My Plate is Full and I’m Hungry for More!

I have a lot on my plate. Not a literal plate of food, but the imaginary plate we use to describe how busy our lives are.

Between my full time job, teaching part time, blogging (even in its current limited form), family life, and a host of other things I’m working on…I’ve got a lot to do these days.  I’m not complaining, just acknowledging that fact.

Driving home the other day, I went down my “to-do” list and it seems to be growing by the minute. Everything is such a balancing act for me right now. It’s a bit overwhelming. But as I think about everything on my to-do list, I realize this is par for the course on the path to greatness.

I put so much on my plate because I have an appetite for success and I’m going to tackle each portion of my life’s meal one by one, until I reach my goals. I feel so hungry!

I’m hungry for more out of life!

I’m hungry for a new lifestyle – the one of abundance that I’ve always dreamed of having.

I’m hungry to be a better me.

I’m hungry for God.

I’m just…hungry! Ready! Willing!

The first half of 2012 is coming to a close. What are you doing to help you achieve your goals?

What are you hungry for?

 

Wanna Go to the Essence Music Festival? Here’s How!

I’ve always wanted to attend the Essence Music Festival. There’s no other concert or event like it and the roster gets hotter and bigger each year! I love that there’s a mix of legends, heavyweights, and new comers alike, all in one place to celebrate the essence (pun intended) and the beauty of what Black American culture has to offer.

Just a FEW of the names on this year’s lineup include:

Aretha Franklin
Mary J. Blige
Fantasia
Keyshia Cole
Kevin Hart
Ledisi
Estelle
Goapele
SWV
Vivian Green
Bridget Kelly
Dru Hill
Kindred Family Soul

And might I add that D’Angelo was just added.

Um…yes, please!

Wanna go? Of course you do! Here’s how you can:

The folks at State Farm have teamed up with Essence to provide a fun opportunity for one lucky winner and two friends to attend the festival this summer (July 6 – 8 in New Orleans, LA).

Do you have a unique sense of style that is all your own?

If so, then get ready to show it off!

Submit a photo showcasing your style sense to enter the State Farm Celebrate Your Unique Style Contest!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• 3 Round Trip tickets to the Essence Music Festival
• 4 Days/3 Nights Hotel Accommodations
• $500 Style Makeover
• A chance to show your makeover on the Essence.com live stage and online!
• Floor seat tickets to all 3 concerts!

To participate in the “Celebrate Your Unique Style Contest” contest submit your photo HERE.

The contest begins May 7th and will run until June 7th.

Good luck, ladies!

 

Mother’s Day 2012: Life Lessons with My Little Lady

 

Learn How to Grind & Thrive: Why Torrey McGraw is a Friend in My Head

This is the second edition of the “Friend in My Head” series that I recently started. You can read the first one here.

I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Torrey McGraw’s website Grind & Thrive, but I’m loving what I’m seeing so far.

Grind & Thrive is THE place to go to get in the mind of today’s rising stars, from business to music to blogging. Torrey conducts in-depth interviews with people that we don’t get to hear from often, but have always been curious to know more about (at least that’s true for me). Some of the standouts for me have been Paul Carrick Brunson, Angel Laws, and Demetria Lucas. After seeing their episodes, I remember asking myself, “How did he get these folks to do these interviews?!” I was intrigued to learn more.

The people that Torrey interviews are change makers in their respective careers. The interviews are thought-provoking and motivating and he seeks to find out what they did or are doing to get to their level of success. His approach is easy-going yet professional, which creates an honest conversation between friends vibe. He asks the questions we all want to know, like how Pat Flynn went from being laid off to earning $200K a  year with online businesses. Each  interview becomes like a free, 30-minute mentoring session from some of the leading trendsetters of today.

I’ve always been hungry for that ‘behind the scenes’ information, so this site is right up my alley. His content provides the same experience I used to get when I read (slowly and meticulously) the liner notes of the albums of my favorite artists. Reading the notes and credits was the exciting part for me; not just hearing new music! I wanted to know who the song writers were, who produced my favorite tracks, and who the artist thanked in their obligatory thank you section. I knew that it was these people that were the ones who were at the top of their game, if they were sought after by my favorite artists.

Part of being successful, in my opinion, is to study those that have gone before you. You don’t know what to aspire to, or to aspire above, if you don’t have a reference point. Right now I’m studying the moves and lives of those that I admire, and it seems like Torrey and I have the same list of interests! He just hit up Amy DuBois Barnett (editor-in-chief of Ebony magazine) on Twitter for an interview. If he lands that one, I’ll be the first one logging on to see that session! Her book “Get Yours” was a game changer for me and her career is stellar to say the least.

If you have no idea who any of these people are that I’m referring to, then I recommend you gon’ ‘head and step ya Google game up!

Or, you can check out Torrey McGraw’s site and get ready to learn how to grind and thrive! The work that he’s doing is why he’s a total friend in my head!