By Carole Copeland Thomas
Every school year provides a fresh start for EVERY student. In essence, every student starts with an A. Carole explains why embracing education and the start of a new school year is the gift to EVERY student each year. The trick is to maximize the school year so that the A can be preserved through the end of the year. Your comments are welcome below.
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By Michelle Porchia I initially developed Innergize Day to help women put themselves first, take time for themselves and to live their passion. Nowadays everyone is so busy going and doing instead of being that everyone needs innergizing. Below are four steps on how you can innergize. It is scheduled for the day after Autumn begins every year because that is when the earth goes to rest. Step One: Give Yourself Permission Give yourself permission to put yourself first and NOT feel guilty. When you take care of yourself, you are better able to take care of others. When you rest, relax, renew,rejuvenate, you have the energy and clarity to do what you want to do. Step Two: Take Your Breaks There is a tendency to skip lunch and breaks while we work--or we eat while we work. It is important to take periodic breaks to rest your body and mind. When you rest your mind, you are more productive and creative. It is also important to eat properly (this does not mean eating at your desk and working through lunch). Step Three: Entrepreneurs: You Are Your Business Investing in taking care of your body is investing in the foundation of your business. If you are not able to work, your business will suffer. It is crucial to make health and happiness a priority while developing your business. If you work 24/7, you will burn out. You need to schedule time for you in the same way you do for your clients. (Are you getting the theme here?) Step Four: Celebrate As Kool and the Gang sang, "Celebrate good times, come on!" You need to celebrate yourself. Celebrate life. Celebrate the little things as well as the big things. You don't have to celebrate elaborately. You can do simple things like treat yourself to flowers, a new book (and allowing yourself to read it), going to bed early, watching a movie in bed, etc. For more information on innergizing or to schedule time with Michelle to help you to innergize, click here to visit Michelle's website. By Debra W. Gould, MS (Left) Debra with Pastor Fred Luter, Jr. (Right) Debra with Minister of Music Ellis Lindsey (Left) Debra with Church Administrator Larry Johnson (Right) Joe Gould, Jr. with Minister of Music Ellis Lindsay Ebony Speaker Debra Gould enjoyed serving as the lead facilitator during a recent staff retreat at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Here are Debra's reflections:
Just sharing this great news that Pastor Fred Luter, Jr. contacted Debra W.Gould a member of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church to conduct two training sessions for the 2013 Church Retreat on Friday, September 13, 2013. It was an honor and privilege to serve and present for my church members at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. I'm still blown away to receive a personal phone call from Pastor Luter to make this request. Talk about a WOW moment to have the Southern Baptist Convention's first African American President and Pastor of your own church with approximately 5000 members to make a request of Debra Gould availability on September 13, 2013. GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!!! About Rev. Fred Luter, Jr. Senior Pastor Fred Luter, Jr. was elected the Southern Baptist Convention's first African American Vice President in 2011. He made history again when he became SBC's first ever African American President at the annual meeting held in his hometown of New Orleans on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. In 2013, Pastor Luter was re-elected at the annual meeting in Houston, Texas. ============= Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: [email protected] and website: www:gouldassoc.com Your comments are welcome below. By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC Positioning yourself for success is necessary in a competitive world where change is the only constant. Being in position is about being open to the importance of reinventing and retooling your skills to improve your marketability in your career and business. It is about knowing what your strengths are and how to leverage them in helping you achieve success. What position are preparing for as you move forward? What do you need to do to make sure you are ready for the position you desire? Consider the following strategies for positioning yourself for success. 1. Plan for success. This requires sitting down and deciding what you want to achieve in your career and business. It is about setting specific goals with milestones along the way to make sure you are on track to have the success you desire. It is about speaking words that are creating the success you desire. It requires doing a data dump of old scripts and information from your past and downloading new software in your mind that is filled with unlimited possibilities that are available to you with your new plan of action. 2. Create a circle of eagle thinkers. Positioning yourself for success requires evaluating your inner circle of people you spend time with. It is important to create a group of eagle thinkers that might also be called your mastermind group. These are individuals who will challenge you, encourage you, and inspire and ignite you to tap into your hidden potential. These are individuals who are positive thinkers and possibility thinkers who recognize and celebrate the greatness inside of you. 3. Learn the art of connecting in building relationships. More than ever before, business and career opportunities happen because of relationships. It is vital that you become a savvy networker that knows the art of connecting and cultivating meaningful relationships. When meeting people at events spend time learning about them and what they do and establish a connection so there will be dialogue beyond that conversation. As you make the connection and follow up, that contact over time can lead to a contract. Take your time and find ways to add value as you nurture the relationship and watch it grow. 4. Ask for help. You don't have to do everything yourself. So many times we feel as women, we can do it all. We have the superwoman complex. If that is you, stop and exhale and do something special just for you this month. You don't have to be all things to all people all the time. Balance things out and get your family and friends involved to help you out. Learn the art of how to say NO graciously and be willing to ask for help. It is amazing when we learn to do this, the load we carry becomes lighter and our stress level decreases. It gives us the freedom and momentum to soar. 5. Have a strong spiritual foundation to keep you anchored. It is essential to have a strong spiritual foundation to navigate through the constant and rapid change in our lives, careers, and businesses. You must know with all certainty that God is your source, strength and shield and that as you walk with Him all things are possible. Stay anchored in your faith walk, stay true to your purpose, and position yourself to be ready for the great things God has in store for you. A strong spiritual foundation equips and empowers you to win! Nancy J. Lewis is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her organization is "Developing a Better You!" Nancy is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Nancy can be reached at: (404) 559-7614, email: [email protected] and website: www.progressivetechniquesinc.com. Your Comments Are Welcome Below. You’re Never Too Old When You Never Give Up
Reflections On A Visionary Swimmer Who Took Charge Of Her Life by Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP I am now embracing a new decade and enjoying each new day. Turning 60 on August 21st gave me new reasons to live, new reasons to learn and new reasons to share the wonders of life with people around the world. And in that spirit I now tip my hat to a new “shero,” Diana Nyad, for accomplishing her lifelong dream and the ripe young age of 64. Yesterday she completed her 110 mile swim from Marina Hemingway in Cuba to Key West, Florida and set a new record. No shark cage, no expanded rest periods and no respite from the pain of that arduous task. Four previous failed attempts. A total of 53 hours in the shark infested, jelly fish ocean using 200,000 strokes to reach her goal. Despite the advice of some to give in and quit, she ignored her naysayers and pushed forward. No beauty queen with a size zero body. This muscular battle tested woman gave each one of us new hope to press forward despite our age, circumstance or marital status. Indeed 60 is the new 40. “All of us suffer heartache. All of us suffer difficulties in our lives. And if you say to yourself ‘find a way,’ you’ll make it through.” And making it through is exactly what Nyad did yesterday some 35 years after attempting the impossible in the Florida Straits. This New Blog Will Find A Way... Each week this blog posting will give you the strength and courage to press forward on your job, in your personal life, with your family and in your community. As Ebony Speakers we want to celebrate your victories and share in the painful impact of your challenges and difficulties. We’ve all been there! As Debra Gould tells us all the time, “Positive Persistence Beats Resistance Every Time.” And my other Ebony Speakers, Nancy Lewis and Michelle Porchia will also bring you new ways to beat back the trials and tribulations that come your way while celebrating new possibilities in your life. As a 60 year old diversity professional and speaker, I am excited about this new blog and the insights and commentaries that we’ll share each week. We’ll rotate, and each week you’ll read the thoughts, actions, tips and techniques from either Debra, Michelle, Nancy or me. And we encourage you to give us feedback and suggestions by using the comment box below. As Ebony Speakers we want to empower and inspire you each and every week and eagerly await your replies. Complete The Survey I have also just created a new diversity survey and encourage you to complete this FREE 8 minute survey. It’s confidential and anonymous and your name will NEVER be revealed. Here’s the link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N6QYJXR From time to time we’ll feature other surveys and opinion polls for you to complete as we explore the countless ways to enhance the services we offer to people throughout the global marketplace. Diana Nyad defied the odds, wouldn’t take NO for an answer and pressed forward through unbelievable difficulties until her goal was reached. In our own unique styles, we Ebony Speakers will share our spirits and insights in our weekly blog postings. Regardless of your station in life, your age, your challenges or your ethnicity, we invite you to join us on a brand new journey of hope, encouragement and possibilities along the path of a bright and exciting new future. Welcome aboard!! -Carole Copeland Thomas Your comments are welcome below. |
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