Your Environment and Circumstances . . .

The other day, one of my friends asked me if I really believed some of the things I write about.  In particular that one's environment and circumstances are a reflection of one's thoughts.  He went on and on pointing out all the obvious reasons why I should discount this belief that I espouse.  

He pointed out that I was born on the lower-economic echelon of Great American economic ladder; that I was African-American and a female in a male dominated world; my education was not the best; I know very few people of influence; I was the statistical fatherless child growing up --  the list went on and on.

Yes, I agreed, all those things are true.  And most people would be angry at all the unfair treatment that a little black girl from the poor side of town, who didn't know her father, received on a regular basis all through her life.  But, I had a whole extended family  of 30+ people who loved and supported me.  My primary education wasn't the best, but I pushed myself through college and hold a degree in a field that I love.  Through hard work and money management skills, I'm no longer in the lower levels of the economic ladder.  And I'm part of a wonderful nuclear family that has a dedicated mommy and daddy and three bright kids. I do the work that I love.  And all through my trials and tribulations I have had wonderful friends, family and fans of my work that keep me motivated and smiling on a daily basis.

Yes, the world can be rough and brutal and I've seen some really messed up stuff and people have done some terrible things to me and near me, but I can still hold on to the principal that your mindset determines the condition of your environment and your circumstances.

Shaking his head, he still could not understand how this could be.  How I could think this way . . . so, I told him a story. That made this very clear to him, I think.


 There is an old fairy story about the Sun and Earthly Creatures.

One day, the Sun was listening to some earthly creatures 

talking about a very dark place they had found. A place of 

deep, dark abyss. A Stygian darkness, of gloom and 

forbidding. Each creature told how terrifically horrible and

dark the place had seemed. They went on and on about this 

place they had found, describing it in great detail.

Curious, the Sun went and looked for this place. He went to 

the exact spot they had described. He searched 

EVERYWHERE, but he could not find even a tiny shadowy 

spot.

He came back to tell the earth creatures he couldn't find it, 

and in fact, he did not believe there was any dark place.

For you see, we only see our reflection - the energy we give 

off. Darkness is the absence of light. Evil is merely the 

absence of good.

BE THE SUN my friend.

P.S. I failed to point out to my friend one thing on his list that was very, very wrong. I DO know people of influence and power.  YOU!  Stay powerful and influential my friends!



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When you do the thing you love to do . . .

When you do the thing you love to do, just because you love doing it . . . .

Amazing things happen.

Don't stop yourself from doing you calling.  Do it just for the joy of it.  Do it just because it brings joy to the people around you.  Do it.  And then, see what happens.
You may be utterly surprised!

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What's Good for the Soul

What do you love doing the most?  What is the thing that you do that makes you feel REALLY, REALLY good inside?  

Do you like to draw?  
Do you like to write?  
Do you like to make furniture? 
Do you love sewing?  
Do you love sports? 
Do you love fixing things? 
Do you love to dance? 
Do you like making videos? 
Do you love creating exotic looks with make-up?  
Do you love cutting hair?  
Do you love coding?  
Do you love animals?  
Do you love working with children? 
Do you love rock climbing? 

Do you love _____________________________________________(fill in the blank).

Then DO it.  Right now.  Today.  Stop reading this blog and do that thing or make plans to do that thing.  Sure you have obligations that take up a lot of your time . . . family, work, etc. But there are ways you can do the thing that you like doing.  Schedule it into your day, week or month if you have to. Block out some time in your calendar and title it: "Very Important Appointment/Mandatory".  

Your mind and soul deserve some type of joy.  Make it a priority to regularly get some.

Just a note:  I'm really curious about the things that make people happy and the many talents that we have.  Please, in the comment section below, let me know what thing gives you JOY.  What thing you would do every day if given a chance.

Stay powerful and influential my friends!


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The "I QUIT" Fund

What is the first thing you should start today, if you already haven't?  Your "I Quit" Fund. Really, it's your freedom fund.  It gives you a sense of confidence and freedom.  When a person has an "I Quit" fund, they interview for a job differently.  With an "I Quit" fund, they walk around the job differently.  They seem fearless, crazy confident and amazingly attractive.

Hard to believe, huh?

I tell all my friends that they should create an "I quit" fund.  You should too! 

What's an "I Quit Fund"? It's simply what financial advisers call an emergency fund.  It's a stash of money that takes care of up to 3-6 months of household expenses, in case you lose your job.  Or in case you simply decide you can't stand your job, not one more day . . . not one more moment.

There are so many horror stories about bad bosses, crazy co-workers and dysfunctional working environments it's unreal.  We, as employees, take all kinds of abuse because we need the "security" of a paycheck.  But really, should we take that stress and abuse?  We work hard, shouldn't we assure ourselves of a LIFE as trade off for the hours spent with people that we don't voluntarily choose to hang around?

Begin your "I quit" fund.  Start today.  Stash away $10 or $20 or more.  That's what I did.  I stashed away a few dollars every week and I do it to this very day.  Back then, whenever I got some extra money: a tip, a bonus, a raise, I put the money aside.  Whenever I worked a side gig, I stashed away half of whatever I earned.  Soon, I had over $500 in my little secret fund.  I decided that I wanted my money to grow faster than I could save it or earn it, so I put the money where it would grow.  Within a few months, I had a paycheck worth of savings.  Slowly, but surely I was starting to realize my freedom.

Amassing my "I quit" fund got down-right addictive.  I would save up a paycheck worth of "I quit" funds before I would deposit it into my little mutual fund (that was the way I grew my money).  I did this simply because I liked to count my money after a particularly hard day at work.  I would sit there going with stacks of hundred- and twenty-dollar bills, literally touching my freedom.  It felt damned good knowing that I had enough money to scream out "I quit" and at least be able to survive for 30 days before going hungry.  It was a heady feeling . . . a feeling of true freedom.  

Indeed, that money came in very handy.  Eventually, an ethical dilemma came up on my job.  I had a discussion with my boss about the unethical practice we were embarking in. I told him that I did not feel comfortable doing the task that the company wanted me to do.  He demanded that I continue with the process or endanger my employment.  I quit.  

Everyone was flabbergasted!  How could I quit?  Didn't I need my job?  What would I do next?  All types of questions flew around me. No one understood, how I was brave enough, free enough, to actually quit . . . not my boss, not the other employees, not anyone.  I walked out the door, very satisfied with myself.  Feeling a total control over my life that few people ever feel.

Since that day, I have been hooked on saving.  Even if I save $1 a day, that's one dollar closer to my FREEDOM.   It feels good not being a slave to a job, or a career, or the dictates of superiors in an organization.  

How do you create a little bit of freedom in your life?

If you like this article, you should read:

• 14 Reasons You Know It Is Time to Quit
• Why I Won't Apply for Your Job
• Money & Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Money is Everywhere!
• If SHE Can Save . . . 
• Your Six Figure Income

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