#0057 I went to see Beyoncé and now I’m reevaluating my life

Hey Loved One,

Welcome to a new week, huns.

I have a confession: I’ve got a girl crush. A deep one.

After firing a client (which, even when justified, still leaves a mark), I took an impromptu trip with the girls to see Beyoncé at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and I haven’t been the same since.

Now Sister-wife will tell you it’s that celebrity juju she and Jay are always being accused of. I’m not saying she’s wrong. What I am saying is this always happens when I see Beyoncé perform, though this was my first time seeing her live.

Beyoncé makes me hungry.

Hungry for creative freedom. For business dominance. For certainty. For the kind of knowing that doesn’t need explaining.

Like any good crush, you try to rationalise it. Why her? She’s just a musician, right?

But even if you don’t like Beyoncé, if you know anything about her work ethic, you have to admit she’s moved beyond being just an artist. The woman is a workhorse. She’s intentional.

Right now, I’m in a period of evolution, reassessing what I offer and healing from my latest professional bruises. Let no one tell you work doesn’t send people to therapy. We spend more time there than we do at home. If you need to talk to someone, please do. The workplace can be mess.

Beyoncé also made me reconsider what it means to be a woman over 40.

And you know what?

While I don’t have her millions (yet), we’re both businesswomen. Both mothers. Both vision-led.

Yes, I just compared myself to Beyoncé. And you should too. Because the fundamentals aren’t as far away as you think.

What Beyoncé Reminded Me:

1. She knows what she wants and asks for it

In Renaissance: The Film, she shares how, even though she’s the boss and the one signing the cheques, people still question her, make her repeat herself and basically take the piss. As a Black woman, I found that strangely comforting. It’s not just me. Even Beyoncé gets it.

But here’s the key: she doesn’t stop. She doesn’t accept no. She doesn’t shrink.

2. Your team must match your vision

In a behind-the-scenes clip from Vegas 2009, she talks about realising she’s the only one who can see the full vision. So she has to bring people along with her.

I finally understood why senior people sometimes come in and completely restructure a team. It’s not always cruelty. It’s clarity. If your team is comfortable, disengaged or simply not up to it, they cannot carry your vision with the energy it needs. One rotten apple will ruin the rest.

3. Vision is critical

If you don’t know where you’re going, anything will pass for progress. Whether you’re building a world tour or a community project, you need clarity. Collaborate by all means, but if you’re leading, you must know what good looks like.

Beyoncé builds quietly, keeps things close, then brings everything together in a way that unites and uplifts her community.

4. She controls the narrative

People complain that Beyoncé only speaks at awards shows or through documentaries. But I get it now.

She’s the blueprint for powerful storytelling. Seventy per cent of your public presence should be about your work. That includes what you make, the process behind it and the ideas or products that sit beside it. It all leads to one outcome: being paid.

You might not control how it lands, but you can curate what you share.

5. She’s a creative who understands the business

Beyoncé does what many creatives and professionals struggle with. She knows where the money comes from, how it moves and how she contributes to it.

Whether you run a business or collect a payslip, that awareness will help you navigate change. Bet Beyoncé knows exactly where her money’s going. And if you’re not delivering, she knows it’s time for you to go.

What I’ve learned from her is that leadership is messy no matter who you are. But you still have to pull up your Levi’s and face every challenge with the same energy and tell them: You won’t break my soul.

Be grateful you weren’t in our group chat. My friend, affectionately known as Leyoncé, and I had a full conversation entirely in Beyoncé lyrics.

The latest episode of Unboxed pairs with this beautifully, even though it wasn’t planned. It’s called: “Am I really qualified to do this? Yes… and here’s how I know.”

People ask me all the time how I run my business, and what surprises me is how many of you don’t realise you’re already doing it every day.

Have a listen.

Until next time,