New Thinking for the New Year

I haven't blogged in a while. I know... I know! I have let life take me away from one of the things I enjoy...the sadness. On another note, as I was reflecting on 2011 I realized that I had accomplished many of the things that I set out to accomplish. I can't be mad. I am proud myself. Altough I know that I have not reached my full potiential.
Unlike most people instead of making resloutions I write down my goals for the year and make a vision board to go along with it. I have accomplished many of the things on my board, the ones that I have not accomplished I know that I am not ready to achieve. There are certain things that have to be done before those certain goals are reached.

I am a Christian, a believer of GOD. In the Christian faith their is a saying that " you reap what you sow." More often than not this saying is centered around when negative actions are taken. I personally have never looked at the saying in a positive light. Well if you switch your thinking and adopt the saying to positive actions their is a whole other energy to the saying. Think about it..." you reap what you sow." Sowing positive things can take you to the next level. The saying translates into, you get out if it what you put in. If you give your best and work hard success is sure to follow. Take short cuts and you will find youself lossing. This year I have added a new aspect to my life. I will commit to sowing positive seeds in areas of my life where I feel that I can improve such as my career, and my health. Here's how I plan to sow my seeds.

• figuring out the areas where I am lacking, and the goals for this area of my life
• think about the time and energy I devote to this area
• devote more time or energy to pursuing goals in these areas

I plan to reap great things in 2012!!!

Shameka
<3 2012

SheMogul Profile: Tell Me Have You Seen Her?

Have you seen her? I know I have. That woman who you admire, the one you secretly wish that you could be? She glides through life, and seems to always be one step ahead of the game. She is super sweet, personable, sharp, and savvy. Every time you see her you wonder how she makes it all happen and look so effortless. You seem to always ask yourself how she can have it all and keep her sanity. Well ladies I think I have the key to their effortless success. It's called focus. They know what they want and how to get it. They don't waste their time chasing after things that are not on the path to their destiny. They plan, execute, and live a disciplined life. Remember discipline is the only way to have freedom.

My mom is that women for me. She isn't glamorous or rich, but she has heart. She raised 5 kids alone, and scrapped to give us all a chance in this life. She never complained about the sleepless nights, or the monumental sacrifices she has made so that we can have. She just kept pushing forward with the hope that one day it will all pay off. Many times I wondered how she did it. She was focused, focused on making sure that each one of her children knew that no matter what we had or didn't have she loved us no matter what. Guess what y'all, I know my mother loves me.

To be focused you need to know what you want. Do you know exactly what YOU want? Not what others want for you, but what you want for yourself from this life? If not try this....make a list of 30 things that you want, 30 things you want to do, and 30 things you want to be before you die. Yes 30 things seems like a bit much, but it will help to get you thinking deeper and make you more aware.

How to use 30 lists!!!!

• Make goals and plans based on what you want.
• Use your list to gage your progress
• Once you accomplish something on your list add something else
• When your feeling off track take a look at your list to get yourself back on track

Happy List Making,

Shameka

Magic Monday Inspiration: Choices

" We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we choose to play the hand."
                                                                                             - Randy Pausch

I spent the weekend feeling increasingly sorry for myself until silently the tears began to fall. Why? I felt as if I was not where I wanted to be in my life. I felt stuck! One of my very wise friends told me that I am the only one who is keeping myself stuck. He said ," Each day you have a choice to move toward that place where you want to be, are you making the choices to get where you want to be?"

As I began to ponder this question I did not really understand what he was saying. I felt as if I was making the right choices. I have a great job, friends, and family so what  was I missing, so I thought about it a bit more.
ARE YOU MAKING THE CHOICES TO PUT YOU ON THE PATH TO YOUR DESTINY? I asked myself the question again. And the answer was definitely an astounding no.  Instead of making those hard choices I had preferred to live in my comfort zone feeling sorry for myself, finding excuses to be mediocre while my heart craved to be extraordinary. At that moment I decided to be extraordinary. To be the best in my life.

Here is how I am going to practice being extraordinary......

1. Be the leading lady in my life. I am going to share my heart and my love.
2. Stand up and show-up. Instead of being afraid to stand out I am going to make it a point to be noticed in a positive way of course. This will give me a chance to really express myself.
3. Get out there and meet people, you never know who you can connect with.
4. Love and Validate myself, for myself.
5. Make sure I am at my best each day!!!!!!!

Let me know how you will practice being extraordinary! Have a great week.....


Shameka

She Mogul Profile

Taken from Flicker

She graces the cover of this months Essence Magazine. She has emerged from the shadows an American Icon. People will be talking about her just as they do Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Her works, style, and servant heart will transcend her time as our First Lady. Thank you Michelle Obama you inspire me. Every time I see her smiling face on the cover of Essence I must pick it up to see what great tidbit of knowledge that she shares with all of us. In the October issue of Essence Mrs. Obama talks about leading the way, looking toward the future. In the article she discusses passion, confidence, power,authenticity, and the investment in self.

Taken from Flickr

As I read the article I began to wonder if I was indeed "looking toward the future" or was I just going through the motions. I began to ask myself some hard questions:

What am I passionate about? Am I living in my passion? As I asked myself that question I wondered if I was engulfing myself in what I loved, and as I answered that question for myself I realized that I was not. I was not giving myself to my passion, which is what life is all about. I made a list of the things that am passionate about and committed myself to being a part of that each day.

Am I going through each day with confidence? This answer came quickly. I seemed to scream NO, at myself. I had not be leading with confidence, I however just want to blend in. Taking a cue from Mrs. Obama blending in is not going to get me where I want to be. To be noticed I need to stand out, shine.

Am I using my power to make a difference? When I got to this question I hesitated. I needed to think. Do I have power? Am I powerful? Influence, power is all about influence. I realized that I had been using my influence, but not to it's fullest extent. I picked and choose the things that I want to have power over while leaving everything else for someone else to handle.

Is my life Authentic? I am still in the mind boggling process of trying to separate what everyone else wants and expects from me from my own desires. I know that once I accomplish that will I be leading an authentic life. A life that resonates truth form me to others.

Have I been investing in me? I chuckled as I answered this one, but a part of me did not want to her the no that was sneaking out of my mouth. The laundry list of things that I know that I should be doing but just don't keeps growing as I fill my life with work, school, and other responsibilities and tasks.

Answering these questions helped me realize if I was indeed preparing for the future. I felt as if I failed a test, but isn't the beauty of an article such as the one on Michelle Obama. It's purpose is to help us recognize the obstacles that are holding us back from our own greatness.

Are you looking toward the future? Find out!

Shameka

Magic Monday: Inspiration

If one advances confidently in the direction of her dreams and endevors to live the life she had imagined she will meet with success unexpected in common hours

Henry David Thoreau

Some times we meet obstacles in life that throw us for a loop, or we hear the much hated NO! Or better yet it seems that no one understands or believes in us. At times like these it is easy to give up or revert back into our comfort zone but what we can not see is that just beyond the horizon is just what we have been looking for, we just need to keep going!

Keep going ladies the weekend is just around the corner......


Here are a few ways that I like to push myself :

1. Have an accountability buddy that you check in with often to talk about progress.

2. Create a routine to keep you moving even when you don't feel like it.

3. Don't Think! DO!

4. Take a break. re-energize and then get back at it.


Shameka

Happy Monday!!!

Victory comes through your Adverity

                                                                      Marvin Sapp

It's Monday, and it seems hard to get back into your work flow with such a relaxing weekend behind you. I know.  Next weekend seems twice as far away. Well remember even though it is hard to smack that smile on your face and head to the office ( for some of us) remember that once you get monday down tuesday is next and your one day closer to the weekend.

Claim a great day and it will be yours!

Shameka

Something to think about: Discipline

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments

~ Jim Rohn~

This weekend I have been struggling to do three important things :  Finish my paper, Develop and Write Content for SheMogul, and do a little Research. What I did instead is lay on the couch and watch t.v, sleep and watch more t.v. I thought that maybe I was just physically tired from the long hours I worked last week. O.k. maybe one day of sleep and t.v. watching would be enough to cure my mental and physical tiredness, but three, really. By the end of the second day I started to feel a little guilty and tried to figure out what was wrong with me. Of course something had to be wrong. Instead of labeling myself as lazy I figured I lacked discipline. I have heard discipline separates those who are mediocre from those who are great.  I want to be great, so I am pondering this discipline concept. How do you develop discipline? Is it learned? Are you born with it? Is there an how-to for discipline? I wonder because I need some quick, fast, and in a hurry. I'm trying to make things happen.

Do you think getting up at 5 to work on my paper and write this post counts as discipline? I do. Lets talk about discipline. Leave a comment.....

Have a great Monday Moguls

Shameka