family – Success Strategies

Let The Adventure Begin!

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.

You’ll also like A late January Evening by the seashore

Hope you’ll achieve dreams held dear without fear this year. Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers

2022 Holiday Book Gift Guide…

A Book is a Gift you can open again and again

A Book is a Gift you can open again and again
Garrison Keillor

Gifts For Your Personal Growth

That Perfect Getaway Read

Gifts To Motivate, Encourage And Inspire

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.

**Guide To Writing Job Winning Resumes Paperback**

Books For The New Entrepreneur

**101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs**

MOMENTS: MOTIVATIONAL AND INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS

Books For The Food Lover

The Sways Of Poetry

Books For The Child Reader

The Top 7 Christmas Towns In America…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! . The air has changed. The hustle and bustle brings smiles and Plans are up in full swing. If you are thinking of what to do this year, here’s Trending Trenz top 10 list of holiday towns in America. For sure a writer’s dream getaway. I like seven and share them here. You can view the details of the full top 10 Christmas towns.

Leavenworth Washington
Ail, Colorado
Franklin Tennessee
St. Augustine, Florida
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Grapevine Texas
North Pole, Alaska

Any of your favorite missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Trunk Or Treat Family Time

Family! Fun! Sweet Treats! What more could you ask for?

In the area? Come join in on the fun at Calvary PSL’s Trunk or Treat annual event. Loads of candy, games, prizes and surprises in a safe place. The soon to be published book RedLight will be there packed with candies.

What’s more? With all that candy, kids will be laughing out loud all the way. Come Join in on the fun and if you can’t make it, find one in your area. They’re everywhere!

See ya!

Travel’s Up And So Is Tipping…

Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give?

And the gratuity? Did you help me load my luggage? No, but …
-Jack Vance

CNN Headline News (HLN) shared the evolution of tips in our society. Cash registers now have built in tips at the grocery store, retail store and even at the plant nursery! Yikes! All this separated from the traditional tipping places like hospitality-hotels, restaurants, salon, nail services and more. Caused me to think. We are all being bombarded by this new extra invasion of the ‘plastic cards.’ Should we Fair Tip or Guilt Tip? HLN’s Money Coach recommends, no service–no tip.

Not sure when to give and how much? Here I share HLN’s recommendation of the amounts to give as fair tips for both the travel and restaurant dining options.

No Service. No Tip
HLN’s Money Coach

Appropriate Tip: Travel

Skycap & Bellhop: at least $2
Housekeeper: $5 per day
Taxi Driver: 15-20% of fare but minimally $1 (more if they carry your bags)

Appropriate Tip: Restaurant

Wait Service: 15-20%
Take Out: It’s up to you!
Bartender: $1-2 per beer, more for cocktails
Tipping Jars: It’s up to you!

So there you have it. Tips on tips! What to give. When to give. Should you give? It’s all like your career and the workplace. Pay for Performance. The more you work, the more productive you are, the more bonus and salary increase you get (all things being equal, right)?

What are your thoughts on this trend? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Mid-Summer Trek To Find The New…

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are
J.P. Morgan

My youngest turned and asked if we could go on a road trip. Absolutely yessss! Until she said she wanted to go immediately. It was Christmas Day. Brunch with the family was divine. An experience we relived year after year. Thought the little one would be satisfied. But she wanted more. Time with her mom right after the family gathering. Mid afternoon. Christmas Day.

So I sat next to her. Shared how much I loved her. Then explained what a Road trip meant. Planning. Knowing where we’re going. The path we would need to take. She was disappointed. But I used it as a teaching moment. I told her to search ski resorts (yep, she wanted to go skiing) and come up with the top 3 places she would like to visit. That turned into a yearlong project.

In Search Of Snow

There were many places to choose from but we wanted early snow just before peak season. She had never skied before so that meant even more research. We chose Breckinridge Ski Resort in Colorado. Early December. Just as the season was about to begin. We found A beautiful cabin near the peak. We invited her older sister and her two boys.

Being from Florida we had to get the right gear. Rented the ski attire but bought everything else. It was an experience that lasted a life time and kick started our many holiday rendezvous.

Strategies To Find The New

But can the same strategy be applied to other things? Indeed it can.

Investigate. Research. Study. Whatever your goal its important to find information. New knowledge opens minds. Personally I find new things amazing! Are you curious about a different career path? Job search (yes there’s a difference), a research project, a new house, new car? Whatever your prowess, the new is exciting even when it’s dreaded. Here are tips for the novice.

7 Tips for the Novice Researcher

If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. And who knows where you’ll end up.
Unknown

Know what your needs are. What do you want? Think about it
Start with a general Search to see what’s out there. What exists
Do a quick scan of key resources found on your topic or area of interest
Compile the most useful pieces found
Do a deep dive. Read through and highlight things that are important to what you’re searching for (YouTube videos, articles, discussions) whatever works
Organize the flow. What’s important. What’s nice to know. Discard the rest
Then Act. Gathering data is nice but putting it into action is what’s important to any project or task

Hope these tips will help to kickstart your next project. Any missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

When Everything Stops…

Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring
Unknown

When everything stops, or should I say…when everything should stop. More than a decade ago I lost my grandmother-the matriarch of our family. Cancer had returned in her three score and ten years. It didn’t stop her from being who she was…the be-all-and-end-all of our lives. But then one day the bank manager where I worked called me into her office, sat me down and told me the hospital had called. My grandmother was gone.

Perturbed, I looked around. Customers were still in the bank walking around doing their daily business. I could not understand. For me everything had stopped.

I reflect on what’s happening around the world. Threats and bombs going off explosively. Yet elsewhere, people go about their business as usual, posting on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. It begs the question…is there a bridge? Do we care? Yep, many really do care. Benevolence saturates the heart and for sure, with gas prices skyrocketing, the world will start feeling the effects.

So let’s not give up hope because fear stops life and love ends when we stop caring.

Thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

The 4 Benefits Of A Holiday Beach Escape As The Cold Descends…

Success Strategies

Ever wondered how even the thought of the beach makes you feel relaxed? I reflect on a holiday when my family and I spent some time in the islands with a getaway at the beach enjoying the beautiful sunrise and sunset while avoiding the thought of the icy snow. It was a relaxing feeling that I wished could be brought to many during the Christmas snowy season.

I pondered more and decided to reflect on the reasons the beach is an answered prayer. Here I share 4 benefits as gleaned from Christina Heiser.

The Blue Color

The color blue is associated with feelings of calm and peace while staring at the ocean puts us into a mild meditative state that enhances creativity. The perfect place for me as I write. The book My Safe Place serves as evidence

2. The Sound’s Ebb and Flow

The quiet sounds that the waves…

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Ring In The Cheer With These Holiday Games…

Success Strategies

To laugh and play is to Love during the Holidays

Want to spice up your holiday with friends, family or foe (yikes)? Here are two Holiday Games to help squeeze the giggles. Simple prizes make the laughs sweet. Can’t be together? Try it virtually. Be creative, change ideas to match your mood and enjoy!

What’s your favorite holiday game? Do share. We would love to hear.

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Avoid The Grinch Syndrome This Christmas…

Avoid The Grinch Syndrome

The president for one of the biggest and most successful companies called a zoom meeting and fired 900 staff all at once- just before Christmas. When the media asked why (he was so mean at Christmas) he said they all work 2-hour days and report 8. Hmmm… Yea, the boss may have a case but it’s in the how he did it and when he did it. No matter the logic, he will still be seen as a Grinch.

So who is a Grinch? A person who spoils the fun of others. A spoilsport. A drag. A party pooper. That’s the Miriam Dictionary’s meaning. So here are 7 Suggestions on what you can do to avoid being a Grinch this holiday season

Do something kind for someone you don’t know
Watch your favorite holiday movie
Get festive. Decorate your home
Give a Gift to someone in need
Get social. Hang out with friends and family
Give of your time
Volunteer for a good cause

Personally, I love the holidays and wouldn’t mind celebrating all year round. But yes there are always those who are sad and down at this time. Reach out and lend a hand. Give a word of encouragement. Try any of the 7 ways shared and give love this Christmas.

How do you combat the Grinch Sydrome during the holidays? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!