by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
We have all encountered or maybe experienced it ourselves, stunning and breathtaking on the outside and a broken hot mess on the inside. On the exterior, she seems to have it all; gorgeous clothes with nice matching accessories, top label shoes and purses, great features, intelligence, nice car, big house or condo, college degree or pursuing one.
The expensive vacations she takes, the shopping she does, the five star restaurants and hotels drive her conversations, she patronizes with her family and friends. Little do we know she is living a lie, one big ugly financial lie. Although, she might have looked like a million dollars on the outside, she is a willing penniless slave to debt on the inside. We see these situations often, but are unable to recognize them. The question then becomes how much damage can this one little word really do?
Financial lies create the backdrop that has the undeniable ability to not only destroy your life, but your self esteem as well. The daunting task of fighting to keep up appearances and borrowing money to make to the day will become so overwhelming the person in the mirror may become foreign. Further more, once you tell one lie the cycle of telling more is inevitable which leads to fostering bad habits, lack of trust in relationships and personal insecurities. Rationalizing spending habits, or the displaying of wealth that you truly do not have is a direct road block to obtaining the lifestyle you really desire. It doesn’t matter how you paint the picture, if it is a fake, it will get exposed and the lie will catch up with you. Ultimately, when it does you have to stand in the mist of your mess and figure out how you are going to clean it all up.
Here are a few tips to get you started if you are battling this 3-letter word:
• Admit you have lost your financial way and you need help
•STOP, when you feel the urge to spend money you don’t really have or tell a lie to cover up one you told before simply don’t do it.
• Take inventory of the items you have, determine those that may be able to give you a return in some way. Take those items and use them to generate revenue that can immediately help you pay off some debt or bills.
•Be creative, take a moment to reflect on what brought you joy before spending money became your vice. Once you have an idea tap into how you can make that work to your benefit.
•Forgive yourself and start the journey to rediscovering who you where before you became lost in a sea of exterior acceptance.
•Set a budget and stick to it! If you need help ask, there is no shame in gathering the tools and information needed to be the best you.
The next time you encounter that flawless well put together beauty while shopping, walking down the street, at work, or wherever, don’t be so quick to assume that she have it all. The odds are great that she may be living a lie, a financial lie. No one has a place to judge another, but we do have an obligation to leave the world better than we found it. Make sure you are not missing opportunities to make a significant impact on someone you may be able to help escape the grasp of the 3 letter word waiting to sink their finances.
Be Inspired,
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
Does he know that when she was birth into this world his life would never be the same
Does he know?
Does he know the power he gives her each time he holds her hand or opens her door.
Does he know?
Does he know the feeling she feels when you looks in his eyes when she is unsure of herself
Does he know?
Does he know that every moment in her life going forward will bring her back to a place in time he stamped on her heart
Does he know?
Does he know her belief in her hopes and dreams stem from the confidence he gives her when he smiles
Does he know?
Does he know that one day he will not be able to protect her from hurt placed upon her by the world
Does he know?
Does he know that in her finest hour she will always look for him
Does he know?
Does he know that no matter how old and grey he becomes, he will always be her first love
Does he know
Does he know his little girl will one day grow up and become a grown woman and base her value on how he valued her
Does he know?
No really, does he know?
Be Inspired,
Copyright © 2014 Coupe Scott
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Who is responsible for your happiness? In a nutshell happiness in its most basic form connects you with the inner most part of yourself. It creates the space for all other attributes to plant, grow roots and sprout up and blossom. We tend to think of happiness as this factious feeling that we cannot truly define in words, so we simply disconnect from the idea that it is a necessary individual attribute that should be paramount, especially when you want to engage in being apart of anything that involves anyone other than just you.
In 2013, Harris Poll conducted a poll that showed that 1/3 of people in the United States consider themselves happy. In other words, about 67% of Americans are unhappy with their lives. Lets look at that percentage for a minute, 67% of people are unhappy for something we as individuals have control over plaques the US population. Many of those in that percentage being in their 20’s and 30’s, or Generation Y, as they are often called.
You would think that with the internet, social media and “reality” television people would be able to pin point and hone in on what brings them happiness, where to find it and how to nurture it. WRONG!!
Happiness is self-owning it should not be attached to anything, anywhere or anyone, because the moment you equate it with those things you release yourself of accountability for your happiness. Let’s be clear, you will never be able to fit in a box of other people’s happiness without compromising your own. Compromising is a character trait, not to be confused with a key attribute. Meaning going to the store to get the iPhone 5s in silver, but all they have is gold so you compromise and take what is available. Your life is not a compromise, your happiness it not a compromise.
You have to own your stuff. You cannot make excuses for the things that have affected your life and made your happiness waiver. See, here is the thing am I not saying you will walk around each day and only feel happiness? No! However, I am saying that it is your choice to be at the base of your pyramid, deciding what you are willing to hold up and what is weighing you down.
I am telling you this now, because you have to get this, RIGHT NOW; if you haven’t before today. Taking control of your happiness is not an option it is a requirement to live your best life. It will afford you the opportunity to live with intent. You will be able to communicate with others more effectively {because you know what we will and will not do}, embrace that NO is a complete sentence and own that you never have to apologize for your personal power {STRONGtip: stop apologizing for things you have no control over, be sympathetic, not apologetic}.
You are responsible for your happiness and if you don’t begin to close the gaps that reside in the foundation {happiness} no matter how pretty the building, it will eventually fall.
Be Inspired,
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
There are so many options when you look into branding. However, there are a few key tips you should know when you are ready to build your brand. Her are 5 to get you started:
1. The Buy-in: If you have no idea what you bring to the table or why what you have to offer is important, neither will anyone else. Before anyone ever buys in to your brand they will have to buy in to the creator first. So, how do you accomplish the scary task of being relatable to your target audience, you ask? It’s quite simple, you do the personal work necessary to have a clear understanding of who you are and what you represent, because only then will your actions, words and brand be aligned to connect with true authenticity.
2. Create a standard: If you have no guidelines, no values or boundaries that make you unique, what is your niche? Furthermore, what do you stand for? In current day branding for a brand to thrive it must have a personality and opinion. Based on your audience, develop the personality of your brand; create the poster child for “XYZ Brand”. Give her thoughts opinions, ideas and most of all give her freedom to grow and evolve over time.
3.Give More: It is easy to take from people that need or desire what you offer. However, if you pour out into the people that support your brand, they will not only return they will be loyal. They will feel appreciated and share their praise of your brand with others… word of mouth is still the best advertisement.
4: Understand the difference between a brand and branding: A brand is like sitting in the car and cranking it up. Branding is cranking it up and going across country. Then once you reach that destination jumping on a plane to another country with new car for another journey. There is a big difference and your audience can peep it from a mile away if you are tap dancing with an idea or if you are committed.
5. Be Committed: Do not look for the easy way out, nurture your brand as you would a child. Honestly, it is a child. Seek quality services that will showcase all you have to offer, have integrity and be consistent. If you are committed, the return on everything you do will be greater, not because of the product or service, but because of the overall presence of your brand.
Until next time… Brand On!
Be Inspired,
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
Let’s get started:
Regardless of our background, the family we were born in, or our social status, we have a gift readily available to assist us in moving towards whatever we desire to believe for.
This topic is a one that may appear to some as a simple term –many say they believe, but this word requires work. We really can believe for something that has not yet become tangible in our hands.
What does it mean to believe?
The definition of the word BELIEVE, is to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.
Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.
2. Trust yourself. Trust the voice inside your heart.
Anything that poses a positive impact, brings about good, challenges the status quo – is ok to trust. Good things will never hurt others – so if you are not brining discord or harm to anyone including yourself, trust yourself.
Learn to know when things are moving you toward something greater. We get better at this over periods of time.
3. Believing is an area that many of us struggle with because what we desire to see may not have physically appeared in front of our eyes.
4. When we choose to believe despite all negative self talk we move forward in allowing what we desire to see gravitate freely to us.
When we believe with our heart we send a clear message to the “thing” we desire to move towards us.
Others may not believe with you. You must know that this is something that you want so bad that having an entourage believing with you is not a requirement, but; when we truly gravitate towards the “thing” – people we need will appear and begin to walk along side of us.
5. Believing fuels success.
Believing requires deliberate action. We must renew our thoughts, address negative talk, make adjustments and ignite inspiration for the things we believe to happen for us.
6. Believing requires trusting.
If we do begin to get discouraged, listen to the thoughts that are being spoken and if after listening to the voices that say; “it will never happen”, “your time is gone”, “you messed up before”, and we feel that settling is ok – then that will continue to be the theme playing and we will place the thing that is gravitating towards us on hold, or it will become a missed opportunity. BUT, if we choose to think positive, speak positive, surround ourselves with positive thoughts, and embrace the journey, which seems like an extremely lucrative alternative for us rather than giving up on the thing(s) we believe for.
Before we can see the “thing” we desire in front of us, we will be tested with a life event of some sort.
Believing with a time table is very good. It’s even better when we allow time to work something fulfilling inside of us.
Believing requires patience.
When we believe, others will believe too.
Before we can expect anyone to believe with us, we must believe before anyone else, it’s our dream, our purpose, our vision not others.
Believe that it’s already yours.
7. Trust timing. Sometimes we have a vision of desire and we think it will happen one way, be flexible to the process of attaining the vision of dream but do not become doubtful because of delays or redirection. They are both tremendous gifts to the process.
Believe that what you desire to see is worth the fight.
Believe that all of the right pieces will fall into place.
Surround yourself with people that believe with you. Allow those that God desires to gravitate towards your purpose to come to you. Seeking out people own without His direction may cause unnecessary weight.
To believe and soar in what we desire to attain requires us to have “light weight.” This does not mean that you ignore, or not have love and compassion for your friends, family and the issues that they face, it means that we do not allow those things to cause our mind to lose focus and become blinded because of everyone else’s issues.
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