If you don’t go after what you want you will never have it.
If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no’, If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.
-Nora Roberts
Tag: developingyoureye
5K Run. 4 Tips To Prepare…
“Finish it, then take two Advil”. Words of encouragement from the point-marker.
At Five o’clock each morning, I’m up and running. Yep, that was me during my high school days. I was on the track team. Funny thing is I never did it as a requirement. Just thought I’d go with my dad (a professional boxing champ) and worked out while he worked out. 100-meter sprint, 400 or 800 meter distance running was nothing. The preparation worked. I captured many awards which I sadly I did not keep to show my kids. Why? Because the value was not in the awards received, but in the talent I used it to benefit my school’s track and field events. The value was in supporting my teams at school, business house athletic championships and in the community.
The Prep: How to Prepare For The 5K
Here are Tony’s tips for how to prepare in 4 Weeks
- Week 1: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 minute, and then walk for 1 1/2 minutes.
- Week 2: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 1/2 minutes, and then walk for 2 minutes.
- Week 3: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.
- Week 4: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.
In addition, Judith front-line head Nurse and 5K Expert shared her top 3 Points:
1. One thing that I tell people to do is download the App “Couch To 5K”. That App trains you to run. 2. Make sure you eat an excellent breakfast for energy (oatmeal with blueberries; a big bagel with some protein – peanut butter is great if you like it. You need the carbs for energy). 3. Hydrate well during training and also the day before the run (I alternate with water and Gatorade for the runs). Happy running!
How I Prepared
How did I prepare? Nothing. Nada. Actually, I decided I would go to support the worthy cause, take a picture and move on, back to the safety and warmth of my car, then return home. My mistake? I walked with the crowd of runners to the starting point. Then I decided to walk on just a little further…and a little further. As I progressed along the journey, the crowd seemed to have disappeared and my car was nowhere in sight. Father help! But then with no option to get back to my car on that very cold and windy morning, my high school coaching motivation chipped in. I walked slower and hydrated. Though the journey seemed never-ending, I got to the finish line …police escort and all.
Walk. Pray. Strategize
Yep! That’s what I did. I walked. Prayed and Strategized my year’s goals. This feat reminded me of my resilience. It started with my desire to support a worthy cause and ended with my learning to always be prepared (my girl scout motto). Although the journey seemed never-ending, the cheers and smiles of point-markers made it so much easier.
That said, be encouraged. Find your own point-markers to achieve your life’s goals–be it work, education, family or other. Keep advancing to your own finish line. Success awaits.
Cheers!
Share this:
Experiencing On-The-Job Nightmares? 5 Ways To Ditch It…
Hate your job? Feel sick just getting up in the morning to go (virtual or in-person)? We certainly understand. Many have been there. Just don’t jump ship yet. Here are 5 Strategies to do it right when you are at that crossroad and wondering what to do.
5 Strategies To Do It Right
- Don’t leave (yet)
- Start your search to see the job options available in the market place
- Like your current career? Stay with it
- Hate your current career? Plan an escape
- Take into consideration your current skills, qualification and experience.
- Upgrade skills if needed to suit your new role
- Update your Resume to match the job you’re looking for and review your social media profiles to make sure nothing unprofessional exist
- It’s time to begin your search to Ditch it for the ideal career you want
- Keep Motivated. Prepare yourself psychologically. The going can get rough especially while you are still in the same miserable job. So plan an escape while you wait. This can be:
- Bathroom run (to breathe while on the job)
- Mental escape to your happy place (vacation getaway, home reno, time with family, time alone, time with your favorite hobby)
Above all, be flexible. Sometimes you may need to take an interim role to get to where want to go. This may come with lower pay, entry level path or internship to get on your new career path. It’s the sacrifice you must take to get to where you want to go.
Good Luck and Happy hunting!
Need help? Lets connect.
Cheers!
Share this:
St. Augustine Among Preferred Top 5 European Destinations You Can Find In The USA…
St. Augustine pops on the list that Travel and leisure shared their list of destinations for those longing to travel and must stay home. Road-trip getaways offer an alternative. World travelers only hope. Adrenaline pumping, I was Incredibly excited to dive into the the list of European destinations that can be enjoyed in the USA. Here are my topic 5 favs:
Getaway Vacays Instead Of:
Madrid Spain, St. Augustine, FL
Tuscany Italy, Napa California
The French Alps: Mount Hood Oregon
Nice Fance, Newport Rhode Island
Rome, New York City
Stwitzerland, New Glarus, Wisconsin
Take a close look at the list and start planning your getaway. If there are other US destinations that can be added to the list that makes you feel like you’re on a European vacay, do share, we would love to hear.
Cheers!
Share this:
Cicely Tyson. Pioneer
I could not miss the launch of Pioneer and Award Winning Actress Cicely Tyson’s New Book titled “Just As I Am” tonight. Two hours later the news broke that she had passed.
She had marked the occasion with an inspiring discussion led by fellow award winning actress Whoopi Goldberg.
I enjoyed the soul-searching private virtual share between both …as Miss Tyson shared her mission which was to make a difference in how women, especially women of color, were portrayed on screen.
Cicely’s life mission depicts how to recognize when to Ditch a career and switch into one of purpose.
The book is definite Read.
Cheers!
Share this:
HBR’s What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Identity?
Is Your Career your identity?
What happens when your career becomes your identity? This Happens to so many of us? Here are 3 of the Questions HBR’s contributor Janna Koretz suggest asking yourself.
1. How do you think about your job outside the office?
2. How do you describe yourself? How much of this description is tied to your job, title, or company?
3.How would you feel if you could no longer continue in your profession?
Great questions. Read the article for the full analysis.
You may also listen to tips as I chat with Patricia Reid-Waugh or get a copy of my book ‘Your Career’ Ditch It? Switch it?’ Both provide a deeper dive into how you can ditch it and gain the identity that brings lasting satisfaction.
Cheers!
Share this:
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
Share this:
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!
Share this:
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!
Share this:
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!
Share this:
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!
Share this:
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!
