Get out of your head and stop giving a F*CK

I’m currently reading The Art of Not giving a F*ck and they are making so many valid points and one of them was not putting yourself in a loophole of hell, basically meaning we usually think ourselves into a bad space, we create the anxiety for ourselves. If we just did things and didn’t give a fuck about overthinking the outcome, care about what other people thought, why they might be thinking that and even the fact of why we’re overthinking all this, we would be wayyyyy better off. We can’t control everything so do things without trying too hard, do what feels right and stop trying to plan so much when it usually won’t go that way anyway. One thought leads to the next and next thing you know you’ve caused yourself anxiety and a bad day.

When you get out of your head it’s so much more fun and that’s what I’m continuously learning. Also taking a stop to look around and letting the air hit your face you may realize everything is right where it needs to be, it just may not have happen the way you envisioned. Getting out of our head can actually get us closer to the goals we can’t stop thinking about. The older we get we realize life is really on our terms and we can do whatever we want at whatever pace we want. In the Art of not giving a F*ck the author talks about how continuously focusing on the next thing or worrying about getting more can cause you to think you’re lacking or further behind than you actually are, and that’s honestly so true. I know for me I’m always thinking about accomplishing the next goal and a lot of times I don’t give myself a chance to 1. sit in my current accomplishment or 2. Take a second to realize I have so many of the things I’ve always wanted.

We have to live life without all the extra added stress that we put on ourselves, even though its so much easier said than done we just have to learn how to TRULY stop giving af and just live with no limits whether they are inflicted by others or ourselves. We don’t want to look up and we’ve tricked ourselves out our spot. there’s money in our head but we’ll never get it if we don’t get out of our heads and into reality.

Cheers to getting older and learning how to not give a F*ck even more

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Get Prepared for What's to Come: COVID-19 is NO Joke

So we all knew or should have figured that COVID wouldn’t be magically going anywhere anytime soon and many of us figured there would be a second wave just from seeing that stats during the peak of quarantine and even it being spoken about on the news and media outlets but I think the confusion and disbelief comes into play because if we’re being honest many people didn’t and still aren’t taking this seriously. Many people have continued to be out and about and careless as if this is all a make believe story because many people think that it is and even though we do have these careless people there are also people that thought or hoped this would go away and there would be no second wave because most of us have never experienced anything like this and fear of the unknown is definitely a thing. But I’m here to give you some tips on how you can prepare for this second wave whether you figured it was coming or if you’re just realizing how serious this is or even if you’re scared and don’t know what to think, all feelings are valid to feel.

Things you need to Understand first:

1. First things first stop thinking this is fake if you think that, this is not up for debate. This is real, people are dying. This may be being called a second wave but it never stopped, people still have been getting sick but the numbers are just getting back super high and this is especially due to the change in weather, it being flu and cold season so people are getting sick easier, people not wearing masks and many moving as if nothing is going on.

2. Stop emptying the grocery stores, many people lack consideration for others and emptying out the grocery stores and stacking up on all these things you won’t need is unproductive. We will still be able to leave our homes so yes stock up but don’t stock up like the world is ending and keep taking all of the essentials and leave the bare minimum for others especially when we have been dealing with this since March and clearly see that the world didn’t end and you din’t need all that toilet paper and paper towel you stocked up on.

3. At this point we need to do the simple things properly and stop worrying about everything else. Your health and the people you do and don’t know health is important so stop risking people’s wellbeing just because you want to be selfish. Simply be considerate of others, there is much we don’t know but what else do y’all want to know if the things we do know people can’t even follow like wearing a mask.

4. This will not just go away by acting like its not happening.

5. This is affecting everyone differently (in all aspects) and some people more than others so be conscious of that.

How to get Prepared:

1. WEAR THE DAMN MASK, and OVER your nose. Like I don’t understand what is so hard about wearing the mask. I am really starting to believe people just like to go against the grain even if its in their best interest to just listen and follow the rules

2. Be responsible. If you are sick stay home as much as possible, if you cough or sneeze do it into your elbow, use hand sanitizer always, wash your hands to get rid of germs, if you need tissue use it and properly dispose of it.

3. Social distance. It is okay to miss out on events and going out especially during this time. Stop thinking its okay to be in the club. Not saying be stuck in the house but stop going to heavily populated places and remember to social distance. YOU WON’T MISS ANYTHING if you choose to hang up going out for awhile for the betterment of health. The quicker everyone follows the rules the quicker we can get this under control and find some sense of normalcy.

4. Stop thinking that the shutdowns are some sort of government conspiracy when people are literally dying and its necessary. Even if there were things to raise our eyebrow about so what real people are getting sick and some more than others.

5. Realize that this is REAL and always has been, it didn’t just become real because now someone you know or that you’re close with has COVID. People are sick, businesses are closing, people are losing their jobs, people are losing their homes, people can not afford basic necessities etc.

6. Take care of yourself. Make sure that you are taking vitamins, that you’e drinking enough water, that you are eating enough and properly, that you are getting adequate sleep and that you are protecting yourself and staying on top of your health. You want to do what you can to build your immune system before you even get sick. Do your part and be responsible.

7. It is flu and cold season and this happens every year, not everyone who has a runny nose or cough has COVID, but with the current state of things if you feel like you have more than a normal cold you NEED to get tested just to be on the safe side and make sure you aren’t potentially passing along what you may have to others, don’t have symptoms and be in denial and trying to just ignore it until it magically goes away that’s immature and irresponsible.

8. You don’t have to be stuck in the house, BUT make sure that if you are going anywhere that there is limited people, that it is social distancing and COVID friendly and that you keep hand sanitizer on you and aren’t touching your face after touching things and that you are wearing a mask. But if I’m going to be honest many things are going back into shut down if they haven’t in your state or city yet its coming so it is definitely best to stay home and if you can’t deal with being at home or by yourself then there may be something bigger that you need to work through. The weather is getting colder meaning more people have the possibility to get sick so just stay home, everything will be there when its safe to go back out.

9. Stay layered. It is now cold out so make sure you have on a proper coat, hat, scarf or gloves if needed and warm clothes and shoes, because who wants to be sick or cold COVID or not.

Effects on Holiday Season:

1. SO yes we all know that it is holiday season and Thanksgiving, Christmas, Black Friday and the New Year are right around the corner but this year fallback on the huge family gatherings for safety reasons. You can still celebrate and enjoy yourself but just be safe and take correct precautions and stay away from large gatherings.

2. It is possible for this to still be the most wonderful time of the year SAFELY. Since the beginning of quarantine in March people have still found safe and very fun and innovative ways to celebrate things, so do the same for the holidays. It is going to definitely be different but none of us could’ve predicted this so just get creative in your celebration ideas to still celebrate with family but safely and in a social distancing friendly way

3. Love on the people around you a little more. This is effecting everyone and their emotions differently so check on people more often or do nice little things for them to uplift their spirits and especially make sure you are checking on and loving on yourself more. The holiday season can already be hard for many people so just be more kind and patient this season

4. Gift giving and shopping are a major part of the holiday season especially because of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Support Black Owned and smaller businesses this season because they need it a lot more than big corporations right now and there are so many amazing ass Black Owned businesses to support with great quality products and experiences (holiday gift guide coming soon, but check out my Black Owned business directory)

5. So much has happened in 2020 in every part of the world so it is important to appreciate, be grateful and thankful for even the smallest things. Even if you can only celebrate the holiday with the people in your home at least be grateful that you still have a home, that you had the money to be able to afford to do anything for the holiday and that you still have your life and made it through the year thus far. You don’t have to physically be around people to enjoy their company, pick up the phone, have a zoom party, group FaceTime etc.

I hope you learned something from this post even if it was just a different way of thinking. Be safe, Be smart, Wear your damn mask and OVER your nose and wash your damn hands. Realize the bigger picture, take care or yourself and be responsible.

How to Make a Career Doing What you Love

As you get into adulthood or while you are an adult you are figuring out what you want to do and what you don’t want to do and where you want to take your career or what you want to do in this life to provide for yourself and your family. Many times we may choose a job not because we like it but because it pays the bills and then you blink and its 10 years later and something that was supposed to be temporary turned into something much longer. Also many times family, friends, or society tries to force you into picking something to do because it may bring “security” but you may not be happy with doing that but out of fear of scarcity you do it anyway. Many dreams go unaccomplished because of fear, which is not your fault because many times it is projected onto us by others fears for themselves, but I am here to tell you it is not too late to chase your dreams or try new and different things or multiple things at once.

Yes you want to make money, but you don’t want to spend the bulk of your days (work days are usually 8 hours in more structured or corporate environments) and you definitely don’t want to spend 8 hours of your life daily doing something that makes you unhappy because it will start to show in all other parts of your life and you definitely don't want to spend that eight hours somewhere that doesn’t see your potential and doesn’t pay you your worth which may cause you to be barely scraping by.

Whether its a dream job at a different company and in a different position or its starting from scratch creating your on business or businesses or streams of income it is definitely possible to attain, but you have to decide how important is your happiness to you.

5 Tips to make a Career out of What you love:

1. Stop caring about what others think or have to say, you are in charge of your life.

   Many times people don’t follow through with their ideas or plans because they have allowed other people’s views and opinions to discourage them and make them feel like what they want to attain isn’t possible, but just because its not possible for them doesn’t mean its not possible for you. Do you want to spend your life wondering “what if” or do you want to try it and see if it works out and if it doesn't then back to the drawing board and on to the next. Learn to be satisfied with your own opinions of your life and choices therefore you have no reason to look anywhere for answers because your decision may already be made.

2. Take the time to explore yourself, your interests, your non-negotiables, what makes you happy, what do you really want

   Many times people may not know exactly what it is they want to do but they know that they don’t like what they currently are doing. Take the time to explore different interests and things outside of your comfort zone, take on things as hobbies and then decide if you want to take them any further and start learning how you can do that. Figure out what you want your daily life to look like, how much money would you need to live the lifestyle you desire, what things make you happy, what types of structure do you work best in (flexibility or something more set in stone daily). You can’t find out what you want to do if you don’t truly know who you are or where you want to end up.

3. Let go of limiting expectations and mindsets

   Stop thinking that just because something didn’t work instantly that it means it won’t happen. Instant gratification isn’t realistic so get out of that, if you want results put in the time, the work and the effort and you will eventually see the benefit which might come slow or they might come fast but you have to remember that slow and steady wins the race and this is a marathon stop being in such a rush to “finish”. Grow up and stop thinking that just because something didn’t go the way that you expected that its all over, if plan A didn’t work figure out a Plan B to make Plan A work or if you heard one no either keep moving to the next until you hear a yes or find a way to make that no a yes. If you want everything to go your way when you want it and your mindset stops there and goes no further then you are meant to stay in the unhappy position you’re in because you don’t really want it forreal. You say you want all this money and this great lifestyle but your’e not willing to put in the work and at the first sign of inconvenience or stress you’re ready to throw in the towel, make it make sense.

4. Stop tying yourself down to things

   It is okay to change your mind, it is okay to change your mindset and it is okay to change your life at any given time that you feel the strength to do so. You are not tied to doing something just because you started it, no you shouldn’t give up on things easily or quit, but if you’ve truly tried your best and are not happy then let it go and move on. Not everything has to last forever and nothing has to be set in stone if you don’t want it to. Find your power and take it back and stop letting everything else drag you through life.

5. Realize your path is yours for a reason and will be different from others, give yourself time and grace

   You may accomplish things at a different pace than the people around you, it may take you a little longer or it may take you less time but you will never know unless you try your own shit in your own way. Do things the way you want to not the way others are doing it or think you should do it. Be yourself and stop trying to be a duplicate version or everyone else. There is one of you and that is your power. Nothing is an overnight success so give yourself time and grace to grow into who you truly are and continuously elevate that. Comparison is the theif of joy, you aren’t them and they aren’t you.

No one said it would be easy but pick a hard.

5 Reasons Why and How to be High Maintenance

“Never test my patience Ni**a I’m high maintenance, high class, if you ain’t rollin’ bypass.”

— Amil 'Can I Get A' Verse

I hate that people try to make something wrong with people taking good care of themselves or requiring others to treat them with the same energy that they give themselves and I especially hate it when people do it to Black women. There is NOTHING wrong with spending money on yourself, buying yourself things even if they are on the expensive side, having maintenance that you budget into your finances etc. You should take care of yourself and be HIGH MAINTENANCE because being low maintenance isn’t anything to brag about no matter what people say.

Being high maintenance to me is caring about yourself and catering to the person that you are whether that means monthly nail, hair and spa appointments, shopping for yourself often, liking to make luxury purchases and wanting others to do the same for you, liking a certain quality of living and making sure that you look and feel like your best self at all times. Being high maintenance shouldn’t just be something that stops at what you look like but should extend to who you are inside and making sure that you explore yourself and find out what makes you feel your best self, it should reflect in your home life and how you make your living spaces feels and look, it extends to your career and what you are willing to accept, and how you make sure that you are being responsible financially. If you are not high maintenance I just gave you the answer to what it means to be, how you can be that and why you should be so moving forward begin learning yourself and who you are and elevate yourself to be high maintenance and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been did that.

To elevate is to be high maintenance and to be high maintenance means to properly care about yourself in all aspect, no matter how much you are spending make sure that you are taking great care and upkeep of how you look, how you feel and the moves you make.

5 Ways on how to be High Maintenance:

1. Invest in your appearance.

   Let’s be forreal, your appearance speaks before your personality. No one is telling you to go splurge money on clothes, bags and shoes that you don’t have but invest in grooming like having your hair done, making sure your skin looks good, getting or doing your nails and toes, buying quality body and haircare products etc. because you truly feel good when you look good and too many people undermine and minimize that statement when it holds so much value in many different aspects. Now to clothing, invest in flattering clothing that fits your style, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have quality pieces but if you have the money to spend YESSSSSS SIS GO FOR IT AND COME BACK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU GOT! Find your style, figure out who you want to be and what you want to look like ad what best represents your best self then do that. Investing in your appearance doesn’t just mean spending money but investing time, like investing time into working out to build the body that you want, taking the time to cook more home cooked meals for yourself, taking time to drink more water, taking time to care about the quality of the food you eat and much more,

2. Take time to figure out who you are, build a strong mindset

   Yes appearance is important but what’s even more important than that is taking time to learn and explore yourself to find out truly who you are and then after you figure that out building a stong mindset and confidence to properly carry that power. This isn’t a job that happens overnight but something that is continuous because we are constantly changing, once you figure out what your strengths, weaknesses, emotions and thoughts are you will have found your power and once you find out that information you can start changing or loving whatever things you wan to keep and whatever things you want to change. In order to be taken seriously in this life or to even take yourself seriously you have to be confident in who you are and what you have to offer, you have to be strong minded in what you believe, what you know, what you want to learn and where you want to go. Like I said this is a lifelong task but once you have it you continue to carry it with you and strengthen it as you go, if you haven’t gone down that journey of figuring yourself out start TODAY, START RIGHT NOW

3. Figure out what do you want to do in this life to afford the lifestyle you desire

   Figure out where you want to go in life and what things do you value more, for instance do you want to stay in a “comfortable” position for secure money but you’re unhappy or do you want to take a chance on something that brings you joy and could eventually bring you money? What’s more important to you money or your happiness, because once you figure out what makes you happy with handwork it will start to make money for you. What is it that you are interested in? It doesn’t have to be one thing, you can come up with different things and find ways to try them all and whatever doesn’t work leave it but if you know what you love to do then do that. Do you want a more corporate structure or do you want to create your own lane and become a business owner or entrepreneur or even do both? Even if you don’t know what you want to do just start the process of at least figuring out what you like and don’t like because you have to start somewhere. Don’t let people, family, society, social media or friends decide what you should do, go down your path even if its less traveled.

4. Be responsible

   Figure out how you can make your finances work for you. Plan, save, invest, always learn. Figure out how whatever you’re doing can afford you to have the things you desire. If you want to fit shopping, saving, traveling, investing, monthly maintenance appointments, outings with friends etc. into your budget be strategic with how you spend and make a real budget to afford those things or use that as a tool to fuel your hustle so you can work and make the money to afford those things you desire in the life you want to live. If you want to go have brunch or go out with your friends a few times a month figure out how you can do that by properly using the money you have or figure out how you can add more income to yourself to make that happen because those things make you happy. I am not saying to be materialistic or worry about spending your money on things that you shouldn’t be, but I’m a firm believer in hustling and having ambition and work ethic to make happen what you want to come true so if you being able to go to Sunday Funday brunch with the girls, go shopping once a month, get your hair done, a wax, you nails done and eyebrows monthly is what motivates you to get a bag then so be it, but just make sure that with doing those things you’re taking care of your responsibilities like bills if you have them, business if you have it, groceries, saving or whatever else.

5. Do it for you and nobody else

   Being high maintenance is an all around thing over here it doesn’t just stop at how you look like I said before but it does include that, being stylish isn’t a hobby it’s a lifestyle and that’s exactly what I mean by that. Everything that I’m telling you is for you and not anybody else, do this for you to feel good, for you to feel motivated to elevate and do more, for you to feel inspired to look like and be your best self, and to just be everything you imagined and making yourself happy by doing that. You matter the most to you, nobody else’s opinion should matter especially if they care more about you and your life than their own.

Invest lots of time into yourself from the inside out, it will truly show in the way you talk, the way you talk and your mannerisms. Be high maintenance because its about more than buying things but taking care of yourself like a luxury item because you are. If they’re bragging about being low maintenance and accepting the bare minimum from people then they are definitely not who you should be listening to, so teach yourself to look within for answers and truly trust and be confident in yourself.

5 Tips on How to Make Your Home Quarantine Comfortable

So we’re in the house and most of us have been for the last seven months, whether you’ve been working from home and your job is keeping it that way, you work for yourself or went back to work but you may be returning back home soon due to the seasons changing and the second wave of COVID approaching due to flu and cold season, and as we all know if you have to be home all day everyday you want to make sure your home is a space you actually want to be in.

When working at home you want to make sure that your home is a place that motivates you to work or that you feel comfortable enough to be in, and no everyone may not have their own place and that’s okay but whether the whole place is yours or you just have a room or other spaces you can use I wanted to give you some tips on how to make your spaces quarantine comfortable.

5 Tips on How to elevate your Space for Quarantine:

1. Make sure it smells good

   There’s nothing better than a space that smells as good as it looks and makes you want to be there

   -Get candles

   There are lots of amazing Black Owned Candle businesses, check out my Black owned business directory, Google and Instagram. One of my favorite Black owned candle companies is Lit BKLYN, as well as overall great candles at different stores and online. Browse the internet for good recommendations.

   -Get a humidifier

   Sold at Amazon, Target, Homegoods, TJ Maxx etc. at all different prices and you can get sets of essential oils

   Humidifiers are a great way to not only keep your space smelling good but to purify your air and help keep your mind and body calm and destress you without you even having to do anything. They are good to have and good for your health

   2. Keep your space clean and organized

   Whether you have a room, apartment or house make sure you keep it CLEAN, there’s nothing worse than being in a dirty or cluttered space (especially for me being the germaphobe I am) take the time out of your day to clean up your space and pick up after yourself if you make a mess so the job doesn’t pile up

   Stay organized, hit up Homegoods or Amazon for some storage organizers or whatever you need to buy to make sure everything has a place. A cleaner space helps to declutter your thoughts

   3. Make it pretty

   Make sure your space looks like something you want to see, not saying you have to go full blown HGTV, but by surrounding yourself with things you like to look at it makes your work space more comfortable and it may inspire you to even work harder.

   Check out Pinterest for ideas on decorating everything from your desk to your whole room or space, you can get low cost decor from Amazon, Homegoods, TJMaxx etc. take a little more time to care about other things that may brighten your mood and you’ll see and feel the difference

4. Find a designated area where you will work

Yes you may be at home but that doesn’t mean work from your bed everyday, not having a designated area to work can make you more lazy and off task. Set up a work area that includes a desk or something to work on and all of the things you will need to get things done

Working from the bed may be something you end up doing once a week just because you need a break and you’re human but don’t make it an everyday thing.

5. Set the tone

Working from home can start to make your home feel less enjoyable if you let it.

Set a time of when you will work and make a space for where you work so you know that your work doesn’t leave that area and you are only at that area from this time to that time, also take breaks for lunch or just to chill even if you’re not leaving out the house

Play some music, a podcast or a show in the background so you have something to get you going and keep you entertained while you work.

Open the blinds for some sunlight and get yourself ready to be productive whether that’s eating breakfast before you start working, drinking some tea, working out before work or whatever else you see fit.

Not to say that everyday will be perfect but Working from home doesn’t have to be a drag if you can spruce up the place where you are working and living and now this is where you are most of the day, if you set the tone for how you want your work day to go and if you set the vibe to get yourself in the mood to get things done!

Know is a better time than any to make renovations and spruce up where you now lay your head and work.

5 Tip on How to Plan Your Month

When a new month or a new quarter rolls around the planning begins if you are a planner like I am, it takes a little more time and effort than planning your day or week. When its a new month or quarter and you have a business or businesses or you just have a lot on your plate it is important to set goals and have an organized way to go about accomplishing them.

5 Tips on How to Plan Your Month:

1. Try to do it before the month starts if you can

   This will allow you to get ahead of yourself and to plan out what you want to accomplish before the month can meet you with things you didn’t expect. Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get around to this before the month starts but if you can then do so. Take a little bit of time after your other obligations are maybe at the end of the night or do it while you’re working and plan out what you want to get done personally and with business, what growth do you want to see, what things worked in the current month that may not work in the next and what do you need to do more or less of. Write it out and make it plan, also don’t be so stuck in your plan that things don’t have room to change especially if the change is for the better.

2. Set realistic goals

   Be honest with yourself on what you have the time and energy to complete, you don’t want to set unrealistic goals that you don’t have the current capacity to complete and then end up disappointed at the end of the month because you got nothing done, I’m not saying be easy on yourself or don’t try to challenge yourself but be aware of who you are, how you work and what is already on your plate. If what you need is more resources or information to accomplish larger goals focus on getting that.

3. Break down your goals

   Break down each of your goals on how you can go about accomplishing them. What do you need to do daily to meet your goals, how much time do you need to dedicate to each thing, what things does each goal require you to do. Take the things on your monthly to do list and break them down on your daily and weekly to-do lists if to-do lists are your thing. Don’t just write things down but put action into accomplishing them and making them real.

4. Allow yourself grace

   Sometimes things happen that we didn’t expect and can’t prevent so if those things happen and they alter your plans don’t beat yourself up about it because it was out of your control, but figure out how to adjust and change what is necessary. If you don’t get a few goals done but don’t feel like you have a valid reason it is okay, you are not on a deadline and if you know that you gave your best then that’s all you can do and just try harder the next month to get more accomplished. you don’t want to beat yourself into burnout or depression and not want to do anything at all. You are only one person and you are not a superhero, remember that you are now where you used to pray to be.

5. Put relaxation on that list as something to do

   With all the goal you may have that you want to accomplish you still have to make sure that you are giving yourself time to enjoy your life outside of work, to recoup in order to be able to continue working, to enrich yourself so you have the energy to keep elevating. Don’t think that the grind and hustle are the only things that are important, your well being is more important than that because if you aren’t well then you can’t even enjoy the fruits of your labor and the things that you’ve worked to accomplish. Take days off. implement them into your schedule, allow yourself to unwind at night and get adequate amounts of sleep (definitely talking to myself too)

I hope that everyone accomplish all of the goals that they set for themselves and go out with a bang this year especially since there has been so much going on. Remember to enjoy your moments while they are happening, you deserve relaxation too and slow progress and small ins are still worth celebration.

Keeping Going Even when you don't see the Result you Want yet

Blazer: Forever 21// Bra: Savage X Fenty// Jeans: Pretty Little Things// Lip: Stunna by Fenty Beauty

We all are working hard, we’re trying to reach our goals and we’re trying to overall make things happen and not all the time will we see the results we want right at the moment we want them or you’re working really hard and always have been and start to get down on yourself because you feel like you should be further and its not because you’re comparing yourself or your situation/progress to anyone else, but because you know what you are capable of, you know the worth of your work, you know how much time and effort you put in and you know that you haven’t given up then you feel like you should be further than you are at times.

But we just have to keep in our minds to just keep working, to not give up and that your hard work will pay off, they say you need to put in your 10,000 hours if you want your success, well keep focusing on doing that and doing the groundwork so that when it does pay off you can truly enjoy it and be present in those moments. Being an entrepreneur or business owner during this time can be very hard, we’ve been going through a pandemic and pretty much been on lock down since March, there’s a damn near civil war going on, we’re dealing with 10 times the racism as usual it seems like, some people are experiencing a lack of finances because some people have been laid off, some people are getting paid less because they have to work from home, many people aren’t receiving unemployment and never even received a stimulus check so there’s a lot that we have to handle right now aside from just business. When you’re grinding and hustling you have to also take care of yourself and your mental state and right now with everything going on this is a lot for people mentally.

Be patient with yourself and know that sometimes but especially now you are doing enough, you are on the right path and your time is coming but there are circumstances that happen in the world that you have no control over that can slow things down. Be patient and just keep preparing for when your moment comes.

Success Takes Dedication and Persistence

A Letter to my Hustlers,

When we’re in the grind and in the hustle it’s not something that’s easy or that’s usually a smooth path. Sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as we hoped they would or thought they could’ve or should’ve but that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen. When you’re working hard and you have dreams so big that you can’t ever get your mind away from them you want things to happen and you want to reap the benefits of your hard work, but sometimes you have to be patient because your timing isn’t always the right or ideal timing. No matter how frustrating it gets you have to stay consist, persistent and focused. Your success is inevitable for you because God wouldn’t put it on your heart and mind so tough if he didn’t think you could make it happen.

It may seem like it’s not worth it and you may sometimes feel like you want to give up but you get where you’re trying to go by not stopping. You think all of the successful people in this world had an easy path to the success they have now? No, but they got there by not giving up on themselves and their dreams. It’s hard to be successful but it’s also hard to not be, so pick your hard. The path is what builds character and what teaches you to keep striving even after the success and different accomplishments.

Make a plan and then make it happen.

How I Saved Money While in College

So y’all should know by now that I graduated college back in May 2019 from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Business and Marketing. But as a recent graduate and a person who did this whole college journey for four years there is so much advice and information that I feel I can pass on to current college students, people that will be in college soon and people who are almost done.

People try to make it like going to college isn’t hard and it’s just school etc. but I’m here to tell you that college is hard AF, it is like a full time job, homework and assignments take blood, sweat tears and hours to do, there will be overnighters, there will be procrastination (because it just happens sometimes), there will be some grades you don’t get that you may have wanted and you will be exhausted. For some it’s more than just attending school like for me I was a full time student as well as internships and jobs at the same time and sometimes multiples all at the same time. But one thing that you can do to minimize your stress is minimize spending money or spending as much money because that “broke college student” thing can be very real especially when going out to parties, eating out etc.

So I’m here to give you some tips on how to save some money while in college….

1. Cook at home as often as you can: If you have a kitchen available to you in your living space whether that is on or off campus then you need to stop eating out and just go grocery shopping and cook at home because that will save you a lot of money. As a student and also working and being out and about its easy to just grab some fast food, or grab a coffee or grab a snack but those small prices daily and sometimes multiple times a day adds up.

   • You can meal prep and take snacks with you to have throughout the day so that you can minimize stopping at places like Starbucks or a cafe to buy food or snacks.

   • If you are a coffee or tea drinker and like Starbucks or anything else like it start minimizing how many times a week you go and make your coffee or tea at home some days because that money daily adds up quickly

   • Try to cook majority of the days out of the week, and eat breakfast at home before you leave the house. You can treat yourself but don’t make it an everyday thing.

2. You don’t have to go to every party: I know that when you’re in college parties and going out with friends kind of become apart of your norm but you don’t have to do it everyday. Most of the parties end up being the same each time and the same people are there so if you miss one or a couple you will be fine. You and your friends don’t always have to go out to have fun, you can group together the food you have and get wine or drinks and go over one person’s house or to one person’s room and have a great time (me and my friends used to do this all of the time) and honestly after sophomore year partying gets old.

3. Use the hell out of your student discount: There are a lot of different businesses brick and mortar and online that offer student discounts or promotions at certain times throughout the day, but a lot of the time its not advertised so you have to ask. You are a student and you pay a tuition for every year (per semester) so get as many discounts as you can because you deserve them all.

   • Unidays and Student Beans are apps and websites that you can sign up for using your school email that gives you coupon codes for different online shopping stores, for ordering food online etc.

   • StudentUniverse.com: Flight discounts for students

   • Movie theaters and restaurants: Ask if they have a student discount (normally they do)

4. Go to the free stuff!!!: When you’re in school there are some events and parties that will cost but there are also some free events that may have light refreshments and some parties and clubs that may be free before a certain time. You don’t always have to come out of pocket if there are options for you not to.

Ask any place that you go if they have a student discount it doesn’t hurt to ask. I graduated but will be using my student id until I can’t any more, they got a lot of money out of me while I was in school so I’m going to milk it as much as I can to get some too.

You Can Love Social Media but You also have to Limit it

I am a person who loves Instagram and I follow people who motivate and inspire me and are involved in the things that I am in or that I am striving to be apart of so I would say I keep what I indulge from others on social media pretty healthy but regardless of how positive or motivating your timeline is everyone needs a break from Instagram and all other social media platforms.

When on social media we may get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and what they are doing and what we feel we should be doing or where we think we should be but we all have to realize that you can’t compare your chapter two to someone else’s chapter 100, you don’t know what people had to do to get where they are now or how long it took them and you may see what their good days look like but you don’t know what their bad days look like, Instagram can be a highlight reel for the great things that are happening for people but it doesn’t showcase everything and you have to remember that.

You need breaks to reset and decompress, sometimes you have to take a break because being on social media so much and being on your phone so much can mess up your creative process and block you from creating new ideas that are truly original and truly your own. Also with being on our phones so much we get so caught up in thinking that that’s reality and forget to live in the moment. When you are enjoying life and indulging in great things your first instinct should be to really enjoy it not to pull out your phone to post on social media, if something bad happens in your life your first instinct should be to get on social media. We have to get out of the habit of being so attached to our phones and trying to create a persona online and actually live the reality that you are so fixated on showing to social media.

Social media is great for many things but it’s even better to not have bad attachments to it.

How to REALLY Change Your Mindset for the New Year.

Every year everybody does the same song and dance with creating New Year’s Resolutions and then forgetting about them by the second week of January because they had no real focus or discipline and no proper planning. I want to be the first to tell you if nobody else has that nothing in the New Year will change if you still have the same mindset, ways and habits as the previous year. You won’t just change and accomplish all this stuff out of nowhere you have to actually have the mindset and work ethic that you want to really change your life, you want to accomplish new goals, you want to get to a new level, you want to do new things, you want to reach certain financial goals etc. Stop feeding yourself lies and things that sound good and get to work for real and take your life and growth more seriously.

You don’t have to wait until a New Year to decide that you want change and that you have goals that you want to reach, as soon as you get in the correct mindframe of wanting to get sh*t done then you will do just that but until then you’ll just be sitting writing down all of these goals that will never get accomplished. You need to change you mindset to have the work ethic to get things done, you have to change your mindset to put focus towards the goals you have set, you need to learn how to have discipline. Another way to get serious about the goals you want for the new year you have to make realistic goals, you have to know what you are capable of physically and mentally and start off with things within that, start small and then continue to get better. Also you don’t have to jump to the top, there is no elevator to the top you have to take the stairs so stop making vague goals like I want to be successful or the best like what does that even mean? You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and automatically wake up with Beyonce level success.

So when trying to create new goals for the New Year be realistic with yourself, learn discipline, get focused, you will have to make sacrifices, and make goals to please yourself not to please anybody else.

More Important Ways to Gift During the Holiday Season!

We’ve began to take the joy away from the holiday and replace it with a monetary value. We don’t enjoy the holiday season because we’re rushing to get gifts, we’re rushing to place orders so that things get here in time, we are rushing out to the malls, we’re going broke and spending money we don’t have on gifts, we are prioritizing buying gets over our own financial goals, bills and possible debt etc. But I’m here to tell you that the price of a gift should not be more important than the thought that you put into it for the person you’re shopping for.

There are many different things that you can get for someone aside from a physical gift, or something frivolous like clothes, shoes and bags that you may not need or can’t afford. And sometime we just simply don’t know what to get people or you’re shopping based off of what are current trends instead of buying them what they really need. I know this post is late and I know Christmas is in two days, but this post is for my last minute people, my people buying gifts after Christmas (yes this is okay, do things when and how your pockets allow, if they love you they won’t mind), and for my people who want ideas for next year.

For your friends or family members that are business owners or entrepreneurs and you want to gift them with something ask them if they need any equipment and try to give them money towards that or pay for it if it’s not that expensive such as money towards a new laptop, a printer, labels, packaging, money towards inventory, business cards, flyers, ads, gift cards they can use anywhere, Best Buy gift cards, masterclasses, courses, books etc. these are things that they actually need and that will be beneficial to them compared to clothes or shoes that they may not even really care for or wear that often.

For your other friends or family instead of spending a bunch of money on something you can maybe take them out to their favorite restaurant, take them to do something they really enjoy, pay for a manicure and pedicure, pay money on a small bill or a little towards it, buy things to help enrich their knowledge or something they want to begin doing etc.

Start thinking about getting people things they really enjoy instead of being worried about spending the most money or buying the most stuff. The thought is really what counts, don’t forget that the gifts are not the most important part of the holiday and you don’t want to go broke trying to impress people because if they really love and care about you they will understand if you can’t afford to buy gifts or if you have to get them something later.

Click here to watch my Youtube video about Black owned businesses you can shop with for the holiday and low cost gifts you can get people.

Creating Can be Hard When you Do It All

I’ve touched on this before on my blog, but I wanted to touch on this again as the year is closing and the decade (which sounds CRAZY), I want to talk about the actual difficulty of owning your own business or businesses and being a one person show because people may make this journey seem so easy and it can be misleading.

When you are a one person show you are the person in charge, the assistant, the accountant, the content creator, the marketing manager, the product developer, the PR team, the planner, the photographer, the videographer and so much more and it can get very hard. When you have so many different tasks that you are responsible for and then you also have to think of the new ideas it can drain you of your creative energy. When you have so much to handle you aren’t able to have free space to think freely or creatively or randomly. But also as the person that does it all you have to figure out when you can allot time to relax, to unwind, to freely think, to create new ideas, to keep your creative juices flowing, this is non-negotiable. Your business relies on you and your ability to keep thinking of new things so you HAVE to give yourself space to do that and you have to give yourself space to relax sometimes or else you’ll always be running against a clock and a to-do list.

Also as a business owner you probably have other responsibilities outside of your business or businesses such as a 9-5 or multiple jobs or hustles, children maybe, going to school etc. so your business may not be your only responsibility so your plate is full and it can get hard to continue being upbeat and having continuous great ideas flowing in. There will be off days and don’t think that there won;t be, but if your goals are worth working for then it will be all worth it in the end.

If you have a lot within your business and your personal to handle to free up time you can use different apps to delegate tasks, you can use the phone that you’re always on to set reminders, take notes, set alarms and put it on do not disturb or airplane mode so you can get more done. Planning ahead is what will also help for you to allot more time. Also having time management and discipline, take certain days off, take time from irrelevant things and apply that time to things that matter. The journey of doing it all by yourself is a hard one, but there are some ways to lighten the load.

Drink Your Water and Mind your Business to Get ready for the Fall.

The year is almost coming to an end, but don’t underestimate the things that you can still get done in the few months that you have left of this year. If you have goals that you want to reach then strive for them, put your focus on and get ready to start putting some action behind your talking. Drinking your water and minding your business shouldn’t just be a phrase that you see on social media but a phrase that you implement into your everyday life.

If you haven’t yet done the things in your personal life that you’ve wanted to do then you have no time or business getting yourself into what others have going on and what they have or don’t have. So much good comes from minding the business that pays you. Sometimes you need to get off of social media and stop taking hours to scroll and put that time into doing something productive (we’re all guilty of this), people have to stop worrying about pleasing strangers on the internet with a false reality and focus on being pleased with themselves In real life.

It can be a new day, a new week, a new month, a new season or even a new year but there is no time limit or time restraint on changing your perspective, setting new goals, getting disciplined, getting focused, starting that project, going after those clients, marketing that product or service. Get to it, turn that misdirected energy towards something that’ll benefit you. You can say all of the positive things or look at the most motivational quotes but if you don’t change your mindset and put time and effort into your goals they won’t happen.