just falls right into place.
It’s not always easy. No. Nothing worth having comes easy. Typically, our time, talents, and energy go into our efforts. The bigger the project, the bigger the commitment.
Yet, whether you are an artist or an engineer or a graphic designer, or an author – people who operate in their gift tend to have a certain je ne sais quoi. A particular sense of being. It’s like operating on a different level. You see the vision. You understand the plan. And you flawlessly execute.
And when that masterpiece finally happens, my friend, it is a wonderful thing! The level of satisfaction is simply out of this world. So, find your gift (everyone has one, if not more), embrace it, nurture it, and then go forth like you can accomplish anything!
