One of the leaders I worked with was exceptionally talented. She was respected by her team, consistently delivered results, and had recently been promoted into a larger role. Yet despite her success, she found herself overwhelmed by competing priorities, difficult decisions
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Time spent rescuing is time not spent leading.
It’s the Hard truth. Leaders who say ‘yes’ to everything often:
🔭Get seen as Dependable
But not Strategic
🔭Helpful
But not high-level
Because time spent rescuing is time NOT spent leading.
BOUNDARIES create space for:
Without them you stay Stuck in reactive mode. Ask yourself, are you Leading or constantly rescuing?
If your leadership feels reactive instead of intentional, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a boundary problem.
Coaching helps leaders set professional boundaries without guilt or fear. Let’s chat about our boundaries lab if this resonates.
Cheers!
Midlife transitioners face feelings of sadness especially when work, independence and purpose feel out of reach. This is a common scenario I have found in my coaching practice amongst mature women. They complain, sulk and feel ‘why bother’ (as in the case of a recent discussion). For women experiencing these feelings, here are 7 thoughtful strategies of how 50+-year-old women in this situation can begin moving forward. Adopting these strategies can help them regain control of their life, emotionally, practically, and spiritually.
Before any external progress, healing the inner voice is key.
Depression often comes from feeling “useless,” so rediscovering value is important.
You may be entering a new season, not the end of your working life. Shift from “job-seeking” to “value-offering.” Instead of asking “who will hire me?” you should ask, “where can my experience help someone solve a problem?”
Consider flexible or freelance work:
Age can be an advantage when presented with confidence and skill.
Small changes can ease immediate stress.
Structure gives life purpose.
It’s never too late to rebuild. Many people in their 50’s and beyond start new careers, businesses, and callings. Your story isn’t over…it’s shifting.
Be encouraged. See yourself not as “unemployed,” but as “relaunching.”
Reflection:
“If I could start fresh today, what small step would make me feel proud by the end of this week?”
Hope these strategies help you overcome these feelings of apathy. If you’re not in that sphere and know someone who might be, please share with them. We are also here to help women regain confidence for their new chapter.
Cheers!
I am Somebody. We are Somebody. ~ Dr. Ralph Hogges
By Patricia Reid-Waugh
You would think that a street named ‘Trees Avenue’ would be lined with tall, manicured trees of exotic variety, standing like sentries on either side of the roadway. Strangers entering the L-shaped avenue might imagine that around the bend, leafy branches would shield them from the blistering sun, and a rustling chorus of leaves would welcome them. But such was not the street on which I lived.
My ‘Trees Avenue’ was no different from other residential roads nearby, paved in asphalt, with a strip of grass separating the roadway from the walls of each property. Neither my parents nor the other homeowners thought it important to give the street a personality matching its name. To the casual visitor, it looked tidy, pleasant, but rather ordinary.
The houses stood close to the front boundaries, verandahs stretching wide to court the evening breeze. These verandahs became living rooms in their own right, alive with laughter, morning greetings, neighborly gossip, and the occasional raised voice.
By S. Ettosi Brooks
I remember my people; like a piece of sweet, firm sugar cane spilling its juice over my tongue and lips; lips framing expressions of a language of thunder and soft rain. My roots – peopled with characters of such unassuming elegance I could not really see them until, exiled, I craved remembrances like sweet sugar cane. What sweeter dance than a handcart man, lithe, muscled – swinging and dipping, black sinews rippling their way down Orange Street.
By Dr. Delores Smiley
Journey to Spiritual Growth is a Christ-centered ministry designed to guide believers toward a deeper, more intentional walk with God. Rooted in the call to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” this ministry provides practical tools and clear teachings to help individuals grow in spiritual knowledge, examine their hearts, and live out the commandments of love – preparing for heaven as the ultimate home. It recognizes that faith is not a single event but a lifelong journey that calls us to grow in understanding, surrender our hearts, and live out the commandments of love.
Effective preparation sets the stage for success and sparks creativity
Authors write, publish and leave expecting miracles. It doesn’t happen. Authorship happens mostly by accident as writers choose to share what’s on their hearts. It might be a memoir, poetry, fiction or non-fiction. As their passion unfold, they write then later realize that they have suddenly been thrust into entrepreneurship! How do they get those books off bookstore shelves? Selected on amazon? Shared among family and friends? It behooves them to sit, pray, and wonder why their books just remains stagnant. Most often these are excellent stories that remains dormant for years, not gleaned by readers.
Realizing this pattern, the Writers Group of South Florida held a workshop. Hosted by the West Regional Library in Plantation. This initiative was facilitated by Dr. Shelly Cameron. Here’s a summary of the takeaway points that attendees authors gleaned.
There you have it. Did one, two or a few of the above stand out for you? As a published author, which will you adopt? Do share, we would love to hear.
Happy Promoting!
A walk in nature walks the soul back home. –Mary Davis
Meandering rural life—Mendez to be exact. All is quiet. Birds chirping as early morning risers stir. One waiting atop the yard’s fence. Scrolling, watching social media platforms, my guess. Others busy collecting water from tanks to prepare breakfast. Shower, get refreshed as each forge ahead getting ready for the day—whatever lies ahead.
Taxis, the main source of transportation, make haste on the soon to be busy road. They look, at times toot, to alert waiting passengers.
Coffee in hand, it was my chance to review the surroundings. The skeletons of a huge Mango tree await its next fruit-bearing season. Coconut tree sears high above the sky—as if saying to the others, “dare to rise above me.” Oh the power to see above and beyond everything. Banana leaves flicker against its stem. The Ackee tree buds promises of the country’s national dish and breakfast cravings. And Oh, the sways of the delicious avocado tree. A sure replica of island life in the land of wood and water–Jamaica to be exact.
I peer into the distance to see my grandpa’s grave—memories of decades gone by. I envision life as he too saw it.
Cheers as you too take time out to think about rural life.
Writing a book without promoting it is like waving to someone in a dark room. You know what you have done but nobody else does ~ Madi Pred
Publish and Run? ️Books don’t just sell themselves, authors promote and readers read, review and recommend.
Join us to learn tips to Get your book noticed—and sold—this holiday season! At this event, authors will learn practical strategies to refresh their brand, promote their books, and connect with readers during the busiest shopping time of the year. Whether you’re self-published or traditionally published, you’ll leave with actionable tips to increase visibility, drive holiday sales, and make your book a perfect gift pick!
Facilitated by Dr. Shelly Cameron, President of Writers Group of South Florida
🗓️Saturday, September 6th
11:00am – 12:30 pm
💳Hosted by:
WEST REGIONAL LIBRARY
8601 W. Broward Blvd,
Plantation FL 33324
®️Register on Broward Public Library
Or Use QR code
Growth is the best gift you can give yourself
August birth month celebration because Growth is the best gift you can give yourself. August is my birth month – and that means YOU get the presents! Whether you’re a past client, a friend, or someone ready to take your next big step, here’s how you can join the celebration.
Dead Poets Society
Clarity builds trust and momentum
Summer is almost over and it’s time to make all those back-to-school plans. As we make those plans, lets pause for a minute. Think of a teacher or two who made a difference in your life. Personally, as I age, I think about those teaching experiences and the effect they had on my leadership journey. As I look back, I think of society’s great teachers like Erin Gruwell, Maria Montessori, and the fictional Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society).
Here are 5 lessons leaders can learn from great teachers.
Teachers break down complex topics into simple, digestible pieces.
Leaders must do the same—clearly communicate vision, expectations, and feedback so everyone understands what success looks like.
Lesson: Say less, mean more. Clarity builds trust and momentum.
Teachers know learning takes time and that growth isn’t always linear.
Leaders should extend grace and patience during times of transition, failure, or new learning curves—whether with teams or themselves.
Lesson: Progress often looks like repetition before results.
Great teachers recognize that not every student learns the same way.
Great leaders acknowledge that not every employee works, leads, or grows the same. They tailor support, roles, and recognition accordingly.
Lesson: Personalize your leadership to bring out the best in each person.
Teachers use routines and structure to create a safe space for creativity and exploration.
Leaders who implement clear systems give their teams the confidence and autonomy to take initiative.
Lesson: Strong frameworks unlock innovative thinking.
Teachers who genuinely care spark curiosity and motivation.
Leaders who lead with purpose, authenticity, and heart cultivate higher engagement and loyalty.
Lesson: When you model passion, people give their best
As school begins its opening session, the road becomes a task / lesson plan in and of itself. What are your thoughts on the top five lessons? Anything missing that you would like to add? Do share, we would love to hear.
Don’t forget to connect if you would like to discuss your own leadership growth journey.
A Port Royal Tale
When most people think of Jamaica, they think of white sandy beaches and tons of fun in the sun. Yes indeed! It’s all that! And if you’ve never been, you should!
But the island is more than that. It’s filled with rich history. A land full of learning. Oh yes, Learning comes in different forms. To understand the future you have to look back.
To understand the future, you have to look back.
After Calabash Literary Festival, I visited Port Royal, the historical site tagging along with my girls. A visit I thought ‘boring’ but agreed to go. My older daughter wanted her boys to learn about the land of her birth.
Boy was I in for a surprise! The rich history that existed in that place was unfathomable. Now that I’m older, I was able to connect the dots. Here’s a brief overview.
Initially inhabited by Pirates, canons were evident everywhere. Captain’s quarters provided full length windows showing 360-degree visuals of views from the Caribbean Sea. This was a way to prepare for potential battle while enhancing supervision from all corners.
Giddy House was named for the feeling visitors get when they try to stand straight inside. It was an artillery house that stored defense items. Giddy house was struck by an earthquake in 1907 and partially sank.
Hundred-year-old trees provided way more than shelter. Their magnificence can’t be missed.
Secret spots were noticeable everywhere. All conducive to the life of a pirate to protect, attack, and surprise.
Sadly, Port Royal suffered the major earthquake. A natural disaster that sunk the area leaving remnants of what once was.
The sea’s backdrop midst the sun’s heat, was nothing compared to the learning gleaned. Our family walked away with rich learning of stories told and untold.
A sumptuous meal of fish and festival at nearby restaurant sealed the simple yet remarkable experience.
Plan a visit. I hear the area is now a point of renovated focus for the beautiful island of Jamaica.
Cheers!
Show up. Let yourself be seen. ~Brene Brown
What’s a networking event without door prizes? Boring (smile). So, event organizers encourage gifts. They are a simple yet powerful way to boost engagement, excitement, and attendance at networking events. They create a sense of the anticipation and fun, making the event more memorable for participants. Door prizes also encourage people to arrive on time, stay longer, and interact more freely with others. Besides entertainment, they offer a subtle marketing opportunity for sponsors, hosts, or businesses to showcase their products or services in a positive light.
The PSL Business Club asked the question: “What is the Perfect door prize to give away at networking events?” Members chimed in. Some suggested giving what you would like to receive. Others suggested giving away high-end gifts that will make you the talk of the event. Gift these over several periods and you’re sure to leave a lasting memory. Here I share key gift ideas extracted as members chimed in.
Higher end gifts creates a lasting memory of your brand. Such gifts are:
There you have it! Here’s hoping it takes the guess work out of your gift giving when attending your next event.
I love to write! It’s a passion that began during my primary education years. I reflect on those early years. Back then, my uncle (an educator and school principal), would gift me with a book on birthdays and Christmas holidays. This was his custom instead of the usual and more preferential ‘toys’. Though disappointed then, I would dive into the books reading for hours.
As life progressed and blogging became a thing, I created my first blog A Moment With Shells in 2010. Later, on completion on my postgraduate education, I formalized this blog titled Successful Leaders to share my passion. It focused on empowering developing leaders through personal growth, leadership development, and success strategies.
That was a over a decade ago. Funny how time flies when you’re having fun!
Here’s an overview of my efforts to create articles, writings, or gleanings. The idea was to uplift, encourage subscribers and visitors under the headings listed.
The blog emphasizes the importance of setting clear, actionable goals. It encourages readers to commit to their objectives, keep them visible, and seek accountability to stay on track. Inspirational quotes from figures like Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins are used to motivate readers to design their own life plans and persist in their pursuits.
Articles guide readers in uncovering their life purpose by reflecting on personal experiences, childhood interests, and unique talents. Techniques such as visualization, journaling, and seeking feedback from friends are recommended to help individuals find fulfillment and direction.
The website offers strategies for managing stress and achieving a healthy work-life balance. It highlights the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, seeking professional support, and engaging in activities that promote mental well-being.
Recognizing when it’s time for change is a recurring theme. Writings discuss signs that indicate the need for a new direction and encourages readers to take proactive steps toward personal development. It also emphasizes the courage required to make significant life changes.
For aspiring authors, the site provides insights into the publishing process, including self-publishing and audiobook production. It also encourages writers to reflect on their life experiences and consider the legacy they wish to leave through their work.
Overall, Successful Leaders serves as a resource for individuals seeking inspiration and practical advice on personal development, leadership, career change and achieving success in various aspects of life.
Subscribe to keep updated on upcoming new and exciting developments. Have you been a follower? If so, how long and how have you benefited? Do share, we would love to hear!
Cheers!
A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams
In this blog I'm attempting to answer wordpress daily prompts
Ellen Grace Olinger
Property Maintenance
embrace the magic
When God Says Go
Health, Reflection, and Poetry for the Journey of Life
Knowing every thing
Family. Youth. Parenting
Your Focus. Our Lens.
