Success Strategies

Author Profile Boost…

Write. Just Write. When you’re done, make sure they read what you write
Dr. Shelly C

Presentation to new and experienced authors on tips to boost Author your Profile. Happening Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

Dreams Come Through When Writers Write …

Such a delight to see the Dreams of winters come through especially when you played a part in it. Yes, thrilled I am! I met Miss Pat in 2016 in Washington DC after coordinating the recognition of her son as Honoree. I serve as member of the Honorary Host Committee for the Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH). We hit it off immediately. She shared her dream to write her biography and over the years I encouraged, reviewed the development of the title, manuscript and chatted monthly during the book’s 3-4 year publishing journey.

It’s now a delight to hold the long awaited dream book titled ‘The Reggae Music Journey in hand. The book shares the journey of a 4ft tall Miss Pat who worked hard, persevered and brought Reggae Music to the streets of New York. Despite the difficulties of being a woman in business, she persevered. Now 40 years later, she shares the journey of hubby Vincent (deceased) and Pat. A journey that has made Reggae Music a Globally loved phenomenon.

In exchange for this great resource on the evolution of Reggae Music, she takes contributions to the Vincent and Pat Foundation in honor of the Alpha Boys Home. You will have no regrets. Ask singer Shaggy of the acclaimed song “it wasn’t me” and Marion Hall they will tell you the same.

So what are you waiting for? Go get it!

Cheers

Quiet Isn’t Always Peace…

Deep thought. Articulate she was as she shared her soul searching work to a global audience captivated by her eloquence during the historic inauguration As a writer and lover of words like she is, how could I resist the opportunity to share the work of a Quiet Storm, Amanda Gorman.

The Hill We Climb
by Amanda Gorman, USA Youth Poet Laureate

When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.
We’ve braved the belly of the beast.
We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice.

And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it.
Somehow we do it.
Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken,
but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.

‘This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge’: Joe Biden calls for unity in first speech as president – live

And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.

We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.
We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried.
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.

Goals: Killing Me Softly…

Success Strategies

Goals…There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. —Jim Rohn

Over the past few months we had lots of birthdays at the office. So we could all enjoy, I bought candies! More specifically M&M’s with all the nuts and stuff. Yum! Staff was thrilled. Another liked to chew on pens when thinking. Don’t we all know someone like that? Anyway, I bought a pack of pencils in her favorite style and gave to her as a precursor appetizer to a group lunch. She found it hilarious!

Then as she was about to consume the M&Ms, she cried out omgeeee it has nuts! I’m allergic to nuts! The pencils were a trip but then she exclaimed ‘ you want me to die? I…

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Some Die So Others Can Live. The Death That Created Success…

The difference some people make comes alive after they are gone. Sad but true.
S. Cameron

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister and leader extraordinaire. His death catapulted a movement so others could live. The more recent deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and many others who lost their lives and in their deaths they made an impact. Their deaths made others live.

It causes us to wonder if some people are born with the purpose to make a difference after death. We think of children. Amber alert was created after little Amber died after being abducted. Sad but her death encouraged changes that saved the lives of others.

Sadly, it is in death that we understand. Only after some die that we understand the purpose of life. Today I encourage you to look back on your life. Try to understand your purpose. Are you on the path that leads you to making a difference?

Reflect. Think about your purpose. Why are you here? While you’re at it, reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last speech. It depicted a leader who had attain his true purpose.

Go now, find your purpose.

Cheers!

The 23 Most Zen Cities In The World…

Zen…
Relaxed and calmly accepting a situation

When we think of a getaway, pictures of peace, quiet, adventure and great experiences come to mind. A social media group was asked to share the most ‘Zen’ city in the world. Here are 23 of the top cities as the audience excitedly chimed in:

Kyoto
Hardwar, India
Sedona
Bagarchhap, Nepal
Sicilia, Perth, Ubud
Kerala backwaters
Evita/Dominica
Costa Rica
Blue Lagoon, Bali
Spoleto, Italy
Aukland, New Zealand
Rishikesh, India
Santa Fe, NM
Isle of Korcula, Croatia
Engelberg, Switzerland
Asakusa Tokyo
Bargarchap, Nepal
Iceland or Azores
Dahab, Egyt
Lake Bohnj, Slovenia
Kawai
San Diego
Le Castera

Makes you want to start booking that getaway… right? Are there any that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

New Chapter…

Jenna, a writer experienced a terrible situation. After a book signing, her world turned upside down. She lost everything. Her husband, home and everything that meant something to her. Despondent and saddened, she was offered a ticket to Europe which she initially refused then later accepted and went on a solo trip. What should have been a short getaway turned into a life-changing adventure. On a whim, she bought an old house with lots of projects and rebuilt it one room at a time in a strange faraway country. That’s the story of one of my favorite movies “Under the Tuscan Sun”.

New chapters can be daunting. Life throws us a ton of bricks all at once. Before we know it, we are tossed deep into situations that are overwhelming. Such situations can be caused by anything. Let’s take a few examples:

A great situation that brings joy
Marriage
Births
Divorce
Deaths
Job change
Relocation – Move to a new area
Disappointing Health news
Accidents
Bad experience(s)
Actions that we regret which force the change

Questions To Ponder

What happens when this happens to others and not you?

What happens when it happens to you and not others?

Different response in each scenario but whatever the situation, be confident and know that you can survive. Though it can be hard at first, you can survive.

Something to think about if you or someone you know is going through a period of change now.

Cheers!

What Inspires You? 38 Things Writers Share…

Success Strategies

The Only Limit To Our Realization Of Tomorrow Will Be Our Doubts Of Today. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Music, passion, travel, the rain some shared.Once a staff member fell seriously ill. Apparently she hid it from most but as it progressed, it became more evident. Word finally reached me in my role as HR. That was when I called to tell her of the concerns raised by her co-workers. It was then that she shared her situation. It was grave… with a crescendo of physical issues, she wouldn’t survive. I immediately jumped into action-mode to assist in the best way that I could.

In reflecting on the question “What Inspires you?” I realized that what inspires me is the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Helping others inspires gratification. Here I share a brief synopsis from the perspective response of what inspires others.

The random people…

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What’s That One Thing That You Are Afraid Of?

Fear isn’t real. It’s something we tell ourselves.
Will Smith

A writer asked a group the Question what is the one thing that you are afraid of. Fear often grips us whether real or imagined. My interest sparked, I peered into the responses of those who were quick to chime in. Here I share:

Just simply taking a quick glance at the responses, most are not real. They are in our imagination and stays there for a while. Personally, I was afraid to jump out of a plane. I did a tandem jump and faced my fear. Many fear things like job loss, health, and loss of loved ones. But today, if there is something you fear as we start a new year, face it and move beyond your fear. Remember, fear isn’t real. It is something we tell ourselves.

Thinking that there is something waiting for me on the other side of the shower
Walking up the basement stairs at night
Ending up alone
The fear of my husband dying from an epileptic seizure due to low blood sugar
Unexpected knock at the door and the person stands in an area where I can’t see them
If I fall sick and no one knows
The concept of eternity scares me. Living forever
I am terrified of plugs being left on when there’s no plug in there. I am convinced it will cause a fire.
I’m afraid I’m going to wake up one day and it turns out I never let my ex
That I will be popular and people will be bugging me all the time
Being held down, weight on me and not being able to breathe as in swimming under water
I have an irrational fear that I rub my eye I will accidentally slop and gouge out my own eye
Dying alone in my home of a heart attack or something and having no one realize it for weeks
Someone staring back at you
Public speaking
A deer will run out in front of my car during a late night drive in the country
Chicken bone being lodged in my throat
Waking up in a house fire
Ceiling fans that one is going to get lose and fall on me
A plane falling out of the sky and crushing me
Falling off a cliff
A plane crash
Fear of Success

Cheers!

That Wretched Year…

My uncle sent me a New Years greeting that all my dreams will come through. Got me thinking about him. Retired, does he have a dream? Sure. We all have dreams. Then it took me back to a sports newscaster who retired the day before after decades in the business. It was his life. He loved it. And we love him.

But what’s next?

I thought about this wretched year as most people would describe it. Ravished by loss of life, hope, shame as most middle-class experienced wants and needs in a world rocked by a mysterious pandemic. Never before has cleanliness been so top of mind.

But what’s next?

Year Of Innovation & Creativity

Personally, 2020 was one of innovation. Creativity soared as mankind tried to survive. Children became computer wizards as they had to learn to use the tools that adults used in business to get things done. Seniors did the same. Those previously fearful of computer are now experts at zoom able to turn on or off their videos depending on whether or not they want to be seen during church services. Entertainment became virtual from tik Toc to Instagram and Facebook lives. Innovation Soared.

But what’s next?

There Is Hope

As we step into a new year, 2021, most are hopeful. They’re hoping that the wretched 2020 year will not repeat itself. For me hope is the most important thing. That being said:

I wish you health.
I wish your needs satisfied beyond what’s required
I wish you leftovers to share with others
I wish you smiles that goes deep within
I wish you a year filled with extravagant laughter
But most of all I wish you peace that only the spirit can provide.
I wish you solace that you will be able to stand firm holding onto the only one with strong support.

So as we wave this wretched year goodbye, we join together to welcome the new filled with renewed goals, dreams, aspirations. A future bright and beautiful beyond compare.

Cheers to you and yours as you cross over into a bright future.

Muah!

That Goal…Clutch It Up

My mom clutched it up! That’s what Jakob shouted when the news came of the neighbor’s new born baby on Christmas Day. To 10-year old Jakob, his goal is not to get just one gift at Christmas for birthday and Christmas. He wanted separated gifts. So he cheered his mom for clutching him up and giving birth early January.

Microwave Society

Caused me to reflect on our goals. Sometimes we give birth to our goals prematurely and it doesn’t last. Our microwave society want degrees in weeks. Marriage before couples meet. We have become so hastened that we find it hard to wait on the 30 second microwave heat. Yep. We have become an impatient society.

The Race Is Not For The Swift

But remember, the race is not for the swift. The race is for the steady. For those who are consistent in what they do. We are not talking about procrastinators. We are talking about consistent effort. Consider marathon runners and athletes, They work hard consistently and in the long run become winners. So let’s be patient and clutch up those goals. We too will achieve and experience success that lasts.

Cheers!

Ring In The Cheer With These Holiday Games…

To laugh and play is to Love during the Holidays

Want to spice up your holiday with friends, family or foe (yikes)? Here are two Holiday Games to help squeeze the giggles. Simple prizes make the laughs sweet. Can’t be together? Try it virtually. Be creative, change ideas to match your mood and enjoy!