blogging – Page 9 – Success Strategies

The Best, Only The Best …

behind the scenes work has been evident on famed and beautiful celebrities the likes of Serena Williams, BET’s Deborah Lee, Olympic Athlete Usain Bolt, Artists like Neo and…

Life….only the best is good enough. Nordia of Ffaceit Beauty and Makeup, is my niece. She has always been fascinated with beauty. After high school she embarked on a career path climbing higher and higher. Her craft and behind the scenes work has been evident on famed and beautiful celebrities the likes of Serena Williams, BET’s Deborah Lee, Olympic Athlete Usain Bolt, Artists like Neo, Music videos, TV series, and more.

Her dream and Proclivity took her to Cherished heights, and she’s still climbing.

As we approach the New Year, What’s your dream? Take some time this week to identify at least 3 goals and plan the for Steps to achieve in 2018.

As a bonus, add a plan to improve your personal development next year. We are never too old to learn. So include reading which expands the mind across the globe.

Already made plans for your goal? Do share!

Cheers!

No Doubt You Can Relate To This…

CNN Headline News revealed the list of the top 4 most annoying words from a study done.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.

Remember the saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me? Not true. Words do hurt, sometimes even more than physical pain.

CNN Headline News revealed the list of the top 4 most annoying words from a study done.

Top 4 Most Annoying Words

1. Whatever

2. Fake news

3. No offense

4. Literally

5. You know what I mean

When someone says ‘whatever‘ it means they are dismissing you or whatever you have said, and they can’t be bothered.

Whenever they say “no offense” it means they are about to offend you.

It’s often said “don’t take this literally”. Chances are… it is literal (smile).

“You know what I mean”… most often we don’t know what they mean

So if you can Relate and find yourself saying these words or some others, remember they hurt. Resolve to think before you speak (you know what I mean, right)? Hey no pun intended (smile).

Cheers!

Writers Share The Joy and Challenges of Writing…

Oh the joy of publishing! But before, there are the challenges. If you’re a writer, no doubt you can Relate. Here I share a few succint Compass tales that writers tell about their perspective of the joys and challenges associated with writing.

The Challenges of Writing

Finding the Time and space to write with Peace and Quiet in tuned
The laments of writers Block
Deciding what to write
The importance of Quality writing output
The pain of rejection

The Joy of Writing

Most enjoyable feeling when published. Words such as elated, satisfied, accomplished were voiced
If a physical book published, a feeling of Bliss when the first printed copy is received and held
The Achievement of set goals
The ability to make a difference in the lives of others

Advice to New Writers

More to come but in the interim, read more on the 9 Steps to writing. Also write, just write .

Let the New Year find you with a new resolve to write, just write.

Cheers!

What Are You Afraid to Do?

Sometimes you have to step out to do the things you have always wanted to do.

I love watching HGTVs Fixer Upper! Oh the transformations! Now we are sad to hear that come next year this husband and wife team will no longer be on the series. They decided to move on to something new and exciting!

In the same way, artists in the entertainment industry have over time made the decision to step out. To forget the Fluff. To move on. Names such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and more, come to mind.

Making decisions to change, to do something new is always scary. But if we never step out into the unknown to do what we Prefer, we will never know the level of success we can attain. And oh…if we fail…at least we would have experienced something new, something different. Oh that we’ll be braver next time!

What are you afraid to do? Challenge yourself …even when you’re afraid.

Cheers!

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!

I Like! I Like! I Like ….

Assumptions close doors. Intrigue opens them – Sam Owen

As I look over the circus of things that I like, I find that they Enlighten and intrigue. I realize that though I enjoy them and they bring me satisfaction, I find myself not doing them as much as I Expect, and in some cases at all. For over two decades I have been caught up in work, work, work. So this prompt helped me pull away and ponder the things I once enjoyed, or get to enjoy on rare occasions.

But even as I finalize and Release the list, I realize that life’s not promised. So I intend to start doing the things I like now, and stop leaving them for …one day soon.

That said, the things I like are:

People watch
Explore the world
Simple things
Enjoy a good laugh
Acting | Participating in drama presentations
Wearing a smile
See people mentored achieve their best potential
Watch movies
Write, ponder, reflect
Decorate the house
Go shopping
Watch HGTV | Travel channel
Learn new things
Read
Cook
Enjoy the company of my two young adult kids
Dream of Venice | Alaska
People watch in downtown Disney, Washington DC Parks
Watch the waves by the beach
Nature – stare at birds, squirrels, and circus of trees
Christmas Lights
Look out at the horizon from a hill or mountain
Capturing candid photos (new experience)
Finding a new route after getting lost in a new place (yikes!)
Quiet time
Solving an Aged mystery or a problem
New baby hugs
Listening to that Still Small Voice Of Faith

Share any of the things listed? Can you add any?

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!

Be Brave Writers…

Brave

Entrepreneurs’ Dilemma…How Can I Reach More Clients?

How Can I Reach More Clients in My Local Community?

The new entrepreneur often asks the question…”how can I reach more clients?” Marc Bowness posed the question on their behalf to gather feedback for their Interest and use. Many replied. Here are a few:

Run local workshops. Speak to local groups (e.g. Rotary). Get involved in the Community. Joint Venture with other businesses.
You can easily target your ideal clients locally via Facebook Ads and easily catch their attention with something that is super relevant and interesting to them.
You can follow the blueprint of Webinars that sell. However, rather than hosting an online event, you can demonstrate your ability to help them by actually helping in a live setting.
Get them to register for a FREE workshop in your community, then send them lots of value …#indoctrination before the event to build even more goodwill/affinity. Then remind them of why they really wanted to attend the event and what they will get out of it.
Partner with someone who has same target market in your local area and run workshops for their clients. Facebook Ads targeting your local area to give massive value online and also to promote any workshop or event you run …maybe some gyms, mom’s groups etc
Run meetups. Join with local council for events. Do pop ups at markets or local events. Approach schools, partner with local cafe, etc.
Offer FREE coffee at a local cafe, then have people write their emails down. Partner with others and offer a goodie bag with other gifts and details.
Put yourself in your ideal client’s shoes. Who are they? What problems are they trying to solve? Where do they spend their time (online/offline)? Then position yourself in these locations.
Attend events. Ask questions. Ditch the pitch and just ask.
Ask for business cards and have a follow-up system (write a note on the back to followup with intro)
Don’t go to an event for the first time and offer to present. Give event host a copy of your book and ask if there is anything you can do to help them.
Network at least once per week.