Meet Gloria Burgess | Speaker & Leadership Thought Catalyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gloria Burgess and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gloria, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Years ago, I worked in IT. For almost 25 years. For most of that time, I was very intentional about keeping my work separate from the rest of my life. So much so that I over corrected. For me that meant leaving about 50& of myself in the parking lot. Not a healthy choice. I excelled in work. I climbed the corporate ladder. I had a wonderful team. But,, I was exhausted when I got home.

I had to learn to get my groove back. I’m been passionate about the arts–all my life. Even so, I didn’t bring that part of me into my work. After about 15 years of working in IT, I had my light-bulb moment. What if? What if I reconnected with my passion for the arts. My passion for music & dance & writing. What if?

Well, it took me a couple of years. I started singing again. I joined not one but two choirs.. One was focused on spirited music; the other choir was focused on singing & preserving the Spirituals.

I also began writing again. I revived some poems that I’d began many years ago. i became a Poetry Fellow with an incredible collective of poets & writers of the African Diaspora (Cave Canem: https://cavecanempoets.org/). I wrote books about values-based leadership. Why? As a leadership faculty, I seemed to always be searching for books about leading from the inside out, I couldn’t find what I was hoping for, so I wrote my own books.

At one point, I was writing what I thought would be several poems about my father. Those poems morphed into a children’s picture book. I say much more about that book later on in question # 2.

What I learned about work life balance is that what we call balance is based on some abstract number of hours devoted to work plus whatever number of hours you devote to your life before & after work.

What I discovered is that my work & life became balanced when I reconnected with my passion for the arts & infused them throughout my day… throughout my week…. all day long.

I wasn’t exhausted at the end of my day. Bonus!!

In fact, I was in seventh heaven. Bonus!! \o/

And, I no longer left 50% of myself in the parking lot.

I brought 100% at work & at home.

When I transitioned my career from IT to start my own business, I knew it was the best career move. Ever.

I had no idea how to be entrepreneur. Yet I had an inner knowing that I’d be equipped every step of the way. Twenty-five years later–I’m still singing, still writing, I LOVE who I am. I LOVE what I get to do. I LOVE being of service to my clients. My work & life are in harmony.

And, I absolutely LOVE that I can bring my artistry to the world to make the difference that only I can make.

Glorious!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a creative, I get to use my artistic gifts in many ways. One way is writing books.

I love all of my books, but the one I want to lift up here is called Pass It On! That expression, “pass it on,” means to freely give to someone else in the way(s) that someone freely gave to you.

This book is a brief, inspiring biography about my father, Earnest McEwen, Jr, My book tells the story of my dad as a young boy with a burning dream of going to college. Growing up in the Jim Crow South is very, very difficult. Even so, my dad works hard & keeps his eyes on the prize–a college education!!

As a young man, my father finds a job working as a janitor at the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss, which I prefer NOT to use here). He can work there, but he can’t attend college there because it’s segregated. But, little does he know, he’s now one step closer to realizing his dream.

While working at the university, dad meets one of the deans who introduces dad to William Faulkner. Yes, the Nobel Laureate. Faulkner recognizes my dad’s leadership, courage, & determination. He offers to pay for his tuition, room & board, & books–with no strings attached. He simply asks my dad to “pass it on” to someone else when he’s able to do so. Right timing. Right person! Why? That’s what my dad would have done anyway. That’s the kind of person he was.

Was it easy to write the book? Yes, & no.

Yes, because I lived the story along with my dad & the rest of my family. So, I knew the story through my dad & mom.

No, because dad died when he was quite young, so I had to do a fair amount of research about him. I also had to do a lot of research about aspects of Faulkner that most writers don’t write about–namely, his generosity of spirt.. One of the really neat things I learned was that Faulkner contributed some of his Nobel Prize money to help my father attend Alcorn State University (formerly Alcorn A&M). Faulkner said that the money wasn’t his to begin with, so why not pass it on to someone worthy.

Once I wrote the story, I worked with an agent She reached out to many, many publishers. Each one thought it was a great story, but they all asked, “Where’s the photo?” That was code language, which basically meant “We don’t believe you.” After many rejections, my agent suggested that perhaps I should change the ending. She said, “Not every story has a happy ending.” My agent & I parted ways, & continued to reach out to publishers on my own. .

After almost 20 years, I finally found a great publisher.!

My book was next in line when the press folded. Ug!

I was now more determined than ever.

My mom was growing older, & her memory was beginning to wane. I really wanted to honor her by getting my book published while she was still able to comprehend what was happening..

Meanwhile, I proceeded. I hired the illustrator that my great publisher had selected–Gerald Henry Purnell. I told Gerald that I was determined to publish this amazing story even if I had to publish it myself. He said, “Let’s do this!”

Gerald is an marvelous illustrator as well as a fine artist.

He took several years to complete the pencil sketches & the final, color artwork. About 18 or 19 completed pieces of art. All done by hand. I was very intentional about sharing the art with my mom, who became the technical advisor for the Gerald’s illustrations. Mom was incredibly generous with her help & offered very specific feedback for some of the illustrations. After all, this was her life. That’s another story altogether!.

During this 3-year collaborative journey with my illustrator, I continued to reach out to publishers. Finally, I struck gold! I found another press who was very interested in my work: Two Sylvias Press, a small mom& mom publisher based in the Pacific Northwest. They wanted to collaborate with me. Yet another amazing story there!

After so many years, another person might have said, “Enough, already!” Like I said, I was determined.

Pass It On! is a tribute to my dad, mom, & Faulkner–ordinary people who did the extraordinary. At a time in the USA’s history when it wasn’t the norm, they reached across the racial divide & saw another human being. They saw one another’s humanity.

Two Sylvias Press. Right publisher. Right timing.

In January 2022, Pass It On! was recognized by the Library of Congress. This historic story has a permanent place in the nation’s oldest, most venerated library. And, I

Lessons learned? Here are just a few:

Dream big.
Dream out loud.
Your story is important.
Your voice is important.
Lift it up.
Lift up someone else along the way.
Know that it takes a village.
Never give up.
Express gratitude. Every Single. Day.
Pass It On!!

Patrick, thank YOU!!! for all you are & do. Appreciate you offering a platform for such a time as this.

Please forgive typos. My sight is a bit comprised.

~ Gloria

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Love this question!!

I’ve lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for 35 years. I live in a wonderful ferry town called Edmonds, right on the Salish Sea (aka Puget Sound). I’d take them on a ferry ride. Walk on, so we can really appreciate the bounty of sights–snow-capped Mount Rainier to the south, the Olympic Mountains to the west, & Whidbey Island, which is one of scores of islands throughout the Salish Sea.

My friend & I would get up very early & take long walks on the beach.

I love to cook, so my best friend & I would hang out at my place for some of the best meals ever. We’d savor fresh, local seafood, veggies, & fruit.

Like me, my best friend is very creative. She loves art. We’d go to a play or musical. We’d go to the symphony or opera. Or both. We’d visit the Seattle Art Museum. We’d also enjoy some of Dale Chihuly’s incredible glass sculptures. If it’s tulip season, we go to the Skagit Valley. Tour the tulip fields & have a meal at Nell Thorn before heading home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! Great question. I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mom, Mildred Blackmon McEwen. She’s one of the most creative people I know. At 91 years, she’s the matriarch of our family. She continues to inspire me & so many others in our family & community.

Website: www.gloriaburgess.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriajburgessphd/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCkeh1tnP1E

Image Credits
PC: Christian Del Rosario for image of me with hands raised & a mic PC: John E. Burgess for all other images