It always seems "darkest" before your breakthrough.

DON'T YOU DARE QUIT.

As a fellow busy woman with 25+ years in the executive corporate world, as a nonprofit Founder, and as a Women’s Leadership Consultant, one primary key I embrace is keeping it simple!

On this worldwide sacred weekend, I want to candidly share with you five ways to GO BEYOND THE NO’S of life to make your dream a reality.

Obstacles along life's path can attempt to deter your dream of sharing your unique voice and message with the world. The most successful people today had to face many obstacles along the way. It took effort, determination, and perseverance to reach their goals.

You may experience your fair share of the journey's pain. Discouragement from family, friends, co-workers, and people you know and trust can be challenging to handle. But obstacles don't mean you can't keep moving forward.

When you face rejection from employers, friends, and family members...

 Are you familiar with the children’s song…” One of these things is NOT like the other”?

 I was sitting at the breakfast nook table, sipping my favorite blend of Hazelnut coffee and minding “my own business,” when my heart heard the words…” Share your story so MORE people can be helped.”

My response…God, I do not understand; I do not know what you mean.

“Tell your story in a book; write it so I [meaning GOD] can reach more hearts than your local availability.”

After the shock, disbelief, and mixed feelings of inadequacy AND downright feebleness subsided, I began my quest.

What quest?

The journey of knowledge! I began to research how to author a book. I started reading other stories on how to draft a book.

I journaled about my discoveries.

I cried with friends about what I heard.

I prayed about what God spoke to my heart.

I told my closest friends about it.

Months later, I will tell others what I...

My choices today support my goals for tomorrow.

Each day is a reminder that I am one step closer to my goals. Keeping that in mind helps me to stay on track with the choices I make. I am responsible and mature enough to make strategic life decisions.

The focus that goal achievement requires rarely daunts me. When I think of my future success, I get excited about the prospect of getting there. I commit to what is important.

It is easy to avoid over indulgence when I know I have financial goals. I remind myself that taking care of the important things now is paramount. I am saving indulgence until I am able to celebrate achieving my objectives.

The relationships I form today determine the kind of future support structure I have at my disposal. I am careful with my choice of friends. I want them around for a long time.

When I am at a crossroads, I avoid making a choice based on my emotion of the moment. I realize how easy it is to be reactive when choosing by feelings. Instead, my...

Time is a gift to us from God.

He gives each of us a “time bank” of 24 segments of 60 minutes to allocate on a daily basis.

Time management is an essential skill and there's an easy and powerful way to master this skill. You can use it to block off hours in your schedule and get more things finished. It enables you to take control of your minutes each day.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalms 90:12 NKJV

Follow this process to take advantage of this valuable technique:

1. Start with planning. Make a list of all of your important tasks for the week. Then, narrow this list down to three to five essential tasks.

• Be realistic about your planning. Avoid thinking that you can do a million tasks in one day or week.

2. Block your hours. After you have a shortlist of tasks, block the hours on your schedule. This is called time blocking and essentially requires you to take each hour and assign a task...

Happy Independence week to you and yours!

This is the time the United States of America celebrates the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), approval of the Declaration of Independence, severing the colonies' ties to the British Crown.

We were granted…FREEDOM!

As a forever observant student of life, I am looking forward to the inspired Leadership Lessons from this week's festive experiences

The first inspired lesson arrived EARLY morning…July 4^th at 12:30 A.M. from my bedroom balcony as I enjoyed the moon shining on the ocean, my heart heard...

"Michele, will you become INDEPENDENT of worry, doubt and unsubstantiated fear in a NEW degree AND become FULLY dependent upon Me?!"

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 NIV

Jesus came to set us FREE…from the “tyranny” of stress, worry, anxiety and fear! He took each of them...

Calling out the "busy" women.

Am I the only one?

It seems the moment I attempt to sit down to draft a new blog, a course, or outline a book of which my sisters are requesting input...

It seems all of "hell" launches a full-court campaign to DISTRACT me!

Two quick questions for you to ponder:

•  What is the definition of “distraction”?

The dictionary states “something that prevents someone from giving their attention to something else”.

• What is God prompting your heart and calling you to give attention?

As a visionary, inspirational speaker, best selling author I must candidly expose the enemy's trap…once God places that “project” in your heart the distractions as my beloved Grandmother would say “will come out of the woodwork!”

Distractions get in the way every day, keeping you from being as productive as you might like. These distractions come in many forms, from ringing doorbells and...

Do you tell yourself that you’ll get started on your big plans at some future date? You can start a business after the kids graduate from college? Or, maybe you’ll just wait until Memorial Day to begin your exercise program. We’ve all done it. There always seems to be a good reason not to get started right here and now.

Are you sure you know the real reason you’re waiting? If you’re waiting to begin pursuing your dreams, you’re likely just procrastinating!

Consider these excuses. Is one of them yours?

1. You’re waiting for the perfect time. Are you waiting for the stars to align and the heavens to tap you on the shoulder and give you permission? You’ll be waiting for a long time. The time will never be perfect to get started on something significant, so just get started.
   
   
2. You’re waiting for something else to happen first. Maybe you’re waiting for the kids to move out or for the mortgage to be paid off. Or you’re...

How does the dictionary define the word, MOTHER?

• a female who has given birth to offspring
• a female substituting in the function of a mother
• motherly qualities, such as maternal affection
• a female or thing that creates, nurtures, protects, etc
• a title given to members of female religious orders

In serving thousands of families in the past twenty years, the thought and emotions evoked of Mother's Day can vary based on your particular life experiences and encounters.

It can bring joyful childhood memories and warm thoughts of raising your own children. It can be filled with gut-wrenching sorrow over the loss of natural children, infertility or broken relationships with adult children. It can also be a time to reflect on the countless lives you have impacted as a "spiritual/ mentor" mom to others.

Regardless of the "mother" scenario, we can be encouraged to know God thought highly enough of YOU to bring you to plant earth through the womb of a woman!  

 "Before I made...

What is the one goal or activity you want to fulfill this week, month, or year?

It may seem daunting; you feel it will drain you or, in extreme cases, feels the mere act of starting the task will “suck the life juices” out of you!

If you have felt this way, be encouraged you're NOT alone as I shine the light on the enemy of every project God places on my heart.

What is it?

PROCRASTINATION!

 Today, I’m going to expose its meaning, methodology, modes, and, most of all, how to take MASTERY over it!

Meaning

The dictionary defines it as:

a/ the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.

b/ to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.

c/ to keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring

Methodology

Procrastination is a type of avoidance behavior characterized by deferment of actions or...

Adele, Cher, Joyce, Prince, Joel, or Michael.

What does each of these mononymous [famous people known by one name] have in common?

They each recognize their UNIQUE trait (s)

They each accepted the uniqueness and finally made the choice to share it with the world.

As a result, their uniqueness commands prominence and premium value in their respective arenas.

 They are allowing their lives to SHINE!

Do you realize no two diamonds are alike?!

Each stone's complex characteristics cannot be duplicated, and no twodiamondscan ever be the same. Each stone, like its owner, is endowed with a personality and characteruniquelyits own.  

DIAMONDS ARE UNIQUE AND DISTINCT. NO TWO ARE ALIKE! 

By God’s design you, too, are intentionally unique.  Why would you want o to compare yourself 6o anyone else on the earth?   

“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we...