I procrastinated. Year after year I’d say …I’ll do it next year. But then in my early 20s, during a heated conversation about salary increase my boss shouted “you don’t even have a degree!” That hit me like a ton of bricks. I promised myself that I’d never ever let anyone say that to me again. I was not only gonna get a first degree but also a second.
That’s How You Do It
Today, I have two Masters and a Doctorate.
That’s how you do it. I’m one for a challenge to not only achieve but also exceed. So even though at the time I had several diplomas, certifications and had never stopped studying, I fell short of that industry’s ultimate standard. I limited myself and did not go after the best.
My parents never thought of …nor encouraged me to get a degree. They never had it themselves…
The 5 Things I am Thankful for depicted in picture form. First, Answered prayers. Second, my inner passion to help others achieve their goals through coaching. Third, willingness to try new things like I did with a sky dive … see it here
Fourth, My interest in personal growth which I did when I published my first book on leadership and Success and haven’t stop writing. Fifth and final, my two girls and family who makes life meaningful.
Are you a manager or leader of some sort? Harvard Business Review article shared 4 points to help managers be seen as more human. Here I share:
Be Personal
Be Self-Aware
Be Selfless
Be Compassionate
In my research on what makes leaders successful, self-awareness was one of the traits that stood out. But being of service to others depends on your own self-development.
Again, are you a manager, or leader of some sort? Take a moment and look at your leadership style. Do people working with you, whether at work or otherwise find you approachable? Easy to get along with? If not, you have some work to do. Enroll now. To be successful as a leader, your people should not fear you. So do what you have to do to improve.
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd
The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.
Keep The Dream Alive
Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders…
Camilia laughed and laughed out loud as she sat watching reels on her social media channel. She then slumped down, placed her head in her hands as the tears began to flow. The pandemic had done a number on her and she was now at her wits end because she needed to get back to work. Oh what could she do? The daily depression had set in as her bills piled high.
Many are in similar situations as Camilia and that’s where the Today’s Show article titled 10 Tips on getting back into the workforce with ‘returnships’ becomes applicable. Of the 10 strategies, I’ll list my top 5 favorite which is key to your getting back into the peace of mind that a meaningful job brings.
5 Strategies To Help You Get Back To Work
Define what What Success Means to you. This is very important. Like I have always said “if you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there” and who knows where you will end up. The book Ditch it Switch it shares several sample definitions of successful leaders that you can either adopt or tweak to suit your situation.
Dedicate Time in one, two or three hour blocks. As a coach to aspiring authors that is exactly what I preach. A book is written over time and not all at once. In the same way it is important to plan your path and map out what you would like to get done to prepare for that job. Is it research on top companies in your area? Is it that you would like a career change and you are unsure of the type of job that you would like to get into? Do you need to upskill? These are some of the things that you need to consider in order to get to your desired end goal
Network. Network. Network. Can’t say that enough. Alert people in your network to the fact that you are on the hunt. Combine that with online networking groups and you will be surprised at what turns up for you.
Fill your cup first. Here Tami Foreman -the author. speaks to self-care. Job search does take it’s toll especially when you don’t receive the ‘yes‘ that you want. You may find these self-care tips helpful
Take Risks and be Persistent. I have always maintained to go after what you desire. Let them turn you down. Do not self-reject.
Whatever you do, be consistent and serious about it. You will find with consistency comes reward if you don’t give up.
What are your top tip(s) that you would like to share with someone getting back into the workforce after being out of work for some time? Do share, we would love to hear!
Movies inspire. Some make you laugh, angry, sad, sentimental or even throw a Tantrum because we are disappointed as in the ending of the movie Avengers Infinity War. Here are 9 Movies That Inspire
But the movie that touched my heart and changed my life was John Q which dealt with the state of healthcare, its contribution to life and its salivating existence to those in need. I worked in pharmaceutical for many years then went to make a difference managing several of medical centers across South Florida.
That’s my story. I’m serious about helping others. I’m not all talk. Let’s connect if you need help.
What about you? Are there any movies that have inspired you to take a turn to do something different in your life? Do share. We wanna hear.
My eyes caught the attention of an article titled “Giving up”. It quickly sparked my interest because I usually steer away from ever giving up. In my youth I did track, and for all those athletes out there, you know just how much effort it takes to get in shape. To stick to your goal. To become fit and ready for that race. As I advanced into maturity, the same held true for me. It became the very grain of my existence. During college, and career advancement, I never gave up. Now as a consultant and coach, I Mentor and encourage entrepreneurs, managers, and employees, to stick to their goals, dreams, and aspirations.
That article reminded me of another I had read about success and fear. Both fear and the desire to give up intertwine and cripple us, often fueling negative…
Readers make writers and writers make readers ~ Carl McKever
Writers write for many different reasons. Never Meaningless, the reasons are specific to each writer. Naturally writing for ordinary work as in preparing policies, reports, or memos differs from the writing writers do, which often is for their own satisfaction. Some writers write poetry. Some write short stories that ignite passion, joy, or pleasure as in fiction writers. Others write non-fiction sharing their own true stories, those of a loved one, or some about topics they care about as in Success. Whatever your reason for writing it makes sense to read a lot in order to write with finesse that satisfies yourself or your audience.
7 Books To Strengthen Writing
Here are 7 books that will help to strengthen your craft:
Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr.
Working People Talk About What They do All Day by Studs Terkel
Workaholic. Yep, that’s me. It’s strange that I am dreaming of a getaway so early in the New Year. But guess what? It’s actually carried forward from prior years. Been dreaming of my favorite getaway space but haven’t had a chance to take it. So here I go dreaming as I was asked to share a road trip that I would like to take.
Conde Naste shared the best Road Trips in the world. Amidst the pandemic and all, I shook my head against international travel. Too many requirements. Then on a whim, I mused… hey why not? As the saying goes:
If you can dream it, you can do it
Walt Disney
7 Dream Road Trips
So I let my mind wonder to the list which includes several but my top faves are:
Highway 101 Oregon
Namibia’s Desert
Hana Highway Hawaii
Norway
Ireland
Iceland
Tuscany Italy
Tuscany, Italy
Why not Tuscany? This is my favorite place that I dream of. Renowned travel expert Samantha Brown challenged us to plan a trip that we are excited about. So as I perused the list, I selected my dream place-Tuscany, Italy. Ireland comes closely second, but Tuscany is my preferred place. I decided to pull the full details below for ease of access for both myself or any who wish to get the information. If Italy isn’t for you, then other destinations can be gleaned from them here
Tuscany’s bucolic, vineyard-dotted landscape makes for the quintessential Italian road trip. Start in Florence and cruise south on the SS22 for 30 minutes until you reach the heart of the Chianti wine region. Take your time winding through Strada and Greve towards Siena, stopping at cantine along the way (we recommend these ones). Depending on how much time you have, spend the night in Panzano before circling back up to Florence the next day, or head further south to Montalcino, Montepulciano, and the spectacular Val d’Orcia—arguably the most beautiful stretch of countryside in Tuscany.
Where to eat:Officina della Bistecca in Panzano-in-Chianti for the best steak in all of Tuscany; Re di Macchia in Montalcino for its classic, hearty Tuscan cuisine like white bean soup and wild boar pasta.
Where to stay: In castles, always. We like the intimate, art-filled Castello di Ama in Gaiole in Chianti and the lavish, hilltop Castello Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino, which has an infinity pool overlooking the vineyards.
Your Turn
What’s your dream travel designation or road trip for this year? Do share. We would love to hear.
If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you will always be in the same place. ~Nora Roberts
I got the most devastating news. A close friend lost her 15-year-old. She had died of a massive asthma attack. Another friend lost his battle with the dreaded virus after months of organ failure. Yet another suffered as a result of multiple injuries to the body. Luckily she survived.
The media is filled with sad tales like these daily. It becomes harder to bear when it’s those close who are affected. Then there are the tales of things of joy! Weddings, births, graduations and those that warm our heart. These life events are customarily planned with huge anticipation.
And so it should be at regular intervals. For essential self-leadership it is important to pause and reflect. Something necessary to everyone at year end. We should take into account the past year’s success and plan to do things different… a necessity to improve your best. I am a firm believer in the fact that if you don’t look back you can’t move forward (well at least) not strategically. So I have always looked back on the path of my own personal journey and professional growth. As the sayings goes:
To stand still is to be left behind
Oh What A Pandemonium
So in 2021 we could not stand still. Deep reflects brought on innovative thinking to get things done safely as in the midst, many lost loved ones or were stalled by lengthy hospitalization. Work-from-home became the norm and association meetings had to continue. Death-by-zoom set in. It became necessary to find ways to bridge the two…in-person and virtual events. Enter the flexibility of the hybrid model and shared office spaces combined with robots to help ease the so-called labor shortage as employees took flight to become their own boss and take control of their time.
The health system seemed to have lost sight of its purpose. We don’t see sick patients. I was shocked when a doctor’s office said this matter-of-factly. No remorse. Then there was travel. On an unavoidable international trip, time ticked away as I spent days to get the mandated round-trip tests. Naturally, flights were missed. Being vaccinated meant nothing as tricksters began buying and selling fake vaccine cards. Sigh… the tricks never fail.
Oh What Fun it is to Ride
Driving is what I did too. Relocation is fun but getting used to a new area is even more enticing. But when you link the two to get things from the old while simultaneously slowly dragging the new across distances, a merged network becomes essential. Time to make a decision.
Book Signings & Events
Book signings at events such as Miami Book Fair, Keiser University’s Fall Festival, Car Show, Island Space Museum, New York Mets and more were the norm for networking and my coaching prowess. Again merging the new with the familiar and faraway must be faced as myriads of travel ensued.
Interviews With Powerful Women In Reggae
Organizing a Women’s History Month talk with Powerful Women in Reggae was one of my favorites. Matriarch / VP Records Founder Miss Patricia Chin launched her book My Reggae Music Journey and Dr. Claire Nelson of the Institute of Caribbean Studies thought it a great opportunity to bring these well-renowned women together. All in one place to discuss success and their journey. A delight indeed. Missed it? Grab your popcorn or a cup of tea and listen in.
Another fave was presenting to graduates of the Northern Caribbean University. An occasion when I presented on the topic Bust The Fear. Students leaned in and listened while anticipating their personal copies of the books Motivational Quotes for New Entrepreneurs and Your Career: Ditch it Switch it. Nothing brings me more joy than helping others develop and be recognized for their hard work as with the annual 30 Under 30 Recognition of young changemakers in Washington DC, where I serve as Chief Judge.
YouTube Interviews
My natural love for interviewing others around my research topic of Success and leadership continued in 2021. Don’t miss out on the top interviews. You can binge watch for personal growth here
What’s Next For 2022?
The inspirational GreenLight series will find a new addition in the form of new book RedLight, as I continue my writing love. My Safe Place was launched earlier this year with reviews that it has provided hope and meaning to many who use it as a daily devotional especially at this trying time of pandemic woes.
Helping aspiring authors publish their book for the first time is also a passion and will continue into 2022. Don’t hesitate to connect if you are interested in writing your own book or if you or someone you know is interested in a mid-life career change and is afraid to take the first step.
Looking back on the past 12 months, the memories made and the goals tackled, I am again thankful. I now look forward to the future and the expectations ahead. Can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Here’s to you and your family as we wish you health, peace, and hope that all will be well in 2022, and beyond.
Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on 
