My apologies

Dear Readers,

I apologize for not blogging as frequently as I promised. This move to a new city has been hectic along with my new job and my new residence. I have lots of great branding, career tips, and networking essentials coming.

Also I will start posting about my newest venture as I launch my branding and event planning company.

Thanks for all the love and support!!!

Simone
XOXO

New girl in the cubicle

Getting a job, especially one in your field that pays well, can be a little difficult. At times it can be extremely difficult.  If you've landed a new cubicle with a shiny name plate or a corner office with your name on the door let me take the opportunity to extend my congrats.

Anytime you have the opportunity to start a new role or change companies there are always things thing to keep in mind. You're a blank canvas and you should focus on your development plan, end  in mind goal, and brand. I put together a few key points for you to focus on regardless of role or industry. 





BE PREPARED FOR MEETINGS BY
DOING RESEARCH & HAVING
CONTRIBUTIONS



BE RECEPTIVE TO FEEDBACK &
ASK FOR IT REGULARLY

DON'T LOOK BORED. THERE IS
ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU
CAN BE WORKING ON

 

STAY FOCUSED ON TRAINING
AND CREATE A DEVELOPMENT
PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moday's Made Easy

 

My off duty attire and mindset are very relaxed. You are going to find me sipping coffee with my hair pulled back and wearing leggings. Work emails, conflicts, and extreme productivity are typically off the table. As the final hours of my day off approach my mind switches gears to prep mode. Transitioning from the weekend to the workday can be intense but I’ve came up with some ways to make it easier.

 

1.       Have a designated work bag

o   My bag is already pre-packed with my work essentials that include my agenda, pens, snacks, keys, and petty cash.

2.       Become a your own stylist

o   Pre-select attire then have it cleaned, pressed, and ready to go

o   Place work makeup in a special case. I have a BEAT face that uses a natural palette for work.

3.       Give yourself some time

o   I allow myself time in the morning to have a cup of  coffee, read the news, and use social media.

o   Get physical. It can range from stretching to doing a full workout.

4.       Create positive vibes

o   Have a personal mantra. Mine is PlusTen.

o   Send out a text to a friend or love one wishing them a good day.

o   Try your best not to allow your personal life float into your professional one.

5.       Know your lunch game plan

o   Have your lunch packed with choices that can really impact your day for the better.

o   I like mixed nuts, fruit, and gummy snacks

6.       Understand your purpose and its rewards

o   Have a weekly development plan that consist of things that will help you with your career game plans

o   Visualize success

o   Utilize perks.

Make the best damn coffee

There's the a McDonalds that I frequent. It's absolutely spotless and it's because of it's star employee. A man who appears to be special needs always has a cleaning bottle and a rag, a broom, or a mop permanently attached to his hand. He is clearly dedicated and takes pride in all aspects of his life.


Lately I've been working on perfecting my brand especially since deciding to seriously commit to a career path. Something that has been appearing on the blogs and websites of very successful people is the acknowledgement that not every task that you will have is going to make you feel spectacular. At times you may find yourself doing a task like getting coffee.It's your responsibility to make sure that it is the best damn coffee ever made. The sugar:cream:coffee ratio must be perfect. Temp should satisfying but hot to the point that someone's taste buds are at risk. Willingness to do any task and commitment to excellence are some of the things that I want my personal brand to be.

 

Listed below are some important attributes aside from making coffee that you should have.

 

 

 

Good Interpersonal skills

 

Ability to communicate well

 

Computer skills

 

Great organizational skills

 

Commitment to getting the job done



 

 

 

Financial fasting: My leap towards to financial freedom

I love Tanisha's Tips that are featured on the Essence website. She gives great career and financial tips. Some of her more recent post are about her decision to go on a 21 Day Financial Fast. It's a process it which she sets personal money goals and sacrifices some of life's luxuries in order to achieve them.

Saving and collecting Koins is something that I'm definitely into to the point where I'm in a plus ten state of mind. I reviewed my spending habits over the past sixty days and saw a few places where I could tighten up. I love the idea of he 21 day financial fast but I kind what to extend it to an extreme of 90 days. I've already identified some of the sacrifices that I'm willing to make in order to make this work.

 

Sacrifices for the future

 

Vending machines

 

Fast Food

 

Dinners Out

 

Clothing

 

Name brand snacks and candy

 

 

Ideas to help stay on track for a prosperous future

 

Coupon Clipping

 

Part - Time Job

 

Financial Journal

 

Functioning Budget



We are more than $5

To your right you will see a link to Economic Success. A few years ago I read an article that black women had a median net worth of $5. I wanted to scream liar, liar, pants on fire. I researched the facts and they revealed numbers that made me want to crawl into a corner.

I know that we are capable of so much more that that so I have gathered some resources to help us increase those numbers. 

 

Economic Success!!!

Plus Ten

Someone once told me that even though you're are great there is always someone better. It kind of made me sad because wouldn't be the great to be the best at something? Since I've grown a little bit wiser I've developed a new mantra it called Plus Ten.

Sometimes I feel like I've given everything that I have and I think I have nothing left. In that moment I try and squeeze, scrape, peel whatever is left at the bottom that was first overlooked and I call it my plus ten. It's similar to those concept that is familiar to those who run marathons. They keep at a steady pace so that they don't burn out. Towards the end of the race exhaustion starts to creep in. Once the finish line becomes visible a crazy phenomenon happens and they sprint like the last few kilometers never happened and the gunshot used to initiate the race just went off. That's plus ten.

Prenup, Prenup, Everybody Prenup

 

 

 

 

 

Gabrielle Union said some of the truest words that I've heard recently while being interviewed by Arsenio Hall. "The biggest difference between this marriage and the last marriage will be a prenup. At my insistence!" Union said. "When you have your own stuff you don't have to worry about anyone else's stuff. So everyone should go into the relationship, everyone should know, that you're here for me."

 

 

I love being in love but when I get married I don't care if I have $5 or $500,000 in the bank a prenup is required. People love to say that a prenup is practice for divorce and that's absolute bullshit. Most relationships don't end because people fall out of love. A lot of marriages result in divorce over KOINS. If you take money out of the equation then you know that the person that you marry is their for you and not for the financial security that you bring to the table.

 

All up in my bubble

Some people are not aware that they are habitual boundary violators. My biggest pet peeve are those who hover while I'm working. I've put together a small PSA announcement that should help paint a better picture as to why hovering is offensive. Thanks in advance.

Please think about this as you wrap up your work week.

I did CrossFit and lived to tell about it

Truth: Blogging will keep you honest.

I had a resolution list and included was CrossFit. I was EXTREMELY nervous because I've seen the videos of people doing these insane workouts and I'm not about that life.

Clarification: When I did my workout today I was not anywhere close to being like this chick but maybe one day...

 

 

 

 

My Pre Workout interview

 

 

 

 

Post Workout Interview

 

 

Find out how to start today

 

 

16 keys to molding my tomorrow

I recently left a job at a well know investment firm because it wasn't a place where I was able to grow and thrive. I'm currently in a new role, at another prominent company, skill set and the pay is significantly less.

The reason why I chose this job is because I took the time to step back and look at the big picture. Where do I want to be in 5 years? A chemical engineer for sustainable energy. What am I willing to sacrifice? Everything. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!!!

I've lived in the moment, been complacent, non aggressive, and mentally lazy in regards to my future because I counted on tomorrow. Well today is tomorrow.

My goal at my new company is to have a brand that anyone would love to mimic and Dr. Phil McGraw is going to help.

Dr. Phil McGraw has created a formula for success. It's called "The Sweet 16" and it's documented in his book, Life Code: The New Rules for Winning in the Real World.


1. Have a defined “image” and never go out of character.

2. Create a perception of uniqueness.

3. Play “big,” not just long.

4. Learn to claim and accept praise, and acknowledge it in a gracious way, but do accept it.

5. Become “essential.”

6. Know your real currency.

7. Always, always have a plan.

8. Keep things “close to the vest.”

9. Always be in investigatory mode.

10. Must “stretch” and behave your way to success, even if it feels like “fake it until you make it.”

11. Always keep your options open.

12. Always master the system and figure a way to make it work for you.

13. Create a passionate nucleus of supporters.

14. Deal only with the truth.

15. Recognize and use the ego and greed of others to create a path to success.

16. Pick your battles and never let your opponent have control.

I want to be a buttonup

At one point I was extremely disappointed at the way women of color were expressing themselves on national television. Basketball Wives, Love and Hip Hop, RHOA, were a big let down. These shows allowed us to have a platform to brand ourselves in a positive light but instead they are tearing each other down, acting like complete slores, and making it seem as though their mothers never gave them the course hometraining 101. I have mixed feelings about Bravo's Blood Sweat and Heels. Demetria Lucas, Geneva Thomas, and Brie Blythewood are my sister friends in my head. I'm glad that the line has been drawn in the sand between them and Melyssa Ford, Daisy Lewellyn, and Mica Hughes. I have the breakdown.

Demetria reminds me of my mother. She doesn't play games with how she is represented in public. She knows when it is time to go. People often misinterpret her for being uncompassionate but that's not the case. It's clear that she has such a high level of respect for others that she becomes disappointed in their behavior. Geneva is like my twin. We're young, still growing in our industries, and focused on becoming very successful. I'm glad that she has a "mentor" like Demetria who is clearly a positive influence on her. Brie is a woman of rules and it is clear how she wants to be viewed by others. I love how she not only thinks about herself but she also is aware and concerned about her family's brand.

Melyssa Ford the "Real Estate Agent"

Mica Hughes: The AA meeting escapee

Daisy Lewellyn: The fashion stylist whose wigs are just as ugly as her personality

In regards to the others I'm not going to waste my energy because I start to develop forehead wrinkles and the rest of my face morphs into a serious bitch please look. Then I proceed to hide under my covers and hope that their piss poor display of womanhood was all a bad dream. I'm not saying that they are a lost cause. I would like them take a moment to reflect on their behavior. As women of color on television they should take this as a position to empower, inspire, and be productive.

We broke up. Now what?

"You is kind, you is smart, you is important."
This is what I tell myself when I look in the mirror. When I wonder what went wrong. When I start to miss you.
          

I tell myself that this is for the best. You need to work on you. Become a better man and learn how to be happy.

Now we're apart. You call and I answer then we shoot the breeze about everything but us. I'm no longer Carebear, sweetie, or baby.I'm Simone. It sucks.

Here's what happens now. Thirty minutes of tears were approved. One day to mourn the death of Simone and Alan's relationship was granted.
There will be no shutting down. I'm twenty-five years young with a full and vibrant life ahead. I don't know what the future has but I can't be Carrie looking for my own Mr. Big if I'm constantly replaying the past.

I'm Here

So it's official I've arrived in Charlotte. New job, new city, and a newly single status. I'm planning on enjoying new experiences and I've even planned a few personal resolutions. They are as followed:

• Learn conversational Spanish
• Complete 24 college credits
• Become financially savvy
• Pole dance
• Try crossfit
• Focus on my career
• Paint more
• Take ethnic cooking courses
• Take 3 vacations. One of them must be international
• Blog a lot