Live to Work Your Passion...Not Your J-O-B....

I have noticed that within my generation, more people want to own a business than work for one.  Long gone are the days, for many, where punching a clock and living to work for someone else's dream suffice.  Even the economic turmoil that has occurred in recent years doesn't scare the mind of an entreprenuer. So what do you do when you feel stuck in your job and unable to transition to your own dream?  You plan; Plain and simple.  

First off, know what you really want to do.  This may seem like something that is so obvious, but when asked, you may find yourself stumped.  It's even happened to me when someone asked me what I wanted to do, I paused.  On the inside, I knew exactly what I wanted, however, I hadn't really ever verbalized it, so it appeared that I may not know.  Tip: You never know when the person you run into holds the keys to an opportunity that will catapult you into another professional dimension.  Make it your business to know what you want and to be able to sell it in 30 seconds or less.  This type of elevator speech is a great, compact, and direct way to promote yourself and your business.  

Another great way to get yourself out there is to create marketing tools.  This can range from the general business card and website to an ad in the newspaper and most certainly social networking!  Making yourself known and slowly building your business and clientele while you're at work, will give your more of a ground to stand on when your time is up.  You'll not only be more secure, but will also have more contacts through your networking that will be able to add value to your transition time.  

Yes, you may be at work during the day, but the work you do at night will count the most.  Ladies and gentlemen, the name of the game is sacrifice.  You can't give your all during the day for someone else's dream, but neglect your own.  Your personal evening time now belongs to your dream.  Even if you have a family and a spouse, make it your business to accomplish at least one to two tasks.  By doing this, something will shift.  Your energy and thoughts will be in the direction that respects your goals and deems them just as, if not, more important than your traditional work duties.  It may be difficult at the beginning,  but after a while, it will become a way of life.  

Lastly, put it in the atmosphere.   For so long, people have been saying to write things down.  Say it from your mouth.  Believe them in your mind.  When you do these things and couple them with hard, consistent, and productive efforts, it will just be a matter of time until your're creating jobs rather than working one.  You will not work to live, but will live to work your passion.  

The risk of leaving the hum-drum consistency of your job may be scary, but when executed with all the above, you can't lose.  What you decide today, will show it's face in where you are 10 years from now.  What reflection do you want looking back at you?  Where do you want to be?  Get Ready to work for your dreams.  

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

Being Fearlessly Fit (Article previously written for Fearless Magazine)

The new year always offers the perfect time and incentive to get in shape.  Exercise is not only important to looking good for the upcoming flirty months, but also important to remaining healthy throughout the year.  Try these fun and fast workouts ideas to keep yourself at your sexiest winter's best!

• Beach Run- the beach provides the perfect backdrop to get you up and going!  The fresh air alone is invigorating and the sun provides that extra ounce of beauty to get you energized.  Start with a brisk walk and work your way into a light jog.  For those who are more physically advanced, you can go ahead and start off with a well-paced run.  Whichever you choose to do, the sand will offer a great resistance to your workout and make your workout more effective.
• Cardioke- for those of you who love to dance and sing, or do something a little different, this is the workout for you!  Incorporating  great music, the freedom to belt out your favorite songs, and heart racing aerobic moves, helps you workout and have a good time!  Before you know it, you’ve burned tons of calories!
• Everything you ever want- many may not know, but your cable network offers a channel(s) that give you an endless variety of workouts.  Gone are the days when at-home workouts provided low-intensity workouts; usher in the days when the workouts are just as intense, if not more than your trip to the gym.  From yoga and pilates to cardio and intense weight training, you’ll find everything imaginable to keep you motivated!

Until next time....keep the forward movement....

New Year, New HEALTHY You!

It’s a new year and what does that mean for many across the globe? Resolutions! And what resolution is the most popular EVERY year? Weight loss! For some reason, every year, people rev themselves up to believe the first of the year brings discipline and drastic change. Newsflash: it doesn’t! If you pay close attention, you will notice midday through January 1st, you are doing, saying, and acting the very same way you did the day before. Even if you try to do things differently, you’ll notice that subconsciously you are thinking and saying the same things. Why; Because your daily habits create who you are. There is no overnight change. When you realize this, you will take the necessary actions to have a life long change instead of a temporary one. Got it? Good! With that in mind, let’s get to some awesome ways to kick-start the healthier, sexier you!


Personal Trainer- this is one of the best ways to not only work out, but to also increase your exercise knowledge. Whether you need a swift, (but caring) kick in the butt or want to try something new, a personal trainer is the way to go. They will support you when you need it, push you when you want to give up, and explain the benefits of the things you are doing. The best part of this? When you’re all said and done with your trainer, you will have the knowledge to continue to positively moving forward to progress in and sustain your fitness goals!

Home Sweet Home- for a variation of reasons, you may prefer to work out at home. Initially, when we think of home exercises, we drift to the old school Suzanne Somers “thigh-master” workouts that left you dewy fresh. Well, jump in the new millennium my friends! Home workouts are not what they used to be! Nowadays, home workouts, (if done correctly), are just as intense as a workout done with a trainer and/or at the gym.  For instance, take the Les Mills Pump Workout Program by Beach Body;  this incredible workout program is the fastest way to get in shape!  The barbell-based strength training program promotes rapid weight loss  and can burn up to 1, 000 calories per workout to get you lean, strong, and scultped!   Wow!  How's that for a home workout?!  You'll be 1,000 calories lighter, without leaving the house!

Trick or Treat- Yes, this phrase is synonomous for halloween, but we can use it with our daily eating habits!  Let's be real: candy, cookies, brownies, chips, soda, etc. all taste delicious...BUT those are some of the worst things you can put into your body.  Now, all things in moderation, so you can have that every now and then, but for the most part, don't even look in their direction!  Healthy food has come a long way in the past decade.  No longer are the healthier options not as enjoyable or enticing.  Gone are the days of disgusting after-tastes and pinching your nose to gulp it down!  Usher in the days of enjoying the options just as much and even moreso, knowing it's good for you!  These foods/snacks offer an awesome way for you to trick your taste buds into believing you're having a "bad" treat instead of a "good" one.  You can exercise all you want, but you can never beat good nutrition!  Practicing healthy eating habits, can help with not only weight loss but with other diseases associated with poor eating habits.  Add to that the extra self-esteem boost, and you'll not only notice a change in your body, but also in your mind and spirit. 

This year, resolve to not only get in shape for the upcoming  summer, but resolve to create long-lasting, life-changing way of life.   If you committ to that this year, it won't be on the resolution list next year.

Until next time...keep the forward movement...