Connect people

Hello Readers,

I am a trainer, a teacher, a coach, an educator, and a connector. You may say geesh, Marla that is a lot of titles, yes I agree it is. It is not about titles for me. Nothing brings me more joy than to help people get to where they need to be or where they want to be. One mantra I follow is from the words of one of the most well-known motivational speakers of all time Mr. Zig Ziglar (whom I was blessed to hear speak in person before he passed). Zig stated "If you help enough people get to where they want to be you will be well taken care of." I added a little of my words into this phrase. Recently I was in a training session with a young lady and she said “Marla maybe you can help me” (not sure what gave her the inkling I could assist her in any area aside from the training I had just provided, after all we had just met), however, she proceeded to trust me in asking for assistance. She stated that she is new to the city, a beginning artist, and that she wanted to get connected to the art community in the city. I viewed her website and she is NOT beginning artist by a long shot. I saw nothing but masterpieces. I said well darling you are in luck. I shared with her that I have a cousin who is an artist and she is well diverse in the art community. I sent a few texts and they were connected within a matter of a few minutes. The smile on her face was one of the highlights of my day. It felt great to connect her one step closer to her dreams of being a full time artist. Who have you connected today? As you can see it is not hard. If someone needs you then try your best to help them, trust me the reward always is in the giving. Don’t worry about your wants; you will be well taken care of. Ask me how I know :)

Your thoughts are welcome...

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https://youtu.be/NHQm0qBTbaI

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 #TeachTrainEducate

MJW

Do it all

Hello Readers,

Have you ever had the notion or feeling that you can do it all? Let me explain what I mean by "it all." Let's say you want to write a book, you have a full-time job, and you want to open an online store. None of these have a specific niche right? Your book can be about your personal life, your full-time job can be in IT, and your online store will feature shoes to sell. None of these have anything to do with each other. However, you love all three areas. The question I have now is, why not? Why can't you pursue all three areas? Do all three is what I say. I am reading a book entitled “Born For This” by Chris Guillebeau. Chris has a name for the strange notion or feeling you have, it is called "workshifting." Workshifting, according to Chris is different from multitasking. Workshifting is when you navigate multiple projects and interest by focusing fully on something for a while then deliberately shifting to focus on something else. Society has taught us to multitask, which by the way the brain cannot do. The brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Society has also taught us to find a niche and be really, really good at that niche. I am not knocking being great at something, by all means we cannot be great at everything. However, I do encourage you to step out and try it all. Let's look at some examples, Steve Harvey is a comedian who just launched a bacon product, Richard Branson has an airline and a record label, and Oprah has a TV network and she is a gardener. None of these people are tying themselves down to a niche (even though they have one). They know what they're great at and they decided to do other things they love. They simply just workshift from day-to-day and hour by hour focusing on what they feel they want to focus on at a specific scheduled time. I love careers and helping people with their careers, this is why I am a career and life coach. I believe your life involves your career. You cannot have a career without living your life. However, I also love to empower women; this is why I just launched I.M.A.G.IN.E., my annual women's empowerment conferences. I am also a blogger and aspiring author. I have many other dreams that are not in relation to each other. The bottom line is I know what I'm great at however; I'm not going to allow my “niche” to stop me from pursuing what I want to do in different areas. If I don't do so well in one of my many endeavors in the near future, then I will Keep It Moving (KIM) and I encourage you to do the same (notice I did not say if I fail). Go to Amazon.com and purchase Chris's book. It will cause you to think very differently about your life and career path moving forward. I am just happy there's a name for what I knew I had, I am a workshifter, are you? Don't get stuck in your niche, try it all.

Your thoughts are welcome...

Check out this week's Career Tip YouTube video and subscribe.

https://youtu.be/NHQm0qBTbaI

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MJW

What are you waiting on?

Hello readers,

I recently stepped out in faith for one of my MANY visions. I recently hosted my first annual women's empowerment conference. I have envisioned myself  hosting conferences because I attend them annually and the information I gain from the speakers is knowledgeable and applicable. I went to a conference earlier this year and said to myself "you know what Marla I can do that." So I started my journey. I had four dynamic speakers and nine vendors which resulted in people showing up. The support I had could not be explained. It was not a huge crowd however, it was a start. Now the buzz is out there and people are asking about next year's conference in which I am currently in the planning phase for. It is very exciting to have a vision and step out on it. I know one of my callings is to set a platform for women to speak and this is how I am going to achieve it.  Steve Harvey calls it  "taking a  leap." You have to take the jump. The worst that can happen is you fail and failing is only in the eye of the holder. So I ask, what do you need to take a leap of faith on? What is burning on the inside for you to do? I did not have all the answers but I did it anyway. I am looking forward to planning on making my women's conference one of the premier conferences here in my home town. How cool is that?

What do you need to take a leap of faith for? What are you waiting on?

Your thoughts are welcome...

Check out this YouTube video on leaping and subscribe.

https://youtu.be/NHQm0qBTbaI

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Thank you for reading

MJW

Leadership Series: Being an Executive Leader

Hello Readers,

A few months ago I asked some of the members of my executive staff at my place of employment few career questions (I encourage you to do the same). As I have interviewed and spoken with many leaders in various positions I come across a common theme. The theme was that each leader had to learn a valuable lesson; leadership is different from what they expected, especially on an executive level. Read the tips I gathered from Adam Silva, a well-respected executive leader. Disclaimer, these are his words straight from the heart. I learned a lot here. My favorite is number 2. Let me know what your favorite is.

Question #1: 1. Did you always see yourself as an executive of an organization? Was it something you pursued?

1. I understood being a senior executive was less about me and more about those I would lead and manage. I had to learn this later in my career.

2. I realized being a leader and manager in an organization meant doing all I could to combine and practice deep personal humility with the professional will to succeed in service to others and the organization’s mission.

3. My definition of success has two components: First, personal relationships - the ability to love and be loved. And second, commitment to a transcendent cause - a cause greater than self. Love and serve those you lead and work with and immerse yourself in pursuit of your corporate mission and you have the ingredients for success in your career. 

Question #2: What did you do to get to where you are now in your career? What steps did you take intentionally for personal and career growth?  (This one I could not paraphrase, it was too rich with good information)

1. I’ve read many articles and books about professional development and have received tons of advice on what to do to succeed in my career. To be honest, I’ve listened to little of it. The long and short of my career progression comes down to two things: 1. I made professional and career decisions, often “head scratchers,” based on what was best for my family, specifically my marriage and my children (in that order). 2. I simply tried to do the next right thing, whatever that was at the time. The two greatest professional decisions I’ve ever made were graduating from West Point in 1993 and marrying my wife one month later. I was once asked what my greatest business success/decision was and my answer stumped the interviewer. I told him, without sarcasm, “I chose the right woman.” He responded with, “No, not a personal decision, a professional decision.” I simply said, “choosing (or being blessed by God with) my wife was the best thing I ever did for my career. Everything I’ve done has been with her support and without her I don’t know where I’d be.” I don’t think he truly understood what I was saying but I surely do. The strength of my marriage and the relationship I have with my wife makes everything in my professional life possible.

Question 3: What 3 tips can you provide someone who wants to grow in their career?

 

1. Be humble and hungry (humility and professional will)

2. Serve others and a cause greater than self. 

3. Practice integrity in all you do - be honest and tell the truth with love and kindness but ALWAYS tell the truth.

Watch the Career Tip of the Week here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRSxRwl44lA

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Your thoughts are always welcome…

MJW