LOVE & LIGHT SERIES: Dr. Courtney Shares

Let The Healing Continue

Dr. Courtney Hammond

In light of the recent events impacting our nation, what advice would you give to people in order to help them navigate the uncertainty?

In the face of an overwhelming tidal wave of bad news about the coronavirus, what we need most right now are daily reminders of our better human selves. An extraordinary unraveling is occurring, and no one will be untouched. The social and economic disruptions of this crisis will be deep, broad, and longlasting. Learning from each other when so many of us are facing fear and physical isolation; it is essential that we find ways to connect with others and share our collective knowledge of solutions. We must remind ourselves that we are part of a greater community, and that our greater purpose is to emerge from this crisis with the tools to build a better world. During this season of purposeful PIVOT and SHIFTING, I partake in online conversations about solutions arising in your community and family, reconnect with people via Zoom, WhatsApp, and Google hangouts, and declutter (mind, body, and closet).

Please share one or two available resources that can help people right now.

Ask people what their biggest survival need is right now and what you can do. Often, people ask how they can help you. Most of the time, it is not genuine; it is a way of just being friendly -- it is like asking, "How are you doing?" without waiting for the answer. This is a time to mean it. Now, I am asking, "Really, what can I do to help?" Even if I am just serving as a resource, I want to help keep others afloat. Recently, a friend asked me how he could save money on volume purchases, and I mentioned trying group purchasing. I connected him to a friend, who is an expert on the topic. I don't know whether he ended up doing anything with that information, but I at least connected him to a person who was a lot smarter than I am on the topic. Do you know where something low in stock can still be acquired? Do you have a cousin who does personal finance consulting? Are you friendly with investors who are still looking for strong bets in this economy? These are all assets you can share to help others survive. As we all adjust to this NEW normal, its important to plan for LONG term success. These are a few things I am doing to SECURE my place amid the SHIFT.

What is one of the biggest challenges you have overcome?

Early in my career I was given the opportunity to run a small business. We had outside investors and a great opportunity in front of us. I will not go into the full story but, what I can tell you is that my communication skills at that time prevented me from ever moving that business and opportunity forward in a meaningful way. Ever since then I strive to work with coaches to ensure my communication skills are always in development. Communication is the way we connect with others. I constantly want to be improving it.

What was one action that helped you overcome this challenge?

I started making contracts with myself to deliver success. I found this to be particularly valuable when I was struggling with belief, commitment and/or motivation. Additionally, I found that by formalizing an arrangement detailing my goals and when I will deliver it, I am much more likely to be successful. This may seem a slightly bizarre approach, but the more formal the contract, the greater the chances of delivering on commitment to it. Your contract raises the selective importance of your goal, and provides the necessary motivation to persist with the appropriate amount of work until you have delivered success. Asking a third party, someone close to you, to witness the contract will raise the importance of the contract and the responsibility on you to deliver success. Having made a contract, place it in a prominent place, like the fridge. This will increase the importance of your commitment to the contract and raise the profile of the reward once you deliver success.

What advice would you give to someone that is ashamed to share their story?

We are silently judging them, and the verdict is not good. It is not just the people around us that are confused. We are just as perplexed by our own behavior. This said, talking about myself is one of the things that makes me most uncomfortable. There are a million other things I would rather discuss than myself and my stories. There is a reason for this – it is vulnerable to tell your personal stories. It requires a lot of emotional and mental energy for me to feel okay sharing my stories, and I know that I am certainly not alone. Moving into a place where I am (slightly) more comfortable being vulnerable with people is something that I have been working on for years. That means being authentic. Certainly, easier said than done. The answers to most of my “what if” questions are almost always “yes.” Yes, I will learn new things that I wish would be in the book called LIFE.

How can people reach you?

Website: www.imdrcah.com

Instagram: @imdrcah

Facebook: Courtney A. Hammonds

Dr. Courtney Hammond Bio

Born in Columbus, Georgia, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds personifies the definition of a renaissance man. With over 20 years of professional experience in multiple industries, Hammonds has built a solid reputation as a multi-gifted and multi-purposed professional in his roles as a global educator, style expert, lifestyle consultant, and author. An advocate for Higher Education and a lifelong learner, Dr. Hammonds earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from Argosy University. Additionally, he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Alabama State University. As an Educator, Dr. Hammonds has worked in the public school system as a special education teacher, and he has proudly served as the Fashion Marketing and Design Department Chair at the Art Institute of Atlanta and the Art Institute of Decatur, where he mentored many of his students in both fashion and marketing. One of his greatest achievements during his tenure at The Art Institute of Atlanta was his introduction of the Gap for Community Colleges program, which was a part of “Skills for America’s Future”, a White House initiative that was launched under the Obama administration for numerous institutions and corporations.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Hammonds is known as The Dean of Fashion, and a prominent African American fashion influencer and trendsetter. As a trendsetter, Hammonds is known for his sartorial style and whimsical fashion, and he was previously recognized by Modern Luxury Magazine as one of Atlanta’s most influential style setters. Dr. Hammonds’ influence in fashion led him to becoming the Assistant Human Resources Manager at Neiman Marcus, where he held this position for 6 years.

Due to his expertise in the areas of global education and cutting-edge fashion, Dr. Hammonds has appeared on several syndicated television shows on networks such as Bravo, Lifetime, TLC, and ABC. In addition, he has consulted on private-label ready-to-wear brands and conducted 100+ style seminars all over the world. He has also served as a contributing Fashion Editor for multiple publications and publishes a yearly fashion edition for Hers Magazine. Under Hammonds’ leadership, the magazine scored collaborations with InStyle which featured several high-profile figures in the fashion industry including: artistic directors Nicolas Ghesquière from Louis Vuitton and Claire Wright Keller from Givenchy, acclaimed womenswear designer, Christian Siriano, and world-renown makeup artist, Daniel Martin. Furthermore, Dr. Hammonds was responsible for coordinating and overseeing feature and cover stories for Hers Magazine with international fashion designer Mimi Plange, supermodel Emme, fashion photographer Nikka Lorak, and food network star Chef Jamika Pessoa. Other notable partnerships and guest appearances include: NPR, Macy’s, Reader’s Digest, Mezlan, Vannorland Shoes, Amelia Designs Photography, and a host of other well-respected nonprofit organizations. Outside of writing and editing for high-fashion magazines and lifestyle publications, Dr. Hammonds is the author of 4 books on fashion and philanthropy: Prescriptions of Style: A Definitive Style Guide to the Ordinary Man, Reflections of Style: A Philanthropic Glance at the Arts, The Dandy Affair: Men Who Are Unapologetically Woven Into The Fabric of Life, and Men of Style: A Philanthropic Glance at the Arts.

Currently, Dr. Hammonds sits on the board of the St. Lucia Fashion Council where he serves as a global marketing consultant to the island of St. Lucia. In this role, Hammonds is responsible for the development of strategic marketing campaigns, and the promotion of St. Lucian fashion designs and related products to the United States and the world. He is also a visiting professor for Capella University and Georgia Military College. In addition to global consulting, working as a contributing writer to multiple publications, authoring books, and working in Higher Education, Dr. Hammonds is a prolific and sought-after public speaker who speaks on panels and at conferences and workshops worldwide. He is also a lifestyle coach and consultant who helps clients from all walks of life, as he is passionate about building people up from the inside out.

Dr. Hammonds is currently a proud resident of Atlanta, GA.