Wednesday, December 20, 2017

GIVING YOUR FUTURE COLLEGE STUDENT A HEAD START ON SUCCESS !

 






This week I had the honor of meeting speaker and author Linnita Hosten. As she, my business partner Tramaine Crawford, and I talked in the Starbucks while sipping on coffee at National Harbor, in Maryland I immediately realized how passionate and dedicated Linnita was to her passion of adding value to others by sharing her experiences, knowledge and wisdom.   Author's often swap books when they meet just like athletes swap jerseys. I handed Linnita my book The Wright Thought and she handed me her book The College Strategy.



Oh boy ! This is the book I should have had years ago when I graduated from high school and then went off to Towson State University.  This book is the playbook that  informs college student how to fully maximize their college experience, take advantage of college resources beyond the classroom, athletic games, and cafeteria.  This is the easy to read resource, less than hundred page book your future college student needs to maximize the funds that will be paid for their education.

Imagine your student graduating with:
* leadership experience that is needed for the workforce
* A network of influential contacts that he/she can reach back to for guidance after they have graduated
*  experience in writing a resume that extends beyond being a student and working at the local store in the mall

This book is perfect for your future and current college student.

Here are some golden nugget quotes from Linnita's book.

"Leadership is learning to be "a person of people" with order and integrity. It also takes the ability to influence even those you may not agree with."

"When Jessica graduated, she left the team to me. Everything from recruitment, tryouts, budgeting, fundraising, performance wear, community service, music editing and performance material were my responsibility. I went from being in the formation's back row for two years to being the leader of the pack."


"Once you set foot on your college campus, who you were and what you did in high school is old news."

Invest in a copy of  The College Strategy today to find out how to "create out-of-the box experiences that will challenge your ability to critically think, solve problems, and develop new ideas."

check her out at
http://www.linnitahosten.com/

Monday, October 16, 2017


REPUTATION IS ADVERTISEMENT BUT CHARACTER IS TRUTH 

You were introduced to their reputation, but you will have a relationship with their character.
You hired their reputation, but you kept or fired them because of their character.
You worked on your reputation, but your growth reflects the investment in your character.

We so often focus on the advertised reputation of a business, corporation, group, individual, product or brand.  We focus on it then we invest our time, resources, heart, expectations and emotions in to it. We purchase and invest in the reputation, but must live with the character. 

We focus on improving ourselves through our reputation, advertising of ourselves, representation of ourselves online, in pictures and on resumes. We works so hard on keeping up or improving our reputation, but will always fall short of our success due to our character.

When we focus investing on the outside we will be less  intentional about investing on the inside. True growth occurs from developing our character. People and organization may be competent in various areas. However, that competency will always be capped by the investment made in character. 

Many organization fail to reach the true height of their potential because they invested so much in their reputation and advertising that they failed to invest in adding value and developing the character of the people that run their organization. 

Your mind, heart, beliefs, faith and decisions are the engine of your world and the basis of your character. If you do not improve it then it's incredibly difficult to improve your life. 


Are you truly interested in REAL GROWTH ?  Join us !! 

Jan 15th 2018 is a day of GROWTH for the successful minded individual  Join us at the Marriott in Downtown, Fredericksburg, Virginia.



Visit the link below for tickets 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/15-invaluable-laws-of-growth-tickets-37962779696

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

I'M IN THE MIDST OF FAILING FORWARD TOWARD MY DREAM



August 25th of 2017 was my last day at my previous job. Earlier on this year I informed my employer that I would be resigning from my position. The job I had was far from home and required me to be away from my family 5 days a week. I was spending Friday evening, and the weekend playing catch up with my family. By Sunday evening I was routinely becoming depressed because I knew I had to prepare to be away from my family again.

I worked with some awesome people at my previous job,but I was entrenched in a job and not in my passion. My goal is be a full time speaker and leadership coach who travels far and wide developing emerging leaders and inspiring people to step out of their comfort zone and in to their success zone. I needed to jump from the comfort zone of a pay check. My goal was to find a job that allowed my use my leadership coaching and speaking skills much closer to home and gave me time build my business too.

Long before my last day at work I was submitting for jobs closer to my home. I dedicated time in my schedule to searching for jobs in my area that matched my skill set and passion. "I will find something" I told myself. I was very optimistic. I went on several interviews. There were several interviews where I knew I nailed the interview and would get the job. Unfortunately, all I kept getting were the electronic emails that informed me that they appreciated me interviewing,but I was not selected. DAMN!! After awhile it really began to hurt, and I really begin to worry. I have been working consistently for the last 27 years. I have a wife, 3 kids, a house, 2 cars, and bills.

I feared that I could potentially be without a job. Whoa !  Well, I still haven't found a job. I'm unemployed and a bit shaken. I have lost track of how many jobs I applied for. Although I've been diligent in my efforts for some odd reason I'm feel disappointed.  Disappointed that my unemployment will put a strain on my family. My friend April told me about a month ago that sometimes we willing to broke for awhile on our journey to success. Wise words, tough decision to make.

The fear of trading security of the unknown prevented me from jumping from my comfort zone on the journey to my success zone many times before.  The fear of being overextended financially prevented me from investing in my dream in the past. Today the fear of what others will say or think  if I end up working in a place making far less to make ends met bothers me at times. It shouldn't.

I'm on my way, failing forward toward my dream and goal.



Which one of the following fears are you concerned about?:

Fear of failure
Fear of trading security for the unknown
Fear of being overextended financially
Fear of what others will say or think
Fear that success will alienate peers

Stay tuned as I update you on my adventure towards success.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

THE FEAR LURKING IN YOUR OFFICE AND HOME


When people don't feel safe talking to you it doesn't matter if you have a open door policy as a leader, manager, commanding officer, boss, principal,partner , spouse or parent. 
When people can't trust you to listen without damaging them emotionally or physically they will seriously limit their communication w/ you. 
Image result for boss bullying ,images
Meetings, day, anniversaries , and gatherings will go by without them saying what they truly feel because they fear you much more than they respect you.
 Image result for spouse bullying ,images

Teachers and principals , children and parents , spouses , employees and bosses , student and teacher relationships can all be affected by fear. 



Teaching our youth how to effectively communicate is key to their growth. 

We seriously limit the creativity someone contributes, natural passion people have, and love some gives when they are afraid to communicate. 

How have you seen fear affect the relationships around you ? 

Do you have a youth group that could benefit from a workshop on effective communication ?

Do you have an experience you would like to share about fear and communication ?

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

DEAR PARENTS,
















I am finishing up an OUTSTANDING book by the late Dr. Myles Munroe. My business partner Tramaine Crawford and I decided to read the book and discuss it on 6:30 a.m. calls. I just finished reading Chapters 9 and 10 of the book. The chapters were so inspiring that it fired me up to write this blog post based on its content and its connection to my passion.

Front Cover





Dear Parents,

When you confuse your paycheck from your employer with your purpose, which is your life time assignment, you will confuse those you influence and mentor. Telling a child to be their best with your words, but encouraging them to be less than that with your actions is confusing. You are your child’s greatest influence. We all step in to greatest when we follow our purpose. Follow your purpose so your kid won’t question following theirs.

Yours Truly,

Your Heart
Image result for father and son,set the example images



Image result for black father and daughter,Ali




Even if you are not a parent seriously consider why you are here, and what you are here for. Obviously you have a purpose that is greater than your commute, your job evaluation, promotion, daily cups of coffee, or degree. What is it? Your purpose is greater than your life, because it impacts so many other lives.

Passion will help us rise above our daily routine.

What path do you see yourself being on that would enable to rise above the daily routine required for the destination?

What hopes and dreams do you have that never leave you ?

“People who are satisfied with a lesser existence will never go where they need to be.”
  Dr. Myles Munroe

Are you going where you need to be ?..on a daily basis ?
Sow a thought, reap a belief.
Sow a belief, reap an attitude,
Sow an attitude, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character, reap a destiny.

True leaders don’t have jobs, they have lifetime assignments. You are a leader!!

What is your life assignment?


Sunday, May 14, 2017

Sitting In My Car Crying


 Image result for crying at work ,image

Have you ever sat on the edge of your bed not wanting to go to work because you dreaded being there? 

Have you ever sat in the car in the parking lot of your job sobbing because you were so stressed out about the environment you were working in?

Have you ever found yourself sitting at your desk pondering aimlessly in your mind why you were working for that company, and/or for that particular boss?
Image result for crying at work,image
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed about the way you were treated at work that you felt you could run out of the door that very day and not return?

Have you ever so felt so emotional about a situation or events that happened at you place of employment that it affected your mood inside and outside of work?
Image result for upset at work
Have you ever felt bottled up emotionally about what was happening at work and how you felt, but you felt as though there was no one you could turn to, no one to listen, no one to understand, no one who could help?


Many people leave for their job on a daily basis, but despise being there. Most people spend at least 40 hours a week/8 hours a day  at their job, 1.5 hours commuting to and from their job, 2-3 hours thinking about work when their off the clock, and another hour preparing to get there each day. That’s 12.5 to 13.5 hours each day contributed to something that you may not like, are unhappy with, and/ or is causing you distress daily. WOW!!
Millions of people dedicate more time to their lives to careers, jobs, causes, and bosses than to their happiness, family, or friends.

Share your stories so we can understand.  

Why did you stay ?

 Why did you left?

 If you’re still there?

I would like to know want happened?

When I listen, I learn. When I learn I gain perspective, understanding and knowledge that enables me to be better, do better, and help others.
I’ve had my fair share of good bosses and not so good bosses. Maybe I’ve been that kind of leader to others in the past.

Share your story with us. (Feel free to change the name , places, and dates in your story for obvious reasons)