Just Say "NO!"

Since returning to work after a one year hiatus from my career to devote to my son, I have been making huge strides towards building my business and career. Thankfully my hard work has not been in vain as I have been quite successful in building a livelihood for which me and my family can be proud. However, I recently have found that a potential enemy to my productivity is spreading myself too thin. As a result, I have begun to screen every opportunity to determine if they support my overall goals and objectives. When they don't, I have learned to just say, "no."

I've always been a person who does a lot of things well. In high school, I was a spokesperson for a foundation for young girls, a choir member, drama student, and JROTC Lieutenant. Oh, and I was a girlfriend too (haha). I managed to excel in school, obtain a college scholarship, and travel around the country singing with a choir. In addition, I managed to make every birthday, picnic, and holiday function. Nothing really seemed to suffer and so I carried these expectations to college and throughout my adulthood. However, over time I have found that the whole thing will possibly crumble if I don't narrow my focus.

As a teen, life was easy because I was only responsible for a few things: go to school, clean my room, and act like I had some sense. Of course there were deeper lessons to learn than I've mentioned, but you get my point. I had the freedom to "do it all" because I was only responsible for school, community service, my social life, and a few chores at home. Today, I'm responsible for nurturing my myself and marriage, mothering a child, paying bills, and building a business and career. They all require a level of focus that the JROTC drill team did not.

We as women wear numerous hats. We're daughters, wives, mothers, and career women. Our desire is to do it all well. Somehow, we find a way to multitask and complete five different tasks in one time frame. WE are AMAZING! But I dare say that we would would be much more productive if we had to the courage to say "NO". Every time we say "no", we say "yes" to those things/people that really need our attention; making our success inevitable.

I'm not sure if it's the pressure to succeed and be considered a "grinder" that has most of us staying busy, but frustrated by the lack of results. Perhaps our desire to have it all NOW causes us to say yes to everything. However, we later wake-up realizing that we've spent so much time being the jack of all trades, but master of none. There's nothing wrong with having lots of dreams, but every successful endeavor is built with intentional focus, practice and consistency. No business, relationship or career is built overnight. But if we're patient enough with ourselves and our process, think of how sweet the journey would be.

So I pose this question to you sis: What do you want? What do you really want? Is everything in your PDA supporting those goals? If not, then I charge you to get rid of empty activities and replace them with efficient tasks that directly support your vision. It's time to see you dreams manifested. It's time to say, "NO."

Be Consistent, Be Successful

With the new year still giving many of us a greater sense of motivation, lots of new goals have been written, proclaimed and sought after since January 1. But some may have told you that your too zealous; an idealist whose really not in touch with reality. But you're convinced that "you can do it"---and so am I.

Here's the challenge: many people don't realize their dreams because they don't work towards them---consistently. Anything done in spurts, once in awhile or just on a whim is not gonna cut it. You have to focus and be intentional about your goals. Otherwise, you'll look back a year from now wondering what happened and how you managed to let another dream slip through your fingers.

This shouldn't be another year of just hoping or talking about what you wanna do. Go do it! The worst that could happen is that you fall flat on your face and fail miserably in front of everyone. But instead of focusing on failure, focus on success. Answer the question, "What would I do if I knew I could not fail?" Your response to this question perhaps is what you should consistently focus on this year.

So here's your challenge for the month: What is ONE thing you are willingly to do consistently over the next 30 days? I know you have a long list of things you need to get to. But don't focus on the entire list. Just focus on ONE thing and do that ONE thing well and consistently. I don't doubt that you'll find yourself being more productive and closer to accomplishing that goal.

I wanna hear about your progress so feel free to shoot me an email and let me know about your journey.

Love ya!
Smooches!
...and hugs too!
Latasha

A Father's Love Letter

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."




My ladies,

How are you? I hope the week is going well for you. With Father's Day coming up, I cannot help but think of the men who have contributed greatly to my life, especially my husband. He is my friend, my lover, my hero! I love him deeply. And while I have been blessed to find the love of my life who happens to also be an incredible father to our son, I haven't always felt so blissful about love or Father's Day.

Like many girls I was raised in a single parent home by my mother. I had so many questions: where's dad, why'd he leave, what's wrong with me? With all the love and attention that my mother gave me, I still managed to slip into the same reckless cycle that most young girls and women slip into: I searched desperately for someone to love me without provocation. I did that for half my life, subconsciously begging guys to love me, or at least say they loved me even if I knew deep down that they didn't have the capacity to do such. I struggled with issues of trust and abandonment, not really believing that anyone would stay around too long. That particular road was tough and brutal, but by the grace of God I managed to end the cycle that was quickly killing my spirit and begin dealing with some of the issues that I had repressed for my entire childhood.

At 19, I ended my long-term relationship and immersed myself in reading the "love letters" of my Father. During that time, I was reminded of my worth, my value, and my beauty. Even with all my issues and brokenness, I was able to find so much validation in His presence and in His word(s). :)

Essentially lovelies, I want the same for you---the same freedom to smile, to laugh, to love and to be loved. I want the same peace for you, knowing that in time the pain and the hurt will subside and you will have joy again.

YOU are beautiful and you DO NOT have to bend the rules, lower your standards, or change the game to receive ANY of this. Being YOU is really enough. Being YOU is beautiful. He sees it. He, being the one that created you in all your beauty and even in all your quirkiness. :) Be yourself sis and trust that the One in whom you believe, and for me that's Christ, will give you everything that you need and desire in this lifetime.

I encourage you to dig a little deeper, go a little further, read a few more of your Father's love letters and believe---as I did---that no one can love you more than the Father. But the man that is willing to die trying perhaps is the one that is worthy of YOU.

Smooches lovelies!
...hugs too!
Latasha

He's Gotta Love You for YOU

Hey Darlings!

I hope you're feeling great these days and doin what needs to be done to ensure that you're getting proper rest, nutrition, spiritual nourishment, and sleep! I'm a mom, these sort of sentences flow through me effortlessly these days. Sorry! But I still hope you're taking care of yourselves!

I've been super busy the last few weeks with taking care of the baby, the home, and the hubby. Between the three of us the needs are great, but somehow we're finding the patience to handle it all---with grace. Interestingly, the husband has been growing exponentially in his spiritual life and well let me say, it's hot!

In so doing, he said something the other day that really stuck out to me. He said that he was listening to a message with author Jess Maccalum who was discussing his book entitled, "I Married Wonder Woman...Now What?: A Superhero's Guide for Leading and Loving the 'Proverbs 31' Wife" I found what he learned particularly interesting: respect your wife's ambitions and give her the room to make mistakes, build her home, and work her business or businesses---without giving her slack and a lot of well---his opinion! I'm paraphrasing but this is definitely good news because even being in 2009, there are still many men who think that we---the women, the wives---are good for nothing more than cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the kids. It's quite refreshing to know, the there's an army of men who are eager to embrace their ladies as "helpmates" and not "helpers". Trust me, there's a difference.

I say all this to say ladies, if you're following in the footsteps of the Proverbs 31 woman---she who is up before everyone and down when everyone has gone to bed; who is busy working her land, taking care of her helpers and/or employees, and ensuring that her family is prepared, in and out of season---then it is a MUST that you link with a partner whose going to bless you and praise you for who you really are. Anything less just won't due, and settling will only lead to resentment later. But if you are already linked to someone whose having trouble with this concept and you wanna give that rascal another chance, maybe you could drop a hint---and a book on his head so he can get a clue!

All the best in life and love!
Smooches!
...and hugs too!
Latasha

I'm Back and I'm Better!

Friends, Homies, Countrymen!
Lend me your ears!

I'M BACK!

I can’t believe how long it's been since I've shared and conversed with you! I've missed you...the advice, encouragement, and topic suggestions. If it’s any constellation, I haven’t just been wasting time. I’ve been pretty busy: performed in various films and industrials, sang for President Obama’s Inaugural Celebration on the Lincoln Memorial steps, wrote a play, started an entertainment company, and started planning the company’s launch for September. It’s been a super crazy year and I’m having a blast! Hope you are too!

There's a lot goin on on my side of the world, and I'd love to hear what you're up to. Hit me up and share your successes and even your struggles. I wanna celebrate and grow with you! LET'S GO!

Smooches!
…Hugs too!
Latasha

Tired of Talkin

Have you ever been at a place where your sick of your own voice? Tired of talkin about what you used to do, what you gonna do? Ever get tired of makin excuses for why you not doin what you 'posed to be doin? If so, then we both have a lot in common.

I'm just so tired of talkin. Explainin. Justifyin. At this point, I'm ready to simply DO. That's it. I don't wanna check in with anyone for validation that my plan is a good one. I simply want to DO. So, I'm makin a list tonight of (3) things I wanna accomplish within the next 3 months and then...I'M GOING TO DO THEM.

I'll check back in tomorrow to let you know what my list is...I know, I know...I said I'm tired of talkin...but there's no way I can leave you outta the process!

Be back soon!
Smooches!
...hugs too!
Latasha

You're Pregnant! Now What?

Snookums!

How are you? I hope you're having a great week! Mine has been super busy, but lots of fun! So no complaints from me darlings!

Lately, there has been so many pregnant women 'popping" up! :) I was one of many women last year who got pregnant and it was quite the experience! From my infatuation with steak and cheese sandwiches, to my great desire for pickles and ice cream (not mixed, yuck!) to my constant travel in and out of the country, I can say that my pregnancy was quite an adventure! I'm sure you or someone you know whose preggers has her own story to tell too! Being pregnant changes you and that's good! Some of us take it in stride, while other's just want to pull their hair out from the increased stress that comes with so many changes.

So for the next several weeks, I will be featuring articles for the topic, "You're Pregnant! Now What?" I'll be talking about lots of fun stuff including, the necessary items to have to care for your body while pregnant, how to deal with stress, items needed for baby, yummy recipes, post-partum advice, hilarious stories from my own experience, and more!

Since I'm here I might as well offer some piece of advice now! If you're pregnant, then the first thing you need to do is celebrate!! Having a child is nothing short of a miracle! Will your life be turned completely upside down? Yes! But will it bring you the most incredible joy and clarity doing so? YES! So if you haven't celebrated the fact that your preggers yet, go grab your boo, your girlfriends, and/or your mom and rejoice together over your blessing! Congratulations girlfriend! You're pregnant!

Love,
Latasha