How to Prepare for a Lay Off

We all know the unemployement rate is rising daily. Researchers are saying that our economy is in the worst shape it's ever been in since the Great Depression. The Great Depression? If I remember correctly from my 7th grade Social Studies class, that was the time in history when people had to wait on lines to get bread and other necessities. If that's where we're headed, then my thought is that it's definitely time to get prepared.

Check out this article I found on Empressmag.com on how employee's can get themselves prepared just incase one is faced with an unavoidable lay off.

Read full article here.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Three Ways to Boost Your Confidence Instantly

At the center of most of the issues that young, black women face is lack of self-confidence. You know the issues- staying in a dead end relationship, settling for a job that's going nowhere, etc. Some times it may seem that it's easier to go with the flow than it is to make the necessary changes we need to start a better life. Here are a few ways to boost your self-confidence instantly. Once you begin to feel confident about yourself, others will start to see you that way also. Before long it will become easier for you to make those challenging decisions that will help you improve your situation!

Make eye contact. A long overlooked tidbit for many is the importance of eye contact. This small step does wonders in boosting your confidence as it makes you seem self-assured. Many of the movers and shakers that we look up to have long mastered the art of this. Practice looking directly into the eyes of everyone you speak to for the next few days- from the CEO of the company you work for to the individual who restocks the napkins in the pantry. A confident woman knows her worth as well as the worth of others and is never intimidated during conversations. Make it a common practice to have engaging and genuine eye contact and watch others react to you differently.

Become a fast walker. Sounds ridiculous at first, right? But give this some thought. If you were the President of a multi-million dollar company and had a busy day packed with meetings, conference calls, and check-signing, your time would be very valuable to you, correct? You would definitely be in a hurry and would not want to waste time sluggishly walking from place to place. Deliberately walk 25% faster than you currently do and people will begin to subconciously think "she's going places".

Dress for Success. No, this does not mean that you need to charge up $800 worth of clothes at Bloomingdales. This simply means that you should strive to always present the most put together look you can at all times. Ever heard of the saying "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have"? Well this saying certainly does apply to confidence building. It's easier for others to see you as a strong, confident woman if you look the part. You can still be comfortable and true to your own personal style, but always remember that confident people almost always look put together from the inside out.

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Get Your Publicity on in 2009

Want to spread the word about your business?? Check out this list! 50 Links to Press Release Submission Websites! (Most of them free) Get your publicity on in 2009!

http://www.avangate.com/articles/press-release-distribution_69.htm

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

3 Ways Video Can Ruin Your Personal Brand

Check out this blog post on the YBR Social Network here!

Alecia D.

Are you or someone you know a Young, Black, Rich Diva who deserves the spotlight?  Tell us all about her in 200 words or less!  If selected, her bio will be featured on the YBR Newsletter as well as the main page of the YBR social network!  Please be sure to include the following!

Full Name

Why she encompasses the Beauty, Brains, and Boldness of a YBR woman

Link to her website (if applicable)

Contact info

Please send all submissions to aleciadee@youngblackrich.net

To Your Success,

Alecia D.

Think and Grow Rich Diary: Think and Grow Rich confidence boosters

One of YBR blog readers, Jaky has a great blog on blogspot.. check out his post below!

Think and Grow Rich Diary: Think and Grow Rich confidence boosters

New Year's Resolutions Revealed: Get Your Money in Order

Ok, so we're 14 days into this new year and I hope that you still have your goals/resolutions for 2009 fresh in your mind. If you've already forgotten them (shame on you ;) don't worry- it's time for a refresher course.

If you're like me- then you consider yourself to be an independent woman with a good head on her shoulders. You're also ambitious and always up to challenge yourself, right? With that said, I'm sure that one of your goals for 2009 was to get your finances in order. If that's the case check out these fabulous tips that will help you do just that.

Figure out where you are.
The first step in getting your finances in order is to assess the damage. Carve out at least a two hour block of time and find somewhere to go where you can be fully focused. Gather your bills, bank statements, credit card statements, a phone, blank notebook, and a pen. Take the time to record exact amounts of how much money you owe and how much money you have on hand. Call up each and every creditor if you have to. Don't complete this process until you are confident that you have a clear understanding of exactly what your financial picture looks like. This is the first and most important step in getting your money situation on the right track.

Create a spending plan.
After you've assessed the damage, it's time for damage control! Take inventory of every item that you spend money on each month. Compare the total figure with the actual amount of money you bring in. Do the two numbers coincide? After you've paid your living expenses do you have enough money left over to save and also put toward paying down debt? If the answer is no then it's time to rework the numbers until you're able to figure out ways to minimize your expenses. Once you've come up with a plan that works... put it into action!

Pay yourself first.
Don't underestimate the importance of saving. So many times even after we've paid our bills and dug ourselves out of a financial hole, we realize that we are still only one paycheck away from finding ourselves back down at the bottom. In today's economy it is not safe to live paycheck to paycheck. The goal should be to put away at least 10% of your income into a savings account. If you can do more awesome! If you can't, do what you can comfortably afford. In the beginning stages it's more important that you build the habit of saving than the actual number. It helps to make the process automatic. I use ING Direct for my savings account and they have an outsanding service!

What are some of your success stories when it comes to getting out of financial crisis?

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Hello!

Yes, yes- it's true. My birthday is today and I had a bright idea! Because I'm so happy and grateful to be given another year of life by the Universe/God, I'm going to give away gifts instead of receiving them. Isn't that great? It's my birthday, but all of you get rewarded!

Here's the deal: The first 25 people to email me at aleciadee@youngblackrich.net will receive a FREE consultation for my coaching program! That's right, all you have to do is send me an email with "FREE Consultation" in the subject line and I'll get back to you with with my availability. Believe me, this is a great opportunity. What a wonderful way to set your goals for 2009 in motion with some FREE coaching!

For those of you who aren't familiar with my coaching program, check out the details below!

The (Silver) Coaching Package includes:
A 30 minute in-depth all-inclusive consultation session designed to asses your current state and your proposed goals
Three 60 minute one-on-one phone sessions tailored to fit your needs specifically

The (Gold) Coaching Package includes:
A 30 minute in-depth all-inclusive consultation session designed to asses your current state and your proposed goals
Four 60 minute one-on-one phone sessions tailored to fit your needs specifically
One, free e-book from Alecia D. every month
Weekly inspirational tips and quotes to keep you highly motivated and focused

The (Platinum) Coaching Package includes:
A 30 minute in-depth all-inclusive consultation session designed to asses your current state and your proposed goals
Five 60 minute one-on-one phone sessions tailored to fit your needs specifically
One, free e-book from Alecia D. every month
Weekly inspirational tips and quotes to keep you highly motivated and focused
Admittance into the YBR e-Club (highly interactive coaching/mentoring program where you gain access to all of my resources), including personal cell phone access to Alecia D.

For more info or to reserve your package today, please email aleciadee@youngblackrich.net or call 206.426.5361

To Your Success,
Alecia D.

Building Successful Relationships: Top Tips to Snag Your Next Love Connection

Greeting Ladies!

I was having a conversation with one of my male co-workers yesterday and we got on the subject of the characteristics of a successful woman. We began to list all the basics- well educated, great job, good credit and so on until we felt we had a pretty comprehensive list. I thought we did pretty good and I was confident that I encompassed at least 90% of the list.

It wasn't until a few hours later that he sent me a text saying the following:
"You know what's one of the most important characteristics? Ability to get and keep a fulfilling relationship with a man."

Wow.

That hadn't even occurred to me. After I gave it some thought, I decided it was a valid characteristic. Of course, we YBR women do not need a man to validate who we are, however, for the most part- participating in a fulfilling, lasting relationship is a goal of many young women. Sadly though, alot of us are not equipped to do just that. Check out some tips below that are sure to turn your relations with men from not so great to huge success!

1) Like yourself. IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, INTERESTING, AND WORTHY OF BEING DATED- then guess what? No man will either. It may seem simple enough, but this one tip truly plays a huge part in why some women never seem to have issues with getting and keeping relationships and other women do. On a sub-conscious level, men are attracted to women who are attracted to themselves! Like yourself- as a matter of fact- LOVE yourself and the men will come running!

2) Like men. Seems obvious doesn't it? Well, it actually isn't. How many times this week have you said "All men are dogs" or "There aren't any good men out there" or my personal favorite, "All the good ones are taken..or gay." If this is how you truly feel, then why are you looking for a relationship in the first place? This is the logic the universe sees also and is the reason why so many smart, successful black women are still single. Change your thoughts about men no matter what happened in your past. There are always opportunities for new beginnings.

3) Treat every man you meet as a unique human being. This has to be one of the most challenging tips for me, I must admit. There are times when I hear a story from a friend about what a man has done to her or even think back on my own past experiences with men and the anger starts to build up. It's at these times that I may not be as nice as I should be to the next man I encounter. This definitely is NOT the way to go. If you enter a relationship with a man (whether it be platonic or intimate) and are harboring feelings of resentment or ill will, it will eventually begin to manifest itself into your situation. Remember to treat men the way you would want to be treated.

4) Go where the men go. This is probably one of the most important tips. Although it is likely, it is not very probable that you will meet your future husband at the nail salon or the supermarket. Try stepping out of your comfort zone and going to different places- try sports bars, adult ed classes in real estate, finance, or car repair, bookstores (especially cafe bookstores, and ski trips. Get involved with volunteer work. Go fishing. Not only will you begin to expand your own horizons and develop new hobbies and interests, you may run into a new love interest.

These tips may seem too easy to work, but I assure you they do. Whatever you do, remember that you are Young, Black, and Rich and you deserve to be loved for who you are!

To Your Success,
Alecia D.