4 message from the founder Looking back and giving yourself an applaud.
6 down to business 10 reasons why you need a business support specialist
12 plugging financial leaks In your small business
15 how do I get this look Home edition
16 health: it’s time to cut the crap and get healthy
18 event recap Completely Yours Events 2 year anniversary celebration
30 event recap Create Your Own Sizzle event
32 she-ro’s Time to make some bodacious moves
40 naturally me campaign Announcing our winners for August 2013
49 recipes 3 Delicious quick meals & treats
22 carol sankar The Millionaire mindset coach
26 traci s. campbell Women making a difference
42 cover story: vicki irvin Beauty, Business & Balance while living a superwoman lifestyle.
54 spiritual corner The art of forgiveness
in this issue
Monique House Contributing Writer www. about.me/moniquehouse
Tanya Angelique Owner of RelationScripts www.tanyaangelique.com
Aradia Knight Owner of Aidara, Inc., www.Aidara.co
ShaChena Gibbs Owner of Real Sisters Rising www.realsistersrising.com
Tosh Patterson WE Magazine’s Chief Healthnista www.toshpatterson.com
Kara Frison WE Magazine contributing writer www.softwordsbrighteyes.blogspot.com
Michelle Hill-Smith Graphic Designer, Branding Specialist & Business Launch and Virtual Productivity Coach www.OnTaskAssistants.com www.MichelleHillSmith.com
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As we transition into the fourth quarter of the year we should look back over the past few months and applaud ourselves for our accomplishments.
We should also look back and make a commitment to try to complete tasks that we have put on the back burner, and try to push to get them completed before the end of year. Every day is about getting a little closer to your dream situation. You may not get your ideal situation, but you should always try to bridge the gap between your reality and your vision. With that being said as always...
HAPPY READING!
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Let us know what you think: ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER!
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DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH MICHELLE HILL-SMITH
I can relate on how it feels to be in the dumps, the pits and not totally on the inspiration train. I know exactly how it feels when you suddenly remember that you’re a one woman show. All of those ideas, projects and lord knows what else has invaded your brain and desk...at the same time. What do you do? Where do you turn? Will this be the destination for the next 3 years for you? The first thought that pops into our head is “I really need an assistant. I need someone to help me with all of this.” If you’re thinking like that, you’re thinking in the right direction. Unfortunately, having just an “assistant” can be either a neutral thing or a completely bad thing. Think about it. An assistant typically comes with mediocre skills, very basic in nature. Their skill level is just enough to help you maintain your mess. After a while, simply managing your mess becomes not enough for what you want to do with your life and business. As soon as you reach that breaking point, you realize that all of the money and time you’ve spent on trying to make a relationship work with your assistant and trying to get them to do what you’re paying them to do has been a complete waste. In today’s age, the typical assistant isn’t enough. You need a business support specialist that specializes in in delivering results.
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1) You’re mentally drained at trying to make the “bigger” projects work with your assistant. 2) You’re consistently trying to micro-manage tasks as well as juggle your own priorities and responsibilities. 3) You want to grow your business but you’re unsure of where to start. 4) You lack the skills necessary in order to grow an online customer base and due to your limited amount of time, you aren’t able to teach your assistant how to do it.
HELPFUL TIPS ON HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BUSINESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST!
5) You’re avoiding necessary projects and tasks due to the lack of skill available. 6) Your focus is lost in repetitive tasks. 7) The money you’re spending on your assistant is justified. 8) You have more areas in your business that need to be handled in one place. 9) You spend too much money outsourcing the major areas of your business collectively such as Marketing, Designing, Administrative and Phone Support. 10) You’re spending too much time working on fixing things with your assistant. Simply put, having a business support specialist means that you have a partner and not just an assistant providing assistance. Today’s business model requires better effective spending, organized productivity, seamless output and quality distribution. Not having key specialist that can deliver on your needs with high quality and promptness can cause you to not only waste loads of money but it can also cause missed opportunities. Finding the perfect individual is critical as well. It’s important that your support specialist is honest in their talent. It’s important that they are able to provide you with value, new ideas and not be afraid to help you grow successfully. They need to be a specialist and offer their services in one place which will save you money. Once you find them, be very clear on what you want done and what you don’t know how to do. It will be a match made in heaven.
CHECK OUT THEIR BRAND AND ONLINE PRESENCE When you visit their social media pages, it should be immediately obvious they take pride in their reputation. They should have a brand for their company that says “professionalism.”
CHECK OUT THEIR SPECIALIZATIONS & REVIEWS They should specialize in what you need in order to not only regularly operate your business but also take it to the next level. Ask questions of those who’ve used their services.
ASK FOR A TRIAL PERIOD They should automatically provide you with an opportunity to test their services on a trial basis to make sure you like what they have to offer. OBSERVE THEIR RESPONSE TIMES & QUALITY Communication should be clear and quick. If they take more than 48 hours to respond to an inquiry then it may indicate a leniency towards communication.
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By Tanya Angelique, MBA
Arnold Palmer once said, "The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done." There come times in life when you're faced with a choice that involves risk-- from a career change, relocation, beginning a new relationship, marriage, or having a child. Creatively speaking, you may be faced with a choice of doing what you know is marketable, going out on a limb with your own vision, or giving up a steady job to follow your creative pursuits full-time.
Risk taking is uncertain and unpredictable. You're heading into uncharted territory. You risk criticism and humiliation, and possibly having to start all over again. You're giving up what you know for what might be. The rewards can be great, but so can the cost. You may ask, �Why would anyone want to take a risk?� Risk often presents opportunities to realize your talents, interests, abilities, and dreams. New lessons are taught from mere experience. Many great accomplishments have derived from taking a gamble. With just a small amount of money and big dreams came such companies as Disney, Ford, Apple, and Motown. These visionaries were pioneers in their industries.
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When it comes to risk-taking, there are two extremes to avoid. Some are afraid to take reasonable risks. This can result in a lackluster life without excitement. Others take risks easily, believing that their willingness to leap makes them courageous. Such individuals fail to realize that taking major risks without thinking them through is foolish, and often find themselves picking up the pieces of shattered dreams repeatedly.
While there's no magic formula for managing risk, with careful preparation and forethought, you can minimize risk and maximize the chances for success. First, take calculated risks rather than irrational ones. Sure, they both take courage, but closing your eyes and jumping without looking where you're going is simply reckless. Many believe in the phrase “leap then grow your wings on the way down,� but you still need to plan to go in with your eyes open.
Your next step is to project forward. What are the potential risks? How can you prepare for them? Is taking this risk in line with your highest values and priorities? Is there a Plan B that would give you the desired results with less risk? Analyze to determine what specific risks are involved, and how you can minimize them. What information can you gather that will help you be better prepared? If it's a financial risk, how can you create a buffer for yourself, such as having a year's income in the bank to fall back on?
Then, consider the timing. Determine the likeliness of the worst-case scenario. Is there a way to modify your plan or acquire additional knowledge or resources to minimize the risk? If not, are you willing (and does it make sense) to go for it knowing the worst could possibly happen? Last, always consider what it's costing you not to take this risk. You may be protecting your security and maintaining the status quo, but it may be costing you your health, relationships, creativity, happiness, and sense of fulfillment. There are times when you need to take a risk to be true to who you are. It’s okay to be content, but when you find yourself being complacent, it might be time to shake things up.
To learn more about Life and Business Coach Tanya Angelique, MBA visit www.relationscriptsinc.com Tanya Angelique, MBA | Life and Business Coach | www.relationscriptsinc.com http://twitter.com/tanya_angelique | "Empowering others with the tools to master life"
August 2013 Issue
Women’s Elevation Magazine
23
Share Your Journey, Pictures & Inspiration with Us!
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By Aradia Knight
You have worked hard to create a sensible budget.
You believe that you are sticking to
it, but somehow you are still having problems with cash flow. In fact, some studies suggest that 60% of new businesses fail because of first-year cash flow problems. Even if you have survived the first year, you may still be struggling with plugging those financial leaks. Some are clearly visible; others are not. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Unless you are working alone, the salaries of your employees are one of your highest small-business costs. If you look at your employees and their responsibilities carefully, you may find that you have a great employee who is in the wrong position, or you may have not hired enough people to get the job done effectively. You may discover that you are micromanaging your staff rather than making sure they are trained for their job. Or perhaps you haven’t considered outsourcing some tasks to hourly employees who would cost less for you and still get the job done. Analyzing the tasks that need to be done and who is doing them is a great exercise. Involve your staff. They may have valuable input.
Have you compared prices on your Internet and phone service lately? Some small businesses save money by using company cell phones rather than a business line or the opposite may be true. In any case, do the due diligence and do a comparative study. Then talk personally to your current vendors to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Take the time to also compare the fees charged by your bank. You may find that there are better rates offered at a different bank. And always pay your bills on time so that you don’t lose money in late fees. If you find that you are increasingly delinquent on your bills, it’s time to reassess your budget and spending patterns.
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Take the time to also compare the fees charged by your bank. You may find that there are better rates offered at a different bank. And always pay your bills on time so that you don’t lose money in late fees. If you find that you are increasingly delinquent on your bills, it’s time to reassess your budget and spending patterns.
Take advantage of free or low-cost public relations opportunities. Press releases are a great example. They can be sent to local newspapers for free. Another publicity resource is PRWeb. It’s not free, but it is reasonable, and it can raise your online visibility significantly.
PRnewswire.com and Businesswire.com are two of the biggest distribution services, but they are also more costly. You also may want to think about tactics like hosting a seminar where no products are sold but that could be a venue to simply share information; information that attendees could use in their businesses or homes. Seminars are great way to attract potential customers and increase visibility.
Track your peak cash months. At a peak month, small business owners often forget that there are other months where the cash flow isn’t as high, and they make decisions based on the peak month rather than the overall average.
Is the rent for your business location too high? Do you really need that much space? If you are not utilizing all of your space, you are wasting money in maintenance, repairs and utilities. Find something smaller or telecommute.
Control your capital expenses. Since capital expenses are recorded on your balance sheet (not as an expense on your income statement) you may lose track of it. Even if you are really careful about keeping your expenses on budget, many businesses forget to also keep tabs on a capital budget
Manage business growth. Remember that growth efforts can deplete your assets unless you consider the cash flow element involved.
It’s important to have basic business insurance as well as other policies necessary to cover risks. However, evaluate what you are paying, and if you don’t feel comfortable reducing your coverage, shop around for policies that are less expensive. As you do this, check the insurance company’s financial records (through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners). You will want to make sure that the company is reputable.
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Going paperless may not be practical for you, but try to do as much as you can electronically. Send email newsletters rather than hard-copy and think about digital storage rather than paper files.
Little things add up. You don’t want to be stingy with your supplies, and you want to make sure that you and your employees have what they need to get the job done. But always think about cost-containment. Buy discount office supplies in bulk once or twice a year or open a corporate account with one of your suppliers. Keep an inventory so that you can plan these purchases effectively.
Pay attention to your current customers. Your overall profits may leak for the following reasons: if you leave a question unanswered or are too slow to respond; if you give too much information so that your customers experience information-overload; if you offer solutions before understanding the problem. In other words, great customer service is one of the best ways to prevent long-term leaks from lost customers. Underlying all of these suggestions is the reality that you need to continually monitor spending. We can easily get caught up our big dream and forget that every dollar that is spent unwisely erodes our profits. It takes self-discipline, but it’s worth the effort to examine your business expenses carefully… not just annually… but monthly!
Aradia Knight is the President of Aidara, Inc., an online bookkeeping firm serving businesses all over the U.S. The Aidara team provides support for tax planning, monthly business bookkeeping, and consulting.
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Completely Yours Weddings and Events celebrated its two-year anniversary on August 11th, 2013 at the Washington Hilton DC, with a special tribute to “Mompreneurs” themed “Once Upon a Baby Bump.” Co-hosted by Mrs. DC Exquisite 2013 Cassandra Bratcher and Kathy “Kitty” Jones of The Kitty Jones Show, the event benefited Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. A group of Mompreneurs were honored, including Cheryl Wood of Cheryl Wood Empowers, DeLisha Sylvester of Women’s Elevation Magazine, Lisa Barnes of Celebrating You Spa, and Miranda Lee of Miranda Lee – Makeup Artist. The attendees enjoyed music by MyDeeJay, spa services from Celebrating You, a runway show featuring Critique Boutique, belly dancing demonstration and performance by Sama (Anne Wimer); health demonstrations, mini makeovers, and much more. We sat down to talk with soon-to-be mompreneur Jon’ll Boyd founder of Completely Yours Events to tell us a little about the event. WE Magazine: What was the purpose of this event? J. Boyd: The purpose of Completely Yours Events 2 Year Anniversary event was to honor and pay tribute to moms who are in business or as we call them Mompreneurs. It was also to support a local non-profit MakeA-Wish Mid-Atlantic that is helping to have a major impact on our community through helping critically ill children. This is the one time of the year that we have the opportunity to give back to the community while celebrating being in business. WE Magazine: How do you feel about continuing your entrepreneurial journey as you step into motherhood? J. Boyd: To be honest it is a little scary. Anytime you enter into a new realm that you are unfamiliar with it can be a little unsettling. In essence you have to learn yourself and your routine all over again. How will you balance your time between both worlds? Where will you fit in certain things? Will you be able to be as flexible? All of these questions are left unanswered but this is also a time for growth and taking it one step at a time. I am a little excited however because this is a new chapter; a new beginning in both worlds.
WE Magazine: What's next for the CYE brand? J. Boyd: That is a great question. Well we have a lot in store and on the horizon. We are continuing to branch out into other segments of event coordinating and design such as our full scale design and decor. We will also be kicking off our "Gift a Wedding" program where one couple will have the wedding of their dreams sponsored. Lastly we will begin offering a virtual and in person Wedding and Event Planning class taught by our CEO & President Jon'll Boyd for interested and aspiring event planners.
For more information on Boyd and CYE check out: Website: www.completelyyoursevents.com Twitter: @CompletelyY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompletelyYoursEvents
By Tosh Patterson
At the start of 2013, you may have promised to become a healthier person by exercising more and eating better. However, you may be amongst those who had the best of intentions, but couldn’t quite get going towards accomplishing your health goals. The good news is that no matter what is weighing you down, there’s still time to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Kellogg, the makers of Special K, declared January 2nd “What Will You Gain When You Lose” Day. Their campaign was about losing weight and being your best. Are you ready to gain when you lose? Here are five easy tips that can get you on the right path:
Decide Which Path You Want to Take. There are many, many approaches to being well. Don't get overwhelmed; just decide on one approach you can implement & go with it!
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Be your Best. Ditch thoughts of perfection because no one is perfect. Show up being your absolute best self in any moment. If you "fall off the wagon," jump back on & keep going even when you don't feel like it. Be consistent & you will accomplish much more than you thought was possible.
Get In The Game. Stop sitting on the sidelines with your health. You are in control of yourself and your life. Get off the sidelines and jump into action for the rest of 2013! Now is the time to take responsibility for your health & wellbeing.
Reduce/Eliminate Processed Foods. Eat simple, fresh, whole foods instead of things in boxes, wrappers, & cans. Drink plenty of water and incorporate more fruits, vegetables, fibers, and lean proteins into your diet.
Monitor Sugar Intake. Many foods and drinks have hidden sugar so it’s important to monitor your intake; empty calories counteract your efforts. Are you willing to give up sodas, coffee drinks & energy drinks to avoid all those hidden calories?
Think about what YOU will gain when you LOSE fear, doubt and limiting beliefs.
It’s time to lose the excuses so you can gain confidence,
joy and loving your body! Sometimes we make healthy living out to be too complicated. Let's cut the crap & make it easy!
Finish the year strong and accomplish what you declared as important in 2013.
Carol is internationally known and have been able to venture into many different markets based on her background in political science. She’s built her own brand using her experiences in the corporate world and in the law field.
Read on as she share’s her story of her journey to entrepreneurship with our readers?
It only took me about six months to realize that law school wasn’t for that. It wasn’t that I hated it, but I started to see the unhappiness in law so I decided to go another route. I started my own legal consulting company, but I knew I wasn’t going to stay in it as I was only consulting for money. That’s when real estate came to me by accident. I looked at some properties and I just fell in love with it.
MILLIONAIRE MINDSET
C. Sankar: I’m a Trinidadian, and I am a part of the first generation that can speak this well (laughs). I always thought that I was going to be a lawyer; I never questioned that vision. I always had that thought in my mind since the age of eight or nine years old and. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I remember seeing two episodes of LA Law at the time, and saw the cast driving Porsches and living in upscale apartments, and it made me want to live that life too. So, I made sure that I was involved in anything legal in high school. Then, when I went to college, I started out at Long Island University but quickly realized that they didn’t offer a political science program. I transferred to another university that had a prelaw program within their political science and history department. That’s when I figured out that I loved law even more than before. I had the opportunity to network with other prelaw students, work in the field as a paralegal, and also network with many judges and attorneys. One day my advisor for an independent study course said to me that I first needed to practice the specialty of law in which I was interested. She told me that a law degree is about $180,000 investment and, God forbid, if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t be getting a refund. I went back into being a paralegal and working in law firms to make sure that I truly wanted to become a lawyer.
WE Magazine: Wow that is a lot! C. Sankar: I had become so obsessed with law, taking all of the classes, putting in all of the hard work, having the opportunity to meet Johnny Cochran, etc. But when I hit 25 [years old] I truly felt it was time for a change and that I needed to learn something new. WE Magazine: The fact that you were able to do a lot of those things so quickly and so young is amazing. Kudos to you! I am pretty sure your family is very proud of you. Your honesty in saying that you started your first business solely with the intent of making money is admirable. Many people start out that way, and then they find their passion, and pursue it later. In your case, law was your passion, but it just so happened that it shifted into what you are doing now. You would grow tired of working if just finished wrapping up a new book in December 2012. You’ve penned four books that have all been best sellers, but what called you to write this most recent book?
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C. Sankar: I call this last book “____-PRENEURS” and I truly refer to this recent work as my “Facebook book.” I have a lot of Facebook followers, and I had been posting a lot about “blank-preneurs”. It really was my way to vent about things that I would see other entrepreneurs doing that could have been done differently. People would reach out to me, and wonder why their businesses were failing. It would often result from them spending a majority of their time on social media and not devoting those hours to their business. I started a series on Facebook called “blank-preneurs,” on which I posted daily For example, one day it would be the “like-preneurs”, then the “sleep-preneurs”, and the following day could be about the “tv-preneurs”. I began to compile the ones that I had written about on Facebook, and incorporated new examples into a book. In my mind it was humorous, but people that read it have said that the book was truthful, as they could see themselves as one of those kinds of entrepreneurs. The premise was to show entrepreneurs that they shouldn’t complain when things weren’t happening for them if they failed to put forth their best effort. WE Magazine: “_____-PRENEURS” seems like a really good way to wake people up about what they are wasting their time on. Many people forget that it’s not just about how many people you talk to on Facebook or how many followers you have. A lot of that interaction is important because networking is changing, but you have to do more than that. What do you believe is one common misconception about business? C. Sankar: I would say there was a time when I was getting into public speaking. I thought if I charged less I would be attractive to other people. I didn’t realize that I was devaluing myself, and therefore no one was valuing me. The misconception is that a lower price will make you more successful. That was one of my biggest mistakes, and I promised myself that I would never do that again. WE Magazine: Understanding what your worth is a lesson that new entrepreneurs should learn to grow professionally. You are a speaker, but you have mentioned before that you don’t feel like you are an “empowerment speaker.” What do you mean by that? What do you consider yourself to be?
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page 25 C. Sankar: I am a business coach and a/business consultant. If some of the things that I say are empowering then that’s great, but I don’t feel that it’s my calling to empower. For me, it’s about entrepreneurship and getting people to see things differently. It’s great to be motivated but you have to turn that motivation and empowerment into profit. WE Magazine: You have an event called the “Millionaire Mindset.” Can you tell us a little bit about that? C. Sankar: Essentially it’s a day of reviewing different profit strategies from product pricing to better attract different clientele. I analyze your business strategy to let you know what you need to change. I help clients you to recognize when your marketing efforts are not working, and evaluate everything from your website to the content that you are sharing. It may leave you crying, but you will gain so much knowledge about what you need to change in order to gain more clients. WE Magazine: We love that you make people cry (laughs). C. Sankar: Well, sometimes you have to tell people what may not be easy to hear. I think the problem is that there are too many “yes men” in the world who tell you that you have a great website or great content, when it is further from the truth. It’s necessary to let people know where they are lacking so that they can better position themselves to create the best product possible. WE Magazine: At the end of the day, it’s great to have people that are going to tell you the truth about your business and what you need. We want to thank you for being a part of this issue, and good luck to all of your future endeavors. C. Sankar: Thank you so much for providing me with this platform.
For more information on Carol Sankar check out her website: www.carolsankar.com Follow her on Twitter: @CarolSankar
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WE Magazine: What inspired your work? T. S. Campbell: I love to tell people the story about my/our inspiration. We are involved in so many different projects. We have our non-profit C.H.A.M.P project, and our BIBO (Beauty In Beauty Out) tour which is our beauty incentive. We also have our “Inside Out” radio show, which none of that would have come about if it wasn’t for my mother. I lost her in 2007, and we were truly a team and relied heavily on each other to survive. The good is that a lot of her best traits rubbed off on me. However she gave me a lot of the mental anguish and disappoint caused by her not being able to do everything she wanted to in her career. I realized when she passed that I needed to continue the work myself. I needed to work on the negative things I inherited, and I also wanted to honor her as well by creating positive programs. Since my journey started between 2008 and 2009, we have really been able to touch a lot of lives and change the perspective on things for many people. WE Magazine: You are definitely doing great work in different avenues; this work is so necessary due to all the negativity in our world.
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T. S. Campbell: Yes, I believe that this generation, more than the generation before, is so inundated with negativity that we need positive outlets in order for them to survive. I think the need is there and we hope to add value and help with that. WE Magazine: Today’s youth are faced with more difficulties than those of the current generation that is coming of age (late 80s/90s). It’s just disheartening how violent and sexualized our society has become recently. T. S. Campbell: While I can’t say this for certain, I speak to a lot of young women, and the common denominator seems to be a struggle with self-esteem and body issues. It’s great when they identify that they need to get away from the negative thinking, and we are able to help change their perception through things like the BIBO tour. WE Magazine: How have your entrepreneurial motivations changed since you first started? You mentioned your mother motivated you when you began your journey. What inspires you now? T. S. Campbell: I love that question because even though the journey started with wanting to honor her and wanting to help teens and single mothers, we have gone so far beyond that. The BIBO tour came about as I did more speaking and trainings with the C.H.A.M.P. movement. There was one thing that would always come up and that was the topic of women. Women younger or older than I, of all different races, etc. would share about the self-esteem issue or ask how I got to where I am, which led to the BIBO tour. Now we tour in multiple cities and we are able to teach women through this platform. Then the “Inside Out” radio show came about as another way to reach women. We’ve gone into a lot of different directions that definitely weren’t around in my original plan. WE Magazine: And that’s really how it seems to go when you are building a business. You start off with one thing that transitioned into something else. What you are doing is always bigger than what you perceived it to be. T. S. Campbell: Once you keep your passion in the forefront it makes the journey even easier. Now we are in Nairobi, Kenya, we’re in Chicago; we’re going to be in Tampa, FL. And all of this came about because we were tired of the negative images of women in the media, and we wanted to offer a positive light for women to shine in. WE Magazine: What has been your most memorable experience so far in your journey? T. S. Campbell: Wow, I love the question but at the same time it’s a really hard question (laughs). WE Magazine: Well that means I’m doing my job (laughs). T.S. Campbell: If I had to choose, it would be between two experiences. As it relates to the BIBO tour, it started from wanting to take the idea of C.H.A.M.P (which stands for Character, Happiness, Attitude, Mentality, and Purpose) and turn it into something more women-centered. Once we did that, we started to receive a lot of emails and followers, and there was one young lady that wrote a lengthy email to me about her life. I was really touched by the email because she was really moved by our radio show and wanted to become involved in any way possible. That really touched me and made me realize why we do what we do. In terms of the C.H.A.M.P program, we started it in Nairobi, Kenya two years ago. We did a pilot of the program with 28 students and it went well. Since then, we have amassed over 200 students over there, who got together and made a banner for me, and sent a video to me of them singing a song in their native language. I cannot tell you how much that truly moved me to tears. Because again, I knew there was a reason why we were doing this work. Continued on the next page...
WE Magazine: Well those are definitely memorable experiences. It’s always nice to hear “thank you” and be appreciated for what you are doing. Where do see your business in the next five years? T.S. Campbell: In five years I see the BIBO tour expanding. We are in five cities right now, and if we are able to amass that in a year and a half, then in five years we fully expect to be in most of the cities throughout the US. For the C.H.A.M.P project, we hope to train more people so that we can continue in other countries and have more of a reach. With “Inside Out” radio, we want to move it into satellite radio and expand that as well. WE Magazine: Awesome well we look forward to hopefully being a part of some of your future endeavors. Let’s switch gears since we are coming to the end, and ask you some rapid fire questions. T.S. Campbell: Sounds good! WE Magazine: What is one of your favorite quotes? T.S. Campbell: I actually have a few but one that I live by and say at least once a week is “There is no such thing as coincidence.” I’ve seen it operate in my life so many times. I truly don’t believe in coincidences because it’s how you act, what you think about, and who you associate with that control what happens to you on a day to day basis. The majority of things that happen in our lives are a result of our own actions, so I truly believe in this quote. WE Magazine: On a lighter note, what is your favorite pastime when you’re not working? T.S. Campbell: I am somewhat of a nerd so I enjoy playing Scrabble, and luckily I have a husband that has grown to love it as well. When we have free time, and there is not a lot of it, we play Scrabble to unwind. WE Magazine: Who is your favorite author? T.S. Campbell: I love the writer Sandra Brown. I love murder mysteries and detective stories, especially those set in medieval times or in the south. And don’t ask me why the south (laughs). I love the dialect; I love the colloquialism. And on the other end of the spectrum, I am a big Alfred Hitchcock fan as well. Lastly would be Stephen King because he always weaves in a Christian theme in the books rather than in the movies. WE Magazine: And lastly what is your favorite food? T.S. Campbell: Every few weeks I have to break the healthy regimen and have a chicken tender/nugget. And there is something about McDonalds fries, but Wendy’s is really starting to compete with them (laughs). WE Magazine: Yes! Wendy’s fries are great when they are piping hot. Those foods are not too bad. I am a huge pretzel fanatic. Anyone that knows me knows that I carry around a huge bag of pretzels with me everywhere I go (laughs). T.S. Campbell: I love the ones from Auntie Annie’s! WE Magazine: Well if I am ever trapped on an island I would need to have an unlimited supply of them (laughs.) Thank you for taking the time out to talk with us this evening. Please keep doing what you are doing, as it is truly needed in this day and age. T.S. Campbell: Yes, thank you as well. This was fun and I look forward to connecting with you in the future!
For more information on Traci S. Campbell check out: www.traciscampbell.com
www.beautyinbeautyouttour.com
Follow on twitter: @BIBIOTour and @TraciSCampbell
WomensElevationMagazine.com
Create your own Sizzle was a truly dynamic event that touched the lives of everyone in attendance. Cheryl Wood was able to deliver a message to the ladies of the audience. There were over 1,100 attendees in the building at the event. WE Magazine would like to thank Cheryl Wood of Cheryl Wood Empowers for allowing us to be in attendance at this event. Not only did we connect with many women and young girls we believe that the people in that arena all benefited from the positivity of the day. Remember it’s never
By ShaChena Gibbs
It’s fall and it’s that time for you to make changes in your business that will make sense to your overall success. Thinking out of the box and implementing your vision is what we are going to do this fall. If you already consider yourself to be a Bodacious Shero, then it’s time for you to go BIGGER AND BOLDER. If you are someone who is low key and plays it safe, STOP! It’s time for you to go to the next level of being an entrepreneur.
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Let’s start with something easy: your office space.
Think about what colors you use to brand your company and how you can incorporate them throughout your office space. Take up to three main colors of your brand and accent some office supplies with those colors. If you use a laptop or tablet, purchase skins to match your brand. Get a custom skin with your logo for your laptop and even mobile device.
Just like with your office, you want to match your image with your brand. Unlike office items and other stationary things, incorporating your brand into your personal image requires more attention to detail, more finesse and more effort. It can be a challenge to be creative with your style while maintaining your professionalism. Decide what your professional style is, and pump it up with some color. Remember you are your brand. Think about the first impression with which you want to leave your potential clients.
With your space and personal image under control, it’s time to network. If you have access to a conference room, schedule an appointment with 5--10 potential partners, clients, etc., who you have been too nervous to speak with. Step out of your comfort zone and talk to these high rollers that ultimately have the potential to take your business to the next level. Remember to be prepared, and if you can, have an assistant there to help you with anything needed; making copies, ordering any refreshments and proofreading all documents to be shared during your conferences. Spare no expense to show them you are about your business.
Business meetings aren’t the only way to make moves. Gather your friends or professional colleagues, and create a phone team to help you spread the word about your business to others. Ask your friends to call ten or more of their friends and family to introduce them to your business. Schedule at least two days of the week at a professional location to have information sessions for about thirty minutes to one hour. When making these calls, be sure to invite interested leads to the session to further introduce them to what your business has to offer.
ShaChena Gibbs | The Business Shero for Women Entrepreneurs www.thebusinessshero.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/shachenagibbs
If you are following us on Instagram then you already know about our new campaign to bring beauty of women all around the world to the forefront. Our objective is to highlight women who love the skin they are in, and showcasing it for the world to see.
Once a month every month we will pick a winner from our Instagram and spotlight them in our magazine, as well as send them a gift just for loving the skin they are in!
Since this was our first month we decided to spotlight two women: Our first winner is Samantha Stanislas from Bronx, New York she was the winner of our Sephora Gift Box! WE Magazine: What is the most important thing to remember when loving yourself? S. M. Stanislas: Loving yourself is the #1 priority in life because you can’t do anything without loving yourself. No matter how much money you get or how many things you receive you will never be happy unless you love yourself. WE Magazine: What do you do to make sure that you love yourself fully? S. M. Stanislas: I take a lot of alone time I don’t always participate in big crowds, and it gives me time to reflect on what I want to do in life. I am comfortable in the skin I am in, and no matter what I look like, whether I wear make-up or not, I will always be the same Samantha. WE Magazine: Tell us a little bit about what you have going on. S. M. Stanislas: I am going to be a senior at NYU, I am studying Metropolitan Studies, and I have a blog called Kinky Coily Love it is a natural hair care blog. I have started getting into the realm of make-up as well. Our second winner was Mercedesz Brown from Redford, Michigan. She was the winner of our Carol’s Daughter gift box. WE Magazine: What is the most important thing to realize in terms of loving yourself?
M. Brown: I would say confidence and actually knowing that I am confident in myself. Without confidence I didn't love myself at all. I'm not coincided but I have confident and I'm very humble. And lastly I would say being of God. WE Magazine: Those are all good points. And the touch on the foundation of why we started the "Naturally Me" campaign. We wanted to promote positive images and really just loving yourself and the person you are.
WE Magazine: Share with us anything that you have going on. M. Brown: I am a theater major and I plan on transferring to Clark Atlanta University. I am serious modeling and I help other models by letting them know of casting calls etc. I am an advocate of domestic violence awareness as I am a survivor of abuse. Everyday I am striving to be a better me and in doing so I hope that I can inspire not only the young females in my family, but those that are looking for a positive remodel. One day I would like to start my own non-profit that helps young girls with low self-esteem; I hope to one day be a mentor to those that need guidance. WE Magazine: I appreciate you being so honest and I thank you for participating in the "Naturally Me" campaign. This campaign sets out to uplift women and broadcast a positive face on all fronts because we are being seen by many so it is important to shine light instead of casting darkness. M. Brown: Thank you so much for picking me!
Ladies thank you so much for participating and we at Women’s Elevation Magazine hope that you enjoy your gifts!
Be on the look out for the start of our next campaign! Make sure that you participate in our #naturallyme campaign on Instagram! #selflove#beyou #naturallyyou #beauty #bebold #makeup #hair #fierceness #women #girls and don’t forget to tag @WElevationMag in the picture!
Stay Bold. Stay Beautiful. Stay Naturally You.
by Kissed by Koco
Coming October
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By Monique House
If you haven’t already, you will soon notice a casual, 90’s rocker-esque trend take over the shelves this fall. Also known as Grunge or Street Grunge, this style of clothing takes its inspiration from 90s fashion heydays. You’ll have no problem trying this trend during your days off, but oversized plaid button ups with ripped denim shorts and fishnets are NOT work appropriate. Learn how to dress in the spirit of Grunge while keeping it professional.
Limit the look to your shoes…. . There are some great boots and pumps out this season. Pair them with your favorite dress or skirt. Minimarket flat shoes / Jeffrey Campbell black boots, $240 / Dorothy Perkins black boots / Monki black boots, $86 / JustFabulous red shoes / ASOS black shoes, $56
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OR………..
…... Try a dress The season’s floral dresses are edgy but cute. They work in almost every situation. Parisian fancy cocktail dress, $20 / Dorothy Perkins red cocktail dress / Club L sequin dress, $20 / Travel dress / AX Paris printed skater dress, $39 /
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OR……….. ……. . Accessorize Accessories allow you to make a personal statement while keeping things safe and professional. Mulberry black handbag, $1,950 / Coach leather bag / Black handbag / LK Designs chain jewelry, $120 / Blue sapphire earrings / Earrings / Nautical scarve / Floral infinity scarve
OR……….. …. . Skirts and pants are a safe bet too You’ll be ready for the board meeting and can head straight to happy hour. Just don’t forget to pair them with the right top. Pink blouse / MANTU ankle zipper pants / Sara Berman black zipper skirt, $275 / Plaid a line skirt
Join The Flair Society now for more fashion trends and inspiration at www.theflairsociety.com
We’re Your “One-Stop” Shop for Support! Your Business is Our Job! OFFICE | CREATIVE | SOCIAL | SALES
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After building her first company into a million dollar business in 12 months , Vicki Irvin started her next venture mentoring business owners. She focuses on teaching women how to have it all in “Business, Beauty & Balance” while living a “Superwoman Lifestyle.” Vicki has coached over 2,000 people on how to increase their own wealth, boost their profits and employ marketing strategies that few have been exposed to. The success of Vicki’s coaching practice was built on her keen sense of marketing that keeps her events selling out in any economy.
Recently Vicki expanded her brand and developed a new beauty line called the SWL Collection. She partnered with recording artist Chante Moore as the celebrity face, to design a line and color of lipsticks that women can wear from the boardroom, stage or just hanging out with the kids. WE Magazine: I always find it great to talk to women who own multiple businesses because it always leaves me wondering, “How do they do it all?” How do you manage to complete everything when you have multiple priorities all at once? V. Irvin: Right, I actually started my career as a Human Resource professional; it’s just what I had always done. I had kind of fell into that position after college. I knew that there was something bigger and better out there for me, I just didn’t know what. After spending several years in the workforce and realizing that I didn’t really like what I was doing, my husband told me to attend one of his mastermind meetings. While there, I’d meet with other entrepreneurs who were really making a lot of money doing their own thing. It took a while for me to actually go, but I finally did and the fact that my husband was already an entrepreneur helped me go out there and meet other entrepreneurs. Once I met them, I realized that they really were doing phenomenal things with their businesses once they realized what they wanted to do and focused in on their marketing. They were really big on having their marketing piece down. I asked some people what they thought I should do and they suggested real estate, which became my first entrepreneurial business after I got a mentor and found a really good success model. After that, I began to formulate my own coaching model and really took off from there.
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“I just went out there and asked someone
TELL ME WHAT TO DO?” I just went out there and asked someone “Tell me what to do?” and then along with great marketing the business became successful. One very important key to having a successful business was to have great marketing. I find that entrepreneurs don’t focus too much on marketing, but that’s really how you generate income for your business. WE Magazine: Marketing your business is very important. How do you use it to help you throughout the businesses you own? V. Irvin: I just realized early on that as long you have a great marketing plan, you can use it with any business concept. WE Magazine: The way that you were able to link up with your husband and his entrepreneurial journey drew you to start your own journey. It was interesting that your first business was in real estate because you have definitely transitioned yourself into other ventures including the make-up line and the Super Woman Lifestyle aspect. Tell us a little bit about the Super Woman Lifestyle movement. How are you helping women in their personal and professional lives? V. Irvin: While I was in real estate, I hosted many seminars and was often on the radio, and people were wondering how I was able to do it all. I knew that a big contributor to the success of my business was marketing. I made the choice that I wanted to teach women in, or aspiring to be in, business to become good marketers. Women would say to me, “Oh you must be some kind of super woman,” and the name just stuck. I always thought of all women as super women because of everything that we must juggle. I decided to create this movement for women who are trying to live a super woman lifestyle, who are trying to create success for themselves, and who want the balance of business and family. My focus is on “Business, Beauty, and Balance,” and I teach core skills such as how to make money, but we also tackle the “outside looking in”. It’s hard to even reach that part if you don’t feel good about how you look when you’re presenting your business to someone else, which is where the beauty aspect comes in. We also talk about how to be healthy and how to take “me” time in order to achieve some form of balance so that you can enjoy life. WE Magazine: Are some of the women that attend your training still working full time, while taking care of family and building a business? Speaking from experience, I also work full time and own this business. I meet a lot of women like me through networking who can definitely use this movement as it can become draining to do it all.
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V. Irvin: Yes, and I know it can get rough; it is not easy. I find that most people all start working somewhere, and then we try something on the side while still keeping that security. And in keeping that security, we hope that eventually we can take our businesses to the level of earning enough to no longer need to support ourselves with the security of a 9-5 job. When I started my real estate business, I still went to my job every day until I felt secure enough to leave my job, and when you’re doing both it is very tiring. You have children and you’re trying to have a life at the same time. However I always say that if you want to do extraordinary things in life, you have to do more than the average person would do. So when people start telling you that you’re crazy for doing the things you do, you know that you are on the right path because you’re doing what the average person wouldn’t do. WE Magazine: Right. There is a lot of work that goes into owning your own business especially when you’re a mom and wife. It creates an extra layer of stress, but its good stress. You definitely have to be committed to entrepreneurship. When you have these training sessions, what is the one message that you would like to leave women with when participating in your events? V. Irvin: I tell women that they have to go into a motive implementation. I think it’s great to attend events and to read self-help books; I think all of that stuff is great but it doesn’t amount to anything if you don’t take what you’ve learned and go back into action. I think that’s where a lot of people fall short; there is an actual implantation stage that is necessary for you to do in order to make those things happen. It is one thing to obtain knowledge, but it’s another thing to actually apply it. I push women to get a coach or mentor; I push women to invest in themselves. I feel that when you financially invest in your business you want a return on your investment. WE Magazine: Outside of investing in yourself in terms of your business, what do you find very important for an entrepreneur starting out in terms of investing? Besides coaches and mentors, who are the other team players that are important to have? V. Irvin: You have to invest in people that are going to bring you clients and investors. I don’t care how you cut it. I think people believe if they get a logo and website that their phone is going to ring off the hook, but end up falling short because they never take the time to learn client attraction. If you don’t have any clients that are willing to invest in you then you don’t have much of a business. I don’t care how much busy work you do during the day, it doesn’t amount to anything if it is not attracting clients to you. If you don’t grasp these core concepts you are not going to have a business at all. So, when we talk about a team, it’s important to have people around you who are going to generate income.
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page 46 V. Irvin: I hear that a lot, but what you have to realize is that when you go into business you go into it for profit— anything else is a hobby. If you want to have a hobby, go ahead but you’re not going to get paid for it. The minute you say you’re going into business you have to realize that you are going to be selling to people. It’s your job to offer your products and services to people the same way you invest in things that you want in your life. I think the idea of selling has a negative connotation with it. It makes people think of the salesmen that walks up and down the street, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You have to change the way you think about things, because if you feel that you have the product that can help people, then why can’t you be the person that offers it (unless you don’t truly believe in your product)? The only way you can help people on a large scale is by marketing your business. You have to market to the right people that will respect your prices and what you have to offer. If they can’t afford you then you are wasting your time because you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. WE Magazine: That is truly great advice and the raw truth that a lot of entrepreneurs need to hear. Before we segue into talking about the makeup line (because i really want to hear about that), I must let you know that you always look so stunning. I always like to ask entrepreneurs how they stay so fit and healthy. What do you do to keep yourself healthy so that you can remain a positive, active force in your business? V. Irvin: I am very much into health and fitness so I eat very clean. I eat a lot of fish, kale, sweet potatoes, brown rice, etc., and I eat those thing about 4-5 times a day along with protein shakes. I also work out about three times a week. If I am consuming a lot of bad things I won’t have much energy to do anything with business. I make it a point to eat clean. I enjoy working out and lifting weights, and I exercise with a trainer. I’ve just made it a lifestyle. That’s not to say that I don’t splurge every now and again, but when you regularly eat clean you can splurge on the weekends and it not be as bad. WE Magazine: Those are all great ways to stay in shape. By doing all of those things, it allows you to be involved in such great business concepts such as your SWL Collection, which I love by the way. I had a chance to check out the site and take a look at your products. I am learning how to wear makeup so I love when there are new products to try. How did you get started with this business? V. Irvin: I am into unique positioning and branding. With my Super Woman Lifestyle movement, I created a brand that would allow me to expand one day. The movement focuses on “Business. Beauty and Balance”; I concentrate so much on business that I felt like it was time to focus on the beauty. I love lipstick; I don’t wear a lot of makeup but I love lipstick so I thought I’d start there. Then I decided to hook up with Chante Moore to be the celebrity face of the brand. WE Magazine: And how did Chante Moore become the spokesperson? V. Irvin: With her getting back on television and with her album just dropping I thought it would be a great idea to have her as the face of the line. She’s also a client of mine. I do a lot of marketing for her, so I reached out to her to become the celebrity face and the timing was just right. I picked my colors and expanded the brand, did a photo shoot and there you have it.
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page 47 I’m the type of person that doesn’t plan every detail, instead I like to just get things done. I don’t figure out every aspect because I know that it can be addressed later. It’s most important for me to just do things quickly. I stumbled my way through it, but I got it done and the product is amazing. I targeted the entrepreneurial woman and it’s been a fun ride. It also goes back to my teachings; I try to show women that they can create other income through expanding their own brands. WE Magazine: I find that when you do the bumping, bruising and stumbling through you get a better product. And you picked a great celebrity face because she is definitely helping expand your brand through her status. What is different about your line and what can we expect from this line in the future? V. Irvin: I have some lip glosses that will be coming out soon. At some point we will add in eye shadow. I am slowly rolling things out, and truly listening to what my audience wants from this line. You’re not the first person to ask me what is different about my line, and I am going to be honest with you—I don’t necessarily think that it is different than any of the lines out there. I just think again it’s about the marketing and how you position yourself. I think when I put the spin on my line by gearing it towards the entrepreneur woman, I set myself apart and people really seem to like that. WE Magazine: What can we expect from you in the future? What do you have planned for the remainder of the year and into 2014? V. Irvin: I want to become more involved into television. When I went to college I thought that I would be a news anchor but life takes you in a different direction. In 2014 I am going to make it my mission to get out there using the platform of television. WE Magazine: I think that’s a great idea. YouTube is a great platform to creating your own network online. What about books or CDs? V. Irvin: I will more than likely come out with more books next year. I just put out a book in June called “The Secret Diary of a Superwoman,” and I am always creating new products and services for entrepreneurs so that will continue. WE Magazine: Well we at Women’s Elevation Magazine are looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you and hope that you continue on with your success. Thanks so much for doing this interview. V. Irvin: Thank you so much for having me as a part of this issue. For more information on Vicki Irvin visit: www.vickiirvin.com www.swlcollection.com Follow on twitter: @VickiIrvin
Regret is a deadly thought destination that forbids you to pull yourself out of mental defeat. Until you’re able to realize and accept that there’s a necessity in the paths, journeys and roads you travel into, you will forever be stuck in a mental time capsule of all things beautiful, good, easy and comfortable. Not wanting to let go. Not willing to learn and apply the experience. Allow yourself to EMBRACE all things you go through. Life serves as a spiritual educational institution. With all of our ups and downs, we learn, we grow and our being is strengthen. It’s necessary. Embrace it.
DIRECTIONS: Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and water, stirring to combine.
Stir in the brown sugar and increase the heat to medium. Bring the sauce to a boil for 3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside.
Slice the flank steak against the grain into 1/4inch pieces, then toss it with the cornstarch. Place the coated pieces of steak in a sieve and shake off any excess cornstarch. Allow the steak to sit 10 for minutes.
30-MINUTE MONGOLIAN BEEF INGREDIENTS: Vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/2 cup water 2/3 cup dark brown sugar 1 (1-pound) flank steak 1/4 cup cornstarch 3 scallions, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Place a large sauté pan or wok over mediumhigh heat and add 1/2 cup vegetable oil. Once the oil is hot (but not smoking), add the beef to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes until it is seared on all sides but barely cooked in the center. Remove the steak from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer it onto a paper towel-lined plate. Pour any excess oil out of the wok.
Place the sauté pan back over medium heat. Add the prepared sauce to the hot pan (it should come to a boil almost immediately), then add the reserved steak and cook at a boil, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Add the sliced scallions, stirring to combine.
Transfer steak and scallions with a slotted spoon to a plate and serve.
Taken from: Just a Taste
Ricotta Parmesan Chicken over Spaghetti DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 400. Boil your water for the pasta and put your marinara on to warm up. In a small bowl mix your ricotta and milk together well to thin out the ricotta a little. Next, pat you chicken dry and arrange them on a baking dish. Spread each breast with a couple tablespoons of ricotta each. Sprinkle each breast with salt, pepper, and dried basil.
Grate the Parmesan and make your breadcrumbs in a food processor. Add the cheese to the breadcrumbs and lightly season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle crumbs over chicken breasts liberally. Press into chicken to ensure a good stick.
Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes or until juices run clear. Cook the angel hair. Slice the chicken and serve on top of pasta with a healthy ladle full of marinara sauce.
INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup lowfat ricotta 1 T milk 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 T dried basil or oregano 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan salt and pepper 8 oz. hot cooked angel hair 1 quart hot marinara sauce
Strawberry and Cream Cheese Coffee Cake INGREDIENTS: Cake and Crumb: 2 cups of AP flour 3/4 cup of sugar 1/2 cup butter in 1 tbsp size pieces 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 cup of Greek Yogurt 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla
DIRECTIONS: Toss the berries with the sugar and cornstarch and set aside Combine the flour and sugar Cut in the butter until you have coarse crumbs Set aside 3/4 cup for the topping
Berries: 1 cup of berries {hulled and quartered} 2 tbsp sugar 1 tsp cornstarch Cream Cheese Icing: 2 oz softened cream cheese 4 tbsp cream 1 tbsp honey
To the remaining flour mixture add the salt and baking powder Mix in the yogurt, egg, and vanilla Spread the batter into a prepared 8 inch cake pan {lined with parchment or buttered} I used a springform pan spoon the berries over the batter, and top with reserved crumb Bake @350 for 50 - 55 minutes Cool before removing from the pan While the cake cools make the icing cream together the cheese, cream, and honey {you may want to add a bit more cream to get the right consistency} Drizzle on the completely cooled cake
Taken from: Heather’s French Press
If you’re a strong, fearless, courageous woman in business, we want to know about you! Each month, WE Magazine selects women entrepreneurs and leaders to grace our publications with their stories of success and triumph! ARE YOU NEXT? Connect and share with us on Facebook during our special announcement campaigns! We’d love to meet you!
By Kara Frison
“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." - Paul Boese Do you know the power that you possess?
As much as we talk about being created for a reason or a specific purpose, some of us may never realize our full potential. While fear is culprit for some individuals, choosing not to forgive can eat at others. The Merriam Webster Dictionary gives this definition for the verb forgive: to give up feelings of resentment; to grant mercy; pardon. You may ask, “Who needs to be forgiven?” Every situation is different. Maybe you need to simply forgive yourself. Or maybe there’s a particular person who has done something that hurt or disappointed you. Consider the following quote: Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting, nor does it mean that you've given the message that what someone did was okay. It just means that you've let go of the anger or guilt towards someone, or towards yourself. But that can be easier said than done. If forgiveness was easy, everyone would be doing it. (Author Unknown) LET IT GO! I’m not saying to ignore what someone has done to you, but TODAY make a conscious decision to view the situation as a stepping stone. You can choose to either become bitter or better. Holding on to animosity, hatred and bitterness can block positive things that God wants to bless us with like love, peace and joy. If I were you, I’d take the time to evaluate the state of your heart. Is it cloudy and congested? Take the necessary steps to get it functioning properly. Remove negativity so that LOVE can flow freely. This does not mean that you should try to become BFFs (best friends forever) with people who have hurt you. I believe there are times when it is necessary to forgive someone from a distance. Simply make the choice to not focus on what that person has done to hurt you. Choose instead to become a better you! Set your sights on fulfilling your God-given purpose! You may never receive the apology that you believe you deserve, but regaining your peace of mind is priceless. And remember, we should be willing to grant the mercy that we’d be grateful to receive. Kara Frison is a 2010 graduate of Hood College who strives to inspire others through her writing. You can read more of her thoughts at www.softwordsbrighteyes.blogspot.com and learn about her organization- Ladies of Virtue. . . Empowered! (for women- 14 & older) by visiting www.facebook.com/LadiesOfVirtueEmpowered