The Secrets To Living In Your Purpose
Courage. Truth is, courage is going to be one of the key factors to get you to pursue the life you want, not the one you will settle for. It takes courage to say, I want more and I’m worth more because if you choose courage, then you have to be willing to get uncomfortable.
- Willingness to be uncomfortable. You have to be willing to go through a season of discomfort in order to live your dreams. By discomfort, I mean doing things that will stretch you, going through the tough times and accepting that as part of the journey.
- Financial discipline. (This one is for those of you who may want to start a business or switch career lanes) I didn’t just leave my job broke. I had a nice stack of money to hold me up for a while. How? I’m glad you asked. I would pay myself in a high-yield savings account every time I got paid. How much? At least 10%. I started doing this early in my career just as a way of being financially secure which paid off big time years down the line. Another point, live under your means. If you can afford living in a $1500 apartment, live in a $1100 apt so you can stash the rest of that money. Another option, SAVE your income tax refund check. Instead of buying $1000 shoes, I would save my refund checks or use them as an investment into my company.
- Invest in yourself. I’ve read so many books on leadership, finances, business and personal development. I went to conferences, joined organizations and was willing to do the work to invest into my future. Another crucial aspect is that I did plenty of investing into my personal development in order to become the “who” in order to do the “what.” (seeking counsel, taking classes, going to church etc.)
- Never be afraid to ask questions or talk to anyone. I’m a talker so this one is a little easier for me, but simply talking to people, networking and building relationships has lead to countless opportunities for me. I see so many people afraid to go out of their comfort zone to meet new people but you have to have the right network of people to support your dreams. Peer mentors, mentors, or someone who does what you want to do…pick their brain. If you want to learn, ask someone.
- Effective time management. You have to have goals, objectives with a timeline in order to be effective. Carve out time to get things done and give yourself a schedule. Every Sunday I make my goals for the week and every day I have a schedule that corresponds with those goals. if you have spare time, then use that to pursue your goals instead of watching TV or checking Facebook.
- Move in silence. DO NOT start shouting off the mountain top all your hopes and dreams. I didn’t tell anyone about Embrace Her Legacy and me quitting my job because frankly I didn’t want to hear everyone’s opinion and I knew I was ordained to do what I was called to do. Tell people when the time is right.
Take a Seat In Your Power Chair
A Powerful Woman Discovering Purpose in her Individuality
Discovering purpose is the first step in becoming a powerful woman. A powerful woman does not need to possess exorbitant amounts of strength, or race hard to stay ahead of her competition. In fact, to be respected and influential, a woman doesn’t need to walk at all. She just needs to be unique.
Artist, Sue Austin is a powerful woman who happens to live life from a position of honor: sitting in her power chair. With no use of her legs, Austin harnesses power, and empowers others, through her individuality. Discovering purpose in her circumstances, she now drives her life in ways that inspire countless women today.
All too often, it is easy to think being different is negative, unacceptable, and even weak. These stereotypes discount how our individual experiences may empower other women to accomplish great goals.
Sue Austin contradicts this typecast with every move she makes. The paraplegic artist and scuba diver is an extraordinary example of how a woman living with disability can transform her life by harnessing the power of individuality.
Over 15 years ago, Austin began using a wheelchair to aide her mobility. Immediately, she noticed when using such a device, people around her implied (with either words or actions) that she had limitations they did not.
Austin was confused as to why such a negative label was placed on her just because she used a wheelchair. After all, she didn’t feel at a disadvantage. In fact, she had a renewed sense of power when moving through life in what she refers to as a power chair.
As a result, Austin decided to use her individual experiences in a wheelchair to grow her creative abilities. Today, pictures of her art installations and tales of her scuba diving adventures extend far beyond the disability community. Each day Sue Austin sets out to prove using a wheelchair is not a limitation, but rather a unique tool that enables her to be a powerful woman. She conquers impossible goals by ignoring societal boundaries that are in the way of her dreams.
A paraplegic, Austin overcomes stereotypes that often accompany disability. She is a woman solidifying her legacy by embracing her individuality.
What if all women today were to embrace Austin’s philosophy, and drive their lives from individual “power chairs”? What could the world be like then? How would families be different? To what heights could business organizations grow? Would governments operate differently?
Whether we listen to outside opinions or set up internal roadblocks, women are often tempted to limit their power by imposing negative labels of their skills and dreams. To truly embrace your legacy and become a powerful woman, you must move beyond these sabotaging cycles. As Austin’s example proves, discovering purpose comes from embracing individuality; or taking a seat in your power chair and driving it to success.
Take some time now to consider what individual experiences make you unique. These traits may be your power chair.
Resources: http://www.disabilityliving.ca/disability-canada-sue-austin-sees-wheelchair-asset-not-liability/
When Things Are NOT OK
I know we go through our days with plenty of “Hey, how are you?” greetings and we hear the same response: “OK. How are you?” We usually say things like, “good, fine, alright, peachy, wonderful, etc.” no matter how we’re REALLY doing. Most people aren’t really asking how you’re doing in that sense; it’s just a nice pleasantry.
If we’re very honest about our mental and emotional states, I think we would all agree that more often than we’d like, we’re not Ok. We wear the smile and play the part, but deep inside something is awry. Something feels sad, or anxious, or missing. As a matter of fact, life could actually be going quite well. You’ve got a decent job, loving partner, good kids, money for Starbucks lattes and a cool pair of jeans; yet, when you lie your head down on the pillow at night to go to sleep, there’s still a nagging feeling of….blah.
You can’t shake the feeling
You can’t quite put your finger on why you can’t shake it or where it stems from. During the days you don’t notice it as much due to busyness with work and engaging with people. Sometimes the feeling pulsates stronger than others. Some people drink, pop pills, or try to dull the ache with some sort of temporary fix. Some people embrace it and dance with it often.
I’m reminded of a time when I was going through a literal emotional hell in my late 30’s. At a time when all was supposed to be going well in life, I was wallowing in self-pity, depression, fear, shame, and much more. I’d always taken pride in “being Ok”. I was the strong one; the one who did it all right. Until my dam burst and I was forced by some invisible force or God or something to deal with all the pain and junk I’d stuffed since my childhood. I was having a breakdown, yet every time someone said, “Hey! How are you?” I would smile and say, “Great! How are you?” A lie. A cowardly lie.
OMG, I’m going crazy!
I received two enlightening books after struggling deep inside for a couple of years and they really opened my eyes to a new concept: I wasn’t going crazy. They were “Broken Open” by Elizabeth Lesser and “You’re Not Going Crazy…You’re Just Waking Up!” by Michael Mirdad. Both books discussed how this journey of life is simply a journey of “waking up” and the struggles, frustrations, unexpected twists, and even the wonderful times are simply part of the process the soul goes through for transformation.
I tell you they were eye opening for me and I wished I would have been able to see the truth of it all while I was face down in tears for too many years. Mirdad discusses the Five Stages of the Soul Transformation and after reading the book I could see how I went through each of those stages through my darkest years. The journey to liberation and enlightenment or consciousness really is a dark to light journey; you just don’t always know it until you get through it.
So if you’re at the point where you don’t feel like things are going Ok, rest assured that they will be. Whatever it is you’re going through right now or have been going through are teaching you lessons about yourself, life, and love. If you’re pressing through and not resorting to numbing the pain through addictive measures, your consciousness is expanding and you’re growing spiritually.
The soul longs to grow and expand. As you journey, you will face dark times and things won’t always be Ok, but you’re able to grow through it all, become stronger, more loving, and wiser. If you’re at a spot where you aren’t Ok, feel what you have to feel and allow change to come. Maybe you’ve got old hurts that need healed. Perhaps you’re being stretched to become a more giving person. Or maybe at your core you simply just crave more intimacy with the Divine or the Divine aches for intimacy with you.
Things don’t always go as planned
The world does not revolve around us
Feel the nudge beneath the surface
Embrace it and don’t run
Acknowledge the spiritual path
Allow the breeze to flow through you
Heal the old wounds
Let go of all that does not serve you
You’re not alone, crazy, or a failure
You’re just waking up!
KEY Traits of a Successful Entrepreneur
Starting your own business can be an anxiety-filled venture. So much depends on you, and there are so many responsibilities to oversee, that it would make anyone more than a little nervous.
The good news is that many of the traits that drove you to become an entrepreneur are the same traits that often lead to business success. Take a look at the following list and see how many of these traits you have. (I’m willing to bet that if you’ve decided to give your own business a go, you’ve already got quite a few of them!)
Passion
There are plenty of ups and downs in starting your own business, and it can get tiring and discouraging. This is where your love for your business will get you through many a long night or a bad bit of news.
If you’re not head-over-heels in love with your business—if it isn’t something you feel called to do and eager to get up for in the morning—then you should ask yourself why you’re really doing it. Are you just sick of working for someone else? (If that’s the case, maybe you can still start a business, but in a field you are passionate about?) Are you doing it because it’s a hot market right now and you want to jump in on the action? (So are plenty of other wannabe entrepreneurs. Most of them will drop out once things get tough.)
Determination
Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. Those ups and downs I mentioned? All the passion in the world won’t help you through them if you don’t also have a dogged determination to see things through. If you can accept the fact that things won’t always be easy, but keep plugging ahead in spite of it, you can ride out the downs and start creating more and more ups for yourself and your business. Stick-to-it-iveness goes a long way.
Willingness to Learn and Adapt
In today’s ever-shifting digital landscape, new technologies and social platforms are coming out at a dizzying rate. You don’t want to get caught up in chasing every shiny new strategy that comes along, but you should be open to learning new things when it becomes clear that it’s time for your business to evolve in order to survive.
Maybe that means learning how to use Facebook and Twitter to promote a small business. Maybe that means taking professional courses and attending seminars. Whatever it is, if you’re open to learning new things and incorporating them into your business, you can continue to thrive no matter what new shiny things crop up next.
Ambition
Ambition is different than passion. Plenty of people have passion but no ambition, which is why so many people talk about how they’d love to write a novel/own a restaurant/go skydiving, but they stay comfortably put on their couches.
Ambition is drive. It’s that restless, hungry energy inside of you that makes you want to change things, to improve things, to push yourself to the limit and test the constraints of what can be done. And it’s what makes some of the most successful entrepreneurs a force to be reckoned with.
Self-Discipline
When you’re an entrepreneur, the great thing is that you’re your own boss. The bad thing is also that you’re your own boss.
When you don’t have a manager or supervisor checking your timesheets every day, the job of keeping yourself on task falls to you. You need to be able to set deadlines, stick to deadlines, keep your records organized, and resist the urge to take a day off when things get tough just because technically no one will care if you do.
Many entrepreneurs are fiercely independent; that’s what led them to go into business for themselves to begin with. So if you find yourself tempted to slack off a bit because you can “get away with it,” just imagine what it was like when you did have to clock in and account for every minute of your day. Be glad you’ve earned the freedom to work on your terms. Then remind yourself that working on your terms still means working, and hard.
A Bit of a (Healthy) Ego
We’re taught that it’s best to be humble and not to brag about our accomplishments. But when you’re your business’s only advocate, you’d better be willing to get out there and promote yourself from the rooftops.
Of course, there’s a difference between marketing yourself and shoving your business down people’s throats. Being pushy and too used-car-salesman-y will only turn prospective customers off. If you’re not quite sure how to walk the line between selling and shoving, there are plenty of great resources available to you, including blogs like Copyblogger and books like Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. Chances are if you’ve taken the leap into entrepreneurship, you’re pretty certain you have what it takes. Now, you just have to get out there and show other people that.
A Simple System for Financial Success
Women’s earning potential continues to rise. One indication of this financial success is more than a third of American women today are now the family breadwinner.
Overall, this is a triumph, yet in today’s economy money problems worry women more than ever before. Studies show that women are uneasy about financial management. Do you empathize with this challenge? Are you facing a similar situation?
The good news is it doesn’t have to be this way. By arranging personal finances into a system of four “buckets” – expense, investment, reserve, and giving bucket – anyone can experience peace of mind and achieve financial success.
Bucket One – Operating
This is your general “home base” account to deposit all incoming revenue, and from which you can withdraw funds for day-to-day expenses.
By setting up your online banking so that a percentage of disposable income can be withdrawn from your Operating Bucket, you will be able to deposit monthly allotments into the three additional buckets listed below. After disbursing funds to Buckets two, three, and four, aim to have 70 percent or less of your disposable income available in the Operating Bucket to pay for expenditures and expenses.
Bucket Two – Investment
If you can regularly set aside 10 percent of your income for the purpose of investing, you will develop a fund that builds working capital. In other words, this money isn’t a long-term savings to counteract foreseeable money problems. Instead, this account is intended to be carefully invested so you can generate new income and build wealth.
However, a type of investment meant for long-term financial gains is found in retirement funds. Aside from having a 401k, women are wise to explore other investment opportunities, like annuities and bonds, which can provide income in years post-employment.
Bucket Three – Reserve
It’s ideal for this bucket to receive 10 percent of your monthly income as well. This account is available for urgent matters like out-of-the-ordinary medical expenses or a job loss. You may want try collecting 3-6 times your monthly income in this bucket so that when money problems arise, you’ll have a reserve from which to draw.
In addition, when configuring how much money you want to reserve, try to be conscientious of your retirement needs. There are many different schools of thought on how much a person needs to retire comfortably. This number is unique to your lifestyle and medical needs. By setting a financial goal for retirement, you can begin building your future today.
Bucket Four – Giving Back
The final bucket is set up to fund donations, as in making a tax detectable contribution to local charities, international aid organizations, and/or your place of worship. Transferring approximately 10 percent of your disposable income to this bucket allows you to give and monitor money going to philanthropic purposes. This bucket is optional, but included because many women agree that making generous contributions brings great return.
By adopting the “Bucket Banking Strategy,” created by financial coach, Frederick W. James, women today, of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds, can create an outstanding, stress-free financial future for themselves.
Sources:
http://frederickwjames.com/finance-coach-banking-program-builds-wealth-manages-cash/
Pay Your Dues…But Keep The Receipt
If you’ve broken into the industry of your choice you’ve most likely paid some dues. “Paying dues” represents the “work your way to the top” concept that most old-school leaders (I’m one of them) deem mandatory for success. It’s the foundation of what your career journey is built on, and keeping track of each “brick” is valuable. Whether you’ve started out as an assistant and worked your way up to manager or began as an intern and secured yourself a full-time gig it’s important that you always “keep your receipts”. Now when I refer to the “receipt” I’m talking about the list of your accomplishments, your track record; the hustle you put in to land your dream job. Whether you keep your receipt physically or symbolically it’s imperative that you do so for three reasons. First, it will serve as a reminder of how far you’ve come. Staying on the grind is great but you can grind so much that you can forget the work you you’ve already put in. Keeping your receipt handy will keep you focused on where’ve you been and where you are going. The key to success is to always work smarter not harder.
Secondly, keeping your receipt is your record of time purchased. Paying dues is all about putting in the long and hard time of learning your craft from the ground up. You should always be moving forward and never backwards. Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit when it comes to our talents and expertise. We often take on and accept responsibilities and jobs that we are overqualified for because we forgot our “receipt”. Respect is not given, it is earned. And your earnings are in your receipt.
Lastly, keeping your receipt is a humble reminder that nothing is owed to you. As you continue to grow and succeed in your career it’s important that you never forget where you came from and never allow your coveted position to define who you are. I’ve seen so many successful people climb to the top and kick the ladder once they arrived. Only to find their self stranded when they were kicked and needed a crutch. I’m not saying that you should not celebrate your merits and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. However, I am reminding you that you should always keep your receipt because if you ever need to start over your work and character will already be spoken for.
About Rashana A. Hooks
Rashana A. Hooks is writer, editor and author. Follow her on twitter @rashanahooks
