Don't Waste A Single Quarter

The calendar year is broken up into four quarters:

-- Q1 – Jan, Feb, Mar

-- Q2 – Apr, May, Jun

-- Q3 – Jul, Aug, Sep

-- Q4 – Oct, Nov, Dec

When you look at it this way, it seems much more manageable in terms of setting goals and formulating a plan to reach them.  “Twelve months” sounds so daunting, but four quarters sounds doable; and three months sounds even better than that!

Take a look at that breakdown above…Quarter 1 is done.  It’s over and gone and we are well into Quarter 2.  And when Quarter 2 comes to an end that’s half of our year that we can kiss good-bye.  It really moves much quicker than you think, doesn’t it?  But no matter how you slice and dice it, it’s still 365 days.  It’s still 52 weeks.  It’s still 12 months.

Don’t be afraid to set goals, and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.  It’s only then that you really get to see what you’re made of – seriously.  You don’t know that you can leap a tall building until you try it.  If the only challenges you set for yourself are the ones you know you can manage – well that’s not really a challenge is it?

Test your limits and push your boundaries.  Find out who you are and what you’re made of.  You won’t know until you try.  And stop being afraid to fail.  Anyone worth their salt knows that failure is a necessary part of success.  The two go hand in hand.  It’s impossible to have one without the other.  Really.

So dig in there.  Set a goal for yourself.  Dream a little bigger than you did last year, and get ready to inspire others – because everyone’s watching. 

My year so far…

JANUARY

I received the final version and accompanying products for my STILL STANDING logo.  STILL STANDING is my personal message of survival that will be the final bit of punctuation necessary to round out my brand.  Items aren’t yet available for purchase, but they soon will be.  I want to thank Spencer Owens and his wonderful team at 1Six5 Designs for making my dream a reality.

FEBRUARY

I received the final word that STEPPING ON A FEW TOES would have its east coast debut in New York City on the campus of College of Mount Saint Vincent.

MARCH

STEPPING ON A FEW TOES had a successful east coast premiere in New York City on the campus of College of Mount Saint Vincent.  This presentation of the show was a part of the school’s tribute to Women’s History Month. 

I joined forces with, Bell Curves, one of the leading test prep agencies in New York.  The group offers test prep to populations that wouldn’t ordinarily be able to obtain such services. 

That it all for now.

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES. 

photo:  www.stockfreeimages.com  

Her Name Was Audrie Pott

A blogger friend of mine once posed the question to other bloggers:  “Why do you blog?”  He was flooded with replies from writers with just about every reason in the book, but the reason I most related to was:  DISCIPLINE.  Believe it or not there are many times when I don’t have the time to write, don’t have much of anything to say, or just flat out don’t feel like doing it.  But it’s the commitment to a weekly post that drives me.  I feel like if I can be disciplined enough to do this, then I can be disciplined enough to successfully commit and complete other tasks as well. 

Today is one of those days that I don’t really feel like it and I’m feeling like I’ve got nothing to write about. Wait – hold on a sec.  Let me clarify; I’m never without words and there is never a shortage of things for me to talk about.  The questions I’m always asking myself are:

(1) Will the readers get it?

(2) Will the readers care?

(3) Haven’t I talked about that before?

(4) Is that topic too personal?

I’m not gonna go on a long rant today, primarily because I’m not in the mood.  But I will tell you this:  the one thing that’s remained heavy on my mind for the past few days is the story of 15 year old Audrie Pott.  If you’ve not heard, Audrie committed suicide after being sexually assaulted by classmates.  I’m beyond sad for Audrie and her family, I really am.  I don’t know that I can even quite put it into words, but I’m completely devastated and floored by this news.  In 2013??  Seriously people?  I just don’t get it, and I don’t know when this kind of senseless behavior will end.  I’m just tired, and with every story of sexual abuse/assault that we hear of there are loads that go unreported.  Something has got to be done and I can’t continue to wait for someone else to do it.

That it all for now.

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES. 

photo:  http://news.yahoo.com

Nothing Is Wasted

For as long as I’ve known him, a good friend of mine has always said, “Nothing is wasted,” and it’s one of those things that you hear but you really don’t comprehend.  Like any other saying, it gets to be cliché over time, becoming nothing more than a string of words.  However, when I spoke to him last week, I think I finally comprehended it, as though I was hearing it for the first time. 

Nothing is wasted.  The Bible even says: all work produces profit.

This conversation with my friend came on the heels of me watching a vid of Tyler Perry doing his best to explain his secrets to success.  And to sum it up, TP essentially said all one can do is the work.  The only thing he could control was how many seeds he planted.

Let’s take a look at the agricultural analogy used.  A farmer studies his crop.  He tends to his soil to make certain the ground is fertile, and he plants his seeds at precisely the right time of year.  He’s done his job.  Unfortunately he can’t control the weather.  He has no clue whether it will be a perfect summer or if all of his crop will be destroyed by a horrific storm.  He could be heading into the longest drought in history, yet that doesn’t mean he’s failed as a farmer.  He did his part.

In the video Tyler goes on to explain that he lived a drought-like existence for many years before a raindrop hit his lips.  Today we see him as the mogul that he is.  It appears that any and every idea he has produces an abundance of fruit.  And that may well be true, but let’s go back to “Nothing is wasted.”  I believe that Tyler is not only reaping the benefits of the work he does today, but he’s also being rewarded for all those seeds he planted years before that didn’t bear fruit.   Nothing is wasted.  All work produces profit.  If you believe these things for yourself, it frees you to keep moving and it allows you to stop getting angry over what you don’t see.  You now understand there is no reason to doubt or complain about what you don’t have, because not one shred of your work, or of your effort will go to waste.  The only variable here lies with the seeds that you plant and the work you put in.  Once you’ve got this understanding, that’s really all you need to be concerned about, “What have I done?”   That’s it.  Are you continually planting seeds or do you get discouraged when you encounter a storm that destroys your work?  Do you get disgruntled and bent out of shape because you’re experiencing a period of drought?  How strong is your belief in you and the work that you’re doing?  If it’s rock solid you can rest easy because you truly understand that nothing is wasted.  Not a single drop of your work goes to waste.  Every ounce of your effort produces fruit.  All you have to do is be ready to handle the harvest that’s coming your way.

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES. 

photo:  http://www.gadgetreview.com

Gain Confidence. Gain Strength.

Have you ever gone to the movies by yourself?  Ever grabbed a table for one at a restaurant to enjoy some lunch or dinner?  Ever enjoyed some summer sun at the beach or in the park solo?  Ever dared to be seen at a bar, a party, or a club without a buddy or your entourage?  Are you settled and comfortable in your skin or do you feel like all eyes are on you when you’re out alone?  There’s something to be said for those individuals that have no problem going and doing all by themselves.  And for those that can’t seem to muster the courage to do so, I’ve gotta ask why.  What is it that keeps you from stepping out without the company of others?  Do you throw a stare of judgment to those that you see dining alone?  In secret do you have pity for them because they appear friendless in your eyes?  Or do you look on with envy wishing you had the guts to enjoy a spell of public solitude?  Either way, whether your stare is one of judgment or envy, the bottom line is the same.  You lack the confidence that they possess. 

Confidence is such a tricky thing because our family, friends and environment begin building up or tearing down our confidence when we’re infants.  The way we’re treated by our parents in our infancy directly impacts on how we interact with others once we begin school.  And how we’re treated in grade school directly impacts how we get along in high school.  And those high school and college interactions mold and shape our behavior for years to come.  So I get it and I hope others do as well.  When anyone talks about confidence, there’s a lifetime of interactions that need to be involved in that conversation.  It’s never as simple as what happened last week or last month.  If it were, it would be much easier to fix.  Confidence, over confidence, and lack of confidence are issues that run deep for us all and it’s nothing that comes with an over-the-counter cure.  This is an area that’s all about self-reflection and personal accountability.  It may take time, but the self-discovery is well worth it.  We should all make a point to examine our pasts to uncover those things that either gave us confidence or destroyed it.  Little by little you’ll begin to see where the right turns were made and what wrong ones to avoid in the future. 

Then it’s time to employ some personal responsibility.  Perhaps our parents weren’t perfect.  Maybe the kids on the playground were a little cruel.  But now we’re here and it’s time to make a decision not to let our past dictate our future.  It’s time for us to be confident IN SPITE of our pasts.  And trust me, it won’t happen overnight, and it’s not easy as pie – but it’s so dog’on empowering.  When you get to the place where you’re able to hold your head up high regardless of how you were picked on in school…regardless of how your parents treated you…regardless of what your high school friends thought of you… When you get to that place – there truly is no turning back and others will flock to you because you will have what they so desperately crave.

Confidence.  It’s a tricky thing, but it’s not impossible.

My name is Jasmynne Shaye, and this is me STEPPING ON A FEW TOES. 

photo:  www.stockfreeimages.com