Glambitious Guide to Win in 2019 co-author Pam Perry

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COPYRIGHT 2019 BY LILLIE M. WILLIAMS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED OR UTILIZED IN ANY FORM

BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL, INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING, OR BY ANY INFORMATION STORAGE OR RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER. INQUIRIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO INFO@LILLIEMAEPR.COM OR INFO@GLAMBITIOUSIAM.COM

MEET THE GLAMBITIOUS CO-AUTHORS!

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 54 56 58

FOREWORD BY LILLIE MAEÂ ............................................

ALYXANDRA RANSOM ...................................................

ALTIMESE NICHOLE ......................................................

NICOLE S. MASON, ESQ..................................................

CRYSTAL JOYEL .............................................................

DR. SHAWANDA S. MOORE.................................................

DELMA GARCIA .............................................................

GENTAMU JEN-JEN MCKINNEY ....................................

SHANDA CADET............................................................

DR. RENEE SUNDAY .......................................................

JASMIN FORTS, MBA, CPCC ...........................................

RHONDA SPRATT .........................................................

FAYONNA BRISCOE........................................................

MJ ROBERSON...............................................................

DIAMOND WIGGINS........................................................

YAYI JOYCE...................................................................

RENEE DANTZLER, CPT.........................................................

TARA HARRIS................................................................

HARMONI BRANGMAN.......................................................

MARY DAVIS.................................................................

DR. JANEL WILLINGHAM...............................................

SHANON THOMAS.........................................................

PAM PERRY...................................................................

AMANI SAMS....................................................................

JANETTA OLASENI.............................................................

TERA CARISSA..............................................................

www.TheGlamCEO.com

VISIT

www.TheGlamCEO.com I created this platform to help women around the world win on their own terms.

Life is short and we must commit to achieve our own specific vision of happiness, no matter what society tells us we should or should not do.

The goal is not to look like we're winning, but to actually have an inner sense of joy & fulfillment for the work and lifestyle we've created for ourselves!

ASK YOURSELF: WHAT DOES WINNING LOOK AND FEEL LIKE FOR ME? Then become proactive and start taking baby steps toward that vision.

We have a ton of speaking opportunities, books, webinars and more at www.TheGlamCEO.com to help you pursue your passion & vision successfully. We've also gathered a number of amazing visionaries herein, to share with you tips for winning in 2019!

@iamLillieMae • @GlambitiousIAM

Getting to the Lemonade Stand: Trust the Process - Alyxandra J. Ransom @HYABeauty

Before the Win - Lemons Looking back on my life, I can honestly say I AM A WINNER! I like to compare my journey to the transition of receiving lemons, turning them into lemonade, and finally creating a Lemonade Stand. After graduating high school I was heavily involved in the music scene, writing and being developed as a recording artist. Needless to say, when my family brought up going to college I was uninterested. However, not going to school was never an option for me. Beauty has been a long-time passion of mine; From cutting and styling my Barbie’s hair and applying marker as makeup, to watching my mother and grandmother apply makeup before work. Something about enhancing your looks was always fascinating to me. A light bulb went off in my head “Cosmetology School”!

In the fall of 2011, I enrolled at Aveda Institutes Atlanta. In the beginning, I was excited and I was gaining so much knowledge about the beauty industry. However, balancing school, music, and my social life was very hard for me. I was always late for school and usually out of the "all black” dress code. In most cosmetology programs you can only miss 10 days of school, and if you miss more than that, you will be dropped from the program. Well, I missed 10 days, and I was dropped. I was unfocused and had no clear vision on who I wanted to be or what I really wanted out of life. With no one else to blame, I realized that life never gave me lemons, I gave them to myself!

The Lesson - Lemonade When you’re dropped from Aveda, there are strict requirements to re-enroll. First, you are required to wait almost a year, and then you’re required to pay off your remaining balance, pay for your remaining hours, and purchase a new kit. I had 520 hours left, and a $10,000 balance. Clearly, I needed to get to work, secure the bag, and pay my way back into school!

During this time, I was still pursuing music. In 2015 I joined a girl group called Levi Johnson. Being in Levi Johnson was the hardest I'd ever worked in my life. Our creator, Jamaica Craft has no time for excuses.

She reminded me I already had the drive and discipline to be a star in whatever I choose to do. My family supported me in my choice to continue music while reminding me I had unfinished business and I BETTER be carrying my behind back to school. After a year and a half of amazing artist development, recording music, and opening up for big artists, I saw my dreams coming true before my eyes! I was happy, but not yet fulfilled. At this time I learned how to do lash extensions to put some money in my pocket, but I still did not have my license. God had blessed me with my music career, but I knew I had more work to do in order to feel complete. I finally re-enrolled in Aveda, finished my last 520 hours, and passed both sections of my state boards with flying colors. I was proud that I finished and my family was proud too!

The Win - Lemonade Stand After gaining my Masters of cosmetology license I Immediately applied to do lashes at a local lash franchise. Because I had a license, prior lash extension experience, a portfolio, and clients, I was hired on the spot. Once I started, my retail and client retention was through the roof. I adored my clients, and felt blessed being able to do something I love and get paid well!

However, something in me said, “THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!” I could not shake the entrepreneurship bug.

During my time there, I honed my craft, starting learning about how to start my own business, and developing a client base. And, then…after 6 months of working for the lash studio, the entire staff was fired I didn’t know it at the time, but this was a blessing. I started planning and promoting my own brand, HYAbeauty, and continued doing lashes and hair out of my mother’s living room. With the support of my mother and my boyfriend, I shifted my mindset from working for money to creating a beauty empire. Today, I am doing just that-- while simultaneously being in Levi Johnson, and writing music for other artists. I have two careers I love, and they both fulfill my purpose here on earth, and I know that if I stay focused I can have amazing success in both industries.

Even though I'm still in my early 20's, it feels as though I've lived through many life lessons. As hard as it is to not dwell on your past mistakes, none of us are born with a remote control or time machine! Life is full of choices, and no matter what you should choose to be happy! It is all working for our good. The biggest lesson I’ve learned about going from lemons to building a lemonade stand is to trust the process. Nothing worth having comes easy, and God only tests us and blesses us with what we are ready for. So while you build your lemonade stand out of those lemons you think life gave you, stay down with yourself—bet on yourself! You will make yourself proud. YOU WILL WIN. Winner’s tips 1. It is all about mindset. Train your mind: Visualize and prepare yourself for success! Act and speak like you’re already winning, then watch it come to fruition.

2. Tunnel vision: Don’t look left, right, or back FORWARD ONLY! 3. Take Responsibility for yourself: Only you can get you where you want to go in life!

4. Choose to be happy: life comes with good and bad, make a choice to be happy either way! It’ll get you far.

5. Stay down with yourself: The journey won’t be easy, but never give up on yourself! @hyabeauty (IG) @wearelevijohnson www.HYABeauty.co

The Year of Intention - Altimese Nichole @altimesenichole Photo Credit: Forever Kareart.

“An unintentional life accepts everything and does nothing. An intentional life embraces only the things that will add to the mission of significance.” ― John C. Maxwell I woke up and found myself on Instagram at 5:45 am in the morning. It’s not a habitual ritual but if I’m honest, the social media platform gets more of my immediate attention before dawn than my Bible. I consider it a graze of aimless browsing. As I was browsing the photos, admiring the beautiful women and internally wishing some things about myself were different, I stumbled across the profile of this beautiful woman. She was slim, short cut hair and fierce in her style. I accidentally read the caption underneath and it brought my thoughtless scrolling to a halt.

You were someone who inspired so many people across the world. Not only were you an icon, you were an amazing daughter, mother and friend. Our hearts are broken to see you go. But we know you are no longer in pain and can now rest. Heaven has gained an Angel! We love you forever!

- Joanne 8.18.78 - 9.9.18 Whoa. My God. I wasn’t expecting that yet The Holy Spirit works with intention.

All things have intention. I closed my eyes slowly and embraced the feeling of heartache. I took in that moment. It was a moment of silence to honor the life of a woman I’ve never met and was a moment of repentance for not truly honoring my own precious life.

How many times are we living our lives aimlessly? We have dreams but we fail to turn our dreams into goals with intentional action and focus. What about family? Are we living the best version of ourselves for the people close to us on and with purpose?

I’m going to go there and bring up self-love. How often are we intentionally looking in the mirror with reverence at the creation looking back at us? No filters, no internal shame, guilt, or pain of not being who we think we should be.

The act of intentional living involves the deliberate choice to seek, achieve and focus on something or someone on purpose, regardless of outside variables. At times, life can suck.

Badly. We spend the majority of our lives trying to find our way, find a groove, and BAM. Our car breaks down unexpectedly. Our best friend is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. We find out our spouse is having an affair. Our child acts as if they have lost their mind and decides to push on every last good nerve we have left. Life ends for someone we love dearly unexpectedly. All of this can happen, sometimes all at once. This journey called life happens to all of us, regardless of gender, background, human intention, and motive. Life simply happens.

When life happens to you, how do you respond to those unexpected moments? Many of us react from a place of “fight or flight.” We will run away from the situation, seeking blame, holding onto excuses, and standing firm in resentment. The other reaction we have is to fight back. We initiate survival mode, isolate ourselves and put our “It’s all about me” blinders on to push away everyone around us.

Both of these reactions are merely that: reactions. Rarely would either be rooted in some form of intentional thought or purposeful reason. We don’t quiet our minds long enough to gain clarity on our next move or hear from our inner voice for guidance. We spring into action with a swift reaction of fight or flight. This sparks our adrenaline but depletes meaningful strategy that considers, “what’s next?”

As life is happening around us and to us, imagine how you would respond if you had a physical guiding map to your goals. Becoming intentional with life requires a level of focus that goes beyond our present moment. It’s an act of choice that says regardless of the outside variables, I am choosing to handle according to the goals set forth. This year, I am striving to be different. I am aiming for intentional living. It won't be easy but the outcome will be worth the effort and investment. Will you join me?

This year is our year of intention. Become a person of who stand proudly in their gift of life.

Document your journey and use the hashtag #YearOfIntention, so we can encourage one another along the way.

About The Author: Altimese Nichole is CEO & President of Altimese Nichole Enterprise, LLC and author of the newly published book, Brandticity, which specializes in educating entrepreneurs on maximizing the power of social media for their businesses. ANE, LLC specializes is digital brand coaching, public relations support for small business owners, and strategic brand development. Learn more about Altimese at www.altimesenichole.com

How to Show Up Great - Nicole S. Mason, Esq. @NicoleSMason Photo Credit: Jackie Hicks

As a kid, my Mom called her bedroom “the parlor.” It was there that she would provide life’s lessons on various topics. The one topic that she spent a great deal of time on was Confidence. She understood that I would need confidence to survive and thrive in this world. She was famous for her many sayings, “Nicole, you don’t ask for respect, you demand it.” “When you walk into a room, it’s not about what you have on, it’s about the way you show up.” My Mom was very intentional about pouring confidence into me and imparting courage into my heart. I have come to know that my experience with my Mom was not necessarily the norm for many women. So, I use the principles she taught me in my work with the women I am honored and privileged to serve.

To Show Up Great, you need the 3 Power Cs: Confidence: It is important to know who you are at your core. You must learn to be unapologetically bold, brilliant and beautiful and not apologize for any of those characteristics. It is important to note that the world and its systems are designed to keep all of us, "in our place." But, when you come into an awareness of who you are and what you have been called to do, you then become a force to be reckoned with.

Confidence is built from the inside out. No one can make you more confident. Building confidence is very personal, and it must be intentional. You can, however, increase your ability to gain confidence by surrounding yourself with others that are confident and gleaning from the way they show up, how they live life and how they thrive after being knocked down by life's situations and circumstances. We all need examples of living life and not allowing life to throw us around. For me, my Mom was that example, and I continue to live out the lessons she taught me "in the parlor," and I help other women do likewise.

Competence: You must “know your stuff!” I once attended a meeting with one of my mentors, and the senior female leader in the room said, “The worst thing that a woman can be is vogue but vague.” Let that sink in.

She was alluding to the fact that so many women concentrate on looking good, as opposed to thinking good. It was a moment that I shall never forget, because the woman making the statement understood that it was not her clothes that got her where she was and it certainly wasn't going to be her clothes that would keep her there. She was the only woman in a sea of men at the highest levels of the organization, and she was setting an example for the other women in the organization to think more broadly than given credit or even what the men were expecting. This observation and experience still rings true for me today. I am the first and only African American female to hold the senior Diversity position in my organization. I am clear that my Mom's principles and her constant love and life lessons prepared me to be the trailblazer that I am today!

Courage: It is my belief that courage is the byproduct or the result of having confidence and competence. Courage helps you take bold steps and make power moves in your life.

Being the first and only African-American female senior leader in my organization requires loads of courage, to say the least. Courage will push you to provoke others in your space, sometimes without even trying. Courage is an energy that overwhelms you, leads, guides and directs you, so that you can make impact and bring change to the Earth! It is important to tap into the courage that lies within you, because someone is waiting for you to lead the way for them. It is my belief that courage is in our DNA! When I think of my Grandmother, who only had an 8th grade education but successfully operated her dry-cleaning business for over 50 years, I know that courage is in my DNA. When I think of my Grandfather, who taught himself to sew because there were too many kids in his family for him to have any decent clothing, so he made a decision to do something about his situation, I know that courage is in my DNA. When I think of my great Grandfather, who was able to acquire over 150 acres of land in South Carolina in the early 1900s, I know that courage is in my DNA. As we continue to flow in this SHIFT in the Earth where women are rising up to take positions of power, it is our duty and obligation to SHOW UP GREAT! Our ancestors are watching and cheering for us to build on the foundation that has been laid, learn the lessons from the legacy that has been provided and pass the baton on to the next generation of leaders, so they can SHOW UP GREAT with confidence, competence and courage!

Nicole S. Mason is an attorney, best-selling author, trailblazer, powerful preacher and Executive Leadership Coach. Nicole serves as a coach and confidante to high achieving women in ministry and the marketplace. She is an Ambassador for the American Heart Association. Nicole has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers, national airport jumbotrons and on media outlets around the world bringing awareness about Heart Health.

You may learn more about Nicole at http://www.nicolesmason.com.

When You Change Your Thinking, You Change Your Destiny - Crystal Joyel @CrystalJoyel PREREQUISITE TO WIN: What does winning mean to you? Have you ever reflected on how you think about winning?

It is an essential question that you should consider answering for yourself. How you think about winning can have a positive or negative effect on you. I have provided two statements and you will relate to one statement more than the other. Choose the statement that best reflects the way you feel.

• I feel accomplished at work when I exceed the goal that is expected.

• I feel successful at work when I have learned something new through the process of reaching my goal.

When reading the statements above which did you choose? If statement one reflects your thoughts, you focus more on the outcome and comparing yourself to others. The second statement reflects on your performance and how you can or have already improved. The way we view winning plays a vital role in our lives; it can push us forward or frustrate us.

Winning starts in our mind! We have to renew our minds in order to have a winner mindset.

WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR THINKING, YOU CHANGE YOUR DESTINY. The day you entered the world EVERYTHING that you needed to win, God already placed inside of you it is up to you to tap into it!

JOURNEY TO WIN: The enemy comes for THREE reasons only and that is to kill, steal and destroy. At a young age (7 years old to be exact), I struggled with being overweight. My parents brought me to various doctors, enrolled me in dance classes and did what they could with the resources they had to help me. I remember vividly going to dance class and couldn't do what the other girls did because I wasn't as limber, and I felt inadequate. Can you imagine feeling inadequate at seven?

That is how it all started; comparing myself to others. I struggled with low self-esteem from being overweight, but me comparing myself to others and the negative self-reflection is what killed my self-esteem. As I transitioned into adolescents, I hadn't lost any weight, however, I mastered the art of concealing my insecurities. Fourteen years later, I am in college and thought I was enjoying life by dating and socializing with peers, but I still felt

inadequate. I remember on October 26,2010 I had an epiphany that enough is enough. That is the day that my mindset shifted, and my life changed. I no longer allowed the enemy to hold captive my mind and attempt to kill, steal and destroy everything God placed inside of me. I no longer engaged in negative behavior that wasn't pleasing to God or myself. I HAD TO LOSE MYSELF TO LOVE ME BETTER. I completed the work necessary to start loving me!

I attend church service regularly, read self-help books and surrounded myself around encouraging people. I was finally learning to LOVE CRYSTAL!! That was one of the hardest things I had to do to this day, BUT the most fulfilling.

THE WIN: “When you change your thinking, you change your destiny.” I live by this statement because that is when I WON! My life changed by shifting my mindset!! I was a young girl that constantly compared herself to her peers resulting in feeling inadequate to a vibrant woman who knows whom she is. I am finally FREE 2B ME!! While going through I didn't understand why I had to endure such pain, but it wasn't about me and it was serving a purpose. God doesn't waste pain it is to birth something and to bring glory to his kingdom.

The experiences I encountered at seven was preparing me for what God had placed inside of me to be manifested later.

The Nakid Foundation was birthed February of 2017 to empower youth girls (ages 9-18) to be free from all insecurities and embrace whom God created them to be. Monthly we host meetings and individual coaching sessions on various topics to equip youth girls with the tools necessary to win in all aspects of their lives. At the age of eight or nine young girls, self-esteem peek and drops again at the age of twelve. When young girls are given the right tools and resources their self-esteem spike again at the age of twenty. I can coach these young ladies monthly and share with them the importance of self-love, self-worth & selfesteem because I once too was a little girl who was scared and broken. I wasn't given the resources to boost my self-confidence; I had to figure it out on my own. Living in Truth Coaching, was birthed from this organization to empower women to embrace their truth and embrace what God has for them. I can teach it because I lived it.

WINNER TIPS: 1. Change your mindset: When you change your thinking, you change your destiny. Be intentional and filter everything that you see and hear.

2. Eliminate Comparison: God has equipped each of us with our own individual talents and gifts to add to the world. As you reflect back on the two questions, I asked earlier in the chapter you can see how the way you view winning affect your outcome. I personally compared myself to others and it only damaged my self-esteem. Instead of comparing yourself to someone else reflect on how you can do better and work on you.

3. FREE 2B ME: Embrace all of your imperfections and be all God created you to be. Use what you have learned & heal from to help someone else. When we help others the pain we endured isn't wasted because someone else is able to heal and help others as well. www.crystaljoyel.com | www.twitter.com/crystaljoyel www.facebook.com/crystaljoyelempower |www.instagram.com/crystaljoyel

Believe in yourself even when nobody else believes in you -Dr. Shawanda S. Moore

@Royal_Products_Services

Before The Win....

There were constant thoughts of fear and failure that ran across my mind. I used to doubt the possibility of being successful as an entrepreneur because it was foreign territory. I had always been an extremely hard worker, so work is not what frightened me. It would require a new faith in not only God, but also myself. My primary thought was that I did NOT want to be a failure. The part that bothered me most was that the people I assumed would support me, such as family, friends, and colleagues, didn’t provide the support that I thought I needed.

I was so excited to start my business and truly desired to involve all of them in my vision because I am a selfless person and wanted to see everyone winning. However, very few asked what I was trying to do, if they could be involved, or how they could help out. I had to tag and text people (basically harass them) to follow my Instagram or Facebook business pages, because they were not responsive to any of the posts introducing my business. It was very hard for me because it seemed as if noone was interested in even offering simple support. I also tried to reach out to other successful entrepreneurs, however, there was no response to be found there either.

I realized in those moments that just because you support someone does not mean they will support you in return. It really made me feel as if my visions and goals were impossible to accomplish. I questioned my faith in myself and my ability to see this through. I was alone in the process and spent many long hours not only planning my business, but also investing every dollar that came my way. It was hard to do at first, because I'd relocated from New Orleans (resigning from two full-time careers), moved to Atlanta and could not find a job even though I have obtained several degrees and years of experience in several different fields.

The Lesson.....

I was depending so much on everyone else to become excited for me and support my business, that I forgot the only REAL source of support I needed was from God.

So, I stopped expecting others to be involved in this process and I began putting all my faith and trust in God. I knew He would never allow me to fail. I changed my entire mindset and began focusing solely on accomplishing my goals and I allowed God to handle the rest. I found myself coming up with more ideas, more creativity and having the desire to work harder. I also gained the ability to feel accomplished after I met each goal previously set for myself and my business. I allowed God to guide me through the process.

I trusted Him and stayed true to my commitment of putting in the work. Eventually, a few people began sharing my business page and began to provide the support I needed. My support system was small because it consisted of very few people, but it was strong. My prayers were being answered and my understanding of God’s plan for me became deeper.

I prayed for a team to assist me and God sent me two beautifully talented ladies, Ms. Monica Roberson and Ms. Ursula Fleming-Dewalt. The lesson was that God is in control of everything and I had to give it all to Him. I realized that God had been working my plan out long before I even created a plan because everything began falling into place after I sat quiet and kept my faith in God. The Win......

The Win involved seeing my visions come to life, publishing my own products, empowering others to accomplish their goals, receiving new clients, and working with other entrepreneurs through events and volunteer opportunities. It has been an amazing feeling to see my goals move from my thoughts, to paper, and then to reality. I am still being guided by God daily, as my business continues to grow and I continue growing as an individual. The biggest win for me was the increase in my relationship with God and realizing that He has uniquely created me with talents and skills to be successful in life.

Now that I am using my skills and talents, I have created the slogan that Skills and Talents Matter as the cornerstone of my business.

Winner Tips: Set goals and thoroughly plan them out.

Execute your plans when the time is right.

Believe in yourself even when nobody else believes in you.

Invest in what you believe in.

Do not give up on your dreams.

Trust God’s timing and process by continuing to pray.

Understand that everybody won’t be able to go on this journey with you.

Trust that God will provide everything you need.

Build positive relationships with others in the industry.

Always support others especially the ones that support you. www.royalproductsandservices.com • Facebook: @royalproductsandservices customerservice@royalproductsandservices.com

Persevere To Win - Delma Garcia-Montanez @DelmaMontanez If you’re reading this book it’s because you have been down for a long time and you are now in it to Win it. The feelings of defeat just do not smother your desire to try once more. Persevering because you're burdened by a dream. Every fiber of your being knows that all one needs is a sudden moment. Trusting that what is left of you is more than enough to not only survive but too thrive.

The current circumstance means absolutely nothing to the winner within. Whether it’s a tax levy, being accused of a crime you did not commit, contracting a sexually transmitted disease, divorce, loss of a job, foreclosure, child services removing your children, or even the death of a beloved loved one. None of these things move you because destiny awaits. I know this because I too have suffered.

Most of my afflictions resulted from narcissistic family members who’s flying monkeys would stop at nothing until their agenda had been fulfilled. Yet, I still had the ability to muster up enough strength to believe that there was more for me. Surviving character assassins required that I speak well of myself to myself. (now take that and rewind it back.) This one bodacious decision has the potential to move mountains. If one bad decision can ruin your life than it’s safe to say that one good decision can move you from survival to health and wealth.

When life gets hard become better by harnessing your personal power. Align your prayers, thoughts and words with action. Again, I am speaking from experience because during my most trying times I continuously counseled myself with gratitude but still I wanted more. There has to be more to life than merely dogging lies, debt, and death.

Never become afraid of admitting that you’re longing for more.

In the words of Bishop Td Jakes, “Our human nature compels us to search for more.”

“The danger of wanting more; it is in not knowing what our more looks like.” I’ve learned that the uncommon dream requires perseverance. Hell hates you and the desires of your heart because heaven ordained it. Adopt the belief that time conspires in your favor because there is no blueprint for achieving potential. One must become a woman/man of great valor standing alone if necessary.

The bigger the problem the greater the possibilities. It’s time you stop pretending to be an average person. Be intentional from small changes come big transformations. Know for certain that you are not the problem you; you are the solution.

Become intentional and awakened with urgency! You have been through too much hell and to retreat now would be impossible. Therefore, embrace the courage to try once more, sitting still is not a wealth strategy. If you need rest slow down until your able to achieve excellence right where you are. God may not have given you more than what you wanted but he has given you more than what was expected. Close your eyes and say. It is written: I am the lender and not the borrower. I am above only and never beneath.

I’ve evolved into the boldest of self because life has challenged my beliefs and integrity but I do not give up because I am fighting for me. All those challenges have made me a beautiful expression of life.Self-mastery was not an accident and I did not stumble upon my dreams it took hard work and relentless dedication. Giving up the need to control when and how it would happen gave me power. My vision has brought clarity to life and the direction for my living. However, I had to become resilient despite the fear of failure.

Below are five steps to help overcome mediocrity: 1. Take a moment and opt into self-interrogation; it brings about a world of revelation.

Remind yourself that what got you here won’t get you there.

2. Identify your own toxicity and those that enable your unbecoming behavior.

3. Be open to how God wants to bless you by asking yourself questions like what do I need to learn and who am I willing to learn from?

4. Hold on tight to the resource called confidence and dress for success.

5. Persist even when you don’t see any progress.

Believe that the world is truly conspiring in your favor. It’s an unusual instruction but all things are working for your good and this new realm of power is going to require a greater level of courage.Make no excuses. Be who you are. Create a better tomorrow, however, remember to remain present and enjoy the journey along the way. www.delmagarciamontanez.com Instagram: @delmamontanez Facebook: Delma Montanez Twitter: @delmamontane

Just Do It and Do It Scared - Gentamu (Jen Jen) McKinney @Worknplayco Quite often we talk ourselves out of a lot of successful ventures and amazing relationships because we are scared. We are scared of the things we think we may be lacking in, or we are scared at what could go wrong. Instead of having faith and hope about the things that we do possess and focusing on what could go right, we hold on to fear. We are scared. According to Webster’s Dictionary, scared is defined as “being in the state of fear, fright or panic”, but what exactly are we scared or in fear of? We are scared of the unknown.

Just because you are scared doesn’t mean that you are not ready, not the right person for the job, or that the timing is not right. The most amazing and successful business ventures and relationships come from the most uncommon people, unforeseen places and worst of times. Now don’t get me wrong. If you are too scared to do something because it is life-threatening, that is a whole different story. By all means, abort the mission. I repeat, abort the mission. You definitely want to use your spirit of discernment.

I am currently the Founder and CEO of two business ventures: Awareness After Dark, a nonprofit that combines health and social justice issues with entertainment and WORK N PLAY CO, a travel and event company. Awareness After Dark specializes in mental health awareness. WORK N PLAY CO is a socially responsible adventure company that specializes in voluntourism.

The way businesses and relationships are portrayed on social media, more and more people are afraid to take risks. Why? Because all they see is the Glitz and Glam not the Grit and Grind. Everything you do is not meant to be pretty, and there is sense of pride and joy looking back at your humble beginnings. Here are some of my examples: My first Mental Health Awareness event for Awareness After Dark was held in a “trickedout” backyard. Forget that you ever heard “it never rains in Southern California”. It was a freaking tsunami for about the first hour! Still, 75 people showed up. My first Documentary, “Let’s Get Mental”, was about mental health awareness in the African American community. It was filmed in my grandfather’s man cave. The documentary got me nominated for several awards and a trip to the Pan African Film Festival to Cannes, France. I truly have a love-hate for this film because I shot it the day after I got out the emergency room, plus I got that ugly cry. Needless to say, this film has opened and saved lives -- more lives than I can count. I am forever thankful. Please note I have no prior film experience.

My first trip under Work N Play Co was solo, the next only consisted of 4 people, and after that 16.

Now I know you are probably thinking I must not be that scared since I’ve partaken in several ventures. Wrong. For a good 10 minutes, I freaked out and was like, “You are actually going to be writing something for the whole world to see, and they are going to critique me. What did I just get myself into!" Instantly I had a flash back to my freshman year in college when my English professor tried to fail me and everyone else in her class.

The professor told me she didn’t understand how I graduated high school or got accepted into the university.

WOW! It wasn’t that I couldn’t write well. I could not write on the spot or take timed writing tests and write about subjects that were unfamiliar to me. Eventually, I found out the professor was trying to make her tenure and remain employed. I snapped out of it and saw her face in my head and threw those failed papers in her face and said, "check my resume and the degrees on my wall!” Her face and those negative thoughts immediately vanished, and visions of me completing not only the chapter of this book, but other books appeared with my image on the cover.

Truth be told, writing this chapter helped me overcome some of my own fears. I am a big believer in practicing what I preach. I had writers block for several weeks. Although I am well-known for my creative, out-of-the-box, unorthodox events, business and volunteer adventures, I could not do this one simple thing. It drove me crazy. When it came to a certain relationship, I had literally counted myself out because of what I thought I had lacked, based off this person’s repeated comments about another women’s physique.

For too long I had put my own feelings aside, because I was not acknowledging how I truly felt. It was time for the elephant to get out the room! Now did it go as plan like some fairly tale black love story movie? No! As a matter of fact, I think I had an anxiety attack over dinner trying to get my words out. However, I no longer have to wonder, and I had the courage to do what most wouldn’t do.

Does rejection feel good? No! It sucks! Was I hurt? Yes. Did I cry? Yes. I was a hot mess for about a week, looking like an episode of “Being Mary Jane”. I’m quite okay with that, because not only am I a big Gabriel Union fan, but the character she played was freaking awesome and just about every educated African American woman I know could relate to her character.

Not only that, she got everything she wanted and deserved in the end. Wink Wink. I’m a sucker for a Black love story. Truth be Told I actually dodged a major bullet! Insert Beyoncé Song” Best Thing I Never Had”. Hey one man’s trash is another man’s treasure a baby, trust me visit your neighborhood yard sale. You will thank me later! Where one may think you lack, another may see an abundance --maybe not in the booty area, but hey! A girl can’t have it all.

My packaging and ingredients may not be appealing to everyone; you can’t make someone see your beauty or worth. My internal beauty and worth is priceless. I can’t put it in numbers and whether it’s a business or relationship, you are not always going to be what someone else is looking for – at least, not at first. Sometimes people won’t know how valuable you are, or your product is until they have gone through some type of misfortune.

How many times have we watched the television show “Shark Tank” and saw how the Shark Investors declined a guest’s business proposal due to the calculated risks involved. They show all these figures and factors in a big blue box for television viewers to see their reasoning behind the decline in their offer. Some of the Sharks admitted to not having enough expertise or just not know what to do with the contestant’s product.

Many of the guests who were rejected have ended up with amazing deals from other sources and have done better than having a deal with the “Sharks” who, by the way, have admitted missing out on an amazing opportunity.

So how do you Win in 2019? You Just Do it & Do it Scared. Allow yourself to feel the rollercoaster of the unknown because you may miss out on something beautiful that can help fulfill your life’s purpose and set your mind at ease. Most importantly, bring you the abundance of joy and happiness that you so much deserve.

I know you probably still have some doubts. Here are some helpful affirmations and mantras to help get you started: “I breathe unto fear and turn it into an adventure” “I go with the choice that scares me most, because that’s the one that is going to help me grow” “You can be Scared and Be Ready “ “Its OK to be Scared. It means You’re about to do something Really Brave” “Fear Kills More Dreams that Failure Ever Will” www.awarenessafterdarkapparel.com www.worknplayco.com Awareness After Dark “ Let’s Get Mental” Documentary https://vimeo.com/152431533 Email: gentamu30gmail.com & info@worknplayco.com Facebook: Awareness After Dark & Work N Play Travel Instagram : Awarenessafterdark & Worknplayco

How to Win in Family and Business - Shanda Cadet

@businessbabiesandbeauty

I was an entrepreneur before I even knew what that career was. In high school, I provided hair services to female classmates in my home for a fee. I always knew I’d run my own company. What I didn’t know is that I’d give birth to 7 children. Two things are for sure: I was born to be a mother. And I was born to be in business.

My name is Shanda Cadet. I’m a wife, mom to seven kids and I’m growing a multi-faceted, multi-million dollar, Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) Company. God graces me to do it all and more each day. The fact that you’re reading this guide tells me that you’re ready to WIN! I’m going to share with you how I’ve been able to WIN in family and business.

It hasn’t always been easy. At my lowest, I was homeless, living out of one of the worst hotels in Atlanta with my husband and four kids at the time. We were victims of a lease– purchase scam and had to leave our home that we thought we’d purchased. But, I had unshakable faith and a vision. I could see myself doing better, even though that wasn’t my reality.

I watched God keep his promise concerning a home for us. We came out of that situation as successful home and business owners. Even at our lowest we still performed at a high level.

With my business brain and my husband’s talent, we sustained when times were uncertain.

Today we’ve grown tremendously. Our family and our business! And quite honestly, each baby I had bought on a bigger blessing. I’ve learned so much over the years as a wife, mom, and businesswoman. I created Business Babies & Beauty in 2015, to share my knowledge and experiences globally through blogs, books, and public speaking. Now, I’m going to share with you my top three tips on how I manage family and business.

1. Pray Always. I purposely pray to pattern myself after the woman in Proverbs. She’s a bad chick! She’s highly capable of taking care of the family, the business, and herself. She does it gracefully. She relies on God and her natural abilities to get things done and manage the affairs of her household. Visit her at Proverbs 31.

2. Prioritize Everyday. If you don’t get this one thing right, it slows down progress.

Schedule the most daunting tasks first. I like to schedule two essential tasks and leave room for flexibility with the kids. Make a list of the most important things that will propel your business and prioritize them in the order of importance. Likewise, for the family. If you want time with family, be sure to make it a priority that day and be fully engaged.

3. Practice Self Care. Self-care is the “Beauty” in Business Babies & Beauty. Practicing self-care is important. As wives, mothers, and women in general, we need to practice selfcare. I re-iterate “practice” because it’s often something we forget about and practicing will help us be better at it. Your family and business will be upside down if you run yourself into the ground with overwhelm. Schedule ten or fifteen minutes to regroup, book a spa day, dinner for one, whatever it may be; you need it. Most times I take one or all seven kids with me for errands and daily excursions, but sometimes I purposely go alone because I know I need some time for myself. It does not equate to selfishness for me. It helps me to be a better woman in all facets when I intentionally do this.

Lessons I’ve learned with business and family…

• Be Patient. Things take time. Building a business takes time. Adjusting to a new baby takes time. Don’t be in a rush for anything.

• Stay Educated. You must further your education in books/courses that help better yourself, your family, and your business.

• Do One Thing. Do one thing well and focus on that before you expand or start something new. I can’t tell you how many companies I began while I was starting another one. Neither got a full focus. Sure the businesses were profitable, but I would be hustling doing a million different things. I made up my mind that I was going to stop hustling and be a real businesswoman. I put all my focus on growing our HVAC company, and I haven’t stopped.

• Handle the “Business” First! When you decide to start a business, set it up for success from the beginning. We’ve lost out on lucrative opportunities because the paperwork wasn’t in order from the start. Although I had attended college, I had no formal business education. I had to discover how to be a businesswoman on my own. For most businesses, there are licenses, certificates, and insurances that should be obtained before you engage in activity with the public. Also, certify your small business with the Small Business Administration as soon as possible and certify as a Women-Owned Small Business if possible. It will set you up for success from the beginning and will open the door for many opportunities for your family and business.

• Invest in Yourself! I don’t say this lightly. You are already on a roll because you invested in yourself when you purchased this guide! Don’t let it stop there. I’ve spent thousands of dollars in a business coach, PR, courses, books, and conferences that add value to my family and business. I still do. And I’d do it all over again.

Managing a family and business can be tough at times, but it’s also rewarding to know that you’re leaving a legacy. Don’t give up. If I can do it, so can you! I’d love to help! Email me: Hello@b3brand.com. Visit www.B3Brand.com and subscribe for all things business, babies, and beauty. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Business Babies & Beauty and follow me on Instagram @businessbabiesandbeauty.

Winning Past Sunday Being Victorious 7 Days a Week!

-Dr. Renee Sunday @DrReneeSunday Everyone wants to be a winner; however, not everyone is always willing to endure the process to winning. There are often obstacles and tough decisions to be made. There’s even much sacrifice and some compromise that we have to consider. We’re forced to think and implement without fear or delay. And if we’re not able to move or respond accordingly, we won’t get the end result that we desire. People often refer to those unwanted results as “losses” but I prefer to call them “lessons.” However, it hasn’t always been that way. There was, in fact, a time when I was so honed in on winning that I couldn’t receive the lessons in the opposite.

I was a child who strived to be perfect! I wanted perfect grades and I was an extreme overachiever. Everything had to be the way I desired and I wouldn’t take anything less. And while that’s not necessarily a horrible characteristic to have, it can get in the way of seeing the bigger picture and learning valuable life lessons. So I was that person who wanted to win-win-win but refused to look at the importance of the underlying elements in those losses. A “loss” to me was devastating and made me feel slightly devalued. So instead, I would experience a horrible sense of frustration and defeat and often talked myself out of trying again. This mindset carried on for quite some time, because the idea of winning was so embedded in me that I didn’t recognize there was more than one way to win.

A major shift in my mindset took place when my brother became ill. There was so much going on; doctor's appointments, medications, insurance claims, organ donations, and then funeral arrangements. On top of that, the care of my parents became more of my responsibility and my focus was planted in too many directions.....And in the midst of all of that turmoil and heartache, I was forced to birth something amazing – a book, entitled, “Sunday Grief.” Yes, it was grief that propelled me to a place where I had to believe that my talent was valuable. Matter of fact, it was a talent that I didn’t even know I had. Yet, my pain and my confusion caused me to birth something that could heal and restore. And I never imagined myself being an author, yet it was in me to do all along.

Another shift that aided me was when I went from a 6-figure salary to nothing, all in one day! Yes, me! Dr. Renee Sunday. Board Certified Anesthesiologist, named one of the

Top 100 Anesthesiologists in the country on multiple occasions. Yet, I found myself in what seemed to be the grip of defeat. The economy took a shift; and with that shift, my position was eliminated. With no warning, no time to prepare, and no time to regroup, I had to come up with a plan B. But in actuality, this loss caused something to awaken in me that forced me to make a decision – I had to find another way to win! I had to find another way to manifest! I had to find another way to obtain the victory that I knew I was worthy of. And with that, I became The Platform Builder.

This platform caused me to publish books, it caused me to tap into my gift of motivational speaking, it caused me to recognize that some losses are really gains. But most importantly, it taught me that I really didn’t know my own strength. You see, we don’t often know how strong and resourceful we are until that’s what we HAVE to become. And the way my life was going, I had no other choice but to allow the real me to emerge – the “me” that was up under the layers of perfect imperfection, laced with skills and talents that I was unaware of.

I learned who I was, and I fell in love with who I was becoming. I learned that sometimes our victories might look like defeat. But most importantly, I learned to take the limits off TOTALLY!!! And to experience that feeling is one of the most liberating sensations one could ever imagine.

It’s ironic that my last name is Sunday, because people assume that it’s my favorite day of the week. But on the contrary, every day that I’m alive is my favorite day. And here’s why – I’ve learned how to WIN past Sunday! I’ve learned how to enjoy every day of the week, repetitively! I’ve learned to constantly evolve and mature, while pouring out every gift that I have to the world. And while it isn’t always easy, it is worth it.

I travel the world and inject these 3 principles into audiences of all types: Believe, Trust, and Walk it out! Half of the battle is stuck in our mindset. If we never grab hold of the vision that we can win and can be successful, we’ll never indulge in victory to the fullest. It’s easy to encourage others and cheer them on, but we must learn to do that for ourselves. Next, we have to trust that our good ideas and our secret dreams aren’t to be minimized. We must trust that our imagination is a great as it is for a reason, and we use it for propelling and not descending. Lastly, we’ve got to put our money where our mouth is. That simply means we’ve got to be a people of action and not just talking. Consistency is key in our process and we have to enjoy the ride!

Everyday can truly be your favorite day of the week; it’s all in how you envision it and how you feel about yourself. Know that every good and seemingly negative event in your life has purpose. And even when the situations look dreary, they’re creating a winner’s platform for you. You’ve just got to stop looking at everything that’s wrong and see what’s right. Only then can you win – when you change your vision! And once that happens, you can open a plethora of doors to “be seen, be heard, and get paid!” www.ReneeSunday.com

Minding the Business That Pays You: A Career Woman’s Guide To Staying Focused in 2019 - Jasmin Forts, MBA, CPCC @JobbingWithJas Honoring our life choices can be difficult. Add that we can peek into others’ highlight reels of life and career, it's hard to accept we may not be where we want to be in our careers.

Living in the Information Age we can read about the decreasing wages or increasing competitive nature of the employment market. It can all feel so overwhelming looking outwardly. Giving up and jumping out of your career seems to be the only option. Being a Certified Career Coach, I talk to several different women in a month; and hundreds in a year. What I can tell you is the focus some of us put on other people’s careers have become a catalyst or platform for us to move in a direction that worked for other people.

Big STOP sign, sis! Pause and reassess. This is where we bring ourselves to mind the business that pays us.

Whether you are graduating college and looking to enter corporate other workplaces, already growing in your career, or transitioning out the key to an optimal experience is focusing on what you can do to make your experience the best possible while in that opportunity. If you are growing your career focus on that. That is your business. When we align our talents and resources it allows us to grow both technically but professionally as well. The maturation process will allow us to view the silver lining of every opportunity.

Again, minding the business that pays us.

Business Plans vs Your Career Plan All businesses start a business plan. In your growing your career, have you outlined yours?

The purpose of a business plan is to effectively define your goals and steps needed to reach them. The same energy is needed in focusing on your career. The business you work for or the industry you grow your talent in is always ebbing and flowing. All business is looking at ways to grow and impact the bottom line positively. That means you should be doing the same thing to plan your career moves. Make actions that flow through with purpose and vision as you operate in your talent. Like a business plan, your career plan should explain your objective and talent to anyone wanting to hire you; but more importantly, your objective should make sense to yourself.

For example, if I work in IT and I see an industry trend of getting certain Certifications, I should make a plan to obtain those certifications.

Also, it would make sense to connect with people I trust in my network and industry professionals that already have the skill set and certifications. Even partner with those looking to obtain the same as well. Your focus on your positively impacting your career will lead you into rooms with the minds. Trust the process.

SWOT Your Career Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats. Do you know yours? Let’s see. Three things we should target: First step: Focus on your talents your expertise. I can’t say this enough. Understand the skill set YOU possess that no one else can hold a candle to. Once we understand our sweet spot in our career it triggers us to be great. It allows us to move within that excellence in our industry or businesses are employed.

Second step: I assign myself industry-specific associations or training that enhance those skill sets. I assess either things I need to work on or things that I'm really an expert.

Focusing on what we bring to the table- the great, the challenges, and the neutral help us understand not only our value; but validate what we should be paid as well.

Third step: I make this business plan plain. I make an action plan to move its and hold myself accountable through the year. Whether it's through a spreadsheet showing the tasks or the association memberships I’ve joined or even some of the actions that did not push my career. I want to measure and understand all the things I did for myself allowing me to either be paid more monetarily or through experience.

Get Positive Payouts This seems easy. Right? But when we start moving in the practice of focusing on our own lives, our own careers, our own successes and losses it can be difficult. Surrounded by other people stories, images, or whatever can push back into your corner. Don’t do it. I beg you to stay in the game, sis! The world needs your magic. Part of honoring our journey through life is recognizing our career is our own. It isn’t anecdotal, and one size does not fit all. Moving through the steps provided above will help start us to identify who we want to be professionally. When things get tough or we have a moment of looking at what the next person is doing-we're not persuaded to pack up our things and leave. It takes a certain level of emotional intelligence, ambition, discipline, and focus to stay in tune to your career in any workspace where you are not the main boss. As long as you are staying aligned with minding the business that pays you and not others, your career trajectory should be founded in your expertise and skill set and successes- not others in your industry or around you.

Every business is looking for positive payouts in return on investment. When you mind your own business, you know investing in your skill set and talents earlier on will eventually ROI and outcome. So, in turn, honoring our own journey as well as focus and following the three steps above as professional women can result in a positive payout in minding our own professional business. Stay in the game…go get ‘em, sis! www.jobbingwithjas.com

Strategies to Balance Motherhood and Self-Care - Rhonda Spratt @BellaLuveEvents Several years ago, my life changed forever. My perspective, priorities, and way of living life were turned topsy-turvy in the most amazing way. I became a Mother! Motherhood is an honor and a God-given gift. It yields an unconditional love that can’t be explained. Each stage of Motherhood presented its own set of challenges. From the beginning, my entire life was centered around my child. I rarely pampered myself or considered self-care as a priority. Parenting, in general, is quite overwhelming, however, single parenting poses a different challenge. As a single parent, I struggled with being a great Mother and maintaining self-care. Unfortunately, over time, self-care was no longer a priority. This neglect began to take a toll on my overall well-being. After becoming an entrepreneur, I became increasingly aware that self-care was important if I wanted to remain a great Mother, pursue my dreams and become a successful entrepreneur.

In an effort to honor myself and regain control of my mental, physical, and spiritual health. I discovered (11) self-care strategies to maintain inner peace and create a balanced lifestyle: 1. Prioritize & Create Boundaries. Determine who and what's most important, set clear intentions and eliminate distractions. Prioritizing daily is imperative to avoid being distracted by people and situations that do not add value to your life. Developing boundaries in friendships has been an awkward experience because I am ‘loyal' to a fault.

However, I've learned to set boundaries and accept that all relationships aren’t healthy.

2. Protect Energy & Peace. Evaluate inner circle, determine who and what deserves your energy and detox from toxic relationships. Avoid those who critique, criticize others, debate back and forth, project their insecurities and must always have the last word. It's vital to self-observe, acknowledge your role in a toxic relationship, and adjust your inner circle accordingly. Flee from anyone who poisons your soul and drains your energy with webs of negativity - this includes certain family members. If you feel drained after a conversation with a person and they do not feel like ‘Sunshine' after an interaction with them – they must take a back seat in your life. Also, ensure your relationships are reciprocal. Protecting your energy includes not feeling obligated to answer every phone call or text message. Fill your inner circle with inspiring and uplifting people. Those who are not afraid to give a compliment or word of encouragement and are genuinely happy for you.

3. Infuse your Spirit with Positive Affirmations. The ‘Law of Attraction' is a universal rule and our thoughts create our reality. It's imperative to think and speak positively over your life, spouse, children, and situations. Each morning, I read affirmations, quotes and listen to uplifting music.Also, I follow uplifting social media profiles to flood my feeds with positivity.

4. Focus on Breathing. Remember to inhale and exhale through anxious thoughts & moments. Often, I must remind myself to breathe during an episode of anxiety. Focusing on breathing really helps to navigate stressful situations.

5. Disconnect from Electronics. Deliberately unplug from all electronics, social media and your business. It's OK to take a break - you don't have to grind continuously. As challenging as ‘unplugging' feels in the beginning, it becomes easier over time. To begin, choose a certain day and time to turn off the cell phone and TV. Use these breaks as an opportunity to engage in activities that fuel your soul and makes your heart smile.

6. Candlelight Bath. Taking a bath is very therapeutic, it's actually a luxury when you are accustomed to taking showers. During candlelight bath sessions, turn off the lights, burn a scented candle (Lavender or Vanilla), play soft music in the background, sprinkle baking soda or Epsom salt in the tub, sip wine and soak until the stress and anxiety of the day melt away.

7. Pamper/Spa. Routine visits to the hair and nail salon + a monthly facial and massage are a must. Also, I schedule regular spa visits to enjoy basking in the various steam rooms and a body scrub.

8. Practice Gratitude. Remain grateful, celebrate and thank God/Universe for exactly where you are in each stage of your journey. Every morning before I reach for my phone, I lie in bed and purposely thank God for granting me another day at life. It's amazing how this simple act can set the trajectory for your entire day. Throughout the workday, I'll step away from my desk and simply focus on being in a state of ‘Gratitude’. It's easy to become consumed with thoughts of lack as opposed to appreciating what's directly in front of us.

9. Journal. I'm a journal junkie and love journals embossed with positive words of affirmation. Most evenings, I recount the day and jot down various ideas, feelings or list at least one thing I’m grateful for.

10. Laugh. Laughter is music to the soul. Find humor in most situations and don’t take life so seriously. Though it's a simple and easy self-care strategy, it's often overlooked.

Whether it's laughing with friends and family, attending a comedy show, or watching a funny movie, Laughing Out Loud is a therapeutic remedy I absolutely enjoy!

11. Attend an Annual Retreat. As a travel enthusiast; attending an annual women's retreat is easily one of my favorite strategies. Traveling and disengaging from daily routine is very therapeutic. Each year, I plan an annual women's retreat to various destinations. During the retreats, we unplug, savor local food, sightsee, laugh, and fellowship. A retreat allows an opportunity to reset before returning to a busy lifestyle. I encourage every woman to invest in travel. Travel is a gift that enhances your life beyond any material purchase. Finally, SelfCare is more than a spa visit. It’s respecting and honoring your mind, body, and spirit.

Remember, always choose YOU. And do whatever it takes to win in life! www.BellaLuve.com , BellaLuveEvents@gmail.com Social Media – Bella Luve’ Events by Design

To WIN IN 2019, set your sights on the prize YOU want.

- Fayonna Briscoe @dimensionalx3 BEFORE THE WIN My name is Fayonna Swanzetta DeLoache-Briscoe. I am the Mother of four wonderful daughters. I am a multifaceted Entrepreneur. I have various educational backgrounds and experiences in the Medical, Accounting & Administrative Business, Cosmetics Arts, Financial Education, and Event Planning and Décor arenas.

The birthing of my abilities for being an entrepreneur was unique. Coming from a family of educators, there was no way for them to understand the risks and benefits involved in “working for yourself”. They trusted the planned out script of a set work schedule and duties, in a set location, set salaries, with a set routine. My ambitions would not let me settle for the norm. Nothing was wrong with their norm, but I wanted different.

I can remember from my childhood into my young adult years, thinking to myself that maybe I cannot work for myself; I cannot create a skill or service for someone….it is not a safe risk to take. I would mentally talk myself out of even trying. A spark would ignite but soon fade away. I needed to imagine more and put those plans to work. I desired my own personal satisfaction of accomplishing something different, not the norm. I needed to tap into what was inside of my heart and mind. With consistent prayer, I made the decision to pursue more to build a brand for myself…..Build my Business.

THE LESSONS Once I listened to my inner self, I would think of ideas and plans, only to not organize and execute them. This led incomplete products or services. I became very frustrated. It is now that I understand all of the obstacles were a part of the process for me to reach my goals.

Everyone was not supportive of my dreams or cheered me on along my journey. I had to accept that. I struggled to continue on my way. I looked for affirmation and encouragement for my business ideas from the wrong sources.

At one time, being both a Wife and Mother, I would place everyone else’s needs and desires ahead of my own. This was my life. That hindered more than helped me. I would experience so many obstacles, that I continued to question what I was going to do for

myself. I would dream of seeing my name and business name in lights, but my dream did not show me the process. I doubted what was already inside of me. Late nights and little sleep from trying to organize and mentally restructure my game plan for success took some time. I had to figure out where to fit it in if I was going to me of any success.

I reached out to various people in the different entrepreneurial areas; seeking guidance on how they made it, asking to shadow them, only to be set aside and not helped. I would cry alone for wanting to try so hard and not get the inspiration or guidance from others in their businesses. I had to realize that I was using someone else’s vision instead of creating my own. Whoa! That was huge for me! I ask God to help me and show me what to do. I had to keep pushing; I had to keep going. I had to show my daughters that I could do this!

I have to do this for my legacy.

THE WIN It struck me hard one day. Working for the state, it was that safety net for me as a “norm”.

On one particular day, I received an email from my supervisor of me not having a position the upcoming year. I was shocked and angry at the same time. At that moment, I went from drive to overdrive. I started reading more books from various authors in Business. I observed others and took away do’s and do not’s. I maximized my time and efforts to brand myself differently. I created more time for myself….It is said, “You cannot pour from an empty cup”. I created plans with visions, goals, and aspirations with achievable timelines. I started to speak out to unfamiliar people in different organizations of what I had to offer as a Business. I finally took my passions serious to project them outward seriously. I took my dreams and goals to the next level.

WINNING TIPS To WIN IN 2019, set your sights on the prize YOU want. The prize is accomplishing what placed inside of your heart to do. Start with a vision and sketch it out. Create a vision board, vision poster, or create a journal of daily inspirations and reminders of your dreams and goals. Dedicate time each day towards your dreams and goals. Even if it is only 30 minutes daily, do it.

Business Dreams and Goals are certainly attainable. Stay organized, whether on a device or notepad. As you think of an idea or another step to your plan, write it down. The more you see what it written, the more you will be in alignment with the right network of people and organizations to assist you along the way. Celebrate every victory in your plans and goals, no matter how small. Just know at this very moment, I believe in you and celebrate your success! Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it. (KJV) www.dimensional-techniques.com | www.fesconnect.net/FBriscoe Email: dimensionalx3@gmail.com | Personal Instagram: @msfayonna Business Instagram: @dimenssionalx3 | Facebook Business: dtechniques Twitter: bfayonna

Layers Unleashed “7 Layers of Unleashing The Inner You” - MJ Roberson @author_mjroberson Before the WIN Growing up, I had a vision and a dream that stuck with me, however I had to figure out how to bring those dreams to life. At a very young age I dealt with an illness known as Undifferentiated Connective Tissue disease, which caused me to hardly ever experience a lot of physical activities as family and friends around me. It is an illness that literally takes over my body and causes widespread pain. It was never easy growing up in the city of New Orleans where violence was on a rapid rampage and because of this, I endured the death of my father at an early age. Throughout the years I pressed forward attempting to overcome this tragedy, but the only thing that kept me going was the fact that I could still make my father proud in heaven. In life, you can look like a winner, but not be a winner.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty came with a lot of attention, but I grew up knowing that I would definitely need more than that to succeed in life.

The Lessons Life lessons such as experiencing not having much and starting to work at the age of 15 built me. I had to make a few mistakes to know when I finally got something right. There are many times when things go wrong in life. These set of trials and tribulations come to build up your strength and allow you to create a journey. This journey is not placed upon you to kill you. It is to help you create a life worth living I learned to dwell in these few steps below: 1. You can’t change others around you, but you can change you.

Rather than taking external conditions and blaming them for unfortunate life situations, take a closer look at yourself first to see if there's anything you can change to make situations better.

2. You are not in charge of controlling life, but you can control yourself.

There are events in life that you can't control, being naturally born into a broken family, losing your relatives at a youthful age, turning into a casualty of an unforeseeable mishap, or having a disease. The most powerful thing we can do is make the good and bad moments, and not letting it make you. If we follow this motto, we are controlling our life and not letting it be controlled.

3. You can’t change the old news, but you can create good news.

You must believe that your attitude is everything. If your attitude is on the right temperature when issues arise, you have a better chance of addressing them better. It helps you conquer the most challenging issues with courage, grace and faith.

Learning to lean on your strength and believe that a win is coming, will take a lot of investing in your faith. You can’t face a challenge head on if you expect a negative outcome. You must choose to approach it knowing that this is only a phase to get me to my next point.

4. You are not weak, you are strong.

New positive experiences can bring you to a point where you only focus on things that bring you peace. All of these events have set you up and prepared you for any obstacle that you may face. You will have more energy, and approach any situation without feeling heavy. We were born with the strength that we must let lead us through life. As we all know, there will always be someone who tries to throw sticks and stones, but when your courage, grace and faith supersede their tactics, you have now reached a new level of success within you.

5. Become your own best friend.

6. Identify what matters in life and what does not.

Life is life and it occurs daily. It comes with uncontrollable and controllable moments.

Make the better of them both. Overcome with all the strength you possess, even if you are not feeling confident, dig deep, it is inside of you. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed and you can conquer anything.

Take it from me, I have come, saw, and conquered some of the same obstacles as you.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Colossians 2:23.

The Win Winning for me is accomplishing some of the things I’ve always wanted to do.

It has been most encouraging to motivate other individuals to overcome their obstacles and win in the same way. I am constantly growing as a person, staying focused on growing my business and have been lucky to gain two business partners Dr. Shawanda S. Moore of Royalty Products and Services and Ursula Dewalt of Glitz & Glam Boutique who have shown significant support and encouragement. I am the proud CEO/Founder of R.E.S.UM.E Services where we assist with personal and business writing services. I always loved journaling and writing poetry growing up. Another win and big accomplishment for me is my first book as an Author titled Layers Unleashed “7 Layers of The Inner You” which will be released on December 21, 2018. Layers Unleashed is a motivational guide compiled of real-life experiences paired with guided tools that will aid you in achieving a level of life and fulfillment without holding on to bondage.

Winner Tips “Do not lack in your process, or you will hinder your progress” MJ Roberson Wake up and be persistent. Celebrate your small and big wins. Stay focused on the prize, and not your enemy. Do not be afraid to lose some sleep to make your dreams come to life. Network with individuals of all sorts to gain valuable resources to elevate your business.

R.E.S.U.M.E Services www.resumemywayworldwide.org | resumemywayworldwide@gmail.com IG: resumemywayworldwide | Facebook: resumemyway Layers Unleashed “7 Layers of The Inner You” Author Website: www.mjroberson.com | layersunleashed4u@gmail.com IG: author_mjroberson | Facebook: MJ Roberson

The Single Mom + Preneur - Diamond Wiggins @DiamondVaniaWiggins Have you ever looked at your life and said, “look at what I manifested?” If you haven’t, you should take a look around and identify those things in your life that you know are the way they are because you called them to be. If you don’t see what you want to see, today, make a choice to speak the life you want into existence. Happy Manifesting Love!

My name is Diamond Vania Wiggins and I’m also known as The Single Mom + Preneur™. I am a woman that wears many hats. My God-given-gift is writing. I am a business developer with a specialization in initialization. I have a love for inspiring, teaching, sharing, and revealing. My business life consist of me assisting families with reaching their goals by helping them with financing, purchasing, and protecting their homes and lives, as their licensed loan officer, Realtor™, and supplemental insurance agent.

In my free time, I bond with single moms that aspire to be entrepreneurs and small business owners via The Single Mom + Preneurs™. Within our tribe, I work with those who have created unique realities and share them with other single moms via The Single Mom + Preneurs™ podcast. I do my best to encourage and empower single moms while sharing tips related to the single mom's life, dating, love, glam, health, fitness, and entrepreneurship; I also share information on different books and technology on our blog.

Our single moms have access to business consultations, online groups, and in-person events where moms can be supportive of one another, with or without our children there, while enjoying each others company.

I created this tribe because I realized, during my pregnancy, the lack of involvement and support that was there for single moms to come together for healing, support, and elevation (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially). If you stop for a minute and think about the definitions that are provided for single moms ....what comes to your mind? Some may say baby mama and baby daddy drama, the struggle, and other ugly situations that we may have seen the mainstream media push; But I would hope that you would say your definition of single moms is: women that are positive, loving, nurturing, hard-working, striving to be their best selves every day for their children and themselves.

Being The Single Mom + Preneur™, one of the most frequent questions I receive is, how do I go about building a life as a single mom and a full time entrepreneur. I believe that I can be who I want to be and so I am her. If you need to make that your mantra when you are manifesting and meditating, do so, and see what your life is like in the next six months.

Don’t forget to add some life-changing habits and a whole lot of execution with your mantra as well. That’s right, I just manifested that you will witness yourself becoming who you want to truly be in the next 6 months, and it’s just that simple. You can be who you want to be, regardless of who you are, currently.

I always knew the things that I wanted to accomplish and who I wanted to be during this lifetime. You don’t have to walk in my shoes to get what you want out of life. It is 100% ok if you don’t know what you want to accomplish or who you want to be, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s not like we take a class on these things when being forced to complete classwork and homework, so don’t be so hard on yourself. Yet, be sure to pull out a pen and piece of paper and start to write out what you would do everyday if you weren’t going to make any money doing it. This will help you find out what you want to accomplish. To figure out who you want to be, you have to do some soul searching.

Identify things about yourself that tie back to your family members and the things you experienced. Know what you stand for and what you would be willing to die for. To know what you want for yourself and who you want to be is the icing you will put on your cake and have with your ice cream. My Papa always use to tell me, “If you don’t have a plan for your life, you better know that someone else does,” and that is the God honest truth. Our civilization was built off of putting people to work, but then again, it was molded into what it is today because there were those who had visions, dreams, and goals.

I’m not here to say rather or not I agree with everything that has taken place for life to be what it is, but what I am saying is that I manifested myself to this very moment and I will continue to manifest experiences, spirits, and more, so that I may continue to observe the reality that has been planted inside of me, become placed in front of me. Knowing who you want to be and what you want to accomplish is not the end of the tunnel though; you then have to create that reality and that is where the work comes in.

The biggest piece of advice I can give to you is to manifest all that you want with a heart and mind clear of fear. If you don’t, you may wake up one day and wish that you did.

Understand that everything you want in this life can be yours, but you have to believe at all times that this is true, not just when the skies are blue! www.TheSingleMompreneur.club IG: @TheSingleMompreneurs

Be Action Oriented. When God Says Move, Please Move.

- Yayi Joyce @YayiJoyce Before the Win~ I was faced with wondering if I were hearing God correctly about starting a new direction for my business. I was unsure, which led to stress and worry about trusting God, because I didn't believe I could even trust myself.

Why was the switch up so tricky for me? See my business Jola's Joyful Events was doing very well. When I would fill people in on my plan about switching things up, they would look at me like I had gone crazy. I would then begin to justify myself. Even though I knew that change was what I needed and most importantly what God had been nudging me to do. However, I had to address the root cause of my fears which started when I relocated to Georgia from New York City. At that time, I had all of these beautiful plans mapped out, including this new business for my family and myself.

Needless to say, things didn't go as planned, the companies that my ex-husband and I started didn't do as well as we prepared for. Â Business was okay, but okay wasn't going to sustain us. The companies went into further decline and so did my marriage. Closing my business and getting a divorce, created a difficult time for myself and my children. I started to not trust myself and my judgment after that. When I had to tell others about our move falling apart, I would get responses like "You should have known that was a foolish idea" and on some occasions, I would get "Wow! You're a brave soul to up and move like that, starting a business in a new city right away takes so much courage."

When my business with my ex-husband fell apart the responses of "Oh wow! You are starting another business after your divorce.... are you crazy?" were not the words I needed to hear. I trusted God and started my event planning business. Fast forward five years later that company was thriving and booked just about every weekend. However, the plot twist came as God was asking me to change directions. I didn't want to because I was making good money and I was stuck in my past. Â I was fearful of change, which led me to seek the opinions of others, which included responses like "You would be nuts for taking a break, and switching directions."

Now here I am again faced with change. But this time things were going right. I didn't listen to others to get here, I listened to God to get here. I quickly realized that looking to others got me nowhere and further from God. God was nudging me to make this change in my business for over a year. The idea first came during a speaking engagement, while mixing and mingling with the women at my table someone said "Wow You are such a great encourager & speaker, you should be up there talking." I began to hear that more often and thought to myself, well hey there is something to this. Â From me just being me that day, I got offered to speak at a small women's conference about overcoming challenges. It was only a handful of people in the room and as I walked into the conference room I prayed, "God, please help me". I thought to myself, "what have I gotten myself into, I'm not sure I can do this." But I did it, it went well, and I knew from that moment on, that I was supposed to talk, share, teach and inspire.

The lessons that I learned through transitioning from having an event space and planning celebrations events, to now planning & hosting spiritual events & retreats, as well doing spiritual life & business coaching, is trusting myself more and above all listening to the holy spirit for guidance instead of people. I also learned that your past doesn't dictate your future. Just because I made bad judgment calls in one business, doesn't mean I will make them again. In life, sharing is not always caring, I had to come to grips with what I could share and what part of my plans that I couldn't. Family, friends, acquaintances are not always supportive even though they sometimes mean well, their views are occasionally harmful to our lives. While perusing my success, I realized that I had to make time for self-care and that I couldn't put my mental or spiritual health on the back burner because I was chasing a check.

The win for me was when I was able to take two years off my business without having to worry and be financially able to pay my expenses, take care of my children while in ministry school and deepening my spiritual path as a priestess. Â That freedom to realign myself without being a slave to my business was a win for me sure.

My tips for the win are: 1) Surrender all your troubles and worry to God, not people.

2) Be action oriented when God says move, please move. Many times we slow our wins down by not being obedient in doing the work.

3)Keep your mindset together learn to replace negative thoughts about change in business and life with positive ones to help you embrace the change.

4) Have patience with yourself, your business, if you don't have patience, you better start praying for some you are going to need it in life and business for sure. www.yayijoyce.net | Instagram: @yayijoyce and livingjoyfulnow Email: Â createsuccess@yayijoyce.net

Strength From Within To Win - Renee Dantzler, CPT @CoachReneeDantzler Never in a million years could I have imagined losing a child. Unfortunately, on July 8, 2016, this became my reality. I lost my youngest son in a tragic drowning accident. It was the most devastating day of my life. I remember it like it was yesterday; the policeman telling me that my son was swimming in a lake, became fatigued and went under.

Because it happened several hours ago it was no longer a rescue mission, but a recovery.

I told him emphatically, “NO” and began praying. Several minutes later, he received a call and confirmed that they recovered the body of my son. At this moment, I felt like I died.

All of my strength was gone.

One Step at a Time I returned to training clients two weeks after losing my son. Now, I not only had to be strong physically but mentally as well. The only way to do that was (and still is) one moment, one step, and one day at a time. Maybe you have suffered a great loss and you wonder how you are going to get through. I am here to tell you that you may struggle, but never ever quit. You may struggle but never stop taking a step forward. There are so many people who need me and YOU too. There are days that I do not want to step out of bed, let alone step out of the house. I am here today to tell you two and a half years later that I am still taking it one step at a time. You may have to cry, but do not cop out and cancel the assignment God has for you.

Inner Strength Tip: Do not underestimate the God-given strength inside of you to take a step to overcome a loss, challenge or obstacle. You may not feel like doing something and some days you may not do it, but trust the process (God’s process) and do your best until you can do better!

Watch your Inner Circle The people who I thought was my close circle in my time of grief slowly but surely has dwindled down as time has gone by. Those that I thought was going to be my life-long support system has changed from one year to the next. It takes great inner strength to recognize the people who are in your life for a reason and those who are there for just a season. I am more cognizant of time and the importance of redeeming the time we have.

The last thing you want is waste valuable time (a rare commodity) with people who are of no value to my life. Everyone should not have access to the inner sanctum of your life; your heart. Your circle should encompass people who make you better.

Inner Strength Tip: Think of yourself as a bank. Take inventory of the people that are in your close inner circle. Then take a moment to identify those who make deposits of strength, motivation, inspiration, and encouragement; leaving you fulfilled. These are the positive influencers. Also, identify those individuals who only make withdrawals; constantly withdrawing and leaving you empty. These are the negative balancers and they must not be a part of the circle.

Change your Thinking As a Personal Trainer, I know all too well that we have the ability to shape our body.

However, for true inner strength, we must work even harder to shape our minds. I have a saying that I tell my clients, “Where the mind goes, the body will follow.” I truly believe if we think we can, WE CAN. The Bible declares, for as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

(Proverbs 23:7 KJV) It starts with our thinking. Do not mistake a moment of weakness as not being strong; we all have them. Only God is omnipotent! Strength is withstanding the many trials and storms of life and still getting up, still standing, still believing, still trusting, still encouraging, still praying and sometimes just simply being still. I used to think that my ability to save face for my clients was just a mask. My mentor Elder Nicole said something profound to me. She said, “It is not a mask, it is God’s fortifying power.”

It is God who helps us to keep it together.

Inner Strength Tip: Trials and tribulations of life are inevitable but use them as opportunities to build character and strength. Don’t let them break you, allow them to make you… STRONG! From Tragedy to Strategy I am a firm believer that the majority of what we go through in life is for a reason. We may not like it or agree with it (I certainly do not) but, we need to use it to propel us to our preordained destiny. I use my grief, my pain and the loss of my son to encourage other people who face hardships. Just by virtue of showing up to every training session and giving them a great workout is inspiring. However, I take it a step further by telling them that they can achieve their goals. There isn’t anything that you cannot accomplish if you put your mind to it. I am still here for a reason. My mission is to inspire and encourage as many people God allows. Leaving a legacy and a mark on this earth is of great importance.

Inner Strength Tip: Stop making excuses why you cannot do it and start saying you can and should do it. We can overcome, get through and accomplish anything we put our mind to.

Strategize a plan of action!

Everyone faces challenges and obstacles in life. How you approach challenges and emerge as a victor is totally up to you. Just know that you have Strength from Within to WIN! www.reneedantzler.com | coachrenee@reneedantzler.com https://www.instagram.com/coachreneedantzler/ https://www.facebook.com/naedantz | https://twitter.com/ReneeDantzler

From Dusk to Dawn!

- Tara Harris @tara_harris1 The Beginning : Dusk, the state or period of partial darkness between day and night.

While at the dusk of a soon to be divorce, I reflected on a conversation I had with myself at the age of 18, nine months pregnant, and newly married. “I would never let my kids grow up without their father in the home,” I told myself. Although I had grown up without my father in the home, I never wanted that for my kids. Yet here I was years later in a marriage that was dead with no signs of resuscitation. I was relentlessly holding on because of history, embarrassment and the promise I had made to myself. We had married young and had started out with so many issues.

We were both serving in the United States Navy and they didn’t approve of us having a relationship either. At that time, all of the issues we were experiencing, were coming from sources outside of our marriage. We later learned that we had very different ideas of what marriage should be. Amongst other issues, we had also filed for bankruptcy, foreclosed on our home and he denied the marriage counseling that I was seeking. Then the day came that I left without any notice. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

Subsequently, I realized it had freed us both.

The Lesson: Kids not only need a mom, but they need a happy mom. By this, I mean a mom that is emotionally stable, can effectively provide their basic needs, emotional support, and structure. A mother’s intention is to ensure their children’s future success.

There was a point where I had to put my own happiness before the happiness of my son.

His idea of happiness was having both of his parents in the same household living a harmonious life. That could no longer be a reality. Everyone in the situation needed to heal. Only time, counseling and a mother’s love would alleviate the strain on our motherson relationship. No matter the reason for the separation, kids tend to blame the parent who left. Explaining divorce to kids is challenging.

The three of us sat down with a counselor and my son was able to hear both sides of our relationship from us. I felt that was an important step in the healing process. I didn’t want to place him in a vicarious position to choose sides. I just wanted him to be able to understand a series of events in a marriage as well as the good and bad decisions in a marriage. There is still a level of maturity and life experiences that will have to occur for him to fully understand. Until then, I just continue to love him endlessly.

Having mother-son dates help us to be able to communicate, share and grow together.

Our dates consist of going to the movies, dinner, the park, and we also attend an annual mother-son dance. There isn’t a book out that can tell you exactly how to be a parent to YOUR child.

The Win: Dawn, The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise. The evidence of a new day. The dawn of my new day began with finding someone with the same outlook on life and marriage as myself. I learned more about myself through this new marriage than I did my whole life. Life with an ambitious man who supports my dreams and helps push me into my purpose is very fulfilling. Don’t take this as me having a perfect man or a perfect relationship but we are great together. We are very different, however, we complement each other well.

We disagree on things just like any other marriage but while this is the second marriage for both of us we can now use past experiences to continue to move our marriage forward in a flourishing way. We have mastered a blended family, which is a whole story for a different book. I’m building an empire with the one that I love. We travel the world with our kids, we have built family businesses as well as businesses for our kids. Every week brings something new and exciting in our lives. Our legacy is in place. I’d like to say I’m living my best life.

Tips: If you find yourself in a situation where you and another individual can no longer maintain a healthy relationship, use the next 30 days to find someone such as a mediator or counselor who can help you get back on track to a healthy relationship. This especially holds true for family members that you are having a difficult time to communicate with.

Find unique ways to help your kids express their feelings. There are some kids that will say “I don’t know how I feel,” my son was that way. In hopes of finding out what he was feeling inside, I encouraged him to put his thoughts to paper. I divided a notebook into sections on topics such as school, relationships, jobs, and forgiveness. Challenge your kids to write about their feelings. Things that they don’t feel comfortable saying to you, may be easier to write down on paper.

In my opinion, marriage consists of two imperfect people that come together in love and create a future to include family, memories, and legacy. Many times, people expect a mate to come already put together and they both live happily ever after. That is unreasonable and unrealistic. We are all a work in progress. There is always room to grow and improve yourself. The day you feel you have it all together perfectly, is the day you should revisit tip #1. You should talk with someone regarding things concerning yourself, that you may be avoiding. Then you will be on track for self-reflection thus having a healthy inner relationship with yourself. When you become oneness with self, you then have an indelible impact! www.taratharris.com | Email taraj0611@gmail.com

Changing the Game with Confidence & Character - Harmoni Brangman @differentbydesignatl Many often sit back and wonder, how does she do that? How is she able to take those risk? How does she keep going, when all the signs say to stop? It’s Confidence! (with a healthy dose of FAITH, of course.) . We are not born with it and nobody has it ALL the time, so where does it come from?

Our Environment- As kids, we learn most from what we see and experience around us and as adults, the situations we allow ourselves to be in, often shape our thoughts, feelings & actions. Our Interactions- How we are treated by family, friends, colleagues and significant others. Our Choices- Are they good or bad? Do we think things through or make impulsive decisions? Do we take risk? Do we react positively or negatively to things that happen to us? Do we focus on problems or solutions?

As women, we naturally worry more than our male counterparts and instinctively have a habit of focusing on everyone but ourselves. Taking the time to develop or strengthen your confidence and self-esteem is likely to have a positive impact on everyone in your life.

Nobody can do it for you and it will come easier for some than others but as we focus on improving it, it allows us to push past the limits of our abilities and turn thoughts into actions.

Here are 6 Steps to help you use confidence as a competitive edge: Quick Fix- If your feeling low or having a bad day turn on your favorite music. Feel free to just listen, but for an extra push sing & dance like your putting on a concert in your living room. Call a positive friend or relative. Those “Girl you got this” pep talks are priceless.

Listen to some personal or spiritual development. Hearing some motivation or encouragement can give you exactly what you need to act courageously.

Believe You Can- Do you feel that what your born with is all you get and that your intelligence and talents can't be improved? That's known as a fixed mindset. However, when you develop a growth mindset you believe that you can improve them both with practice, persistence, and effort.

Practice Failure- It’s ok to make mistakes and not be perfect. Some of the most successful people in the world have failed time and time again, but they kept going and eventually they reached or exceeded their goals. Learn from the best. If you can look up, you can get up!

Develop a Plan & Execute- Think through your goals and the actions needed to reach them.

Focus less on making a to-do list and more on making a done list. Stay away from distractions like frivolous conversations, reality tv & social media. Be sure to celebrate small victories along the way by rewarding yourself with small treats like a favorite bite or something sweet, a glass of wine or some pampering.

See it Thru- There will be challenges and setbacks but don’t let it shake you. It’s during those times that you have the most growth. You don’t know how strong you are until you must be.

Find a Mentor- Instead of stressing or wasting time, energy & money making unnecessary mistakes learn from someone else’s. Reach out to someone who’s opinion, values and success are what you aspire to accomplish and watch, listen and acquire knowledge that can elevate you from now to next.

You only have one life. Walk through it with your head held high, despite the circumstances you encounter, the blows you take, and the obstacles that will certainly come. Knowing that while you may not be perfect, you are everything you need for this season of your life.

There is no one, anywhere that can do a better job of being you.

“Confidence. If you have it, you can make anything look good.”

Diane Von Furstenberg Ralph Waldo Emerson suggest that character is “a person’s internal force, untouched by circumstance or external pressures.” At first encounter, most people share their representative. They are on their best behavior, they are extra nice, and they say all the right things. But who are you when no one is looking? In life and in business displaying exceptional character can catapult you to success and cause you to stand out above the rest. Here are a few reasons why great character is an invaluable leadership tool: It helps attract new clients and allows you to maintain positive business relationships. It is a sign of respect and it gives you the opportunity to take responsibility for your actions.

Good or bad. It foster’s positive experiences and a pleasant environment that is conducive to teamwork and collaboration. It demonstrates that the consideration of others is more important than your personal desires. It assists in determining that what you think of yourself is aligned with what other’s think of you. It develops trust among your employees, partners, and community.

There are certain key elements to creating a successful business. Leading with your values, integrity, honesty, and empathy are the accessories that complete the perfect outfit. An outstanding display of character in words and actions should be expected and required. Most businesses are known by the character of its people. What will they say about yours? www.iamdifferentbydesign.com

In the End, I WIN… - Mary Davis @TheEmpoweredPearl Before the Win I WIN, YOU LOSE! Those are the words spoken by Danny Glover in the movie, SHOOTER! Danny Glover was the enemy determined to destroy Mark Wahlburger. Even though he set out to destroy him, in the end, Danny Glover, the enemy, is the one who takes the loss. We've all have had a Danny Glover in our life. We've had people, things and situations that have caused us great losses. People, things and situations that were intended to destroy us. I'm reminded of a time in my life where I felt like I had lost. I was losing at this thing called life. I was losing my mind and losing myself at a high cost.

I spent many years dealing with suicidal thoughts, low self- esteem, insecurity, depression, and harmful and destructive behaviors as a result of a dramatic childhood.

The damage I suffered as a child left me bound by depression. Depression so overwhelming that many times I sought to take my own life. Life was an emotional rollercoaster for me. Some days I was up, and some days I was down. Some days, I felt sick, and some days I felt like my life was spinning. The cares of life had gotten the best of me, and I was ready to throw in the towel and end my life.

The Lessons Throughout my depression, heartache and pain, I learned a great deal from one of my dear friends who would always tell me, Mary, only Jesus can fix your pain. I remember the days of her being at my house up all night with me, because I was depressed or in a suicidal state. She never gave up on me. I remember nights of her rocking me to sleep, but what I remember the most are her words. Mary, only Jesus can heal your hurt. You see, I didn't think God could do anything for me because I was so damaged. Damaged by the cares of life and a troubled childhood. Time went on, and my friend continuously told me "Mary only Jesus can fix your pain." She would whisper those words to me over and over again.

The Win Mary, only Jesus, can fix your pain. Those words rang in my head for years; but it would be years of heartache, years of abuse, years of rejection, years of insecurity, years of unforgiveness, years of attention-getting, years of depression and suicidal attempts before I finally got it. I grabbed hold of what my friend repeatedly told me, and I understand that if God created me, then surely, he could fix me.

From that point on, I began to sit in God's presence, and I wrote dear God letters. I told God all about my issues, about my pain, about my sadness, my loneliness, my insecurity, my bitterness, my heartache, my breakups, my abuse, my suicidal attempts, and my depression. It was in God’s presence that my life started to change and healing began.

Being in God’s presence gave me hope. It helped me affirm the things God said about me.

It helped me understand my truth. It helped me know that despite my brokenness, God still loved me and still had a plan and purpose for my life.

At the end of the movie SHOOTER, Mark Wahlberg is told that sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. That’s just what I did. I took matters into my own hands, but with a different approach. Instead of giving myself away and depending on people to heal my battered, bruised and broken life. I sat in God’s presence, and I merely prayed "God Fix Me." I didn't know what else to pray. I just knew that I wanted and needed something different for my life. I just knew that I was tired of crying, tired of being depressed, and I was tired of living on the verge of losing my mind. I was tired, and I knew I had to do something before I destroyed myself. I walked into God’s presence, battered, bruised, broken, sad, angry, hurt, depressed, confused and loosing at life. But when I came out, I WAS NOT THE SAME! When I came out, I WAS WINNING! Winning in 2019 While the enemies plan was to take me out, God took what was meant to destroy me and used it for his glory. In the end, I WIN! Today, if life has gotten the best of you and you feel like the enemy is winning, I encourage you to get in God’s presence. Psalms 16:11 says…You make known to me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy. This scripture gives the prescription for the pathway to a successful life.

You want your joy back, then get in GOD’s presence You want your peace back, then get in GOD’s presence You want to see your life change, then get in GOD’s presence You want your healing, then get in GOD’s presence You want your deliverance, then get in GOD’s presence You want a strategy for your business or ministry, then get in GOD's presence You want direction for your life, then get in GOD’s presence Your WIN is in GOD’s presence.

Author Mary Davis-The Empowered Pearl www.empoweredpearl.com Email:Theempoweredpearl@gmail.com Facebook: @TheEmpoweredPearl

How to be Glambitous with your Health in 2019: A Nurse Practitioner Perspective - Dr. Janel Willingham @drnpjwill 16 things to do to Win in health and Wellness in 2019!

Pray – Pray and talk to God daily. Develop and nurture your relationship with God. Seek God! Get a physical- Get out and walk. Walking is free and it helps your heart and overall health. We all know the being physically active also helps burn calories which means weight loss. If you have money to spend invest in a gym membership, yoga, kickboxing, and many other activities. You should at least get in 30 minutes of activity daily to help reduce disease and improve your overall health.

Drink more water/eat healthy- A consider investing in nutritionist, chef or health coach to help you obtain your healthy eating goals. The nutritionist may direct you on how to eat healthy for your body and needs. A chef can be hired to teach you how to cook differently without compromising taste. A health coach will help you achieve your goals with guidance and support. Also, some insurance plans pay for visits to a nutritionist, especially if you have the diabetic disease.

Journal – Get a journal document your day. This will help you get your emotions out and may provide some perspective on your life.

Get counseling- You may have some emotional baggage that the journal just can’t fix.

Get in a healthy environment – If you are in a toxic work or home environment get out. If you cannot leave, develop an exit plan. This is slowly affecting your overall mental and physical well-being. The toxic environment will have you believe different about yourself and knowledge. When we are stressed our bodies produce stress hormones which over time can be harmful to health. Depression and stress may lead to increased cortisol levels Cortisol is a stress hormone and continued stress /depression may lead to a constant state of high cortisol which in turn leaves your body out of balance.

Purpose – Find IT - When individuals find their purpose this has a positive effect on the brain health. You need something that you are committed to and are passionate about.

There are a few studies that show there is an association between purpose and decreased health problems (Berkeley Wellness University of California).

Vision Planning- Attend a vision board workshop or have a party with friends. If a vision board workshop is not your style get a journal just for your future planning goals.

Vitamins – Take your vitamins. Vitamins come in pill, liquid and intravenous form.

Consider a liquid multivitamin such as Nutraburst to help give you rapid benefits.

The liquid absorption rate is faster than the traditional pills. Also, consider IV hydration therapy. There are many nurse practitioner and physicians are offering IV hydration for wellness, several illnesses, migraines, and dehydration. Vitamin D and Magnesium have been known to help with depression.

Get your Beauty right – Be cautious with your beauty routines. Wearing faux lashes have become popular in the last 10 years but there are risks. Make sure the person is qualified.

Meaning ask about their training, make sure they wash their hands and use new lashes.

The lashes may cause eye irritation and infection due to the glue/material. There is a different alternatives to faux lashes such as serums and pharmaceutical solutions such as Latrisse. Latrisse can be prescribed by a nurse practitioner or a physician. Consider natural facial products. If you get relaxers, consider going to your natural hair form. Be careful with the long-term use of hair extensions. Consider seeking a professional hair stylist at least a few times a year, so a professional can assess the state of your hair and its condition.

Wellness Exam- Get a physical exam done by a nurse practitioner or a physician. This exam should include a conversation about your health history and future healthcare needs.

Get your Pap Smear based on the guidelines and your personal lifestyle. Make sure you receive a clinical breast exam during your wellness visit or a gynecological visit. Based on guidelines and health history get a screening mammogram. Most women will not need a mammogram until they are age 40.

KNOW your numbers- It is important to know your blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, height, weight, body mass index.

Take Your Medications- If you have been prescribed to take medications take them as prescribed. Especially blood and depression medication. You could be doing your body more harm by not taking your medication for your conditions.

Vaginal Steaming- vaginal steaming is an ancient practice of using herb-infused steam to cleanse the vagina and uterus, done by women for many centuries and is now on the rise for the modern day women. People who experience vaginal steaming report overall health improvement, emotional experience, and the decrease in some of their issues with menstruation. Keep in mind there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

Be active in your health plan- Prepare a list of questions. Be prepared to write down the information given to you. If you take medications have them written on an index card (old school) or download an APP. Remember you are in partnership with your nurse practitioner or physician.

Use Health APPS- Use technology to keep track of your medical information, periods, pills, ovulation.

V. L. Allineare stated," When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no 'I'll start tomorrow,' Tomorrow is a disease." Dr. Janel Willingham, DNP, APRN, FNP-C is a boardcertified family nurse practitioner, speaker, author, Nurse Career Strategist and CEO of TheNpFactory. For Health and Wellness products, health coaching, and health/wellness speaking contact Dr. Janel at www.drnpjwill.com, Instagram: @drnpjwill, @thenpfactory Twitter: thenpfactory,

Be a Leader Not a Follower!

- Shanon Thomas @HnMglamspot The Start Sometimes you have to dance to the beat of your own drum and stop trying to be what you see on T.V. and Social Media. It’s so easy to try to fit in, and do what others make look good instead of just being yourself and being happy. Listen! God made only one you for a reason and it’s definitely not to be like someone else. It took me awhile to learn this and abide by it. I’m becoming who I am supposed to be and it’s exciting.

The Doubt The scariest thing I have ever done in my life is becoming an entrepreneur! I have learned so much about myself and the type of person I want to become from opening a salon. I use to think that I had to be a certain way to be accepted, taken seriously, and even be successful. I have come to realize that it takes too much effort and time to be anything other than me. I took so many losses over the last few years and was letting it get the best of me. I lost my dad in 2012, and had to bury my grandmother in 2017. I lost a lot of money starting my salon business not knowing what to buy and what to sell. Trying to balance a full-time job while becoming an entrepreneur, being a wife and taking care of my mother felt very overwhelming. I was so worked up about all the negative things that were going on in my life that I forgot about the positive. I just wanted to put everything on pause.

Hairstyling was always second nature to me. I have always enjoyed making women feel beautiful. After I learned how to do make-up, nails, lash extensions and create wigs, I knew I had found my purpose in life. However starting a business made me so nervous. I thought to myself, "What if they don’t like me or like my work? What if I don’t get any likes when I post my services?"

Aside from being an entrepreneur I also have a full time job.I know it will come a time when I will no longer be able to do both, but at the time I’m able to push through. I use to get so caught up in the lifestyles of others who were entrepreneurs on social media. I was getting distracted by what other people portrayed instead of being true to me. I had to really write some things down and get my life in order. I had to stop trying to follow others and be a leader.

The Wins Being an entrepreneur is freedom; Freedom to come and go as you please. You can choose to interact with people or choose to not be bothered. You can choose to make money or not make money. You really have control over what happens on a day-to-day basis! You ever just sat back and thought about all the blessings that have been bestowed upon you and all the positivity that surrounds you? Yes I have a full-time job and I’m an entrepreneur, but that full-time job provided funds for me to operate my salon when I didn’t have clients. I have learned how to use my job as a resource for my business, while using Social Media as my marketing tool. Even though, I would love to quit my job today and start running my business full-time, I know that timing is everything. See, when it’s not your time, you have to prepare yourself in the meantime.

The Lesson 2018 has taught me how to pray specifically for what I want and need. I have learned about sacrifices, isolation and timing.

You have to know and believe that your journey is your own and not a lot of people will be able to keep you company. You will need to know when to hold on and when to let go of unnecessary baggage so that you are free. Since I have started thinking in a more realistic way and thinking with my goals in mind... doors have opened and opportunities have manifested. I was able to purchase my mom a house in 2016, create new sources of revenue in my business and work from home to do it all! I’m still balancing being a wife, an entrepreneur and traveling the world whenever I want to.

If I could give advice to anyone feeling scared, regretful or unsure of taking a leap of faith, it would be to take a deep breath, close your eyes and soar. I promise you will not regret it.

You will fall, fail, bruise yourself a little along the way... but you will live! You will prosper!

You will succeed!

You have total control of your life! You just have to ask God to lead you on your path. www.Hnmglamspot.BigCartel.com

7 Steps to Manifest Social Media Swag - Pam Perry @Pam_Perry Got Swag?

Someone may say, “I like your swag” or “He’s got swag!” And although you may not find this popular term in Merriam-Webster’s version of the dictionary, it is used in everyday language on the street. Social Media Swag is about having that confidence. Before you tell me how you don’t have any desire to tweet or Instagram, for that matter, know that social media can be your business’ ticket to success. I challenge you to ‘get your swag on’ and make it work for you – it’s how you can manifest your PR dreams today!

Step 1: Don’t Hate on the Competition Just Yet In any business, the goal is usually to beat the competitor. But in order to beat the competition, you have to know what they are doing and what makes them a competitor.

If they are still in the game, they have to be doing something right. So you need to watch, look and listen at what is going on around you. Put your head in the game! Take inventory of where you are right now and where you want to go from here.

For example, when you read a blog, you are studying your competition. And after you read so many blogs, you’ll not only be motivated to start your own, but you’ll know what to say, how to say it and who is listening. Read the responses to the blogs as well. This lets you know what your target audience is saying, which allows you to tailor your own blog to those respondents.

Though many like to think so, social media is not a magic lamp where you can rub it, and out comes a genie. It is just another spoke in the wheel for your overall marketing plan.

The social media outlet door is wide open for you and the rest of the world to see, free of charge! So no longer do you have to play detective and act like a secret shopper to find out the best strategies of your competitors. Their marketing strategies have just become an open book. Read their tweets. Follow their Facebook posts. Find out who your top three competitors are and simply sit back and watch, look and listen.

Social media is more than an outlet to just post pictures and ‘like’ someone’s status. It’s essentially free advertisement. Let’s say that I have a client who has an article about them written in Essence or Ebony. They can then repost that article into a blog site, or even add a link to the article on their Facebook profile. So this not only allows the readers of these publications to read the article, but all of this person’s ‘friends’ and ‘followers’ also learn of the success.

If someone is featured on The View or on Sister Circle, they can obtain a copy of it from the station, upload it to YouTube and repost to whatever other social media sites they choose. So while your friends or family may not have picked up the latest issue of Essence and didn’t get to watch you on The View, they are sure to see it when you post it on your public social networking profile. Watch, look and listen. The competitor didn’t become a competitor by doing something wrong. They have to be doing something right.

Find out what it is and make it work for you. While watching the competition, you purposely position yourself to attract your target audience as well.

Step 2: Make Digital Footprints in the Sand Who are you? What do you do? What do you specialize in? These are all vital questions to ask when it comes to branding yourself in social media. Make sure that wherever you go, with every digital footprint you make, that your brand is the same. Be consistent. Don’t create a brand for encouragement and inspiration, but post negative, depressing updates on your Facebook and Twitter profiles. This contradicts your ultimate branding of being one who encourages and inspires. Your Twitter and Facebook page should match your professional website. Your website should match your fan page. Your IG should match your YouTube. And so on Don’t confuse people. They need to see your brand and instantly know who you are and what you stand for. Take Coach for example. The Facebook page and website for Coach products should reflect the same brand. And because of the reputation Coach has built, when you see a product, you can immediately tell if it is created by Coach. The same should ring true of your brand.

In this digital age, people have ADD. You have to capture their attention within a split second or you could lose them forever. However, if you have successfully branded yourself, they will recognize you and feel comfortable with whatever product you are promoting. There’s a certain comfort level people search for in brands. For example, if you visit Paris, but aren’t familiar with the restaurants, and you see the golden arches, you will more than likely eat at McDonald’s. You already know what their food tastes like and you feel comfortable with the brand. The same is true of Starbuck’s. When you visit a Starbuck’s, you expect a certain level of quality and great atmosphere, no matter the location.

It’s not just the brand; it’s the logo. That logo signifies everything that is behind the brand.

The time you’ve invested. The information you’ve shared. The trust you’ve built. The logo is a culmination of everything you’ve done for people to notice you, know you, understand you, and recognize your brand ultimately. It is the promise to your customers.

Confusion destroys your brand. The equity and time you put into building your brand can be destroyed overnight by you simply doing something different and offbeat. Be known as an expert for whatever it is that you do. If you’re in business, your goal is to provide customers with solutions. Share, don’t sell, information to your customers so that they not only come to know you as an expert, but they trust you. So as you make your digital footprints in the sand, make sure your brand tracks look identical to the ones you have made before!

Step 3: Content is King People don’t follow a good salesperson. They follow good content. That’s one of the ways people will get to know you, by the content you offer and the value of it. In order to create valuable content, you must research keywords. Search for certain keywords and brand your content so that it contains those keywords. This will allow you to receive numerous hits without a potential customer ever knowing your name.

For example, if someone is searching for Pam Perry, they may use keywords such as PR coach, ministry marketing, and so on. When someone enters any of these keywords, my website, blog or even my Facebook page should come up in the search results page. The ultimate goal is to be the first or second result on the search results page. If you come in any other place below that, you risk the user entering new search keywords, which may not be tagged for your business. Whether it’s a list of things to do (or not to do) or top ten tips, provide good, valuable content so that there is no question that you know what you are talking about.

A good resource to use when trying to determine keywords is Adwords.google.com. This tool not only allows you to enter keywords, but if you click Get Keyword Ideas, it will provide you with other keywords to use. Use these keywords in your blogs, eblasts, social media profiles and of course, your website. But even with keywords, if you have a similar name, like Jessica Jones, you want to make sure you are posting enough valuable content on the Internet so that you come up first in a person’s search results. Even though the other Jessica Jones in the world may have nothing more than a Facebook page, you don’t want customers to confuse the two. You have to constantly be active online.

You can’t give away too much content. If it genuinely came from you, there is more from where that came from. With every article you write, every video you post, and every status you update, you throw more content out onto the web to brand you all the more. The more content you share, the more people come to recognize you as an expert and will realize the value of your information and ultimately, support your business.

Step 4: Are You Engaged?

Now, I’m not talking about the engagement where you get a ring and start planning a wedding. I’m referring to interacting with others online. It doesn’t matter that you and I talk; we have to engage with others online. Create a community for isolated conversations to take place. Twitter actually uses hash tags, such as #GrammyAwards2019, which allows you to converse with all users who may be watching the Grammy Awards at the time. It’s all about engaging and establishing relationships.

It’s not always about selling and marketing. You have to build up a group of ‘followers’ first.

Take Facebook for example. That’s great that someone wants to become your ‘friend’.

But if you never engage them, and they don’t visit your page on a regular basis, what’s the point? How does this help your business? But also realize that while someone may not visibly engage on your page on a regular basis, they may still be watching you.They may still be taking all of the information you post into account, without ever saying a word to you about it. Personally, 90% of my clientele comes from online.

I never know who is watching me. All of a sudden, I get checks for thousands of dollars from people that have been watching me for three or four months and appreciate the information I have shared.

I love this information age we are in. While others feel overwhelmed by too much information, I consume myself in it. It’s what I’ve done all of my life. I reported information in high school, college, and even once I was out of school. I’m always sending an eblast, conducting a conference call, tweeting a valuable website for authors, or even posting a video on YouTube of me speaking at a recent conference.

I give away a plethora of information. The same should ring true of you and your social media swag. Give away so much information that people say to you, “You give away too much free information.” Then give away some more! You’re creating your own community and at this point, people are simply watching you to decide if they will conduct business with you or not. The benefits in the long run will far outweigh the cost to send out complimentary information. Get engaged!

Step 5: The Swag Tool Belt Don’t have a whack website. Meaning, make sure you have it optimized for the search engines and have an opt-in box that offers a gift. This will allow you to capture your visitor’s email addresses so you can communicate with them in the future. You definitely want to invest in an Aweber or Active Campaign account. These services allow you to create and send emails in a click of a button. You can even create emails to be sent out on a certain date and at a certain time, without being anywhere near the computer when it goes out.

Do you have to have a blog? It’s mandatory! It doesn’t make sense to have a Facebook page or a podcast and not have a blog. You’ll be surprised at the results a blog can bring.

If you really want to be found, you also need Google Analytics. This free service offered by Google actually tells you where your traffic is coming from and how long a person stays on your website. It will show you, for example, that 50% of your traffic is coming from Facebook and 25% is coming from Twitter, etc. As a side note, when using social media, use your real name. People may see your photo but if your Twitter name is GodselectLady, no one knows your real name to connect with you. If you won’t post your real name, at the very least make the name your business name. People trust the real thing.

Ok, so yes, ultimately your goal is for people to do business with you. But you must first work to establish relationships. If the first time someone hears your name is when you release your first book, they may be hesitant to connect with you because they think you are just trying to sell them. You have to let people know who you are, what you’re about and that you’re not just looking at them as a dollar sign.

Step 6: Find Your Social Media Niche So you’ve started hanging out online a bit more. You tweet more frequently and may update your Facebook status three times a day now as opposed to the one you were accustomed to doing in the morning before heading out the door.

Depending on the audience you are trying to attract, you may need to reconsider which social media outlet you funnel your energy to.

If you started a blog but you hate writing, then maybe you need to consider posting more videos of you speaking. If you like to speak, but you may not want your face plastered online just yet, consider starting a podcast.

Find three major outlets and master them. Most of the social media outlets allow you to integrate others. So consider mastering three outlets that you can update and monitor from your phone. Instagram is another good one to use, and was created to be primarily monitored from a cell phone as well. LinkedIn is a more professional network where you can also connect with people worldwide. Instagram is owned by Facebook, so use IG too.

Once you find your three prominent areas of your social media niche, master them. Begin to build relationships, which will ideally turn into clientele or book sales. Remember, people look for consistency - which leads to trust.

Step 7: If It’s Broke, Fix It! The final step is to measure your results of your social media efforts. Maybe you got over 200 responses on your blog, but didn’t get any responses to your posting on Facebook.

Maybe you gained 100,000 new followers from Twitter, but didn’t get any views on your YouTube video. This is where you have to decide where your most vital relationships will stem from based on social media efforts thus far.

Make sure your content is not boring. Add pictures and live video, if possible. Make it eyepleasing. Be as creative as you want to be. The more creative your blogs are, the more people feel a personal connection to you and start to see your true personality. This will build trust early on and cause them to stay connected long term. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get thousands of ‘followers’ as soon as you create your Twitter profile. It may not seem like anyone is paying attention to you; it may seem as though no one is listening. But believe this, someone is watching you. They’re just waiting to see how consistent you will be. Don’t change the message that you send out. If you’re a motivational speaker, your tweets and statuses should motivate, daily! Over time, you will see positive results.

When it comes to defining your social media swag, create an effective brand and build long-term relationships. Your business brand depends on it!

About Pam Perry: From being selected as one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs by Black Business Women Online to winning Lifetime Achievement Award from MizCEO as Top Brand Strategist. The Detroit Free Press recently called her a “Marketing Whiz on Almost an Immortal Mission.” Publisher’s Weekly refers to her as a “PR Guru.” While she often likes to refer to herself simply as a “PR Coach,” Pam Perry definitely knows how to pull the right people together at the right time, helping authors and business professionals worldwide gain extensive publicity across the nation. Mastering her craft with over two decades of experience in public relations and advertising, Perry has had clients featured in Essence, Ebony, O Magazine and The Today Show. In addition to a stellar media and PR agency career, Perry has amassed a social media following of 85,000.

Perry currently serves as the CEO of Ministry Marketing Solutions and Publisher of Speakers Magazine. Her public relations and marketing firm where she takes authors’ works from vision to manifestation. For more information, please visit www.pamperrypr.com or www.SpeakersMagazine.net

Let This Year be a Motivating Fresh Start for Your Business - Amani Sams @Amani_Sams Happy New Year! It's a new day, a new year, and a new beginning. It's a time for new ideas and fresh starts. Last year I was so excited to begin 2018 because the year before was a little challenging. The normal routine of forgetting your new year's resolutions didn't happen to me; because I was determined to have a better year and this year will be the exact same. This year, don't let challenges detour you from your goals. We're boss babes that are taking 2019 by the reigns and we will ride the wave all the way through.

Before the Win Since high school, I have known that I wanted to be a journalist. I took a broadcast journalism class in ninth grade and I was hooked. I would come home from school and watch the infamous 106 & Park show on BET and I dreamed of one day having their jobs.

I started my magazine 5 years ago while still in college. I had just been let go of my internship with a bridal magazine in Atlanta because I didn’t have a car and the owner “needed someone that could be there every day”. At first, I was devastated but, I took this situation as a sign from God to start my own path in journalism and Aman Magazine was born. The magazine started off as a blog and then I decided to turn it into a full-blown publication. Aman Magazine is a bi-monthly online publication that is based in Atlanta, Ga. The publication focuses on fashion, beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle for millennial women of color. Now we have a teen division that relates more to teen topics such as prom, managing school life, and college life! Whereas, our Aman Magazine Latina division is in Spanish and focuses on beauty, fashion, and trending topics in the Latin culture.

The Lessons Before I started the magazine I went through a lot of trial and error. No one I knew could answer my business questions so I turned to business books. However, books couldn’t prepare me for building a reliable team or for the mistakes that were headed my way as an entrepreneur. I have been through several people throughout the process that has taught me several lessons. I remember working with this one photographer that was so excited to be apart of the team. Then when it was time for the next shoot, he canceled two hours before the photoshoot through text message. He said, “I am still in Vegas and my flight won’t be back in Atlanta today.” You can imagine how frantic I was. I am pretty sure that he knew he wasn’t going to make it back in time prior to two hours before the shoot.

Then when I got to the studio that I had planned to shoot in decided to move me in a smaller part of the studio because they realized that they double booked the studio and they decided to move me without even asking me.

I repeat..They decided to relocate a paying customer without consulting with me first because they double booked the space. By the way.. did I mention that my makeup artist and stylist were late to the shoot that day to. So I went in renaissance woman mode. I made the best out of that situation. I jumped behind the camera and became the photographer. I got a clothing rack and started setting everything up. Thank God, our cover girl was so patient and sweet. Then everything came together at the last minute. In the end, I never booked that studio again and I never texted that photographer back ever again.

You don’t need inconsistency on your team. If people decide to leave let them. If people decide to conduct business in an unprofessional way don’t use their services again. There will be people that come along your journey that can’t see your vision as an entrepreneur and they have to leave. That whole photoshoot was a mess but without that situation, I wouldn’t know what factors I like and don’t like in my business. The process is a great foundation for your empire and it is a continuous process.

The Win My first big interview was with Miss Mulatto. She had just won Jermaine Dupri’s “The Rap Game” and she agreed to appear on the cover of the magazine. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from this interview. With some celebrities, it was a 50/50 chance that they are rude snobs. But Miss Mulatto was completely different; She was open to every concept we had for the shoot. Her parents were also there and were super friendly. She was the first celebrity that we featured on both Aman Magazine and Teen Aman Magazine. Her issue got the most impressions and some of her fan pages acknowledged the magazine.

She really set the tone for the rest of our photo shoots. I will be forever grateful for her trust in the brand and her positivity that day.

Winners Tips -Let this year be a motivating fresh start for your business. The biggest tip I can give is to make a vision board. I must admit. I wasn't really into it until last year. However, I feel vision boards are a great way to organize all your goals and aspirations on paper. It's your personal action plan for the year on paper. Or you don't have to do it on paper; AKA Pinterest is your best friend. My next great advice for the new year is to get social. Social media is one of the best ways to engage with potential new business partners, investors, and interns. I personally use Instagram as my digital resume. I have literally found jobs and internships by using hashtags. If you have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn I highly suggest that you spend the year utilizing those channels to bring exposure to your business. My last piece of advice is to make sure you hire the best people.

The last thing you need is to hire the wrong person. Remember why you started your business and hire people that best fit your company's goals. I once saw a quote that stated, "Build a team that hustles so hard that no one can tell who the boss is" and that quote stuck with me. I hope this year is your best year yet for you and your business! Use your niche to make your community a better place and use that energy to drive you forward.

For daily news and updates please follow my publications at @aman_mag, @aman_maglatina, and @teen_aman on Instagram and you can also follow me on my entrepreneurship journey on Instagram @Amani_Sams .

Don't succeed by accident, Prosper on Purpose!

- Janetta Olaseni @ProsperOnPurpose Hey, my name is Janetta Walton Olaseni, a certified holistic nurse and a life purpose, health and wellness coach in Midland, Texas. I come from a family of veteran’s with more than a century of combined service and also a veteran who served in the U.S. army as a Supply Tech and Combat Life Saver with an Aviation unit. My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, a degree in nursing, board certification in holistic nursing, and management and leadership experience.

I had been an entrepreneur from early in life and had worked in healthcare, real estate and sales. One business I started in our living room grew to a multi-million dollar nationally recognized company. Under my leadership, I have mentored hundreds of clinicians to pursue their dreams and to create multi-streams of income.

I am married to a humble ordained minister, who is a Certified John Maxwell Life Coach, and has four amazing sons. Throughout my diverse life experience, the common themes have been a dedication to service and a passion for success. For me, success means more than keeping score in a bank account, but success doesn’t necessarily exclude financial accomplishment either. I firmly believe total prosperity is the ability to use God’s ability and power to meet any need in any realm of mankind’s existence: spirit, soul, body, financially, and socially.

A Woman’s Intuition In February 2013, while performing a monthly breast exam, I found a lump, about the size of a bouncy ball, in my left breast. I immediately went to my gynecologist to have it checked. The doctor said it was a normal cyst and that since I was young and didn’t have a family history of breast cancer, not to worry about it. I immediately did not feel good about his diagnosis and started making plans to have it removed. But my schedule got tighter and seeing a surgeon became less of a priority.

The small ball had grown and started to fill with fluid. I had to be seen. At the time we were starting another stand alone home health agency that was 2.5 hrs away. With the drive and all the stress of startups I only stopped to have the fluid drained when I could not take the pressure anymore.

After 3 weeks of painful needle aspirations, I requested a lumpectomy. In September, I woke up to my surgeon’s news that the entire lump cannot be removed because it had grown from 3cm to 8cm.

I always hated the thought of chemotherapy due to the horrible side effects I personally witnessed patients endure. I knew then that this will be a faithwalk for me because I had to set aside my fears and face this challenge head on! By God’s grace, after months of prayers,various treatments, I was healed. I regained my health --- using herbs, nutrition, and natural medicine for total wellness was a no brainer for me after experiencing the harsh side effects of chemotherapy.

My Journey to P.O.P. (Prosper on Purpose) How do you achieve total wellness? As a Board-Certified Holistic Nurse, I believe the body has been designed by God to heal itself. He believes we should seek the underlying cause of the disease rather than try to simply suppress the symptoms with a Band-Aid. Prevention IS cure! I fired one of my doctor’s because he was going against my internal equilibrium. He shut down the idea of healing naturally. He said statements like: “ The cancer will come back if you do not take this medicine for the next 10 years!” I strongly believe that doctors should stop saying things like this or even calling patients terminal.

Instead what they should say is their knowledge is terminal or they don’t have the tools in their toolbox. God has the final say and we can seek His wisdom for our individual lives and follow it…

Since then, I have been on an education mission. I am in not anyway trying to diagnose, treat, or tell others what to do. I am only imparting opinions based on research and personal application.

P.O.P (Prosper on Purpose) started as a mindset shift that I learned from being at my darkest hour. I was obese, diagnosed with high blood pressure, stressed out, and was diagnosed with Stage 3B breast cancer at the age of 37. This rude interruption caused me to finally put me first and realize that if I did not learn to be well from the inside out that I would not be around for anyone... I am now healed, fifty pounds lighter, on zero medications, self-compassionate, and breast cancer free!

P.O.P. Values: Relationships (God,Family, and Others) Total Wellness (Spirit, Mind, Body, and Finances) Environment (Toxin Free Life) P.O.P. Mission: The mission of P.O.P. Prosper On Purpose, LLC. Is to promote total wellness through biblical, nutritional, and financial education, so that individuals and families can maximize their quality of life. https://www.iprosperonpurpose.com/ https://www.facebook.com/janettawalton.olaseni Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prosperonpurpose/

"Do not despise small beginnings," Zechariah 4:10 - Tera Carissa Hodges @TeraCarissaHodges If there is any ingredient that must be considered in your formula to win, it must be faith.

Faith is necessary. Faith will get you started when the only thing you can see is the vision in your head. Why? Because "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.

Faith is what encourages the entrepreneur to plan ahead strategically, knowing one day, they will quit their job. It encourages the first time speaker to seek out public speaking development, because they know one day, their big day will come. Faith is what encourages the first time author to self-publish because they know there is value in what they have to say. Simply put, faith is your link to make the not yet possible, possible through a commitment to repetitive, disciplined, strategic hard work. It's your link to your win.

Early in my victory journey (don't miss that...victory is a journey!) I can remember knowing God had given me a global vision for business, media, and ministry, but not knowing how I would get there. I was working jobs that on paper looked great, but in my spirit felt like a betrayal, because my destiny knew, my ultimate purpose was still waiting. So, I began my purpose development via seeking God for my next steps. From there, like Moses I began using what was in my hand; social media, which opened major doors for me.

Biblically speaking, your victory will never require something you don't have. This is why consistently throughout the Old Testament, whenever God got ready to perform a miracle, He worked with what the person had. On the way to your victory, you may not have what you want, but don't discount what you have. In Exodus, Moses had a rod that parted the Red Sea. While, in 2 Kings, the widow woman had oil that the prophet blessed to overflow.

Have faith in this: whatever you need is in you. I, like Apostle Paul, don't consider myself to have attained my win just yet. Have I had victories? Absolutely! But, my win won't come until God says my journey on earth is complete.

I strongly believe never believing you have arrived is a form of humility that keeps you evolving, keeps you ever perfecting who you are, what you do, and how you do it. That's why you can't despise storms. When we don't evolve on our own, God will send a storm to help us get there...our next place of evolution in Him, our goals, and our purpose.

For anyone still in the wait, waiting on their first or next victory, have enough faith to keep going. Nothing beats a visionary who won't give up.

To connect with me, please visit www.teracarissa.com and www.lrglobalmediagroup.com online or www.facebook.com/speakteracarissa and twitter.com/teracarissa on social media.

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