Author: Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson

In short, I'm a work of ART (Aptitude, Responsibility, & Talent). My goal is to Attract, Retain, and Teach an audience between the ages of 14 to about 50 and beyond the disciplines of life. I've been blessed with the gift of giving knowledge and creating peace within the souls of many who are starving for spiritual satisfaction. I'm no prophet, but I do believe that I am one of God's chosen spiritual leaders and sources of information on how to walk a straight path down a crooked road.

What’s Holding You Back?

There are myriad reasons people do not fulfill their dreams, other than some disabilities or incarceration. The main reason is that people never turn those dreams into goals. A dream is just a dream, until your turn it into a goal. You have to use whatever’s holding you back as an impetus to take the next step. In an effort to trigger the alarm, I will give you a few scenarios and viable solutions for each one.

Scenario #1 – I Have Kids
Kids should never hold you back because they are a blessing in itself. They should be the main reason you grind as hard as you do and make certain sacrifices. I know you’re probably sacrificing your own dreams to make theirs come true. Maybe you’re doing it just to provide for them. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. You should. However, if you have to wait until your kids to get out of the house (which can be a very long time, depending on their ages), you may want to consider a flexible source for supplementing your income.

The most flexible way of earning extra money is by working from home. Turn your hobby into your business. If you like styling hair, start charging. If you like doing party favors, turn that favor into a paid opportunity. If you like talking on the phone, telemarketing companies are always hiring. If you like to bake, sweet teeth are not hard to find. You may be surrounded by them daily.

You don’t have to wait until the kids get out of the house to go back to school. You can take the money you’ve raised with your talent and pay for one class at a time. If you earn a handsome refund check each year, you could use a portion of it to pay for your classes. In that way, you won’t have to feel pressured to attend school full time and incur undesirable debt.

Colleges understand your situation as well. That’s why they offer online courses. By the time your kids graduate, so will you. Geez! I wish I would have thought of that when my kids were little.

Scenario #2 – I Work Full-Time
That’s awesome! Several of the unemployed are seeking that opportunity as well. But how are you using your breaks and downtime at work? Are you Facebooking or Tweeting? Are you smoking or chatting? Those are definitely things you should do on your breaks, but you could be making better use of your time.

If you are going to Facebook, search for groups that have like interests. You could gather much information and network at the same time.

Instead of tweeting, visit LinkedIn for business or career opportunities. You can build a professional profile that might capture the eye of a preferred employer.

If you’re a smoker, then you probably have more breaks than the average employee. Instead of lighting a cigarette, light your torch of intelligence by brainstorming ways to fulfill your destiny. Escape that dangerous habit, and get in the habit of exercising your mind instead of frying your lungs.

If you love to talk, initiate career-focused discussions with people who are a few steps ahead of you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek solutions. You’ll find that many people who have it together love talking about themselves and offering good advice.

Scenario #3 – I Don’t Have Transportation
Ask for it. You call on your friends and relatives for anything else. Fill their gas tanks each week, and they probably won’t mind. With spiking gas prices, that’s not a bad deal. Don’t say you don’t have the money. You would have to put it in your own car, if you had one. If you really can’t pay for gas, then offer a service. Bartering is a good business practice.

Of course, you can always catch the bus or train, if you don’t have gas money. Ride a bike or walk, if it’s close by. I’m sure you could use the exercise.

Scenario #4 – I Don’t Have The Money
Apply for grants and/or loans. If you are ineligible, now would be a good time to use your gifts and talents. You can do anything you put your mind to.

If all else fails, get a second job and save at least ten percent of each paycheck. If you can, you should save it all. After all, it is extra income.

Scenario #5 – I Just Don’t Have Time
Yes you do. We all have time for what we want to make time for. Budget your time wisely, and invest in yourself.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

Submit topic suggestions using the “Contact Me” page.

Photo: Flickr. Chain by Kamil Porembinski CC

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Hero

Beans and greens every week,
Salad and fruit every day,
One child on the hip,
One child in the play pin,
One child in the high chair
And one child working your last nerve.

Boys making trouble in the neighborhood
And acting a fool in school.
Daddy’s working a full time job,
Side jobs, and odd jobs.
So it’s all on you.

House is a wreck,
Dishes are piling up,
Clothes are stacked high as the ceiling,
Baby is about to wake up.

Daddy needs his uniform pressed.
The baby needs to be fed.
The kids need to be dropped off at school.
But you’re running out of time.
The school bell is about to sound.
So you hop in the car with your night gown on,
And Mr. Brown wants to talk to you about your child’s behavior.

Report card conference is later that day.
The light bill is due on that same day.
You’re running low on cash and gas.
You’ve just realized the baby needs pampers.
Oh, and the kids have early release.

Now the car won’t crank up,
But daddy’s at work.
Sister needs to be picked up
Because her tummy hurts.

No time to cook a meal.
So banana sandwiches will have to do.
Brother needs help with his homework,
And the nosy neighbor wants to gossip with you.

You made the impossible possible.
Tell me, “How’d you do it?”
There’s not enough time in a day
To do all you did.

I’m saved because of you.
You made me who I am today.
You instilled the best morals and values.
How could I every repay?

I didn’t get pregnant at sixteen because of you.
I didn’t cut class because of you.
I didn’t smoke or drink because of you.
I didn’t do drugs because of you.
I didn’t sell my body because of you.
I didn’t commit a crime because of you.

I did go to church because of you.
I did go to college because of you.
I did get married because of you.
I did save my marriage because of you.

I do pray because of you.
I do keep my word because of you.
I do eat healthy because of you.
And I like to write poetry, just like you.

You always went above and beyond.
You never took shortcuts.
You never cared about what others thought of you,
Saying thirteen kids were too many.
I have enough siblings to open up a business,
And it’s because you saw the value
In keeping each one of us.

Who are they to judge anyway?
How dare they speak negatively of you?
You kept your family together,
You were our spiritual glue.

You never left us,
And you always made sure we had.
You dug in your purse fishing around for money,
Even if it was your last.

Today, I wear your teachings.
Today, I repeat your words.
Today, I call you my hero.
In case you haven’t heard.

Is Simple Beauty Still Sexy?

I recently watched an episode of “In Living Color” in which En Vogue were guests on the show. Those women were simply beautiful with light make up and real hair; not to mention Pam Grier (Foxy Brown), Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Ruby Dee, Cecily Tyson and so many others who wore beauty so well in their time without the cosmetic boost kit we see in today’s celebrities and everyday woman.

I don’t think make up and fake hair debase women at all, but I do think heavy make-up should be reserved for special occasions like weddings, balls, galas, fashion shows, and the like. What woman doesn’t want to feel beautiful? Many of us have our days when we feel “unpretty” or just plain Jane. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with spicing up your look every now and then. Men admire women who take pride in their appearance.

Ladies, I don’t care what color or race you are. You are so darn beautiful because you are a woman, one of God’s greatest creations. If you wear heavy makeup often because you feel “plain” without it, you really don’t know true beauty. Man made makeup, not God. It’s called “makeup” because it is designed to produce a look that’s different from the natural being.

Instead of piling on a bunch of makeup every day, practice good skin care and healthy eating, combined with drinking plenty of water. Too much of anything is not good for you, and too much makeup wear will have you depending on it to achieve good looks. If you have to wear it, lighten up and try making it look more natural, for it was also designed to enhance your beauty.

I know some of you ladies just love playing in makeup, so does my daughter. Some of you work in industries that might require it, like fashion and cosmetology. Some of you are just not satisfied with your natural look. If so, I’m here to tell you that makeup can’t make you look good because you look better without it.

My sisters, I’m admiring the natural styles I’m seeing. I must say, I’m truly inspired. I’ve never seen a more beautiful work of art. Whether you are natural or relaxed, you wear it best with little or no makeup and your own hair.

Hair weaves and extensions are great for protective hairstyles, while you are in transition, or when you just need a break from the struggle, but if you just don’t like your hair, you are not embracing your natural beauty. It was not meant for everyone to have fine, limp hair also known as “good hair”. Your hair is as good as your looks, so take that stuff out of your head and show them what you’ve got!

The nappier the hair the stronger. The less chemicals the longer. Covering it up causes breakage. Let it breathe, or it’ll go naked. Lock it up, twist it up, braid it up or wear it in a bun. Nappy hair might be hard to manage, but it’s a whole lot of fun!

Keep it simple. Keep it lovely. Keep it natural, ya know. Let that beauty shine so bright that your skin starts to glow.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

Photo: Flickr. Pam Grier by Ian W. Hill CC

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