Motivational Monday: Jesus, take the wheel

Have you ever been in a situation expecting one thing but then something happens and you are challenged for the better?

As the situation is happening you ask yourself why and how you were chosen to do whatever it is that is needed.

It's easy for us to see the negative in a situation that we didn't ask for. Think about it, if we didn't ask for this then why would it be given? Step outside of the situation for a moment and think about how you were able to accomplish what you did, what you learned as a result, the new resources you gathered. Think about how your character was challenged and how you became a better person because of it.

When you are thrown in situations you didn't ask for to fulfill the prayers you did, instead of focusing on the negative and asking "why me?" Let Jesus take the wheel and grow from the experience. We all know that He is watching but you never know who else is also watching.

5 Things You Can Do Now to De-stress

So yesterday, I discussed "going through hell". Even though it is a growing and learning process, it is still a stressful one. There are so many things you can do to de-stress and relax that doesn't take much money if any...

1. Unplug and meditate.
   Sometimes, what we choose to tune into causes us to be stressed and we don't realize it. TV "reali-dramas" are made to invoke emotions and cause us to be stirred. I wouldn't be surprised if there is scientific evidence that it raises our blood pressure and lowers our self-confidence. As addicted to social media as we are...a lot of the times it is good to unplug from it. Give yourself a day a week to unplug from the computer, the Facebook, the Twitter, etc and learn to meditate. There is something calming and refreshing about sitting quietly and doing nothing. Not worrying about anything and clearing our minds. And if meditating is too hard for you, read a book or go outside or hang with friends. The best thing about unplugging from the world is that you get a greater sense of the world around you that we ignore when we are so tuned into our devices and problems.


2. Be creative...even if you're not.
   Now I know there are many people who are not naturally gifted in the art of being creative. That's okay. Whether you are creative, artistic, resourceful or wish you were...be creative. Being creative stimulates your mind and has a calming effect. Here's an idea for the non-creative types: go to the dollar store, buy a coloring book and some crayons or colored pencils and give yourself 30 minutes to an hour a day to "be creative." You'll find that you will feel more relaxed every time you start to color.


3. Serve others.
   Nothing is more refreshing than being of service to others. Helping people who are in a worse situation than you helps you to realize how good you really have it. There are ALWAYS opportunities to volunteer and help out, you just have to find the one that you enjoy the most.


4. Treat yourself.
   You can look at this one a number of ways. Treating yourself could mean buying those shoes you've had your eye on for a while and taking yourself out on a really nice date. It could mean treat yourself to time off...from family, friends, work...see #1. Treating yourself is a way for you to give back to the person you may have been neglecting...yourself. Naturally we want to insure that everyone around us is okay, but as a result we neglect ourselves. It's time we learn to make US our top priority...in the end, everyone will benefit from it.


5. Do more of what makes you happy.
   Have you always been athletic but you haven't been on a court is years? Or maybe you used to be a wonderful singer but you gave it up to pursue another dream. Or even running is something that makes you feel alive, but you've neglected the pavement because of kids, work, or whatever. DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

When life gets crazy, how do you de-stress?

Loving each other before we're gone.

Have you ever lost a person you cared deeply about and wished you had said more to them before they passed? Why do we wait for our loved ones to be gone before we fill ourselves with regret about what we should have done? Why does pride prevent us from saying what we really feel about them. We see it so many times, especially with celebrity deaths. While they're living we take them for granted, focus on their mistakes, make fun of their decisions. Once they leave this Earth, THAT'S when we want to celebrate their greatness and what they've accomplished.

Don't wait until it's too late to celebrate a person's life. Instead of celebrating what they left us with, we need to celebrate them when they are there. If you love someone, they should never wonder if you do. If you call someone your friend and you care for them, they should always be reassured of your loyalty.

So start today, the day after Valentine's Day, to let the people you care about know that you care about them. Whether you say with a card, a phone call, or a message make sure they know that they are in your heart.

20 Money Lessons for 20 Somethings via Personal Dividends

As a young adult, I'd like to think that I have my entire life to make and save money. Unfortunately, reality has taught me that if I don't start saving the money I'm making now...I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it. I came across this link in my email that I thought was quite helpful 20 Money Lessons for 20 Somethings.
Briana, the author, takes us on a ride with advice as to how us 20 somethings can be financially smarter. Some of her tips include:

• Overdrafting is expensive
• A budget is necessary
• Don't get too comfortable with loans
• The IRS is watching
• You need a lot less than you think

Check out Briana's 20 Money Lessons for 20 Somethings

Interviewing Basics from Ivanka Trump

Lately, I’ve been reading The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life by Ivanka Trump. It’s half memoir, half self-improvement book. I like it because she explains many situations that we, the regular folks, can understand and learn from. Even though her last name is Trump, I like how she doesn’t utilize that to go through life easily.

As we go through this “economic slump” wondering when we will be able to go on our dream interview, receive that dream job, and live our dream life, Ivanka provides us with practical skills from the employee AND the employer side of job seeking. Check out Ivanka’s Interviewing Basics.

Ivanka’s Interviewing Basics:

-When going into an interview, ask yourself “Am I a person this company wants to represent it in a boardroom or in interactions with clients? Will other employees look forward to meeting me in an elevator or by a water cooler? Will I be a constant drag on others’ time, energy, and patience?”

-Remember, the person across the table is sizing you up and measuring all those intangibles, so you’d do well to bring the very best aspects of your personality into the room.

Tip #1: Don’t be late. When leaving give yourself a cushion. It’s better to be an hour early than 10 minutes early. Arriving early sends a powerful signal that you’re organized and grateful for the opportunity, traits every employer seeks in a young hire.

Tip #2: Keep your resume handy. It’s not enough to have it in your bag or tucked away in a folder. Place it in a separate envelope beforehand that way you’ll be able to produce the document in a smooth, confident manner. Make sure it’s a crisp, clean, professional-looking copy that nicely supports the positive impression you hoped to make.

Tip #3: Cover your shortcomings. Some people are natural interviewees, while others are overwhelmed and intimidated. For those that fall into the latter category, find some ways to bolster confidence before the interview. A good way to do this is to stage a mock interview with friends and/ or family. <-- Great tip. This will help to alleviate any preliminary stress and they’ll tell you what you’re doing right or wrong.

Tip #4: Dress the part. What you wear will have “first impression” written all over it, so choose wisely and sell the image you want. Like it or not, your physical appearance will say an awful lot about you—and you don’t want it to say anything awful.

Tip #5: Turn your nose “off.” Smell is subjective, and you don’t want your perfume or cologne to overwhelm the person across the table. Avoid it!

Tip #6: Do your homework. Learn everything you can about the company before you sit down for your interview. Know its history, mission, and competitors, as well as the names of its CEO and top executives. Be able to recognize the company’s top products, services, and accomplishments, as well as its disappointments and missteps. Learn how the company is structures, so you can talk knowledgeably about where you might fit into the corporate structure.

Tip #7: Have your answers ready. There are several questions that are asked in the majority of interviews. By preparing for these questions in advance, you will be able to provide the answers that best reflect you, rather than grabbing at the first thing that pops into your mind.

Some questions include:

• What skills can you bring to this organization?


• What inspires you about this field/ organization?


• What are your short-term and long-term aspirations?


• Can you give an example of a time when you assumed a leadership role?

*Side note: I think it is a good idea to have your answers to these questions memorized since they are some of the TOP questions asked at interviews. However, I caution that when you are prepared to answer them to not sound robotic or arrogant about it.

Tip #8: Have your questions ready, too. Just before the end of your meeting, you’ll be asked if you have any questions about the job or the company. Count on this. Be armed with at least one thoughtful question going into each interview, even if he or she already knows the answer. Avoid asking questions relating to the company’s retirement plan, vacation policy, or dress code. Save those for when you get the job.

Tip #9: Make a good final impression. If you ace your interview and you’re offered the job on the spot, don’t feel pressured to give an answer right away. Some people worry that saying that they need time to consider an offer will signal a lack of conviction. IF you just want some tiem to think about it, just say so. But never give the impression that you don’t make your own decisions by telling an employer you have to ask someone else about your opportunity…even if that IS the case.

Tip #10 (SOA’s tip): The follow-up. Ivanka neglected to tell us a tip once the interview is over. So I will! You’ve gone through the interview, you feel like you exceeded their expectations and now you’re waiting for the yay or nay. Once the interview is over, ensure that the hiring manager knows how appreciative you are for the opportunity and don’t forget the receptionist. Just showing kindness to other employees helps them to remember you as a potential co-worker. Once you get home, be sure to email the hiring manager a Thank You. Follow that up with a handwritten Thank You note sent out the next day. I like to think that you can’t be too thankful.

If I knew then, what I know now...

Have you ever pondered to yourself, "if I knew then, what I know now I'd..." I'm sure we all have. I can say safely that I say it to myself ALL THE TIME. Some people might look at it as a statement of regret. A statement that "darn it I could have done anything, been anything, accomplished anything if I just knew the knowledge I have now back then."

To me, it's a statement of growth. A statement that you now acknowledge that you have the capabilities to not make the same mistakes or hold the same regrets again. A statement that you now know what needs to be done to get to the next chapter in your life. So let's try it. Let's ask ourselves "If I knew then, what I know now...what would be different?" BUT let's follow that same question with "Now that I have both the experience and knowledge, what can I do with it?"

If I knew then, what I know now...I would have saved more money in college as well as paid some of the interest down.

Now that I have both the experience and knowledge, I can save money NOW and work with my creditors to decrease the interest as well as find opportunities to have financial freedom.

Now...YOU TRY!
If I knew then, what I know now... ____________________________________________...
Now that I have both the experience and knowledge, _____________________________...

Sometimes Every time we observe what we did in the past, learn from it, and accept it it will make us better in the present and at our best in the future.

Hustler VS Grinder VS Builder

Lately, I've been talking to my friends and associates...as I always do. On this particular series of conversations we have been discussing what a hustler is and what it means to be "on your hustle, grind, etc." I used to be an avid fan of the term "hustler" and "hustling," but lately the terms hustler, hustling, and grinding just don't seem like the right fit for what I am trying to accomplish and the hard work I have been doing.

By definition, a "hustler" is "an enterprising person determined to succeed; a go-getter"; by slang a "hustler is "a person who employs unscrupulous methods to obtain money. To me a hustler is someone who works hard for the sole purpose of having or making money, by any means necessary. I identify with the dictionary version, but it's that slang that gets me. Plus I think about how I am working hard for something more valuable than money...success and legacy.

So then I think of the work "grinding or grinder." By definition, as a verb, "grinding means to work or study laboriously. I don't know about you, but I don't plan on working to the point of exhaustion all my life. I am doing setting things in motion now so that the work essentially does itself. Think about it, our parents, the baby boomers, have been "grinding" all their lives. Some of them retire around 55 or 60, but in the world now-a-days it's not something that's guaranteed. Now many of them are forced out of retirement to continue working because the benefits aren't there anymore. I refuse to work this hard to not have a reward at the end. Period.

That led me to seek a word that best fit the process in which I am utilizing to create and accomplish my goals. I finally decided that the word "builder" was it. By definition, a "builder" is a person who builds. *straight no chaser* Isn't that what a hustler and a grinder is doing essentially? True, however, in my mind a builder has a clear cut vision of what he/ she wants to accomplish, they build and implement plans to build whatever it is that they want to build. And then thinking even further, you don't hustle your goals or dreams...you build towards them. You don't grind for success...you build it. You don't hustle your way to having money...you build your wealth.

At the end of the day, I am neither a hustler nor a grinder. I am a builder. I am building towards my success. Building towards my goals. And building a legacy for my descendants.

So...what are you? A Hustler. A Grinder. Or a Builder?

The Unemployed Entreprenur

Are you an Adaptor or an Innovator?

I read an article a while ago about entrepreneurs and MBAs, and how entrepreneurship is not something that is taught, but more or less felt and experienced. It went on to further say that business people are what is called:

“Adaptors”-those people who prefer to take others’ ideas and improve them. These people are fairly cautious and pragmatic. They prefer incremental innovation. Their motto is to do things better.

While entrepreneurs are:

“Innovators”-those people who prefer to find new ideas by sometimes overturning concepts or industry models. These people challenge others and can be risky and difficult to work with. They are into “big bang” innovation. Their motto is to do things differently.

I can agree with this. School teaches us to be good worker bees. To take what we have learned from someone else's experiences and findings and "adapt" it to our lives, to our situations. As an entrepreneur, you literally have to create your own experiences and take everything as a life lesson. Instead of feeling like you need to fix a problem or come up with a better solution, we literally seek new problems so we can create unthoughtof solutions.

Read the article for yourself and tell me what you think! 4 Reasons an MBA is Bad for an Entrepreneur

Not everyone is born to be an entrepreneur. In life, we need worker bees just as much as queen bees. Entrepreneurship is something that people are seemingly born with. It's not enough to just "adapt" to a situation, you have to be a risk taker and innovate your way through that situation.

So ask yourself, are you an adaptor or an innovator?

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Business Etiquette: Not Everyone Has It.

Lately, I've been having some conversations with friends and associates about what is good business etiquette. I've noticed that there are so many people who are in business for themselves or want to be in business for themselves but have absolutely no idea what type of etiquette they should have. They go around doing what they do, but can't figure out why people don't want to come back. It even goes down to how you speak with people, for example:

I recently started a temporary/ part-time job. When I arrived on my first day, the district manager was there. She did her usual thing of making sure the corporate identity of the place was in good order and blah blah blah. I spoke with my manager the day after about how things were going and she said it was good but that she was very surprised at the type of language the lady used. Let's just say she uses a lot of "sentence enhancers" when she speaks.

Although, I thought it was funny, it led me to think about business etiquette and how everyone doesn't have it.

Luckily, business etiquette isn't one of those rare traits that only certain people possess. If you value yourself AND your business, then understanding a few things about doing business is very important.

Business Etiquette: Do You Have It?

1. When communicating to a new or potential client, don't be a narcissist. Just like a first date, no one wants to hear you go on and on about yourself. Sure your client needs to know about you, but you need to allow them to guide the conversation. If you spend the first 10 minutes of your client's time talking about "this accolade" "that notable client" "those accomplishments" without first inquiring about what they need, want, or are looking for (as interesting as you may sound) you've already lost them. You need to know your 30 second pitch but also be able to expand upon it for conversation. As is said in marketing, clients will only spend money with you if they are comfortable with you. The ultimate goal is for them to hire your services or purchase your product, but in order to get there you can't be a narcissist. Put your clients first.


2. Nothing is more friendly than a courtesy call, email, or letter. They've signed the contract, purchased the product and you're happy. But don't allow this to be the only time that they do business with you! A large percent of what business owners make (in the service and product industry) comes from repeat customers. Sending some form of courtesy communication not only keeps your brand at the top of mind awareness of the customer, but it continues and maintains that relationship you've built with them. It can literally be the difference between them spending a contracting you for one event or five! It's as simple as providing them with a simple "Thank You" note or "How are you" email.


3. Word of Mouth travels fast, so don't piss off your old clients because you want to target new ones. Word of mouth is the oldest form of advertising that we continue to utilize today. Do a good job with a talkative or well known client and see your business skyrocket. Conversely, fail to maintain good business etiquette, don't do a good job, or let your product fail and you might as well pack it up and call it over. Outside of financial reasons, many businesses fail because they don't have ANY word of mouth buzz...let alone negative. The best way to get your clients, new clients, and potential clients talking about you to leave them with something good to say about it...THEN ask them to provide you with a recommendation!


4. Act like you want to be in business. Why are you in business? Is it the money? The fame? The success? or the satisfaction of watching your hard work turn into something great? Regardless of WHY you are in business, one of the most important thing to do is ACT like you want to be in business. As a consumer, think about the times where you've gone to an establishment and the clerk, waitress, or manager turned you off because they acted like your money and time wasn't good enough. Don't be that person. Act like your client is the most important asset you have because well THEY ARE! Simply acting like you want to be in business is the difference between treating your business like a hobby with fans and treating your business like a business with clients.


5. Don't make promises, keep guarantees. Nothing is worse than someone breaking a promise! Period. IF you say you are going to do something...DO IT! If someone has paid you or you have an agreement with some, do everything you can to fulfill that agreement. If you've gotten them to spend money with you, then you need to treat the client, their money, and their timeline like a precious jewel. When you fail to keep your promises to people that's when you start to get bad word of mouth about being unaccountable, unprofessional, and untimely. Even worse, when your supporters starts feeling that way about you. Don't just make promises to people, keep guarantees. Do what you told them you would do and do it to the best of your abilities. Otherwise, prepare to give them a refund and never see them again.

Business Etiquette. It's the difference between being an entrepreneur and being a hobbyist with a following. Knowing how to conduct yourself at all times and how to treat your clients are very important in the business world. Remember not to be a narcissist but knowing when to talk about yourself (ie business), building a relationship with your customers can start or end with a courtesy call or lack there of. Word of mouth travels faster than the speed of light, so acting like you want to be in business and keeping your guarantees are A MUST in this ever expanding world of business!

Have you ever conducted business with someone that you could pretty much guess they wouldn't be in business the next year? Let me know!

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Why Do You Go To Work Everyday

You wake up. Go to work. Spend 8 hours (or more) out of your life. Go home. Do it all over again. Eventually having this routine gets trying and boring. You begin to wonder why you even go to work. Certainly it's for the necessity of having money to be able to pay bills and be comfortable. But what is it about going to your job EVERY DAY that keeps you wanting to go back?

THE PEOPLE! You go to work day in and day out (or at least some of us)because of the people you work with every day. Think about it. If you were offered a better job, with better pay and benefits of course you would take it. However, if you work with some dynamic people you will be sad because unfortunately this fortunate situation makes you have to say good bye to them. Whether you work at a place for three months or three years, you build a relationship with these people even if you started out not trying to. They have become your work family and you'd hate to say good bye to them. So how can you maintain your work connections once you've moved on to another better opportunity? Three ways to maintain your relationships with your work family:

1. Schedule lunch, dinner, or happy hour dates. The best way to maintain contact with your work family is to see them after work and in a social setting. If you guys have gotten close enough to go to happy hour every Thursday or host a pot luck every month, continue to do so. It's been said that some of our best friends were first business associates.


2. Send a friendly email, leave a message, or write a note. Maintain communications with those people. Let them know that you think of them and wish them well. You never know, by maintaining contact with those people and staying up to date on what they are up to, there is always a possibility of working together again...whether through your new opportunity or with their previous one.


3. Stop by every once in a while. I remember making some pretty good connections at my very first job. When I would come home from college, I frequently visited some of the old managers and employees. If you left your previous job on good terms, trust me they will be more than happy to see you and hear how you are doing. Just remember to find out what their least busiest day is so you're not interfering with the work day too much.

Some of my best associates are those with whom I've worked with before. Because I always maintain a good relationship with them, we often send each other business, work together, and sing praise of each other's work. We can get together and talk business but also have a great time since we've built that type of relationship up.

Why do we go to work day in and day out? Because the people there keep us sane, entertained, and loved in one way or another.

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

7 Tips Your Business Can Learn from Oprah (via Inc.)

If you're anything like me, you're feeling the absence of Oprah on your television by now. Even if you weren't an avid watcher like myself, you took comfort in knowing you could easily turn to your local channel and watch her inspiring, uplifting, and advising people everyday. Even though she is gone from our 4pm slots, trust that she is not absent from our lives. Even as a business there is so much that can be learned from our dear Oprah. Inc.com did a great job of compiling a list on tips we businesses can learn from Oprah. Check out the list overview below and definitely go to their site to see the full list and descriptions!

7 Tips Your Business Can Learn from Oprah (via Inc.):

1. Give back to your fans. How could we all forget Oprah's Favorite Things? "You get a car! You get a car! You get a car!"


2. Take risks and get attention. Taking risks is essentially what entrepreneurs do. Oprah said the only gamble she ever took was when she bet on herself...and guess what? She won. BIG!


3. Explore new verticals. Did you know Oprah started off as a news anchor before she became a television host? Her brand is now a multimedia platform with a television network, production, magazine, and apps.


4. Reveal your personal story. Personally I think the thing that makes us love Oprah and admire her is her ability to connect with people through her personal stories. She's relateable and seems like a great friend and associate to know. It's hard to find and trust people like that in business nowadays.


5. Get celebrities on your side. It's all about WHO you know, but also about WHO KNOWS YOU.


6. Become an influencer. The best leaders are the ones who can influence others to action. You can't tell me that Oprah doesn't encourage you to want to be the best version of yourself in life and in business.


7. Know when to quit. Always have a good exit strategy. You will be better remembered and sorely missed when you leave at your peak.

Check out the entire list and descriptions at Inc.com

Oprah is a lot of things to a lot of people, but the one thing that you cannot deny that she is is great.

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Dressing appropriately for the summer months at work

It's hot! The summer months are in. The sun is shining bright and the temperature is way up, but your job's dress code doesn't care about the temperature outside. As you sit at your desk or cubicle all you can think about is how soon can you take your clothes off once you get home. You secretly wish you were a lifeguard just so you can wear a bathing suit to work every day. How can you dress comfortably for work and the season?

• Wear lighter colors
  
  
  
  When you see images of Middle Easterners and folks who live in the desert, did you notice how they don't wear anything darker than light brown? When you wear darker colors, they tend to absorb the heat from the sun which is why you catch yourself sweating in that black t-shirt you wore last Friday. Try switching things up by wearing various shades of white and brown. Try khacki pants with a white polo. Not only will you be more comfortable but you will still be within the rules of your job's dress code.


• Layer properly
  Most corporate jobs are housed inside of a tall skyscraper. Luckily for you, you are privy to the wonderfulness that is AIR CONDITIONING. Although it may be 95 degrees outside, it's about 68 inside the building. Layer properly. Bring a sweater, cardigan or sport coat that can easily be taken off or put on. Make sure it's something that isn't too bulky, nothing is worse than having to carry a huge bubble coat when there is a heatwave outside.


• Remember the finger tip rule
  
  
  Remember when you were in high school and you wore shorts because it was warm outside and your teacher sent you to the principle's office because they thought your shorts were too short? How did the principal normally measure the length of your shorts? THE FINGER TIP TEST!! If your shorts where shorter than the length of your fingertips on the sides...they were too short. Use the same rule when wearing business shorts or skirts to work.


• Mix business with casual
  Your office does business casual right? Wear your favorite dark denim jeans with a button down and sport coat. Or pair a cute pair of flats with your favorite shirt and a skirt. Just because it has a business in front of it doesn't mean you can stretch the casual.


• Try a different fabric
  
  
  Ever heard of the expression "fabric that breathes?" There are some fabrics where air passes through them comfortably essentially cooling you off...but not in the sitting in front of the fan kinda way. Linen and 100% cotton are some of the most breathable fabrics and of course you can style them in all kinds of ways! Try switching your fabrics and watch yourself sweat less during the summer months.


• Take a note from the boss
  Every time I'm at work and see my boss wearing jeans and a t-shirt on a Tuesday, that's my cue to come in on Wednesday wearing jeans and a t-shirt. My belief is the boss sets the trend, the mood, and the dress code. So I take my lead from their example.

IT'S HOT!!! And I mean that in every sense of the word. Some of us love our jobs and most of us need it, but man can that dress code get in the way of our daily comfort. You don't have to sacrifice your comfort during the summer months by being hot and stuffy in a business suit. Most companies are more lenient during the summer months when it comes to the dress code, so definitely take advantage...but don't push the envelope. Bikinis and Speedos only work on the job if your office is the pool.

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Get off your ass! Sitting is killing you!

I know! I know! I'm a bit late in posting but better late than never. So....read this and then go take a walk or do jumping jacks or get up and dance!


Via: Medical Billing and Coding

Two things you shouldn't be in business...

When it comes to making a name for yourself and building up your business you have to work twice as hard to become reputable than any other well-established business out here. You have to not only prove that you the person can do what you promise you can do, but you have to prove that your business is worthy enough to conduct business with.

Many businesses will go out of business for a number of reasons this year, but one major reason some of them went out of business is because they exhibited two things you shouldn't be when trying to build your business...

Two things you shouldn't be in business:

1. The first thing you shouldn't be when making a name for yourself and/ or your business is inconsistent. Being consistent means "constantly adhering to the same principles." It means you have formed a pattern that will either push you to excellence or drop you to infamy. Although being inconsistent is a form of consistency, you never want to be known for being inconsistent. "Yeah, I can't really trust Johnny to finish his article on time, he's consistently inconsistent." Being inconsistent will make people stop working with you because they simply choose not to deal with your lack of timeliness, accuracy, or responsibility.
   
   How do you change your inconsistent ways? It's not as easy as waking up one day and saying "hey, I'm going to be consistent today!" You've formed a habit, it is now ingrained in you. The only way to break a habit is to form a better one. For example, you are inconsistent when it comes to being on time. Sometimes you get to work early, others on time, but mostly you're late. Notice this. Notice what you do differently on the days you get to work early or on time. Do you go to sleep earlier? Do you eat better? Do you prepare the night before? Take note of your good habits and from there work on doing those same good habits for at least one month. Studies have shown it takes about 21-30 days for a new habit to be formed.


2. The second thing you shouldn't be is unreliable. Nothing is worse than conducting business with someone to learn at the last minute that they are unreliable. So now not only do you have to deal with that person not getting the work done but now you have to reschedule your time to either find someone you can depend on or do it yourself. Even worse if you are that unreliable person. No one wants to feel like they got cheated when they deal with someone, because trust me when I say word of mouth travels faster than the speed of light. Being unreliable makes you untrustworthy.
   
   So how do you overcome that obstacle? If you have been labeled as unreliable or noticed that you have become unreliable the best way to rebuild your reputation is to start over and do better. Figure out why you've become unreliable. Do you take on more than you can handle? Do you lack focus? Is your attention span worse than a fruit fly? Once you figure out why people can't rely on you, it's time for you to take steps and make yourself reliable. Create to do lists, set schedules, devote quality time to a task. Learn what you can handle and how much. If life gets too hard and your are still unreliable, take on smaller tasks and build from there. Apologize to your clients and do your best to make them comfortable.

No one wants to conduct business with people they can't trust. Look at how Scarface, the Godfather, and Enron turned out. When you are inconsistent people can't trust that you will deliver in the time you promised. When you are unreliable, people can't trust you at all. You have the power to get your reputation back, but it all starts off with forming a better habit and realizing your faults.

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Motivational Monday: On negativity

Yesterday, and on any given day, I perused my twitter timeline. Normally I get plenty of inspirational quotes, sayings, anecdotes along with what my followers are doing at the moment. The one update I get tired of seeing in my time line are the tweets about negativity. Whether it's about what someone is doing or not doing, the subtweets on my timeline can be pretty brutal. Or even worse the people who only tweet about the negative things that are going on in their life.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes we all need to vent and sometimes we do it through social media, but if every other tweet of yours is about what he/she said, what he/she is doing or not, or about your "haters" I get so tired of it. There literally could not be that much negativity in one person's life without them attracting it.

Have you ever noticed that the things you dwell on you seem to get the most of? When your car has problems and all you think about are the problems your car has, your car seems to have MORE problems? Or when you are broke, you can't get passed the absence of the money to focus on the abundance of it and as a result you stay broke even when you receive money? The Universe provides you with what you dwell on the most. So if you dwell on negativity and the negative things in your life...guess what? That's what you will receive!

Today's Motivational Monday quote is about forgetting the negative and focusing on the positive. It's a personal quote that I try to live by whenever I feel myself focusing on the negative:

"Negativity is a choice. The day you choose to be positive and have a positive outlook on life is the day your life and relationships change..."
       -Me

Try it. For one day, wake up with the purpose of having a good and positive day and notice how the sun seems brighter, people seem friendlier, things seem to manifest themselves out of no where. Negativity harbors negativity, but if you would simply see the silver lining in any situation you will be a better person for it.

So choose to see the positive and focus on it and not let the negative rule your life.

The Unemployed [and positively outlooking] Entrepreneur

Why Men STILL Make More Money Than Women

Why Men STILL Make More Money Than Women (via Excelle)

Unfortunately it is a sad truth that women still get paid less than men, now at $0.77 less per dollar than men. I've always wondered why? If women are getting more and better education than men and it has been proven that companies with a higher rate of women executives tend to do better, why is it still a problem in 2011 that women can't get an equal pay rate as their male counterparts?

Excelle explores some of the stereotypes and myths surrounding this issue:

1. Men are assertive...Women are aggressive. When men have ideas they speak up, are heard, are paid attention too. The more a woman speaks up the more she is looked at as being too aggressive, trying to hard, or bitchy.


2. Men are passionate...Women are emotional. We're humans. When we feel strongly about something it is in our nature to express our inner most thoughts, but unfortunately it's seen as a trait of weakness when women speak up about their passion.


3. Men scream...Women mutter. Even if the idea is silly or irrelevant, the fact that a man is willing to speak up is the reason why they are taken more seriously than women.


4. Men steer...Women support


5. Men are casual...Women are coquettes. The moment women showcase their more fashionable side at their jobs, they are almost always seen as being inappropriately dressed. Too much cleavage, too much leg, and you're looked as the office slutbucket.

What I liked about this article is how they offered advice to women for how to be an ambitious woman while tackling the misogynistic myths. Check them out and tell me what you think!
Why Men Still Make More Money - Excelle

From one ambitious woman to another...Women run the world, Men just think they do. ;)

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Humility

Watching the Billboard music awards last night and enjoying Beyonce's music performance as well as acceptance speech for the Millenium Award, it led me to notice how humble she is and was last night. We all know that Beyonce could not be where she is or who she is without the help, support, and love of her friends, family, and peers. I'm glad that she took the time to thank those important people in her life from her parents to her group mates (all members of Destiny's Child past and present), her sister and nephew, and of course her husband Jay Z.

I think we all need that in our lives, humility. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we're doing, where we are, and who we have become that we forget those people who have helped us get to where we are. Sometimes that forgetfulness can lead others to think we are bad people, but if we take the time to thank them and return the support, we'd all be better people for it.

Take a peak at Beyonce's performance and acceptance speech.


The Uneployed Entrepreneur

Motivational Monday: On Moving Forward

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."        -Walt Disney

The Unemployed Entrepreneur

For the 2011 graduates and beyond...

With so many people graduating from high school, secondary school, college, etc it is at this point of time in their life when they are trying to figure out which road to take next, if their dreams can truly be a reality, if the decisions they've made in the past and at this current moment will help to seal what their future will be. I remember when I graduated and thinking these things. I remember having an idea of what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be, but there was still that tinge of doubt and fear that what I want might not be plausible at this time. I'm here to tell you that all things are plausible and all things are possible because YOU believe it is.

As a graduate, you have proven yourself worthy of what the real world has in store. You survived the turmoils of high school and the stress of college to come out of it a victor. You have learned in 3-4 years what most people strive for in their life. You have learned determination. You have learned time management. Most importantly you have learned your identity. Through the decisions you've made, whether it be in your courses, extracurricular activities, or friendship choices, you have shaped who you will be for the rest of your life.

Absolutely the "real world" can be tough, but take what you've gained from your studies and apply it to your every day life. And if anyone tells you that your dreams aren't realistic tell them it is because YOU believe it is.

I am proud to watch so many people graduate and even prouder to learn what they plan on doing next. Don't just dream your dream, LIVE IT!

"Every time you state what you want or believe, you're the first to hear it. It's a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don't put a ceiling on yourself."
       -Oprah Winfrey

Congratulations Grads!!!
The Unemployed Entrepreneur

Pete Cashmore of Mashable.com discusses stress management

And in case pressing the screen doesn't work, check it out here. The Unemployed Entrepreneur