Writers desired escape seems far fetched. The longing to get away to a quiet place to write. It seems the more the writer seeks the faster it disappears. Yes that quiet space to retreat.
Where there’s purpose, there’s meaning. Reflecting on my Book Talk on Caribbean Americans and the Excerpt from Caribbean National Weekly Newspaper.
“Entering the business world in American can be a hard task when you’re a Caribbean immigrant, from navigating a new culture of commerce, to establishing your own value in the marketplace. Addressing this tricky quagmire, African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) hosted Dr. Shelly Cameron as she discussed her book, “Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders.”
The talk, explored strategies on how to be successful, inspired by effective traits from Caribbean-American business leaders, from the challenges they encountered after migration, to the factors that most influenced their success.
The project, said author Dr. Cameron, was inspired by the familiar confusion over “why some immigrants are successful yet others are still struggling?”
The book breaks down findings from a study at Nova Southeastern University, collaborating with successful Caribbean-Americans in…
Entrepreneurship improves productivity, spurs innovation, and creates jobs. This is the notion postulated by the Center for American Entrepreneurship. Thriving for independence and financial growth, many are the aspirers who long for the zeal of owning and managing their own business. But do you have what it takes to dive right in?
In a Shark public forum the question was asked” What three skills do you think Entrepreneurs need to be successful? Hundreds chimed in sharing both skills and traits.
Stephen was blindsided. He lost his job. Had nothing to do with him. His employer decided to cut staff. Despite having a wife and two children to care for, he was sent home without notice to face his mortgage, bills, and cover life’s basic needs.
Maria left high school, got her first job and now after 3 years feels lost as she sets her eye on the supervisor position that just opened up. She asked herself should she apply? Would she qualify? Faced with the daunting fact that she has no certification or formal education, she felt depressed. She had delayed formal training after high school to make ’em dollars. Now what?
Lidia and Bill became engaged 2 years ago and want to take the next step to get married but feel scared to make the decision. Questions bothered them. Will they be able to afford a house? Should they…
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please. ~Mark Twain
I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine. ~Leo Tolstoy
Haunted by the desire to write, yet each day ends the same with a blank sheet? Here are the daily habits of famous writers penned by Danielle De Wolfe. Five captured my interests. All seemed to write in the mornings and hated when they were interrupted by family, friends, or the outside world. Here I share my top favs:
Mark Twain. Began writing daily after breakfast. Skipped lunch and showed up for dinner at 5:00 pm. working uninterrupted for hours.
Stephen King Works in the mornings after breakfast to meet his writing goal of 2,000 words daily.
Jane Austin Wrote in the sitting room daily after breakfast with her mother and sister knitting close by. If someone came she would quickly pretend she was knitting.
Charles Dickens wrote in absolute quiet accompanied by his idiosyncrasies of writing utensils (desk by the window, pen, ink and fresh flowers).
Leo Tolstoy wrote in isolation. In his must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine.
Stay tuned for 20th century famous writers’ habits. But for now, what are your own writing habits? Do share. We would love to hear!
For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.
Benjamin Franklin
Being organized is a strength. But these days I must confess that it has been a challenge. A balancing act due to the thousands of distractions around me. From the productive use of social media for building and learning, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn snatches your time. The effects on our personal and professional lives is indeed a balancing act. How can we get back to doing what’s important each day? How can we figure out what’s missing? Procrastination anyone? Here are 7 ways:
Create a schedule using electronic notes or physical notepads. My preference is a combination of both. To remember deadlines, meetings, social events, birthdays e-calendar works. A passing thought? I use notes on my phone or a physical notepad always near on my desk or nightstand
A dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
How can you know what your true dreams are? That was the question a 22-year-old asked. An interesting question that has troubled hearts for centuries.
How Can You Know It’s a Dream?
It never goes away. It stays with you. You go to the left…it’s there. You go to the right…. it’s there. It never leaves until you confront it. Until you come face to face with it. Sometimes our dreams are so big they scare us. But that’s when we need to take a step back.
Let’s think of Steve Jobs. Everything we do now can be done through a little device – the cellphone. Be it text, talk, scroll, have sleepless nights because we’re too connected; talk with a doctor; device-in-hand, head down… we walk around as if in a trance. It all became a reality because of…
The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.
Michael Porter
When I started Playing the Word game I usually just think of a word and simply moved. For me it was just to play my turn whether it was a solo game or playing with a family member. My purpose was to simply keep connected. However I found that my sister (though I know she loves me), played defensively. Every move she made was strategic. So I began doing the same. Losing cannot always be the end result. I began to play with the end in mind. I asked myself… what do I want to achieve? It turned out to be 1) learning or being exposed to new words which extended my vocabulary; 2) keep connected to my family virtually; and finally 3) to win. With those goals in mind, every move I now make was for a purpose. Not only did I want to remain connected, but I also wanted to win.
Every Move Is For A Purpose
As I reflected, I began applying this to life. How can we apply that same strategy to achieve our lifelong dreams and goals to make sense? How can we ensure that every decision we make impacts our desire to achieve? Is it career selection, job change, entrepreneurship endeavor, business investment, relationships or starting a family? How can we ensure every decision is strategic?
There have been many household names who made major business decisions to form a partnership such as the McDonald’s Fast Food chain, or as Steve Jobs did with Apple. It may even be as simple as keeping connected with our kids or elderly parents. Whatever we do, it should be for a purpose.
Think About It
My personal charge is for you to think about it. Think about every decision you make. Think about the little things. Think about the big things. How can each move you make in life lead to your desired goal?
Where did the 8 hour, 5 day work week come from? Ford Motor Company in 1914, but it was a long time coming. Before that, factories were open around-the-clock with employees working long days and 100 hour weeks. In the late 1880s, a labor movement started using a slogan like “eight hours for work, eight hours for play and eight hours for rest”. After that, it took almost 20 years until Ford reduced employees’ regular work week to 5 days consisting of eight hour days. The company also doubled employee pay, causing shockwaves throughout the industry. By doing this, Ford saw employee productivity increase and profit margins double. The thinking was that if the company was going to make any money, employees needed time off to buy things. Seeing the success of Ford, other companies naturally implemented the eight hour day, which soon became the working standard. So there it is, the reason the 8 hour, 5 day work week exists in our country for over a century is nothing more than an old effective factory work schedule.