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 | Learn + Grow
“I’m sorry, I’m not sorry.” There was a commercial by Pantene about women saying sorry in situations where there was no need to apologize. That made me think, how often do women say sorry when we have no need to be? For instance, if you are in a meeting and a man may interject his point of view at any time he will never apologize for such. Yet, typically if you speak up in a meeting, you may apologize if a person looked like they were about to speak and you cut them off briefly. Or if they spoke at the same time you were about to say something then you may apologize. Why is that? What you need to say may be equally important, yet we as women learn it is rude to speak when someone else is speaking, so we apologize.
I think the biggest thing I’ve ever apologized for and watered down was my ambition. Being a woman and being overly ambitious seems to be looked down upon. Isn’t it possible to be an effective and amazing employee and your home life as a mother not suffer? Why shouldn’t we be able to aspire to do it all without apologizing that our goals and standards are high. We have apologized for shooting too high, aiming low, or kinda sorta stay in the middle. However, there should be no sorries given for high ambition. Sorry, I’m not sorry.
Is there a such thing as being overly ambitious? Can a person, more specifically a woman, be too ambitious? And if we are, is that wrong? Do we get labeled differently if we shoot for the stars, moon, and the sun? Are we just to shrink back because the world tells us we should? Sorry, I am not sorry that I love to learn and do as much as I can. My time on this earth is short, why not leave a legacy that will be told through the ages? I am sorry, I am not sorry that I have a goal to do such an ambitious task.
I do not want to be rude with my lack of apologies, but I will rather properly utilize the word sorry. We all should properly utilize the word sorry. The definition of sorry means that one is sympathetic of misfortune or in a pitiful state. Most times as women when we say sorry, we are doing it in a way to seek permission to do something. I know I have done this numerous times at work. I will walk up to a group of men clogging the hall and say sorry as I break up their impromptu hallway meeting. What do I need to be sorry for? Me walking through was not rude to them, yet it is so natural to apologize as if my presence created an issue. Well you know what, sorry, I am not sorry anymore.
We are not suppose to sit back and never give our input. It is not a terrible thing if we use our voice and speak up. There is nothing wrong with asking questions or providing answers. There is room enough in this world for women to lead and shine without apologizing for it. Absolutely nothing is wrong with speaking up, being ambitious, learning or asking questions. If you say sorry to seek approval or ask permission, then break that habit. Use the word sorry in appropriate settings. If you spill someone’s drink by accident, say you are sorry once and offer them a new one. That would be an appropriate usage of the word “sorry”. One must question the person, male or female, that is threatened by a lady’s presence. That lady should not have to apologize for being where she is intended to be. That would be an example of the wrong thing to be sorry about.
Apologizing when it is not necessary actually hurts our self esteem. In some way or another we feel we are not good enough, our voice does not matter, and that should warrant an apology. This should not be the case. Our voice does matter, our confidence rises when we do not apologize for something we did not do wrong. The more we speak up actually, the stronger our confidence becomes.
So what can you say, “sorry, I am not sorry” about now? Have you been apologizing because you received a promotion instead of celebrating it? Or perhaps you take care of your children and you did not clean the house so you have been unreasonably hard on yourself? Did you shrink back when you know you should have spoken up? Well today is the day and there is no moment better than now to stop apologizing for things you did not do wrong. Do not apologize for being a human, and most of all do not apologize because you are a woman. That Pantene commercial made a great point, there is no need to say sorry if you did no wrong.
Stand with me in no longer being sorry.
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Hello everyone! My name is Shanicia Boswell, owner & founder of Yeyo’s Organic Body Products. I lost my job back in 2013 and became a full time stay at home mom. Even though I loved being home with my daughter, a part of me felt defeated because of my job loss. As someone who has worked her entire life, I had started to identify with my employment status. I’ve been making organic body butters and soaps for my daughter’s eczema since she was born. One day a friend asked why didn’t I go into business for myself and the rest is history! We are a new company and not only do we pride ourselves in providing organic skincare, we also work to raise money for different charities. Find out more about our products and our mission by following us @yeyosorganics and checking out our website: www.yeyosorganics.com. Thank you!
Connect w/ Shanice:
Yeyo@yeyosorganics.com
Social media:
Instagram
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
My name is Brandi from thikandkurly.com. My brand is all about natural hair, healthy living, lifestyle motivation and women’s empowerment. Follow my journey at www.youtube.com/thikandkurly. Be sure to check me out on all social networks @thikandkurly.
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Katie-Marie, Baltimore native is the owner of Over Accessorized, a non-profit organization that supports other non-profit organizations with creative fundraising ideas and marketing tactics. Katie-Marie defines Over Accessorized as “The accessory in which you carry, an illness, a burden a disease. It’s dressed up because we carry it with us; it’s a part of our testimony which was created to destroy us.” But what was created to destroy you, will never define you.
Overaccessorized Girls Night Out is the LARGEST GNO in Baltimore
Under Over Accessorized Katie-Marie has created the largest shopping day party in Baltimore, MD. She “ghost” markets and writes for over 10 social media pages, counsels small businesses on creative marketing and is an active volunteer in her community. This year she co-created Kickball for a Kick A** Cause, a small group in Baltimore which has made it their goal to supply children with school uniforms, feed the homeless and aid those in need.
“I could talk about all of the things in life I have accomplished, but it doesn’t make me feel accomplished. I will feel accomplished when I have poured all of my gifts into the world and die empty, giving back all that God has given me; that is when I will feel accomplished.”
Katie-Marie is led by the vision God has given her with complete conviction.
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Connect w/ Katie Marie
Instagram: @karriedaway & overaccessorized_gno
www.overaccessorized.org
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