
Sometimes you just need to getaway! To rejuvenate, chill, relax and spend some me time.
Here’s Samantha’s tips to plan that perfect Day Trip. Don’t delay. Do it soon. Life’s too short to live stressed out.

Sometimes you just need to getaway! To rejuvenate, chill, relax and spend some me time.
Here’s Samantha’s tips to plan that perfect Day Trip. Don’t delay. Do it soon. Life’s too short to live stressed out.

This award for Excellence in Public Service took me by complete surprise! It’s such an honor to be recognized for the work done in our communities at home and abroad.
Hmmm… 🤔 as I wondered why, it caused deep reflect…
As an author of several books, the topic of leadership, success and its impact on America and the contribution of successful Caribbean American immigrants (eg Colin Powell) in media, politics, education, aviation, entertainment, intrigued me. As such I invested years interviewing top leaders in organizations. That research has been a valuable Coaching resource that helped inspire, motivate and empower aspiring leaders.
I reflect on my work within pharmaceuticals, healthcare and the hospitality industry with HR Leaders where I spent a decade contributing to bold initiatives that made a positive impact on organizational leaders through identifying speakers making vast change to society.
I also pondered my work with the Institute of CAribbean Studies in Washington, DC through the platform of White House champion of change Dr Claire and Dr Nsombi, I invested time to lead a team to find talented individuals under 30 years old, making outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship… essentially rising stars who at a young age have impacted our wider society in their communities. Over the years since the 30 Under 30 program’s inception, many have gone on to do great things.
Let me not forget my involvement in ministry, where I have also written books on encouragement, worked on health fairs, Coached career development, traveled globally to speak on personal development and its impact on leaders afar.
Yes, as I look back, I am pleased and humbly accept this distinguished award from the Writers of Color, South Florida. A Group led by Dr. Ralph Hogges, Dr. Benjamin Cowins and Dr. Delores Smiley.
Cheers to fellow colleagues Dr Susan Davis and Dr Thea White for your partnership.
Service is in my DNA. I will continue.
One love

Don’t let mental blocks control you. Set yourself free. Confront your fear and turn the mental blocks into building blocks.
Dr. Roopleen
Whether you feel stuck in your career, overwhelmed as a supervisor or simply want to maximize your performance, coaching could be the key to achieving in months what might take years alone. The top signs you will benefit from working with a coach are discussed in the video.
Invest less than 10 minutes to watch this video and discover the power of coaching for yourself! The returns could change the trajectory of your personal and professional life.

Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world. Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow. So, set yourself manageable targets.
Jas Bagniewski
20% of new startups fail within the first year of business. This can be scary for first time entrepreneurs. So, the more prepared small businesses are, the more they can survive especially as it concerns making bold marketing steps which require some upfront investment. That said, here are some ideas to counteract those costs for a new business owner on a tight budget:
2. Barter services – Exchange things like hosting an event or providing content in return for exposure from partnerships.
3.Get sponsorships – Seek sponsorships from vendors/partners to help fund events, ads, giveaways. Offer sponsor visibility.
4. Use DIY options – Design your own simple website, create your own flyers, give free talks at local libraries versus paid venues.
5. Offer packages – Offer bundles and multi-session discounts to incentive larger purchases to increase revenue.
6.Be guest instead of host – Guest blog, speak at other events instead of funding your own. Reduces costs.
7. Tap into your network – Ask connections to share content, provide referrals, submit testimonials, write guest posts.
8. Focus locally first – Start by promoting heavily just within your local community to establish proof of concept.
9. Only invest where needed – Don’t overspend on unnecessary items. Prioritize money only where it will derive direct value.
Essentially, the goal is to maximize existing free resources and opportunities where you can exchange services. The aim is to become creative in order to access cost-effective resources until you gain proof of return on investment, then you can increase spending.
Which of the methods have you used? Can you add another method that has proven helpful? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!


Natalie, a frustrated high school graduate, had been in and out of jobs for four years after graduating high school. She was referred for coaching because she was annoyed at the way employers treated her and she refused to accept it. The lack of income did not help as she needed to meet her needs.
This situation is common among young adults who are in the early stages of their career and ‘waiting’ for their ideal job (and yessss among others with years of experience too). The 15 Strategies listed can be adapted to secure employment, gain valuable experience and bring you closer to your ideal career.
Attend job fairs, both virtual and in-person, to connect with employers and explore potential opportunities.
Remember, the job search process can take time, and being open to various opportunities can lead to unexpected but valuable experiences. Stay persistent, connect with a coach, maintain a positive attitude, and continuously refine your approach based on feedback and experiences.
Cheers to a revealing journey of learning!

Some sit in silence
Waiting for death
Then a day passes.
Then a week, month, a year
And before we know it,
A decade has passed by
In a flash
Young, old, sick, depressed
Sit silently, waiting
Time passes while we wait on life for the perfect life
Don’t wait I say.
Get out there
Do something
No matter your age, status or health
Just do something
Don’t wait
The perfect life doesn’t exist

As an author of several books in business, leadership, success and inspiration, I jump at author learning event opportunities.
As a member of the Florida writers association, this was no exception.
This year’s festival was filled with tons of learnings as Readers and Writers came together at FWA’s annual Sunshine State Book Festival held at #UF Gainesville, Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville
Met many new authors doing Big things! Discussions included Pulitzer Prize winner – Jack Davis on writing and publishing. Engaging panel discussion on Freedom to Read vs banned books, children’s book live presentations and more.
As my favorite quote says, writers write, readers read, together they are one.
Seek them out. Buy their books. Write reviews. Get consumed in reading no matter the genre.
Cheers!

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
John F. Kennedy
New supervisors are hesitant yet eager to dive into the job. Without training, mistakes happen. Behaviors indicating the need for supervisory training are shown here. Take a look and based on your observation, identify any that may need to be corrected.
Poor communication skills exhibited when supervisor fails to set clear expectations, give direct feedback, listen actively.
I’m not gonna lie, leadership ain’t easy. Managers who lack leadership presence are unable to command respect, build relationships, or influence others.
Ineffective at delegating – micromanages employees instead of empowering and trusting
Supervisors are unable to develop team – little coaching or support for the team’s professional growth
Poor at managing conflict shown through avoiding difficult conversations. Often, they let issues fester.
Failing to align and motivate employees. No vision, inspiration or strategic direction provided.
Recognize any of these behaviors in yourself, co-worker, family member or friend? It’s not a tradition. There is always hope. Training, one on one or group coaching can improve the behaviors those supervising leaders can received.
Need help? Lets connect.

The beach is my happy place
A ‘former workaholic’ I now realize the importance of work/ life balance.
Selfcare is the process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and actively manage illness when it occurs. Individuals engage in some form of self-care daily with food choices, exercise, sleep, and hygiene (wiki).
As I reflect, I realize my favorite things work wonders for my relaxation and wellbeing. Here I share five things that I totally enjoy!
These are a few of my favorite things. What’s yours?

Focus on The Future
The beginning is always today
Mary Shelley

The question was asked… what is the meaning, significance etymology of your first name. Intrigued I search up the meaning of my first name – Shelly. Other spelling includes Shelley. Here’s what I found.
Shelley as a girl’s name is of Old English origin meaning “sloped meadow“.
It derived from the Gaelic word ‘sealbhach,’ which means ‘wealthy’ or ‘having possessions.
Origin:Hebrew. Meaning:ewe, female sheep; little rock; rest; sloped meadow. Shelly is a cute gender-neutral name with Hebrew, German, and English origins.
Some people believe Shelly is derived from Hebrew and means ‘like God. ‘ Another possible meaning from Hebrew could be ‘little lamb,’ ‘ewe,’ or ‘one with purity.
It also Means clearing on a bank.
When I was a young elementary student at a Girl Scout camp, one leader exclaimed “what a beautiful name for such an ugly girl”. She said it with a hug and a smile so I know she meant well.
My own mom (now deceased) told me that she had named me after an actress called Ellie Mae. At the time I didn’t dig any deeper but what she had mentioned was her quest for success for her daughter.
As I matured I researched the topics of success and leadership. I have published several books on both. So my mom was right.
What’s your take on your own name? Do share, we would love to hear.
Cheers.
A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams
In this blog I'm attempting to answer wordpress daily prompts
Ellen Grace Olinger
Property Maintenance
embrace the magic
When God Says Go
Health, Reflection, and Poetry for the Journey of Life
Knowing every thing
Family. Youth. Parenting
Your Focus. Our Lens.