 Recently, I have been reflecting on how my perspective on many aspects of life has changed after living in multiple countries. I count myself very fortunate to be on this journey.
In this blog post, I will share ten things that I see differently since I started living in Nigeria, Germany and the US. #1: Home is wherever you want it to be Especially when I moved to the US, I started asking myself the question, "where is my home?". This was a question that took me a while to figure out. At the end of my deliberations, I concluded that it's perfectly fine to have multiple places where you feel at home. I now see Germany, Nigeria and the US as my home. It's a little complicated, but I have accepted it. There are many things that I appreciate from the countries I have lived in. #2: Being curious to learn about new cultures There are so many great things we can learn from different cultures around us. I am more interested and curious about learning about the different traditions, norms and customs of the people I meet. I find the world is rich in culture and there is so much for us all to learn. When people share their traditions around food and celebrations, I am very intrigued. We are very fortunate to live in such a global world where we have exposure to so many different people. #3: Accepting that there is so much to learn As I go through my journey, I am learning that it is ok to not know everything or have things figured out. I always thought I had to have a plan for everything and think through all situations. Moving to a new country brings a lot of unexpected things and situations you will not be prepared for. Accepting that I am on a learning journey has changed the way I view new experiences and challenges. #4: Accepting and celebrating differences in people Almost every day over the past 18 years, I have had the opportunity of meeting people from different backgrounds. I have learned to appreciate the differences in the people I meet. When I see people with similar experiences as mine, I find it surprising. Learning to celebrate the differences of people around me has enriched my life. Being open and receptive to all the great things that people have to offer is something I aspire to continue doing. #5: Having empathy for people When I watch the news or hear conversations about people who are working to make a home and be successful in a new country, I have a lot of empathy for them. Although I have been fortunate on my journey, I never want to be that person that looks down on other people's path to a better life. #6: Celebrating the little things that remind you of home A few weeks ago, we found a store that sold a special type of fruit that we grew up eating in Nigeria. I should add that we discovered it in a city in California. It was very unexpected. We bought some, enjoyed it and made sure we sent pictures to our family. Thinking back on this little thing that made us so happy reminded me of the fact that the little things that remind me of home are very special. Don't get me started on the day I found soft pretzel knots in a local bakery very far away from Germany. #7: Helping others find a community One thing that is important to me today is to help people around me feel like they belong. Being able to find or build a community is an important part of feeling at home in a new country. Whenever I'm able to provide someone with some connection, I take the opportunity to support them. I strongly believe that we can all support each other on our journey to be at home wherever we find ourselves. #8: Appreciating the experiences Reflecting on my journey, I know that all the experiences were worth it. Often when you think about the negative experiences you don't really appreciate them. Well, I didn't enjoy them, when I was going through them but now I see the value of those experiences. For example, struggling and learning to live in Germany, made me very resilient. Now fast forward to living in the US, I am able to apply a lot of the lessons I learned and appreciate the amazing things happening in my life. #9: Valuing the people As I have moved to different cities and countries, I have been blessed to meet amazing people. I value the time that I get to spend with people on my journey. Although I am not in contact with everyone I would love to be connected to, I hold on very fondly to the great memories. I know for a fact that different people have made my journey worthwhile and exciting. #10: Realizing that we all have unique and beautiful stories When I hear people's stories or backgrounds and how they got to be where they are, I am always amazed. We all have fascinating stories. Sharing my story has helped other people share more with me. This has been the most rewarding part of my 18-year relocation Journey Final Thoughts Check out my other posts on my life in Nigeria, Germany and the US in the Her Relocation Posts.
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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?
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
Great Resources
 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
Final Thoughts
Call to Action
Great Resources
 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
Final Thoughts
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  On Feb 20, 2015 I boarded a plane from Frankfurt, Germany to the Bay Area in the US. I can't believe it's been five years already since I moved here. The last years have been very eventful. I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have had on my journey. The theme for my fifth year in the US was “thrive in uncertainty and celebrate the good.”
In this blog post, I will reflect on my fifth year in the US. This post continues my "Her Relocation" series where I share my experience living in multiple countries over the past 19 years. Check out My Life in the US - Year 1, Year 2&3 and Year 4. Discovering that my relocation experience is different Thinking back to my first five years in Germany, it was extremely difficult. Some of the differences include being financially stable, having companionship, having a clearer plan and being more mature. I was definitely able to deal with new experiences better than when I moved to Germany at the age of fifteen. There have been ups and downs on this journey, but I have felt more equipped to deal with them and thrive. Realizing that time flies by very quickly When I started writing this blog post, I was surprised at the speed at which time has gone by. I guess it's true when they say, "time flies when you are having fun". So many things have happened since I moved to the US. There have been lots of lessons learned, experiences had, people met, and dreams realized. I'm looking forward to my journey over the next years. Learning that stability is cool too One thing that I realized recently is that this is the longest time I have spent in a single house and city for all my life. I have been living here for five years straight. Although I enjoyed moving around on my relocation journey, it does feel very good to be stable. Having a stable home and loving partner has made my time in the US amazing. I have had some practice adapting to new cities and homes over the past 19 years. However, I am now learning the valuable skill of building my life and home in a stable environment. Accepting things that are outside of your control One of the most challenging parts of my journey in the US was waiting for my immigration status to be updated. As an immigrant for the past 19 years, I have gotten used to having to go through the immigration process. This time it was different, there were a lot of things going on outside my control and all I could do was check the website regularly and wait. After months of waiting and being anxious, I was able to complete my immigration process. It definitely took a lot of mental and emotional energy to stay calm through the process. Living out my passion is fulfilling In my previous posts, I have shared that one of my favorite parts of living in the US is that I finally got to make my dreams a reality. Over the past year, I really leaned into the work that I had started with following my passion. In my fifth year I took on new challenges and continued to build on the strong foundation. Overcoming a challenge and thriving professionally I kicked off my 5th year in the US knowing that I needed to transition to a new role. It wasn't something I planned but I knew it was necessary. One big part of moving to different countries is that I have learned a lot about myself. I know when it is the right time to pick up myself and move. Change has been constant in my life. When the time came to change my role unexpectedly, I reminded myself of all the change I have weathered in my life and how I have succeeded in the past 18 years. It was all worth it in the end. I'm growing and thriving. Final Thoughts - 10 Lessons I learned
Call to Action What is one thing you won't have been able to do if you didn't move to a new city or country? Celebrate the opportunities  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  When I launched my blog in January 2018, I had no idea where I will be two years later. Unlike with a lot of other things that I do, I did not have a perfect plan for my blog. It took me a while to be bold and take the step, so I decided to plan to start and actually get started instead of planning everything out.
I'm so excited to celebrate the second anniversary of my blog with you all. Thank you for reading, sharing my posts, sharing your experiences with me and allowing me to share my deepest thoughts with you. In this blog post, I will answer some of the questions I get about starting and having a blog. My responses to the top questions about my Blog When and how did I know I wanted to have a blog? In summer 2011, I had a strong desire to build a platform for women like me to share and learn from one another. I sat on my dream for over seven years and did nothing. The primary reason why I didn't get started was that I was too scared to take the bold step. However, I believe that the years that passed prepared me even more for launching my blog. How did I get started? Over the Christmas holidays in 2017, I knew the time had come and I could no longer make excuses for not having my blog. The first step for me was to create my site and start writing blog posts. The tasks that I needed completed sounded very easy. However, my quest for perfection almost discouraged me from launching my website. I decided to start working on and to launch my website with my first five blog posts. Over the first weeks of January, I worked on my site and my initial blog posts. Simultaneously I started taking writing classes to learn some writing skills and did expensive research on creating a website. I shared my site with the world on January 23, 2018. Why did I start blogging? In one of my first blog posts titled "What I want from my blog", I shared my motivation for starting my blog. In summary, I wanted to share my learnings with others, share resources that have helped me in my life, empower women in all phases of their lives, learn from other women's experiences and build a community of women who support each other on their journey. Looking back on the past two years, I have been able to do more than I expected with my blog. I am more than grateful for the opportunity to grow and give back to my community. What am I proud of? Celebrating my accomplishments is something that I am being more intentional about. Over the past two years, I have achieved the following:
What have I learned on my journey? As with every journey we embark on, there are many lessons to be learned. Some of the lessons I have learned that I did not anticipate were:
What have been my highlights? In addition to learning lessons and gaining experience, I have also had some personal highlights:
How do I ensure I am growing my blog? Growth and improvement are on my mind continuously. I want my blog to continue to grow over the next years. Some of the ways I ensure I maintain a growth mindset are:
What do I want to do in the future with my blog? To all my faithful readers, thanks a lot for supporting me on my journey. I'm committed to growing my platform over the next months and years
Final Thoughts I am sharing my story to encourage you to take a leap and do that thing that you have been telling yourself you can't do. If I could face my fears and do something I was scared of, you absolutely can too. Call to Action What is that thing you have been putting off and delaying? Now is the perfect time to pick it back up and do it.  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  Welcome to 2020! Congratulations, we made it to a new year and a new century.
Thanks for checking out my first blog post of the year. I am glad to be back online after a few weeks off. I spent some time catching up on life, doing things I have not done in a while, resting and bonding with family. Taking some time during the last weeks of the year for myself is a tradition that I really value and would not trade for anything. In this blog post, we will be discussing some things that will help us start this year right and have the best year we have ever had. Let's explore how to define our theme for the year, things we won't be doing , and other things we will be doing this year. What is the theme for your year? Last year, I started a new tradition of defining a theme for the year. The inspiration came from the Happier Podcasts - One Word Theme for the Year. I adjusted this a little for myself and decided to define a phrase or sentence as my theme instead of just one word. Some of the things I keep in mind when I define my theme for the year are the following:
What will we stop doing in 2020? A new year provides us with an opportunity for a fresh start. I like the idea of being intentional about what we want to stop doing in the new year. Think of the things that held you back last year that you want to do differently this year.
What are some things to do in 2020? To make the most of this new year, we can start or continue doing the following in 2020:
MC's Journey I am really excited about this new year. There is something special about the year 2020. Growing up, I remember big companies and countries having their 2020 Agenda. This year is going to be amazing for me. Where was I ten years ago? As we start a new decade, I've been reflecting on all that has happened in my life over the past ten years. I was graduating from University in 2010 and my life was about to take me in many unexpected directions. The past ten years brought new jobs, relationships, realized dreams, personal growth and discovering myself. I can't wait to see what the next decade will bring. My 2020 Theme: Putting myself out there As I have been reflecting on my journey, I realized that I have been holding myself back. It's time for me to be very intentional about using my voice and being open to taking on new opportunities. My mindset for 2020 As I prepare for this year, I will have the following attitude:
Final Thoughts We are all alive and have the opportunity to make this year what we want it to be. Call to Action What have you been wanting to do but haven't done yet? This year is the perfect year for you to do those things.  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  Achieving and maintaining financial health is one of my ongoing goals. On my journey so far, I have learned many valuable lessons. One of them has been to normalize the conversation around money.
In this post, I will reflect on my financial journey, the top lessons I learned about finances in 2019, and an outlook on my financial plan for 2020. MC's Financial Journey in 2019 When I think about my decisions and actions when it came to my finances in 2019, there were a lot of new and unexpected things for me. At regular intervals this year, I have been closely monitoring how I spent my money. It is important to me to always know my financial status, plan for how I want to spend my money, and track how I spend it. Especially since I took some financial risks this year, I needed to stay focused on my financial health. What lessons did I learn about money? #1: Taking big financial steps is very scary This year, I made a huge investment that impacted my finances significantly. The surprising part was that I was not prepared for the feelings I will have after I made the investment. I thought I was ready, and all I needed to do was work hard to replenish my savings after I took a lot of money out to invest in a project. Interestingly, I did not plan for the emotional impact it would have on me. Being worried about Read more about "My experience making difficult Financial Decisions". #2: Be ready to pay for things that make your life easier This one was hard for me to learn. I had to fight the mental battle of feeling like I can do everything myself. Learning to delegate tasks or part of my life to make some time available for things that I really want to do. This year I spent money on household support and ordered things online to save me some time. Although it took me a while to overcome the guilt I was feeling, when I started seeing the great results of paying a little more to make my life easy, I knew it was worth it. #3: Continue practicing your good money habits In my post titled "10 things to do for your financial wellness in 2019", I shared some of the things I was committed to doing in my finances this year. Especially with everything going on this year, I was reminded of the fact that the reason I was successful financially was that I am disciplined and have learned good money habits. Knowing that I could rebuild my savings because I had been practicing for a while, gave me confidence. #4: Talk about your finances with people Two conversations about money really helped me this year. First of all, I spoke to a lady like me who wanted some advice on building her finances. Being able to share some of the tips that have helped me on my journey reminded me of my humble beginnings and how I got here. The second conversation that helped me was talking to another woman who is in a similar phase in her life and has comparable financial responsibilities. Talking to someone who could relate to my situation was very refreshing. I know talking about money is not something we do very often. There are a lot of benefits from talking to people around you and sharing financial knowledge. #5: Be bold when exploring new financial aspects I started investing money seriously in 2017. Through 2018 I stayed consistent and continued my learning journey. However, in 2019, with the markets being less predictable, I found myself being afraid to make any investment moves. I stopped learning about investments and didn't do anything for most of the year. As I reflect on my behavior, I see that navigating uncertainty with finances is something I am not comfortable with and need to learn. Outlook on My Financial Plan for 2020 As I set my goals for 2020, I have been thinking about what I want to do with my finances in 2020. Here are some of my initial ideas that I will be adding to my list
Final Thoughts
Call to Action
Great Resources  As we get into the festive season, I have been reflecting on my relocation. I have been very fortunate to celebrate Christmas and holidays in Nigeria, Germany, and now in the US. The celebrations are very different, and my experiences have been diverse. Each country has provided me with things I enjoy and value during this season.
In this blog post, I will share my experience in the three countries I have lived in and some of my favorite memories. What is important to me during the holidays? As I start planning my Christmas celebrations this year, I have been thinking about the three things I'm really looking forward to.
Christmas in Nigeria The sights and sounds of the holidays in Nigeria seem as if it was yesterday, although I haven't been there in 18 years. I still remember the excitement in the air as December progressed. The Christmas carols and events leading up to the holidays were filled with music and theatre plays. Growing up, with all the joy and excitement, also came some concern about if we will have something special for Christmas. Sometimes we were unsure if we would have the festive clothes we wore on Christmas day, let alone gifts. My highlight during Christmas time in Nigeria was spending time with my extended family. My cousins were all in town; we enjoyed great meals together and built great memories. Christmas celebrations seemed to last longer when I was growing up in Nigeria. Till today, the delicious meals I cook during Christmas are inspired by what I enjoyed growing up. Christmas in Germany My first Christmas in Germany remains engraved in my memory. It was the first time I saw so much snow and low temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius. In addition to the extremely cold weather, this was the first time I spent the holidays without my family. It was very difficult to adapt to new traditions and culture. Another major shock for me was that the 24th, which is Heilig Abend, is the main celebration day in Germany. For me, it felt like a day to prepare for Christmas, not to actually celebrate it. Honestly, this was something I never really got used to. My favorite part of Christmas in Germany was going to the Weihnachtsmarkt, aka Christmas markets. They bring together the best regional snacks, meals as well as arts and crafts. Every year, I made it a point to visit the Christmas markets multiple times with family, friends, and coworkers. I miss the special sausages and fresh waffles a lot. The scent of winter spices reminded me of the special time of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas in the US Interestingly as I write this post, we are on our way to spend Thanksgiving with family. Until I moved to the US about five years ago, Thanksgiving was a foreign concept to me. To be honest, it still comes as a surprise every year. It definitely feels good to have a long holiday weekend in November, and then four weeks later, we get another break. The weeks leading up to Christmas are filled with songs and nice decorations. Christmas in California is very different. One of my favorite parts is that the weather is beautiful and sunny in December. I have come to the realization that I really enjoy Christmas now. I believe it is mainly because I have my own family, and we are creating our lite Christmas traditions. Final thoughts I have learned that I can influence how much I enjoy the holiday. The five things I remind myself of during this season include the following:
Call to Action How was Christmas while you were growing up or living in a different country? What are your favorite holiday traditions? What is one thing you'll do for yourself this Christmas?  There are so many lessons to learn about your professional life. The best professional advice I received from one of my coworkers was "always take the time to introduce and reintroduce yourself." She gave me this advice after I had been at a new company for about four months and it changed my trajectory.
In this blog post, we will explore when you need great introductions and how to create an introduction that people will remember. When are introductions important?
How to create a great introduction Step #1: Think about what you want people to know about you It is important to help people get to know you. When you think about your story and reputation, ask yourself what the important aspects of your career are. Some of the things I share with people include projects I have worked on, skills that I have, certifications or degrees and what I am passionate about. Remember also to include aspects of your personal life. There is so much power in connecting with people on a personal level. Questions to consider
Step #2: Write your intro statements In my experience, I have learned that when you write down a short introduction, it allows you to think through your message. Write down many options and refine your introduction as you go. As you work on your introduction statements, try not to over-engineer it. Questions to consider
Step #3: Practice your introduction with people you trust One way to improve your introduction is by sharing it with your trusted advisors. You can send it to them in written form or practice telling them in person. The objective of this activity is to gather feedback and ideas from people who know you really well. Questions to consider
Step #4: Update and tweak your Introduction Based on feedback and your experience as you tested your introduction, it is time to adjust your intro statements. The goal is to have a version you are comfortable with sharing with more people. It might not be perfect, and that is fine. Questions to consider
Step #5: Introduce and reintroduce your self Now it is time to start using your new introduction. Depending on your audience, you may want to tweak your introduction. By practicing and working on your introduction, you will get better. I have also started being more aware of how other people introduce themselves and what I can learn from them. Questions to consider
Action Plan
Final Thoughts
Great Resources
 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
Call to Action
Great Resources  We spend a lot of time in our lives at work. Recently, I have been reflecting on some of the experiences that I have had at work that had very different outcomes than I expected. I am making peace with the fact that setbacks are a part of every successful career.
In this blog post, we will discuss five ways to deal with disappointment at work. Starting point: What type of professional setbacks have I faced? Some of the experiences that have stuck in my memory include:
Five ways to deal with disappointment at work Don’t be too hard on yourself It is important to not let all the weight of a setback rest on your shoulders. Going through a difficult time at work can often make your life feel less balanced and make you unhappy. Being aware of the impact of disappointment at work on your happiness is essential. Putting it all in perspective will help you move on. Questions to consider
Be better prepared After major setbacks in my career, I wondered if there was a way for me to be more prepared to overcome the deep sadness I felt. And I have found that the answer is yes, you can prepare for the impact of disappointment on your life and work. Taking the time to plan for the negative events helped me bounce back. Questions to consider
Identify the learnings One of the things I am learning about all negative experiences in life is that there is always a lesson to be learned. When you experience setbacks at work, make time to think about what the lessons may be. It might not be easy to see the lessons. However, they exist and would help you a lot on your future journey. Questions to consider
Find something positive that motivates you Having a positive outlook on your career is a great gift. Especially when something does not go the way you planned, having something that excites you can help you stay happy. A great mindset to have is to view your future journey with optimism. Questions to consider
Know when it is time to find a new job or role Depending on the type of situation you may be going through at work, it may be time to move on to the next career adventure. It is crucial to know when that time comes and to take action. Questions to consider
Final Thoughts
Call to Action
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