habits - Blogs - Black Business Women Online

Broken In Plain Sight nominated for The Henri

Posted by Bridgette L. Collins on September 9, 2012 at 4:53pm

Everywhere you go these days, the mental health of our community seems to be a primary subject and concern. We have finally come to grips with the fact that not all of our problems are financial and social. Some of our problems are borne of unspoken misery and unresolved pain.

That’s why I published a book earlier this year filled with healthy living tips for the mind, body and soul. “Broken In Plain Sight” provides a perfectly crafted fictional, highly imaginative platform that proves that love is the common denominator to vibrancy and healing. The novel-like feel works to illustrate the underlying reasons for unhealthy lifestyle habits and offers practical and innovative solutions for living healthier. In its fictional, diet-guide like format, the book exposes the struggles, secrets, and corruption within an African American family and their journey to find love, truth, and healing.

Now, six months later, my new book, “Broken In Plain Sight”, has been nominated to receive The Henri at The 2012 Christian Literary Awards in November 2012. See for yourself why it was nominated and purchase your copy today. In order to take home this prestigious award, I need your vote! If you liked my book, I would greatly appreciate if you would take a minute and vote for it.

Just visit http://www.awards.joyandcompany.org/about. You’ll need to create an account, then after receiving your password, you’ll need to “Login” and follow the prompts which include clicking “2012 AWARDS” and selecting READER'S CHOICE to CAST YOUR VOTE for “Broken In Plain Sight” in the Fiction Category. Voting will close on September 30^th. Please tell your family and friends to vote!!!

Broken in Plain Sight is engaging, entertaining and enlightening. It’s available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well as Kindle and Nook. Too many of us are broken in plain sight and don’t have to be!

Thank you in advance your support and vote!!!

Bridgette

Do You Feel It's Time For A Change?

Posted by Trina Newby on June 18, 2011 at 5:00am

"The Right Kind of Change Can Transform Your Life and Your Business!"
- Trina Newby, Business Success Coach

With June marking the half way point before year-end, I'm focusing on the goals I set for myself and business. Some of my goals I am on point with and some I have allowed myself to be distracted and have not been so focused. Below are 5 things that I did to get myself re-focused, so I can accomplish my goals:

Admitted that it was time for a CHANGE! Yes, that's right I had to quickly face the facts that I what I was doing was not working and that I had to evaluate the changes needed to get better results and meet the goal.
Started eliminating habits that prevent me from reaching my goal. One habit that I discovered was that I was staying on the internet too long when social networking and checking email. To remedy this habit, I created a system to check my email and social network and made a commitment to stick with it. Guess what? It's working! (Y-E-A-H)
Drawing alliances and creating new partnerships! I know for sure that in order for me to reach my goals and be successful that I can not do it alone! I must be willing to bless others and develop relationships with others who compliment what I do and vice-versa.
I evaluate my time schedule morning, noon and night to ensure that I am in alignment with my goals and on schedule with tasks.
I completed a cash flow analysis to determine how I was going to meet my financial goals before the end of this year.

A Special Note for You:

If you're feeling like it's time for a CHANGE, please connect with me. Let's discuss and let me share with you what's working for me and how you can get more things accomplished in your business as well!

Schedule a FREE PowerTalk Coaching Session with me Today!

Click here to Schedule Now!

About the Blogger:

Trina Newby is a business success coach, host of Successful Woman Radio Show and founder of Women About Biz. She is passionate about helping women to realize their full power and potential to have and live an abundant and joyful life.

The Top 5 Book Picks for Business Owners

Posted by Tamara Garrison-Thomas on March 24, 2011 at 12:49am

I've been talking about this list in the last few blogs and it's finally here! These are my top 5 book picks to help you successfully build your business. Now, let's be honest. There are so many books about business practices out there, it's impossible to read them all. But in my opinion, if you read these books, you'll at least have a great start. The following reviews are their official reviews from Amazon.com.1.Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert KyosakiThis is a must read for everyone! It chronicles Robert Kyosaki's two dads. His real dad who was the superintendent of education and his friends dad who was one of the wealthiest people in Hawaii and their opinions on financial strategies. This book offers sound advice on how to achieve financial success, get rich and stay rich.2.The Big Moo: Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable by Seth GodinThis book is from the author that also brought you "Purple Cow: Trasform Your Business by Being Remarkable", that shares how to stand out from others. In 'The Big Moo" Godin brings together 33 of the world's best business minds to answer one question: What does it really take to make your organization remarkable? The stories included in this book from the different business owners share real-life examples of building businesses. This book is an easy and fast read.3.How Remarkable Women Lead: The Breakthrough Model for Work and Life by Joanna Barsh and Susie CranstonThis great book discusses what drives successful women business owners. Including stories from the CEO's of Avon and Xerox (just to name a few). This book focuses on the ideas of Centered Leadership: meaning, framing, connecting, engaging, and energizing. A great read for women or MEN.4.Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. MaxwellIn this book, John C. Maxwell "does it again", discussing how the clear difference between successful and unsuccessful people is their ability to recover from failures. This book goes through reasons people fail and how they can bounce back from them successfully. Mr. Maxwell includes the life stories of people like Mary Kay Ash, Greg Horn, Beck Weathers and many more. This book is an excellent source for learning to get over failures and move on to success.5.7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen CoveyThis book first came out in 1990 and it was a success then. Stephen Covey discusses strategies for becoming effective in your personal life and in business. The first thing that needs to happen, however, is a "paradigm shift". Covey discusses this shift as a change in ones perception of the world. Once this takes place, you are ready to form the habits to be more effective. This is definitely not a quick and easy read. You should study this book throughly and take notes to master these habits. It may change your life!Well there you have it! My 5 book picks. As I said earlier, these books would be a great start. However, you don't want to stop here. Jack Canfield (life coach, author of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul') said it best, "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." A smart business owner can learn a lot from reading just a few books a year. Well, the RIGHT books. Reading the right books can help you avoid making that one little mistake that can cause so many businesses to fail. As we were taught in school, reading increases your knowledge and intelligence. So, READ!Tamara Garrison-Thomashttp://www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com/

Top 7 Steps To Create or Break a Habit

Posted by Charlotte Howard on May 12, 2010 at 2:40am

We all have habits, some good and some not so good. These are behaviors that we've learned and that occur almost automatically. And most of us have a habit we'd like to break, or one we'd like to develop.

For most people, it takes about four weeks for a new behavior to become routine, or habit. The following steps can make it easier to establish a new behavior pattern.

1. The first step is to set your goal. Especially when you are trying to stop or break a habit, you should try to phrase your goal as a positive statement. For example, instead of saying "I will quit snacking at night", say "I will practice healthy eating habits". You should also write down your goal. Commiting it to paper helps you to commit. It can also help if you tell your goal to someone you trust.

2. Decide on a replacement behavior. (If your goal is to develop a new habit then your replacement behavior will be the goal itself.) This step is very important when you are trying to break a habit. If you want to stop a behavior, you must have a superior behavior to put in it's place. If you don't, the old behavior pattern will return.

3. Learn and be aware of your triggers. Behavior patterns don't exist independently. Often, one habit is associated with another part of your regular routine. For instance, in the snacking example the trigger may be late night television or reading. You automatically grab a bag of chips while you watch. Many people who smoke automatically light up after eating. Think about when and why you do the thing you want to quit.

4. Post reminders to yourself. You can do this by leaving yourself notes in the places where the behavior usually occurs. Or you can leave yourself a message on the mirror, refrigerator, computer monitor or some other place where you will see it regularly. You can also have a family member or co-worker use a particular phrase to remind you of your goal.

5. Get help and support from someone. This is kind of obvious. Any job is easier with help. It works even better if you can form a partnership with someone who shares the same goal.

6. Write daily affirmations. Write your phrase or sentence in the present tense (as if it were already happening), and write it ten times a day for twenty-one days. This process helps make your goal a part of your subconscious, which will not only remind you to practice the new behavior, but it also keeps you focused and motivated.

7. Reward yourself for making progress at set time intervals. Focus on your goal one day at a time, but give yourself a small treat at one, three and six months. The rewards don't have to be big or expensive, and you should try to make it something that's associated in some way with the goal. Doing this provides you with both incentive and extra motivation.

Following these steps is no guarantee of success of course. Depending on the habit it may take several tries to finally make the change. But if you stick with it, you can do it. Good Luck.

Take Time to Empower yourself with positivity and Joy! Part 4 (A word of encouragement)

Posted by Tamishia Clayborn on April 29, 2010 at 7:57pm

Ok so by now if you have been following along with my series of blogs on this your week should be complete. But it doesn't just stop at the one week challenge. In my research of how good or bad habits are created I have found that the general census is that it takes at least 30-45 days for something to become habit forming in that it is habitual, something you do on a daily basis. With that said, I believe that habitually focusing on your goals and actions toward accomplishing your goals will in essence cause your dreams and goals to manifest into reality. Especially if you have cleansed yourself of all non-essential habits, hinderances, and distractions.

So the list you created and focused on for a week, continue on through your journey of establishing your thoughts toward developing your goals into reality. So part of your process will be to create a list of short term and long term goals that you intend to accomplish by a certain date. It's important that you place an end date on when you expect these things to happen because it will help you to focus and get rid of things that cause you to procrastinate. Also it will allow you to see if your end date is reasonable, in that if you have been working on a specific goal and it is not completed by the targeted end date then you may need to revamp your goal and actions toward making it happen to see what you can improve to speed up the process, or if it's something that will need additional time.

The main point here is this, don't give up. Keep pushing toward making your vision come to pass. Also, remember an attitude of Gratitude will expedite the process of your visions, dreams, and goals, becoming a reality.

Be Blessed in all you do!

~Tamishia Clayborn~

A New Year… A New Decade… A New Strategy… A New You!

Posted by Bridgette L. Collins on January 3, 2010 at 10:20pm

If you’re like most people, each year, you lay out your strategic plan for living healthier. Once the year starts, the plan starts to change. Despite the best intentions, you can't always anticipate how life’s challenges, demands, obligations and relationships will change what you’ve outlined for implementing healthier lifestyle habits. So, what’s the solution for staying on track in 2010? You have to lay out a general plan but also have a targeted lifestyle infrastructure in place. That’s what you’ll need to make sure you’re able to adapt as internal and external priorities and initiatives change.For those times when you become overwhelmed and frustrated with thoughts, feelings and activities that revolve around a busy schedule, a stressful job, a contract that ended unexpectedly or didn’t materialize, a ministry that is stalled, the rumors of job layoffs, an unfulfilled relationship, a pending divorce, the memories of an unresolved past, a medical condition, and/or a mountain of bills to contend with–you must have a strategic plan in place that addresses them without impacting your follow-through. If you don’t, the idea of eating healthier and exercising will inevitably and continuously be placed on the back burner. There will never be enough time in the day to exercise or prepare a home cooked meal, get a sufficient amount of sleep, drink the appropriate levels of water, or get that much needed annual physical examination.Now is the time for you to sit down at your kitchen table and focus your attention on how you’re going to maintain consistency with living healthier in 2010. The road to a healthier you begins with the following four tasks: (1) conducting a self-examination of those things that challenged you in 2009, (2) developing a strategic plan for how you’re going to align living healthier with new pursuits and challenges, (3) implementing your strategic plan that outlines specific goals, and (4) routinely conducting a self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement. You must proactively leverage your living healthier initiatives to protect your strategic plan from the threats presented by life’s uncertainties and distractions.One of the most important transactions you’ll make in 2010 will be to develop, and implement your strategic plan, and to evaluate it routinely to ensure you remain focused on achieving your healthy living goals all year long.This health and fitness message is provided for your consideration only. It is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about your specific health and fitness needs.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.