writing – Page 18 – Success Strategies

The Hikes of Success

Hiking is like life. The Journey requires you to put one foot in front of the other …again and again. And if you allow yourself to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not only at the summit. ~Unknown

Success Strategies

Traveling in the slow lane, I get angry. I get upset. Forgetting that I’m traveling in the slow lane. My progress is slowed. My destination eludes me and seem to get further away. My anger grows. My frustration… like a fuse lights up, ready to explode!

But that’s how it is with life. Missed steps, missed deadlines, procrastination. Failed business, exams, twisted careers, and more cause us to feel like we are driving in the slow lane. Our goals, dreams, aspirations seems unreachable. We get angry, frustrated, feel punished. But that’s because we have gone off course. We fail to plan. We fail to focus. We fail to keep our eyes on the goal. Milestones recede…ebbs away in the distance. One by one. We procrastinate saying I’ll get it done tomorrow…, but tomorrow never comes.

But all is not lost. Achieving our goal is like a Hike. If carefully planned our long…

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17 Ways To Inspire Creativity…

Write. Create. Inspire to achieve.

Success Strategies

Who would have thought a flock of birds would create such havoc? Yes indeed. Though extremely rare as one in a billion, it happens. The movie Sully shared the real life story of the pilot whose quick decision saved passengers on an aircraft he was flying. He landed in the Hudson River, and Miraculously saved over 150 lives. It’s a story of humility, bravery, admiration, fear, teamwork, leadership, and most of all calm in the midst of tragic circumstances. Doesn’t this story inspire you?

Who Inspires You?

Brian Tracy asked his audience “Who inspires you?” Many responded giving answers such as God, family including mom, dad, spouse, as well as leaders like Brian Tracy, Oprah, John Maxwell, mentor, teacher, coach, political leaders, and more. But surprisingly, one response stood out when a male said that he was not inspired by anyone or anything. Bewildered? Should this be reason for…

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The Writing Process…

Writing is usually done in a private space… as in a cave all by ourselves. We tell no one unless we choose to share with those close. Oft it can even be top secret or shouted from the mountain top as happens when some celebrities write. It’s entirely up to you.

It’s Your Prerogative

Writers commit a month, a year, 2, 3 or more to their Writing process. It’s your prerogative. It all depends on you. No need to attend a retreat, until or unless you’re ready and you can always remain silent in the background listening to others speak. At a writers Retreat, some talk. Some don’t.

Spend time doing what you want to do before, during and after the retreat.

Why Bother?

People approach me to share my knowledge and (writing) experience with them. That’s the whole point of doing a Retreat. Facilitators or Hosts often incur a loss or just barely meet the expense for meals and accommodation for a small group retreat when it’s done for aspiring local authors. Over the years, it becomes more profitable.

But it’s worth it because of the satisfaction it brings. Often though some aspiring authors who actually need the help tend to hesitate to go the extra mile to acquire the knowledge. For me, before I wrote my first book about my phenomenalogical study on leadership and success, I attended a writers event and it helped me a lot. I invested resources to attend and like a sponge was happy to hear from the facilitators on their experiences. Before that I attended many writing events held throughout the industry and on campus to boost my craft.

Personally, I tend… to attend both good and bad’ sessions. Essentially, I love to compare what’s happening in the marketplace. From the ‘bad’ I learn what NOT to do. From the good…well that’s self-explanatory. I want to do better than the best while helping others achieve their best potential, whatever that is.

All in all, Writers have to test what works. Each individual differs. What works for one person may not work for the other.

What works for you? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Life. It’s The Little Things…

Heal the World. Make it a Better Place. ~Michael Jackson

Save a Life. For my Birthday, I Donated. You should too.

Read. Write. 27 Things I Like…

As I look over the circus of things I like, I realize that though I enjoy them and they bring me satisfaction, I find myself not doing them as much and in some cases at all. For over two decades I have been caught up in work, work, work. So this prompt helped me pull away and ponder the things I once enjoyed, or get to enjoy on a rare occasion.

But even as I finalize the list I realize that life’s not promised, so I intend to start doing the things I like and stop leaving them for …one day soon.

Watch The Waves By The Sea

That said, the things I like are:

1. People watch
2. Explore the world
3. Simple things
4. Enjoy a good laugh
5. Acting | Participating in drama presentations
6. Wearing a smile
7. See people mentored achieve their best potential
8. Watch movies
9. Write, ponder, reflect
10. Decorate the house
11. Go shopping
12. Watch HGTV | Travel channel
13. Learn new things
14. Read
15. Cook
16. Enjoy the company of my two young adult kids
17. Dream of Venice | Alaska
18. People watch in downtown Disney, Washington DC Parks
19. Watch the waves by the beach
20. Nature – stare at birds, squirrels, and circus of trees
21. Christmas Lights
22. Look out at the horizon from a hill or mountain
23. Capturing candid photos (new experience)
24. Finding a new route after getting lost in a new place (yikes!)
25. Quiet time
26. Solving a mystery or a problem
27. New baby hugs
28. Listening to that Still Small Voice Of Faith

Any of the above resonate. Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Why Writers Write…10 Reasons

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I write because there’s something in me that needs to come out. I am at peace when I write. Writers write for many different reasons. Some personal, experiential, or environmental. Christine Caldalzo created a pictogram of 10 reasons writers write. Here I share 10:

10 Reasons Writers Write

They love to write
To express their thoughts
To communicate
To share experiences
To tell about events
To share their feelings
To persuade
To teach
To Ask Questions
They want something

Does any of the above resonate with your reason(s) to write? Any missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Write Not Under Stress Or Duress But From Inspiration…

Who are you fooling? Can you write a book in 2 days? Absolutely! But only if you are inspired with the words just flowing like milk and honey from what’s deep down inside. It might be an experience that tugs at your heart through inspiration, trauma, dreams or more. No edits, just letting the words flow.

The Stress To Write

I was chatting with a fellow author at a recent book festival and he shared that he does not write under stress or duress but by inspiration. Me too! I write best from inspiration and not under the stress-to-write. I share that because at the upcoming 2 Days to Write Retreat, you will find the space to getaway! A mini retreat. This will be more about sharing your writing project with a group of like-minded writers where you can receive feedback on your writing project. After all, your work will be shared by the mass and not just for you only (though some choose to go the me-only route).

The Challenge

Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves to a writing project that can be shared at the event. It might be a cadre of poems, short-stories or excerpts of a longer writing book project. Share. Get critiqued. Append. Share again. It will be well worth your writing project as you push through your goal.

So Register now for early bird rates and book your place to join us on this 2 days to write small group retreat.

Cheers!

Toni Morrison. Novelist, Essayist, Editor, Professor Emeritus. The Tale…

Inspired. Informed. Educated. An iconic life exceptionally captured in one piece by author and educator Tiffani Knowles.

Excerpt cited. Read Tiffani’s full piece here

It was 1965, after splitting from Harold, when she began her career as an editor at Random House where she was instrumental in publishing American writers and luminaries such as Angela Davis, Henry Dumas and Muhammad Ali.

Yet, she knew there was a story that still needed to be told, one she hadn’t read or seen before.

At first, she was private about her own writing and would do so as a pastime very early in the morning before her boys would wake.

“I remember reading the ‘Bluest Eye’ and thought it was wonderful,” said Robert Gottlieb, a Random House colleague and the chief editor of the Alfred Knopf sub-division.

When Random House got wind of the fact that she was publishing, they wanted to keep her work in house and so, with the exception of one book, Gottlieb got to edit all of her books while they were published through Knopf.

Her first book, as Morrison claimed, intentionally eliminated the white gaze without “codes or notes explaining things to white people,” as she decided to put the entire plot on the first page.

“Quiet as it’s kept, there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941. We thought, at the time, that it was because Pecola was having her father’s baby that the marigolds did not grow.”

It was 1970 and “The Bluest Eye” boasted a story inspired by a conversation Morrison had had with an elementary schoolmate in Lorain many years before.

Her friend told her she had been asking God to give her blue eyes and he never did.

“How painful … can you imagine that kind of pain?” Morrison recounted for filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders in the “The Pieces I Am” documentary. “So, I wanted to say, this kind of racism hurts. This is not lynchings and murders and drownings. This is interior pain. It’s so deep to know that an 11 year old would think that if only she had some characteristic of the white world, she would be OK.”

Give Up The Thing That Weighs You Down…

You wanna fly, you got to give up the thing that weighs you down. ~Toni Morrison

I’m Too Old…

I’M TOO OLD

I’m too old for a new career

I’m too old for changing what they say

I’m too old for finding sweet love

I’m too old for my dreams to come through

I’m too old

I’m just too old

Silly…

You’re never too old to live your dreams

You’re never too old to change your life

You’re never too old to go after your heart’s desire

You’re never too old to do anything you want

You’re never too old.

Never. Ever. Too Old.

~Dr. Shelly C

Book It…

Such a thrill when dreams come through. My Book GreenLight is now available in-store Barnes & Noble, Broward Mall, Plantation, Florida. Pick up your copy in-store today or order online then pickup in-store.

It’s the perfect gift for yourself or someone who will be overjoyed for a boost of daily inspiration.

Cheers!

Goals. Burn That Midnight Oil…

Burning the midnight oil…literally, figuratively, or virtually. It’s all the same. Staying up late studying, working, or playing the role of parent to a newborn. That’s the meaning of the phrase burning the midnight oil. It originated from the 1600s practice of literally staying up late to finish work.

Today it’s meaning extends to waiting in line to get the latest release of the iPhone or other noteworthy–or should I say wait-worthy item. You then scream to the world that you are among the forerunners to get the envied product!

Whatever your dream; whatever your goal; burn that midnight oil and achieve it! It’s those who sacrifice much that achieve much. There’s Success in store for sure.

Burn baby–burn!

Cheers!

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Who Inspires You?

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It’s Your Prerogative

Why Bother?

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Watch The Waves By The Sea

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10 Reasons Writers Write

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The Stress To Write

The Challenge

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I’M TOO OLD

Silly…

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