Sneaks & Tees Special Edition - Multiple Covers

Be Prepared By Having A Business Plan

As a business owner, being unprepared is the most common failure that correlates to a company going out of business. Therefore, business owners need to conduct their own research or have someone who is experienced do it for them. Having a business plan in place will keep you prepared and increase overall credibility in the public’s eyes. This article explains the value of having a business plan and highlights a few of the sections that a business plan must contain.

What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is similar to a GPS, it gives your business a direction to follow. It serves as the backbone of your company and helps business owners monitor whether they are on the right track for success. Following a well-constructed and researched business plan will not only help promote sustainable growth but will keep the business owners prepared.

A business plan is essential when obtaining a business loan from a bank or investors. It gives the lenders confidence that they are making a smart decision in providing you the loan and adds to the business's credibility. Banks will look at your credit history, credit score, and assets, along with your business plan. They ultimately want to be assured that you have a sustainable and profitable business. Bank managers will also want to know the nature of your business, the products/services offered, your competition, etc. in order to determine whether your business is going to be successful. A well-crafted business plan will not only persuade the lenders to provide funding but will serve as a guide to follow as a business owner.

Business Plan Sections

1.Advertising and Marketing Analysis

This is an extremely important section for business owners to analyze and research when starting or growing a business. First, the business owner needs a clear and concise plan of action when pursuing their target

markets. A mistake that business owners typically make is marketing their product or service to a broad range of consumers, between the ages of 20-60 years old. This decision is extremely detrimental and can be costly since each target market is not advertised the same. Moreover, each target market will not use the product or service in the same manner. Therefore, a business’ target markets should be clear and concise as conveyed below. Assume you are a roofing company that is conducting analysis and research on its target markets.

Target Market

21-25 Year Old Consumers

26-31 Year Old Consumers

32-38 Year Old Consumers

39-49 Year Old Consumers

50-60+ Year Old Consumers

Reasoning

These consumers are either in college or have recently graduated. Moreover, they are probably tenants who live in townhouses and apartments and are not going to be responsible for roof repairs.

This target market is either renting or looking for houses to buy.

This consumer group is beginning to buy houses. These houses may be brand new or used.

This is the ideal target market the roofing company should pursue since these consumers are most likely buying bigger houses or still in the same house that was purchased 7-10 years ago. For the homeowners who still reside in their first house, they will most likely need a new roof since their houses were purchased close to 10 years ago.

This is another ideal target market since this group of consumers either own multiple properties or have lived in the same house for over 10 years. Similarly, they will most likely need a new roof since their roofs will be around 10 years old.

Business owners must study their competition, specifically looking for competitive advantages and competitive disadvantages. Therefore, a competitive analysis must be conducted in order to figure out a price strategy and how to effectively market the value that your company provides.

Competitive advantages are characteristics or qualities that sets one’s business ahead of the competition.

These competitive advantages are crucial for business owners to take advantage of and are the focal points that are marketed and advertised to the public. Business owners want the consumers to remember the competitive advantages that the business provides.

Competitive disadvantages are characteristics or qualities that one’s competition does better than the business owner. These are still important to note since business owners can replicate those characteristics and qualities while tweaking them to successfully fit their own business model.

2.Industry Analysis

Researching your business’s industry is essential if business owners want sustainable growth. Specifically, one must analyze the industry patterns. These can provide data on how attractive and lucrative the industry is. This means that business owners have to look at the industry statistics and analyze the growth over recent years.

Business owners must also look at consumer trends. This means that one has to study the consumers’ buying habits and see what drives them purchase the goods or services that your business provides.

3.Critical Risks Analysis

In order to grow effectively, business owners must know the critical risks that are involved throughout the growth process. It is essential to effectively project future hurdles that one may have to cross. When researching, business owners need to also analyze the challenges that previous business owners overcame or had to overcome.

Business owners must have an actionable plan to overcome those potential risks. The future is unpredictable, especially now with the spread of COVID-19 and the recent economic inflation. Business owners should also have a plan B that can be easily implemented if one’s business needs to close or shut down, as many did due to the COVID-19 state-wide lockdown.

4. Financial Forecast

This section is one of the most important sections to include in a business plan if a business owner is seeking outside funding from banks or investors. When approaching lenders, it is crucial to build credibility and show that the business is viable and prepared for a successful future. One of the most effective ways of showing the credibility of the business is to provide different financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, etc. that include projections. These financial forecasts will help bank managers and investors determine when they should expect to recover their initial loan or investment. This not only builds credibility but shows them that proper research and due diligence have been conducted. Thus, the business owner will

How Jose J. Chapa III Can Help

various sections that must be

of

of

properly written business

to various sectors of a business.

often time-consuming and improperly conducted when

owners decide to handle drafting the business plan

This is a detriment to the company if it is not as detailed and well-researched as it could and should be.

it is essential for business owners to contact Jose J. Chapa III with Vantage Business Consulting, a professional who is seasoned in crafting custom business plans. These business plans are tailored to promote growth in exposure and are required when obtaining outside funding, whether through banks or investors. Do not stress and manage the business plan yourself, contact Vantage Business Consulting and feel at ease knowing that a well-researched business plan is being crafted specifically for your business.

Jose

Chapa III, J.D.

Chip Baker

The Success Chronicles

Motivational Speaker & Author

Why did you want to be a part of this project?

I believe in the publisher’s movement. Grateful for the opportunity.

Why did you select the message on the t-shirt you are wearing for this special edition publication?

It is my motto. I believe that no significant success will just come to you. You have to GO Get It and make it happen.

Do you see Sneakers/Kicks/J's being a part of your new normal?

Always! I love the sneaker culture and low key a sneaker head.

Tell us about your business (briey).

Chip Baker- The Success Chronicles is a You tube Channel and Podcast where I interview people from all walks of life and share their stories for positive inspiration and motivation.

What is a fun fact about you?

I am a 4th generation educator. Teacher/former coach

Tanya pays close attention to her clients and listens to what they envision so she can bring it to reality. Tanya will not raise the camera unless her clients are:

•

Relaxing: We will ensure you are relaxed and ready to take great photos.

• Action: Action speaks louder than words. When you walk through the door, you will not only notice a professional environment, and you will be greeted with a warm welcome.

• Win - Tanya puts much pride in her photos to make sure you are happy, and the images will make a winning impression

• Listen - We listen to your concerns, wants, & needs. We want to be sure that you enjoy “YOUR” photoshoot.

• Innovative - We are more than just a unique photographer studio, our environment will give you so much energy.

• Needed: We will meet your needs and wants to the best of our ability. We will do everything we can to be sure you get the look you want before you leave.

• Solution: The solution to a great photoshoot is a great photographer that understands her client(s) and does what is asked.

Once you experience “The Rawlins Experience”, you will not want to go to another photographer's studio.

R E A T I

Sacha Thompson,

5 Ways People & Managers Can Increase Psychological Safety for their Teams

Over the last few months, organizations have begun bringing employees back into the office or have decided to continue with hybrid work. One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring employees feel welcomed and their needs for success are met. Leaders are assessing their management styles, how they connect with their teams on a personal level and stay attuned to the challenges of the great recession and quiet quitting.

Since the start of The Equity Equation, I've conducted dozens of psychological safety assessments for organizations, large and small. There are a few reasons organizations contact me -

• they observed a toxic team environment

• leaders noticed challenges but could not identify the source,

• teams want to focus on creating a culture of inclusion

During these sessions, I take organizations through the four stages of psychological safety developed by Dr. Timothy Clark. As Clark describes,

"The 4 stages of psychological safety is a universal pattern that reflects the natural progression of human needs in social settings. When teams, organizations, and social units of all kinds progress through the four stages, they create deeply inclusive environments, accelerate learning, increase contribution, and stimulate innovation."

A psychological safety assessment is a great tool to determine the team's cultural baseline. It provides the ability to see where challenges may happen in the organization and the most impacted demographic groups.

Over time, I've realized that common themes surface regardless of size, industry, or location.

Here are five challenges and tips on how people managers can shift into inclusive leadership by increasing psychological safety.

Challenge #1: Anticipating the Employees' Needs

Many leaders have great intentions by attempting to respond to issues or challenges before they happen or when an employee comes to them with a problem and immediately provides the solution. They start to put actions in place based on what they are anticipating.

Inclusive Leader Tip – Ask what they need.

Over the last few months, organizations have begun bringing employees back into the office or have decided to continue with hybrid work. One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring employees feel welcomed and their needs for success are met. Leaders are assessing their management styles, how they connect with their teams on a personal level and stay attuned to the challenges of the great recession and quiet quitting.

Since the start of The Equity Equation, I've conducted dozens of psychological safety assessments for organizations, large and small. There are a few reasons organizations contact me -

• they observed a toxic team environment

• leaders noticed challenges but could not identify the source,

• teams want to focus on creating a culture of inclusion

During these sessions, I take organizations through the four stages of psychological safety developed by Dr. Timothy Clark. As Clark describes,

"The 4 stages of psychological safety is a universal pattern that reflects the natural progression of human needs in social settings. When teams, organizations, and social units of all kinds progress through the four stages, they create deeply inclusive environments, accelerate learning, increase contribution, and stimulate innovation."

A psychological safety assessment is a great tool to determine the team's cultural baseline. It provides the ability to see where challenges may happen in the organization and the most impacted demographic groups. Over time, I've realized that common themes surface regardless of size, industry, or location.

Here are five challenges and tips on how people managers can shift into inclusive leadership by increasing psychological safety.

Challenge #1: Anticipating the Employees' Needs

Many leaders have great intentions by attempting to respond to issues or challenges before they happen or when an employee comes to them with a problem and immediately provides the solution. They start to put actions in place based on what they are anticipating.

Inclusive Leader Tip – Ask what they need.

Ask a few simple questions, "How can I support you?" "What do you need to be successful?" "What barriers are hindering your progress?"

By doing this, you open a dialogue that provides them with the opportunity to share. You may not only learn something about the employee, but they may also offer insights into more significant organizational challenges.

Challenge #2: Not sharing how you got where you are

Leaders often forget (or want to forget) that the path to where they are now may have had a few bumps along the way. Many employees, especially those earlier in their careers, only see today's leader. They don't see the mistakes and mishaps you may have made and survived. This results in employees who fear sharing mistakes or pressure themselves to be perfect, leading to undue stress and burnout.

Inclusive Leader Tip – Share your journey.

Share your journey with your team. If you are learning something new now, share that. Model the behavior. Be transparent in your learning process and your learning journey. Encourage them to learn something new that will impact your team members personally and professionally. Follow up with them or have them share what they've learned with the group. Not only will this foster a sense of community building, but it also allows you to see what excites them and potential next steps for growth.

Challenge #3: Wanting immediate responses

We are often moving so quickly - running from meeting to meeting, juggling Zoom and life. The pandemic has slowed down a bit, but work hasn't. We want immediate feedback to adjust and continue moving forward.

Inclusive Leader Tip - Allow time and space for idea sharing

Provide your team with time and space to respond. Not everyone processes new ideas in the moment. If there's time, provide the agenda or the item to review ahead of time. If during the meeting, allow the team time to process and several ways to give you feedback (email, chat, text, etc.). It gives them the chance to provide you with the best of themselves in a way that is conducive to how they process.

Challenge #4: Rushing to a solution

There are often opportunities where team members have a new idea, want to provide an update on a project, or need advice from others to move forward. Because many leaders have "been in that team member's shoes", they often give advice or respond with "This is what I would do...", leaving little room for other voices.

Inclusive Leader Tip - Give your feedback last

Open the conversation for other thoughts and ideas. See what suggestions others on the team may have. By opening the dialogue, creativity can occur with no boundaries. Weigh in, if necessary, or support what others shared. You may hear a few ideas you had not thought of before.

Challenge #5: Work Hard. Work Hard.

The pandemic has forced many of us to re-evaluate how we manage our physical and mental well-being. Organizations have increased access to Employee Assistance Programs and other benefits to support a more balanced work and home life. But the work hasn't stopped.

Expectations remain high - adding fuel to the stress and burnout fire.

Inclusive Leader Tip - Model Self-Care Practices

If you are telling employees to use EAP or take time off but not doing the same, think of the message you are sending. Take a moment to create a self-care routine that allows you to disconnect. Model the behavior you want your employees to see. Share some of your selfcare strategies with them. Don't have one? Take part of a team meeting to focus on self-care and how you will hold each other accountable.

These small changes can significantly increase your team's psychological safety and your management skillset as an inclusive leader.

Interested in increasing the psychological safety on your team or within your organization? Visit https://tinyurl.com/EEPsySafety.

Sacha Thompson is the founder of The Equity Equation, LLC, a boutique inclusive culture consulting and coaching firm based in the Washington, DC area. With 20+ years of experience within the education, non-profit and tech industries, Sacha's work is about removing barriers or providing support to achieve equity. She helps executives and leaders have that important dialogue and coaches them to the necessary, long-term changes that develop institutional cultures of DEI. She was most recently featured in Business Insider and MSNBC's The Cross Connection.

If the shoe does not fit, do not commit by Dr. Elizabeth A. Carter

It was March 23rd, 2019, in Orlando, Florida. The other graduates and I lined up alphabetically on stage waiting for the procession to begin. Let me tell you, I looked fly; hair in braids with a black and burgundy mix, a burgundy cotton fitted dress that hugged my curves in just the right way, and my legs looked sleek in these 4-inch black ankle strap shoes. Besides me trying my best to control my emotions of relief and excitement so that my makeup did not run from crying, a successful walk across the stage required me to fight through these barriers:

• Not collapsing because the velvet cap and gown I had on was so hot, I felt like a grizzly bear roasting in an oven, and

• Not falling flat on my face, while the shoes were cute, I could hear my ankles saying, ‘Girl, now you know these shoes are too high”

That was the day of the ceremonial hooding where I would proudly walk across the stage and hear my name called officially for the first time, “DOCTOR Elizabeth A. Carter.”

Dr. Elizabeth

While I waited for the line to move, I started thinking, “how did I get here?” and just as important, “why am I here”?

Have you have ever collapsed, cried, or fallen trying to reach a goal God said was meant for you? If so, then you would agree with me that those concerns on that day in March were monumentally insignificant compared to the tears and bruises from the fears, false information, failures, and frustration we have experienced in our lives. I believe many of us get knocked down mentally, physically, and/or financially, and never recover. One of the reasons, as was especially my reason, is that we Keep It Complicated & Kill ourSelves trying to please other people.

The graduation line moved about six inches. and as I stepped forward, my ankle had a little twitch, and I did a little dance step like I was entertaining myself to not let the others know about the shoes.

I laughed to myself and drifted off to when I was child. Did you ever play dress up and put on your mother’s shoes and shuffle around the house? Yeah, you wanted to be an adult, do grown folks’ stuff. It has been said the shoes make the (wo)man. Molded into my brain at birth was that I was going to be a lawyer. As I got older and knowing that I had to control not having the financial struggles my mother did, a career in law felt like the solution to avoid that situation. But those lawyer shoes, they never fit. As much as I was committed to make it work, the struggle during my undergraduate years was real. My writing skills were sub-par and understanding the history of our world did not bring warm fuzzies to my stomach. When I failed my pre-law class, that solidified my fate. After two years, I threw those aspirational lawyer shoes in the garbage. I had felt as if I failed my family, and my heart sank every time I looked at my mother’s face. But committed and consistent is vastly different than unrealistic and insanity. How often have you gotten them confused?

I tried a new gig, corporate America. These shoes sort of fit, but I needed a shoehorn to get them on, AKA assimilate. I played the corporate game trying to climb that ladder. I was working late nights and weekends, and volunteering for more to the point that not only were my feet swollen, but my cholesterol, blood pressure and weight readings were also swollen. As I was preparing, more like procrastinating, to leave my job in 2016, the unexpected happened. On Feb 15, 2016, my boss called me into her office and let me know that the company was laying off me and five other employees in June. All my time and effort building up my resume, the money spent on degrees and development, and my reward was the shoe of someone else kicking me to the curb. And I was not ready for it. I thought I was in control of my career. I thought I was Killing It Corporately Knocking the Socks off my leadership with my outstanding work products, but I was wrong.

A great aspect of life is perseverance. To be able to walk, or run in any type of shoe, and not be completely devasted after you have fallen, been kicked, or pushed, is a learned skill. During my 15 months of unemployment, I gained a great deal of clarity, conviction, and calmness of my life. I have Killer

Intellect, Confidence, Knowledge and am Self-aware of what I bring to the world. I was able to start my own company to empower women like me with the tools to move up in corporate. I do that from a place of the present; I am back in corporate, fighting the fight, learning the lessons, and recently promoted to the executive level. My mission is to show others that they too can be successful. I am the resource I needed back in the day, that person ahead of me to lend me hand, or to throw me a rope and pull me up. I know I am where I belong, and the shoes fit perfectly.

My advice to you is, while it may not be a trendy look, if the shoes do not fit, do not commit. Do not waste time doing what does not highlight your uniqueness, your expertise, or your value. I am not saying throw all the shoes that do not fit in the garbage. Those shoes are symbols of lessons learned, and/or milestones achieved. Let the shoes you wear today reflect where you are going; no shoehorn, heel inserts or stretching needed. When you have reached that point, then you know you. You no longer question “how did I get here?” or “why am I here”? Your question is “what is next.”

Returning to that beautiful day in Orlando, smiling to myself, and silently thanking those who helped me in the journey, the procession starts moving. I hand my Doctoral hood to the Dean, and she places it over my head while another says, “Presenting Doctor Elizabeth A. Carter.” I smile for the camera, not too much sweating, no makeup smearing, and hear my mother yell from the audience, “That’s My Baby!” I shake hands and exit the stage. I did not cry, collapse, or fall

The walk across that stage was a culmination of starts, stops, falls, quits, reminders and re-starts. But the shoes also fit and did not fail me in the end. I want that for you also. What shoes are you wearing? Are they too big, too small, too tight, the wrong style? As you look for where you fit in this crazy world called life, here are four tips that will allow you to Keep It Comfortable & Kill Solutions:

1)AsK for help. We live with blinders on and cannot see beyond ourselves. Help does not mean hopeless, it means hopeful.

2) Invest in yourself. You are the best return on investment.

3) Listen to those who have been there. Often, we are making decisions based on fallacies and fantasies. These can keep you stuck. Also, Listen to the fans in your life. Those that are cheering for you, those that want to help, those you can call when you have hit a brick wall. They will keep you energized.

4) Leverage your passion. Do not try to be something you are not. Information is great but mold it to fit your life.

Black Door Society

In March 2021, Sharrarne Morton was on a panel of influential women of color sharing their expertise with a group of aspiring female professionals.

The panel's level of synergy, excellence, and intelligence was so great that Sharrarne was inspired to create a collective of high-powered Black women to share opportunities, increase their wealth, and create a trusted professional and social network.

That idea became the Black Door Society.

The mission of the Black Door Society is an invitation-only and exclusive professional membership organization for women of color in prominent corporate and entrepreneurial roles with a shared commitment to advancing the success and expanding the wealth of our Members and Black women in general.

We connect high-profile women of color to other high-profile women of color and share our influence and power to open doors to high net worth and high network opportunities that produce generational wealth and legacy.

Dr. Pam Perry, Renay Butler, Sharrarne Morton, Dr. Roselyn Aker-Black, Psy.D

Every April is “Open Door” Season for new members. Members are invited to apply.

Baby Diggs

Jeff’s Grandson

Jeff Heggie

Why did you want to be a part of this project?

1. I have known Melissa, the founder of SAVVY The Business magazine and she has a brand that I enjoy being a part of. Her epublication has been a resource for business owners since the pandemic and I think this issue is a great way to share how others have shifted and it adds a spice of fun to share my favorite thing.

2. I've worked in situations where I have to be in a suit and tie all day, and I've worked in situations where I can dress a lot more casually. I do enjoy wearing a suit in the right situation, but my preference would always be to be in jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of Jordan's.

Over the past couple years, there has been a big shift in a lot of different areas of the work environment. With so many people working virtually, this is a cool project to show how people will work when they have a choice.

Why did you select the message on the t-shirt you are wearing for this special edition publication?

Michael Jordan has been a hero to me since middle school. That all began because he was my favorite basketball player. Now, 30+ years later, I still see him as the best basketball player to ever play the game, but there's a lot more I can appreciate about him now.

Jordan overcame big failures and showed what can be accomplished with dedication, hard work, confidence, and a powerful mindset. His drive and love for competition are impressive. His entrepreneurial ventures are inspiring as well.

To me, the Jordan brand represents having big dreams, having the drive to chase them, and a never back down attitude.

Do you see Sneakers/Kicks/J's being a part of your new normal?

Yes, my Jordan's are my normal attire.

Tell us about your business (brief). I teach people to be optimal-performing entrepreneurs. This means that I help entrepreneurs build successful businesses while ensuring they are successful in all other areas of their life as well. I do this through my one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and programs.

What is a fun fact about you?

Professional rodeo cowboy (Didn't wear my Jordan's) and 20 years as a Basketball Coach

Mindset Journal: Gain Confidence, Clarity, and a Sense of Purpose Through Your Daily Routine

Life is busy. Every day our urgent task list seems to get longer and longer, making you feel further and further away from your dreams.

With so much going on and with so many responsibilities, how can you ever move forward toward your goals?

If you don't intentionally create the systems and routines to design the life that you want, then eventually, you'll realize that you're living the life you've accepted - wondering where all the time went.

By implementing some simple success habits and being committed to them, you can change the entire trajectory of your life.

World-Class Routines

In the book, The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy says, "The key to becoming world-class in your endeavors is to build your performance around world-class routines. It can be difficult, even futile, to predict or control what will show up in the middle of your workday. But you can almost always control how your day starts and ends." He calls this "Book-Ending Your Day."

Reading that, nearly 12 years ago, has been a game changer for me, and I've included it in the strategies I've shared with thousands of people since then.

By establishing a daily routine you commit to every morning and every evening, you will have more confidence, clarity, and a sense of purpose.

There are many important pieces in an effective routine. These include everything from the time you

wake up, never hitting snooze, hydration, staying off your phone, meditation, etc.

I'm not going to go into all the details of that. I'm going to focus on one specific part of my routine, which is included in my Mindset Journal.

To begin with, I want to show you why I've structured it as I have.

The Benefits of Journaling

To begin with, journaling itself is incredibly beneficial. Journaling can increase:

• Creativity

• Clarity

• Decision-making

• Gratitude, and so much more.

In The Elevated Leader, Ryan Gottfredson says that journaling is one of the most effective exercises in activating and strengthening a positive mindset.

Journaling is a powerful tool to prime yourself for a successful day.

Goals

Earl Nightingale said, "People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple."

If you want to achieve your dreams, you need to know where you are going, make definite decisions, and have definite plans.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill outlines the following process by which you can achieve any goal (he uses money in this example):

• Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you want.

• Determine exactly what you are willing to give in exchange for your desired money.

• Establish a definite date you will have the money you desire.

• Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once whether you feel ready or not. Write a clear and concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire. Include the time limit for its acquisition.

• State what you intend to give in return.

•

And describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

• Read your written statement aloud two times daily.

It's important to have clearly defined goals and make them part of your daily routine.

We Become What We Think About Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A man is what he thinks about all day long.”

How does this work?

Let’s first ask, how do you evaluate your life, feelings, things happening around you, and the decisions you make? It’s all done through a process of asking and answering questions of yourself.

If thinking is the process of asking and answering questions, that means if you want to make any changes in your life, you should change the habitual questions that you are asking yourself. The questions you ask yourself dictate what you focus on and, therefore, how you think and feel.

This is where your Reticular Activating System (RAS) comes into play. The RAS is a network of nerves at the base of your brain. The significance of the RAS is the function it controls. It makes sure that your brain doesn’t have to deal with more information than it can handle. It’s the filter, or gatekeeper of information that it lets in. It takes all of the information you are receiving and decides for you if it’s something that’s important or not.

Have you ever bought a new shirt that you've never seen before, and then all of a sudden noticed other people wearing the same shirt? Is it just a coincidence that you bought this new shirt, and so did a bunch of other people in your area? No, those shirts were there before; they’ve just become something that is important to you now. Your RAS now recognizes this as something that’s important to you and brings it to your attention.

Ask Better Questions

When you change the habitual questions you are always asking yourself, your RAS recognizes those questions as important to you and will find your answers. When a study was conducted on successful people compared to people who had less success, it was found that the biggest difference was that successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.

This is not just powerful when looking at our future or setting goals, this is powerful knowledge that helps us in many areas of our lives. We recognize that questions are the quickest way to change our focus.

Let’s take for example, a person who is always asking themselves disempowering questions. “What’s

the use?” “Why even try? Why doesn't anything ever work out for me?”

How different would things be if that person consciously changed the questions they were asking. “How will this benefit me?” “What could be good about this? What can I learn here?”

If you can develop the habit of recognizing the questions you are asking yourself, when you ask yourself disempowering questions, you will recognize it and can make the change immediately.

Our Brains Will Give Us Whatever We Ask For

What you think about is what you become. When you become more consciously aware of your thoughts and the questions you ask yourself, you can create the life you want. A more powerful life.

This is how you can change your mindset and find opportunities when it seems like there may not be any.

If the goal is to control the habitual questions that you are asking yourself so that you can create a bigger future, I want to show you how you can go about that.

The Mindset Journal

I took all this information and created the Mindset Journal to use as part of my daily routine.

You can get your Mindset Journal on Amazon, or go to https://jeffheggie.com/mindsetjournal to order it and get your bonuses.

I'm going to show you how you can use the Mindset Journal as part of your daily routine.

The Mindset Journal: Top Priorities, Tasks, and Calendar

On the left hand side of the page, there's an area to list all of your daily tasks. At the top of the list is an area to list your top priorities.

Next to these lists is your daily calendar. It's important to move your top priority items onto your calendar, so they are scheduled to be completed during the day.

Morning Routine

The Mindset Journal: Goals

Begin each morning by writing out your top goals.

As you write your goals out daily, you're telling your RAS they are important to you. Your RAS will help you to recognize anything that is going to help you to achieve those goals.

The Mindset Journal: Morning Mindset Questions

Each morning go through these seven Mindset Questions to help prepare you for the day.

To me, the first two questions are the most important: 1. What am I grateful for today?

I have this as the first question because daily gratitude is a powerful tool for success and peace in our lives.

2. What is one thing I can do today that will take me outside of my comfort zone?

Think of a time that you had to do something that was outside of your comfort zone. You probably didn't like doing it. But the next time you did it, you were more comfortable, and more confident, and it was easier to do.

If you are looking for opportunities every single day to step out of your comfort zone, then every single day, your comfort zone is expanding, and so is your overall level of confidence.

The Mindset Journal: Accountability

The final question in your morning routine is, "What's the ONE THING I will commit to do today that will get me closer to my bigger goal?"

Every single day you need to be accountable for taking actions that will help you achieve your bigger goals. Otherwise, it is too easy to get busy with the less important, but urgent tasks and let them fill your day.

The Mindset Journal: Notes & Journal

Each day there is a page and a half to use for your own notes and journaling. If you would like more information on effective journaling strategies, I would suggest learning more from Dr. Benjamin Hardy (https://benjaminhardy.com). He even offers a course on journaling.

Evening Routine

The evening routine of the Mindset Journal can be easy to skip, but DON'T! This is important.

The Mindset Journal: Evening Schedule Review

Review your schedule and tasks from the day you just completed.

Move anything that you need to over to the following day.

Review your tasks and schedule for the following day so that you will be prepared without any surprises the next morning.

The Mindset Journal: Evening Mindset Questions

These are six questions to help you review your day, celebrate your victories, and be accountable to your morning commitments.

The Mindset Journal (https://jeffheggie.com/mindsetjournal) is designed for your success!

When if comes to success habits, it has been said that they are the easy things to do, but they are also the easy things not to do.

I challenge you to make this part of your daily routine for 30 days. I'm confident that it will be a powerful and worthwhile exercise in discipline, confidence, and clarity.

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Photos by The Photo Firm

Ernie Angerstein

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Photos by The Photo Firm

Mike AngersteinMike Angerstein

Military EnthusiastTurned Car

I joined the military, ARMY. Honorably discharged, (Stage 3 Cancer in 2018 with a diagnosis of PTSD). I had thyroid cancer size of a soft ball. Surgery was performed on my throat with an ear to ear incision. The VA medical Doctors said I would never speak again. Not only did I survived by the grace of God, I am cancer free and I got my voice back! Thank you Lord!

I worked on my vocals every single day, Since being cancer free, I attend car shows with my Dad and my son. It’s been an amazing experience! We are all very much into cars, but the icing on the cake is spending time with my Son and my Dad!

Those are very precious times looking back!

My life’s journey started at the age of 5. The love of cars opened a whole new world in my heart! My dad, Ernie Angerstein, has always been passionate about cars in general but really enjoyed the performance muscle car era’. He introduced that passion to me at a very young age & I have been hooked ever since! Therapeutically being at car shows and interacting socially with friends and family is very helpful.

PTSD has been difficult. I'm not much of a social person, but the car culture has helped me interact with new friends at every event. I really enjoy detailing cars, learned the art of custom carbon fiber work! It’s an amazing experience to work on beautiful cars and make them look better than new!

This is how’ Vangard Custom’s started… It’s just something we love to do as a family!

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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