New Book! Success comes in many forms. For me it was a delight to partner with Dr Indiana Robinson as she did a deep dive research into women immigrants. I was honored to expound on my initial research of Success Strategies of Caribbean American leaders in the United States.
In this book titled “A Review of Women Immigrants and the Challenges Faced”, Dr Robinson expanded on deep dive research on immigrants and the path they took.
Together we shared excerpts of the stories of women immigrant leaders and their perspectives on higher education in the United States. Our own stories are included.
On the cover kudos given to female graduates who enthusiastically shared their graduation pictures to emphasize their success and tenacity to strive to overcome challenges to be successful.
Get/Gift a copy of this new book which is now available on Amazon
Thoughts about this new research? Do share. We would love to hear.
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.
Solo Retreat is designed for withdrawal. To take a step back. To plan to revive, refresh, renew, restore. Many take it when they are at a crossroads, or after they have experienced a significant life change. It can last a day, a weekend, week, month or a year as in a sabbatical
Here I share the itinerary for my Solo Retreat that developed along the way. My plan was simple. To get away to a place I didn’t know. To get lost in a strange place and find my way through divine obedience. As I progressed, here’s how it shaped out.
Just Rome
Florida
Philadelphia
Rome
Florence
Sienna
San Gimignano
Pisa
Venice
Rome
London
Charlotte, North Carolina
Florida
Not For the Faint Hearted
Solo travel and it’s purpose is not for the faint of heart. You have to be bold, brave and willing to make mistakes. It was different for me because I’m a planner but being led spiritually, I simply obeyed and experiencedsomething new something different.
What about you? Ever thought about or did a solo retreat thousands of miles away? Do share, we would love to hear.
The time of change is in full swing. But in many cases it’s the same old same old. Workaholics work; ‘bored’ business meetings continue; couples fight; children go asunder. But there are those who fall in love; travel and see the world; find that rewarding career; realize that fit body; dreams come through in those delightful home; spirituality soar; first time writers publish and make it big!
Amidst all that and the steady post-holiday covid scare, political upheavals, it was a warm breath of fresh air that we welcomed actress viola Davis as she shared Case 20 inspiring things under the title “A lot Can Happen in a year”. Here I share.
You can meet the reason why you never settled
You can finally hear NO turned to YES
You can fall madly in love with yourself
You can change completely and reintroduce yourself to the world
A random encounter can become something life-changing
You can take a big risk and see it pay off
A streak of ‘luck’ can change your life
You can finally receive the same love and energy you give to others
You can say I deserve better and finally mean it
A song can change your life
You can receive the news you have been waiting for
A solo trip can change your life
You can forgive them and move on
You can forgive yourself and move on
You can make new weird and vibrant friends
“Maybe” can become “definitely”
“I am busy with work” can become “I can make time for you”
You can fall in love with your body, your smile and your quirks
You can decide you’re not lost
You can decide you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be
A divine few gives me hope. Do you see any that sparks your interest? Do share. We would love to hear.
What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.
I overheard a discussion between two ladies in the salon as they were listening to the song ‘bless the lord oh my soul… oh my soul, I worship his holy name…‘
It was being sung by a little child … hence the reflection on ‘gifts’. Anyway, it caused me to think about the gifts God provides to us. One lady said all I do is talk, gab a lot. I thought quietly… that in itself is in fact a gift. She can use that to become a speaker even in small group. She can use her gift of ‘gab’ to write a book, sharing her thoughts with others provided she will be positive. Personally I believe there is enough negativity in the world.
Goodreads asked the question in a public forum “what books should everyone read this year?” As authors and readers chimed in, here’s a list of 41 extracted. They include classics to recently released books in different genres.
Don’t worry if you can’t get through them all. Just keep the list as a yearly reference
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
Billy Graham
I was a sprinter. I ran the 100 meter dash; 200 meter and 4 x 100 meter races. This was my thing. When I was called upon, I was ready. It was a desire to achieve not for me but for the wider team’s goal. That’s one of the memories held dear throughout my childhood into adulthood where I participated in events well into my late 20’s.
As I reflect, I am taken aback by the same habits that I used which has stuck with me even today. Here I share.
7 Habits Of A Highly Effective Athlete
1.Discipline
Here it is not about being forced to do something. It is about maintaining daily habits to achieve good or satisfactory outcomes. My dad was a boxing champion who fought for the land of my birth. He was a winner. I would rise early mornings and go running with him before daybreak. Then in the evenings after school I would go practice with fellow athletes. This daily mantra improved my abilities. It was not for personal gratification but for helping the team to win; whether it was school, church camps, or organizational competitive games to come out on top.
Determination means the ability to do something even when the odds are against you. My natural prowess slowed in recent years because I became latent. I sit at the computer all day working without hardly ever getting up to stretch. So after discussion with a personal coach, I decided to start working out. On my second class, I had to drive a 4-hour return trip. I was 5 minutes late for the class due to traffic and was turned away. I had missed the warm-up and didn’t know much. I was disappointed. But through my determination, I decided to make sure it never happened again. I have been attending and haven’t been late again. In this case, my health goals are too important to miss.
3.Drive To Succeed
This trait has driven me to go after my goals, dreams and aspirations. My studies and organizational leadership prowess has helped me to manage business operations with a desire to see others succeed. My published books on Success, leadership, career development and motivation are solid proof.
4.Never Give Up
In the first course I did after I left high school, a teacher lost the end of term paperwork I submitted. She searched and couldn’t find it. This was not submitted online but in person. Talk about being disappointed. I was devastated but I was determined to graduate. So I took a deep breath, asked to redo the major assignment and turned it in again. Yes, I graduated and found that my early training to never give up has stayed with me throughout life’s ups and downs. That experience helped build my strength of character.
5.Commitment
This quality is one that many organizations desire in people. It is a pledge or an agreement to do something. The problem is, we have to strike that balance. Overcommitment, especially for workaholics, can lead to restricted work/life balance or self-care.
The more committed you are, the more work you get….yikes! Certainly the goal you planned (smile)
6.Planning
One thing an athlete must do is plan. No plan easily translates into failure with missed deadlines, priorities and more. A friend shared the woes of a politician who was busy working in the community trying to attract votes. He was successful at that but later discovered that he had missed the application deadline. After all he had done, he was left off the ballot.
7.Teamwork & Care For Others
Teamwork means working together with a group of people to achieve a common goal. Running a relay is never easy. Sometimes teammates become injured, tired, fall behind, or become overworked and the rest of the team must collaborate to build and eliminate the gap. This is not an easy feat but the effort is always well worth it and provides the reward. That’s what I did all those years. Collaborate.
Today, caring for others is my mantra. It goes deep within my inner being and provides that lasting satisfaction when as a professional leadership coach, I help individuals achieve their goals.
I look back and reflect on these traits and with renewed fervor and realize that they made me who I am today. What about you? Did any of the characteristics resonate? Any you would add? Do share, we would love to hear.
The ball dropped and suddenly we went from the old to the new. it’s new year’s day at universal and islands of adventure. Beehives of Chattering voices everywhere. I sit quietly People watching cultures far, near, and everywhere. Fun. Rides. Food. Smiles. Tired feet clad in running shoes, t-shirts, jeans, tights; it’s family time you can’t miss.
Lots of gleeful noise amidst the screams of the world famous hulk ride. Twists, turns, ups, downs. It’s like you’re just gonna explode. Why would people do that to themselves?! Omgeee!
There’s Spider-Man. Tired legs allowed the young ones to go do their thing. After men in black, fast n furious, I was missing nothing.
But who am I to complain after enjoying my own knee jerking skydive that only few dared to hit
It’s Started With a Bang
Yep it’s New Year’s Day and it started off with a bang with plans for a year filled with lots of fun, excitement, and thrill. All wrapped in fear of the twists and turns among the unknown. But hey, doing it anyway. You won’t know until you try, right?
Armed with goals to finish my long outstanding book series titled RedLight, I’ll getaway for a solo retreat to think, to plan, to write in a faraway land. A time of peace and quiet. It’s become personal January tradition.
Retirement: The Journey and The Destination is a guide to help readers in their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties learn and appreciate the key considerations that should direct the process of planning for retirement so their preparation will not be fragmented, lopsided and insufficient.
October is crisp days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book
Fall Festival! 🍁📚. Great day for Family Fun at Keiser University, PSL Great people, good reads and tons of excitement that kicked off Fall season galore. Photos share a few memories
Success Strategies 