writing – Page 22 – Success Strategies

Wake Up To Make Up…

Capture The Moment

Years ago when she was a child, my little niece would come up to me and compliment me on how nice my makeup looked. She grew from a young debutant admirer into one of South Florida’s top Makeup Artist doing the likes of BET’s last CEO Debra Lee, Andrienne Bosh-wife of Chris Bosh, Empire’s delightful ‘Cookie’ Taraji Phenson, tennis champ Serena Williams, the lovely Vivica Fox … and tons more household names.

Recently, I sat with her to get my own consult on the latest makeup application. Always have to keep up with the times and fashion changes. Woohoo! I got my training! It’s a must for Job interviews, and major events when you want to look your best doing your own thing. Not to mention those special occasions like weddings when you just can’t do it on your own.

And what about men? She does them too! Just ask Usain Bolt, Ne-yo, John Legend, Kanye West, Pitbull, and many more.

Thanks Nordia for your very valuable insights and your warm hospitality. Cheers to the future filled with promises of great things to come.

Goals: Killing Me Softly…

Goals…There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them. —Jim Rohn

Over the past few months we had lots of birthdays at the office. So we could all enjoy, I bought candies! More specifically M&M’s with all the nuts and stuff. Yum! Staff was thrilled. Another liked to chew on pens when thinking. Don’t we all know someone like that? Anyway, I bought a pack of pencils in her favorite style and gave to her as a precursor appetizer to a group lunch. She found it hilarious!

Then as she was about to consume the M&Ms, she cried out omgeeee it has nuts! I’m allergic to nuts! The pencils were a trip but then she exclaimed ‘ you want me to die? I don’t chew on pencils. It has lead!

So though I meant well, those gifts were harmful. I replied that I love you guys so much I am killing you softly with my love.

Aren’t We Like That With Our Goals?

Often we are like that with our goals. We mean well but the activities we engage in softly jeopardizes our progress …or in some cases, kills it softly. Lets today take the time to look closely. Lets examine our efforts and make sure they are headed in the right direction. Only then will we achieve. Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

Let Go Of The Old. Do Something New…

Take the leap.

Being stuck is a position few of us like. We want something new but cannot let go of the old – old ideas, beliefs, habits, even thoughts. We are out of contact with our own genius. Sometimes we know we are stuck; sometimes we don’t. In both cases we have to DO something.

Rush Limbaugh

Break The Routine. Take A Sabbatical…

Only it seems to me that once in your life before you die you ought to see a country where they don’t talk in English and don’t even want to. ~Thornton Wilder

I ordered a coffee and a little something to eat and savored the warmth and dryness. Somewhere in the background Nat King Cole sang a perky tune. I watched the rain beat down on the road outside and told myself that one day this would be twenty years ago. ~Bill Bryson

The Beauty. The Ease To Write…

I miss you.

Your tender love.

Your Warmth relax.

Your strokes caress

With you everything is okay.

My joy complete

My stress eased.

My space breathe.

My words flow.

Indeed …you take my breath away.

You are My love. My joy. My peace.

That’s the reason I WRITE

To tell my story

To Release

To encourage

To motivate

To captivate

Because what’s inside can’t wait to be released

I thank you. I praise you.

I Can’t wait to be with you again.

My heart. My writing soul.

The Scariest Moment…

The scariest moment is just before you start. ~Stephen King

Is that you? Is that me? We suffer a loss and we are frozen. We lose a key contract and we are frozen. When writing we want the words to flow and we are frozen. Sickness, health, business crisis, job-loss, a wayward child, spousal disappointment. In all of these, if we are not strong, we become frozen. Scared. Stuck.

We reflect on the story of the eccentric Miss Havisham in Charles Dickens novel, Great Expectations. Her fiancé left her at the altar and she remained scared…frozen in time. She lived the rest of her life in her wedding gown never able to recoup.

Steven King was the opposite. He was turned down numerous times for his writings. Estée Lauder too. She was turned away many times for something she believed in. Her product. Her perfume.

Both of these individuals persisted and never gave up on something they believed in. Both remained steadfast. Unfrozen. And in that state, they were able to achieve their best. They achieved success and became known among society’s finest.

Have you suffered a setback? Have you become frozen? Take the step to break-free! Become an object of admiration. Hold your head up high. Ask, seek, knock, connect! You will then be able to move on despite the odds. Unfreeze.

Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

The Very Thing That I Spent Years To Build Has Turned Out To Be My Worst Nightmare…

Tis sad. As I reflect, I have come to realize that the very thing that I sought; the thing that I spent years to build; the very thing that I depleted my resources for…has turned out to be my worst nightmare.

Education

Yup it’s education. I invested my resources in education. Every last penny that I had, I invested in higher education. When that was done, I took out student loans. My thinking? I’d have a great job that will pay me more than enough to cover my loans and have more left over to live comfortably for the rest of my life.

Not So

Alarmed I now realize that it’s not so… for the very thing I sought, hides from me. They say I’m too qualified! It makes me weak to think of their mediocre thinking. Sad minds that don’t realize that the very thing they seek – qualified, experienced, good worker, committed, dedicated, forward-thinking, hardworking, results-driven, is the very thing they push away.

So what do I do?

The Future Is Bright

This rant was shared with me by a friend. Tis Sad. For her it’s education. For you it might be a relationship with your spouse, children, family or friends. It might be your house, car, assets that you have worked long and hard for.

But though my friend has a point and it’s hard when she’s going through this rough patch, the Future is Bright! Daily I encourage her to never give up. To fight the good fight. Things will get better. Through prayer, resilience, and continued fight for a better life, the revelation will come . As she seeks clarity in her path she will realize that one day soon things will get better.

Are you like my friend, frustrated with retarded career growth? Don’t go it alone. Let’s connect.

Cheers!

Travel For Fun! 9 Things To Do To Break Life’s Monotony…

This is the beginning of anything you want.

The daily grind. Don’t you just hate it? Day after day you get up, do the same thing over and over, and over again. Alive but never really living. You dream of lazy days; or those days when you’ll be able to do just what you want to do. Be careful what you wish for though, because that too can become….. exciting? a thrill? mundane?

But if your dreams, hopes and aspirations is to break the montony… then Go for it!! Here are 9 Things to do:

Inspired To Change

1. Learn a new language.

2. Learn to play a musical instrument.

3. Travel for fun (not business).

4. Write a book.

5. Reflect on your spirituality.

6. Mentor youths (helps you stay young).

7. Become a trader (for fun). Helps keep your eye on your financial viability.

8. Get involved in your community.

9. Expand your mind, earn a PhD

Did any of these spark your interest? Can you add any? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Writers Block. Stuck In A Rut. 21 Ways To Overcome…

You can’t think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of a thinking block. ~John Rogers

Writers block is a common phenomenon among writers. It’s the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. The question was asked and the list was compiled from advice gleaned from a Book Writers’ forum. The ideas are simple and delightfully thought-provoking. Here I share 21 of the more exhilarating.

Embrace it as gestation
Listen to music
Take a break or work on something else
Go back to what inspired you first
Change your scenery.
Go for a walk
Write something personal
Read. Get motivated. Then go back
Put the pen and paper down.
Leave it alone and the ideas will come home
Ask questions of your stories
Try writing something different
Take a shower. Let the water flow and the ideas will come
Free write. Write about your day. Just write
Ask another writer what they are working on. The change of focus will inspire you
People who succeed as writers write
Take a writing course
Be in a group
Write about writer’s block. Something will inspire
Watch a movie
Get physical. Go to the gym. Break a sweat

Did any of the above resonate? Can you add any? Do share! We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Literary Event…

Always thrilled to participate in South Florida’s Writers Of Color igniting, harnessing, directing literary imagination and creativity. Come see, hear, listen and be inspired March 2-3, in Miami.

Time Out…

Time. Save some for you.

Rushing To A Place Where You Don’t Want To Be. The Answer Is In The Why…

I go to seek a Great Perhaps. ~Francois Rabelais

Rushing to a place where you don’t want to be. Why? Why do you do that? Why do you spend your life rushing around? Rushing to work? Rushing home to a place where you do not want to be. Rushing to water a failing relationship with family, friends or foe? Rushing to do what others want you to do?

Then after all the rush…when you finally arrive at your destination, you are miserable. Life seems hard. Unfair. So many questions. Why do you do it? Is it because you can’t do any better?

The Answer Is In The Why

You rush to the job because you need to pay the rent-to have shelter. A place to rest. A place where you want to feel the solace of those who care. You need food. Independence. You need to feel worthy. To avoid the shame. To avoid the dread of what others may think.

Forget Them

Forget them. Take the steps needed to do you. To go after that dream. Make a plan. Work that plan. Keep it at the forefront of your mind. And when the going gets rough…work it even harder. You will get there… someway, somehow.

Here are a 7 tips to help you when you feel stuck. Need help? Let’s connect.

Cheers!