#everydayinspiration – Success Strategies

Travel’s Road Trip. This Summer Night’s Dream…

Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.
Emma Chase

Eric Rosen shared in Travel & Leisure Magazine, an article titled Will we be able to travel this summer? Who in the world can imagine such an atrocity? How can we not travel? What…then… will we do with the kids?!

How Can We Not Travel?

Yes, but quiet down. Lets be reasonable. How can we travel during a worldwide pandemic when we have no clue about a virus that is invisibly floating around like an obtrusive enemy? We never know who may get it next. It’s no respecter of persons from Presidents, Prime Ministers and major leaders within societies worldwide. No one seems to be exempt.

But then… as we approach summer, and the approvals have been given to calculatedly reopen, our eyes aghast as we picture the way to go. As travel expert Samantha Brown promised Travel will come back. Now there is hope as Rosen gives points about travel’s return from the experts.

This Summer’s Musings From Travel Experts

Experts mused that:

Destinations will open ‘soon-ish’
Cleanliness is top of the mind…a commodity per my own personal experience the Tale of Travel as things Reopen Amidst Corona enlightened proof of, as travel returns
Road trips on the rise
Wellness and open spaces (i.e. parks, Museums, RVs etc)
Airlines present bargain fares and flexible flight changes in their attempt to boost a comeback to flying
Transformational getaways after all the time we have had to reflect. We want to start the move to get our personal lives back on track. The ultimate goal? To reinvent ourselves. Ascertain our future, and take stock.
Personal travel for family and friends for events such as weddings, grandparents birthdays and more becomes a nostalgic necessity.

The Rise Of The Road Trip

From the list, my personal fav is the traditional Road trip. Predictions are… it will rise this Summer due to cheap gas, lack of money due to the Corona effects, and tour partners customization and tons of collabs to produce the perfect deals.

All in all, here’s hoping this summer will be one of traditional memories for you and yours; or at the very least, provide treasured memories to last a lifetime.

Happy travels!

Cheers!

Strengthen The Writer In You…

Strengthen the writer in you.

Xavier shouted “I’m starting to get lucky dad”. His father replied “no, you’re learning son”. Isn’t that the same with us? Like a child, we often think that we are getting lucky when it’s really our trial and error when climbing the ladder to our goals that makes us ‘lucky’.

Write. The Journey. The Learning

We improve our best efforts over time. It’s in no way luck. Try, try, and try again. In so doing we make marked improvements …often without even realizing. Let’s take for example a writer.

At first we find ourselves with writers block, sometimes caused by doubting whether we can get to the finish line. We ponder questions such as will I ever finish the blog? That book? How can I write a book when I cannot even write a page? We don’t realize that we get to the end result by first writing a sentence. Then a paragraph. Then 2 or 3 paragraphs until we get to a page. Before we know it, we have written a chapter. Then another, and another, until the book is complete.

Our writing craft improves as we progress. In time our muscles strengthen and before long we get compliments from others about our writing.

Stress is an Enabler

So all in all, we strengthen our best efforts over time. Acknowledge that stress is in fact an enabler. But know that the stress is lessened over time as we get constant practice. Then our confidence rises and we can confidently acknowledge that we are starting to get ‘lucky‘.

Happy Writing!

Cheers!

The Tale Of Travel As Things Reopen Amidst Corona. How They Protect Us…

“Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you up.” Ryan Reynolds

“When are you available to travel?” I was excited about the business opportunity but was apprehensive about traveling in the midst of the Pandemic. Two weeks later at the first sign of approval to reopen, I agreed to the visit. Questioned by many about my experience being among the first group of persons to travel as things slowly yet cautiously reopened, I decided to share my experience.

Traveling During A Crisis

Ground Travel

Uber anyone? Yep there’s Uber but that too came with it’s fair share of exposure so I got a ride to the airport. Things changed. It was spooky. Being a big international airport, the number of persons traveling was noticeably low. No surprise here.

As I made my way to the departure lounge, most shops were closed. Customarily, I’d saunter to the bookstore to get a book that I’d customarily finish reading during my 3-hour flight. No such luck. The cemetery of closures spooked the air.

Boarding

As I approached the Gate to board, the announcement came in droves. Ladies and gentlemen we have made a few changes.

6 Ft. apart as Social Distancing was required
Passengers were encouraged to get a meal or refreshment before embarking on flight as they have curtailed their in-flight services
Passengers were asked to scan their own boarding pass (self-explanatory indeed)

No choice but to follow the rules laid out. As I looked around, my own mask affixed, there were a few individuals wearing what I’d refer to as spacesuits. Their own way of taking extra precautions. Others were adorned in masks of many colors with many showing their personality. Yet there still remained a few whose faces were bare. The simple and obvious protection was missing.

In-flight

During our walk to board the aircraft we were constantly reminded about safe distancing and on entry were presented with a white-gift-bag, which later I discovered contained a small bottle of water and a tiny pack of cookies / assorted biscuits. A sign that no food would be served as flight attendants also attempted to protect themselves. Later it was pleasing to note that they did collect garbage.

As I sat down, I found two others passengers in the same row as me (a, b, c). I pondered the question… why would there be so many precautions taken as we boarded, yet it was a still a full flight. Luckily the young lady next to me decided to cover her face with her sweat shirt and went to sleep. This gave myself and the other passenger close by a sense of ‘semi-precaution’.

Hours later we landed and I disembarked and ran to my other flight with the same procedures being repeated. This time I was thrilled that I was able to move to another seat because there was room for true safe distancing.

Off-boarding

After yet another 3-hour commute, I disembarked, received temperature check by security and made my way to pick up my car. Apprehensive about driving because I wasn’t sure of the precaution taken by the rental company. Not much to worry about as I was one of only two persons in the entire area. I picked up my car and armed with gloves and cleaning wipes, I wiped down the inside before driving away.

Hotel Stay During Pandemic

As I arrived at the hotel, I was greeted at the front desk with a letter stating services reduced. It read that my room was fully stocked and that I should leave garbage bins by the door to be emptied and returned in the mornings. Cleaning and in-room services were reduced, if any at all. I complied. No problem for me as I resigned myself to taking care of my room as I did at home for the next few days.

Things Are Different

By the time of my return trip, things were different. By then, masks were mandated to be worn throughout the airport and in-flight. Passengers became annoyed if they saw anyone with mask pulled down. Personally, I tried my best to snack and drink while wearing my mask. It became a true work of art (smile).

Looking back my trip was indeed memorable. As I reflect on the changes brought on by the pandemic and how businesses and society dealt with keeping a safe distance, I pray this will pass soon.

For me, my next trip might by a road trip to ensure true safe distancing. But for sure life goes on and we have to do what we can to survive.

Stay safe y’all.

37 Ways To Help You Build Trust And Credibility…

Trust usually takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. If you want to succeed, you need to be concerned with cultivating trust and credibility. ~Lolly Daskal

Of Daskal’s 99 Simple Things That Will Help Build Trust, here I share my top 37 Favs:

Do the Right thing
Say what you mean and mean what you say
Show commitment
Follow through on your promises
Eliminate ambiguity
Be yourself
Care for the people around you
Cultivate confidence
Keep secrets (when others share them with you)
Learn by listening
Act in the best interest of others
Be accessible
Remember names
Vulnerability is strength (let people see your human side)
Under-promise (so you can over-deliver)
Value differences
Show empathy
Acknowledge other people’s efforts
Don’t take people for granted
Share information
Communicate effectively
Don’t hide bad news
Focus on delivering (actions that produce results)
Perform small acts of kindness
Inspire confidence in others
Speak from the heart
Don’t abuse privileges
Give feedback
Give credit
Accept criticism
Give without being asked
Help people whenever you can
Don’t try to be perfect (it doesn’t exist)
Go above and beyond the call of duty
Value long-term relationships not short-term connections
See beyond yourself
Make a difference

Trust is important to Success. Hope these tips will help build your personal growth as you strive to develop your own leadership abilities.

Cheers!

South Florida Writers Of Color Literary Magazine, 2nd Edition…

You can. You should and if you are brave enough to start, you will. Writing is magic as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free so drink. Drink and be filled. ~Stephen King

The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. ~Dylan Thomas

The Ralph Hogges and Benjamin Cowins, South Florida Writers of Color Literary Magazine. An Online Literary Magazine. Read. Indulge your writing prowess in these editions:

South Florida Writers of Color Magazine 1st Edition

South Florida Writers of Color Magazine 2nd Edition

Hope you are inspired to write.

Cheers!

Writers Writing Place. Indoors Or Out? 17 Confess…

Write. Just Write.

“Are you most comfortable when you write at home in private or out at a local coffee shop?“ That was the question asked in a public writers’ forum. Curious, I dived in to hear what other writers had to say. Here I share response from writers who feverishly chimed in.

I write anywhere as long as the place is quiet and/or nature is all around
At home, but if the inspiration comes anywhere else I will scratch down the basic idea and pursue it later
Home
I write only at home but read everywhere
I used to think I needed to be some place else in order to truly write but during quarantine, I have learned that I can write at home and be extremely productive
Anywhere so long as I get the inspiration to write
If I am alone then at home. But I’ve also found being out at the bookstore made it almost easier to write and finish a scene
Usually at a coffee shop. I can focus
Both. I write differently given the location
Driving at night when I am alone, I tend to talk to myself and come up with some good details. I record them with an audio file on my phone and plan on some day to get them all typed up so I can put them together
I write in the privacy of a spare room
Either, as long as its not too noisy
Home, unless I am at the library
In Public
A mix. I do miss the neighborhood coffee shops during this quarantine
I like to write at home. I sit at my computer with some thunderstorms on YouTube in my headphone and type away
Anywhere

What’s your preference? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

13 Things Will Happen When You Decide To Live Your Dream…

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success Strategies

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you decide to live your dream things will happen! You will start seeing the things everywhere! Notice when you decide to lose weight, you start seeing gyms, healthy food, people jogging etc., etc.? If you have decided to extend your family and become pregnant you start seeing a mother or a father holding a child? It just happens! Benjamin Hardy shared the 31 things that happen when you decide to live your dreams . Of the 31, I liked 13. Here I share:

You will see it everywhere
You will have boundless energy fueled by purpose
You will realize all your previous fears were unfounded allowing you to embrace future fears
You will stop worrying about and anticipate the future
You will progress quickly at anything you undertake
People will enter your life to…

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Remote Work. Which Affects You The Most?

Remote Work comes with gains, benefits and challenges. Which affects you the most?

Collaboration and communication
Being in a different time zone
Loneliness
Distractions at home
Staying motivated
Vacation time
Reliable WiFi
Not being able to unplug

Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Work. Work. Work. Social And Remote Changes To Reopen…

Society has changed since the Pandemic and so has work. With the world-wind of changes as society continues to evolve, many are left struggling to catch-up.

So How Do You Survive?

So how do you survive? Here are a few ways that SHRM encouraged organizations to update and/or create policies that address the new norm at work.

If and how the organization will conduct temperature checks, whether it’s done directly, through a third party or by self-reporting.
Cross-training the workforce to accommodate more employee absences.
Social distancing in the workplace.

Essentially, employers should have employees sign policies that address safety at work to lessen the potential spread of the virus at work.

Employers should provide employees with face coverings if they can’t remain at a safe distance from each other or those who travel.

Keep in touch and Communicate with temporarily laid off or furloughed employees. Some suggest providing at least 36-hour notice if calling employees back to work.

Stay tuned. More to come.

Cheers!

A Nod And A Smile Among The 4 New Ways That Replaced The Handshake…

Is the traditional handshake a thing of the past? Has it been replaced by fear? Caution reigns with its mighty power. Yep, the worldwide Pandemic has infiltrated business and traditional code of ethics for greeting colleagues, business partners, interviewees and networking. But as things change we need to adapt. The Society of HR Managers (SHRM) shared its 7 Alternatives. When next we connect in person, it might be a nod and a smile ingrained in a touch of social distancing in the midst. Here I share my top 4 pulled from the SHRM list.

Handshake Alternatives

Offer a Nod and a Smile
Make a Good First impression … a pleasant wave will do
Focus on eye contact
Develop a workplace code (corporate cultural adjustment)

It’s the new normal. From the list above which do you intend to use? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Fear. Overcome It…

Play the fear game. That’s what we do. At the onslaught of a challenge, we become afraid. We binge-watch the issue in our minds over, and over, and over again. We can’t sleep. We play the Fear game.

Success Strategies

Don’t Dwell On it.

My daughter text and said “Mommy, I‘m afraid”. I asked “what are you doing”? She replied “watching the news all day and social media. Now they’re talking about the effects of past hurricanes.”

Stop. Turn the TV off, or change the channel.

Aren’t we all like that? When we fear something challenging coming up, we become afraid. We binge-watch the issue in our minds over, and over, and over again. We can’t sleep. We play the Fear game.

It might be nervousness for an impending interview, it might be a change in position and we feel ‘they’re going to find me out’. For sure they’ll discover that I’m a fraud….I can’t manage the work for the promotion.

It might even be that you’re getting married. The closer you get to the date, fear or anxiety sets in the midst…

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The Strong Survives…..

Be Flexible. Bend easily but don’t break. The strong survives. Conditions are different. Adapt your perspective as applicable to achieve your goals, your dreams and your purpose.

Cheers!