A Lesson Will Keep Repeating Itself Until It Is Learned…

A lesson will keep repeating itself until it is learned. Life first will send the lesson to you in the size of a pebble; if you ignore the pebble, then life will send you a brick; if you ignore the brick, life will send you a brick wall; if you ignore the brick wall, life will send you a demolition truck.”- Oprah

The Greatest Mistake You Can Make…

The greatest mistake you can make is to believe that you have to do everything on your own power. Do not assume that asking for help or guidance is to admit defeat. In fact, it is just the opposite. To ask for help or to accept help to accomplish a goal is to also ingrain into your own spirit that you will help others over obstacles or hurdles as well. ~Catherine Pulsifer

What Can Be Awesome About Goals? Finishing! That’s What…

What can be awesome about finishing last? Finishing! ~ODB

The race is not for the swift. Too often we watch others. What are they going to say? How will they feel? They will hate. Discourage…say bad things.

Finish

The story was told by Our Daily Bread about a mom who went to the finish line to check on her daughter who finished the race last. Her goal? To encourage her. She was the one encouraged when the young girl exclaimed… I finished! She was running against her personal best.

This adage reminds us to focus on ourselves, our goals, our own prowess. If we continue to let the notion of “what will they say” impact us, then we will always lag behind. Even remain stuck.

Take a Stand

Today go out and do your best. What have you been holding back on? What do you need to go after? No matter how simple, Go out and do it. Rid the fear. Start now. Start today. With one step at a time, you’re sure to surprise yourself when you focus on you.

Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!

To Gig Or Not To Gig….

Fabrik Brands

You spend most of your day doing exactly what you wanna do when you wanna do it.

Alana has a craving that she wants to fill real time but she can’t leave the house. She gets on her Uber Eats App, orders ice-cream. 20 Minutes later a delivery person shows up with a bag that she’s able to indulge and satisfy her craving.

Going to the airport and can’t be bothered with the parking headache? Enter Uber. You call a cab on your App and within minutes a driver shows up. You get to the airport and what’s more you do the reverse on your return.

A full-time employee messes up, they’re fired at will and an immediate skilled replacement is contracted until the employer chooses to fill the position long term. Alas often it seems workers in the Gig economy are ‘hired‘ to work on demand for a revolving period, then exchanged for a replacement for yet another short term. The perceived benefit —no payment of fixed benefits costs.

Gig Economy Defined

In a Gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend toward hiring independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees. ~Investopedia.

We could go on and on. Convenience is the order of the day. We want it done and right away. In our microwave society everything is almost immediate.   If that need is not met, we scream in complaint, throw a fit, become enraged, cancel orders and more.

Autonomy

A young millennial smiled in response to a news-reporter’s question. She spends most of her day doing what she wants… when she wants. She commutes around town charging scooters. This is a common comment from this generation. Autonomy is the order of the day. Gone are the days when they leave school and get a life-time job. They want autonomy. They want to work when they want to work because they enjoy tremendous flexibility, independence and rid themselves of monotony.

Susan Milligan in a Society for Human Resource(SHRM) article asserts that there are two types of gig workers. Those who have no desire to work full-time and those who are in the midst of a job search for full-time opportunities but will work to get an influx of cash while they search. I dare say there are still those who work full-time but need to increase their income to save for a specific goal, as an Uber cab driver shared with me in New Orleans. Her daughter needed to travel for a school event so she was driving at nights to give her the opportunity to attend.

As this phenomenon becomes more widespread, the downsides of a lack of sustained income, benefits, responsibility for their own taxes sometimes attracts stress. But it seems the supplemental income drives the benefits for temporary or long term gain. The ideal getaway can be had by doing some gigs on the side or on a sustained basis. No need to be turned down due to scheduling issues. They go when they want and where they want.

The Change. The Times.

Signs of the times. Caution to employers or older generations who want to hold on to tradition. A career that lasts a lifetime – work for years with the same company then move on when retired or sadly these days, are replaced by the rapid changes in technology and innovation.

As I have always cautioned, to stand still is to be left behind. Embrace the changes, do what you must and survive the long haul. Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Writing Woes. Writers Share 21…

Time. Overthinking. Distractions. Those were some of the thoughts from writers as they reflected on the issues encountered when they want to write. Here I share 21 as writers chimed in response to the forum question:

What do you struggle with the most when writing?

    1.Time
    2.Starting
    3.Grammar
    4.Self-doubt
    5.Ideas
    6.Focus on one topic / idea at a time
    7.Setting
    8,Remaining focused
    9,Getting paid
    10. Revising
    11. Knowing when to stop
    12. Taking what you’ve learned and start another book
    13, Marketing
    14, Losing traction
    15. Sitting down to actually write
    16. Starting but not completing a story
    17. Editing
    18. Writing
    19. Distractions
    20. Being left alone
    21. Overthinking

As a writer, can you identify with any of the above Struggles? Any missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Dreams. Here’s How To Make Them A Reality…

A Dream written down with  a date becomes a Goal. A Goal broken down into steps becomes a Plan. A plan backed by Action becomes Reality. ~Robert Herjavec

Leaders Discover Yourself…

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.– Warren Bennis

At a family social 9-year-old RJ was asked to be the leader for his little brother and cousins at the park. He looked shocked. He’s never been asked to play that role formally before. Yet unknown to him he has always done it. He was a natural born leader.

Discover Yourself

When we reach for a goal that is beyond our usual capacity we discover great things about ourselves. Things that surprise, encourage, and please us. Things that make us go aghast. Leadership opportunities are all around at work, school or play. You don’t have to have that official title of leader.

Stretch Yourself

But these leadership discoveries can only happen when we step outside our comfort zone. When we are scared but do it anyway.

Step outside your comfort zone today. Stretch yourself. You’ll discover great things. Read more in my book Success Strategies of Leaders.

Cheers!

Silence…

Be silent, or say something better than silence. Pythagoras

My three-year-old nephew was playing hide and seek with the other boys when one of the boys came over to hide near where I was sitting. He started giggling. I told him not to because it’s a secret. Maybe that was his first time being exposed to the word because he started shouting secret! Secret! It was hilarious!

Think Before You Speak

But what about us? Do we do the same in our daily lives, jobs, business or entrepreneurship endeavors? Do we publicize or quietly share what others tell us in secret? Do we know when to speak and when to be silent? Do we know what to to share and when to share it? Communication is key to relationships and knowing the right time to speak is even more important.

Many are the secrets that have been espoused that have destroyed organizations, relationships and families. Remember speech is silver, silence is golden.

Let’s make it a habit to think before we speak.

Cheers!

Feeling Drained? 21 Ways To Recharge…


Feeling drained? Time for a Vacay? Getaway? Sounds good! It’s about time to step back, relax, reboot. Writers, Goal-seekers, new entrepreneurs, career upward mobilizers find it a drag to to take the time to Stop. But it’s in stopping that we are able to generate new ideas, boost our creativity to forge ahead on the horizon with boosted speed after.

Imagine taking a long road trip. It’s imperative to stop. I’m guilty as charged. Enter the plethora of Rest Stops for food, breaks, vehicle refuel, and rest. Laws propel this through enforcement of Drowsy Driving which refers to driving while ability impaired by fatigue. Want proof?  Just ask truck drivers or someone who has suffered the severe consequences of accidents from tiredness. To keep going is a sure recipe for disaster.

Self-Care: 21 Ways to Recharge

Here are a 21 ideas shared by entrepreneurs on ways they recharge when feeling drained.

  1. Meditate
  2. Beach Day
  3. Sleep
  4. 1-2 hour workout
  5. Listen to Christian Music
  6. Disconnect and go to a happy place
  7. Go to the gym
  8. Go for a long walk
  9. Sleep
  10. Enjoy Nature
  11. Church & family
  12. Guilty pleasure – TV watching
  13. Find pictures that motivate to keep going
  14. Think about positive things in life
  15. Get a Massage
  16. Watch good interviews
  17. Worship and inspire
  18. Go to the park with kids and tell them how important they are
  19. Read motivating Book
  20. Cook
  21. Go shopping & Watch Movies that inspire

These comments came from survey of individuals on what they do to recharge. Do any of them resonate? Can you add any that’s missing?

Adopt the attitude to Stop. Reflect. Share. Then progress.

Cheers!

Tyler Perry’s Dream. An Inspiration To Dream Bigger. 4 Icons Speak…

Dream. Then Dream Bigger.

I think it’s pivotal in everything that we’ve done, everything that we’re doing still, that we continue to try to motivate and inspire people,” Perry told The Associated Press 

October 5th marked an historical achievement. Tyler Perry became the first black American to own a major film studio. An achievement that has left many motivated and inspired. Oft we frown on homelessness but hard times hit the best of us. When it does, here ‘s evidence of one who embraced the challenge to never give up on your dreams, goals and aspirations.

Tyler Perry’s Studio launch Interview

For years Tyler Perry dreamed. Then later dreamed even bigger. Now his dream has come through and in the midst of it all, he inspired many. Here are excerpts from household names who he inspired.

Beyonce

Congratulations Tyler Perry on the opening of his tudios. I could feel our ancestors presence. Surrounded by my heroes, I watched Denzel, Queen Oprah, Spike, Whoopi, Sir Poitier, Will Halle, Dame Cicely and our angels John singleton and Diahann Carroll honored. The Armand de Brignac crashed against each sound stage as fireworks lit up the sky. Generations of blood, sweat and tears; success, excellence, and brilliance. It makes me so proud. So full. I could not stop crying. Thank you my Virgo brother for so much love and passion put into every detail. My prayer today is that you will take it all in. You inspire me to dream even bigger.

Will Smith

We flew down to Atlanta to be with Tyler Perry as he opened the First and largest Black-Owned studio. This moment is monumental in so many ways. A sound stage in my name? Wow! I’m inspired and honored to be part of something of this magnitude.

Oprah

He didn’t wait for other people to validate or to say you should go this way or that way. He said I’m going to create my own way and as we can see, became a force for himself.

Samuel Jackson

This is more about Tyler the entrepreneur. The visionary. A guy who understands that ownership means that you can do what you want.

Work Hard And You Will Achieve Success

These are all well known celebrities but they all started out in their little corner… working, sweating, doing their own thing. Through blood, sweat and tears, they never gave up and one day achieved.

Forget the naysayers. You too can dream big! Work hard enough. One day you will achieve. In the interim be inspired by the success of others who pave the way to achieve things both big and small along the way.

Go ahead…you too can achieve your own dreams.

Cheers!

Success: The Iceberg Illusion…

Who sees your whole iceberg? The failures, fears, hard work, and the will to never give up in pursuit of your #goals. Arianna Huffington shared this graphical reminder of this common analogy of the success people see but not the sacrifices made along the way.

Something to think about as you continue your pursuit to achieve your goals, dreams and aspirations.

Keep going. Never give up.

Cheers!

Try A Thing You Haven’t Done 3 Times…

Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.”
— Virgil Thomson

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