ADRIANNA
November 2022
Edition VI
STEPS “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” -Alexander Graham Bell
COPYRIGHT. 2022 Adrianna Group, LLC No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the publisher's prior written permission. Published by Adrianna Group, LLC Designed by Marcus L. Craig
Over the years, while still a teenager, I read at least once a year the Forbes 400 (the wealthiest Americans) and their list of the world’s billionaires. Of course, this was due to my interest in being a business owner eventually (and through the grace of God, I have). However, I noticed a significant pattern that this group of people had gone through critical steps along the way that led to some kind of catalyst. This would put them over the edge in terms of immense monetary gain.
Consequently, I wanted to revisit the essential steps entrepreneurs and artists took to arrive where they are today. We wanted to build upon the lifestyle concept, so we’re including content and advertisements that align with ADRIANNA. Over the subsequent editions and newsletters, we’ll introduce even more veterans committed to their craft and what comes next for them. With that, I hope you enjoy the STEPS edition of ADRIANNA. Marcus Craig, Founder of ADRIANNA
USS Ross, DDG-71
The second duty station of Marcus Craig (2017-2021)
CONTENTS San Diego Fitness w/ Tayler Birk - 6 A You a Traveler or a Tourist? - 12 Written by Karina Ramirez
Founder's Travel List - 15 Written by Marcus Craig
The Plan and The Start - 16 Written by Ester DeJesus-Duran
Submitting Your Content - 21 Cut From Different Cloth - 22 Written by Marcus Craig
True Consistency Expects Change to Come - 28 Written by Jeremiah Valentine
I am Not Trying to Find My Audience - 31 Written by Jeremiah Valentine
Can We Stop Writing Articles to Get More Followers - 35 Written by Jeremiah Valentine
“An inclusive community for the future generation of veterans”
JENNA CARLTON Founder of Millennial Veterans
bit.ly/themillennialveterans
Tayler Birk and I were both stationed on board USS McCampbell (DDG-85) when it was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan and that’s when we became friends. Even though we’ve been stationed at different Commands since then, one of the common themes among us is championing the importance of physical and mental health. With that, I wanted to get in touch with Tayler and discuss physical fitness. Still, I also wanted this Q and A segment to introduce a broader discussion surrounding our health. People often struggle with the initial motivation to start working out. What were the biggest inspirations for you to start? To be honest, my biggest inspiration for getting going was myself. For years I had struggled with weight. A fun fact about me is that this lack of weight control was due to a brain tumor. I underwent surgery weighing 185 pounds and left the hospital two weeks later at 135 with very little muscle and/or fat on my body. Either way, I was tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw.
All of this led me to follow influencers on social media, who provided workout regimes, and meal guidance to get me started until I found my own "flow" of things. I knew that getting started was the most challenging part of the process. I had read in a book that said that after doing something for 30 days consistently (in my case, exercising and dieting), that "thing" becomes a habit, which is exactly what happened to me. What is your favorite exercise? And what do you think are the most effective exercises in your fitness regimen? To me, cardio is and always will be an essential exercise. Cardio is excellent for the heart and body and can reduce the risk of a ton of health conditions. In addition, physical activity in itself releases endorphins in the brain to improve mental health. So as much as many people hate it, it's a necessity. Over the past few years, the issue of mental health has become increasingly important. Are there things you do personally to help you maintain your mental health? The gym has become my "safe haven" regarding my mental health. If I feel sad or have a bad day, I will sweat it out at the gym. As I said earlier, physical activity releases endorphins in the brain, which have been proven to boost moods and alleviate stress and anxiety, as well as anti-depressant medications. There are several ways to exercise throughout the day; and outside the gym. Some people exercise through the nature of their jobs or sports, etc. Are there ways you get exercise without going to the gym each time?
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Travel Blog From Karina Ramirez
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Honestly, no. I make time to go to the gym daily. Some people can go outside and workout or workout in their home gym, but I am not one of those people. As I said, the gym is my outlet, and regardless of how busy my schedule is with work, school, or family, I make sure to dedicate that time to take care of myself.
Besides the physical aspect of fitness, there is the nutritional portion. Is there a specific regimen you follow or food you make sure to eat throughout the week? Not really. I ensure that I intake 163 grams of protein daily, so I eat many highprotein meals such as chicken and salmon. I still eat pizza, tacos, and other "junk food" in moderation. Everyone typically starts with an end goal in mind. What is the end goal for Tayler? Oh, man. My end goal is constantly changing. I've never been the one who wants "rock hard" abs or looks like a bodybuilder. At first, I wanted to accept the person that I saw looking back at me in the mirror. I wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin and not hate every picture taken of me. Then my goal was, "I just want to look good naked." Now the goal is to be the best version of myself and never stop improving mentally and physically.
What advice would you give someone on the fence about starting to exercise or someone who has already begun but is not seeing the gain they thought they would see? Just start. Give it 30 days, and it'll become a habit for you. When I started, I literally had a tracker of what day I was on. I want to say by Day 8 or 9, I couldn't wait to be done with those 30 days, but when Day 31 came, I found myself back in the gym and hadn't looked back. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and motivate you; they're the ones who will give you that extra "push" when you need it the most. Instagram provides so many opportunities for people to build brands and become influencers. Is it something that you've given thought to? I have given thought to it, but I'm shy, LOL. Maybe one day I'll break out of that shell by taking my own advice and "just start," but right now, I'm cool with where I'm at.
For more content from Tayler Birk visit her IG here.
When the deployments are over, what's next for you? Listen to, The Next Act podcast here.
A You a Traveler or a Tourist? Written by Karina Ramirez
Why it’s ok to be both; being a good one is what matters. I used to think of myself as a traveler; someone searching where the locals hang out; goes beyond taking pictures of monuments and diving deeper into the city. (A little pretentious, I know.) The stereotypical tourist is considered obnoxious and sticks out from the local crowd. Selfie sticks, souvenir t-shirts, someone only coming to see the Eiffel tower and eat a croissant. But that’s not a fair assumption. In all my travels, I’ve realized I’m actually a little bit of both. I find local spots but then take pictures of everything. I stand out completely. But what’s wrong with that? I paid great money to be here! Sometimes I just want to see the attractions of specific places and stay at an expensive hotel. Sometimes I’m in the middle of a random city, staying in a hostel. (Thank you hostelworld) In Grenada, Spain, I joined a walking tour. With the guide carrying a little flag to lead the group, SUPER TOURISTY! In Krakow, Poland, I walked around by myself, exploring every alley and hidden bar. But there’s nothing wrong with either.
The word “tourist” has a negative connotation, but I think that’s just a couple of bad tourists (and yes, travelers, too), giving everyone a bad rap. Thus, the locals dread our arrival. Here in Hawaii, tourism is a love-and-hate relationship. Tons of local businesses benefit from tourism. But many tourists/travelers don’t have respect. Trashing the hikes, abusing the wildlife, and turning calm local spots into areas so crowded they aren’t enjoyable anymore. How do we change that belief? Well, we must remember we’re on vacation in someone else’s home. We need to: Support local restaurants and shops Respect the local customs Do a little research on the history and avoid Airbnb’s! Be a tourist, be a traveler. Be both, as long as you enjoy where you are and respect the land you’re on.
Stay Tuned and On the Move!
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We will introduce more travel content into future magazine editions. However, for this edition of ADRIANNA, we opted for the travel bucket list of our Founder, Marcus Craig.
Brazil - Sao Paulo + Rio de Janeiro Mexico - Mexico City United Arab Emirates - Dubai +Abu Dhabi India - New Delhi + Mumbai Egypt - Alexandria + Giza Monaco - Monte Carlo Colombia - Bogota + Cartagena Australia - Sydney China - Hong Kong + Beijing + Macau + Shanghai Switzerland - Geneva + Zurich Italy - Florence + Venice + Milan + Rome + Pompeii Saudi Arabia - Jedda + Riyadh Stay Tuned and On The Move.
The Plan and The Start Written by Ester DeJesus-Duran
My name is Ester De Jesus Duran, and I am the owner of Notary Hub, LLC, and Glamics Queen, LLC. Two different business ventures came to life after months of hard work, organization, realization, and effort. I was looking for answers for a way to reinvent myself and become a business owner. The process of conceiving a business compares to the process of carrying a baby to term.
It is an exciting adventure filled with pros and cons; your skills will be put to the test, and your comfort zone will disappear, but the results will be gratifying. In my experience, there are two vital elements to conceiving a business, simplicity and a business plan. I learned that the simpler the decision, the better the business startup phase would run. Do not overcomplicate a task! This approach will make everything so much easier. I had to learn to work in stages and be strict in following them. You can divide your process into phases: start, profit, maintain and expand. It is essential to be patient and understand you are in control, so you set the boundaries. You never overworked yourself! I can say that working in phases taught me simplicity and will prepare me for future business growth. What was my Biggest Challenge?
My biggest challenge was to decide the type of business I wanted to create. I wanted an umbrella company for all of my business ideas. But first, I had to start with something that could generate profit as soon as possible but with low to no startup costs. That is how I decided to become a notary public and an e-commerce online store owner. Both ventures have meager startup costs, and you can start profiting immediately. It is also essential to know that most states offer startup assistance for business owners. For example, in my state of Colorado, they passed legislation offering company registrations for only one dollar. This legislation was super helpful for me and made my experience more engaging and effortless. I also recommend researching and understanding every detail and aspect of the job you will be performing, including training and costs. Your understanding will let you know if you see yourself doing that in the long run. Research on state laws is also vital. Companies will charge you hundreds to do everything you can do yourself for almost nothing or for free. Being smart about your budget and expenses from the start will facilitate everything when your business continues to grow, even if you hire a bookkeeper.
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ADRIANNA
The Business Plan A business plan is like your photo ID; it is indispensable. A good business plan centers around you and shapes the future of your business venture. For me, this was hard, and I had to do a lot of reading to learn how to write one. There are many resources, free and at a cost or subscription, but you decide how engaged you want. The business plan will set your structure, operations, budget, marketing, etc. Remember, this is the one document you are free to modify as you find your niche. This (and Evernote) are the essential items in my startup phase. I can guarantee if you are smart with your business plan, you will see results in no time! Coming from someone in the startup phase of her business ownership, I can say that the process can be tedious, but the key is simplicity and organization. Do not feel shame in hiring someone to do all these things for you; we all have different styles.
I can say that I have not only entered business ownership but also learned many new things on the journey. Notaryhub, LLC is just the beginning for me. Currently, we only provide traditional and remote notarizations. It also holds a trade name company that conducts commercial inspections, and we foresee expanding our services. Glamics Queen is now in test mode and hopes to host a soft launch soon. At the end of the day, this process opened my eyes to many other business ideas to consider (franchises, construction companies, real estate). Still, now, I have the knowledge, the confidence, and the tools to achieve everything else in time. All I have to do is: do my research, practice simplicity, stick to my business plan, know when to ask for help and be patient.
If you have ideas for content or desire to share your content with the ADRIANNA brand, you may contact our Founder directly here.
ADRIANNA Cut From Different Cloth Written by Marcus Craig
21 years. That's the time between when I first wanted to be an entrepreneur and the release of the first magazine edition of ADRIANNA. The significant steps can be divided into fourths: realizing the importance of reading, an increased appreciation for the arts, being instilled with the idea of working through unfair environments, and living the mindset that I can achieve my goals as long as I'm willing to pay for them. The story of separating from people who discuss goals without any action and conviction from those who create and thrive starts with an element of irony. Before building a publishing brand, I thought reading was never essential as a skill or context. And the thought of writing wasn't a priority either. A critical step to the start of ADRIANNA was the subtle push from my mother to establish the habit of reading early in my childhood. The rationale was simple, and reading did for me what it does for so many people. Developing the habit of reading created a need always to understand current events. But the practice also made improvements to my speech as well as my writing.
Even in the internet age, art as a form of expression and communication still has a place in the world; it did for me in my earliest years. At the time, I desired to work as a creative, whether through painting or illustrating. Among friends, we would always compare sketches. Even as early as elementary school in Baltimore, Maryland, our classmates would rank the best people who could draw well. I was always solidly in third place. As you get older, one of the lessons you learn is that to be great in your field, you always want to be in contention, always in the conversation. It may be broadly essential throughout a person's life, as I always found it necessary to have a solid ability to communicate your thoughts to others. And be confident whenever you do. At one point, there was an infatuation with the comics page of The Baltimore Sun, and I wanted to contribute a comic series of my own. However, roughly around that time, I realized how significant it was to create wealth or to create financial means for oneself. That's when there was this constant comparison between a passion for art and possessing the financial means to accomplish anything I felt a compelling to do. So I posed a question: if I pursued a more creative path, would I ever be able to afford desired items, such as purchasing cars from the Italian brand Ferrari?
I would use this question surrounding the auto brand to rationalize which path to pursue: creative ventures or financial gains. The winner became financial gain. At the time, I couldn't think of any living artists whose works directly supported themselves. And secondly, having financial success would afford broader opportunities. This may include participating in the art space, either through creating art, collecting or through a kind of patronage. Fairness is a construct that people often cling to to help make the world we live in better. Although I would describe myself as empathetic and would like everyone to possess the essential needs to survive and thrive, such as clean water, great parents, a quality education, and healthcare, there is much suffering in the world today. We all play a role in how much fairness we create for ourselves but can also build for others around us.
As generations come and pass, one thing that remains constant is the idea that circumstances and people exist that create unfairness. With that, my mother instilled in my sister and me a viewpoint of presuming circumstances and interactions with others you don't know to have an inherent degree of unfairness. And regardless of the degree of that unfairness, we strive to achieve our intended goals and circumstance. This approach has been and will be essential in our quest for incremental improvement in all aspects of life. Keeping this approach and others was an essential step, but it also came in clutch when I enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In summary, I enlisted in 2012 because of two reasons. The first was because I wasn't trying to work two jobs like I was while in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). And the second, perhaps the most important, was I needed to broaden and enhance my soft skills (effective communication, patience, leadership, etc.). If I was ever going to raise the bar high enough to start a company and lead it to the next level, I needed soft skills. To keep a long, challenging short, I intended a third overseas billet in Bahrain. Because Manama was a financial hub for Bahrain and one of the financial hubs in the Middle East, I figured this would make the best environment to start my first company. But things often don't go a person's way, and this instance was no different.
Bahrain wasn't an option anymore. And one of the notentirely harmful consequences was that I remained in Spain for two more years (making it a total of four). Another consequence was that I needed to think of what to do about founding a company. This leads into the last and what I feel is the most essential step. The final step, at this point, is a combination of two things. The first is the overarching theme surrounding my mentality, based on something my mother would always say to me when I was younger. She'd always say: you can have anything you want in this world as long as you pay for it. At first glance, I feel people would first think it's a money-related assertion. But what the saying is forcing you to ponder is, instead, what level of effort you are willing to apply to achieve what you want. And in reverse, it's saying; if you're not ready to put up the cost to achieve it, then you really didn't want it to begin with. This lesson has been one of the biggest influences in my life regarding how I approach things. But, unfortunately, I feel as though that's something we've been fearful of. This is the most essential step because, like many circumstances in life, you can't always see the entire pathway and how something ends or begins. I want to paraphrase a man in an IG reel I once saw. He said that life and the goals you have is like driving a car at night. Your headlights only can illuminate so much in front of you. But it would be best if you moved forward because there's only so much ahead of you that could be seen at any given point. So typically, nothing you want happens all at once. If that's the case, there are steps that you'll need to take. Which steps are essential for you?
Seek Out the Needed Support in Order to Move Your Vision and Underlying Goals Forward.
And Never Expect People Around You to Just Expect What You Need.
True Consistency Expects Change To Come Written by Jeremiah Valentine
I am most productive when I have a routine. I strive to accomplish three daily activities: writing, working out and reading. Everything else is circumstantial. These activities are attainable and contribute to my overall happiness and success. People have different goals for their days, and sometimes the goal is to survive the day. I respect it. As I become more active online, I wonder what it takes to become more successful. More readers, promotion, comments on other's articles? Or is it enough to post six times a week on trending topics? I don't care about trends. Keto diets, becoming gluten-free, and following TikTok recipes are all trends. I could care less. Write now I am in school getting my degree, I quit social media, and I like spending time with my dog, friends, and family.
No matter what happens in my life, I must find space for working out, reading, and writing. Unfortunately, consistency beats talent more often than not. And I aim for that advantage. Fortunately, it isn't out of reach for anyone. And as you commit to something, you have to change to make room in your life for it. I was taught how to draw by a fellow sailor when stationed in Chicago. He was a graphic designer before he enlisted. He taught me that if you didn't draw every day that your brain would forget how to do it, and you would tend to hate yourself because of it. Still, since you stop practicing, it takes you longer to finish something great. The practice of drawing requires time from video gaming, working out, and hanging out with friends. As I allow more time in my day, I also lose out on other things. I genuinely wish there was more time to do several things; however, there needs to be prioritization and consistency. As changes occur and priorities shift, you can expect a snowball effect of success when more consistency is applied. Kobe Bryant used to work out four times a day, including practice; still considered one of the best of all time. Not everyone can become Kobe Bryant, but isn't life about the pursuit of perfection and striving to become someone great? Anyone can have fun, but not everyone can change the world. Consistency is the currency used to build success in ultimately anything.
“Eye of the City,” the mixtape with VA producer DatboyEd! A collab mixtape just dropped!
Ode Omar (selftitled) album dropped on Holloween.
Working on this music single twopack! See all my releases here!
I Am Not Trying To Find My Audience Written by Jeremiah Valentine
I am on Medium to build an audience of people who like to share ideas when it comes to writing. With that, I am here to learn and become wiser and more thoughtful with crowdsourced knowledge. I am not here to find my audience. I would still write regardless. People always ask me, after I have published two books, how is the book doing? Honestly, I have never cared about sales regarding my books. I published my first novel and my first book of poems out of chance. My friend dared me to publish my work and would wait until I separated from the military. I listened to him, and my poems were slated for publication. Everyone I knew wanted a copy of my work, and I experienced an outpouring of support from my peers. However, beyond my circle, I never achieved commercial success.
I read an article titled "10 reasons people won't buy your book," published on Medium and posted on Facebook. It opened my eyes to the reality most people don't sell many books. It doesn't matter how good the quality of the writing, the story, or the publicity is. The salesmanship of selling books isn't a skill I have. When I published both of my books, I gave them away. I would rather have a fan than someone who owes me money. I was truly honored that someone cared to read the words I have taken the time to put onto pages. And I still feel this way. I don't write to profit. I am a writer, no matter what; if I sell a million copies or two. No one can take that away from me. I started writing as a form of therapy when I was fourteen. Now I am 28; it's my craft that I will internally enjoy. When I think of car enthusiasts, they love exotics, domestics, etc. They may repair or restore a car or build a car from scratch. Yet, I think about a friend I'd met in Virginia while serving in the military. He drove a V6 Camaro, and it sounded terrible. But, it was the base model; he was content with it. But he was a car guy. He said, "a car guy can be someone who drives a Prius or a Mustang." He appreciates cars for what they are, and when I attend car shows, I see everything from minivans and pickups to SUVs.
Talking about writing, I think of it the same way. Anyone can be a writer; the barrier to entry is low. You can be a writer with a pen and paper, an iPhone, or a hand-me-down laptop. There was once a woman I read about who wrote her entire self-help book on her Blackberry. She would work on it on the subway commute in her spare time. I love writing and will continue as long as I can form an original thought. And I had written long before the public cared. So I will keep going, receiving encouragement from Medium writers, family, and friends. But, again, I am not trying to find my audience; I am trying to push ideas about life with my writing.
"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect -Anaïs Nin
Whether it is a novel, through his SubStack account for his subscribers, or through the content platform, Medium, Jeremiah Valentine has covered a variety topics on a monthly basis.
Explore what else comes next for the rising author.
Can We Stop Writing Articles to Get More Followers? Written by Jeremiah Valentine
I noticed a trend on this website. It seems to be a wave of people creating articles that are clickbait or thought-provoking to readers. My favorite is when people announce they are leaving a platform. Or "How to change your life in 60 days." I understand people always want to hack the system. Society has a driving force to cheat the system to get ahead. We all pretend we know something another doesn't. This article won't change much; after all, I am only a writer with a puppy. However, in the ways of influence, I am humble. I am asking, can we stop writing articles to get more followers? When I was in Bulgaria, I saw street painters who were selling their art for cheap. I didn't know their circumstances, but I knew that the same pieces would have been more expensive if I had gone to a gallery. There were two types of artists lining the boardwalk by the ocean. The artist would constantly engage the casual public and the artist who would paint the boardwalk and showcase their talent.
I have written for a decent amount of time, and I would leger we are all artists. There aren't many people who can paint with words. It is an art to deliver your opinion and message clearly and concisely. That said, I would rather watch an artist paint a scene he has mastered than engage the pushy salesman. The artist allows you to witness the masterpiece he is creating with grace and focus. But, on the other hand, the salesman is pushing you with his motives, words, and persuasiveness. And I get it; you could ignore both. However, as they're painting, the artist allows you to take the train of creativity with him. The salesman only works for money and might not appreciate the process as much. In short, your art or work will speak for itself when people see its light. Then, as they turn their heads ever so slightly to fall in love, they will admire the process, not the finished product. Clickbait articles are cool, and they grab attention. But unless you master the process, the result will never broadcast the body of work invested.
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SPECIAL THANkS Adrianna Craig-Lopez Karina Ramirez Jessica Jaral Daveon Fitzgerald Tayler Birk Tony Jolivette Jeremiah Valentine Jenna Carlton Ester DeJesus-Duran Adrianna, You’re four years old now and six magazine editions, two newsletters, and one investment guide have been published so far. There's always that desire for improvement, but that’ll always be there when you are genuinely committed to what you believe you’re called to do. But we’re always going to the next level. Too many critical events with lessons learned have happened in quick succession. When things get harder; and faster, it’s typically a sign that major change is about to happen. I’ll be writing to you in the next edition. Always with love. Dad
