life – Success Strategies

Light At The Museum…

Book Signing event. What I learnt. What sparked the light. Music, food, culture and fun.

Island Space Museum welcomed Reggae Music Matriarch Miss Pat Chin when she shared the evolution of Reggae Music from Jamaica, the Caribbean to the United States and the world.

Pleased to have been invited to share my own book and Research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States.

This Museum is a must visit when in Florida. Plan your visit to Learn more about this innovative initiative and don’t hesitate to donate unique and historical Caribbean artifacts. The Museum’s hardworking team are happy to shed the light!

Poet’s Defining Moment. The Story Of A Mother As Told By A Daughter…

The Story of a Mother as told by a Daughter.
A Literary Conversation with Author & Poet Susan Lycett Davis (Dr Sue)

A Miami Book Fair annual Author Feature

Living a HIP Life is a Great inspirational stocking stuffer available from Dr Sue and on Amazon

Listen in https://bit.ly/3C1cQ76

Stuck In A Rut? Books For Career Changers…

Get a life, not a job! What Color is your parachute? are some of the books that speaks to those who want a change. Yes you! You want the change but are afraid to let go. To go try something new.

Recently I have been thinking about some big names of presidents, vice presidents, CEOs and others who saw themselves through the eyes of their titles. Those grave responsibilities that others who see them approaching decide to literally jump! Jump out of respect or fear that they would be fired.

And yet….these same executives have found themselves on the other side of life pondering what next? Most do not plan for their next steps simply because they so identify with their current roles that when something does arise that through no fault of their own, they find themselves like a fish out of water. They ponder…what to do?

Then there are those who are not at that level (yet) but find themselves hating the very thought of getting out of bed each morning. They tell themselves were it not for the kids college funds, the mortgage, bills, or the thought of what will I tell my friends if I am no longer employed? stay stuck in the mouse trap. Churning. But making no cheese.

Tis sad. But then again, life goes on. Before they know it, 5, 10, 15 years have passed in the same position…no fulfilment from their daily toil.

That’s where my book Ditch It, Switch It comes to the rescue. If you are brave enough this book is for you! Ditch It if you want to change career and take the brave step into entrepreneurship. Or Switch It. Go do something entirely different. A dear colleague made the brave decision to step out of media into a completely new field. Though afraid, she did it anyway and now is enjoying the fruits of something she never thought she could do. Quite refreshing she says with a big grin.

Job DemotivationSigns

Job will make you sick . Signs are

Headaches
Insomnia
Tiredness
Depression
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Lack of confidence
Irritability and other warning signs.

The book Mid-Life Career Rescue will help you:

Discover a job you love, and find your passion and purpose

Boost confidence, courage and self-esteem
Flame the embers of inspiration and enthusiasm
Identify and find your skills, talents, strengths, and point of brilliance
Reduce stress, insecurity, anxiety, depression and self-doubt
Improve health and well-being
Break free of a job you hate and be happy
Successfully make a career change after 50

So don’t be afraid to ditch it. Plan it. Try it and for sure with time, you’ll have no regrets.

Cheers!

Health. The Vaccine Way…

We don’t see sick people
~Doctor’s Receptionist

The pandemic has turned the world upside down. “We don’t see sick people.” That’s what the receptionist at the doctor’s office said. Haley’s symptoms included running nose and nasal congestion but it was annoying and missing work was even more so. After all, she had bills to pay.

So the office proceeded to setup a virtual appointment for her to see the doctor. Without the necessary tools to do her vital signs at home, ‘seeing’ the doctor only meant them collecting her co-pay and telling her to go to the urgent care. More cost and even more time away from work. Several hours and doctors charges later, she tested negative for the recommended Covid test but was down several hundred dollars and lost worktime. Worse yet, she was told to visit the pharmacy to pick up something for the common cold she knew she had from the beginning. Believe it or not, this situation is repeated multiple times everyday.

Covid. Covid-19. The Pandemic

Sad times indeed. the pandemic has wreaked havoc around the world. There’s no escape. Many wander in despair. Some become house-rats. Businesses slowed. Some even closed. Entertainment suffered. Travel, hotel stays took a nose dive. With no entertainment, economic devise, anger soared. Panicked consumers wander in fear. Deaths are many and goodbyes are few. Too many have lost hope. Let’s just gallivant. Live our best life before we die. So they play. It’s not going to make a difference, they say.

Enter the vaccine. Hope indeed! Personally I jumped at the opportunity to get the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Adorned in short sleeves, I rolled up twice and got the shots. I’d take more if needed. Having worked in pharmaceuticals for a decade and more, I know what goes into research and development to help people do more, feel better and live longer. Critics will always exist but it’s well needed to prolong life, or to ease pain and discomfort.

You may also like The tale of Travel as Things Re-open

The Anti Vaccine Movement

The anti-vaccine are either afraid or make things political warding off and spreading fear. Oh the side effects of the vaccine will make you impotent, they say. Or you don’t know what’s going to happen later in life and the list goes on. But if something provides you with the ability to live a better life, wouldn’t you go after it? Who in their right mind would want to experience discomfort when there’s an alternative? I find it strange as most of us growing up had to be vaccinated against diseases such as MMR, Chicken-Pox and more. Chances are we are not able to enjoy epic travel trips unless we have proof of being vaccinated.

So I encourage those skeptics, to do the right thing. Get vaccinated. The life you save may even be yours. A colleague at the hairdresser was mourning. Her best friend of many years had just passed away due to Covid. She took all the necessary precautions. Stayed home, sanitized, cleaned, and sanitized again and again. Then her beloved young adult son went out, contracted the Covid virus. Unknown to him because he was asymptomatic. He passed it to her. Sadly, within a few days, she died. Another young mom decided to stay home after testing positive because the hospital wouldn’t allow family visits. That night she died. And there are many more sad stories.

There Is A Vaccine

Again there’s no cure. But there’s a vaccine. Yet many refuse to take it. Politics? Ignorance? Rumor-mongering? Fear? Who knows? But it makes sense to take it.

I close with the wise well known quote “Prevention. Is better than cure“. Choose wisdom. Save you. Deal with the consequences (if any) later. There might not be any.

Prevention is better than cure
Tweet

What are your thoughts on the vaccine? Have you got it? Scared? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

What You Need To Do To Achieve Success…

Success Strategies

Set your Goals High and Don’t Stop until you Get There

Richard Byerley was ‘officially’ the oldest person to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Byerley reached the summit in October 2010 at the ripe old age of 84 years and 71 days. However, his record was surpassed by Martin Kafer (85) and his wife Esther (84) in October 2012 (Kilimanjaro Guide).

Not to be outdone, the oldest woman to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m; 19,340 ft) Angela Vorobeva, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, at age 86 years 267 days, on 29 October 2015 (Guinness book of records).

Naturally, these examples of goal achievement is no small feat. What of athletes, professionals, politicians, and more? We all have goals. But what really are they? Are goals just a wish or a figment of our imagination of some ideal place that we want to be in the future? Think carefully…

View original post 756 more words

Love. The Ties That Binds Our Hearts…

Two peas in a pod…literally. The Mr. and The Mrs. They were always together seated either in the front, second or third rows during mid-week meetings. Never-apart. They were the esteemed example couple to anyone of 60-years of true love.

At age 70 she fell ill. To date we are not sure of what ailed her but she passed away during a life changing year. How could he live without her? Lady B as she was affectionately called. The truth is, he couldn’t. He lost his thoughts to the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease a year after she passed. He began to make errors. Things got mixed up. Soon he could no longer adequately take care of himself. Death took him away quietly one night after several bouts of strokes, hospitalization and rehab stays.

Like that couple, life is bitter-sweet. The memories live on through offsprings. Today, be encouraged to live your life. Be kind. Enjoy each day like it is your last. Love binds no matter the kind. The love of a couple, friends, family and more.

What’s Life All About?

Life is what you make it

What’s your life all about? That’s the question i asked 10 year old Xavier. Seriously and Without hesitation he replied Video games, basketball, God, watching TV. Gotta give him credit, he knew exactly what he was about.

At that young age, life can be easy but what a you and me? As we grow older it’s important for us to ‘get a life’ as the common saying goes. Mine is about and encouraging personal growth of anyone in my sphere of influence.

Today I encourage you to Reflect, start planning abs action.

What’s your life all about? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Traveling? Top 11 Things To Do Before You Board That Flight…

We love to travel! The warmth of new places brings smiles and memories that last. But getting to the pleasures of our vacation destination often comes with a nightmare. Travel and Leisure shared their top 25 Things to do before getting on a plane. Here are my top 11 Favs, which by the way makes business travel a breeze.

Pre-Travel Stress Reducers

Get the airlines credit card which offers perks like priority access and other rewards
Download your airlines app. No check-in and free onboard entertainment
Signup for TSA Pre-Check. Forego It’s a smart strategy for a smoother walk through and some airlines refund you the application fee
Check your bags size and dimensions. Airlines are reducing the space. Rid yourself of the headache and follow the rules before you leave home
Compile your gadgets. Being organized makes your life easier
Lounge around the departure lounges instead of sitting at the gate. Life’s simple
Wear comfortable clothing. But I dare say remember airline rules. For example Sometimes short shorts makes the morning news when tempers flare
Disinfect. Need I say more?
Reserve airport parking before you leave. Works like magic and you will walk away looking at cars circling the garage or squeals at missed flights
Grab and Go is a great idea for starving passengers. Get the app and order ahead
That wretched life-saving Mask. Don’t forget it.

BONUS

Read. Bring a book

So these are my top favs. What’s yours? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Binge-Watching For Personal Growth. 9 Must-See…

Success Strategies

People are hungry for something Different
Miles Millar

Binge Watching is the practice of watching multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming.
Dictionary.com

Patty’s text excitedly read “hey, I’m here binge watching your YouTube videos”. Hmmm an untapped medium, I thought about it and decided to share a few of the top videos. Below are 9 listed and shown below for your convenience. Go grab a snack and tune in. Build your personal growth as a writer, leader, new entrepreneur and more.

Happy watching!

A Conversation With Reggae Music Matriarch Pat Chin On Overcoming Barriers As A Woman In Business
15 Leadership Traits
Get Unstuck. A Literary Conversation with Lawyer Turned Author Meg Nocero
Authors Of Color Books, Literary Hooks And Nooks
LIVE Interview with Journalist Grace. How She took The Step From Career To Entrepreneur
Simply The Best Or…

View original post 47 more words

What Happens When Your Goal And Dream Become Theirs?

In your own quiet corner you lay at night. You dream about being in the nationals. You work your butt off and that dream finally becomes real. Then you start thinking is the Olympics possible? 4 Years of hard work and sacrifice and it comes through! Millions grin with joy and you cannot help but beam. Then another 4 years to go higher. Is it possible? Can you do it again? You get to work again but pretty soon you realize the dream is no longer yours. You want to back off but start thinking … what will they say? How will they react? But really you no longer want that dream (for you).

Is it worth it to deny yourself and go after their goal? One can only think of the Olympics and the predicament of the athletes who compete. Usain bolt was one. Armed with the birth name bolt, he struck lightening as a little country boy. His natural gift blessed the world for several Olympic seasons then he decided to walk away, to change careers. Many understood but were disappointed. They had saved for several years to getaway on those blissful destination vacay under the premise of supporting their country, while being entertained.

Your Career. Your Choice.

Let’s emphasize. Whatever career you choose, it-is-your-choice. No one else’s. You have to work hard for it. Make sacrifices but in the end if you are successful, it’s yours. Naturally the salary, and the benefits of all expense paid trips are appetizing but pretty soon you get tired and may not want ‘it’ any more. That’s when you need to stand strong. To get the negatives out of your head. To ditch the career when it no longer motivates you. When it seems like a chore to get out of bed. When you feel nauseated just thinking about it. Know that is when it’s time to move on.

But First Prepare

But before you do, make that plan. Prepare yourself adequately. Making a major decision to throw in the towel doesn’t come lightly and leads to consequences. So move stealthily. Think before you leap.

The book Your Career: Ditch It Switch It prepares you and is a valuable resource before you jump ship. Want to learn more? Get it here

What about you? Have you ever had to walk away from a promising career? When you look back, did you do the right thing? Any regrets? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Is There A Place For Victory When Mental Issues Rears Its Ugly Head?

When is it okay to throw in the towel? To give up? Olympians have started doing it. Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka withdrew citing mental issues. For decades Olympians withdrew without choice due to physical injuries as was the recent case of Serena Williams. But what of psychological? Is there a place for commitment, dedication? Determination? Better yet, if you withdraw, does it mean that you’re not?

Olympic Woes Amidst Success

Let no one define what Success Means to you. Define it for yourself.
Dr. Shelly C

The Olympics has always been a love of mine. Personally, I did track most of my school years and was naturally good at it. Sadly, no one told me that my natural talents and discipline was worthy of pushing forward to compete at a higher level. So once I got to the nationals, that’s where it stayed. I didn’t rise to higher heights.

Questions arose in my mind as I thought of my early life’s athletic prowess amidst the current Olympics situation. Furthermore, my study and research of success made me even more curious. Leadership traits such as determination, discipline, resilience were all attributable to success… be it in sports, business or life in general. When there is a goal that drives, we do whatever it takes to achieve. But when the going gets tough and society takes over (your goal), as is the case when athletes compete on behalf of educational institutions, organizations, or globally as in the Olympics, we ponder where does it stop? Where do you draw the line? When the goal becomes not only that of the athlete’s personally but that of his/her team, state, country (not the world yet though space tourism has become an appetizing delectable), whose decision is it?

Oh What Peace We Often Forfeit

Indeed as a colleague shared, it has become a complex situation especially when the values and socialization of societies differ. One competitor may never give up. Another may say ” hey it’s okay”. Millennials and Generation Z (iGeneration) think survival. They’ll retort, “I don’t want this anymore no matter the consequences. I will do me. You do you. Keep your award, your attributes, your contracts, your medals and forgive me but I will keep my sanity. That means more to me.”

Mental Issues Are Real

I dare say, mental issues are real. It was previously thought of as taboo to share inner turmoil for fear of being seen as weak, but these days when the British Royalties have brought mental issues to light, it is now more recognized and many in fact do understand.

As society and individual goals evolves, where do we go next? Let’s be prepared to not only wait and see but to also get ready to do something about it. Check-in with a neighbor or friend going through stuff. Be mindful of the silent ones. Offer support. Refer them to get help. Let’s do what we can in our small corner.

Cheers!

Don’t Self-Reject…

Don’t do it. Don’t self-reject. Just don’t do it.

Think about the last time an opportunity showed up. It may have been a job, a relationship, a personal move. It was too good to be true. So you hesitated. Did your hesitation alter the end result? Did you go after it eventually or did you make your fear cause you to freeze?

It’s sad but so often we self-reject. Often we talk ourselves out of doing something we are well qualified for. Most common on the job-front. We move to a new area. Start the job hunt then when something big comes up. We feel less than qualified. We look at the requirements then decide that we won’t apply because we don’t fit one or more of the requirements. Or that company is too big, they would never hire me. We do the usual self talk. Focus on the negative and talk ourselves out of it. Ditch the negatives.

Going after something or someone we deem important. But what if they see me in a different light? What if they think that I’m not good enough? What if they say no? Ditch the negative self-talk. What if they say yes? Send the email.

Ditch The Negative Self-Talk

Life would be much easier if we focus on the positive. Ditch the self-pity. Ditch those negative self-talk. Go after your dream job, relationship, house, car, vacation. Plan it. Ink it. Do it.

Don’t know where to start, let’s connect.

Cheers!