PATIENCE

Patience...Everything doesn't always happen right away. If time is of the essence then that's an exception to the rule.  Since we're all individuals and possess our own logic and measure of common sense we will always see things our way.  This doesn't mean we can't compromise or that we're selfish, but its those simple things that puts our eye on our prize.  I myself can become quite anxious about things I set my sights on.  That could be both good & bad.  Good in a sense that I'm focused on a specific goal, bad if I rush the results.  When you rush results you usually get the wrong one because you didn't think something through and didn't see the mess coming.  The golden rule applies to us all "Everything ain't for everybody". Sometimes its key to sit back and let things take its natural course so that you get what you're suppose to. When we set our expectations too high its almost inevitable we'll get disappointed.  I haven't said much about patience but you get it.  If not, be easy, don't look for instant results. This is why we don't see  through diets, new hobby projects, trash new products if we don't get results right away, ditch a partner if they don't move fast enough. Patience is had but can be learnt, and necessary to possess.  Most important, be patient with the people in your life, friends family etc.  This is your surface, and that has to be solid.  There's nothing wrong with taking your time to let things grow...
NOW - Think about something you're waiting for that's really important to you, and put yourself on the back of the line in the above picture, get a bottle of water, a magazine and fall back because sometimes that's how it feels waiting on something you really want.  But it's worth it..

Nikki Strong

Stay In Your Lane.. It's ok to be you!

I'll be the first to admit, my worldy personality has gotten me in some real trouble in the past.  It's not such a bad thing if you don't fall victim to the opposition, but it is if you can't come back from it. Being optimistic is a good thing some times, however you have to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.  Let's talk about the typical case of "Stay In Your Lane".  If you're a CEO of a major corp, or a high profile exec of some sort, stop trying to date the underdog, they don't get it! You'll be light years away from each other when it comes to possessions, ambitions, life ideas, possibly morals and values and surely social skills.  I don't mean to sound snug, but upscale people can't fuck the help, sorry it's simply lust for the forbidden.  I won't say it can't happen, I'm just saying know when it can't and the majority of the time it doesn't!  The truth is you may even come from  a rural neighborhood and worked your way to the top, but you live a different lifestyle now than where you come from and it doesn't go along with Janice the housekeeper or John the UPS man.  These are hard working robots t live day to day, check to check, and you live off a cushioned corporate account that puts the world at your finger tips.  When you have this sort of imbalance it creates an uncertainty in the not so fortunate partner and they set out to prove you not so special after all.  Mean while all you're doing is living your life, so you don't see the curve ball coming. You're paying for trips, food, gifts, helping out where you can, and not giving your partner a chance to be equal.  Before you know it, they began to separate themselves from you because they've decided to get you before you get them, sad but true.  You may not need a top notch exec, but someone who has a like mind and see the world as big as you see it, or is open to seeing the world you see would be ideal, but do save yourself the time and energy, and "Stay In Your Lane" and get out of theirs the minute you see the gears shift.  You'll know when it happens, just don't convince yourself it's not happening. LOL.

If you have a creative & active mind and can make something out of nothing then you're damn near a genius, but what do you really do???  Today there's so many outlets in life for us to be all that we can be we don't know where to start.  I've started about 5 different companies, 4 different books, and of course a new lp.  Now all that would be the norm for my lifestyle, but there's probably only one or two things that I do really well.  I've been working on my own website outside of blog, creating my own bio, writing proposals for specific events, amongst a thousand other things.  It wasn't until everyone I partnered with on each project started calling my phone like "Yo where's the draft, or the demo, or the link to the site"? I stopped and said,  "you're in over your head, get in your lane".  I had realized I wasn't superwoman and needed to deligate some of these duties to people who actually do these things.  Once I realized I wasn't the truth, lol, my days got lighter and I got faster and more efficient results and completed more tasks.  NO matter how smart you think you are, there's someone smarter, more talented, quicker, stronger, or whatever.  My point is don't try and do it all yourself if you can help it, the one thing Russell Simmons said to me and I'll never forget.  If you're starting a business you must hire people that are smarter than you, or at least know more than you in other areas of your business so that you can cover all your ground and not fall through the cracks trying to do it all.  You have to learn to trust other people and let in other ideas besides yours.  Be great at being you and doing what you do, because staying in your lane will get you there faster!

Video of the week, Chris Brown "She Ain't You"

Take your moment, you first!

Take your moment! So today I stole a day. I blew off a colleague, skip the gym, rescheduled my doctors appointment all because the moment came over me like Madea on a mission and you couldn't stop me.  That's right I went to the beach, say something! I'm big on finding my private space, I will ditch family friends whoever is in the way.  I'm the master of "I'm not here" lol.  You can knock on my door, hear the t.v. on, see someone walking through the house, and I WILL NOT, answer my door, because more than likely I'm 'Taking My Moment". It's important to make quiet time for yourself.  I choose places that are close to nature because that's what you need when looking for serenity & calm.  Some people find refuge in shopping, working out, the spa, salon, whatever floats your boat, just do it! If you live in a house with 2-5 people or work damn near all day everyday, or one of those people who take on other folks problems, personal space is very necessary. You find yourself becoming what everyone else expects you to be or conforming to  the situation at hand in order not to shake anyone, or make someone feel bad. NO, NO & NO!!! Fuck them! I say that with all sensarity, because there are people who are completly selfish and know how to manipulate people to get them where they want.  Here's where taking your moment really matters, try telling people no sometimes, try leaving people alone sometimes that your always there for, because they may also need to "Take A Moment" Don't become the manipulatee.  If you have a schedule to keep, then keep it, don't put your life aside to help someone else shoot past you, or slow you down from making your own progress.  God created us equal but individually.  Which means you need you to be you so that I can see who I am and visa versa.  It's cliche, but "people make the world go round".  It's important not to fall victim to the  needs of others to the point where you forget about you. Taking Your Moment will refresh your thoughts, give you a better look at things from the outside, give you more insight about yourself you didn't know existed because you had been under the spell of others so you may lose a part of you. Don't play too hard in the paint, you may end up on the bench watching from the side lines! Everyone! needs a vacation I don't care if it's your father who don't believe in taking a day off from mta for the past 30 years, or your mother who thinks she can't get sick because the family will need her, I mean I can go on, but my point is. If you feel like your world is becoming too much and your head is about to explode, then  "Take Your Moment"it's important for your self preservation.


Nikki Strong

Beyoncé - Run The World (Girls)

"Good People" are an asset!

GOOD People, hmmm where do I start?  I know for a fact I have a problem with yes men, people who can't stand up for themselves, people that tend be at your beck and call.  Does that make them GOOD People, not necessarily.   GOOD people are people you can count on and you know they'll be there when things go left for you. Unfortunately a lot of us who need people like that shon them away because we're too busy being independent, tough, especially a lot of single women. BUT we tend to be attracted to chasing that person or that thing that doesn't chase us.   Not me, I'm GOOD..LOL, It's unfortunate that a lot of us will live alone, vacation alone, eat alone, and probably die alone because we're unfamiliar with something as simple as being nice. Not for nothing, I think the so called not GOOD person is probably just as nice, possibly scared to show that side of them. Even when these type of folk are out and about with friends and family and I use both of those words loosely, they're still alone.  To no fault of their own, it's in our nature to chase the unatainable, but it's also in our nature to be smart and learn to love what we need instead of what we want.  That my friends, is called Wisdom! The older the wiser for sure, but in a lot of cases some folks will never change who they are, because it hurts more to be a little soft then it does to pretend you don't care.  I hear you, but I'm not listening.  There's also the case of things simply being a bad habit.  A number of people are molded into these people and don't know where it started so they may never come out of their funk.  However, I crave for GOOD people in my life, in my family's life in my work place, because when it's time to take off the tough suit and the lights go out and day or the year was long, you have what you need right there.  Understanding..  I'll admit, I like a challenge but when the challenge doesn't amount to anything but a challenge, it's get's old quick, and becomes a waste of energy.  In the work place we're more focussed on the cool guy or girl that almost never get's anything done, but makes us laugh, knows how to have fun, and we tend to forget about the hardworking person that's making everything happen because well...they're just too damn nice, and too weak to stand up for themselves.  These are the people that can be employed for years, and never get a promotion, but get more job detail every 6 months.  NOT GOOD! Listen there's more GOOD in me than bad but, when you don't speak up for yourself I can't help you.  I'm not mad at the GOOD person, but there has to be a limit to it, and there has to be a limit to the oposition.  I'm thinking balance is the key so BE GOOD to yourself, learn to compromise with life because there is no one side to it, come out of your comfort zone.  You can catch more bees with honey. In my Jay-Z voice (Ladies & Gentlemen, these are just my thoughts) Have a good weekend!

That Was Yesterday!!!

 Today is a new day, don't be bothered by what you could have had or what you should have done.  Be excited about what you're GOING to do and what you WILL have.
I'm sure we all beat ourselves up daily about what we could have done to change a situation or redirect some negative energy and turn it into a positive.  We're all human!
REALITY CHECK!  Every second that passes is just that, the past, it's now a part of history, whether it's last year, minute or second.  Some things are out of our control, I've gone some years with not so much as regrets, but surely some discomfort in some important decisions I made that would ultimately shape my past.  My impulse is sometimes stronger than my reality.  There's no winning in fighting things you can't control, it's a waste of energy.  Since we all know thoughts become things it's important to stay as positive as possible, exercise it.  It's easier said than done, but it must be something to it if it's a challenge.  Moving forward is key!!

Nikki Strong