Sometimes you have to let life turn you upside down so you can learn how to live right side up
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Life’s Ups And Downs…
Tag: goals
Why Do You Do What You Do?
What’s your reason for doing what you do? Is it for pleasure, commitment, learning or other? Sadly Many don’t have a clue. one of the most common pertain to those who go to work daily and before they know it, years passed and they’re still doing the same thing.
Guilty as Charged
I too am guilty of going through the motions. For example, I started this blog many years ago. Took training courses to learn how best to manage it and have been doing it. My goal falls into 3 categories:
- To motivate and inspire others to achieve personal growth success using my NSU research
- To motivate and inspire those who are stuck or experiencing job stress to keep going
- My own personal development as I capture writing tips and share for other bloggers and myself to grow
I have been doing this for over 12 years. Recently I realized that I needed to delve deeper to optimize my blog and be more purposeful in my share with my audience. Funny how time flies without you realizing it slipping away. Something to think about.
The Way Forward
Why not join me in taking a look around your daily activities. Is there something you need to change? Is there a relationship that you need to be more purposeful about? Spouse, children and extended family are great considerations. Could it be time for learning a new skill? A move to a new neighborhood? Yikes!
Change is Scary
Change can be scary but once you make that move, you will ask yourself “what was I so worried about”. So go ahead, do you and while you’re at it, watch for deep thoughts on this bloggers musings.
Cheers!
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9 Things To Do By Yourself…
Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get, you’ve got to make yourself.” – Alice Walker
Reflection, Rest, Relaxation & Renewal
Self-care is important, and so is doing it alone ..yikes! But time alone is important. It Evokes reflection, rest, relaxation and renewal.
Here I share my own favorite list of 9 Things to do by yourself.
Self-Care
- Give yourself a mini retreat weekend–eat healthy food, go for a massage, spoil yourself, and really relax!
- Meditate. Sit. Be still and devote time to listen to your spiritual thoughts. Breathe.
- Have dinner on your own in a nice restaurant… take time to really enjoy the food
- Go somewhere in the city where you have never been
- Study. Sign up for an online course in any topic you have an interest in and learn something new
- Sip a cup of tea and look out…
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6 Powerful Women In Reggae Speak…
From Tanzania, Jamaica, and across the United States, 6 powerful women in reggae shared their thoughts on women singing, songwriting and the associated struggles of survival in a predominantly male role.
It was a such joy to cohost the event with artistes Marcia Griffiths, Carlene Davis, Jah9, Naomi Cowan, and Etana as we celebrated the occasion of VP Records Miss Pat’s new book. Thanks Dr. Claire Nelson, white-house champion of change and Founder of the Institute of CAribbean Studies, Washington DC
Missed it? Listen here
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If You Don’t Go After What You Want….
If you don’t go after what you want you will never have it.
If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no’, If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.
-Nora Roberts
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5K Run. 4 Tips To Prepare…
“Finish it, then take two Advil”. Words of encouragement from the point-marker.
At Five o’clock each morning, I’m up and running. Yep, that was me during my high school days. I was on the track team. Funny thing is I never did it as a requirement. Just thought I’d go with my dad (a professional boxing champ) and worked out while he worked out. 100-meter sprint, 400 or 800 meter distance running was nothing. The preparation worked. I captured many awards which I sadly I did not keep to show my kids. Why? Because the value was not in the awards received, but in the talent I used it to benefit my school’s track and field events. The value was in supporting my teams at school, business house athletic championships and in the community.
The Prep: How to Prepare For The 5K
Here are Tony’s tips for how to prepare in 4 Weeks
- Week 1: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 minute, and then walk for 1 1/2 minutes.
- Week 2: Brisk walk for 5 minutes. Jog slowly for 1 1/2 minutes, and then walk for 2 minutes.
- Week 3: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.
- Week 4: Brisk walk for 5 minutes.
In addition, Judith front-line head Nurse and 5K Expert shared her top 3 Points:
1. One thing that I tell people to do is download the App “Couch To 5K”. That App trains you to run. 2. Make sure you eat an excellent breakfast for energy (oatmeal with blueberries; a big bagel with some protein – peanut butter is great if you like it. You need the carbs for energy). 3. Hydrate well during training and also the day before the run (I alternate with water and Gatorade for the runs). Happy running!
How I Prepared
How did I prepare? Nothing. Nada. Actually, I decided I would go to support the worthy cause, take a picture and move on, back to the safety and warmth of my car, then return home. My mistake? I walked with the crowd of runners to the starting point. Then I decided to walk on just a little further…and a little further. As I progressed along the journey, the crowd seemed to have disappeared and my car was nowhere in sight. Father help! But then with no option to get back to my car on that very cold and windy morning, my high school coaching motivation chipped in. I walked slower and hydrated. Though the journey seemed never-ending, I got to the finish line …police escort and all.
Walk. Pray. Strategize
Yep! That’s what I did. I walked. Prayed and Strategized my year’s goals. This feat reminded me of my resilience. It started with my desire to support a worthy cause and ended with my learning to always be prepared (my girl scout motto). Although the journey seemed never-ending, the cheers and smiles of point-markers made it so much easier.
That said, be encouraged. Find your own point-markers to achieve your life’s goals–be it work, education, family or other. Keep advancing to your own finish line. Success awaits.
Cheers!
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Job Hunting? 7 Ways To Prepare For Your Next Career Move…
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
A colleague in the industry asked me to address concerns about the unemployment situation during the pandemic. So what do we recommend to people who are job hunting? To those who live from pay check to pay check and now feel frustrated because they have hit rock bottom? Here are 7 Ways:
1. Build Mental Capacity
Build your mental capacity. Be honest about your circumstances. Keep yourself motivated when the going gets rough.
2. Ditch that Miserable Job
Go for that change. Need a career change? The best time is now. Interested in starting a business? It the right time. Go ahead and do it.
3. Do your Market Research
Consider the job you like
Be flexible, take what you can get (for now). It might be lower pay and benefits. But build it as part of your strategy. Just don’t let it be a permanent thing like a lot of people do. Then later they look around and realize years have passed. What should have been temporary slowly became permanent in the rat race of time.
4. Clean up your Public Profile
Recruiters and Hiring managers will check you out. So lead them to what you want them to see. Clean up that LinkedIn, Facebook and any other social media profile that you are active on.
5. Prepare
Prepare your Resume. This should be tailored to the job you are looking for and not the job that you had before. Get professional help from a coach if needed or get tips from the book: Your Career: Ditch It. Creative careers in media and entertainment industry such as artists and content-creators need a professional website. Simple will do. Just get it done
Do contact your references. Ditch the surprize. Nothing worse than one of your referees receiving a phone call for someone they haven’t heard from in 5-10 years or more. I know because that’s what happens to me time and again. Then you are expected to provide a good reference. No surprizes guys.
6. Upgrade Skills
What skills will you need in your new career? Will you need to upgrade? If so, go do it. Take advantage of Free training that has become available during the Pandemic. This includes the government’s re-employment assistance. They offer Free training for many career options. All you need to do is register.
7.Avoid Toxic Friends
Align yourself with a network who is going in the direction that you would like to go. Avoid toxicity.
Apply these 7 tips and have fun while you do it.
Cheers!
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The 25 Challenges Of Writing…
Writing is a joy. Being a first time publisher is exhilarating! But what’s difficult is some parts of the writing journey. In a Public forum authors were asked what was the hardest part of writing. Many eagerly chimed in with top issues such as marketing and editing. Here I share the top 25:
The Hardest Part Of Writing
- Marketing
- Building and attracting an audience
- A blank page
- Convincing people to read your book
- Being confident that you write for yourself first, then the secondary audience – the public
- Promoting
- Nothing really
- Editing because of perfectionist mentally
- Letting go…let the editing go to the editor
- Staying on track
- Not giving up
- Patience. Writing the book is the easy part
- Getting readers to write a review
- Staying on track
- Selling
- Being original
- Self Promotion
- Believing in yourself
- Starting
- Mindset challenges that keeps you stuck
- Prepping self for bad reviews
- Hoping people like your book
- Freedom from distraction and clean concentration
- Formatting is a pain if you try to do it yourself
- Time, space, peace and quiet
Lots said in the 25 points extracted from writers thoughts and opinions on writing. Each point we can dig deeper. But this gives an good grasp of the opportunities that exist in the book writing industry and for those who love their craft. Get an accountability partner. Collaborate with an experienced writer or coach who can help you ride the waves as you progress along the journey. Personally, I have helped many. But Whatever you do, just don’t give up.
Need help? Let’s connect.
Cheers!
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St. Augustine Among Preferred Top 5 European Destinations You Can Find In The USA…
St. Augustine pops on the list that Travel and leisure shared their list of destinations for those longing to travel and must stay home. Road-trip getaways offer an alternative. World travelers only hope. Adrenaline pumping, I was Incredibly excited to dive into the the list of European destinations that can be enjoyed in the USA. Here are my topic 5 favs:
Getaway Vacays Instead Of:
Madrid Spain, St. Augustine, FL
Tuscany Italy, Napa California
The French Alps: Mount Hood Oregon
Nice Fance, Newport Rhode Island
Rome, New York City
Stwitzerland, New Glarus, Wisconsin
Take a close look at the list and start planning your getaway. If there are other US destinations that can be added to the list that makes you feel like you’re on a European vacay, do share, we would love to hear.
Cheers!
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Can’t Get Your Child To Read? 13 Ways To Spark That Fire…
Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind,
-Toni Morrison
How do you get your child to read? Popular question 21st century parents ask. It can also be extended to adults. Booklovers find themselves lost in books facing curiosity for the reason many defy reading as avidly as a decade ago. Too many distractions most say. Parents have it the hardest especially during the era of virtual games. But as far back as my own family’s history, I can think of my uncle who was a school principal, I received books on birthdays and holidays. Didn’t like it at the time but appreciate it in the years that ensued.
So, parents there’s hope. Here are 13 ways booklovers shared to spark that fire.
- Don’t be a nag
- Read more yourself. Children live what they learn
- Limit screen time from early
- Read stories to them
- Make bookstore visit a habit
- Let them pick books of their choice
- Dramatize characters. Make them come alive
- Watch movies on books of real life events then let them decide which is better – book or movie
- Display books around the house – Easy access.
- Make reading a habit
- Read books with exciting stories, then visit museums for visual effect
- Share amazing stories and when they ask what’s next, let them read the book for themselves
- Lead by example
Any points missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
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Cicely Tyson. Pioneer
I could not miss the launch of Pioneer and Award Winning Actress Cicely Tyson’s New Book titled “Just As I Am” tonight. Two hours later the news broke that she had passed.
She had marked the occasion with an inspiring discussion led by fellow award winning actress Whoopi Goldberg.
I enjoyed the soul-searching private virtual share between both …as Miss Tyson shared her mission which was to make a difference in how women, especially women of color, were portrayed on screen.
Cicely’s life mission depicts how to recognize when to Ditch a career and switch into one of purpose.
The book is definite Read.
Cheers!
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Dreams Come Through When Writers Write …
Such a delight to see the Dreams of winters come through especially when you played a part in it. Yes, thrilled I am! I met Miss Pat in 2016 in Washington DC after coordinating the recognition of her son as Honoree. I serve as member of the Honorary Host Committee for the Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH). We hit it off immediately. She shared her dream to write her biography and over the years I encouraged, reviewed the development of the title, manuscript and chatted monthly during the book’s 3-4 year publishing journey.
It’s now a delight to hold the long awaited dream book titled ‘The Reggae Music Journey in hand. The book shares the journey of a 4ft tall Miss Pat who worked hard, persevered and brought Reggae Music to the streets of New York. Despite the difficulties of being a woman in business, she persevered. Now 40 years later, she shares the journey of hubby Vincent (deceased) and Pat. A journey that has made Reggae Music a Globally loved phenomenon.
In exchange for this great resource on the evolution of Reggae Music, she takes contributions to the Vincent and Pat Foundation in honor of the Alpha Boys Home. You will have no regrets. Ask singer Shaggy of the acclaimed song “it wasn’t me” and Marion Hall they will tell you the same.
So what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Cheers
