What’s bigger, your dreams or your excuses?
November 2, 2011
What if I told you there was an out to all of your financial situations? Would you listen? The vast majority votes no. How come?
It’s ironic how easy it is for everyone to complain about money, but when a opportunity is presented to them to be able to create their own paycheck, legally I might add, they are quick to splurt out excuses on what’s stopping them. You would think everyone would be against settling for medocrity, right? If this were true we’d all be financially taken care of.
Like a lot of you, I work in a corperate environment. I absolutely love what I do however at the end of the week I’m faced with the same paycheck. What do I mean by “same”? I could give 110% every day (which I do) when I walk through the door, or I could give it 90% or less and get paid the same hourly figure. Now the only motivation for someone to work as hard as they do in a case like mine is to keep their job. I know in my heart of hearts that I wouldn’t beable to survive financially the way I dream to with the salary that I make each year, even if I was givin a $5 per hour raise. Think about it, how many retail specialists, managers, etc are driving the car of their dreams and still have enough to fill the tank? Very little. It’s not cruel, it’s reality.
I own and run my own company charging competitive fees for the work that I do outside my corperate life. I’ve been burnt out for quite some time now, however keep chugging along because of the income I produce on a daily basis is what I need to survive. There is only a limited amount of hours I could work with my busy schedule so I have the option to hire marketing professionals like myself to take on more work, but then I’m faced with having to manage them and delegate more work. No thank you. I want to do things that I love to do, on my time, because I want to — not because I have to.
I’m a full time mom. Anyone who has kids knows how expensive and time consuming these little suckers are. School expenses, toys, medical bills, clothing, and food! Oh my gosh do they eat! I swear, I could make an entire Thanksgiving feast and she will gobble it down and offer to clear my plate as well, then beg for dessert, then after dessert she’ll want a snack, so on and so fourth. Ever read the book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”? Very similar, only instead of a crayon and tape — it’s more food. I don’t get paid child support which only means I have to souly depend on my income alone to provide for my bottomless pit of a daughter and other expenses as well.
There is nothing worse then being stressed over finances, and why should I? Why should you? Why not put in the time and get rewarded for what your worth? Most have the mentality ‘When you pay me more, then I’ll do more.’ No, no my friend. Corperate world says you’ll work harder and then I’ll pay you, which is how it should be don’t you think? But why settle for 9, 15, or 20 dollars an hour? What’s stopping you from asking your employeer to pay you your normal rate and then throw in an additional $600 to put towards a new BMW every month? Scared? Something to take into consideration is to them, you’re just a number. You are easily replaceable, no matter how good you are. Do you think they are concerned with your well being? Of course not. Keep in mind, you are replaceable.
Lowes, one of my favorite depot stores unfortunately is closing down due to a lack of business. How many employees do you think will be out of thier jobs this month? How hard do you think they worked while they were employeed there? Do you think everyone was rewarded with a severance package or another oppportunity set up by them? I’m thinking probably not. So what’s their backup plan? Think about this for a second.
What’s your back up plan if this happens to you?
I might not have all the answers to everyones challenges, but I do have an opporunity that could change everyones lives for the better. How serious are you about turning your situation around and taking matters into your own hands, like I have, without leaving your current job or changing what you love?
What’s bigger, your dreams or your excuses?
Email Sica@VAsolutionsNOW.com if you’re ready to change your world and acheive your dreams 
Love and Success,
Sica
10 Important Rules To Live By
November 17, 2010
1. There is always a reason to smile, find it. If you are having a bad day, laugh at it! We all have them, but many of us let what happens eat us up inside. Life is too short to let the little things get in the way. It’s much easier to overcome hurdles with a positive attitude. Like Dr. Seuss said “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.
2. Life begins every day you wake up. Anything that happened in the past let it go and move forward. Today is a new day; it is what you make out of it. Is the glass half empty or is it half full? Always be moving forward-Don’t waste your moments wishing your past was different, just appreciate the hand you were dealt and know that only you can determine what’s in your future. Hold no regrets or grudges! If it wasn’t for yesterday, you wouldn’t be who you are today!
3. Pick and choose your battles. If it doesn’t hold any significance or matter a great deal to you, walk away. There are far more important things to manage your valuable time with! Look and walk through another door that is open and see what is in store for you!
4. Never take anyone or anything for granted; always give credit where credit is due. Make sure you acknowledge even the littlest of things. I can assure you, if you can appreciate the tiny things others do – you will enjoy the greater things that will come out of it. Just share a smile and say thanks for being you!
5. Talk the talk, and always walk the walk. Never make a threat, suggestion, or a plan that you have no intentions of carrying onward. Your word is the only thing you have and if you go back on it, it’s more then likely people will begin to not take you seriously. Word your statements carefully and be sure to leave yourself an out in the event push comes to shove. Practice what you preach!
6. Never EVER Give up! Just because something isn’t working your way doesn’t mean that it will never work. Try tackling your challenge with a new approach and remain focused on your goal. If someone(s) have already completed this task and are successful, model them. It is OK to be a copy-cat as long as you are following the right cat!
7. Step out of your comfort zone. Undertake new adventures every day, even those you might be uncomfortable with. You only live once, make it memorable. Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking the walk!
8. Take things one day at a time. Understand that there are some tribulations that just cannot be solved in a 24-hour period. Take time to properly analyze and start taking baby steps to solving your challenge. Do not react immediately, (no knee jerk reactions), take time to think before you speak. Words can never be taken back once they are said. Control what is in your control, and let go of what is not. There is a time for everything and for everything, it has it’s time!
9. Do your best or do nothing at all. There is no purpose for killing your time if you are going to half-ass it. Give it your all and I assure you will be more fulfilled with the result then if you were with little to no effort. Pick and choose!
10. Be yourself. Seems like a no brainer, but many people I have seen lose their identity trying to get the public’s eye. “Love me for who I am and not who you want me to be”. If you are looking to change yourself, make sure it’s for the right reasons and not for social acceptance.
*** Be innovative, be flexible, adaptable, and don’t constrain yourself so much. Don’t be afraid to branch out or be a little impulsive! *** ~~anonymous~~
How To: Take Charge of Your Life and Gain Self Esteem
November 3, 2010
Whether we like to notice it or not, how we feel about ourselves plays a huge role in our everyday lives. Let’s face it, the more superior we consider ourselves to be the easier it is to overcome every day challenges and objections. There is only one way to attack the negative aspects in our self-esteem, and the key is thru personal development. Once we are able to pinpoint our individual demons it will be easier to take on bigger and harder projects. Here are different techniques to get you on the path of defeating your inner criticism.
First things first, take a deep breath. Let’s start with learning how to face your fears. The simplest way to overcome your challenge is to grab the bull by the horns! Define your fear, what is it that you are deeply afraid of? Think of ways to move past it. For most this will be an uncomfortable task. If it were easy, not a single being would be afraid of anything. I’m sure looking back at how scary learning how to ride a bike might have been, or learning how to swim, even take your first steps didn’t seem easy, but for most of us, we have mastered all three! The only way to conquer our uncertainties is to figure out ways to defeat them, and that’s where we figure out how to step outside our comfort zone. Try to take on a new challenge every day. I assure you once you accomplish something that seems impossible to do, everything else will become trouble-free!
Secondly, start setting goals for yourself. There are two types of goals; long term and short-term goals. Start with writing all of your goals down that you are aiming to complete. Once your list has been finalized, take a look at what you wish to accomplish and put a date you would like to see yourself having them achieved by. Try setting short-term goals, from this point till 6 months from today. Then analyze your long-term goals, anything 6 months and over. Jot down the steps that you will have to take underneath each goal and what you will do to rebuttal any obstacles that might interfere with completing your goals by the set date you have chosen. There are
different ways to visualize your goals better to help you stay on track. Try doing a dream board online or offline, those tend to help many successful people, along with our families. Make goal setting fun!
Always know that if there comes a time that you have to postpone a goal date, that’s okay! As long as you’re on the right track and you are doing your best, there is no wrong in resetting your completion date.
Last but not least, make laughter a priority. If you make a mistake along your journey, look as if it were a blooper on a movie! Forgive imperfection and focus on the positive and celebrate your small victories and progression. Without mistakes no one could ever learn how to properly do something. There is no such thing as failure until you have completely given up without putting in everything you could have. Make sure to always reward yourself when you succeed before moving along to your next task. Accept compliments others give you for your accomplishments without any justification, and if you don’t get any compliments, then reward yourself with one. You deserve it for all of your hard efforts.
Understanding the Power of a Dream Board / Vision Board
October 20, 2010
A week or two ago I mentioned Vision Boards / Dream Boards in my post How To: Achieve Your Goals by Visualizing Them. Since then I have been questions about these motivational and visual tools and how they can potentially help them. For those who do not already know what a dream board / vision board is, here’s the skinny.
How to make a Dream Board / Vision Board and why they work.
It doesn’t matter who you are each of us have at least one thing in common; we each have our wants and dreams. The thing that separates most of us is some believe that anything is possible and achievable while the rest of us make excuses on why we can never grasp the things we wish to accomplish. Some of us are pessimistic while others are optimistic. Which one are you?
What are Vision / Dream Boards?
A piece of paper, cardboard, or poster board with several clippings of magazine or article pictures and words that describe or show what one desires most. It is believed that if you can put something on paper it is easier to focus on your goal rather than simply keeping it in memory. A dream board is a constant reminder on the things that you bust your rump for.
How can I make a Vision / Dream Board?
Not only can this be a creative and fun way to set your goals, but it can also give you something to imagine your rewards for dealing your stressful situations. Find something to paste your pictures, words, or quotes that mean something to you on. Then flip through magazines, brochures, anything that you can see yourself finding something that you would like in the future- cut it out. As you cut it out paste it on your board. Once your project is complete take a look at all of the things that you have posted and think of ways to seize them. Come up with figures if you would like. For example, something on my dream board is a treadmill. Let’s figure the treadmill that I want costs around $500. If I save $100 a week I could possess that in 5 weeks.
Wall-la! You can now make a dream board of your own. Stand back every day and look at your board visualizing how you can get all of those things! Once you have everything, make a new board! It’s that simple.
And if you don’t have the time to gather up the supplies you need to do your board, there are plenty of online building websites that will cater to hosting your dream board virtually.
How To: Achieve Your Goals by Visualizing Them
October 6, 2010
Dream boards, daily affirmations, personal development books, motivational messages, and milestones are several of ways of keeping you on track to achieving your goals. Personally I am a fan of all techniques to get myself motivated and indomitable every day, however sometimes it’s good to switch things up a little bit.
My client and I were masterminding on ways we can suggest to her clients how to stay focused on their wants and desires; we discussed hosting a dream board session since one that I’ve put together previously was a success, we talked about daily inspirational messages, and many other reasons. I briefly mentioned why vision boards are not always reliable and how there are not suitable for setting the shorter term goals.
When you post a picture frame on the wall do you look at it every day and analyze it? Be honest. The first few weeks after it’s been hung you notice it. But as time passes that frame begins to blend in with the wall collecting dust and before you know it you’ve forgotten it existed until someone points it out. Why would this be any different with a dream board? Not only this, but what happens when you travel? Are you going to pack your vision board with the rest of your belongings? No. Personally, I believe that dream boards are GREAT for long term goal setting because it doesn’t require your everyday attention. It’s a remarkable thing to have, especially when you have those “Why am I busing my hump so hard for” questioning days. It’s a great reminder to have and I highly suggest everyone to do it.
There needs to be something more specific, something you can bring with you if needed, something easy and doesn’t require much time and effort, yet is powerful enough to get you stimulated and on your feet.
What is there for the short term goals? I’ll tell you.
What’s the first thing you do after rising for the morning? Go to the bathroom, right? Well, what if you had a reminder of what you’re supposed to achieve that day instantly? Would you go back to sleep? Probably not if you were determined enough to achieving the goal that you’ve set. Remember, if your why doesn’t make you cry then it’s not good enough.
Whether it’s a motivational quote, a memo to yourself, or a reminder what I want you to do is every night before you go to sleep write it down. Not on a piece of paper, not in your notes section on your Blackberry.. I want you to write it on your mirror. Whatever mirror you look at first in the morning, for me it’s the bathroom, there’s where you’ll put it. If you are traveling carry a compact mirror and write it there. Every time you look in the mirror, starting from the first few minutes you wake up you will have that constant reminder.
Give it a try!
Flushing Out The Negativity: How to Stay Career Focused and Goal Oriented
September 29, 2010
Surpassing the ages of childhood you quickly begin to realize that life isn’t exactly all that easy to manage. Negativity can be a tricky mindset to get out of, however in order to survive whatever it is you may be going though it’s crucial you need to change your mind set. All the advice in the world can help you get out of your hole however in the end it’s up to you to decide your fate.
When you’re watching television and you get the emergency broadcast notification, you know the loud beeeepppp followed by the flickering of the multi-colored screen? I like to think of life’s hurdles as one of those beeps, “This is just a test.” Look at it this way, if life were easy what lessons would there be to learn? How would be gain strength, stability, and determination? Everyone would have things handed to them without having to earn things; there would be no purpose or reward- for anything.
The easiest way to recover depression and overcome negativity is to get out, I don’t mean run from your problems. I mean don’t confine yourself into a dark room and sulk all day. Get out into the world and socialize with the Positive Petes, go to a comedy club, go dance, laugh, do a hobby whether it’s bowling, painting, roller skating, etc. For me it’s going to an arcade and playing some video games. I’m not a person who generally likes video games but there’s something about the atmosphere that gets me smiling. Maybe it’s the laughter in the room, the bright colorful lights, or the combination of the two. Who knows? All that matters is I’m out of the house doing something rather than laying in bed crying about happiness, etc. Get out there and have fun, you deserve it.
Remember: things can always be worse, even if you have been diagnosed with cancer and you are laying on your death bed. It could always get worse. Fight your negative thoughts and think of all the things you have been blessed with. If you cannot think of a single thing, then my heart goes out to you.
Read a self improvement or motivational book. I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 favorites that help me get back on track when I’m feeling gloomy.
The quicker you learn to buckle down and deal with your challenges and fears head on the sooner you will be on the road to recovery. In the end I promise you, you will come out of your situation stronger, wiser, and standing taller. For every tunnel that you might encounter, remember there is a end to it. Keep your eye on the prize and never, ever give up.
In the words of Dori from Finding Nemo: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming”
Make sure to visit every Monday for a motivational quote or two to help keep your mind out of the darkness and into the light. No matter what the weather’s like outside we’re always kicking off the week with a sunny day!
10 Powerful Personal Development Books
September 15, 2010
“The books that help you the most are those which make you think the most.” ~Theodore Parker
If there’s one thing I love its reading. I love articles, magazines, and books of all kind. I might have quite the collection of silly and fun books in my library, but there’s nothing like a great personal development book to get me through a rough day. Here is a compiled list of my top 10 favorite personal development and motivational books to help get your mind on the right track and your success vehicle in gear.
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
- Linchpin by Seth Godin
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- Pulling Your Own Strings by Wayne Dyer
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- The Six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
- The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
- Imagine Being In a Life You Love by Kristin Andress
Monkey See Monkey Do: What Kind of Example Are You Setting?
August 25, 2010
Winning an argument with daughter is just about as difficult as teaching a new born algebra. A few weeks ago she was caught pointing at Tigger from Winnie the Pooh and shouting “Tigger is being stupid” and when she was confronted she argued that it was okay to say that word because SpongeBob Square Pants says it. She could have said far worse things but a 4 year old calling things stupid is unacceptable. Of course I never thought this was true because nine times out of ten my angel will pull reasons out of the sky to avoid any consequence. For example she feels that she cannot finish her dinner because someone else’s back is hurting, so hers is in too much pain to finish her veggies.
I’ll admit that the excuses are adorable, and quite hilarious but of course we as parents have to refrain ourselves from laughing at moments like this. It wasn’t until this morning when my daughter and I were watching tv with her that I actually heard SpongeBob say “Im stuuuupid” in a episode where Patrick Starfish’s parents were coming to visit him. At that very moment my daughter and I looked at one another in shock and our looks confirmed we both heard the very same thing. We knew exactly what was about to come out of my daughters mouth and not even two seconds.. “See Mommy, I told you he says it”. Try explaining why it’s okay for a children’s program to say something you don’t want the viewer to say.
What monkey sees is what monkey does. Are you displaying proper behavior around you peers? Think about it, if my 4 year old daughter is clever enough to pick up that “it’s okay to do _____, because so and so does it” anyone can. When you are with company, at work, or anywhere for that matter make sure you take a look at your actions before you are so quick to judge why other people are doing something. Perhaps they are picking up some bad habits from you. It’s easier to have the mentality “Don’t do as I do, do as I say” rather than step up to the plate and take responsibilities for your own actions.
The Power of Influence: You can do ANYTHING
August 18, 2010
Before I go into the reasoning behind this blog let me give you a little history about myself. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale for 19 years and moved up to NH because I felt that I wanted to become something bigger and being in my natural surroundings it would make it more difficult for me to take the necessary steps to changing the things I didn’t like about myself.
Now it’s been proven that you have the character traits of the 5 people you hang around the most, so if you’re friends are negative – you are more likely to become negative, if your friends are positive and successful- you are more likely to feed off their energy and take it to the top with them, so on and so forth.
I am so grateful to have the things that I’ve earned since my move to NH in November 04 and I honestly don’t think I would have achieved the things I did if I were to be back at “home”. Recently I visit some friends from 5 years ago and for one reason or another they are EXACTLY in the same place as they were when I left. Some of course have better jobs, but they are still very content with the things that they have and have no motivation to reach for things that are on their wish list for example: a house, a better car, a plasma tv, etc. While down there whenever my friends and I went shopping or out somewhere they kept saying they would love to possess _____ one day and I asked what’s holding them back from getting it today they responded with a negative comment.
I remember being that very same person when I lived down south.
It’s amazing how much a person can really change themselves, their habits, their thinking, and basically flip their entire life around once they step out of their natural surroundings and make the effort to alter their life. I’ve been blessed at a young age to be able to accomplish my dreams because I’ve realized the power of influence.
“As long as you have strong will and a pulse, it’s never too late to change the things you don’t like about yourself and be the person you always dreamt of becoming” –Sica Martin
In no way shape or form am I trying to gloat or make myself out to be the “from rags to riches” kind of girl. The moral of the story is: Don’t ever let your friends dictate which direction that you want to go in. I’m not recommending everyone to make such a drastic decision to move or anything like that, but take notice at the things that you want and the crowd that you hang around with. Are your friends motivating you or holding you back? Are you doing what it takes to become your own personal hero and mentor? Think about that for awhile, and if you don’t like the answer that you seek always know that it’s never too late to change and be that person that you want to be.
You dictate your own future. You have control of waking up and making your dreams a reality. Only you can depend on yourself. The sooner everyone realizes this, the sooner we all can accomplish everything we’ve ever wanted to possess.
If Your Why Doesn’t Make You Cry Then It’s Not Good Enough
August 2, 2010
“If your why doesn’t make you cry then it’s not good enough.”
For every action there is a cause behind it. What is your reason for succeeding? Is it to keep your family off the streets? Really analyze your reason for getting out of bed every morning and doing whatever it is that you do. Don’t say “Because I need money”. It can’t be money, it has to be something stronger than that. Every one needs money, we all know that. Really dig deep down inside and find your reason.
This week ask yourself: What is my motivation to succeed?
