 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?
How do others or external factors influence us?
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
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
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
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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:
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
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
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
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
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
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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  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
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
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
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
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
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
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  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:
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
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
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
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
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
Call to Action Are you committed to continuously learn in 2020? Make the decision and do great things. Final thoughts
Great Resources  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
The Highlights
The Lowlights
Preparing for 2020 As you wrap up 2019 and kick-off planning for 2020, here are some questions you can ask yourself:
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  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?
Why is it important to revive your passion now? The benefits of living 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
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Great Resources  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:
What does making progress mean to me? On my journey, I am learning that making progress is a process which includes:
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
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
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
Final Thoughts Let's wrap up this post with quotes about making progress
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Great Resources  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.
Call to Action What are some of your birthday traditions?  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?
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
Great Resources  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?
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
#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
#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
#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
#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
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
Great Resources
 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:
#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
Final Thoughts Let's wrap up with some fantastic quotes about goals
Great Resources  As we close out summer and change gears for the next months, I want to encourage you to add one fun thing to the list - reconnecting with people whom you haven't connected with in a while. We all lose connection with some great people. Now is an excellent time for you to connect with great people in your life.
This month, I have been reflecting on the people in my life a lot. It may be because August holds many milestones that I could not have gone through successfully without great people. The anniversaries include moving to a new country - 18 years ago, undergoing a medical procedure - 8 years ago and starting a new - job a year ago. In this blog post, we will discuss some guiding principles and five steps to help you start reconnecting with people that matter today. Guiding Principles We all get very busy, and it is easy to lose touch with people. When you reconnect, it is crucial to keep the following in mind:
How to reconnect with people that matter Let's explore five simple steps to reconnect with people in your life. Step 1: List the 5 people you want to reconnect with Think about people whom you have not spent quality time with in the last months. Remember to include mentors and professional connections as well. I suggest keeping the list short so that you can have high-quality conversations. Questions to consider
Step 2: Determine why you want to reconnect with them It is crucial to think the reason why you would like to reconnect with the people you listed in the step above. Being intentional about the people we surround ourselves with is very important. Some of the reasons could be inspiration, encouragement, or fun. Questions to consider
Step 3: Reach out to them with a sweet note or call Now that you know who you want to reconnect with and why it is time to reach out to them and let them know. Tell them you would like to reconnect with them. It may also help to share with them why you value them. Questions to consider
Step 4: Meet with them This is the most significant and rewarding step of the process. Now you get to complete your re-connection by meeting with the person. I recommend you meet with the person in person if possible or on a video call. Looking into someone's eyes while you talk is one of the best things on earth. Questions to consider
Step 5: Agree on ways to stay in touch After you have reconnected with people, you don't want to lose contact again. Think about ways you can keep in touch and also what medium you would use to stay connected. Also, schedule time and keep your commitment to remain reconnected. Questions to consider
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Final Thoughts
Great Resources  When I hear people talk about their groups of friends, their squad or tribe, it makes me smile. I enjoy hearing how they support one another through the ups and downs of life. On my journey, I have learned to value people and connections in my life.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to make the best use of your squad. If you are not already doing these things you may want to start and if you don't have people that you can do this with, you can start looking to find these groups. Also, check out my previous post titled "Build your support community" to learn about the five types of support communities you need. Why do you need a squad or tribe?
What can your tribe help you do? To get the most value, you want your tribe to consist of people from different backgrounds. Its time to start having more meaningful conversations and smartly using your squad. Find a safe space Research shows that we need to have a phycological safe space to thrive. It is crucial to find a group of people that allow you to be vulnerable around them. We often feel that we always have to act strong and have it all together. We need to be able to let our guard down and open up to people who can help us. Questions to consider
Stay motivated Especially when your journey becomes complicated, and you are exhausted; having people who cheer you on is crucial. A squad that believes in and tells you, "you can do it" is very valuable. Questions to consider
Learn something new Learning from your tribe is essential. Surround yourself with people who are doing amazing things and can share new opportunities or ideas with you. One of the great ways to broaden your perspective is to partner with other people. Questions to consider
Get opportunities to help others It is essential to give back and not only take from your tribe. Take the opportunities you get to help other people in your squad. Helping others is a great way to grow. Questions to consider
Partner to take over the world Imagine all the things you can do when you partner with other great people. I am a firm believer of the saying, "there is strength in numbers." The fastest way to amplify your impact is to work with other people on the same projects. Questions to consider
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Great Resources
 From my conversations with women around me, I know that our insecurities are always top of mind for us. My most recent insecurity is how much my body has changed. I had been trying not to allow it to bother me much. However, in the back of my mind, the huge insecurity lingered. The turning point for me was when I could no longer look at pictures of myself and appreciate my beauty. After a few years of watching the change, I decided to stop feeling bad about my body and start celebrating it. In this blog post, I will share my very personal story and the key lessons I learned through the process of taking an active approach to facing my insecurities. How did I face my Insecurity? After six long months of deliberation and doubt, I decided to take a bold step and do a professional photoshoot for my birthday in October 2018. At the time, it was one of the scariest things I had done. Thinking back, this was one of the best things I have done for myself in a while. What did I learn through the process? Going through this terrifying experience of facing my insecurities taught me many valuable lessons. Lesson #1: It is never as bad as you think I had never been a fan of photoshoots. The thought of getting my make-up done, posing in front of a camera and then looking at my pictures intimidated me. However, as the day of the photoshoot approached, I started getting excited about the great pictures I would have. Finally, on the day of, I felt very comfortable and happy I was doing it. All in all, it was a pleasant and joyful experience. Lesson #2: You need people who support you The two people who helped me through the journey were Melissa, my sister, and Jennifer, the photographer. Melissa was in charge of making sure I did not only choose black outfits. She knew the right questions to ask me without putting too much pressure on me. Melissa knows me well enough to know how to help me from a distance. This was exactly what I needed at this tough time. Interestingly I met Jennifer at a finance workshop in March, and I told her I wanted to take professional pictures, but I didn't know how to go about it. She gave me her card, and I checked out her work. It took about six months of internal preparations for me to be ready. When I was ready, I reached her to learn about the process, and a few weeks later, I was in her studio doing a great photoshoot. Throughout the process, her professionalism and excitement for her work kept me motivated. Lesson #3: Guard your ears and heart Many people don't think about the impact of their words on you. Especially if you feel insecure about things that people can see, hearing them talk about it or even make fun of it can make you very sad. I experienced this first hand. It took me a while to start ignoring the negative comments that came my way. I feel the strong need to appeal to everyone - be kind and sensitive. Lesson #4: The results will be beautiful and worth it I wish I spent time thinking more about the great results that will come from me facing my insecurities. This would have encouraged me to take the bold step earlier. After the photoshoot, I started volunteering myself for other sessions. I was now more comfortable with the process and looking at my pictures. I wonder how much we can achieve if we think more about the results and less about the painful process. Lesson #5: Facing your insecurities is a continuous process Now that I have experience in facing one of my biggest insecurities, I know one thing for sure; you have to continue facing your insecurities. They don't magically disappear after you do something bold. The good news is that you have seen the great benefits of taking action and you know what you can do. To continue my journey, I am committed to celebrating my body every year with a personal photoshoot. Final Thoughts
Call to Action
Great Resources The result of facing my Insecurity Sharing the great pictures I took. Thanks to my great photographer Jennifer Graham   A few months ago, while I was preparing for my video "In the News | Picture a leader," I started reflecting on the women in my life that inspire me. When I hear someone being able to name one person or a few people as their role models or idols, it amazes me. I have always struggled with calling people that I don't know personally my role model. After contemplating on what being a role model meant to me, I decided to start identifying traits in women around me that inspire me. As I wrote the desirable traits down, I started realizing that these women have the same values that I have and similar legacies as I want to have. In this blog post, I will share the five types of women that inspire me and how they have influenced me on my journey. Type 1: Women who are pioneers in their field Every time I hear about a woman who did something new in her area or invented something, I am inspired to explore new endeavors. For me, it comes down to a sense of pride for another woman winning. On my journey so far, there have been situations where I was the first or "only" person. Especially in my professional life, I have to constantly remind myself of the great women who felt alone on their own journeys but still pressed on and succeeded. Type 2: Women who defied the odds and became great The bold women who do things no one thought they could do are a huge source of inspiration for me. On my journey, I have come across many brave women in my life. Seeing someone make the best from a less than perfect situation motivates me. When I start doubting my ability to achieve my bold goals, I remind myself of the great women who defied the odds and succeeded. Type 3: Women who built and own businesses Especially since I now know what it takes to start a business, I am inspired by every woman who owns her business. Being an entrepreneur takes much courage, and it is not easy. I have learned many valuable lessons from female founders who had a passion or dream and built successful businesses. Type 4: Women who have a positive attitude and message Women who have the ability to stay positive and hopeful in our world today are my heroes. It takes much energy to see the good in life, people, or situations. I aspire to have and share a positive message with everyone around me. Type 5: Women who support other women Any woman that makes it a priority to lift other women has my respect. On my journey, I have been fortunate to have women who supported me personally and in my career. This is precisely what motivates me to build a community of women that support each other. Final Thoughts
Call to Action What are the traits that inspire you in other women? Know what inspires you. Who are the women that inspire you? Identify three women around you. Great Resources
Related Content "Let your dreams be bigger than your fears" - Unknown  Knowing and talking about our fears is not something we enjoy doing. I wonder if it is because we are afraid that when we vocalize our fears, they come true. To be successful in our journeys, we need to face our fears.
In this post, I will share the definition of fears, reasons to overcome your fears, and strategies you can apply to face three types of fears. For more practical tips, check out my post titled "How to do things you are afraid of." What does fear mean?
What are the most common fears women have? Some of the fears many women have include the following: fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of failure, fear of financial instability, fear of people's opinions, fear of not achieving goals or living out their dreams and fear of success. What fear does to you? Living with fear holds you back from seizing new opportunities, slows down your progress, and stops you from achieving your dreams. Ways to address 3 types of fears To be able to face our fears, we need to know what we are afraid of and actively apply strategies to face them. #1: Personal Unknown fears These are the fears that we are not aware of. The fact that we don't know them gives them even more power over us. They come up at times when we feel like we don't have control of a situation. Strategies to consider
#2: Personal Known Fears If I asked you what you are afraid of, some of your fears would come to mind. These are typically the ones that we think about daily. It's good that we know them. Because when you are aware of something, you can address it. Strategies to consider
#3: Generational & Societal Fears Based on our upbringing and the environment where we live, some external fears are imposed on us. It is essential to build a healthy relationship with this type of fears . They are mostly built on other people's experiences. Don't let them limit you and your perspective. Strategies to consider
MC's Journey Talking about my fears is something I just started being comfortable doing. For years, I tried not to think about them so much. However, I noticed that they were controlling aspects of my life. The biggest fear that I had to face was my fear of change. I shied away from taking on new opportunities because I did not want to make changes. After missing some great opportunities, I realized that to achieve my goal and live out my dreams, I had to embrace change. Ever since I started facing my fear of change heads on, I have seen great results. Now I have made it my mission to be even bolder and challenge myself. Call to Action What are your top 3 fears? Write down your fears. What strategies do you plan to apply? Face your fears. Final Thoughts Let's wrap up this post with some great quotes about fear
Great Resources  It's July already - where did the first six months of this year go? I am sure I say this every year, but I feel like 2019 has been a very fast year. Earlier this year we planned for the year in a post titled "About your 2019 goals – March Edition". Now it's time to review the year so far, celebrate our accomplishments and plan for the next six months.
In this blog post, I will share some of the thought experiments I did, share the five steps I went through during my mid-year review and provide a look behind the scenes of the insights I gathered . Step #1: Make time and find a place for your goals review To get the best results from your review, set time aside, and find a quiet place where you can concentrate. You want to take as much time as you need to ask yourself key questions, reflect, and write things down. Personally, the library is the best place where I can concentrate and have fresh thoughts. I have also found that I need about two to four hours. Questions to consider
Step #2: Review your goals and measure your progress An excellent place to start is by reviewing the goals you set for 2019. It is essential to view this exercise as an opportunity to check the progress you made and get clarity on what you are yet to do. To avoid the trap of getting disappointed, remind yourself that there are still six months in the year. You now know where your focus should be to drive the results you want. One thought that helps me is - "It is great that I am getting clarity half-way through the year and not at the end of the year." Questions to consider
Step #3: Evaluate what changed and what needs to change As we know, change is constant. When we set our goals at the start of the year or the quarter, we set them based on the information we had at that time. As the year progressed, life happened, and things changed. As part of your mid-year review, analyze your goals with the new information you have gathered. Another point you want to think about is, what needs to change for me to be more successful in achieving my goals. Taking time to ask ourselves these crucial questions will help us be more successful. Questions to consider
Step #4: Update and set new goals After you have reviewed your progress towards achieving your goals, you now have the opportunity to update your goals and think about new ones you may want to add. While you plan for the next six months, remember to set bold goals. When we look back on 2019, I want us to be very proud of the bold moves we made. Check out my post titled " Do you dare to do something great?". You also want to set goals in the categories that matter to you. Some examples of my priority categories are personal, finances, career, business, learning, and training. Questions to consider
Step #5: Celebrate your achievements The best way to wrap up your review is to write down all your achievements over the first six months of the year. This has become my favorite part of my reviews. Seeing my achievements on paper serves two purposes. Firstly, it shows that the hard work I put in is paying off and secondly it motivates me for the months ahead. Remember to add small achievements as well. Questions to consider
MC's Journey About a week ago, I took out a few hours to reflect on the past six months. During my review, I started by reminding myself of my theme for 2019, which was " being brave or bold." Throughout my review I looked at my past months and future six months through that lens. I then went on to review the goals I set in January this year, measured my progress, updated them, and outlined my achievements. Some of the things I did differently over the past months and during my review included the following:
Reflecting on some things I want to do differently to be more successful in 2019, here are some examples on my list:
I am very excited to make the next six months count and looking forward to the upcoming quarterly goals review in September. Call to Action Set aside two hours to review your year so far and plan for the next six months.
Final Thoughts
Great resources
“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”- Brené Brown  Recently, I've been doing some deep self-reflection. Especially when I go through new situations that I'm not prepared for, I find the power by searching within myself. The conclusion I have come to is that I am a work in progress and I am accepting this MC. I spend a lot of time thinking about my growth areas and often forget to appreciate who I am today with all my imperfections. Yes, I am not perfect, and that's ok.
You might be wondering what the definition of imperfection is. The Collins Dictionary defines it as "an imperfection in someone or something is a fault, weakness, or undesirable feature that they have." In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why you should embrace your imperfections and a little bit of my journey accepting my imperfections. Five reasons to embrace your imperfections Sharing some of the points that helped me start accepting my imperfect self. #1: You get tired striving for perfection The amount of time and resources you spend trying to be perfect in life or at work is a lot. Often, we put in so much effort into perfecting things that are already good enough. Especially when it comes to our skills and abilities, we pressure ourselves to be perfect and waste our energy. Sometimes, I wonder how much effort I would have saved if I did things to my best ability and then took a break instead of exerting more energy to make things perfect. MC's Tip: Know when you have invested enough energy in a cause, then rest and move on to the next thing #2: Your imperfect traits make you human When we deal with other people who are not perfect like us, showing and accepting our imperfection makes them feel more comfortable around us. There is something about accepting people for who they are and supporting them in areas where we may be stronger. MC's Tip: Show empathy for other people who are not perfect - like you. #3: You become your authentic self Imagine if you started accepting your whole self and being comfortable with who you are. We spend a lot of time trying to live up to other people's standards of perfection, and we forget to be ourselves. Being unique is a gift. No one can do what you are on this earth to do. MC's Tip: Practice self-acceptance and be your true self. #4: You can achieve more Being a perfectionist hinders you from knowing when it is time to wrap a task up and move on to the next great thing. Instead of spending all your time on perfecting something that is good enough, think about the value of being able to achieve results in different areas. Being perfect in one area and neglecting other areas is not where you want to be. MC's Tip: Celebrate your wins - you are achieving a lot despite your imperfection #5: You will be happier Accepting who you are with your imperfections, celebrating your imperfect results and showing empathy for others has one significant side effect - you are happier. Striving for perfection sometimes robs you of the feeling of gratitude for what you have achieved and who you are. MC's Tip: Celebrate where you are on your journey, even if you're not completely where you want to be. MC's Journey Accepting my imperfections has been a long journey for me. I spent a lot of time wishing I could change and not be the way I am. Especially in my childhood, being compared to others made me feel like there was something wrong with me that needed to be fixed. At this stage in my life, I have learned that my imperfections make me MC. In the spirit of being vulnerable, I will share my top five imperfections with you
Sharing my imperfections would have scared me before. These days I want people to know the real me. I am not perfect, but I have good intentions, and I want to make the world a better place. Final Thoughts
Call to Action What are your imperfections? Identify them. How are you going to start embracing them? Plan action. Great Resources
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