Are you ready to Burn the Boats?

Burn the boats is a concept in which you leave no other option for yourself in the context of something that you would like to achieve. In other words, when you decide to go "All-In" with the mentality that you will either sink or swim in the pursuit of your dream, this act of certainty and determination will bring out the best in you! For those of you thinking that you can do more to realize your full potential, please reflect at this moment. I then encourage you to develop a plan and start executing asap. Forward momentum is what you’re looking for, and it begins with taking action. If you're waiting for the perfect time, it may never happen for you. That's just a feeble excuse. I’ve been there, done that, and before you know it, a precious year has passed you by. Will you make mistakes? Absolutely! Chalk this up as a valuable part of the process of finding your destiny. Moreover, it's vital to operate with a sense of urgency because tomorrow is not guaranteed. Now go make it happen! I'll end this post with one of my favorite quotes, “Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration.” -Evan Esar Please share your thoughts so we can learn and grow together. hashtag#motivation hashtag#passion hashtag#nyc

Recap of a Youth Workshop at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County, New Jersey

I had the most incredible Friday afternoon spending time with potential Leaders Of Tomorrow (LOT) at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was a pleasure to learn from members of Generation Z (Gen Z), and I thank the audience for allowing me the opportunity to share some of my real-life stories and views on the importance of gratitude. What’s more, I am appreciative of the level of engagement by everyone who attended the workshop. Now allow me to recognize Tonya Rufus, MBA, MS, for being the primary stakeholder for organizing this event. Her commitment and passion for helping today’s youth is a sight to behold. Special thanks to the incomparable Kim Jenkins Manigault, CPA, Elena D. Coley, Sonya Ruffin, and Melody Smith,MBA, for carving out some time in their schedules to participate. These leaders are on the frontlines in the community, making a difference, which I admire. As we approach Thanksgiving and in the spirit of the holiday season, I'm grateful for this experience, and I am committed to increasing my degree of activity with these kids in the future. Each One, Reach One! hashtag#volunteering hashtag#newjersey

My key takeaways from a recent lesson in Mindfulness...

During a meeting this week, I was exposed to a description of mindfulness by Rich Carter that had a profound effect on me. The definition is as follows: "Paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally." -Jon Kabat-Zinn As I absorbed the essence of this definition and engaged in a few mindfulness exercises, I then found myself in a peaceful state of mind. So at that moment, I made a mental commitment to add a form of these exercises into my daily playbook. Later that day, I went to one of my favorite thinking places to partake in my new daily ritual. This photo depicts the ambiance of said place. From the sounds of people talking on their cell phones and shoes tapping the marble flooring, I was calm, present, and grateful for the moment. I encourage you to make a conscious effort to be in the present moment more frequently. Thank you, Rich, for sharing your knowledge with the group. Please feel free to share your thoughts as we continue to learn together. Have a fantastic weekend! hashtag#mindfulness hashtag#nyc

Exploring New York City

The premise of this post is a byproduct of a discussion I had with Estefanía Zárate Angarita ♀, who currently resides in Denmark. She has been recently reporting from various parts of the world, including Denmark, Columbia, Egypt, and Portugal, to name a few places. I love it! Although circumstances don’t allow an immediate opportunity for me to travel the globe in this regard, I’ve decided to use this as a reason to explore my surroundings. Admittedly, I’ve taken some of the uniqueness of my environment for granted because it was my usual. As a person that grew up in New York City, I’ve only had a few occasions that I’ve explored NYC as a tourist. Thus, on this frigid Saturday afternoon, I've decided to be purposeful and explore as such. I've found myself cruising along the Hudson River with people admiring the view of the city. At that moment, I closed my eyes and made a conscious effort to be fully present. Then, I felt the sounds of the Ferry colliding against the river while observing the joyfulness of the diverse group of individuals on the cruise. To that end, I encourage you to practice being present whenever possible, which will allow you to have a greater appreciation of the moment! Please share your thoughts with my LinkedIn family. hashtag#nyc hashtag#motivation hashtag#newjersey

Leaders of Tomorrow

I am delighted to be speaking at the Boys & Girls Club Erxleben Recreation Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on November 22 in partnership with the NBMBAA NJ Chapter, and its Leaders Of Tomorrow (LOT) initiative. The LOT program is a comprehensive programmatic approach for providing leadership development to high school students. Please allow me to extend a special thanks to Tonya Rufus, MBA, MS, Elena D. Coley, Sonya Ruffin, MBA, PHR, Adrienne Combs, MPA, SSM, SASM as well as the Boys & Girls Club for their active involvement in designing and offering this workshop. I look forward to participating in this event! hashtag#mentoring hashtag#makeadifference

What’s Your Theme for 2020?

What’s Your Theme for 2020? A friend recently asked, “What are my New Year’s resolutions?” It made me think of a thought-provoking 2013 article that I read in The Huffington Post that suggested instead of your typical resolutions, assign a theme to your New Year. With that in mind, I jumped on the Harborside Ferry in Jersey City to the World Trade Center (WTC) to give this thought some creative energy. As I strolled the underground mall of the WTC, allowing my ideas to manifest, I eventually arrived at the West Concourse escalators that lead to the street level. Befittingly, the sight of people traveling up the escalators captured my imagination, and just like that, my theme for 2020 revealed itself, “Elevate.” It breaks down into three categories: (1) Personal & (2) Professional Development: The relentless pursuit of maximizing my potential while achieving my goals. In doing so, I will continue to have an insatiable appetite to learn, listen, network, and write in a designed effort to level up. (3) Serving Others: Volunteer my available time to two organizations that are engaged in causes that I am passionate about and align with my core values. So…what’s your theme for 2020? I look forward to growing with you as we Elevate to the next level in the New Year! hashtag#nyc