Normally every week I share personal development and coaching tips to help ambitious women create more success in their and achieve great things. As I am passionate about reading I will often share lessons I have learnt from great authors and books, however, today in celebration of Beyoncé’s birthday I decided to reflect the lessons Queen B has taught me.
Lesson 1 – Beyoncé taught me to be an independent woman, but warned me that is wasn’t always going to be easy
In Independent Woman she rang about all the things she had bought because as she said “I depend on me if I want it”, and I knew from the moment I was always going to depend on me. I would make my own money and I would buy what I wanted with it. But she also warned me “it ain’t easy being independent” and that acted as reassurance through the harder times being a single lady.
Lesson 2 – Beyoncé taught me that I don’t need anyone’s permission
In Single Ladies, if a man doesn’t give you a ring it is fine to say goodbye.. but it is also fine to dance the night away with someone else because “I need no permission”. Beyonce does what she wants because she is a grown woman and as a grown woman ‘I can do whatever I want’ too.
Lesson 3 – Beyoncé taught me to be proud of my educational achievements
Music and education aren’t often put together and I love in Run The World that she manages to make to drop in the lyrics “Help me raise a glass for all the college grads”. This little reference to staying in education and graduating bring me lots of joy on the dance floor as I remember graduating not once but three times.
Lesson 4 – Beyoncé showed me that getting married doesn’t mean you have to lose your identity
What happens when the queen of independence gets married. It could have resulted in her losing her fans and her career suffering, but Mrs Carter wasn’t going to let that happen. She led my example which is yes I can still be a great wife and a great business woman at the same too.
Lesson 5 – Beyoncé taught me to be proud of my body
Whilst she may be a big fan of the weave, it was refreshing in Formation for her to sing “I like my baby hair, with baby hair afro” and also there is no doubt that growing up seeing Beyoncé dominating the music scene as she has, has given me the courage to think that she didn’t let the colour of her skin stop her and I shouldn’t let mine either.
And most importantly
Lesson 6 – Beyoncé taught me that if you dream and work hard, that anything is possible
“I dream it, I work hard, I grind ‘til I own it”
This pretty much sums up Beyonce mentality. Whilst her other Destiny Child band mates disappeared she continued to dream, to work and in 2016, according to Billboard, she made more money than any other performing artist. Over the year she has continued to push herself as an artist. As someone who has been to many of her concerts, I have witnessed how she has not only pushed herself to raise the bar, but also how she pushes her musicians, her dancers and the designers to make truly spectacular moments that people will remember.
Music is a great vehicle for change and Beyoncé has truly used it. Musicians have a massive platform to spread their message and they can use that for good or bad and whilst obviously no-one is perfect I would argue that Beyoncé has helped a whole generation of women to grow up into strong, independent women.
