Writers of Color Women’s Empowerment Initiative

“Ask yourself, what would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it” — Sheryl Sandberg

Inspiring. Intentional. Take charge. Grow. These were common words that described the Writers Group of South Florida’s Women Empowerment Event held at the West Regional Library in Plantation, Florida.

Guests turned out in numbers to be educated or refreshed as seasoned authors shared nuggets on leadership, balance, wellbeing, and becoming financially independent.

Thanks to fellow writer GMoss Designs for being Instrumental and singer songwriter Ettosi Brooks for the delightful music entertainment.

Panelists Award winning Reggae legend Miss Pat Chin and others did an exceptional job in highlighting the challenges women face as well as the Strategies to overcome.

Missed it? Plan for it Next year same time.

Cheers!

50 Things I’ve Learned In The Last 50 Years

50 Lessons At 50

Wisdom deepens with age, and at 50, it’s a treasure.

Here are 50 things I have learnt as I traversed a life dedicated to learning, community and personal growth of myself and others. The excess have been included as a gift for those who are more curious and may choose to adopt a nugget or two as you transition at ages 30, 40, 60 or above.

May you be inspired to achieve.

  1. Let no one define what success means to you. Define it for yourself.
  2. Afraid? Do it anyway. Fear will fade.
  3. Life is just for living. Live it well.
  4. Care for others.
  5. Trust is important.
  6. Try new things. Keep learning. It helps you grow.
  7. Self-actualization stops at the top. When you get there, go higher or step back to something that you missed along the way.
  8. Be there for your loved ones. If not, you’ll miss the best things in life.
  9. Find meaning in the things that you do.
  10. Place Work in the right place.
  11. Spirituality is important.
  12. Some people are beautiful. Others are just searching. They Maybe sad or even lonely. Don’t hold it against them.
  13. When you’re at the top, stay true to who you are. You’ll see the same people on your way down.
  14. Be cordial. It contributes to your success.
  15. Smile often. It attracts.
  16. Read. It’s an action.
  17. Pray about everything.
  18. Give thanks in all things.
  19. Say thank you.
  20. Stay curious. Ask Questions.
  21. Find a mantra – a quote that drives you to achieve.
  22. Believe that all things are possible because they are.
  23. Get a dog.
  24. Don’t understand something? Ask. You may help someone in the same situation as yourself.
  25. Show up.
  26. Get involved in your community.
  27. Roll up your sleeves and work.
  28. Go to the beach. Be mesmerized by the waves, the sea and its natural beauty.
  29. Look up. Get inspired.
  30. Dream it. Then work it. You’ll achieve it.
  31. Embrace love. It’s beautiful.
  32. Fight for what you want.
  33. Don’t give up too easily.
  34. Be smart. Know when it’s time to let go.
  35. Move on when the time is right.
  36. Try something new.
  37. Get away often. Stress dissipates.
  38. Travel the world.
  39. Try a staycation.
  40. Bask in beautiful memories.
  41. Celebrate other’s success.
  42. Mourn with those who mourn.
  43. Appreciate depth.
  44. Be yourself… always.
  45. You’re never too old to try something new.
  46. Take care of yourself.
  47. Listen to your body. It speaks.
  48. Save for a rainy day.
  49. Age teaches wisdom but it also brings sighs when you watch others making the mistakes you did because they won’t listen. But remember everyone has to grow on their own path. Don’t be sad, they will learn and make their own U-turn.
  50. Pray with others.
  51. Listen to that still small voice.
  52. Don’t let life pass you by. Stop and smell the roses.
  53. Stay engaged. Learn.
  54. Relax. Watch a movie.
  55. Smell the rain. Embrace the sunshine.
  56. Plan a trip with extended family.
  57. Be there for someone who needs you.
  58. Dress up for no reason.
  59. Have dinner by yourself. Experience you.
  60. Surprise a friend.
  61. It’s time. Don’t put it off anymore.
  62. Go for a walk. Ease stress.
  63. Call a parent, grandparent or someone elderly.
  64. Volunteer to help a neighbor.
  65. Go on a solo retreat at least once in your lifetime. You’ll find out a lot about yourself.
  66. Keep your eye on that goal.
  67. Get an accountability partner or a coach if you need help.
  68. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
  69. Journal your thoughts. It’s great to look back and reflect on how far you have come. Besides, it helps build mental strength.
  70. Keep your mouth shut. Share only what needs to be said.
  71. You can count on me. Can others count on you?
  72. Take accountability for your actions.
  73. Stay focused on your future but don’t become so obsessed that you miss the journey.
  74. Life is what you make it. Make it great.
  75. You win some. You lose some. That’s life. Move on.
  76. Celebrate.
  77. Dance like nobody is watching.

What Is Your Biggest Fear?

We all become fearful at one point or other. So when this Question was asked in a public forum: “What is your biggest fear?” I was in intrigued and quickly scanned the conversation. Here I share excerpts gleaned as the public chimed in.

  • Not being enough
  • Unhappiness
  • Financial stability
  • Being alone
  • Gaining weight
  • Losing myself
  • Marriage breaking up
  • My writing failing
  • Being list at my career
  • The vast ocean
  • Can’t help family financially
  • Not living up to expectations
  • Losing my dream
  • Fear of disappointing everyone
  • Failing exams
  • Abandonment
  • Adulthood
  • Being left alone
  • Taken for granted
  • Choosing the wrong career path
  • Not knowing how to make new friends

Fear is real. Sometimes it puts a limit on us. Like I have always said, don’t let fear stop you from achieving your goals and dreams. Do it afraid if you have to. Don’t let fear stop.

What are you afraid if? Share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Photo by Ono Kosuki on Pexels.com

HBR’s 3 Ways To Work With Difficult People

Practice the Pause

We’ve all been there. Work we must, yet doing so with difficult people makes it harder. Here’s an Harvard Business Review (HBR) perspective that can help to make it easier in 3 ways:

Leading When The Going Gets Tough

•Reflect on the cause of tension and how you are responding to it

•Work harder to understand the other person’s perspective

•Become a problem solver rather than a critic or competitor.

Read details here;

https://rb.gy/4zdxew

Are these tops insightful? Are there any you have used, or wish to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Take Time To Do Nothing…

Relax, recharge, and reflect. Sometimes it’s OK to do nothing.

Izey Victoria Odiase

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

img_0441

Take time to do nothing.

Sometimes you need to just relax and do nothing. Then you will be more productive.

Cheers!

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When You Don’t Know What To Say…

When you don’t know what to say, listen to your heart.

José Micard Teixeira

“When you get tired of something, don’t sweep it out of your life without first understanding why you attracted it, otherwise you can be sure that it will return, even if it is in another form or in another context. When you stop feeling in love with someone, allow them to leave without thinking that a part of you leaves with them. In fact, nothing leaves. What leaves is only what came, now with more knowledge about who it was while it stayed here. When you feel disrespected, take back the power you gave that person over your life. Do not allow disrespect to turn to indifference and find yourself deposed from the place that was rightfully or lovingly yours in the beginning. When you feel uncomfortable somewhere, leave. All the moments you remain there will only contribute to bringing you even more suffering. Leave and if you have nowhere else to go, leave anyway, because at that moment no place is worse than this one for you. When you can’t say what you want to say, write it down. What is written speaks louder and remains longer in time. When you don’t know what to say, listen to your heart. Everything you need to know has always been there waiting for you. And when you think you have nothing to do, look at yourself and see yourself once more. It may be that this time you will understand everything you have forgotten to.”

~ José Micard Teixeira Excerpt from book “Between Many Truths and Some Secrets”

Writers Abandoned Manuscripts: Suzanne Bennett’s 7 Ideas For What To Do With Them…

Writers always produce more than they share with readers. Even bestseller authors have abandoned manuscripts. This article will give you some ideas on what to do with them.

Writers Write

Loved these Writers Write tips for those who write and have manuscripts that just can’t get done. Suzzanne Bennett shares 7 Ideas of what to do with abandoned writings. Here I share my favorite 3.

  • Create a space. Call it ‘graveyard,’ ‘slush pile,’ or ‘bits n bobs
  • Salvage the Wreck. The ‘To Salvage’ file contains revamped manuscripts that you still consider terrible, but where you hope to find a few nuggets of gold.
  • Revisit your Graveyard in times of need. Whenever you need inspiration, go to your pile of manuscripts, and start reading. You might just find a darling that once was ‘killed’

These were my favorites. Do you have abandoned writers? What can you do with them? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

The ‘Very’Alternative For Those Who Write …

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Style means the right word. The rest matters little.”
—Jules Renard

Remarkable resource shared in an Authors’ forum. Great ‘very‘ alternative for those who write.

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It’s All Coming Back To Me Now…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

bench-blue-sky-city-160934.jpeg

Don’t you just love it when things come together? Sure you do!

I recently came across my eVision board created 5 years ago. It was very satisfying to see that I had accomplished almost everything on the list. Some things included 2-4 year big and Micro goals for me and my girls.

As I reflected, it all came back to me. It was clear that dreams don’t come through unless we:

  • Write them down
  • Create a plan to achieve them
  • Work, work, work ’em Goals
  • Be resilient when the going gets tough
  • Devise ways to maintain your motivation. That’s a must
  • Reward yourself along the way as you progress
  • Learn to breathe, mediate, pray
  • Celebrate the final outcome

Years ago a Medical Director for a healthcare facility stressed that we must be sure to mark every milestone. I adopted that piece of advice and encourage you to do so too…

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2023 Top Jobs On The Rise..

The only thing constant is change

Looking to change jobs? Well it’s about time. Throw out that fear and start cranking things up. If you find yourself hesitant, then stop procrastinating and face that fear head on.

Here are the Muse list of top jobs for this year. Depending on your area of interest, here are 9 that stands out. Find the full list

  • Growth Marketing Manager
  • Grants Management Dpecialist
  • Head of Revenue
  • HR Analytics Manager
  • Truck Driver
  • Content Designer
  • Chief People Officer
  • Strategy & Operations Manager
  • Channel Account Executive

Which stands out most to you? Any you would like to add? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

Need Inspiration To Write? Writers Share 23 Ways…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Where does a writer derive the inspiration to write?

That was the question a new writer asked on a public forum. Here I share as experienced veteran writers excitedly chimed in.

Writers Inspiration

  1. The desire to be heard
  2. From within
  3. Life experiences
  4. Prayer
  5. Observations and creativity
  6. From being disciplined
  7. Desire to entertain. Seen housands of movies and read countless books.
  8. Culture
  9. Inserting imagination into current events.
  10. Nature. Walking around the beach, rivers, forests. Observing the moon and the stars
  11. Sitting and watching people walk around
  12. Learning something cool and new
  13. My imagination – lot of times from photos of places and people
  14. The need to share what I know
  15. Jesus Christ
  16. Life experiences – history read
  17. Love, hate inferences. Sit in a pub or hotel and watch. Watch as a woman looks at a man with love or fear. See how children clutch at their parents hands
  18. When a writer…

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Found Poem’s Literary Success

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

Delightful collection of excerpts of 2016 Success writings in Found Poetic form. This dissipates a Renewal of the writings on Success Strategies blog pulled from youmy readers… and my top favs. Your thoughts welcomed amdist.. Cheers!

The Find

The Road to Success

It Starts with a Dream

Coach me! Top Questions Asked

Definitely Maybe

To Wither. To Flourish. Your Choice

Confusion is nothing new

To Reach Goal, Rid But

What If

I write Because

I hope you Dance

-Dr. Shelly Cameron

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