Sista Girl Tuesday: Sandy Abrams

So when I say that social media makes the world a whole lot smaller, you better believe me! I connected with a wonderful, successful sista via Twitter today.  Who is she?  Sandy Abrams.  I am so grateful that we connected.  I had to share her with you!

-CEO  {www.moisturejamzz.com}

-Author  {www.yourideainc.com}

-Mother

-Avid Yogi of 20 years

Disclosure

The women who are highlighted as a feature do not necessarily agree with the views of this Corporate Chic.  They are being recognized for their commitment to our communities and how they empower, motivate, and uplift other women.

OVERLOOKING your Answer?

I can NOT see without the assistance of spectacles or contact lenses and I always store extra contacts in the top drawer of my bathroom. Well about three weeks ago, I lost the pair in my eyes, while asleep.  Let me say that again, I woke up and couldn't see a thing!  I begin feeling my way through my room into my bathroom straight to my top drawer, and the first thing I can barely see is my glasses.  The prescriptions in my glasses are like three years old, so I push them to the side and continue to search!  I NEVER go without an extra pair of contacts because the glasses are only buffers when my eyes needs a break.

SO I search and search and search...I put the glasses on...and start to search some more. I look in my travel bags, I look in my purse, I look in my make-up bag, and I even look in the other three drawers in my bathroom just to be on the safe side.  No contacts!  I sit and start to think, about where I could have placed them, because deep down, I KNOW I had them.

Here I am three days later...Clueless. 

Squinting my way though five days and countless headaches from wearing the old glasses, I started to look for the contacts again.  No matter how much I cleaned my glasses, I still could not see clearly.  SO then I say a small prayer...asking God to PHALEEEZE help me find the contacts because the headaches were getting worse.  I start back where I first started to search, which is the top drawer in the bathroom and TA DA...the contacts are there.  True story, real talk, I promise, whatever I have to say to convince you that I am NOT lying, I will say. (smile)  But this is really a true story.

This ordeal made me realize something very important.  Sometimes, we can be so close to a blessing or a break through until we go all around the mountain and back through it again and again continuing to miss the mark.  Ever been so close to something that you can sense it and be "in the know" but there is no tangible evidence?  After experiencing this (well first I took the glasses off and put the contacts in), I went straight to my Source and I boldly asked "What am I overlooking?  Please reveal it to me."

The answer that you keep going back in forth about is right under your nose.

Another thought about THE BIG S

I always hear the major achievers giving their advice or this tidbit to interviewers when they ask the famous question, "what would you tell the people out here trying to do what you are doing?"  Their answer:  "It takes hard work to get to this point and never give up on your dreams."   But is this really true?  Well, of course we know the part about never giving up...because how would you know where you could be, if you give up? Duh...(waving my hand) that's given.  But what about the hard work part?

Well when I become a major achiever, I have most of my answers already mapped out for my interviewers and just to let you in my world or my thoughts, this is what I think about Hard work:

-I just realized that hard work doesn't begin until you have "made it" ("made it" and major achiever is defined below).  Everything that you are doing up until "making it" requires a consistent and relentless attitude and effort.  This part of the journey is so unpredictable.  Why?  Because you really don't know if what you are doing is right.  So how could it be hard work?  At this point, it's just having a burning desire to fulfill your dream.  And nothing seems hard about that...at least not in the beginning or before you make it.

-I create projects and work them until completion.  But there are no deadlines.  I work toward my goals, objectives, my vision, my purpose and my destiny--> daily.  But I am working for me, and I can't compensate myself.  I take a lot of breaks and in the past two months, I totally fell off of the eat right bus ( I guess because, I know I'll be fasting in January).  But the point here is, I am persistent and focused but not pressured.  Now that I realize that the hard work isn't really going to start until I "make it," I am going to work smarter.

-I believe that the only way to ensure that you keep your "spot" as a major achiever is to produce solutions consistently,  persistently re-invent yourself creatively, and balance everything gracefully.  Once you "make it," it's no missing business meetings or re-scheduling money generating appointments.  It's no sleeping in, or taking a break just because you can.  Once compensation or other major achievers are depending on you, there will be deadlines that must be met or the risk could be to great if you don't deliver.  At this point, everything and everyone must be balanced or bring a balance to your life.  It's harder to stay on top then be at the bottom, right?  And this my friend is when the hard work really begins.  Think about it...

"Made it"- only means that you are being compensated and requested by people you don't know.  You are interesting enough to others that they see your value and would like for you to share it with their network.

"Major Achiever" -someone who is valued and is compensated immensely because of their value and worth.

Getting you Ready for 2011!

Quotes to get you started and ready for 2011!!!

 
I teach something called The Law of Probabilities, which says the more things you try, the more likely one of them will work. The more books you read, the more likely one of them will have an answer to a question that could solve the major problems of your life.. make you wealthier, solve a health problem, whatever it might be. -Jack Canfield

A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others. -Chin-Ning Chu


Your income is a direct reward for the quality and quantity of the services you render to your world. Whatever field you are in, if you want to double your income, you simply have to double the quality and quantity of what you do for that income. Or you have to change activities and occupations so that what you are doing is worth twice as much. -Brian Tracy  

I'm convinced that we can write and live our own scripts more than most people will acknowledge. I also know the price that must be paid. It's a real struggle to do it. It requires visualization and affirmation. It involves living a life of integrity, starting with making and keeping promises, until the whole human personality the senses, the thinking, the feeling, and the intuition are ultimately integrated and harmonized. -Stephen Covey
 
Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present. -Rudy Giuliani 
 
It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith and discipline when you're not yet a winner.
-Vince Lombardi


Part of the issue of achievement is to be able to set realistic goals, but that's one of the hardest things to do because you don't always know exactly where you're going, and you shouldn't. -George Lucas


My experience indicates that most people who've accumulated a great deal of wealth haven't had that as their goal at all. Wealth is only a by-product, not the original motivation.  
-Michael Milken
 
You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile. -Brian Tracy


When you set goals, something inside of you starts saying, "Let's go, let's go," and ceilings start to move up.
Zig Ziglar


Take the pains required to become what you want to become, or you might end up becoming something you’d rather not be. That is also a daily discipline and worth considering.  
-Donald Trump

Sometimes, we just don't know enough about what we are trying to achieve. -Stuart Wilde

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work.  -Oprah Winfrey

People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine. -Brian Tracy

You need a plan to build a house. To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal. -Zig Ziglar  

Season Greetings!

Sending joy and peace this holiday season from my heart to yours! To view the original document, click here!  Happy Holidays!!!

Sista Girl Tuesday: Keyshia Cole

I have been a fan since forever!  The two singles that she released prior to the album dropping today are SUPER HOT!  Hi-Five K.C.  Had to show some love!  Be sure to pick her album or download it from iTunes.

Keyshia Cole - I Ain't Thru ft. Nicki Minaj from SCM On Demand on Vimeo.

The Alecia Tramel Story: I am HIV Positive!

I am an a huge advocate on prevention and awareness and I had an opportunity to interview Alecia tonight.  Her story is amazing and VERY informative!  Take a listen.

Listen to internet radio with LO Shows Host on Blog Talk Radio

CSN Giveaway!!!

CSN Stores features over 200+ stores with only one checkout.  You can find tons of amazing products at incredible prices on their site.  As a Corporate Chic on the go, I rarely have time to push the laptop of my lap, so shopping online is a very convenient way for me to purchase gifts!  CSN Stores offer an array of products where you can find everything from McKlein USA, leather messenger bags, and even laptop bags!  

As a professional who loves office supply stores, and any bag, I visit this site frequently.  And this month, with it being the holidays, CSN has decided to give one of my loyal readers a $35 gift card in the form of a promotional code to purchase any item on their site.  Oooohh this feels like an Oprah Giveaway!!! Ok, I'll bring it down a notch.  But in order to be considered for this giveaway you must:

Tell me how you would spend your $35 at CSN Stores

&

Become a follower of my blog or comment if you already are  

Giveaway ends December 17, 2010.  Be sure to leave a valid email address!  You must email me: TawanaNecole{at}CorporateChics.net.  The winner will be chosen via a random number generator.  If the winner does not contact me within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.  Good Luck!

Some of my favorites are below!

Sista Girl Tuesday: Kara Jensen Zitnick

Kara Jensen Zitnick lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband and 2 young sons. Her love of crafting and handmade began at the tender age of 4 when her grandmother taught her the fine art of crochet.  After being forced to participate in 4-H, she begrudgingly learned how to sew from her other grandmother and immediately began designing her younger sister a new wardrobe. Kara has moved on from creating garments using scraps of fabric from her mom's fabric stash, but her love of design is stronger than ever.  

 

After nearly 10 years of litigation in both state and federal court, Kara decided to follow her passion of assisting women entrepreneurs.  As a practicing attorney, she recognizes the importance of starting any business venture off on the right foot from a legal perspective, which means protecting the creative work that flows from a business's name, logo, brand and tagline are of the utmost importance from the start. 

Visit launchHER to read more about this celebrated woman!

Kara and Salisha are the owners of launcHER.  I stumbled across their website via FB and was instantly inspired.  So I thought, if they could inspire me, I know they would inspire you.  The company and ladies are highlighted via Corporate Chics as well.

Disclosure

The women who are highlighted as a feature do not necessarily agree with the views of this Corporate Chic.  They are being recognized for their commitment to our communities and how they empower, motivate, and uplift other women.

World AIDS Day: December 1

Today the entire world paid homage to HIV/AIDS.  I personally had an opportunity to attend an event here in Atlanta where HIV positive citizens provided testimonies of their struggles, challenges, and how they continue to overcome living with the virus that causes AIDS. Sisters Striving for Excellence joined SisterLove Inc., and the Emory HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Unit as they presented Express Yourself: Speak Up. Speak Out.  The Time to Talk About HIV is NOW!  It was an community open house HIV/AIDS education and information event that covered its impact on women.

Have you gotten tested? 
Do you know your status? 
Are you doing your part in prevention and awareness? 
Did you know that African Americans lead the nation in new AIDS cases? 
Stop being afraid of having a discussion about it! 

Do your part in assisting our communities in paying homage to epidemics such as this.  Remember that we all are connected.  And when it's all said and done, we all will have to answer to someone concerning what we did for the sick...