personal-development – Page 55

21: Orange Cautions The Right Of Passage…

Growing up in the Caribbean, I was never as exposed to the flair of turning 21. In the United States it’s like a right of passage. On campus students receive bottles of liquor to celebrate as if to say ”I’ve made it! I’m grown! I’m finally 21!”

Years ago, an intern that was working with my organization so happened to have turned 21 while on the job. For him it was amazing! He drank the night away! Then to make sure he was still perceived as “responsible”, he slept the rest of the hours in the parking lot to be able to report on time at 8:00 am!

Caution

But be careful. Orange means caution. How many young adults have reached the age and realized it’s just a number? Oh yes they are now able to go to a night club without being barred from entering. Yes, they are now officially considered an adult! Yes they are able to get that driver’s license that reflects adulthood! Yes they’re able to this, or that.

But be cautious lest these things distract from your goal. Age is just a number. Make sure the things that you do… not distract from what’s important in the long-term.

The same goes for any celebration such as that bachelor/bachelorette party when getting married. It’s as though we’re saying we are giving up the past and essentially ‘freedom’. Therefore men and women rush out the night, or the week before, for one last brouhaha!

Caution. Pause, reflect. Will it be worth your long-term goals if things go awry? What do you Prefer?

Something to think about.

Cheers!

What Does It Take To Be A Good Writer?

Don’t Waste Time Trying to Please People. -Stephen King.

Wanting to do their best work, new writers are naturally anxious. They ask questions. They probe. They Gorge. They sweat. It’s hoped they sweat while writing and not about how to start. Stephen King in his memoir titled “On Writing” stressed don’t waste time trying to please people. Indeed this is applicable in many situations as individuals attempt to develop their own Identity.

In a public authors forum, the question was asked “What does it take to be a good writer?” Writers chimed in. Here I share a few of their responses.

Writers…On Writing

Read a lot. Write, write a lot
Patience and Perseverance
Finding the connection between your soul and your writing hand. It will require a number of disciplines like grammar, voice, tense and genre. But the key is opening your spirit to the process. Make your writing not a craft, but an empowered purpose in your life.
An empathetic love of both stories and storytelling
To keep writing
Write something. Publish it. Learn from mistakes. Grow
A unique voice telling an untold story that everyone wants to hear
Passion, and drive, as well as supportive people in your life
Persistence, then creativity, then literacy, finally intelligence
Vision, creativity, persistence, stubbornness, patience, a thick skin
Natural ability
Practice, practice, practice, and more practice
Honesty, passion, and courage
A moment alone. A moment alone is where it starts
Willingness to receive critical feedback
Time, focus, imagination
Personal passion, self-confidence, resilience to get it done, and never give up
A good editor
Tenacity
Life experiences and a love for it. Put your heart and soul in it
The ‘write’ attitude
Learn, then learn more. Accept first that you always need to grow
Finish even when you hate it. Even when you don’t want to. Even when you’re uninspired.

Rather Interesting thoughts from authors. Can you add any? Is there any that you would omit? Do share.

Want to plan your writing goals? Join us as we retreat.

Cheers!

Chances: Try. Don’t Miss ‘em

Identity

How The Mind of an Entrepreneur Differs From That Of A Manager…

There’s a difference between the way in which an entrepreneur thinks and how a Manager thinks. How do they differ? The mind of a manager stays on the job mainly for the duration of his/her time at work…the time they are on the job. Though they may ‘carry home the work’, that’s done mainly out of fear-to please his/her boss… to do the Cacophony of things assigned.

On the other hand, the mind of an entrepreneur remains focused on entrepreneurship. Even while asleep the Entrepreneur is strategizing. They plan, think, strategize the next steps to boost the growth of their business.

As a manager, if you find yourself doing this, go start your own business. You’re an entrepreneur.

Need help? Let’s connect!

Cheers!

Celebrate Achiever, Celebrate in 13 Ways

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!

13 Ideas To Celebrate Achievements:

Make a booking at a restaurant you’ve always wanted to eat at.
Invite all of your friends over for a pot luck and before you sit down to eat, go around and ask everyone to brag about something (big or small) that they’ve achieved recently.
Spend an entire day doing whatever you find most relaxing.
Dance! Honouring our emotions through movement is powerful.
Write a list of everything you learned from this experience.
Start success journal.
Spread the love: offer to help someone who is chasing a similar dream.
Write a blog post outlining how you achieved your goal.
Take a selfie to memorialize the big moment. Share on Instagram
Get dressed up… just because.
Have a staycation and spend some time exploring and enjoying all that your city has to offer.
Write a letter of gratitude to someone who helped you get there.
Take a few long, deep breaths and ask yourself: what does celebrating look and feel like to you?

Need help setting Goals? A mentor or coach can help. You’d be wise to get started and not forget to celebrate small and big wins.

Cheers!

To Degree Or Not To Degree?…

Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Dave Thomas, Rachael Ray. What do these personalities have in common? Besides being entrepreneurs, they all have/had no formal Degree, yet became successful. But does that mean that the rest of us should too? And if we do, will we have the same luck to make millions and become rich and famous? Rather Risky.

Just Get A Job!

There are many arguments for individuals to forget about going to college because it’s too expensive. Parents now ponder whether the investment involved in sending their high school graduate to college is worth the cost. “Just teach yourself”, is the common saying. There are many YouTube videos, podcasts that can be listened to, social media, and other networking groups, which people claim can be used to learn while eliminating the expense of going to college. Those who argue against obtaining a college education claim that students graduate High School and ‘Just Get a Job’. But the question many ponder—is college education worth the cost?

Sure it is! Here are a few thoughts to on how to manage the tight rope of college expenses and student loans.

I encourage students enrolling in college to do what they are passionate about. For example, Steve Jobs when he dropped out of college, he then decided to sit in the classes that he was passionate about. Who said that he could not have done that before?
Borrow only what you need. Often students borrow more than the amount needed, then waste the excess funds on things that do not contribute to education, or on things that they can do without.
Search for scholarships and apply for financial aid. These require some work but are resources that do not need to be repaid. It is often over-looked or individuals do not bother to apply, or write the needed essays to qualify.
Use time wisely to avoid repeat. Failing courses comes at additional costs to do the same course a second time.
Once your course of study is done, search for jobs in the same or related field to get the maximum return on the dollar invested in the education you attained. This is where it is often alluded to that a lot of persons work in jobs where they are under-employed. This happens for example in a case where a Journalism graduate work in sales in a retail store that pays salaries less than they are qualified to receive.

So yes, college is worth it! There is a benefit to both individuals and society overall. Besides enhancing your decision-making and critical thinking skills, individuals with college degrees earn more than those without. So be Loyal, stick with it.

Having doubts about your ability? A coach or mentor, can help. Let’s connect.

Cheers!

Inspiration’s Fraud

I love movies! They inspire! Dependent on what we do and the types we like, we are inspired to do great things; to get in touch with our innermost feelings; to achieve, to believe, and so much more!

But we have to be careful.

I love the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness”. It shared the struggle of trying to achieve a goal. After going through many heartaches, hiccups, pain, loss, disappointment, and more, the main character – Will Smith’s dream came through.

I also like the movie Joy. This movie also shared story of struggles, challenges, and triumph in the end.

Most if not all of us have gone through our very own trials. Like music, movies that inspire, helps. But we have to be careful to walk away with the right message. Some make us cry, feel depressed, sad, and down. To those I ask why whallow in self-pity? That’s such a Fraud.

Watch the movies that give you ideas how to overcome challenges. How to better your best. Fill your mind with good things that will encourage you to achieve your dreams, goals, and aspirations.

Cheers!

Very Superficial. 13 Jobs Without College Education…

Steve Jobs made it popular! So the debate continues. Forget college! You can get by without a degree!

Getting ahead in life is the dream of almost everyone. We want the great job; happy family; that beautiful dream home; the latest car; and to travel on the most amazing vacations! But all that takes money. And we Believe the facts speak for themselves. Individuals with a college degree earn more than two-thirds of those without a college degree. It’s not Superficial.

Despite that, not everyone wants to go to college to spend years buried in the books. Boring. But to some it’s worth every dollar invested. To those who are bent on the rationale that they can get by without a college degree, here we share top jobs for people who have no interest in beating the books. Extracted from Virginia Backaltis, and Kiplinger’s research, I’ll share 13 of my top favs with annual salaries ranging from a low of $22K to a high of $85K. All require High School Diploma, on-the-job training, while others, certification.

Commercial Pilots for Chartered flights (Flight training)
App Designers (Skill required)
Elevator Installer
Administrative Service Managers
Business Drivers (Sales People)
Electrical Power Line Installer (Naturally, high risk job)
Office Support Supervisor
Industry Machinery Mechanic
Computer User Support Specialist (some college training but most require skill)
Surgical Technologist (post secondary non degree award)
Licensed Practical Nurse (post secondary non degree award)
Dental Assistant
Home Health Aid

Need help in deciding what’s best for you? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

Getaway! It’s Elastic!

Travelers are never disappointed. To get there, they journeyed by cruise, plane, taxis and foot. Every moment of planning the trip was filled with beautiful excitement, longing, and delightful Elastic dreams

A year ago my daughter and her husband came up with the Genius idea to go on their dream vacation to the beautiful and historic Greece. The country prides itself in the wonders of joy, and rich history. Travelers are never disappointed.

To get there, they journeyed by cruise, plane, taxis and foot. Every moment of planning the trip was filled with beautiful excitement, longing, and delightful Elastic dreams of what was to come. And when the day finally came, it didn’t disappoint. They had a wonderful time! 10 days exploring the mountains, valleys, monuments, eateries, and more.

Then the day came for their departure. Filled with pics, souvenir, and memories to last a lifetime. Suddenly…without notice, things changed.

Unrest erupted in Turkey. Airports closed. Luggage on flights that were terminated. No way out from Athens. Flights cancelled, they had to seek alternate accommodation at nearby hotels. Yet no sleep. Fears rose as they thought of their kids. Oh to feel their tiny hugs.

Two days later with commute from Athens, they ended up in Paris. No seats on flights to the United States, they had no choice but to separate…to Journey home on separate flights, over long distances through different countries. It was their only option. A few other stops, and days later they arrived home. Apart but together. Safe.

What a trip!

Ever experienced anything like that when things to awry? No doubt. But be encouraged. Stay stay the course and you will achieve your goals. As bob Marley sang,

“never give up the Fight” – Bob Marley

Want to plan your next getaway retreat? Reserve your space Now!

Cheers!

Top 11 Goal-Setting Quotes That Inspire…

If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there

Just drive! Hit the road! It doesn’t matter where you’re going. Just drive! There’s not much to that. With no plan, anything you do will get you nowhere. But that’s more than likely not your intention. There’s more Interest and satisfaction for example when you plan your career, or a vacation…knowing exactly where you’re going; researching the cost of airfare, hotel accommodations, tours, not to mention the ton of fun you’ll get from the planning exercise itself!

Here are 11 Goal-Setting Quotes selected that will inspire you to achieve:

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight. – Jim Rohn
When you say ‘Yes” to others, Make sure you aren’t saying ‘No’ to yourself.
If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much. -Jim Rohn
The greater danger for most of us isn’t that our aim is too high and miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. -Michelangelo
This one step…choosing a goal and sticking to it…changes everything. -Scott Reed
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
It’s not about the goal. It’s about becoming the type of person that can accomplish the goal. – Tony Robbins
If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal
People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. – Earl Nightingale
A goal should scare you a little, and excite you a lot. – Joe Vitale

CHALLENGE:

Adopted from MoveMe. Set one Goal that you can commit to achieve. Then, make sure you put it in a place where you can be reminded of it every day. For example, you could turn your goal into a poster and place it on your bedroom wall, or you could make your goal your smartphone background, or you could put your goal on your work desk – anywhere that you will see it often. Finally, try to tell somebody what you’re doing and tell them to hold you accountable. The power of accountability can never be overemphasized. When you have somebody to report to, you will be more likely to push through on days when you don’t feel like it and see your goals through to the end!

Need help? Let’s Connect

Me Time…

CNN headline news reported that a Mom left her Kids Alone at Home for a trip to Europe! Witty? Unbelievable? Hilarious? Crazy? Call it what you wish. But in this age of focus on self, it’s not uncommon to see people taking things a little too far (well…very far as in the case of Europe…no pun intended). Let’s make sure that we are not doing things for ourselves to the detriment of our own lives, and those of our loved ones. Now that mom will be jailed as a result of her time away. Read story here

Time Out

It’s important that we take time out. Whether it’s as a parent, entrepreneur, career professional, writer, or other. Taking a retreat will help you to refocus. This may be to attend a conference, group getaway, or self-retreat. That’s why we have planned a small group 2018 Goal-Setting Retreat at the beautiful Sanibel Beach Resort on Captiva Island in South Florida. Book your space now and put your goals into gear for next year.

Cheers!

First Things First…

Ever spent time searching for something that you know will not add any value to your day? The crazy perfectionist in me does that sometimes. Today, I searched for information and went crazy trying to find something that was like a needle in a haystack. I search, and searched, and searched. An hour later I said let me try this database just once more…maybe it’s here. Another hour later, another database…maybe it’s there. E-filing problem? Definitely!

The thing is …what I was searching for was just something that if I used it in a project, it would be a nice to thing to do. But that search lasted hours and I drew precious time away from the things I really needed to focus on.

Coming up I have a Launch, a presentation, book signing events, and group sessions that needed my attention. Yet….all these goals were lingering while I wasted time on the unimportant.

Putting First Things First

Has this ever happened to you? I’m sure (smile). But though it irks, we need to focus on the important things first, then the other things will eventually fall into place. To answer your Witty thoughts…no, I did not find the document I was searching for. But I was reminded of the principle of putting important things first before other things. Your goal maybe an entrepreneur venture, it may be financial, family, career, or other. But putting first things first, will help you get things done.

What about you? Have you ever experienced this? Do share! would love to hear.

Need help in managing your goals? Reserve your seat at the 2018 Goal-Setting Retreat

Cheers!