Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America

by Karen Arrington

The award-winning guide to help Black women knock down barriers, level up their career, income, and lifestyle, and live life on their terms.

Channel your Black girl  If you’re feeling stuck or trapped by other people’s expectations of what you can achieve, it’s time to stop playing small and start redefining what success can mean for you. It’s time to get that upgrade. Karen Arrington―founder of the Miss Black USA Pageant, creator of the Next Level Women’s Summit, and mentor to thousands of confident, successful young black women―is your guide to getting your next level life.

Leave a legacy of black  With the seven simple rules, you’ll learn how to bring your career, income, and lifestyle to that next level. Don’t settle for a life of invisibility and mediocrity. Set ambitious goals, reach for bigger opportunities, and know that you are brave enough to get what you deserve.

The rules of success in  Your Next Level Life  will show you how ·       Create all the money you need
·       Position yourself like a star
·       Connect with other powerful women

Give a gift of  For anyone looking for inspirational gifts for women in their lives,  Your Next Level Life  is unlike other self-help books for women. It’s a guide to opportunity that recognizes and celebrates the true magic of ambitious Black women.

Winner NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Instructional Literary Work

Perfect for readers of personal development books like The Big Leap , Year of Yes , Believe Bigger , and  Don’t Settle for Safe

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2019

Reviews

[Danielle's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspire to be more.

This isn’t my usual read and I was intrigued to see where this would go. I liked the fact it gives an insight into a live that is completely different to my own.

The tips in this book are to help you live life a little more brave. I think it’s aimed at the younger adult but was an interesting read.

I don’t fit the model the book is based on as I don’t live it the USA but the ideology of this book can be applied to anyone. The quotes and rules make for a good read.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chasity R · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the book you’d enjoy if you were a young woman still coming into your own. It had a few gems that I underlined along the way that were uplifting. But I would consider the excerpts to be more blog-like than chapters.

[Shenice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful tips & left me feeling encouraged & excited about my life. If you take the advice given, this book can be very impactful. It’s a quick listen. I was able to start & finish the audiobook while getting ready for work.

[Karen Tyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

I enjoyed this book. Not only does the author offer lots of advice and inspiration, but she also offers actionable tips. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a positive message on how to move forward.

[Valyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. I came across quite a few reviews stating that this may be for a younger woman who is coming into her own and needs guidance. Well, I'm 37 and at this point in my life I'm looking to go to the next level. So age has nothing to do with it. Where you are in your lifes journey does. Lots of gems in these pages and many awesome tips on where and how to start. The book ended rather abruptly to me. I would have appreciated a better arch. But perhaps that's how it's intended. Time for me to do my work of leveling up.

[Chanda Corey Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little book, a lot of wisdom!

Ms. Arrington gets five stars for telling us what we need to know in a format we can handle! No fluff, no excuses, just action oriented wisdom for the woman of today who has places to go and goals to achieve. For some of us, these are timely reminders, for others the spark that will initiate the greatness within, but for all of us, a call to greater thoughtfulness, smarter action, and truer commitment to achieving our Next Level Life!

[Nyasha Tarlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When reading please acknowledge my grammar is not the best as I am dyslexic.

I do like this book, however I I think the author need to reconsider Who the target age group are as I think this book is better for young women and people about to leave their teen years.

However it is a nice quick and easy read. It appears to be written in a block format which I think makes it easier to take it. I would advise this book to young women seeking to discover themselves.

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Sometimes with self help/personal development books they can be hard to read or wordy but this one was super easy to read. The author said a lot in a very short amount of pages. There was quite a few gems and life lessons that I enjoyed reading. Very inspiring book for me. The 7 rules were pretty straightforward and things that I could surely do.

[Leelynn (Sometimes Leelynn Reads) ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to WOW! Women on Writing, Mango, and Karen Arrington for this free copy.

I appreciated the wisdom that Arrington gave me in this book. I appreciated that it was pretty succinct and straightforward, and didn’t feel like it was preaching to me. The seven rules that Arrington gave us to take our life to the next level may seem easy, but they definitely are. And from the mini personal stories that we see with each rule, we can see how there are so many ways following these rules can go.

The journal prompts and the resources provided at the end of the book were all so helpful as well. I like that she gave us resources on political advocacy & engagement since that is the area that I’m passionate about the most. This book felt pretty universal, for me meaning that it didn’t matter what kind of life I wanted to live but I could still look to this novel to give me support and tips on how to get there.

I recommend this novel, and while my review is short, the knowledge that I gained, and the feeling of hope that I felt after reading this will sit with me forever. I plan on referencing this book whenever I feel like slowing down, or giving up, or just want to reread one of the rules to get myself going again. Thank you again so much Karen Arrington for writing this book, and I truly can’t wait to tap in to my own black girl magic.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

I enjoyed the uplifting power quotes and inspirational add ins that really lifted my mood. There are 7 rules but you have to do more then just read them to make the best use of the book you have to get ready to work at finding yourself.

[Elise Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the practical advice and abundance/growth mindset that the author advocates for in this book. It definitely lit a fire in me and reminded me that the key to accomplishing my goals is on the other side of fear, consistent effort, and hard work.

[Char’ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that book is geared more towards college students than women in their 30s. There were some tokens to take away that could be applied BUT not enough of information that I feel that could help you elevate to your next level if you’ve been on your journey for a while. The topics that were covered where ok, just wished she would have expounded on things that were beyond beauty pageant-esque.

[Jessica Whittington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool workbook to work with; content felt pretty repetitive

[Jasmine Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't wait, read it now... do the homework later if you must, but read this now!
My book sat on my shelf for a few months and I really wish it hadn't. Now my copy is marked up and highlit like one of my grad school textbooks.

This is a must-read book for all Black women living in America during today's tumultuous social-political climate, yesterday's climate, or the one that will likely be here tomorrow.

Ms. Arrington's voice is touching and inviting; she speaks to you like you are one of her own-her kin. By the end of the book, it's clear that you are just that--family. In fact, it's almost uncomfortable to read just how much a complete stranger can believe in you and want your success as badly as she wants her own.

In her book, she briefly mentions a trip to Africa, which brought tears to my eyes-- as if it weren't clear before, that segment of the text draws brilliant light into the reason behind the creation of this book. Certainly, Karen did not feel Miss. Black USA had touched every single Black woman, and this book was her answer!

Your Next Leve Life, brief as it is-- fills the call to motivate, build, and rebuild each and every one of our desires to go beyond, chase our dreams, and live bigger than we ever imagined.

[Sroslawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely not the kind of book I usually read. And usually, I don't even give a moment's attention to ideas like "dream-big" and "write-your-dream-down" and "your-dream-is-your-birthright." However, some wonderful things have happened to me lately. One of my dreams came true (I got a book published that I'd worked on for five years) so now I DO believe in taking a risk and thinking outside the box and believing in a dream. Karen Arrington is Black. She's a successful businesswoman and philanthropist, and her book was written with Black women in mind... but her advice works for every woman. Really, it would work for every person. Harrington shares big "rules" to follow, like "Expand Your Horizons" and "Identifiy Your Superpowers" to small gems. A tiny tidbit I appreciated was this one: make chores like researching scholarships (or agents/publishers, in my case) fun and inspiring. I've never made my surroundings pleasant when doing grunt work like this. A candle? Music? Having a friend over? Making a few changes would have made chores like this more appealing, and obviously. Harrington has what it takes to make her cause more appealing... to make her business propositions appealing. So give this book a read if you have dreams you've not reached yet...

[Jeanine DeHoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Karen Arrington after reading her book, Your Next Level Life; 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity For Black Women In America. Your Next Level Life has given me the advice and tools needed to shift my mindset and change my life after a year that has been testing for us all, and one in which for myself, was difficult to focus on my dreams and goals to position myself to live that next level life. Ms. Arrington has written an informative and inspirational guide for Black women to follow in this very much appreciated quick read. She lists seven empowering rules to elevate to your next level in a straightforward and friendly tone which makes it easy to visualize that purposeful and abundant life you desire, and to manifest it. I also love the fact that Ms. Arrington has a list of resources and pages with prompts at the end of her book. Your Next Level Life, is definitely a book that should be in every woman's library, or on a coffee table, and gifted to a friend or relative. It is a must read that won't disappoint.

[Ellen Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, while the author intended this book for Black Women, I feel the book will really help anyone who struggles with self-confidence and self-doubt. She shares so many inspiring stories that will encourage you to keep working for your goals.

It can be so easy to become discouraged and to settle with what you have. But, this book really encouraged me to step out on faith and take a few risks to make my dreams happen. And, it outlines 7 steps that you need to take to make this happen.

Plus, these steps are practical and easy to implement. They aren’t something you’ll put off for months intending to get to someday.

If you need the motivation to take the steps necessary to be successful, Your Next Level Life by Karen Arlington is a must-read

Book provided for this review.

[Angela Clay -Liberate and Lather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book! It was a light read and what I really liked about it was there was space to reflect and jot down thoughts and feelings. I am an avid journal writer and I love it when books give you ideas to dig deeper on and the space to do it.

I was grateful to receive this complimentary copy. One tip that I really resonated with me was the reminder that there is still money out there in the form of grants. Even though some may feel this book is for a younger woman starting out it always nice to go back to the basics. I am glad that Karen reminded me of a few things I can do to fund my next project.

It is a great short read. Great gift for graduates or someone who wants to start their own business.

[rad librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the tips that were given in the book. It was a short read and I appreciated that. The advice that was given are things that I have heard before, so it was not new to me. I do love the fact that this book introduced me to Karen Arrington and I did my research on her. I was disappointed that I have never heard of her before. The two things that resonated with me the most in this book was dress and be confident in yourself - regardless of your position. If you "dress the part" and act the part, you will eventually be the part. I also love the idea of writing out a 90 day road map to where I want to be in life. This book would be great for any person who is seeking purpose and need a pep talk.

[Rachel Furr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book when you need some real life advice from an Auntie about reclaiming your power and taking that first big step into doing The Thing™️, whether that’s writing a book, going back to school, whatever dream you’ve been deferring for far too long. It was a quick and easy read filled with a ton of resources and some pretty sound advice. It won’t change your life overnight but it’s definitely a great book to have on the bedside table to flip through every now and again when you need someone to remind you that “you’ve got this!”

[Hubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A standard self-help book that offers advice for success, including mentality advice, dress, education, and marketing. Though the book is geared towards Black women, the advice is applicable to all.

I would have been more interested in a more thorough overview of how Arrington got to where she was; she does allude to experiences she had wherein she took great initiative to help solve a significant problem (e.g. diabetes in Gambia(?)).

The other thing about listening to the audiobook, the narrator sounded like Siri, a little too archetypical of an audiobook reader.

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, to say I love the tiny book is an understatement. It’s tiny but jam packed with so much value. It’s like having a master class with th author. She gives a whole list of resources in back on available grants, scholarships available. I applied for one of the grants listed and was just notified I am one of the winners!! Thank you for writing this book and empowering Black women. I’m now one of your biggest fans. I’m also buying 10 copies today to give as gifts for my girl squad.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written and full of excellent inspiring advice for women! This is a quick read that has many great resources for things you can do and learn about to support your community and move your live forward in a positive way. I found myself pausing many times while reading to look up something she mentions or follow an organization. This book left me feeling inspired to sign up for classes and volunteer opportunities.

[sai parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

As I was reading this book....every single word gave me inspiration. This book was packed with power and it was a quick read that got now will be my go to confidence booster. I sit here wondering what my next level was going to be and well I saw the dream and vision as I was reading. Its a late night and my kids are on their tablets and I want scream because I'm walking into my next level and with power no matter what. This book is fire and has changed my life.

[Vonetta Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is inspirational and quick read. This is a great book to read at the close of a year or the beginning of a new year if you're looking for practical advice to level up your life. Even though this is a quick, take your time, and work on the exercises. The exercises is a way to slow down and write things down.

It's also good if you need a little push and/or confirmation you are doing your best in your life. Definitely read slowly and take notes for future reference.

[Uju N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, affirming reminder for Black women who feel stuck or in need of direction.

This book is like a gentle nudge from a big sister when you’re in a funk and need to refocus. It’s not packed with deep strategies or long chapters—just short, clear truths about power, purpose, and possibility. If you’re in a transition or feeling like life is on pause, this is a solid reset. A cute, easy listen or read when you need that boost.

[Antonette Artiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration Read!

Wondering how to make a plan to boost yourself, read this quick book! One hour and you walk away with seven clear steps! I thoroughly enjoyed this! I will be reading this again to create my step by step plan to level up! And, it was kind of cool to read about someone who grew up in my backyard!!

[Bube · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook on Spotify while doing my workout. This was as a short and inspiring listen. A few parts were kind of cringe, but I enjoyed hearing her insight and advice. I liked the structuring of each chapter and each rule was engaging and concise. I could see myself re-listening to this again.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I don't read another book in 2019, Your Next Level Life has given me my life back. Who knew this tiny quick read would give me the confidence to step into my purpose unapologetic. I just scored a major grant online following the suggestions in your book. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Angela Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration

I love the realness and inspiration within this book. It was short, sweet and to the point with viable resources. A great read that I will refer back too and pass onto others I know.