How to Set and Keep Your Goals

Check out the latest episode on getting ready for those New Year's Resolutions on YBR Radio here! Learn the key steps to set and keep your goals!

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

How To Be the Best Worker Bee You Can Be... (or something like that)

I recently received an email from a YBR subscriber who commented that although she enjoys the information that YBR provides, she feels as though it is mostly geared toward entrenpreneurs and not for your average "worker bee" employee.

I must admit that while my hope and personal goal is that I, as well as all YBR women eventually become full time entrepreneurs, I do understand that this is not the goal for everyone.

Check out some tips on how to be the best employee you can be!

Tip 1: Get clear on your goals and objectives with your boss. Communication is key in any relationship and this includes your relationship with your boss. Many times, employees view their bosses as and all-knowing, all-powerful being that doesn't care anything about our opinions or desires. Although, this may be true some of the time, this is not the case of all bosses and the truth is you will never know until you open the lines of communication. Make sure that your boss knows exactly what your plans are for your career. Don't assume that he/she knows that you want that next raise or promotion. It may seem like common sense to you, but I've seen many people get looked over for many years simply because they did not make their intentions known to their supervisor.

Tip 2: Become an expert at time managment and productivity. One of the biggest complaints that employees have is that they feel overwhelmed with all of the tasks they are assigned on a daily basis. I know how stressful it can be when you are assigned ad hoc projects and reports to complete in addition to your daily functions. Noone likes being stuck at work until midnight trying to finish these tasks. It is important that you limit distractions (like checking personal email and surfing the internet) during your work day. Instead, focus on blocking out time where you can go through your tasks and responsibilities. Focus on one task at a time and don't wait for the last minute to tackle a big project.

The most important point to note is that although you may not be the CEO or President of the company you work for, you are still an important asset to the success of that business. Take pride in the work you are assigned and always put your best foot forward. It won't be long until you are recognized for your talents.

To Your Success,

Alecia D.

Attract Success by Saying YES!

Attract Success by Saying YES!

by Becky Kimes

Everything in the Universe is made of energy from the tiniest grain of sand to an elephant living in Africa. This includes words. Every word in our vocabulary carries a specific vibration that is unique to each person and situation.

What are some of your favorite words or expressions? How do you feel when you say them? Do you have sayings or expressions that cause you to feel negatively and thus create negative situations?

There are three words in the English language that you say at least 2,000 times each day. And these words are the biggest roadblocks between you and your desires.

Want to know what they are?

They are: don’t, not and no.

Keep in mind to concept of the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction is a universal law that reminds us that like energy attracts like energy. The Law of Attraction brings you more of what you put your attention, energy and focus towards. So whenever you say no to something you are actually saying yes to it.

Confused?

Let me explain a little more.

Consider the statement, “I am not going to fail at this.” Where is your attention? It was on failure, right?

As you think about failure and feel what it’s like to be a failure the Law of Attraction matches your vibration with more opportunities to fail.

How else could you say “I am not going to fail at this?” Try, “I am successful!” That will give the Law of Attraction something wonderful to work with.

How about the thought “I don’t like negative people.” Or “I don’t want to go broke”. Are you beginning to understand how our language habits directly affect success in all areas of our life?

Let’s examine the word no. Say the word NO out loud. How does it make you feel? Does the word no allow for any possibilities? Do you feel any positive energy when you say or think no? Can you put a genuine smile on your face and say the word no?

I think that this simple two letter word is the single largest barrier between you and the successful manifestation of your desires. Take note of how many times you say no throughout the day. You will be shocked. Listen to other people. How much of their energy do they focus on saying “no” and “I don’t like that”?

Here are a couple of tools that can completely change your life around.

Tool 1: Whenever you catch your self saying “I don’t want ___” STOP! Then ask your self, well, what do I want? This is deceptively simple but can have life changing results.

Tool 2: Just say Yes!! Say the word yes out loud. It has a wonderfully positive feeling, doesn’t it? Whenever you say no to something, realize that you have the opportunity to say yes to its alternative. Say yes instead!!

Instead of saying, “No, I don’t want to go to the movies”, say “I would rather go out to dinner.” What are you saying “no” to right now in your life? Take the time to say yes to its alternative and successfully bring that into your life.

Saying yes is an incredible manifestation tool!! Use it regularly and create amazing results.

How to Get Over the Monday Blues

It's Monday morning.. the proclaimed.. "worst day of the week". It's the day when we have to trade in our leisure time for serious time. The day we have to wake up at the crack of dawn to begin our five-day ritual of commuting, connecting, and...complaining.

How do you approach this inevitable time of the week? Do you start your week crying, kicking, and screaming? If so, the list below is for you. Check out these tips to instantly change Mondays from your worst day to your best day of the week!

Choose a ritual you enjoy and schedule it on Mondays. Do you love giving yourself a manicure or pedicure? Do you have a weekly hair appointment? Or maybe your favorite thing to do is cook yourself an all out three course meal complete with a delicious glass of wine. Whatever your most favorable activity is, make sure to schedule it on the first day of the week. This will give you something to look forward to and bring a splash of fabulousness to this previously dreadful day. I love to watch shows on demand that I've missed during the week. I used to catch up on these shows on Sundays, now I watch them on Mondays and it helps me to unwind after a long, stressful day at work.

Grab 20 minutes of alone time for deep thought and relaxation. Some call it meditation, some call it prayer. Whatever you call it, just make sure you do it! Taking some time to yourself can prove to do wonders to improve your mood and all around disposition. Use the time to reflect on what you want for your day, your week, and/or your life. Find a quiet place where you can be left alone for at least twenty minutes and just close your eyes and breathe deeply. Think about whatever you wish as long as what you think about does not stress you out. I've noticed that when I meditate on Monday mornings, the day goes much more smoothly for me and I am less tense and stressed out during the course of my day.

Change your thoughts toward the day. Although, the above tips should definitely help you in getting over your Monday blues, the most important tip and the one that will truly determine how successful you are in general- is changing your thoughts from negative to positive ones! Let this be the last day you think about Mondays as a horrible day and the "worst day of the week". Instead, think of them as a chance for a fresh start and new beginnings. A time when you can start the process all over again and put your best foot forward.

Happy Monday!

To Your Success,

Alecia D.

Happy Thanksgiving to the YBR family!

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more."

-Brother David Steindl-Rast

Love,
Alecia D.

YBR Debut Radio Show- 11/30 @ 1:30 pm

Dear YBR family,

Don't miss out on the debut episode of YBR Radio! Sunday, November 30 @ 1:30 pm, we will be speaking about Financial Fitness with A Woman'$ Worth founder and Clutch Magazine's own, Arlice Nichole. With today's downward economy, we could all use some fun and fabulous tips on how to get and keep our fortunes no matter what is going on with Wall Street.

We will be discussing the following topics:
Budgeting
Ways to Increase Income
Credit RepairBuilding an emergency fund

Get your pen and paper out and get ready to take lots of notes! Listen live on BlogTalk Radio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youngblackrich). Feel free to call us up, we are so delighted to speak with you- the number is (646) 595-3206 or email questions to aleciadee@youngblackrich.net with RADIO SHOW in the subject line or you can even Instant Message me during the show on Google Talk (screen name aleciadee)!We look forward to hearing from you. You definitely don't want to miss it!

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Top 10 Tips for Loving Yourself

There's always those days when we feel less than glamorous.. I'm sure you can relate. Check out this article featured on empressmag.com this week and start loving yourself today!

http://empressmag.com/articles/2008/11/23/top-ten-tips-for-loving-yourself/

Alecia D.

How to Go Green Without Giving Up the Lifestyle You're Used To

The green movement has always been something in the background of my mind, but never really something I jumped into head first.. well, that is until now. I guess I just wasn't to thrilled about having to give up meat or wearing clothes made out of bamboo.

I'm not sure if it had something to do with my $90 electric bill (side note: yeah, I know.. there are only two people in my apartment and we're both gone more than we are home.. $90, really?) or due to the fact that I fell asleep with the TV on saturday night (lightbulb: that's why my bill is $90) and woke up to an infomercial on CNN about our Planet in Peril, but whatever the reason, I'm ready to turn over a new leaf and jump on this green bandwagon! Better late than never I always say.

Check out the below tips to help you get started if you too decide that you want to go green!

Get rid of your disposable plastic water bottles and invest in a re-usable one. You can pick one up at your local dollar store or even get a tricked out one with rhinestones and jewels. Whichever you choose, you will be doing a great service to the environment. Over 80% of the water bottles we use daily will never be recycled.

Recycle your old clothes. There are many ways in which you can do this. Donate to the Salvation Army, Dress for Success, or your local thrift store. Not only will you be decreasing waste, but you will be helping others who are less fortunate, and in some cases you can use the donation as a tax write off. An even more fabulous idea is to hold a recycle party with all of your friends. Everyone can bring in between three to five pieces of gently used clothing and each person can take turns sorting through until everyone has new pieces of clothes.

Stop using plastic bags at your local grocery store. Instead, invest in a couple of eco-friendly canvas bags and bring them with you when you go shopping. Maybe even take it a step further and trade in your Bloomingdales bags for the enviromentally sound alternatives.

Unplug your electrical chargers when you're not using them. I am guilty of having every appliance plugged in around the clock in my apartment. However, unless it's your refrigerator or some other appliance that really needs to remained plugged in, try unplugging when you're not using it. This act alone can not only decrease your electric bill, but it will decrease your carbon footprint substantially.

Use "green" cleaning products in your home. Clorox makes an all-purpose version called Greenworks which I used this past weekend (one of the rare occasions I was cleaning my apartment) and it worked just as well as any other cleaning product with less than half the harmful toxins (99% natural). Not only will your place have a fresh, natural scent, but you can be sure that you are doing your part to decrease pollutants into the atmosphere. *Bonus tip: have your guests leave their shoes at the door. This cuts down on dust bound pollutants that will make their way through your home!

Of course these are just my humble suggestions, but if one or more of these tips can help make our earth a safer place while not interrupting our normal routines too much, why not try them?

Alecia D.

10 Reasons You Aren't Rich

Saw this blog post on Black Business Women Online- comes from Jeffrey Strain from Thestreet.com and it is very accurate!
If you're like me and are always looking for ways to claim your wealth..check out this post.

10 Reasons You Aren't RichThursday March 22, 11:30 am ET
By Jeffrey Strain, Special to TheStreet.com

The reason why you aren't a millionaire (or on your way to becoming one) is really quite simple. You probably assume it's because you aren't earning enough money, but the truth is that for most people, whether or not you become a millionaire has very little to do with the amount of money you make. It's the way that you treat money in your daily life.Here are 10 possible reasons you aren't a millionaire:

1. You Care What Your Neighbors Think: If you're competing against them and their material possessions, you're wasting your hard-earned money on toys to impress them instead of building your wealth.

2. You Aren't Patient: Until the era of credit cards, it was difficult to spend more than you had. That is not the case today. If you have credit card debt because you couldn't wait until you had enough money to purchase something in cash, you are making others wealthy while keeping yourself in debt.

3. You Have Bad Habits: Whether it's smoking, drinking, gambling or some other bad habit, the habit is using up a lot of money that could go toward building wealth. Most people don't realize that the cost of their bad habits extends far beyond the immediate cost. Take smoking, for example: It costs a lot more than the pack of cigarettes purchased. It also negatively affects your wealth in the form of higher insurance rates and decreased value of your home.

4. You Have No Goals: It's difficult to build wealth if you haven't taken the time to know what you want. If you haven't set wealth goals, you aren't likely to attain them. You need to do more than state, "I want to be a millionaire." You need to take the time to set saving and investing goals on a yearly basis and come up with a plan for how to achieve those goals.

5. You Haven't Prepared: Bad things happen to the best of people from time to time, and if you haven't prepared for such a thing to happen to you through insurance, any wealth that you might have built can be gone in an instant.

6. You Try to Make a Quick Buck: For the vast majority of us, wealth doesn't come instantly. You may believe that people winning the lottery are a dime a dozen, but the truth is you're far more likely to get struck by lightning than win the lottery. This desire to get rich quickly likely extends into the way you invest, with similar results.

7. You Rely on Others to Take Care of Your Money: You believe that others have more knowledge about money matters, and you rely exclusively on their judgment when deciding where you should invest your money. Unfortunately, most people want to make money themselves, and this is their primary objective when they tell you how to invest your money. Listen to other people's advice to get new ideas, but in the end you should know enough to make your own investing decisions.

8. You Invest in Things You Don't Understand: Your hear that Bob has made a lot of money doing it, and you want to get in on the gravy train. If Bob really did make money, he did so because he understood how the investment worked. Throwing in your money because someone else has made money without fully understanding how the investment works will keep you from being wealthy.

9. You're Financially Afraid: You are so scared of risk that you keep all your money in a savings account that is actually losing money when inflation is put into the equation, yet you refuse to move it to a place where higher rates of return are possible because you're afraid that you will lose money.

10. You Ignore Your Finances: You take the attitude that if you make enough, the finances will take care of themselves. If you currently have debt, it will somehow resolve itself in the future. Unfortunately, it takes planning to become wealthy. It doesn't magically happen to the vast majority of people.

In reality, it is probably not just one of the above bad habits that has kept you from becoming a millionaire, but a combination of a few of them. Take a hard look at the list, and do some reflecting. If you want to be a millionaire, it's well within your power, but you'll have to face the issues that are currently keeping you from creating that wealth before you will have a chance to call yourself one.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Are You Really Available (for a Relationship)?

Check out this article I found on the Relationship Insitute website.

One of the questions which often comes up in our relationship work involves how available people are for a healthy relationship. As someone at a recent workshop cried out, "No one today has time for a relationship!" Singles often have a difficult time plugging into a new dating partner’s busy lifestyle, and may see their dates as being essentially unavailable for creating a deep, intimate relationship. Couples in a committed relationship may complain that their partner is consumed and distracted by everything but their relationship: they may be around physically, but never seem to want to connect in any meaningful way. Indeed, in our crazy, driven, time-starved world, it often seems as if our adult relationships take the lowest priority.

There are various levels of availability for intimate connection. While physical availability is the most obvious one, being physically present is no guarantee of intimacy, as many married people will tell you. Being in the same house or room or even bed with someone else can still feel very lonely if the two people are not in sync and do not connect. Nonetheless, consistent physical availability is a necessary prerequisite for deeper levels of intimacy to occur...

Read the rest here!

Building Your Credit Score

Check out YBR's first audio blog post! Press play below.

Pursuit of Happiness Week!

I heard on CNN this morning that this week is Pursuit of Happiness week! I'm not usually big on holidays and things like that- but this is one that I had to get behind! Check out this post I found on onlineorganizing.com.



What on earth does pursuing happiness have to do with getting organized? Well, they are both all about focusing on your PRIORITIES. How often do you find yourself giving up activities that you love to take on responsibilities that you hate? Maybe it's time to reassess where you are spending your time! If you find that your TIME is continually being eaten up by distasteful tasks, annoying interruptions, toxic people, or other things that drain you of energy, you aren't living an organized or fulfilling life. Let's focus on making every moment count by clearing out the CLUTTER that routinely and unnecessarily robs us of happiness.


Some Practical Organizing Tips...
Have you ever stopped to think about what you priorities actually are -- what gives you joy? Time with your friends or family? Nature? Art? Now look at how you spend your time -- do you make room in your SCHEDULE for these things? Why not?


Get into the habit of making time each day for something you truly ENJOY. It could be something small -- like a walk in the park or a quiet cup of tea -- as long as it makes you happy. And treat your me time like it's sacred -- don't let anything interrupt you.


If you have a hard time figuring out what makes you happy, create a REWARDS list -- ways that you can do something enjoyable. And come up with several levels of rewards -- what would you do with 15 free minutes? An hour? A whole day?



P.S. Take the below quiz on your level of organization and distraction at work.
http://www.onlineorganizing.com/DoYouNeedHelp.asp?content=C01YourRatingAtWork



To Your Success,
Alecia D.

The Launch of the YBR Radio Show

YBR Enterprise Inc has launched a radio show on Blog Talk Radio!! I am so very excited about this new development within the YBR space.

This podcast series is dedicated to coaching young, black, rich women on how to get and keep a successful lifestyle. Much like this blog, the radio show will focus on uplifting and inspiring all of you entrepreneurs out there by providing tips on health, business, finance, relationships and many other relevant topics. We will also have a series of guest hosts and interviews on the show to not only inform but entertain you as you strive to build a successful life!

Don't miss out on this valuable information! Click on the link below and hear all about this new, exclusive, successful lifestyle podcast series on Blog Talk Radio. Also, be sure to subscribe to the show so that you will always know about any upcoming shows and topics that we will cover.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/YoungBlackRich/2008/11/09/The-Launch-of-YBR-Enterprise-on-Blog-Talk-Radio

...And the Best is Yet to Come

I don't know why...but last night when I initially heard the news about President Obama- though I was happy, I wasn't overcome with as much emotion as I thought I would have. I must say that this morning, that has all changed.

I woke up this morning with a ball of emotion in my chest. I remember the first lesson I ever received on Civil Rights. It was some time in the early 90's at St. Mark's Episcopal Church Day School in Crown Heights Brooklyn. My teacher was at the front of the class talking about Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and the many others who dedicated their lives to making sure I could live a life that was equal to that of my white counterparts. It all seemed so distant from me at that time and as I grew older, though I began to understand the movement more and identify with its principles, as I looked around at my surroundings I assumed that where black people were currently would be as good as it gets.

As I sit here this morning with tears in my eyes, I must say that I am so happy to have been wrong.

Today- November 5, 2008 is a day I will never forget. Barack Obama is the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT in the United States of America. There will be a black first lady, a black first family. My younger cousins can look at Sasha and Malia and think- "they look like me" . I can finally identify with Washington DC and see myself represented in government.

Only time will tell what President Obama will accomplish within his presidency, but no matter what - he has already led a historic movement in U.S. history. I am confident that the best is yet to come and I am ecstatic to be around to witness it. There is so much work to be done now but I know that Barack is up to the challenge. We are living through HISTORY right now and I am loving every minute of it. The lesson learned for me is that YES, I CAN do anything! (and so can YOU)

As you go throughout your day today, rest comfortably in the fact that anything is possible. The 44th president of the same country that stole a group of people from their home land, threw them on a ship, and enslaved them is a black man. A black hero. Barack Obama.

God Bless America!

The Re-launch of YBRead Book Club

Dear Young, Black, Rich woman,

I've heard the requests of YBR Network members and am happy to announce that we will be re-launching the YBR Book Club. We are set to begin reading our book selection at the end of November.

YBR is looking for suggestions for possible books and would love to hear from you. Send me an email at aleciadee@youngblackrich.net or leave a comment on my page on the social network and we will decide on the book on November 15.

Don't forget to join the YBRead Book Club on the YBR Network to get updates on discussion dates, topics, and much more! I'm looking forward to your participation!

Love,
Alecia D.

The Single Most Important Tip to Build Your Successful Life NOW

What's the single most important tip that separates successful people from unsuccessful ones? It's not money, not luck, and no- it's not even education. The number one factor that allows some people to thrive and flourish in everything they put their hands on is something known as speed of implementation.

This may be a new concept for some of you, so I will explain.

We all have listened to or read some sort of motivational presentation at one point or another in our lives. Whether we went to a church service and heard it from a preacher, or had to sit through one at a family member's graduation ceremony, or maybe even in a one on one session with one of our closest friends about a new age book we just read. No matter the setting, there has been a time when someone has provided us with advice on how we can improve our current situation. What exactly did you do with that advice?

There are two types of people in this world. Those who think and those who do. Succesful people are doers. Yes, they think things through, but the majority of their time is spent doing. When they hear something that sparks a fire within them, they do. When they come up with a new business idea, they do. The list goes on and on. They don't wait until two years or even two months down the road before they get started. They have discovered that there is something to be said about using speed of implementation to their benefit.

So what type of person will you be? There's an idea in your head that you've been sitting on for a while now. Or is it that you're ready to take that next step and enroll in school to continue your education. Whatever it is, what are you waiting for? Will you sit there and continue to think about it? Or will you do it? I challenge you to start doing what you have to do right NOW. Don't sit on your idea for another moment.

What steps will you take to make your dream a reality today? Share it with the YBR family in the comments section.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Striking Out? Bat a Successful Homerun in Life

This post was posted by Empressmag.com on the YBR Social Network and I absolutely LOVE it! It definitely fits right in with the motivation behind being Young, Black, and Rich. Check it out!

Striking out? Bat a successful homerun in life.
By: Joan Marie Whelan

If you’ve honestly tried to reach your goals in life and have failed, then you need to take a long look at the game plan you’ve been using. Sometimes you have to adjust your footing so you can gain better traction in where you are right now and where you want to lead your life.

Nobody wants to strike out when it’s their turn to bat. That’s why you must challenge yourself to strive to do better, achieve more, and transform your lifestyle. When you review your game plan, you should use your essential tools for living to get a firm grip on your metaphorical batting range. In addition, you have to take an extensive look at how far you are willing to run in order to achieve your heart’s desires.

There are a few key areas in your life on which you have to focus in order to prepare yourself to hit your homerun to success. Following is a powerful guideline to recreate your lifestyle and fulfill your life’s dreams:

Re-define Your Strengths
Many times, we beat ourselves up to the point that we forget the inner strength we possess, and what vital life tools we have at our disposal. You have to retreat within and redefine your frame of mind so you can really get to the root basis of what’s causing you to strike out when you’re on home plate.

You know that you can achieve your goals because you can savor the victory that awaits you. The drawback is that every time you’re up to bat, you get ousted by the umpire because you haven’t been quite able to hit the pitch out of the ballpark. But let’s level the playing field — you already possess the physical stamina to meet life demands; so you know that you are essentially equipped to get where you need to be going. What you must do now is realign your mind, body, and spirit so these vital senses can work together to create an extraordinary lifestyle for yourself.

Some of the inner strengths that individuals have include inner wisdom (or intuition), a blueprint for living, and the mental ability to transform life. The external forces that safeguard our lives are the Universal flow of energy and our God source. Talking in baseball terms in relation to life, the umpire calls the shots with regard to which plays are actually scored. Whether it’s a foul ball, an out, or a homerun, the umpire is the source that lets you know where you stand in the game of life. Let’s suppose that the umpire is the Universal flow of energy. When you’re at a point in your life where you’ve been jolted by your own blunders, it’s because the metaphorical umpire is calling you on them.

As mentioned earlier, when you balance your mind, body, and spirit, and begin working with the Universal flow of energy, you are steps closer to realizing your life dreams.

Go ahead and reward yourself by taking the initiative to get a unique perspective on how to reach your goals. Sometimes, we have to take a step back and view life through a fresh pair of eyes and at a new angle. Next, let’s review your blueprint for living. Within the soul being of each one of us, exists an in-depth map to fulfilling life purpose. When you look beyond your physical capabilities, trends, and hurdles; you need to ask your higher self what steps are necessary to achieve success. A growing number of people use meditation, which is a powerful mind tool toward channeling inner wisdom for greater purpose. Your God source is also a fundamental supply that can lend support to you in your efforts. That’s why a lot of individuals frequently turn to prayer for guidance, direction, and insight. By facilitating these intuitive mental tools, you are well on your way toward hitting a homerun and receiving life’s blessings.

Become the Leader of your Life
Okay, you’ve made it to home plate again and you’re ready to take charge of your life. Like every clever team player, you pay attention to the signals that the pitcher (or your God source) is sending. Also in consideration are the elements of your environment — the stadium, the crowd, the score, the turf, and who’s on base. Again, you have to level the playing field to your best advantage. You know the pros of the situation, and you’ve considered all your options. Do you walk the ball, take a pitch hit, or do you knock it out of the ball park? Remember, you are the leader of your life and the leader of your destiny — what you do with your tools for success is equally as essential as fulfilling your life destiny. At this point, you have to make a strategic plan to counterbalance any negative aspects. Think, plan, and keep your eye on the ball. Whatever you do, always focus on your goals. When you decide that you are in control of your life and you are ready to manifest success, not only will you score one for the team, but victory will follow you wherever you go.

Finding Your True Calling: Part IV (Final)

Follow Your Heart - Passion emerges from the heart, not the mind.
When you don't know which direction to head, just start walking and pay attention to what your heart tells you.
Follow your heart's direction and the path to fulfillment in life will naturally unfold before your eyes.



The Importance of Listening to Your Feelings.

In this final installment of Finding Your True Calling, I hope you have already identified exactly what it is that truly makes you happy and will leave you fulfilled. If you have not, that's ok too. Just be still and begin to focus on where you are now and where it is that you would like to be heading. Remember that your future is not something that you go out in search of, rather, it is something that you create yourself, whether by action or in-action.

My hope for you is that you will not stop searching within yourself until you figure out what steps you need to take to create the kind of future for yourself where you are doing something that truly makes you happy. Something that allows you to express who you are and what you stand for.

When you follow your heart, success will not be far behind.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Finding Your True Calling: Part III

Persistence - Many begin the journey, but those who finish it are the ones who achieve success and fulfillment in life.
When you're living a life that is truly aligned with your passions, persistence gets a whole lot easier. You'll find that you don't want to stop, or that you can't stop, even if you think you want to. Your deepest passions will drive you onward.



The Importance of Staying on Course.

If you're like me, you want things fast. Not now, but RIGHT now. There's no time to waste--and since we're not getting any younger, we need to get what we can and move on to the next thing, right? WRONG. While instant gratification may be appropriate for some areas of your life, you definitely shouldn't be using this approach when trying to find your passion. Those of us who are lucky enough to be doing work that is in line with our life's purpose and at the same time fulfilling our financial needs know that this process consists of many ups and downs and that most times we will not see the fruits of our labor very quickly. Even though this may be true, however, we should not give up. If success was easy to obtain, then everyone would be successful. In order to live the life you want to live, you must be willing to remain committed even when you feel like jumping ship.

Oprah is a familiar example of someone who has obtained higher heights of success than most. If you have a conversation with her about the journey, I'm sure she will tell you that it did not happen overnight. Oprah's story begins over 30 years ago. She has gone through many setbacks during her career just as many of us do in our own lives. What has allowed Oprah to break through though, is her ability to push through no matter how uncomfortable the situation may be.

It is normal for you to get discouraged and for your motivation to waiver. But it is important that you do not dwell on the negative situations and instead focus on all of the possibility and promise that lie ahead. If you've already figured out what your purpose is, you should begin to visualize what it will be like once you get there. Whenever you feel down and want to give up, just remember the vision you've created for yourself. If you haven't identified your vision yet, don't fret- keep meditating and thinking until you figure it out. The beauty of this process is that no matter how long it takes for you to realize your passion, the feeling of finally finding it will put you at ease and provide motivation when you feel like you want to throw in the towel.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Finding Your True Calling: Part II

Integrity - Be as true to yourself as you are to others, and as true to others as you are to yourself.
The biggest challenge most of us face is to meet our responsibilities to others while pursuing our passions at the same time.
When you make commitments to others, make sure those commitments are aligned with YOUR passions. Then you can fulfill both your passions and commitments to others in one stroke.
And when you make a commitment to yourself, treat it with the same respect as a commitment to anyone else.

The Importance of Keeping Your Word.

As human beings, there are really only a few things we can say we truly have 100% control over, our word is one of them. In today's society, intergrity is often under estimated, however, it is probably one of the most important attributes one can have. As a Young, Black, Rich woman you should always aim to be a woman of integrity. If others feel they can trust you, they will begin to ask more of you and more and more opportunities will begin to be attracted into your life. This not only means that we should strive to be reliable to others, but we should also be able to rely on ourselves. If you make a promise to yourself you should fight to remain committed to that promise. Believing in yourself is the only way that others will begin to believe in you.

Think of the most successful person you know. Would they be half as successful if they were perceived to be unreliable or untrustworthy? Probably not. Once we can begin to be honest with ourselves and with others, we will find ourselves more in line with our natural flow. Once in this state, it will only be a matter of time before we will begin to find ways to develop our purpose and work with our passions to create our own successes.

To Your Success,

Alecia D.

Finding Your True Calling: Part I

After taking the last month and a half off to regroup and rethink the direction of YBR and my goals in general, I've found myself spending a lot of time contemplating new ideas, revamping old ones, and recharging my overall motivation. The next four posts come from an article I read on http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/ . I've highlighted a specific point and then reflected on it below as it relates to pursuing one's goals and purpose. What are your thoughts?



The importance of Keeping an Open Mind.

Stay Open - Your greatest good may not be what you think it is.
When you are open to whatever is appearing now, even if it's different than the way you think it should be, you release your individual will and open to God's will for you.
This is the path to living your highest purpose, and also the secret to overcoming any obstacle which may arise in your life.

As someone who gets caught up in lists, life plans, organizational charts, and time lines, I am finding it very challenging to relate to the idea of going with the flow. What exactly does this mean? Do you simply wait for life to throw situations at you? Do you go wherever the wind blows? It can be hard for some to wrap their minds around the concept, but it can actually do wonders for helping in the process of finding your purpose.

The success stories of many often start with the realization that the status quo simply was not working for them and it wasn't until they decided to be still and allow their hearts to lead that they were directed to their life's purpose. I recently had a conversation with a very successful wall street banker turned bed & breakfast owner, who came up with the idea for the latter while reading an ad in a magazine on a plane. Fast forward 17 years and she is living a fulfilling, peaceful, and successful life. I'm sure many scoffed when she announced she was leaving an executive position on Wall Street to move to the country to spend weekends drinking wine and entertaining visitors from all over the country, but her decision proved to be for the best and
my guess is she couldn't be happier.

The first step to finding your life's work is to listen to your heart. Don't think about money, resources, or eduction. Just focus on what career would ultimately make you happy and fulfilled. If you love what you do and are passionate while doing it, success will follow.

3 Secrets to Creating New Habits

We all know the value of constantly trying to improve on our habits and routines in order to become the best person we can be. Keeping in line with last week's post on the importance of writing down our goals, we should talk about what we do after we've decided what we want. What's the point of writing goals down if we are never going to do them, right? What are the steps necessary in order to implement these new habits so that we can achieve our goals?

There are three secrets to implementing a new habit:
Commitment - Clarity - Attention

1. Commitment - "Until you are committed, nothing will happen for you."

I once heard Oprah say that until you make an internal decision to change your actions you won't. It really is that simple. You have to make the decision for yourself that now is the time you will start working toward your goal and remain committed to it. There must come a time when you decide that you are ready and willing to do what it takes to make your goal a priority in your life. Whether you need to sacrifice sleep, going out, or shopping- make sure you are ready to do whatever it takes to succeed. There will be times when you will find yourself feeling down or un-motivated, however, if you are constantly working with the idea that you are committing yourself to fulfilling your dreams, the process will become much easier.

2. Clarity - "When you're clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear."

As you've probably already experienced at one time or another, it is very challenging to maintain motivation and discipline if you are unclear of why you are doing what you are doing in the first place. If someone asked you what exactly is it that your ultimate goal is or what the reason is behind your plans in the first place- would you be able to answer the question? So many of us think we know what we want or that we know why we are doing what we are doing, but do we really? Take a step back and be honest with yourself. What do YOU want to do? WHY do you want to do it? Is your action plan in line with these goals?

3. Attention - "What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life."

The basic premise of the Law of Attraction is that our thoughts become things. We are what we think about. We say that we want to be positive, successful, stress free individuals-- but is that what we are thinking? Pay attention to what you are focusing on daily. Be sure that your thoughts are positive and are in line with your goals. You will be presently surprised how quickly your situations will change after you change your thinking. The key is to become more aware of where your mind is wandering. Before you know it, you will begin to attract the right people, places, and things into your experience.

To Your Success,

Alecia D.

Write it down and Make it PLAIN: Paste Your Vision on Paper

How many times have you tried to start a new habit, break an old one, or pursue a new goal? You try your hardest to work at your goal and even tell others what you are trying to do. You may even seem to be succeeding at first, but after a few weeks (or days) you begin to fall back into your old patterns. It can be very frustrating, right?

What is it about those people that seem to succeed at every goal they set for themselves? What makes them different from YOU? Is it their discipline? No. Is it their motivation? Maybe. Or could it be something that although it is much simpler than these things, is something that is so often overlooked? More often than not, the difference between those who succeed and those who don't - is that one group of people write their goals down while the other group doesn't.

Writing down your goals on paper may seem very simple. But in fact, it has been proven time and time again to be the most important first step of achieving any goal. Why? Because when we write our goals on paper, the act forces our brain to VISUALIZE what we want. In essence, it gives our mind a concrete state to work toward.

Here are the four rules to writing down your goals that I got from The Goal Setting Guide:


1. Write your goal in the positive.
Work for what you want, not for what you want to leave behind. Part of the reason why we write down and examine our goals is to create a set of instructions for our subconscious mind to carry out. Your subconscious mind is a very efficient tool, it can not determine right from wrong and it does not judge. It's only function is to carry out its instructions. The more positive instructions you give it, the more positive results you will get.

Thinking positively in everyday life will also help in your growth as a human being. Don't limit it to goal setting.

2. Write your goals out in complete detail.
Instead of writing "A new home," write "A 4,000 square foot contemporary with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths and a view of the mountain on 20 acres of land". Once again we are giving the subconscious mind a detailed set of instructions to work on. The more information you give it, the more clear the final outcome becomes. The more precise the outcome, the more efficient the subconscious mind can become.

Can you close your eyes and visualize the home I described above? Walk around the house. Stand on the porch off the master bedroom and see the fog lifting off the mountain. Look down at the garden full of tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers. And off to the right is the other garden full of a mums, carnations and roses. Can you see it? So can your subconscious mind.


3. Write in present tense.
Write your goals down in the present tense. This is because the unconscious mind chooses a path of least resistance. If you write, "I will be slim" the unconscious mind does nothing thinking that the will be may be postponed until later.
A friend had a business, which was losing money. He set his goal to break even the next month. Every month the next month would come and be this month so his goal would be true to break even the next month, which would never come. Eventually he changed his goal to, "I am breaking even this month." That very month he broke even for the first time.

Write them in present tense, first person, as if they are currently true.


4. Re-write your goals.
When the words are written and then repeatedly re-written they have maximum impact. So don't be content with a first draft. Write down your goal. Then rephrase it, compact it, add motivating adjectives, make it pithy. A week later you may want to adjust it again. Keep on fine-tuning.

Writing your goals down is the first step to make the goals more real. Somehow having things in writing really makes them seem more important to most people. It will also make it easier to make the plans needed to reach your goals if you have something in writing.

What are some of your goals?

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Recession Proofing Your Finances: Top 3 tips to beat the economic meltdown

Now is the time to have a plan for dealing with a recession- even though we are already currently in one. The economy is a cyclical process and even though this notion means that it will come up again, it also suggests that there will, unfortunately, be another down turn in the distant future. These tips will prepare your finances for both good times and the not so good times.

If I've learned anything over the past several months in America's rocky economy, I've learned the importance of setting up finances to withstand the uncertain times of recession and economic turmoil.

Whether it is the fact that the "bottom" finally fell out of the Real Estate boom or the reality that bankruptcy can even hit the most revered and seemingly financially sound banks in America, we've all witnessed first hand how important financial preparation is to maintaining success even in a downward spiralling economy.

While it is important to note that a lot of situations are beyond our control during these times ie- the price of gas, employer layoffs, interest rates, and the cost of a loaf of bread -- there are still many things that we can do within our own finances to lessen the blow of these hard times.

Tip 1:
Cut unnecessary spending. Now is the time to begin to train yourself to live without the unnecessary which not only drain our time, but can also drain our finances. Think about downgrading or eliminating your cable TV/Internet package or maybe even decreasing the number of times you dine out weekly from three to one. Whatever it is you choose to eliminate, now is the time to go over your monthly expenses in order to determine where you are spending unnecessary money.

Tip 2:
Recognize the importance of credit. The recent "credit crunch" has really opened up a new wave of oversight from credit companies. A few months ago, a credit score of 650 or above was considered good. However, in today's market, individuals and businesses with a score below 720 are finding it very difficult to secure a loan or obtain new credit. In addition to paying bills on time and keeping your debt to income ratio low, there are many tips available (check out this link for YBR's tips) today with ideas on how to raise your credit score. It is wise to take advantage of these suggestions, especially in today's economic climate.

Tip 3:
Plan for the long haul. Even though the norm in American society is to get things as fast as you can and instant gratification is oftentimes our goal, this current recession has proven how important it is to engage in long term planning. Strive to begin saving at least 10% of your monthly income for a financial cushion. Many individuals who have unfortunately lost their jobs recently are finding themselves grasping at straws as they try to make ends meet. It is wise to have at least 6 months worth of expenses in a fairly liquid account in case of emergency. As cliche as it sounds, a penny saved is truly a penny earned.

Check out these and more finance tips in my new e-book, 30 Days to Success, here!
Do you have any other tips or advice on how you are coping with today's economic times??

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Be your own Best Publicist with The Publicity Formula Toolkit

A Message from Yoshi Simms- Expert Publicity Coach.

Hello. For all those who don’t know me, I’m Yoshi Simms, publicity coach and owner of The Publicity Formula in Atlanta, Georgia (google me).
As a publicity coach and publicist, I have crafted many publicity plans for our clients in the past, but what I’ve noticed is that so many dynamic potential clients, never became actual clients. Why?
Because they could not afford the fees.
Some business owners I’ve even helped for free because they had such an exciting business model, exciting personality, whatever (and I can be a real softee for an exciting business model and exciting personality).
But unfortunately, my business can not thrive off just sheer excitement. So we had to create something that was effective and affordable.
Oh did you hear the exciting news? One of our clients is doing a national tour for Hoodia. Congratulations Kent! Kent is co-founder of Celeb Fitness Trainers based out of Atlanta. He’s going to be traveling the US and doing appearances at the GNC stores nationwide, as well as radio and tv.
Hoodia is the #1 selling product in GNC. It’s great to see how our hard work paid off.
Check out www.celebfitnesstrainers.com.
Actually this is old news…Kent has recently inked a deal with Disney and is the works with a new kid fitness segment.
Besides just congratulating Kent, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to The Publicity Formula Toolkit.
This toolkit will show you exactly how to do your own publicity for your own business.When I started my first online business back in the spring of 2002, I was shocked by the $1,500-$3,000 a month fees that publicists were charging.
Now it is even more than that and the work is still the same. I knew that there had to be an alternative. I thought about all my experiences I had accumulated from some of the largest advertising and publicity companies in the world.
Why not put it to use?
So I decided to do my own publicity. I did so well, my company received a whopping 605, 000 hits in the first month!
This was due to my own formula for publicity success. I realized that traditional publicity would not give me optimum results.
I knew that my company and company goals were different from any other business, therefore my publicity plan must be different from any other business.
Actually, my publicity plan was tailor-made just for my business. My business concept and goals were in perfect alignment with my publicity strategy. And now I can show you how to do the same thing that I have done with so many of my clients.
The Publicity Formula Toolkit can work for any business and you actually become your own best publicist! Let’s face it, who knows more about your business than you do.
So whereas our publicity clients pay up to 3500.00 a month for pr services or $450.00 for publicity coaching, now you can get your own publicity toolkit for just a one-time fee of $52.00 (a $300.00 value…believe me, a lot of creative thought and work has gone into this toolkit).
Keep in mind, press releases alone cost $125.00, so this is a real deal.
This is a well-designed step-by-step strategy and tactic publicity plan for your business. Once executed properly, your business will do one thing…GROW.
Think about it, at The Publicity Formula we’re creating plans for various businesses and we’ve done great work. Now you on the other hand get to focus in on one business…YOURS!

This is what you’ll get:
How to write a press release for your business
How to write the perfect pitch for your business to the media
How to pitch your business to the media
Become a local hometown celebrity in your town 7 ways to increase your email list
Effective ways for your specific business to get noticed by the media
How to become known as an expert in your field
Creating an effective e-zine/e-newsletter for your business
Creating an effective website that attracts visitors to your website
Press release – We will give you subject line examples, title and some aspects you should include in your press release to make it effective. We will also tell you things to avoid getting your press release trashed.
Pitch – We will give you different things to say for the various media industries. Example: What you should say if you speak to the individual vs. getting their voicemail vs. getting their assistant. What to say to a tv producer vs. magazine editor vs. radio show producer…It makes a difference!
Hometown celebrity – We will tell you exactly who to call and what to write and what to say to get this hometown status.
Increase your email list – We will give you 7 surefire tested ways to increase your email list.
Noticed by the media – We will give you specific ways to get the media to notice your company. We’ll tell you the things they look for outside of just receiving your press release.
Become an expert – We will give you specifics on how everyone will know you as an expert in your field.
E-zine/E-newsletter – We will first show you exactly how and why to do one.
Then we will give you ideas on themes that can help you build your brand and make money.
Website – Make your website make sense. Right colors. Right information. When people visit your website, what will make them interested in reading, buying, etc. What are some other things you can do on your site that you might not have considered?
We’re not here to convince you of anything that is not solid facts. We’ve done publicity for startups as well as companies that have been in business for more than 20 years.
It’s all the same to us.

Once the formula is created, you will start to see your company grow. The toolkit gives you various ways to bring the right attention to your business, which turns into more money.

We’re very excited on this end to get you started so here’s what you do:
Step 1 – Send an email that says Order Publicity Toolkit along with your name, website and email address
Step 2 – I will send you a Paypal invoice in which you pay the $52.00.
Step 3 – Once you email that back to us, you will receive your Publicity Toolkit by email.
Step 4 – That’s it. You’re on your way to being your own publicist!

We look forward to serving you!
Yoshi Simms (google me)
Publicist and Publicity Coach
The Publicity Formula
Atlanta, GA
770-875-2572
www.thepublicityformula.com
info@thepublicityformula.com
www.publicitycoach.mentorsclub.com

Have You Done Your Part? Learn what you can you do to help inspire others

If you're reading today's blog (www.YoungBlackRich.blogspot.com) you have, no doubt heard the buzz about YBR Enterprise Inc created by author and successful lifesyle expert, Alecia D-- but have you shared YBR with a successful woman today? YBR Enterprise Inc provides a haven for today's Diva Entrepreneur to express herself and find a home for her creative talents. If you haven't gotten involved and also spread the word yet, you are TRULY missing out.

The goal of YBR © is to uplift, inspire, and transform the lives of women by providing information on a number of topics related to living a successful lifestyle including health, relationships, finances, and education. The website (www.YoungBlackRich.net) includes- among other things- helpful tips, articles, and success stories on a variety of topics such as motivation, goal setting, entrepreneurship, money management, and success.

In addition to this wonderful website, there is also an interactive Social Network (www.YoungBlackRich.ning.com) that you just have to sign up for. The "Myspace" for the Grown Business Woman, this network allows you to network and socialize with other successful black women around the world!

Check out www.YoungBlackRich.net ,sign up for our newsletter, and join our social network today and find out what you've been missing!

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Guerilla Internet Marketing Tips 101

We all know how challenging today's economic market now makes growing your business. In these times, it is becoming a bit more difficult to find and keep loyal customers. Check out some tips from the Black Business Coach, Dante Lee on how to market your internet business.

Internet Guerilla Marketing 101

Guerilla marketing consists of a series of highly aggressive marketing practices using unconventional methods. It works wonders for those who have very little time and money to invest in their marketing agendas.

Jay Conrad Levinson, the father of guerrilla marketing, has authored several books on the subject - showing people how to survive the advertising jungle on a shoestring budget.
Recently, Levinson and online marketing masters Mitch Meyerson and Mary Eule Scarborough have released their newest book entitled Guerilla Marketing on the Internet that shows you how to successfully enhance your initiatives on the web.

The book reveals:
* The 10 most effective Guerrilla strategies
* Case studies of the five greatest online Guerrilla Marketing campaigns
* How to create a high-impact website on a budget
* Low-cost tactics for maximizing traffic
* The 12 biggest internet marketing mistakes and how to avoid them
* Creative tactics and cutting-edge tools that inspire customers to take action
* Essential information on cutting-edge technology

The Black Business Coach highly recommends getting this book and so do I!

Back from M.I.A.

First I would definitely like to say how much I've missed this blog! I've missed sharing and connecting with those of you who read and I am officially back from being missing in action today!

Just in case you were wondering- I spent a week in the Dominican Republic on vacation, and the other three weeks were spent re-evaluating my life. I found myself thinking about my relationship... my friendships... my family... my job... my purpose... my- well, you basically get the point. I was thinking about LIFE. I am only a few months shy of my 25th birthday and believe me when I tell you, I'm having a hard time grasping the fact that I'm going to be in my "mid-twenties". I knew this birthday would be a big deal for me- I just didn't know it would start affecting me so far in advance. (There's a two-part blog post coming on what turning 25 means to me, I assure you)

In any event, I'm back to blogging and I wanted my first post to basically sum up what I've learned while I've been on my month long hiatus. I spent this break thinking about alot and I really wanted to be able to share with you what I've taken away from my time alone with my thoughts. It was hard at first to put into one theme the many topics that I've contemplated over the past few weeks. But some internet browsing early Sunday evening finally triggered this post.

As I sat at my desk to begin writing, I was distracted by You Tube (as usual) and stumbled on the Stanford Commencement Speech given this year by Oprah Winfrey. One of the points she raised was the importance of not fighting against the seemingly negative situtations that may arise in your life- instead try to focus on the lesson these circumstances are here to teach you. This was definitely not the first time I've heard this antecdote but it was definitely the first time that I found this concept so applicable to the frame of mind that I was in at the present moment.

Previously I've been mulling over all the bad decisions I've made in my life. Among other things, I was regretting the choices I've made in relationships (both platonic and romantic) and wondering why I'd turned down an Ivy League graduate school to work myself to death in corporate America. I was regretting not spending enough time working on and promoting YBR and not making enough of an effort to nurture the relationships with my family and friends.

Once the video was over, I found myself on Oprah.com and came across a list of tips in the Inspiration section of the site. It was a list on ways to open yourself up to your life's purpose. There was one tip that seemed to jump out at me. I'd found it! It was the basic theme that could summarize all that I'd contemplated over the last month and the mantra I could use to get me out of whatever "slump" I was putting myself in on the heels of hitting the quarter century bench mark. Have no regrets. According to the experts, it's easy to regret the time you've spent being unhappy or unfulfilled. Realize that during that time, you developed the skills you need to succeed! Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But how many of us can truly say we apply it's principles to our everyday lives?

I was complaining to one of my fav friends a few months ago about my job. Saying how much I couldn't wait until I didn't need to work anymore. How much I hated waking up and going there everyday blah blah blah. And I remember her saying to me "You obviously didn't learn the lesson you were meant to learn yet. As soon as you do, you will leave." I always held on to her comment but wasn't quite sure how to apply it until I read those words on Oprah's site and listened to what she said at her speech at Stanford. Yes, there will be times in life when we're faced with situations and circumstances that are less than desirable, but since experiencing some of these things are inevitable, wouldn't it make the most sense to learn what we can from it and move on?

I just know that I'm tired of playing the victim. I'm tired of complaining. And as cliche as it sounds I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I'm not sure what the lesson is that I'm supposed to be learning at this point of time in my life, but I can't wait until I figure it out. Because it's at that moment that I'll realize that I've finally moved on and made it to the next level.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

What Every Woman Should Have..Some Inspirational Words

We all know (hopefully) that Maya Angelou's words are always among the most well thought out and insightful of the black literati. With that said, I was very excited when I received this email in my box a few weeks ago that credited her as the author. After some research (it should be a habit for you to research anything before speaking on it), I realized that Angelou isn't actually the author, rather it is a woman named Pamela Redmond Satran. I hadn't heard of Satran before reading this poem, never the less this piece truly inspired me- so much so that now one of my resolutions for 2009 will definitely be to check off every item on this list (I have way too much going on in 2008 and I still have two resolutions left that I have to finish before December 31.)

Every Woman Should Have...
by Pamela Redmond Satran

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …enough money within her control to move outand rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a youth she’s content to leave behind….
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward toretelling it in her old age….
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVEone friend who always makes her laugh… and one who lets her cry…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .a feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…how to fall in love without losing herself.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…when to try harder… and WHEN TO WALK AWAY…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…that she can’t change the length of her calves,the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…that her childhood may not have been perfect…but its over…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…how to live alone… even if she doesn’t like it…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..whom she can trust,whom she can’t,and why she shouldn’t take it personally…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…where to go…be it to her best friend’s kitchen table…or a charming inn in the woods…when her soul needs soothing…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…what she can and can’t accomplish in a day... a month... a year...

Financial Fitness: 4 Tips to Get out of Debt

Financial freedom is probably one of the most popular goals of young, successful women today. Gone are the days when we depend on our husbands and parents for all of our financial matters. We are business savvy, financially literate, and very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of a bank statement.

For many of us, even though we have the most positive intentions of realizing our financial goals, we often find ourselves stuck in the never ending cycle of DEBT and OVERSPENDING. If you can relate to these obstacles getting in the way of your quest to financial freedom , you may find the below tips very useful.

Step 1
Write down all of your monthly expenses. It's very difficult to create a plan and budget if you are unsure of where you stand. Taking a snapshot inventory of your current state of finances will prove very beneficial on your journey to financial independence. What are you currently spending your money on? Are there expenses that can be decreased or eliminated altogether?

When I initially decided to get serious about my finances, I had to take a hard look at where my money was going each month. I noticed patterns of wasting money on transportation, food, and frivolous monthly expenses. Noone needs two gym memberships! Do you have monthly bills for services you aren't using?

Step 2
Create a realistic budget. The simple act of writing down your expenses before hand will do wonders in helping you stick to your new plan. The key is to be realistic and to account for unexpected events. Be sure to also set aside at least 10% of your income to be put away toward savings. At first glance 10% may not seem like alot, however, you will be surprised at how this money begins to add up over time.

Let's say you make $500 a week. If you commit to saving 10% each pay check, you will have saved a total of $2400 a year. This is an extra $2400 that would have been wasted prior to your committment to setting aside money for savings. I don't know about you, but I would rather have this extra cash gaining interest in an account over the course of a year than using it to buy something that isn't really worth it in the long run.

Step 3
Create a timeline of when you expect to become debt FREE. Now that you are saving money by getting rid of unneccessary expenses and curbing your spending by implementing a budget, you should find that you have a few extra dollars left over. Use any excess cash to pay off your debt- starting with the smallest debt first and working your way up until you've paid them all off. Sure, it may take you any where from a few months to a few years to become free of debt (depending on how much income you have and how large your debt is), but all that matters is that you have a plan.

It took me two years to finally become debt free. I graduated from college with thousands of dollars worth of credit card bills. Once you start putting lump sums towards your debt, you will notice that the numbers begin to decrease and eventually disappear! Stay encouraged and eventually you will reach your goal.

Step 4
Brainstorm ways to increase income. Ask your boss for a raise, look for a new job, start a business, join an investment club, or apply for a second job. It took a lot of dedication and determination to get yourself into debt and you should definitely be willing to do what it takes to get yourself out.

Over the years, there have been many times when I've felt proud of my accomplishments. I'd have to say that finally becoming debt free ranks among the top ten moments. It is truly a wonderful feeling to pay off that last credit card and realize that you have accomplished something that the average American is struggling with daily. Debt is a serious problem that continues to keep alot of young, black, women from accomplishing higher heights of success and when you beat the odds, you should truly be proud of yourself!

No matter what anyone has told you in the past, getting out of debt is very possible. What it's not is easy. But for a Young, Black, Rich woman - taking the "easy" road isn't our style. I know you have what it takes to become debt free, the most important step is just getting the courage to get started!

Do you have a Debt Elimination Success Story? Share it with the YBR readers in the comment section!

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Take the Plunge: Start Your Own Business

Taken from The Black Business Coach
by Dante Lee

Everyone has an untapped reservoir of knowledge. Put yours to work for you as an independent consultant by teaching your skills to others. Just how big is consulting? In 1997 alone, U.S. businesses spent just over $12 billion on consulting.

A consultant's job is to consult. Nothing more, nothing less. It's that simple. There's no magic formula or secret that makes one consultant more successful than another one. But what separates a good consultant from a bad consultant is a passion and drive for excellence. And--oh yes--a good consultant should be knowledgeable about the subject he or she is consulting in. That does make a difference.

Here are the top 20 consulting businesses thriving today:

1. Accounting: Accounting is something that every business needs, no matter how large or small. Accounting consultants can help a business with all of its financial needs.

2. Advertising: This type of consultant is normally hired by a business to develop a good strategic advertising campaign.

3. Auditing: From consultants who audit utility bills for small businesses to consultants who handle major work for telecommunications firms, auditing consultants are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

4. Business: Know how to help a business turn a profit? If you have a good business sense, then you'll do well as a business consultant. After computer consulting, people in this field are the next most sought after.

5. Business writing: Everyone knows that most businesspeople have trouble when it comes to writing a report--or even a simple memo. Enter the business writing consultant, and everyone is happy!

6. Career counseling: With more and more people finding themselves victims of a corporate downsizing, career counselors will always be in demand. Career counselors guide their clients into a profession or job that will help them be both happy and productive as an employee.

7. Communications: Communications consultants specialize in helping employees in both large and small businesses better communicate with each other, which ultimately makes the business more efficient and operate smoothly.

8. Computer consulting: From software to hardware, and everything in between, if you know computers, your biggest problem will be not having enough hours in the day to meet your clients' demands!

9. Editorial services: From producing newsletters to corporate annual reports, consultants who are experts in the editorial field will always be appreciated.

10. Executive search/headhunter firms: While this is not for everyone, there are people who enjoy finding talent for employers.

11. Gardening: In the past decade the demand for gardening consultants has blossomed (pun intended) into a $1 million-a-year business. Not only are businesses hiring gardening consultants; so are people who are too busy to take care of their gardens at home.

12. Grantsmanship: Once you learn how to write a grant proposal, you can name your price.

13. Human resources: As long as businesses have people problems (and they always will), consultants in this field will enjoy a never-ending supply of corporate clients, both large and small. (People-problem prevention programs could include teaching employees to get along with others, respect and even violence prevention in the workplace.)

14. Insurance: Everyone needs insurance, and everyone needs an insurance consultant to help them find the best plan and pricing for them.

15. Marketing: Can you help a business write a marketing plan? Or do you have ideas that you feel will help promote a business? If so, why not try your hand as a marketing consultant?

16. Payroll management: Everyone needs to get paid. By using your knowledge and expertise in payroll management, you can provide this service to many businesses, both large and small.

17. Public relations: Getting good press coverage for any organization is a real art. When an organization finds a good PR consultant, they hang on to them for life!

18. Publishing: If you're interested in the publishing field, then learn everything you can and you, too, can be a publishing consultant. A publishing consultant usually helps new ventures when they are ready to launch a new newspaper, magazine, newsletter--and even websites and electronic newsletters.

19. Taxes: With the right marketing and business plan (and a sincere interest in taxes), your career as a tax consultant can be very lucrative. A tax consultant advises businesses on the legal methods to pay the least amount of tax possible.

20. Writing services: Anything related to the written word will always be in demand. Find your specialty in the writing field, and the sky will be the limit!

For the complete article, visit:www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/startupkits/article41384.html

YBR Beauty Pick: On-line Shopper Alert!

I'm on my way home from the gym yesterday evening and I'm thinking about my upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic in a few days (8 days of some well deserved rest and relaxation). All I'm thinking about is when I'm going to find the time to get some shopping in before I leave. Between working at my full time job, working on YBR, and enjoying my personal life, when exactly will I have the time?



Sigh.



I decided I would just run in to the closest mall over the weekend and pick up a few things. Well- that all changed when I woke up this morning! In my inbox was an email from one of websites I subscribe to with information about a FREE, virtual, on-line shopper! The site searches for all of your favorite brands and find clothes online in your size that have recently gone on sale! Now tell me this isn't heaven sent! I signed up today and within 5 mins I received an email full of ideas and wonderful sale prices!



This is site is definitely a YBR Beauty Pick! Check it out and let me know your thoughts!



http://www.shopittome.com/



Alecia D.

A Message From the Heart: What being Young, Black, and Rich means to Me

I have to admit that it really gives me great joy and fulfillment to be a part of this YBR movement. As I've said many times before, being a YBR woman is so much more than having money and material possesions. It truly is a state of mind. A feeling of knowing who you are and what you can achieve. Even though I've had my times of self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy (as we all do) I have still always considered myself to be a confident person. This confidence has done nothing but increase significantly since I started YBR.

I guess it's the fact that I now have a place where I can connect and share with other women like me who want the best for their lives. Or maybe it's the opportunity to have a forum to share my thoughts, advice, and information. Whatever the reason, YBR has given me a new found appreciation and sense of pride in who I am and who we as young, black women are. I, as well as my friends and associates, have noticed a change in me. I now walk and talk with a sense of empowerment and feel challenged to go after my heart's desires- no matter how unorthodox they may seem to others.

This is also my hope for you all. I truly want the best for every Young, Black, and Rich woman I come in contact with. I appreciate those of you in Houston, Texas; Douglasvlle, Georgia; Brooklyn, New York; London; Dublin; and all of the other countries around the world who check out the blog daily, email me, and post comments. You truly do inspire me. I hope that you are getting from YBR all that you are looking for.

What does being Young, Black, and Rich mean to you?

Three Reasons to FIRE your BOSS and do your own thing: Food For Thought

I know we've all thought about it. Quitting our jobs, firing our bosses, and finally being able to do what we love for a living. It's something I talk about on YBR very often! If you're like me, you definitely do NOT want to spend the rest of your adult years slaving away for someone else.

These three quotes really speak to the idea of this and inspire me even more to do whatever I have to in order to make sure I can fire my boss within the next couple of years.

Top Three Quotes:

#3-
“To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s. In the first case you are a man, in the second you’re no better than a bird.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

#2-
“You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers … If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” - Steve Jobs

#1-
"Getting up in the morning and having work you love is what makes life different for people. And if you get into a position where you really don’t love what you’re doing, get off it. It’s easy to be on someone else’s track or something that sounds like a safety play.” -Bob Woodward

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

So you want to be a millionaire. Don't we all?

But seriously, how do we actually get there?

How many times have you heard a young child say, "when I grow up, I'm gonna have lots and lots of money!" or heard a college student say, "I can't wait until I graduate and get a job so that I can live a lavish lifestyle." Or was it even you who said to yourself just yesterday, "I can't wait until I win the lottery or come into a huge pile of money." We've all thought about how much more simple life would be if we could add a few extra zeros to our bank accounts, but have you really thought about what it would take to get there?

In today's day and age, becoming a millionaire is not as far fetched a goal as it was a few decades ago. Many people, especially young black women, are beginning to realize that the road to riches can no longer be found inside of a cubicle. It is for this reason that the rates of black, female entrepreneurs are steadily increasing every single year.

Evaluate your interests and determine your niche.

What's your passion in life? What is it that would truly leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied both personally and professionally? Are you currently involved in any hobbies or activities that leave you feeling so blissful that you seem to lose track of time? Take the time to listen to your thoughts. If there is a certain experience or situation that you genuinely enjoy, you should begin to think of ways to turn it into a niche or specialty for profit. Don't be afraid to experiment with lots of different interests, eventually you will know when something sticks.

Develop a course of action.

Now that you have determined what you want to do in order to make your millions? The next step is figuring out how you are going to do it? What sorts of things need to happen in order for you to achieve your goal. Do you need additional education? Do you need to begin networking. Brainstorm several ideas and turn them into a list. Set deadlines and get started with the first item immediately!

Visualize your millions.
What does being rich look like to you? Where will you live? What will you buy? If you want lavish trinkets and toys, don't be afraid to visualize them. No one should make you feel guilty for wanting the finer things in life for yourself. Will you use the money to invest in other businesses or charities, will you go back to school? Think about whatever you want, the sky truly is the limit.

Get started!

All the planning in the world will not put a million dollars in your bank account. Planning is NOTHING without action. What do you need to do to get started on your road to success? Whatever it is, plan to start doing it immediately. Any millionaire that you can think of did not get their millions by sitting down and doing nothing (except for rich celebrity kids, but who wants their millions handed to them anyway ;) Anything worth having is worth fighting for (Cliche, I know, but so very true!)

What are your thoughts on working your way to the top? Have you ever dreamed of being a millionaire?

To your success!

Alecia D.

The Beauty of Black Self-Love

How many times have you felt like you weren't up to par simply because you didn't get your eyebrows done over the weekend or were a week late on getting your edges touched up? How many times have you felt inadequate simply because your shoes weren't designer or your car wasn't considered "luxury". Most women can admit that feelings of insecurity do creep into their minds from time to time, but what's most important is how you choose to deal with your moments of weakness.



Self-image is such an important aspect in our lives. If we look good, we feel good. If we feel good, we do good. If we do good, good things come to us. It's a wonderful cycle as long as we are in high spirits, however, the moment we let our guard down and allow negative thoughts to cloud our minds is the moment when we can be thrown off course.



Since self-image and the way we view ourselves is so important to the way we present ourselves to the world and also how the world views us, it is mind boggling to me how much we equate our image- our worth, to our outward appearance. Am I better than you because my hair flows down my back? Are you better than me because you have higher cheekbones and a sleeker neckline? Is she better than us because her skin is the color of caramel?



I recently saw a picture of a black woman and it really struck a chord with me. I literally stopped doing what I was previously doing because her aura was so striking. She was average size, average height, and had average looks. I was only able to see her face, so her beauty had nothing to do with what she was wearing. There was just an internal glow about her that seemed to leap off the page and surround me. The moment I looked at the photo, I realized in a split section that what should truly be necessary to make someone feel beautiful and secure is not a killer shoe collection or the latest bag, but rather something a bit more intangible. Something that would actually mean something when your youth fades and your looks wither away. Something more along the lines of confidence.

Don't get me wrong, it is very important to care about how you look and to take pride in the physical image you are putting forth, however, it is even more important to build upon your inner strength. Material possessions are very fickle. One day you can have them and the next day you might not. It is for this reason that we should not get too consumed with pursuing these meaningless objects. Instead, we should make time for the people in life that make us happy, that situations and experiences that build our character, and the opportunities that help mold us into the strong women that we want to become.

Time to Show Yourself Some LOVE

Do you Love Yourself? Learn some tips to get on the path to self love and acceptance.

Check out this awesome article written by Courtney R. Franklin on Empressmag.com!

Alecia D.

Just Do It and Get It Overwith: Tips to END Procrastination

It took me 45 mins to finally start writing this post.

I tried to think of all of the other things I could be doing instead- but how many times can I really pick at the same hang nail or rewatch my fav movie, Love and Basketball?

If you're like me then it's safe to say you have become a Functioning Procrastinator - which is basically an individual who although they may be successful, they always seem to undergo so much unneccessary stress and anxiety that is often associated with waiting until the last minute.


Well you know what, I don't want to be this way anymore. So, I'm making a public statement on my new goal to end procrastination. If you would also like to end your battle with putting things off, check out the info below!

What is Procrastination: Definition-The act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness. Now, I don't know about you, but as a YBR woman, I do not in any way want to be characterized as someone who is "habitually careless" or "lazy". It may sound harsh, but any time we are putting off a task or goal we have set for ourselves we are identifying with these terms. That should be reason enough to want to change these habits. If it is not don't worry, procrastination is nothing more than a bad habit and habits are something we can work on breaking.


Why we Procrastinate: The many reasons vary and are based on the individual characteristics and personality of each person, however, the most common reasons are giving in to distractions, feeling anxiety or fear toward a task, and lack of motivation. Do you suddenly feel the need to start on another project of less importance every time you get ready to begin completing a task? Are you afraid that you will not be able to complete the task perfectly? Are you simply unable to find the energy to begin or you just don't know how to begin?

How we end Procrastination: The fact that you have identified yourself as being a procrastinator is already a great step in the right direction. Believe it or not, there are many people walking around today who assume their habit of waiting until the last minute to complete a task surrounded by the pressure of deadlines, anxiety, and inadequacy is normal. I'm here to tell you it's not.

• Change the way you view the upcoming task. When you think you'll never be able to complete the task or you keep telling yourself you don't know where to start, you're brain will offer up procrastination as a defense mechanism. Instead of saying "I don't know where to begin" say "I'm ready to begin now".


• Don't focus on perfection. Trying to think of all of the things that can go wrong with a task can serve as a way for procrastination to set in. You may begin to feel anxiety or fear of not presenting a "perfect" product which may result in paralyzing your efforts and never getting started. Change your thought process to viewing the mere completion of a task as the accomplishment instead of measuring how accurate or perfect it is. If you complete a task with enough time to spare before the actual deadline, you can use the extra time for revisions and rechecks.


• Rethink your reasons for taking on the task in the first place. Lack of motivation shouldn't always be looked at as a bad thing. Most people are not procrastinators in all areas of their lives. What makes tasks we put off different from those we don't. Are we feeling forced to complete a task based on what we feel others think we should be doing? Is the task even in line with our personal/professional goals? If it is, then use the strategy in tip 1 and tell yourself you are ready to begin right now. If it is not, then it's ok to drop the task altogether. It's so much easier to be motivated to complete a task that is more in line with our bottom line than to complete one that is not.

No matter what your reason for procrastination, the easiest way to overcome this bad habit, is by just forcing yourself to begin. Whether you need to block out 5 sets of 30 minute blocks to finally start cleaning your apartment, or sit down to outline the 20 page report that's due in two weeks, do whatever you need to in order to get started. Often times the most difficult part of a project is simply starting it.

So, the next time you feel procrastination rearing its ugly head trying to throw you off course, use the strategies above to get you over that hump. After all, the sooner you get started, the sooner you will be finished, and the sooner you can move on to doing something else.

-Alecia D.