Always thrilled to participate in South Florida’s Writers Of Color igniting, harnessing, directing literary imagination and creativity. Come see, hear, listen and be inspired March 2-3, in Miami.
Tag: blogging
The Biggest Challenge Writers Face….
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
― Maya Angelou
A public writers forum asked the question “what is the single biggest challenge you as a writer face?” Here I share responses as writers chimed in:
- Writing everyday
- Marketing
- Not enough erasers
- Find an agent
- A full-time job that isn’t
- Learning all the required skills – writing, editing, cover art, publishing, marketing, salesmanship, accounting …
- Identifying my audience
- Details
- Time
- Reviews
- Getting books sold
- Selling myself
- Lethargy
- Butt in chair
- Discipline
- Marketing costs. Dispite what some may say, it is expensive to self-publish. Editor, copy editor, cover design, copyright, ISBN numbers, authors copies, advertising, website, domain name, contests, give-aways, and on and on it goes
- Self-Doubt
- Stay Motivated
- Writers block
The list goes on. Are you a new or published author? Is anything missing? Do share. We would love to hear.
Need help? Let’s connect.
Cheers!
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7 Things To Do When Stuck…
You know those things you have always wanted to do, you should go do them.
What is it that thing you have always wanted to do? Change job? Start a family? Enroll on that degree? Learn a new skill? Take that vacation?
Life gets hard at times. Chances are with everything happening around us at work, home, school, it can knock us off our feet. The result often is being stuck. Not moving. As in a state of shock, standing still. Below are 7 Things you can do when you are stuck.
- Do something! Step out! Complete that application! Try something new!
- Plan an escape rather than daydream about different scenarios. Go on a trip to relax and reboot your thoughts.
- Switch up your daily activities.
- Don’t envy and compare yourself to others.
- Do one positive thing for yourself today.
- If you want to change your life, Pray. Change your environment.
- Find a mentor or coach. Ask for help.
Today, step forward. Be bold. Go do that thing that you have always wanted to do. Sure you may be scared, afraid, even terrified! But still do it….even when afraid. Don’t leave your future wondering ‘what if’.
Need help? Let’s connect
Cheers!
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10 Must-See Author Documentaries …
Very interesting insight into author biographies
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Types Of Writers. Which One Are You?
Writer? Author? Writing? Which one are you? Saw this in an online forum from write_or_or_leftand thought I would share.
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My Top 5 Business Books For The Brave New Entrepreneur…
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd
The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.
Keep The Dream Alive
Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders In The United States was influenced by Jim Collins study when I sought to answer Why Some Individuals Succeed While others don’t.
Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson argues that your message has the ability to change someone’s life. The impact that the right message can have on someone at the right time in their life is immeasurable. It could help to save marriages, repair families, change someone’s health, grow a company or more… But only if you know how to get it into the hands of the people whose lives you have been called to change. Expert Secrets will put your message into the hands of people who need it.
The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses is a book by Eric Ries describing his proposed lean startup strategy for startup companies.
Think and Grow Rich was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill, promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. Hill writes that he was inspired by a suggestion from business magnate and later-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business is a book by Charles Duhigg, a New York Times reporter, published in February 2012 by Random House. It explores the science behind habit creation and reformation. The book has reached the best seller list for The New York Times,
Amazon.com, and USA Today.
So those are my top 5 Books for those new to entrepreneurship. Did any of these books resonate for you as a new entrepreneur, or if you are a brave soul thinking to take the leap? If you have already taken the leap and have a favorite book, do share! We would love to hear!
Cheers!
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Perfection Is The Killer Of Dreams…
Perfection is the killer of dreams
Perfection is the killer of dreams. Curious, one reader questioned it. I replied….
Perfection is a common factor with high performers. We try to make our tasks as ‘perfect’ as possible much to the demise of getting goals done. We do get them done but (like an Allergic reaction), after doing them over, and over, and over again; double checking and triple checking to ensure everything is in place. Our desire is to avoid a Cacophony of our work.
Meanwhile our competitors who do not care as much, often complete their tasks even with errors. The challenge is they sometimes are accepted giving excuses for ‘errors’.
My suggestion to high performers is to double-check and get it done especially when it’s an application or something where there are others vying for the same contract or position.
So stop triple-checking. Make it Viable…just get it done.
Cheers!
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Write…
Who Runs Your World? Goals…
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. ~Lewis Carroll
So you’ve got goals! Yea! That’s just great! Like I have always said, if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up some place else. So what runs your world? Goals… of course. But be flexible.
I was reflecting on HGTV’s Joanne Gaines and hubby Chip. Joanne shared in her year in review that they had planned on going in a different direction at the beginning of 2018. Then suddenly they discovered they were pregnant! If you are a parent you know how much pregnancy changes things. You have to think about preparing for the little one coming who (though so tiny), totally changes things! Although you and I may be excellent planners, things happen. Some things throw us off course.
Similarly, my friend’s dad went to the hospital to do surgery on his foot, only to be told that he would be losing his foot! Aging parents need help. So she gave up her job and plans and went home to care for her dad. He had to learn a new way of living.
Life does throw us curved balls. So what do we do when that happens? We must catch it and adapt. That’s the only way to survive, Oh yes… cry if you must but react quickly and move on. That’s the way with our goals. We know where we are going but getting there may be different. Sometimes things go totally awry as it did for HGTV’s Joanna Gaines and my friend. But both survived.
So as you commence working on those delightful goals, I wish you the best. But make certain that you build in flexibility. It’s the only way to react quickly whether good or bad.
Need help? Let’s connect.
Cheers!
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And So I Write…
And the idea of just wandering off to a cafe with a notebook and writing and seeing where that takes me for a while is just bliss. J. K. Rowling
Am I alone? Am I the only one obsessed with writing? I can’t seem to get enough of it. I eat, sleep, dream, and I write.
Can the doctor help? Noooo…don’t need it. I write because I’m compelled to release, to ease, to let loose what’s inside… what drives my heart to peace.
I care about you. I respect you. But please talk to me when I’m done. For me to be more impacting to you, I must write. The thoughts, stories, insights yearn to be set free.
And so I write…..
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There Are No Mistakes…
Sometimes it seems life throws us a curved ball. We go off course, get depressed, sad and down. But it’s at those times that we need to get back up. Step forward with confidence knowing as Oprah reminds ….There are No Mistakes. Everything is setting us up to achieve what’s rightfully destined for each of us. So Move forward. Stay strong. Go do you.
Cheers!
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5 Points To Consider When Transitioning Into A New Career…
It’s the New Year and often it comes with a time of reflection. Several calls came from individuals who hold senior positions in their organizations enquiring how they could transition from one career to the next especially at their level. A few wanted to maintain the same salary level due to financial obligations. Others had children who already finished college and was therefore more flexible and willing to take a pay cut and sacrifice to make the change.
Neither is wrong. Life involves change, and change comes with things we have to give up or shift to achieve our desired goals. So here are 5 points to get you going into that transition if you too are experiencing a desire for change.
Steps To Progress
1. Carefully Consider the Reasons You want to Change Career
Making a serious decision based on a temporary situation is never good. For example… is it that you are working for a team that you are unhappy with? Is it because you are tired of what you’re doing? Or is it because you are faced with a personal situation that is affecting your job? Think seriously. Look before you leap.
2. Consider your Transferable Skills
What skills do you have that can be transferred into another occupation? Have you been in business long? Are you in an area that involves people skills such as banking, healthcare, other? Perhaps you have been in technology? Sales? Journalism? Such skills can be applied to other evolving jobs.
Are your skills outdated? You may need to upgrade. Consider getting a certification in your area of your interest.
3. Research Changes in The Wider Market
If you have been too busy with your head engrossed in your job, chances are there are tons of changes in the market. Explore. One nurse shared that she never had to search for a job before. Now it seems she has to be begging recruiters to see her. She feels useless and unworthy because no one wanted to hire her after a sickness that took her out of the industry for a while. Things happen. Chin up and keep going.
4. Update Your Profile
When was the last time you looked at your Resume? LinkedIn? Do a personal name search and see what comes up? Do you like it or do you need to make changes? Search job boards to see what new opportunites exist on for example Indeed.com, LinkedIn and more.
5. Network
Last but not least, network. You May be changing industries. If so, it might be wise to start networking with others in your intended industry. Join an associations. Groups. Attend meetings. Get to know others who eventually will be able to recommend you because they are aligned with your network.
So there you have it. Here’s hoping these five points will make a difference as you or a friend contemplate a life or career change. Need further help? Learn more in Success Strategies Book
Cheers!
