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  

Go Beyond the Limits & Push Your Boundaries

There are many benefits to being in charge; one of them is being able to make executive decisions (some call it “changing your mind”).  I don’t like writing a single blog on Fridays so I’m shifting it to Mondays (for now, right?).

There’s a commercial that’s on TV right now that says this line, “The only limit is the one you set yourself.”

I have no clue what they’re selling, but no matter what I’m doing, every time I hear that line I pause in my tracks, nod my head, and smile before I get back to work.

Where would you be – where COULD you be if you unleashed yourself?  If you just took the reins off and let loose, where would you end up?  Do you have any clue?  Could you even fathom a guess?  Is there a place you’re crossing your fingers for?  I bet most of you at least have that.  You’ve at least got a wish list of “best case scenarios” tucked away on a mental shelf somewhere.  I just ask, why keep ‘em tucked away?  Why not keep that list in plain view to serve as a constant reminder of where you hope to go?  Who you hope to be?  Instead you’ve got it shoved so far back into your closet that you’ve got a better chance of finding Narnia than your wish list.  All I’m suggesting is that you begin to see the possibilities within your list as opposed to seeing everything as impossible.

If fifty people were rallying behind you, saying, “Oh my gosh!  You should do it!  You should totally do it!  You’ll be awesome!”  I have no doubt that you would at least try.  Of course you would – who wouldn’t? That many people singing your praises…egging you on with positivity…fists pumping in the air…knuckles bumping in unison.  The only thing that scene is missing is a dancing flash mob cheering you on.

Here’s the only bit of (nasty) reality that I’m gonna give you:  the flash mob probably won’t show up.  Sorry.  But the fifty people rallying behind you are there, whether you see them or not.  No, I don’t see dead people.  What I’m saying is you have way more people pulling for you than you think or even know, but if you’re waiting for them to come, all at once, and shake you out of your funk, you might be waiting for a long time.  Your cheerleaders come in the form of family members, close and extended… close friends… teachers and professors… boyfriends… girlfriends… spouses… children… the list really goes on and on.  And every single day you place a limit on yourself, you let one of your cheerleaders down because they’re watching you.   They’re watching, hoping and waiting on you to break free from your chains and run like Forrest Gump to all of your dreams.  Just what if one of them was possible?  What if it’s actually doable?  What if you’re the missing ingredient?  What if you’re the missing link?  What if you’ve been holding the key(s) to your success this whole time?  Why not remove the limit from yourself and find out?

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

photo:  www.stockfreeimages.com

Do You Know Who You Are?

Please understand that I love what I do.  I absolutely love that I’m a dream-chaser.  I love performing.  I love writing and entertaining.  I really do.  I love that I am a believer.  I love knowing that the sky is my only limit.  Whew!  What a feeling!

But last night I was taken to a place.  I was taken to a place that made me want to act a straight up fool.  I attended a casting panel discussion, and as always at those kinds of things there are more than a couple wide-eyed newbies hoping to get the secret to success.  Hoping and praying to God that mega knowledge will get dropped and they will leave the event ten steps closer to superstardom.  Is it possible?  Absolutely, because I believe anything is possible.  But to the wide-eyed hopefuls I would first say, “Know who you are and know your worth.”

As opposed to being concerned with:

-- Do I join SAG or don’t I?

-- Is my hair the right length?

-- I have a lot of story ideas but I’m not sure how to proceed.

-- I don’t want to be type-cast.

Can I just please ask you to stop?  Please.  Here’s my advice to you:  figure out what you want, and get very specific with your answer.  “I want to be famous,” won’t suffice.  What do you WANT?  To get a novel published?  To land a spot on a sitcom?  To land a national commercial?  To land a Broadway role?  To become a staff writer for network or cable TV?  To have your music featured in a major film?  What do you WANT?  And take some time to figure it out because I want you to get needle-point specific with this thing.  Yes – split hairs.  Yes – get down to the minute details of it.  Be able to declare it in a single sentence and make certain that’s a sentence that speaks clearly to all – even those that don’t work in your field.  Get specific.

Once you know exactly what you want, I need to know who you are and what you’re bringing to the table.  And it’s not so much that I have to know; more so that I need YOU to know.  Get very clear here.  Who are you as it relates to the “what” that you want?  If you want to be a master painter are you at least a so-so painter right now?  If you aim to be a restaurateur are you bringing to the table an impeccable palate?  Who are you and what are you bringing to the table – as it relates to your ultimate goal?  Define those things and again, get very specific.  Go ahead and put pen to paper and make a list that you can see with your own eyes.  Study that list.  Highlight your strengths and take note of the areas where you need improvement.  And then get excited because no matter how much improvement you need, you’re now closer than you think.  You can now have an intelligent conversation with anyone about what you’re trying to accomplish and you will sound much more learned and confident now that you’ve defined these things for yourself.  They may or may not be able to directly assist you on your journey, but you will leave a positive impact as opposed to being a passing thought.  And at the end of the day that’s what we all want…to be remembered – positively.  And that’s an energy you have the power to create for yourself.

Take this post for nothing.  Take it for everything.  But you will never get anywhere without first knowing who you are and what exactly you’re bringing to the table.  Trust me; they can all smell your fear and desperation a mile away.  If you do nothing else you had better stand up straight and “act as if,” because nobody wants to help someone that appears to not know where they’re going.

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

photo:  www.stockfreeimages.com

Out With the Old, In With the New Year!

I have no doubt that today is a day of reflection for many. It’s the last…the end of yet another 365 day cycle; and good, bad, or indifferent, we’ve made it. Fingers crossed, we will wake up tomorrow morning with smiles on our faces ready to meet the highs and lows of the year we’re calling 2013. Today is indeed a good day. And for the final time this year, I will share with you what I’ve managed to get done. With the goal of accomplishing one new thing each month, this is how my 2012 shaped up…

JANUARY

STEPPING ON A FEW TOES successfully completed another run by participating in Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2012.

FEBRUARY

I participated in another installment of URBAN LEGENDS, a poetry showcase held several times a year in Hollywood, CA.

I co-directed the short play THE BLACK HISTORY OF POLITICS written by Justin Key.

MARCH

I was a featured guest on the Rare Woman show, and the interview can be heard here: http://gvbradio.com/archives/rarewoman-031612.mp3

APRIL

I worked at this year’s Milk and Bookies (http://www.milkandbookies.org/), which is a celebrity charity event that focuses on literacy and giving books to children that don’t have access to books of their own. It was a wildly fun event and I was part of a host of character actors brought in to entertain the kids in attendance. The character I played? The White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland, and yes – Alice was there with me. We had a blast.

In addition, I had the great fortune of being the guest on the Rare Woman radio show again last Friday. Feel free to listen here: http://gvbradio.com/archives/rarewoman-042712.mp3.

MAY

STEPPING ON A FEW TOES had a successful run of a show sponsored by the Rare Woman organization on May 12, 2012.

I was the guest speaker at A Celebration of Strong Women presented by The Dream Catcher’s Foundation on May 31, 2012.

JUNE

I worked as Associate Producer on CAN YOU SPARE SOME CHANGE, an indie short written and directed by Nicolle Whalen. It’s a comedic film taking a look at how far one will go to secure funds for a film. In addition it gives perspective on the homeless living in Los Angeles. I had a small cameo in the film as well.

JULY

I have created my very first poetry CD. The title is STILL STANDING and it’s a compilation of some of my most intimate pieces, really letting you into the life and mind of the person that is Jasmynne Shaye. My poems are laid to original music by Jasonic Audio. I’m calling it the soundtrack of my life. Interested in owning your own copy? Email Noelle Ryan for info: soft_noelle@yahoo.com

AUGUST

I have been hired to be a regular contributor for the new online presence: YEAH I SAID IT MAGAZINE (http://yeahisaiditmagazine.com/). I was invited by the site's founder and creator, Bonnie Sludikoff, because of my unique writing style. With this site it is her goal to cultivate conversations that engage and enlighten at the same time. I am super excited to be a part of this fresh, new online space, and I can't wait to unleash my tongue on the world! Yeah, I said it! [More info regarding the site's official launch will be forthcoming.]

SEPTEMBER

I was one of three selected artists invited to provide entertainment at this year’s Miss California Ethnic World Pageant. I performed an excerpt from my one-woman show, STEPPING ON A FEW TOES, and had an absolute blast. It was a great opportunity and a wonderful experience.

OCTOBER

I worked as Associate Producer on a short film written by David Burrus, Sr and David Burrus Jr. It’s called PARANEGRO ACTIVITY and is an obvious take on the popular Paranormal Activity series. The film is directed by Jaimyon Parker and it describes how events are likely to unfold if the freaky events were to take place within the home of a African American family. The set was ton and I’ll stop right there before I get to giving it all away. As always, it was a blast to be able to team up with Jai Parker again. His brilliance and creativity continues to blow me away. Stay tuned for more updates on PARANEGRO ACTIVITY.

NOVEMBER

Both sites get a facelift!! That’s right gang… the Jasmynne Shaye website and the Stepping On a Few Toes site both have fresh new looks – wait for it – created by yours truly!! Yesireebob! I did it all myself. I put that challenge on myself a few months ago, and I tied myself to a computer until they were complete. So I welcome you to check them both out. Now each site is equipped with an online purchasing section where you’re able to pick up your own copy of the show as well as other fun things. So go on…have a look-see and tell me what you think.

DECEMBER

In a sentence: I made it to New York.

I set goals for myself every year but I’ve never forced myself to achieve monthly accomplishments. In doing so I stretched myself and saw that I’m capable of much more than I thought. And having to remain accountable to my readers was key. Of course I never wanted to let myself down, but I certainly didn’t want to ever have to come to you all with my tail between my legs saying, “I tried.” This was such a worthwhile project and I think it’s one I may have to carry over into next year, and I really urge you all to join me. Just by putting this kind of expectant, positive energy into the universe good things come to you that you hadn’t even thought of or asked for. Three easy steps:

1. Set the goal

2. Make a plan

3. Follow through

It’s really not that difficult. Even the most daunting tasks can be broken down into bite-sized pieces. I think the important thing is to do something everyday. When you lay your head to rest each night you should be able to do so with a smile on your face knowing that you’re one step closer than you were before that day began. It’s so empowering and it totally builds your self-confidence. I am now at the place where I no longer believe anything is impossible. Everything is possible as far as I’m concerned and I’m excited to unwrap the box of possibilities that is waiting for me on the other side of midnight.

I want to take a moment to thank you all for journeying with me on this blog all year. You have given me so many kind words and so much encouragement. I sincerely thought me and my imaginary friends would be the only people reading this thing and you guys have shocked the pants off me. Thank you HUGE and many blessings to you all. I pray 2012 has given you at least one thing to smile about and I hope 2013 continues to build on that positive energy. I really think we’re all gonna be in for a wild ride and I could not be more excited! Whew! Come on guys! Celebrate (safely) tonight and kiss number ’12 good-bye, because ’13 has told me, “We ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”

Thank you so much for hanging out with me. I love you guys!

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

photo:  http://www.prlog.org/12032440-new-year-2013.jpg 

Two Websites Get a Little Nip/Tuck

My friends, we’re here.  We’ve somehow managed to stumble our way through this year they’re calling 2012 and we’ve made it to her last and final month.  Whew!  What a time?!?  Good grief!  In all of my conversations with friends and acquaintances I’m hearing across the board that 2012 brought folks a special kind of hell that most were not accustomed to, and certainly unprepared for.  Worry not.  We’re about to bid her fair well, and happily welcome 2013 with open arms.  But before we do, let’s do our best to give 2012 a run for her rusted coins by showing her we’re not gonna take her silliness lying down.  I’m certainly telling her to put up her dukes ‘cause it’s do or die time right now and I refuse to go out like a punk!

Here’s a look at my year so far...

JANUARY

STEPPING ON A FEW TOES successfully completed another run by participating in Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2012.

FEBRUARY

I participated in another installment of URBAN LEGENDS, a poetry showcase held several times a year in Hollywood, CA.

I co-directed the short play THE BLACK HISTORY OF POLITICS written by Justin Key.

MARCH

I was a featured guest on the Rare Woman show, and the interview can be heard here: http://gvbradio.com/archives/rarewoman-031612.mp3 

APRIL

I worked at this year’s Milk and Bookies (http://www.milkandbookies.org/) which is a celebrity charity event that focuses on literacy and giving books to children that don’t have access to books of their own. It was a wildly fun event and I was part of a host of character actors brought in to entertain the kids in attendance. The character I played? The White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland, and yes – Alice was there with me. We had a blast.

In addition, I had the great fortune of being the guest on the Rare Woman radio show again last Friday. Feel free to listen here: http://gvbradio.com/archives/rarewoman-042712.mp3

MAY

STEPPING ON A FEW TOES had a successful run of a show sponsored by the Rare Woman organization on May 12, 2012.

I was the guest speaker at A Celebration of Strong Women presented by The Dream Catcher’s Foundation on May 31, 2012.

JUNE

I worked as Associate Producer on CAN YOU SPARE SOME CHANGE, an indie short written and directed by Nicolle Whalen. It’s a comedic film taking a look at how far one will go to secure funds for a film. In addition it gives perspective on the homeless living in Los Angeles. I had a small cameo in the film as well.

JULY

I have created my very first poetry CD. The title is STILL STANDING and it’s a compilation of some of my most intimate pieces, really letting you into the life and mind of the person that is Jasmynne Shaye. My poems are laid to original music by Jasonic Audio. I’m calling it the soundtrack of my life. Interested in owning your own copy? Email Noelle Ryan for info: soft_noelle@yahoo.com 

AUGUST

I have been hired to be a regular contributor for the new online presence: YEAH I SAID IT MAGAZINE (http://yeahisaiditmagazine.com/). I was invited by the site's founder and creator, Bonnie Sludikoff, because of my unique writing style. With this site it is her goal to cultivate conversations that engage and enlighten at the same time. I am super excited to be a part of this fresh, new online space, and I can't wait to unleash my tongue on the world! Yeah, I said it! [More info regarding the site's official launch will be forthcoming.]

SEPTEMBER

I was one of three selected artists invited to provide entertainment at this year’s Miss California Ethnic World Pageant.  I performed an excerpt from my one-woman show, STEPPING ON A FEW TOES, and had an absolute blast.  It was a great opportunity and a wonderful experience.

OCTOBER

I worked as Associate Producer on a short film written by David Burrus Sr and David Burrus Jr.  It’s called PARANEGRO ACTIVITY and is an obvious take on the popular Paranormal Activity series.  The film is directed by Jaimyon Parker and it describes how events are likely to unfold if the film's freaky happenings were to take place within the home of an African American family.  The set was a ton of fun, and I’ll stop right there before I get to giving it all away.  As always, it was a blast to be able to team up with Jai Parker again.  His brilliance and creativity continue to blow me away.  Stay tuned for more updates on PARANEGRO ACTIVITY.

NOVEMBER

Both sites get a facelift!!  That’s right gang... the Jasmynne Shaye website and the Stepping On a Few Toes site both have fresh new looks – wait for it – created by yours truly!!!  Yesireebob!  I did it all myself.  I put that challenge on myself a few months ago, and I tied myself to a computer until they were complete.  So I welcome you to check them both out.  Now each site equipped with an online purchasing section where you’re able to pick up your own copy of the show as well as other fun things.  So go on...have a look-see and tell me what you think.

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

photo:  stockfreeimages.com