What Are You Harvesting This Fall?

What’s an Author and Leadership Coach presenting at a Garden Fall Festival? Aah but there are similarities. My work is about Personal Growth. Just like farmers plant seeds, all of us plant Goals.  The idea is to water and care for them just like we do plants.

Personally, I love plants but I’m a ‘plant killer’, be it orchids or other beautiful plants. They all end up withered. As time passed, I started gifting them or hiring professionals to care for them. That’s a gift that I didn’t get.

Against that background, here I share 3 points that I hope will help you reflect this Fall.

1.Plant with Intention

Every great harvest begins with a seed, and so do your dreams. Whether your goal is to start a business, write a book, get healthier, or grow spiritually, you must plant it intentionally. Don’t just wish, sow. Choose what you want to see in your future and begin with small, consistent actions.

2.Nurture with Patience

 A seed doesn’t sprout overnight. It takes watering, sunlight, and care. Likewise, your goals need patience, persistence, and faith. You may not see progress immediately, but don’t stop nurturing your vision. Keep showing up, keep learning, and trust the process.

3.Protect Your Growth

Every garden has weeds and pests—and life has distractions and doubts. Protect your goals from negativity, procrastination, and fear. Surround yourself with people and environments that feed your growth, not drain it.

4.Reap With Gratitude

When your harvest comes, whether it’s success, a new opportunity, or even lessons learned, celebrate it. Give thanks for the journey, the people who supported you, and the challenges that helped you grow stronger.

This Fall, as we celebrate the physical harvest around us let’s also think about the seeds we’re planting in our lives. Because what you plant today you harvest tomorrow.

So plant wisely, nurture faithfully and reap joyfully. Thank you, and may your harvest overflow with abundant blessings.

Get Ready for a change this season by connecting now. Level up your motivation with your copy of Motivational Quotes Book available now.

The Story Behind Success Strategies (And What’s Coming Next …

I love to write! It’s a passion that began during my primary education years. I reflect on those early years. Back then, my uncle (an educator and school principal), would gift me with a book on birthdays and Christmas holidays. This was his custom instead of the usual and more preferential ‘toys’. Though disappointed then, I would dive into the books reading for hours.

As life progressed and blogging became a thing, I created my first blog A Moment With Shells in 2010. Later, on completion on my postgraduate education, I formalized this blog titled Successful Leaders to share my passion. It focused on empowering developing leaders through personal growth, leadership development, and success strategies.

That was a over a decade ago. Funny how time flies when you’re having fun!

Here’s an overview of my efforts to create articles, writings, or gleanings. The idea was to uplift, encourage subscribers and visitors under the headings listed.

Goal Setting & Achievement

The blog emphasizes the importance of setting clear, actionable goals. It encourages readers to commit to their objectives, keep them visible, and seek accountability to stay on track. Inspirational quotes from figures like Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins are used to motivate readers to design their own life plans and persist in their pursuits.

Discovering Purpose & Passion

Articles guide readers in uncovering their life purpose by reflecting on personal experiences, childhood interests, and unique talents. Techniques such as visualization, journaling, and seeking feedback from friends are recommended to help individuals find fulfillment and direction.

Stress Management & Work Life Balance

The website offers strategies for managing stress and achieving a healthy work-life balance. It highlights the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, seeking professional support, and engaging in activities that promote mental well-being.

Embracing Change & Personal Growth

Recognizing when it’s time for change is a recurring theme. Writings discuss signs that indicate the need for a new direction and encourages readers to take proactive steps toward personal development. It also emphasizes the courage required to make significant life changes.

Writing, Publishing & Legacy Building

For aspiring authors, the site provides insights into the publishing process, including self-publishing and audiobook production. It also encourages writers to reflect on their life experiences and consider the legacy they wish to leave through their work.

Overall, Successful Leaders serves as a resource for individuals seeking inspiration and practical advice on personal development, leadership, career change and achieving success in various aspects of life.

Subscribe Now! Get on Board

Subscribe to keep updated on upcoming new and exciting developments. Have you been a follower? If so, how long and how have you benefited? Do share, we would love to hear!

Cheers!

Beauty Is In The Stories We Carry …

The Stories We Carry

Aging is not for the weak. One day you wake up and realize that your youth is gone, but along with it, so go insecurity, haste, and the need to please… You learn to walk more slowly, but with greater certainty. You say goodbye without fear, and you cherish those who stay. Aging means letting go, it means accepting, it means discovering that beauty was never in our skin… but in the story we carry inside us.

Meryl Streep

Coaching: Come Messy. Leave Happy….

Doubt increases with inaction. Clarity reveals itself in momentum. Growth comes from progress. For all these reasons, BEGIN.

Brendon Burchard

My niece is a celebrity makeup artist. She has done many. When they come to see her, they come just as they are–plain, messy, but ready to rock. Together they work on their goals. What’s the problem? What’s the occasion (wedding, birthday celebration, rebranding)? What’s the purpose (new business, product, new album, video)? They then work together to make their goals beautiful.

Same with the healing power. The sick goes to the doctor to be healed. They’re not well. They try home remedies and nothing works. But pretty soon they come to the realization that they need help.

Coaching is just like that. Come messy. Come stuck. come with your frustrations, your limitations, procrastinations. We work together to identify goals, explore possibilities, get clarity, strategize follow through and make dreams come through.

COACHING: THE CONTEXT

Coaching is one of the most powerful tools because it acts as a catalyst. Coaching gives our clients the right motivation to take actions that make them successful. As coaches we provide inspiration, motivation, and encouragement to help our clients attain their goals. We seek to discover and understand context and help clients define key areas of leadership development that will lead to transformational outcomes.

That’s what we do. Let’s connect. Come messy, leave happy.

Have you ever experienced coaching? What was the outcome? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

My Favorite Getaway Space…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

The sun, sand and sea is my favorite place to be.

I was asked to write about my favorite space to share with a visiting friend. I must confess that my love of nature transcends everything. It provides inspiration and a peace that boosts my writing prowess. That said, as my friend Chrissie comes for a 5-Day-visit, I will steal away to the island that captivates. None other than Captiva Island in Sunny Florida. It is a place I getaway to whenever I need to relax and unwind. When you get to Captiva Island, it feels like you are away from all the worries and cares of the world. Indeed the perfect distraction. The rooms overlook the bay or garden, your choice dependent on your budget.

Once I hosted a group business session at the end of the year to this ideal place. The goal was to reflect about plans…

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YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU REALLY WANT

You Can Do It if you really want…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

I snuck away at the start of this year to a Cool place in DC to finish my Doctoral studies, and am thrilled to say that by mid-year…I did it!! But nothing I did compared with the greatest challenge I embraced when I faced my fears and jumped 12,000 ft. from a small aircraft in a tandem skydive!!! Yikes!! View it here http://youtu.be/KbaFsgRZJC0. It was the most exhilarating experience! Amidst a feeling of fear, and the desire to accomplish a planned feat, I embraced the challenge. It affirmed to me that we can do great things when we put our minds to it. Even when we’re afraid, we can do it with God’s divine help. So, what’s holding you back from achieving your dreams, your goals, and your desires? Make a decision today. Do what’s laid on your heart. Put your plans in place. Don’t worry about the resources because…

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TED Talk 2023 Public Quest: Would You Share Your Private Goals?

The object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result is the defined meaning of GOALS

TED Talk asked individuals in a public forum to share their 2023 goals. Aghast I was when many chimed in sharing their own personal goals. Many chimed in with a few snippets shared here. One person replied … “No goals. No achievement. Just letting life happen”. Hmmm, to not plan is to just go with the flow. That may be good at times but what happens when you periodically assess? What result do you expect to find?

If you’re not measuring, you’re not managing it

Peter Drucker

Another said he was working on achieving his ‘2020’ goals. One may be quick to laugh until we remember what happened tin 2020. Yep! The pandemic. So that person is still focused on working that goal….hence the comment.

You may also like Goals: Killing me softly

Dreams They Shared

Tune in to these examples of 2023 goals and share yours if you dare.

  • To inspire and empower women
  • Mental health
  • To get a group of friends that line up with my values
  • Good health
  • To read more books
  • Buy a car
  • Being more polite
  • To be the best version of myself and be spirit-filled
  • To read the top 50 banned books
  • Content education. Teaching others by learning myself
  • No goals. No achievement. Just making the best of what life has to offer
  • To help others set and achieve their 2023 goals
  • Have a solid uninterrupted 8 hours sleep
  • Save money for my future goal
  • To find peace within myself
  • Graduate from university
  • Inspire and travel
  • To accomplish ‘2020 ‘ goal
  • To top the Board exam
  • Kindness to others and also to self

Remember share yours if you dare!

Cheers!

2022 Holiday Book Gift Guide…

A Book is a Gift you can open again and again

A Book is a Gift you can open again and again

Garrison Keillor

Gifts For Your Personal Growth

Your Career: Ditch It. Switch It.

That Perfect Getaway Read

Gifts To Motivate, Encourage And Inspire


GreenLight: When God Says Go

Retirement: The Journey and The Destination is a guide to help readers in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties learn and appreciate the key considerations that should direct the process of planning for retirement so their preparation will not be fragmented, lopsided and insufficient.

Books For The New Entrepreneur

Books For The Food Lover

The Sways Of Poetry

Books For The Child Reader

Stori Stori

Celebrate Achiever, Celebrate in 13 Ways

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

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The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by. – Alek Wek

I love challenges. I set goals, and do everything to accomplish them. Then when I do, I move on to the next goal. As the head of Head of Human Resources for many years, I relentlessly celebrated the achievement of others on the job, but I never stopped to celebrate my own personal achievements. In recent years I came to value the importance of celebrating life’s triumphs. I guess it comes with maturity. There is something gratifying to it. Besides, it leaves a lasting legacy on those close to me.

Oh how to celebrate? The question was asked and many Bravely Expressed  and jumped in. But I found Sarah Starrs list of ways to celebrate insightful. Here I share my top favs!

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Going Solo. Here’s The Thing About Contactlessness

Contactless – Not involving contact. Not requiring touching or interaction between people

Hungry? Order a meal. It’s not a problem, Uber delivers. Need a last minute birthday gift? An outfit to go on the town with your boo? These sure ain’t no problem these days. Amazon delivers, and if you have prime.., that’s even better. You get it in a day!

Smartphone, e-maps, e-mail on the go. Hit the pause button during a movie are things that our little ones can’t fathom living without.

Don’t call me. Text. WhatsApp. Not to mention the gazillion channels on our big screen TVs, yet we still can’t find the right one to watch. Netflix anyone?

Religious? Going to church? Overrated. That’s a thing of the past. Thanks to the pandemic, We meet online. Those old folk shut-ins ain’t got nothing on us.

These days it seems if you drink you can still drive. All you need to do is program your smart car to take you home – driverless… or so you think. I fathom you’re on your own if the cops catch you. And we could go on and on.

Our High Tech World

What has our society come to? Even the Bible has been translated into so many versions that I can hardly recognize John 3:16 anymore. Some versions have totally missed the meaning. But then again who reads the Bible anymore? After all, we are able to listen to all those famous preachers on demand. Who needs to read when we can listen to what they want to share with us. Let them preachers read it and tell us.

Sigh…

We have it all wrong. Our lives need the stillness and quietness that only comes from reading the word and listen to the still small voice. Only then we will be able to hear what’s said to those hurting and in pain. Only then will we be able to perceive what and how the good lord wants us to lead others to him for the peace that only he provides. Only then will we be able to comfort those who mourn. Only then will we be able to rejoice with those who shout with joy unspeakable when their blessings come through.

Going Solo

Our contactless society invites opportunities for :

  • Solo Sadness
  • Solo Mourning
  • Solo Fears

Going solo means no one has to know. But as often said, what’s done in quiet comes to light when those who are sad find themselves overwhelmed. The effects are the sad fruit of suicidal thoughts which become evident. And… before we jump to say that couldn’t happen to me… reflect on the signs of the rich and famous. Those who suffer in silence unable to face it anymore. Travel enthusiast Anthony Bourdain; Comedian Robin Williams; Miss USA Cheslie Kryst are just a few. We join with their loved ones as they still mourn.

Tis sad indeed. Our contactless society feeds aloneness, even in a crowd.

Let’s together do what we can in our small corner to connect with those behind closed doors. And if they won’t answer… that’s when you counter with direct help. Mental illness is a big thing that we can no longer sweep under the carpet and play hush-hush. Contact those trained to help.

Things To Do

Things we can do are:

  • Shut up and listen.
  • Pay attention. There is always a sign(s)
  • Check in on friends who go quiet or missing
  • Invade their privacy … but do it wisely, quietly and with caution
  • Be real. A genuine spirit can be felt just like the hypocritical ones
  • Don’t be afraid to ask “Are you okay?” It sounds simple but it’s the thing to do
  • Pray. It works. Ask for wisdom, guidance and that spirit of discernment

Here’s hoping this reflection motivates and inspires you to reach out to a friend or loved one today.

How are you coping in our contactless world? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

2022 Travel Dreams? 7 Best In The World Road-Trips…

Workaholic. Yep, that’s me. It’s strange that I am dreaming of a getaway so early in the New Year. But guess what? It’s actually carried forward from prior years. Been dreaming of my favorite getaway space but haven’t had a chance to take it. So here I go dreaming as I was asked to share a road trip that I would like to take.

Conde Naste shared the best Road Trips in the world. Amidst the pandemic and all, I shook my head against international travel. Too many requirements. Then on a whim, I mused… hey why not? As the saying goes:

If you can dream it, you can do it

Walt Disney

7 Dream Road Trips

So I let my mind wonder to the list which includes several but my top faves are:

  1. Highway 101 Oregon
  2. Namibia’s Desert
  3. Hana Highway Hawaii
  4. Norway
  5. Ireland
  6. Iceland
  7. Tuscany Italy

Tuscany, Italy

Why not Tuscany? This is my favorite place that I dream of. Renowned travel expert Samantha Brown challenged us to plan a trip that we are excited about. So as I perused the list, I selected my dream place-Tuscany, Italy. Ireland comes closely second, but Tuscany is my preferred place. I decided to pull the full details below for ease of access for both myself or any who wish to get the information. If Italy isn’t for you, then other destinations can be gleaned from them here

Tuscany’s bucolic, vineyard-dotted landscape makes for the quintessential Italian road trip. Start in Florence and cruise south on the SS22 for 30 minutes until you reach the heart of the Chianti wine region. Take your time winding through Strada and Greve towards Siena, stopping at cantine along the way (we recommend these ones). Depending on how much time you have, spend the night in Panzano before circling back up to Florence the next day, or head further south to Montalcino, Montepulciano, and the spectacular Val d’Orcia—arguably the most beautiful stretch of countryside in Tuscany.

Where to stop: Ruffino’s sprawling Poggio Casciano estate for truffle hunting and tastingAntinori nel Chianti Classico for its Instagram-worthy glass-and-steel winery and equally show-stopping wine; Tenuta Il Greppo, where the first Brunello di Montalcino was bottled in 1888.

Where to eat: Officina della Bistecca in Panzano-in-Chianti for the best steak in all of Tuscany; Re di Macchia in Montalcino for its classic, hearty Tuscan cuisine like white bean soup and wild boar pasta.

Where to stay: In castles, always. We like the intimate, art-filled Castello di Ama in Gaiole in Chianti and the lavish, hilltop Castello Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino, which has an infinity pool overlooking the vineyards.

Your Turn

What’s your dream travel designation or road trip for this year? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Italy Photo by Stan Swinnen on Pexels.com

Your Reader’s Gift …

Do you know why some people succeed while others don’t? It’s simple. They never give up.


People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. – Zig Ziglar

Motivation is important to success. Give a push start or a power boost to a struggling entrepreneur today. 101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs will ignite their new year with the desire to keep going when they feel like giving up.

Successful people press on when the going gets tough and they become discouraged. J. K. Rowling

The Meaningful Job Decision

Did I make the right choice when I was headhunted? Selena revealed that her 9-to-5 job was an exciting rollercoaster journey. Four years earlier, she was headhunted by a giant company to manage its flagship location. They had called her many times, but she avoided interview invites because of her job’s loyalty. She was not sure how to tell them that she had landed a new opportunity. As time progressed, she went away to a distant country then returned to her home country, hoping that the headhunter would have forgotten, but they had not. On arrival back home, she was invited to an interview. This time she went. Not surprisingly, she was offered the job at twice the salary.

Help someone you know move on from a difficult, stressful job. It might just be that they have been doing the job for 5, 10, 15 years and just want a change. With the book Ditch it, Switch it, you’re sure to give them the ignition to make the decision as they step into the new year.

Quiet Peace In The Midst of Life’s Storm

At three in the morning I received the most devastating news. My daughter’s Godmother had lost her 15-year-old granddaughter. She had died of a massive Asthma attack. I screamed—quietly. I asked the Lord why, why, why? I did not understand. As I sought answers, her aunt encouraged that she did not understand either, but she was safe in the Lord’s loving arms.

Months later as the still grieving mom received a copy of the book My Safe Place, she sat feeling comforted. It brought a sense of peace that quieted her heart. Consider those who mourn this holiday season. Give the gift of prayer and daily inspiration to those who are hurting from sickness, mental incarceration, and loss. GreenLight and My Safe place provides that comfort. Gift it now.

Poetry

A poet’s work … to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep

Salman Rushdie

Poems revive the soul and encourage the heart. Charmaine speaks these in her book I write. You Recite.

Purpose And Meaning

Nothing brings me more joy than a life dedicated to the personal growth and development of others. Life is about helping others along life’s way. Choose your book today and make a difference in the lives of your friends, family or foe.

Over To You

Which book has made an impact on your life? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers

Travel with Intent

A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams

Answering daily prompts

In this blog I'm attempting to answer wordpress daily prompts

Alex Tafur

Property Maintenance

Poesy Perspectives

embrace the magic

GREENLiGHT

When God Says Go

HEALTH | INSPIRATION

Mind • Body • Life

My Sister My Friend

Family. Youth. Parenting

Kamileon Photography

Your Focus. Our Lens.