Tag Archives: motivation

Part 2: What Are You On?

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Part 2: What’s Wrong With Me?

(Continued from Part 1: http://wp.me/ppImQ-mP

The correct question should have been, “What’s right with me?”  For years, I was disheartened because I felt that something was wrong with me.  I rationalized that it must be something ‘wrong with me’ because I was so different.  I was always so “energized.”  I don’t know if I felt different because I was treated differently or if I was treated differently because I was different.

Thankfully through my personal life experiences, prayer, meditation, vision, wisdom, and communications training I gained a different insight into understanding myself and others.  I now understand more of why I am like I am.  I am what I am and I am proud of it.  Now, when people ask, “What are you on?” I respond proudly and with certitude, “I’M ON PURPOSE!”

Make Lemonade!

I think that being asked that question so often and feeling that I was the odd ball is probably why I gravitated to the type of work I now do. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”  I like lemonade.  The motivation work I do inspires people to not be afraid to be different and to “dance to a different drummer.”  Yes, we have to be considerate of others, (I now am aware of my “indoor voice”), but we have to be true to ourselves too.

Choose A Line of Work That Allows You to Be You!

Fortunately, I have chosen a line of work that allows me to be me. My loud voice is an asset in speaking to large groups.  Instead of trying to “fit into” other people’s boxes, we must each strive to “be” who we were created to be.  Sometimes that means conforming, there are times and places where moderating ‘me’ shows respect for others.  Other times it means stepping out.  I stepped out of my limiting boxes and now “I’m on purpose,” and it feels GREAT!

I ’m excited about life because…

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Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com

Part 3: What Are You On?

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We Are All Necessary!

(continued from part 2: http://wp.me/ppImQ-n8)

Find a Place Where You Naturally Fit!

I’m excited about life because I am using my natural capabilities to my advantage. I’m not wasting priceless energy trying to justify being “me.” I’m on purpose and am driven to inspire others to “get excited about their lives and find a place where they “naturally fit.”  The Diversity work gives me the opportunity to help people see “differences in a positive light.”  One of my favorite anonymous quotes is, “If two people were exactly alike, one would be unnecessary.” We are all necessary and when those we work with don’t see that, it causes problems in the workplace.

Find Out What Gives You Meaning, I Did!

What could be more meaningful than to help bring about more harmony, understanding, and respect in the world. It is meaningful work and feeling valued that generates and recharges my energy.   Meaningful work gets me excited about getting up in the morning.  I love the Ah-ha moments that my Speakout, Crossworlds, Climate Assessment Surveys, and Diversity Coping Styles exercises inspire.  In my signature workshop, ‘Superwoman Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’ women (and men) learn that their needs matter too.  They learn to “Say No’ and that “No” is a good answer too!   ‘On Track On Fire On Purpose’, well the title says it all.

When we don’t understand, we’re likely to…

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Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com

Part 4: What Are You On?

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When We Don’t Understand, We’re Likely to Misunderstand!

Continued from Part 3: http://wp.me/ppImQ-ng

In my Effective Communications training I teach people to try not to misjudge people who communicate differently from them.  It really does take all kinds to make a world and each particular style has its own strengths and potential weaknesses.   Unfortunately, when we don’t understand, we are more than likely to misunderstand. Training and facilitated dialog can help create this understanding. But, we can each take charge of our own communication.  We can step outside of our comfort zones and get to know other people.  Covey explains, “First seek to understand, then to be understood.” Our communication is only as good as our understanding of the person we are trying to communicate with.  Wayne Dyer said it best, “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.” I learned to look at myself differently and my world changed!

Embrace Your Communication Style

Whether you are looking at Carl Jung’s work or any of the hundreds of assessment tools, MBTI, Disc, Platinum Rule, or PeopleStyles, they all explain that we are wired differently, but compliment each other.  Part of my energy and communication style may be luck or to some it may be a curse.  It depends on who’s asking.  People tend to like people who are like them.  Studies show that 50% of the population is just faster than the other half.  They move faster, talk faster, walk faster, and make decisions faster.  They are louder, gesture more, and speak more.  They are also more open and emotive.  The other 50% moves slower, talks slower, reacts slower, and talks more softly, and less often.  They are also more reserved and less disclosing of feelings and personal information.  I’ve learned that different is just different and that I am okay just as I am. Once you learn this, you’ll be okay too.

We must each embrace who we are. That includes…

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Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author of six books, and trainer on value-based living themes.  She also offers Effective Communication, Diversity, Leadership, Time Management, and Goal Setting workshops.  Visit her at www.thepoetspeaks.com or contact her at 301-428-4831.  You may email her at Barbara@ThePoetSpeaks.com

35 Wealth Secrets from Six Black Millionaires and Billionaires

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A woman born in 1867 in the Louisiana Delta would go from working the cotton fields and a simple wash woman to become America’s first American self-made female millionaire.

Another woman also born in 1867 in Richmond Virginia, would go from helping her mother, a former slave, make money doing laundry, to eventually helping to establish the first bank owned and operated by blacks and become its president.

A young man born in Arkansas in 1919 would repeat the 8th grade because there was no high school for blacks in his town and he wanted to continue to learn. His mother would work for 2 years as a cook on a levy to earn enough money to buy tickets to Chicago. His mother felt that the Jim Crow South was not a place to raise a black child from whom she expected greatness.  In Chicago,  he would get an education and build a publishing Empire.

Two special children would be born in Mississippi, a male child in 1946, and a young female, nine years later in 1954.  Both would end up in Illinois where they would become the first black male and female billionaires in America.

A young boy in Chicago starts selling lotion and painted rocks door to door and becomes the youngest self-made millionaire at age 14.

Who are these people?  Black people are making history every single month of the year. Don’t wait until Black History month to remember and remind others of the tremendous yet largely forgotten contributions of African Americans.  It is a chance to counter the negative media portrayals of people of color that have become firmly entrenched in the minds of both black and white people. It is a formal and nationally accepted time of year to challenge the inferiority myth of black Americans by positively focusing the spotlight on their “superior qualifications” without too much opposition from those unwilling to share the spotlight.

Answers:

  • The Louisiana wash woman was Madam C. J. Walker.  She created a line of black haircare products and became the first to earn a million.  Her wealth secrets:
  1. Work hard.
  2. Promote yourself.
  3. Don’t sacrifice quality, offer only the best.
  4. Find a need and fill it.
  5. Have honest business dealings.
  6. Serve others.
  7. Have faith in yourself and God.
  • The Bank President was Maggie Lena Walker. Her wealth secrets:
  1. Dream bigger.
  2. Have hope, have faith and carry on.
  3. Blacks should pool their money and help each other.
  4. Save your money.
  5. Serve those in need.
  1. Dream big, “Long shots do come in”.
  2. Work hard.
  3. Show dedication to your vision.
  4. Persevere- don’t give up.
  5. Refuse to take no for an answer.
  • The first of the two Mississippi children that became billionaires is Bob Johnson (he sold BET for 3 billion dollars). Bob Johnson’s wealth secrets:
  1. Fear failure and don’t fail.
  2. Don’t get angry- wait for an opportunity to change things.
  3. Be fearless in pursuing your vision.
  4. Strategize.
  5. Dream big.
  • The other Mississippi child that became a billionaire was Oprah Winfrey.  Oprah is reported to be worth 2.7 billion dollars.  Oprah Winfrey’s wealth secrets:
  1. Focus on Significance and not success.
  2. Have the courage to ask for what you want.
  3. Listen to your inner voice.
  4. Support each others dreams.
  5. Take responsibility for your life.
  6. Stay spiritually centered.
  7. Love what you do.
  8. Dream BIG; set big goals then surpass them
  • The young boy who sold rocks and went on to become the youngest black billionaire is Farrah Gray. Farra, author of a best selling book, Reallionnaire:  ‘Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out‘ shares the following wealth secrets in some of his live presentations.
  1. Believe in your dreams
  2. Wake up every morning and ask yourself, “Why not me?”
  3. Clarity of Vision: “The two most important times in life are when you were born and when you realize why you were born?”
  4. Do something you can lose yourself in.
  5. Find your area of excellence.  Ask yourself three questions:
    • What comes easy to me, but harder to others?
    • What work could I do for years and years and would still do it, even if I didn’t get paid ?
    • How can I be of service?

Part 4: Seven Steps To Keep You from Getting Stuck in the Wrong Pot

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There is No Magical Age To Stop Growing

Continued Part 3: http://wp.me/ppImQ-h7

There is no magical age in which we should stop growing.  You never outgrow your usefulness, some just choose to stop being useful and of service to others.  After all, our true reality is our mind.  Our ultimate goal is to be of service to our Creator, so we should never cease being of service.  The mind must continually be nurtured in the same way that the body requires nutrients throughout its entire life. So what’s the first step to getting back on track? In my book I talk about three things, vision, values, and virtues.  You master these three and you can master your life.  The key is to just get started.  Newton’s law of motion states that “a body in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an outside force.”  Death should be the only outside force that stops us from growing, seeking meaning and purpose, and being excited about being alive.

Seven Steps To Keep You from Getting Stuck in the Wrong Pot

I’ll conclude with seven steps for you to keep in mind so that you will continue to grow and never get stuck in a pot that you’ve outgrown.

  1. Always have a clear vision, meaningful goals and values, and life enhancing virtues.
  2. Stay in the light! Have a regular diet of healthy encouragement, inspiration, and love.
  3. Make sure your environment is nurturing, inspiring, clean, and orderly.
  4. Change your pot or the location of your pot when it is clear you are not growing anymore.
  5. Stay in motion. While physical motion is of course equally important, I’m talking now about mental motion.  Prayer and meditation can help to shift your mind into high gear and in the right direction. But, remember, you are always in motion.  If you are alive, you are going forward or going backward; you are either progressing or regressing.
  6. Be alert to the outside forces that might be holding you back and pull weeds when necessary.
  7. Enjoy the journey.   Happiness is your thermometer. Test yourself regularly to make sure you are on the right course and in the right pot or the right spot.   And, if no spots or pots are working for you, perhaps you are one of those that don’t work as well when confined.  Have the faith to spread your wings and get out of the pot altogether and follow your dreams.

Barbara Talley is a workshop leader, keynote speaker, author, and publisher who speaks and writes on value-based living themes. www.thepoetspeaks.com