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Build your Toolkit: Getting to know yourself

29/9/2020

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You are unique, amazing and a great person. The more you know yourself, the easier it is to see how amazing you are. Especially at times when you need motivation, being able to remind yourself of your uniqueness helps give you a positive outlook.
 
In this blog post, we will explore different tools that can help you get to know yourself. Check out previous Her Toolkit posts to help you build your personal and professional development toolkit.
 
Why is it important to get to know yourself?
  • When you know yourself you are more confident and positive
  • Your view of yourself is not formed by what others think about you
  • You get to identify your growth areas and work on them
 
What has been my experience with getting to know myself?
Looking back on my journey, I realized that for the longest time I let other people define who I was. As I went through major transitions, I started to see that I did not really know myself. I did not know what I liked, my strengths or my worth. Spending time discovering myself has helped me find new and exciting things about myself. Getting to know myself and rediscovering myself is the greatest gift that I keep giving myself.
 
What tools can we use?
Sharing some of my previous blog posts where I shared very useful tools that helped me
Know your worth! - ask for what you want and deserve
Know Your Strengths - look at all the things you are good at
Celebrate your accomplishments - appreciate the great moments in your life
Start your Self-discovery journey - spend time getting to know your awesome self
Know what you are afraid of - push past your fears and do great things
 
Great Resources
Check out my videos on Learning Self-Acceptance and How to get the value from self-assessments.
 
Call to Action
What do you love about yourself? Celebrate yourself
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Build your Toolkit: Learning new Skills

22/9/2020

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To accomplish the big goals that you have in your life, it is crucial to make continuous learning a priority. There is always a new skill that you can learn that will help amplify your success.
 
In this blog post, we will explore different tools that can help us continue learning. Check out previous Her Toolkit posts to help you build your personal and professional development toolkit.
 
Why is it important to continuously learn?
  • You learn more about yourself and your strengths
  • Learning new things provides you access to new opportunities
  • By continuously learning, you are able to keep your skills fresh and relevant
 
What has been my experience with learning?
Often when people ask me what has helped me get to where I am today, I often refer to the fact that I am always learning new things. Every day, I acknowledge that to get to where I want to be, I need to keep learning. To ensure that I have time to learn, I include learning goals in my yearly plans and ensure that I reserve time to learn regularly. Some of the different ways I learn include taking formal courses, learning from others, learning on the job and studying available resources. I now know that I enjoy learning and get excited when I look back on all the new things that I have learned over time.
 
What tools can we use?
Sharing some of my previous blog posts where I shared very useful tools that helped me
  • How to be a life-long Learner: explore ways to continuously learn
  • How to start your self-development journey: discover areas where you need to grow and improve
  • How to develop a Growth Mindset : acknowledging that growing is an important part of life
  • It's all about your Perspective: expanding your outlook on life helps you accomplish more
  • How to do things you are afraid of: practicing what you learn is crucial, even when it is scary
 
Great Resources
Check out my videos on My experience learning to fail and Continuous Learning as a Tool to Build your Career.
 
Call to Action
What new things are you planning to learn over the next months?
How can learning something new change your life?
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Video: How to Overcome Disappointment

19/9/2020

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Build your Toolkit: Telling your Story

8/9/2020

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Sharing your story is a very empowering thing to do. We all have our unique journeys and special stories to tell. When we tell our stories it helps us and the people around us.
 
In this blog post, we will explore different tools that can help us tell our amazing stories. Check out previous Her Toolkit posts to help you build your personal and professional development toolkit.
 
Why is it important to tell your story?
  • Telling your story helps you make sense of your life — why certain events happened the way they did. You begin to examine what has happened to and through you.
  • Each of us is a constantly unfolding narrative, a hero in a novel no one else can write.
  • We need to know and express our own stories. Telling our stories is not an end in itself, but an attempt to release ourselves from them, to evolve and grow beyond them.
 
What has been my experience with telling my story?
Writing about my personal and professional journey has been a great part of my life over the past 3 years through my blog. For the longest time, I thought there was nothing special about my story. However, the moment I started sharing, I began to see how my journey was unique. Today I freely share my story because it helps me connect with people, reflect on how far I have come and encourage others to tell their  own stories.
 
What tools can we use?
Sharing some of my previous blog posts where I shared very useful tools that helped me
  • Self reflection - make time to reflect on your thoughts and life experiences
  • Get to know yourself - the more you know yourself the easier it is to tell your story
  • Tell your professional story - share your career journey and milestones
  • Celebrate your Journey - enjoy the moments and experiences that got you this far
  • Promote yourself - share your successes and expertise
 
Great Resources
Check out my videos on My Experience Learning To Fail and How to Be Vulnerable for practical tips on self reflection and telling your story.
 
Call to Action
What part of your story would you like to share with people around you? Start telling your story.
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Video: Be Vulnerable and achieve more

15/8/2020

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Video: Build your Personal Brand with a Johari Window

1/8/2020

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How to get the most value from Mentorship

24/2/2020

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As I progress in my career and life in general, I am learning the value of having a mentor and being a mentor. One way that I invest in my success is by having mentors. My mentors come in different types and support me in various aspects of my life. Some of them provide guidance for my professional life while others support me in my business and personal life.

In this blog post, we will explore the definition of mentorship and the top five pieces of advice that I received about mentorship that help me every day.

What is Mentorship?
  • Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person
  • A mutual relationship with an intentional agenda designed to convey specific content along with life wisdom from one individual to another.
  • Mentoring is a relationship between two people with the goal of professional and personal development.

How to have successful Mentorship relationships

#1: Good Mentorship relationships benefit both parties
Initially, when I was identifying my mentors, I felt like I did not have anything to offer them in return. I was worried that I was going to burden them and add no value to them. However, through the years, I have realized that I also give my mentors a lot. For some of them, I provide a different perspective that they may not be thinking about or offer them advice on topics that I am an expert in. Once you start seeing Mentorship as a beneficial relationship for everyone involved, it will reduce your guilt, and you will get the best value.

Further Reading
The Reciprocal Value of Mentorship

#2: You can have multiple Mentors
For the longest time, I thought I could only have one mentor who will provide holistic support. The truth is that no one person can or even needs to give you guidance in all aspects of your life. After doing more research and hearing about the possibility of having multiple mentors, I was very excited. Now, I have many people who I go to for support, depending on the need I have. Another lesson I have learned is that my mentors could also be my peers.

Further Reading
The 7 Essentials To Forming A Board Of Mentors

#3: Be intentional about choosing your Mentors
Especially as I grow in my career, I want to ensure that I have mentors that fit my needs. I think that your goal should be more than just having a mentor for the sake of it, but having mentors that can support you on your growth journey. The concept of interviewing my potential mentors is one that I appreciate now. It gives me the chance to define my need and also the type of people that I am looking for.

Further Reading
25 Questions to Ask a Mentor

#4: Be prepared for your Mentorship sessions
One of the practices that I prioritize is getting prepared before I speak with or contact my mentors. I prepare the updates I want to share as well as the questions that I have for my mentors. Being disciplined has helped me get the most value from the time that I spend with my mentors. This is the same way that I approach everything that means a lot to me. I know that I get the most value from formal mentorship.

Further Reading
Four Types of Questions To Ask Your Mentor

#5: Always keep your Mentor up to date on your progress
In my mentorship relationships, it is important to me to share the progress that I am making, not only areas that I am struggling with. I look forward to sharing the good things that happened after I came to them for advice. This serves two purposes; it helps them see that they are helping me and helps me know that it is a beneficial relationship that I need to continue to have.

Further Reading
How to Build a Great Relationship with a Mentor

Call to Action
Who are your mentors?
What type of new mentors do you need to find?

Final Thoughts
  • Mentorship is one of the tools that can help propel you to the next level of success
  • Leveraging the vast knowledge that people around you have is very smart
  • You can have great mentorship relationships.

Great Resources
  • Why women need mid-career mentors
  • Why every professional should recruit a personal board of advisers
  • 1 Mentor Isn't Enough. You Need to Build a Personal Board of Advisers
  • How to Build a Great Relationship with a Mentor
  • The problem with the lack of female leaders
  • The 5 types of mentors you need in your life
  • Ten Tips For A Successful Mentorship ​
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How to be intentional about what influences you

18/2/2020

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At a conference I attended recently, one of the speakers spoke about how we need to be aware of what influences us. Especially in a world where "Influencers" are a huge deal, we have to know who those influencers in our lives are. Do the Influences in your life cause you to do good, feel great about yourself, take on new challenges and be a better you? If you are not quite sure, it's time for reassessment and change. To get to where you want to be in life, it is key to have the right influences in your life.
 
In this blog post, we will explore the definition of influence and ways to be intentional about what influences you.
 
What does influence mean?
  • to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or thinks (Source: Cambridge Dictionary)
  • the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others (Source: Dictionary.com)
  • the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
 
How do others or external factors influence us?
  • Change how we see life or our progress
  • Affect the decisions we make
  • Set the direction of our lives
 
How to be intentional about what Influences you
 
Know the people and things that influence you
There are so many sources of input into our lives these days. From the steady stream of information on social media, the internet, Television and other people, we get many different data points that influence us. Being aware of those things and people that influence you is the first step to having a healthy relationship with external influences.
 
Questions to consider
  • Who has influenced your life so far?
  • Are you influenced by what you see on social media?
 
Acknowledge how things influence you
Knowing how you get influenced is essential. You might be influenced by things you grew up with, new things you often see, what people around you say or do. The fact is, external influences have a strong effect on what we think, how we act and grow. Once you know what influences you and how it affects your life, you can take charge.
 
Questions to consider
  • Are the people around you influencing the way you look at your life?
  • Have you noticed any change in the way you behaved after interacting with certain people?
 
Choose what influences you
Being intentional about what you allow to influence you is crucial. To live a successful like, you will need to remove negative influences and find new positive ones actively. You have the opportunity to ensure that things that influence you help get you to the future that you want.
 
Questions to consider
  • How are you going to remove negative influences from your life?
  • How are you going to choose positive influences?
 
Final Thoughts
  • To build the life you want, you have to be intentional about what influences you.
  • You have the responsibility to guard your heart and mind.
  • Let positivity fill your life.
 
Call to Action
  • What influences are you going to get rid of?
  • What new influences are you adding to your life?
 
Great Resources
  • Identifying Your Influencers: Who Influences You? Who Do You Influence?
  • The Power of Influence
  • Who Influences You And How Did You Get Here?
  • What influences your decisions?
  • Who Influences You the Most ? 3 Reasons to Change the #1 Most Influential Person in Your Life
  • Keeping Good Company: Why You Should Surround Yourself With Good People
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How to recharge yourself

11/2/2020

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From conversations that I have been having and how I have been feeling, 2020 has been an intense year so far. Acknowledging that we are only in February and have ten more months to go this year, we have to preserve our energy in order not to burn out. One thing is for sure, energy depletes and our tanks will be empty if we don't intentionally recharge.

In this blog post, we will discuss things that drain your energy and five ways to recharge your energy to thrive this year.

What drains your energy?
Knowing the things that steal your energy is essential to help you conserve your energy. Sharing some things that drain our energy quickly:
  • Taking on too many responsibilities
  • Being in negative situations and environments
  • Setting unrealistic goals
  • Being around negative and toxic people
  • Overworking yourself and not setting boundaries

How to recharge your energy
The good news is that there are simple ways for you to renew your energy.

Prioritize self-care and get some rest
Making time for yourself may sound almost impossible. Think about the last time you got quality sleep. For me, trying to chase my dreams and work full time has been taking up a lot of my time lately. These days, I find myself being very tired a lot. I am learning the value of taking a break and taking care of myself.

Strategies to consider
  • Take regular breaks and make sleep a priority
  • Get a massage, go for a walk, take time off or go on a weekend get-away

Do something fun and new
Changing your routine a little is a great way to recharge your energy. Doing things you enjoy may not be part of your routine and when you get to do them you will feel energized. They don't have to be big things. It could be as simple as going for a concert, seeing a movie, getting a great meal, site-seeing or traveling to a new place.

Strategies to consider
  • Explore new hobbies and places
  • Have a good laugh and enjoy life

Reconnect with people
When life gets busy, it is easy to lose contact with people we really enjoy being around. Recently, I noticed that this was happening to me. I could not remember when last I spent time with someone just for fun or had a long phone call with anyone. The truth is my favorite person to chat with is my eight-year-old niece. She helps me see the world differently.

Strategies to consider
  • Make time to meet or talk to good people in your life
  • Connect with someone you haven't spoken to in a while

Get some help and delegate
Having to do everything on your own is one of the greatest energy drains. Taking care of a household, working a job, owning your business and in general taking care of everyone else's needs will surely deplete your energy. Asking for help and getting services that simplify my life is something that I am learning to do more of. Yes, I still deal with the guilt of wanting to do everything on my own. But I tell myself that it is worth it and I will burn out if I don’t get help.

Strategies to consider
  • Find tasks that others can help you do
  • Invest and pay for services that relieve the stress

Give back
This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak to first generation students at UC Berkeley and it energized me. Being able to share my story and words of encouragement with students who are about to enter the workforce was very special. I am a firm believer that giving back to others helps you overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed and gives you fresh energy.

Strategies to consider
  • Find a cause that you care about
  • Invest some time in giving back to people around you

Final Thoughts
  • To thrive this year, it is crucial to find ways to recharge your energy
  • Make small changes today to get different results
  • You will be successful in 2020!

Call to Action
What are the things that are draining your energy?
What three strategies are you going to apply to recharge yourself?

Great Resources
10 Surprisingly Simple Things You Can Do to Recharge Your Mind
10 Ways You Can Best Use Your Time To Mentally Recharge
How to Recharge and Get Motivated
6 Tips to Recharge at the Office
What to Do on Vacation to Make Sure You Fully Rechargeœ
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How to start celebrating your accomplishments

28/1/2020

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Recently, I have been thinking about my achievements and those of the people around me. Our accomplishments are a topic we need to get more comfortable thinking and talking about. To start the year, I would like to share something that will change your perspective this year. Focusing on your achievements will remind you of the good that has happened and is happening in your life.
 
In this blog post, we will explore some ways to form the good habit of celebrating your accomplishments.
 
Why is it important to celebrate your accomplishments?
There are many benefits of tracking and celebrating your accomplishments in your everyday live
  • Gain confidence in yourself
  • Know your worth and ask for it
  • Be able to share when asked in settings like job interviews or promotion
 
How to make celebrating your Accomplishments a habit
 
Know your Accomplishments
When I hear people not being able to talk about their accomplishments, it makes me a little sad. In personal conversations, I try to ask more questions to understand the reason why people struggle with talking about the good things in their lives. The most significant reason I have seen is that we do not always see or know what we have achieved in life. It is important to take time to think about your accomplishments. Consider your achievement in all aspects of your life such as personal growth, professionally, financially, in your family, or in your business.
 
Questions to consider
  • What are you proud of?
  • What did you work hard to do and succeeded?
  • What do people say that you do or did well?
 
Track and maintain your Accomplishments log
Documenting your accomplishments on an ongoing basis will help you on your quest to make celebrating your accomplishments a habit. One way I track my achievements is that I write them down in my accomplishment log. As part of my weekly journaling, I write down my highlights and accomplishments. To help me with this process, I collect all the great feedback I receive and things that I know I achieved. I have found great value in making this something I do regularly. This way, I can always remind myself of all my accomplishments.
 
Questions to consider
  • Where do you want to document your accomplishments?
  • How often do you want to update your accomplishments log?
 
Share your Accomplishments
Now that you know your accomplishments and have a log, it's time to amplify the value of tracking your accomplishments by sharing them with the world. When I speak to people and hear them share their accomplishments, it motivates me. I aspire to be someone who motivates others to achieve their goals by sharing my experience with them as well. This has been one of the hardest parts for me on my learning journey. I have learned to remind myself that it is ok to talk about my accomplishments. If you read my posts, you'll see that I share my accomplishments, especially when I achieve my goals.
 
Questions to consider
  • How are you going to share your accomplishments to motivate others?
  • How are you going to encourage people around you to share their accomplishments?
 
Celebrate your accomplishments
Recognizing the effort you put in to accomplish something will inspire you in the future. When I look back at times when things were not easy but I was still able to achieve my goals, it gives me confidence in myself and helps me know that I can do it again. I have realized that I need to be intentional about celebrating my achievements. When I achieve any of my goals, I make it a point to celebrate in some way. Sometimes it takes me saying "I did it" and other times I do something special for myself.
 
Questions to consider
  • How are you going to celebrate your accomplishments?
 
Help others see their Accomplishments
One of the ways to make celebrating accomplishments a habit is to help others around you celebrate their own accomplishments.  It is sometimes easier to see people's shortcomings than see what they have achieved. Make it a priority to see the good work people are doing and recognize them. By looking out for their accomplishments and helping them celebrate it, you are making the world a more positive place.
 
Questions to consider
  • Who are you going to celebrate this week?
 
Final Thoughts
I want to take the time to remind you that you are amazing and that you can do anything you set your mind to do.
 
Call to Action
Which accomplishments are you proud of? Know your accomplishments.
How are you going to track your accomplishments in 2020? Create your accomplishments log.
 
Great Resources
  • Keep Track of Your Work Accomplishments Throughout the Year
  • The 10-Minute Weekly Activity That Helps You Get Ahead
  • 30 Ways to Celebrate Your Success
  • 3 Reasons Celebrating Your Many Accomplishments Is Critical to Your Success
  • How do you celebrate your success?
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How to be a life-long Learner

14/1/2020

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We all associate different things with the word learning. You remember when you were in school and could not wait to get out of school so you could stop learning. Learning at some points in my life felt like a chore. However, I now see learning differently. Learning new things is crucial for me to achieve the goals I want to accomplish in my life.
 
In this blog post, we will cover the benefits of continuous learning and how to be a life-long learner.
 
What are the benefits of continuous learning?
There are many positive effects of being a life-long learner. Some of the benefits include:
  • Providing avenues for personal development, self-empowerment and self-improvement
  • Improving your opportunity to get a raise, promotion and other career advancement opportunities
  • Building a foundation and preparing for life changes
 
How to be a continuous Learner
Let's discuss some ways to become a life-long learner:
 
Change your thoughts and perspectives on learning
A lot of times people talk about learning as something they have to do. Mostly because the world outside expects them to get some training or degrees.  Often this goes back to our childhoods when our parents made us go to school and sometimes forced us to learn things. The great thing about being an adult is that you now get to choose and learn what you want to learn. As we grow and develop on our journey there are always new things that we can learn . I see learning as a tool that helps me live out my dreams and achieve my goals.
 
Questions to consider
  • How do you view learning today?
  • What are some positive things that you have experienced after learning new things?
 
Find out the way you learn
There are many different learning styles. Some of which include visual learners who learn through graphical depictions, aural learners who learn through listening to instruction, read/write learners who learn through reading texts and taking notes, kinesthetic learners who learn through trying things out or multimodal learners who learn through different ways. For me, I have found that I learn best by reading, writing, taking formal lessons.
 
Questions to consider
  • What was the last thing you learned and how did you learn it?
  • What new learning methods do you want to explore?
 
Create learning goals routines and habits
Setting learning goals is a strategy that will help you be a life-long learner. I am a strong believer that when you plan for things you increase your chances for success. Learning and development are a standing category in my yearly goals. When I prepare for the year, I look at my goals and determine the new things I want to learn to help me be more successful. Once I know what I want to learn, I plan for them and start learning. I work to learn something new every quarter through trainings, courses, reading and trying out new things.
 
Questions to consider
  • What are the three new things that you want to learn this year?
  • How will you ensure you learn them?
 
Surround yourself with people who have a learning mindset
Interestingly, I have found that other people motivate me to learn as well. In all my classes, I have met great people who became learning buddies who keep me posted on things they are learning and learn with me as well. It is vital to surround yourself with people who do the things you aspire to do more of. I share my learning goals with my community and learn a lot from them as well. 
 
Questions to consider
  • Who are some people in your community that prioritize learning?
  • How are you planning to partner with other learners?
 
Prioritize learning and keep learning
As part of your personal development journey, make it a priority to continue learning. As you grow and experience new things, if you make learning one of the central points, you will thrive even more. Now that you know the best ways you learn and what you want to learn in 2020, make it happen. As with everything we get better the more we do it.
 
Questions to consider
  • How will you make learning a priority in 2020?
  • How will you motivate yourself to learn more?
 
Call to Action
Are you committed to continuously learn in 2020? Make the decision and do great things.
 
Final thoughts
  • We have the opportunity to improve our lives through continuous learnings.
  • Learning can be fun if you find the value for yourself and enjoy it.
  • There is a lot for us to learn - keep learning.
 
Great Resources
  • 4 Habits of People Who Are Always Learning New Skills
  • Become a More Productive Learner
  • You Learn One of These 5 Ways
  • Learning Styles
  • How to Create a Habit of Continuous Learning
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Reflecting On 2019

17/12/2019

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2019 was a very eventful year for me. At the beginning of this year, I decided that the theme for my year was "being brave". Interestingly, I did not know what experiences I will face that would make me have to choose to be brave. With all the ups and downs of the year, I am very grateful for another amazing year where I had the opportunity to work towards my goals.
 
In this blog post, I will reflect on my highlights and lowlights in 2019, the lessons I learned, and some questions to help you prepare for 2020.
 
MC's Year in Review
Theme:
2019 was a year of being brave and pushing myself to do things I was afraid of.
 
Summary:
My year in numbers
  • Wrote about 50 blog posts
  • Published over 40 videos
  • Had 2 roles at work
  • Hosted 10 Mastermind sessions with my community of women
  • Had over 40 Coaching sessions
  • Sent 12 Newsletters
  • Mentored 3 Women
  • Spoke at 2 events
  • Had many opportunities to fight for what I want
 
The Highlights
  1. Searching and finding a perfect role at work:  Earlier this year I realized that the role I was in would not let me use all my skills and grow my career. So, I decided to make a significant change. I prioritized building my network and found a role where I have great responsibility and opportunities to grow.
  2. Living out my passion: continuing what I started last year, this year I continued contributing to causes I'm passionate about I spoke at events to students, hosted Mastermind sessions, wrote more blog posts
  3. Starting my YouTube channel: at this time last year, my YouTube channel was a dream. I knew that I wanted to expand my platforms, but I was worried about not being able to do everything needed to run my own channel. In a matter of 3 months, I planned, shot my first videos, and launched my channel in March.
  4. Growing my finances through an investment in property: I knew I wanted to grow my finances in new ways at the start of the year. And this year I had the opportunity to buy property for the first time. This was by far the biggest investment I have made in my life.
  5. Mentoring Women: With everything I was going through this year, having the opportunity to mentor women gave me a fresh perspective. There is something powerful about giving back and helping others. In the end, they helped me grow too.
 
The Lowlights
  1. Experiencing poor health: sadly, with all the stress I experienced this year, it affected my body. Being in pain for over six months was not part of my plan. It took me a lot time to get back to being myself.
  2. Dealing with disappointment at work: After about three months into my role, I knew that it was not a fit for me. Six months in my new role, I decided to start looking for a new position. I had to restart my job search, build my network and find a new role within months.
  3. Feeling overwhelmed by everything happening in my life: especially when unexpected things happened, I felt under a lot of pressure. I had the constant feeling of being behind and not being about to do what I enjoy. For someone like me who likes to be on top of everything, this was hard.
 
Preparing for 2020
As you wrap up 2019 and kick-off planning for 2020, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
  1. How did you do on your 2019 goals?
  2. What were your highlights and lowlights in 2019?
  3. What are your goals for 2020?
  4. Who is in your support community? Mentors, sponsors or your tribe
  5. How are you going to celebrate your accomplishments?
 
Special Note
I would like to wrap up this year with a huge thank you to all of you who have read my blog posts, watched my videos, commented, shared your stories, and encouraged me on this Journey. If you had asked me when I first started in Jan 2018, where I would be in two years, I could never have told you I'll be where I am today.
 
Call to Action
What is your 2020 bold goal? If there is something you have always wanted to do, 2020 is the perfect time.
Sharing some of the lessons I learned this Year
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How to find or revive your passion

19/11/2019

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Your passion is often what fuels you and gives you a reason to do great things. We all have various passions in our work, personal life, or in our businesses. However, not all of us know what our passions are or are using utilizing them.
 
In this blog post, we will explore the meaning of passion, the benefits of reviving your passion, and ways to keep your passion alive.
 
What does having passion mean?
  • Your passion can be anything that simultaneously challenges you, intrigues you and motivates you
  • A desire fueled by passion will bring about the greatest results in life.
  • Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.
 
Why is it important to revive your passion now?
The benefits of living your passion
  • Following your passion will help you feel fulfilled in life
  • Doing things that you are passionate about energizes you
  • You achieve great success when you follow your passion
 
How to find and revive your passion
 
Find and know your passion
It is crucial to be aware of what your passions are. When you ask children what they like, they tend to have a very quick response to these questions. However, as adults, we may lose the ability to think about what we are passionate about if we are not more deliberate. Spending some time thinking about your passion will help you use it.
 
Talk about your passions
I have found that when you tell people around you about what you are passionate about, it makes it very real.  Keeping your passions a secret is the easiest way to let them die. We cannot let that happen. Take every opportunity you get to talk about your passions with the people you care about.
 
Do things you are passionate about
The best way to keep your passion alive is to use it. For the longest time, I knew that I was passionate about helping people and building communities. However, I let self-doubt stop me from using my passion. Ever since I started following my passions, I have experienced high fulfillment and success. 
 
Continue discovering your passions
As you grow and go through changes in your life, the things you are passionate about may change. Make time to check in with yourself and see what you are passionate about. This will help ensure that you live out your passions.
 
Support others who follow their passion
If you know people around you who are discovering their passion, make it a point to support them on their journey. There is power in helping other people on the journey to feeling more fulfilled through using their own passion.
 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with great quotes about finding your passion
  • “I think that in order to be successful, women have to figure out what they’re passionate about first. No matter what you aspire to, you’ve got to love what you do in order to be successful at it.” - Michelle Obama
  • “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey
  • “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” - Ella Jane Fitzgerald
  • “You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support.” —Sabrina Bryan
  • “If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.” —Wanda Sykes
 
Call to Action
  • What are you passionate about?
  • When last did you do somethings you were passionate about?
  • How can you revive your passion today?
 
Great Resources
  • How to Define Your Passion in Life
  • 6 Fresh Ways to Find Your Passion
  • How to Find Your Passion and Live a Fulfilling Life
  • Five Steps to Finding Your Passion
  • [TED Talk]5 steps to help you figure out your passion
  • How to Find Your Passion
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Are you making progress?

29/10/2019

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In life, there are those times when we feel like we are not making progress. Especially as we approach the end of the year and look at what we hoped to have achieved by this time in the year, it is crucial to not get disappointed with the progress you have made.

In the blog post, we will explore what it means to make progress, some things that may be holding you back, and discover strategies to help you start seeing progress in all aspects of your life.

Starting Point - Are you making any progress?
When l hear people say they don't feel they are making progress in their lives, I want to ask which of the following categories do you fall into:
  • You are not making progress because you are not doing anything
  • You are making very little progress compared to your expectations
  • You are making good progress but unable to see it or acknowledge it
Depending on which category you fall into, your action plan may vary.

What does making progress mean to me?
On my journey, I am learning that making progress is a process which includes:
  • Working towards achieving my goals
  • Crossing key milestones and life's crossroads
  • Preparing myself for my future

Why do you think you are not making progress?
Let's discuss some reasons why you may feel like you are not making progress in your life.

Reason 1: Your goals are not defined
If you do not know what you are working towards, you won't make relevant progress. It's hard to measure progress without a clear destination in mind. You should be able to compare where you are now to where you were earlier on your journey.

Strategies to consider
  • Define your goals - know what you are working towards
  • Write down your goals - have a place you can always go back to review your goals
  • Commit to your goals - take them seriously

Reason 2: You are not taking action
To make progress, you need to be taking action. The good news is that there is a quick fix for this one - start acting today. We should not be sitting down on the sidelines and expecting to be successful.

Strategies to consider
  • Define what progress looks like to you - identify how you want to take action
  • Create an action plan - make time to do what you want to do
  • Act on your plan - get things done

Reason 3: You are not tracking or measuring your progress
While you are working towards your goals, make it a priority to check the progress you are making and keep track regularly. It is crucial to keep your goals tops of mind.

Strategies to consider
  • Track your progress towards your goals - check how you are tracking towards your goals
  • Review your progress regularly - get into the habit of checking your progress
  • Celebrate your accomplishments - motivate and reward yourself

Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with quotes about making progress
  • "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."- Barack Obama
  • "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin
  • "You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas." - Shirley Chisholm
  • “Small progress is still progress.”- Anonymous
  • “Don’t compare your progress to that of others. We need our own time to travel our own distance.” - Anonymous

Call to Action
  • What areas of your life do you want to make more progress on? Identify the areas you want to focus on
  • What are you going to do differently? Make a change to see different results

Great Resources
  • 6 Golden Rules to Make Progress Towards Achieving Goals
  • Top of Mind: 6 Ways to Make Progress When You’re Not Feeling It
  • How To Make Immediate Progress And Change In Your Life
  • 3 Ways to Make Progress on a Significant Goal -- Today
  • Not Making Progress? Why You Shouldn’t Give Up Just Yet
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Celebrating Milestones - My Birthday Traditions

22/10/2019

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October is my favorite month of the year. The weather is changing, and nature is showing us it's best side. Every year as my birthday gets closer, I get a strange feeling. However, this year, I am very excited to mark this significant milestone. If you are like me and enjoy having things to look forward to, having traditions will help you celebrate.
 
Before we get started, I would like to wish my twin sister a Happy Birthday. Thanks for being my life-long birthday companion!!!
 
In this blog post, I will share five of my birthday traditions that help me celebrate this significant milestone every year.
 
#1: Taking time off work and other responsibilities
A few years ago, I started taking days off from work around my birthday. It was vital for me to take time out of my everyday routine and do something special on the day. Having the time to myself is one of my highlights, and I look forward to it every year.
 
#2: Having a birthday photoshoot
This is a new tradition that I started last year. It began as a personal challenge to do something that I didn't feel comfortable doing. Preparing for my session this year was scary. However, it was much easier than last year. I'll continue with this yearly tradition and face my insecurities. Check out my blog post titled "How I faced my biggest Insecurity" to learn more about my growth process.
 
#3: Reflecting on my life now and aspirations
There is a degree of solemnness that I feel around my birthday. I take the time to reflect on my past year and where I want to go in my new year. As I go through this process, I make time to be grateful for all the amazing things that have happened in my life and the lessons I have learned from the challenges I faced. Thinking about my dreams and aspirations motivates me for my new year.
 
#4: Planning for my next year
The good thing about having my birthday in October is that, it is close to the end of the year and marks the official start of my planning period for the next year. For me, it is a multi-week process that kicks off now. I have started writing down my goals for next year and thinking about the tools and resources I would need to be successful next year.
 
#5: Celebrating my accomplishments
It is very easy to forget to make time to celebrate your achievements. Around my birthday, I make it a point to celebrate my accomplishments and reward myself with something special. Being intentional about celebrating myself at this time of the year helps me actually do it.
 
Final Thoughts
I want to wrap up this post with ten lessons I have learned in the past year, through all life's experiences.
 
  1. Know what you want and go get it - this might not be the easiest thing to do, but it is totally worth it.
  2. Be bold - get out of your comfort zone and do things you have always wanted to do.
  3. Speak up for yourself - if there is a situation you are not comfortable with, say something.
  4. Be yourself - you are unique and have something to contribute to this world.
  5. Make time to do things that you enjoy - don't let being busy stop you from enjoying life.
  6. Surround yourself with amazing people - over this past year, the amazing people around me have been my rock.
  7. Be resilient - especially in stormy situations, be tenacious and strong.
  8. Live Intentionally - being deliberate about the things you do is essential for success.
  9. Guard your happiness - no matter what life brings, choose happiness.
  10. Take care of yourself - care for your body and mind.
 
Call to Action
What are some of your birthday traditions?
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The Importance OF Living Intentionally

15/10/2019

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When I talk to people ,and they say they are waiting for things to happen. I feel like saying ,"you need to take action and be intentional for great things to happen". I am a firm believer that we can live the lives we want and achieve our goals by changing some behaviors and being more deliberate.   
I like this quote from Michael Hyatt a lot "You don't drift to a place you choose. Desirable outcomes are caused." To get the results you want in life, you need to do something. 
 
In this blog post, we will explore what it means to be intentional ,and ten areas of your life where being intentional pays off.  
 
What does it mean to be intentional? 
  • done by intention or design 
  • is something done on purpose. 
  • something that is intentional is deliberate. 
 
10 Things to be intentional about  
 
#1: Be intentional about your words and actions  
There is a lot of power in our words and actions. Taking time to think of the impact of our actions on other people makes us better people and in turn, makes the world a better place. 
 
#2: Being intentional with your money 
To gain financial freedom and thrive, you need to be more deliberate with what you do with your money. From making money to spending it to saving or investing it. Check out the Mo' Money Podcast Episode 175. 
 
#3: Be intentional with your goals 
When you are deliberate about the goals you set, you increase your success rate. Working towards those goals takes being intentional about the priorities you set and the actions you take towards achieving your goals.  
 
#4: Be intentional about taking opportunities 
When you approach opportunities intentionally great things happen. Make it a priority to go out and seek out opportunities in your personal and professional life. In my blog post "the importance of seizing opportunities" I share the reasons why you should be more intentional about opportunities.  
 
#5: Be intentional about setting your personal boundaries 
Being clear on what you will accept and what you need to live a balanced life is very crucial. As I progress in life, I am learning the importance of setting boundaries in my personal and professional life. The most significant boundaries I set are around my time commitment to work versus my personal projects.  
 
#6: Be intentional with your relationships 
The people you surround yourself with have a huge impact on your life. Being very deliberate about the people you let into your close circle will help you succeed. Surround yourself with people who contribute positively to your life.  
 
#7: Be intentional with your learning 
Knowing the benefits of continuous learning in your personal and professional life will help you set the right priorities. Having a growth mindset and prioritizing learning will set you apart from your peers and open new doors to you.  
 
#8: Be intentional with your time  
Sometimes we act like time is an infinite resource. However, the truth is that time is a limited resource. When you take this fact seriously, you start being more aware of how you spend your time. Be more deliberate and measure the results of your time investment.  
 
#9: Be intentional about the work you do 
We spend a considerable amount of our lives at work. When you are deliberate about choosing your job or the company you work for, you increase the probability or you enjoying the work you do and feeling fulfilled.  
 
#10: Be intentional about giving back  
Often, I remind myself that there is much more reward in giving back to people than taking from people. My way of ensuring that giving back is a part of my life is actually setting goals in this area as well. 
 
Call To Action 
What does being intentional mean to you? 
In what areas of your life do you want to be more intentional?  
 
Final Thoughts 
Let's wrap up with some amazing quotes about living intentionally 
  • “Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us.” ― Richie Norton 
  • “An unintentional life accepts everything and does nothing. An intentional life embraces only the things that will add to the mission of significance.” ― John C. Maxwell 
  • “Work on Purpose, Play on Purpose, Rest on Purpose. Do not let yourself or anyone else waste your time.” Izey Victoria Odiase 
  • “To live intentionally implies that it is not going to be always convenient, but it is what will take you to significance if you do not give up.” Sunday Adelaja 
  • “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” Nora Roberts 
 
Great Resources 
  • How to live intentionally 
  • 8 Powerful Ways to Live Your Life More Intentionally 
  • 5 Ways to Live More Intentionally 
  • An Intro to Intentional Living: 7 Things You Need to Know 
  • What Is Intentional Living? 
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Video: The power of Being Consistent

12/10/2019

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The Importance of Seizing Opportunities

8/10/2019

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Recently, I have been reflecting on the opportunities I have seized and the amazing outcomes that have resulted. In my personal life, I have seized the opportunities that provided me many growth opportunities like moving to new cities or countries. And in my professional life, I have been able to work on amazing projects that have helped me grow.

In this blog post, we will explore what it means to seize opportunities and also discuss five reasons why you should pursue and seize those amazing opportunities.

What does it mean to seize opportunities?
  • To accept or pursue an opportunity (to do something) with alacrity or conviction.
  • To take advantage of an opportunity when offered.
  • When you seize an opportunity, you take advantage of it and do something that you want to do.
  • Act quickly to use the opportunity while available.

5 reasons why you should seize opportunities

#1: Opportunities come and go
When an opportunity presents itself, knowing that it may not come back helps you stay vigilant and aware. You need to continually be on the lookout for great opportunities that you want to take advantage of.

Questions to consider
  • Are you looking out for opportunities in your personal and professional life?
  • Are you pursuing the opportunities that present themselves?

#2: You will look back and appreciate them
Think back on those times when you went out of your comfort zone and pursued an opportunity. I am so proud of the opportunities I have seized on my journey. Especially the ones that I had to find for myself.

Questions to consider
  • What opportunities have you seized that have been worth it?
  • What made these opportunities special to you?

#3: You are stretching yourself and growing
Part of having a growth mindset is to believe that learning is crucial. Those times when you don't feel 100% confident that you can do something, but you still go out and seize the opportunity are very rewarding.

Questions to consider
  • What lessons have you learned from the opportunities you took advantage of?
  • What new skillsets are you looking to develop?

#4: You develop the skills of identifying excellent opportunities for yourself
When you get into the habit of pursuing the opportunities you want, you develop an eye for it. You spend a lot of time thinking about what you want and how you can get what you want.

Questions to consider
  • What are your selection criteria for new opportunities you want to pursue?
  • What did you learn about yourself?

#5: You are setting a good example
Every day, I remind myself that my actions are bigger than me and serve as my legacy. There are many lessons that I would like to pass to the next generation, and this is one of them. Don't wait for things to happen to you; pursue what you want.

Questions to consider
  • What legacy would you like to leave behind?
  • What lessons would you like to pass down to the next generation?

Call to action
What opportunities have you seized in the past that have been amazing? Write them down
What opportunities have presented themselves for you that you didn't take? Reflect on what held you back

Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with some great quotes about seizing opportunities
  • “Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.” –William Arthur Ward
  • “Opportunities? They are all around us… There is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it.” –Orison Swett Marden
  • “Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.” –Napoleon Hill

Great Resources
  • The careerist: How to seize opportunities
  • Seize Your Breakthrough Opportunity
  • 5 Ways to Seize a New Opportunity With Confidence
  • Carpe diem: Seize opportunities and take risks – If you don’t ask, you don’t get
  • When An Opportunity Presents, Do You Seize The Moment?
  • When opportunity knocks (how to seize it)
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About your 2019 Goals - Make the next months count

10/9/2019

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Welcome to September, summer is over, everyone is back to school and work. At this point, there are about 110 days left in 2019. We have enough time to do great things. This is the perfect time to plan for the rest of the year.
 
In this blog post, I will share the ten questions I worked through while I reviewed my progress so far and planned for the rest of this year.
 
#1: How will this review help you?
Let's start by acknowledging that you still have time to work towards your goals and make 2019 count. See this as an opportunity to take stock of what you have done so far and prepare for the next months. To get the best out of your planning session, schedule about two hours on your calendar. Now that you have the time reserved let's move to the next steps.
 
#2: What do you want to focus on in this review?
Three things to do in this review include:
  • Check where you are, compared to where you had planned to be.
  • Adjust your activities to achieve your goals successfully.
  • Make concrete plans to succeed.
 
#3: What have you achieved in the past months?
The best place to start is to reflect on your achievements so far. Seeing what you have achieved will serve as motivation for what you want to work towards over the next weeks.
 
#4: What did not go as planned?
It is essential to know the goals that you have not been able to achieve so far. You also want to be clear on what hinders you from making progress towards those goals.
 
#5: What do you want to achieve in the next months?
Now it's time to think about what you want to achieve this year and make it count. Be as clear as you can be. Keep in mind the things you want to do differently to succeed.
 
#6: How will you track your progress?
You are now working against a schedule; you want to ensure you are on track. Make time to check your progress every week. This will allow you to see what is working well and what is not working so you can change course.  
 
#7: What tools and resources do you need?
There are available tools that can help you be more successful. Think about what you can start using to simplify your life and become more efficient while you work towards your goals.
 
#8: Who is part of your support community?
Especially as you work towards achieving big goals, surrounding yourself with people who can help you is very crucial. Identify your accountability partners, advisors, mentors, or coaches who can support you on this journey and work with them.
 
#9: How will you celebrate your success?
Think about ways you will reward yourself when you achieve the goals you are setting. There is power in having something exciting to look forward to.
 
#10: What commitment are you making today?
Write down what you are planning to start doing today to help you achieve your goals. Start taking action towards your goals one day at a time.
 
Call to Action
  • What goals are you going to work on over the next 16 weeks? Write them down
 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up with some fantastic quotes about goals
  • “You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.” —Steve Garvey
  • “By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands—your own.” —Mark Victor Hansen
  • “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” —Andrew Carnegie
  • “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” —Pablo Picasso
  • "Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life." — Les Brown
 
Great Resources
  • Golden Rules of Goal Setting
  • 3 Expert-Backed Tips for Achieving Your Biggest Goals
  • How to Measure Progress in Your Personal Goals: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly
  • Tired Of Failing At Your Goals? Why Goal Check-Ins Are Vital To Success
  • [Podcast] How to set checkpoints to get one step closer to your goal
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Video: How to get value from Self Assessments

7/9/2019

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