Taken from The Black Business Coach: Daily Blog by Dante Lee

So you're a business owner or entrepreneur or author or expert - whatever you want to call yourself. You've got clients, nice business cards, a few employees, and maybe even some office space. Maybe you've even been featured on TV and in a few magazines.

Colleagues see you as successful, but family and friends think that by now you should be rich and famous. They want to borrow money, and don't understand when you turn them down. Is that realistic though? Should all entrepreneurs be living like celebrities with money to give away? If you aren't living like this, does that mean you're doing something wrong?

Actually, the only people doing something wrong are the people who are thinking in that manner. Being a successful entrepreneur does not mean that you have to drive a Mercedes Benz and live in a million dollar home on the beach.

Rather, being a successful entrepreneur simply means that you have created a way of alternative income - aside from working for someone else. Whether you've created part-time income or full-time income for yourself, you have far surpassed the millions of individuals who will attempt to start a business - but won't generate any income at all.

You should celebrate the fact that you are even in the game, let alone in a country where there are business opportunities available for you. Don't be hard on yourself because you may not have reached celebrity status; the key is that you are still in business.

Anyone who has figured out a way (legal and ethical, of course) to get others to spend money with you, has done far more than any family member or friend may ever realize.

Business is not easy, and it is not straight-forward. If you create a company that does nothing more than allow you to eat and pay rent, you are a history maker and should be applauded.

Don't be mistaken though! I'm not discouraging you from reaching for the stars. If its your goal to so, do all you can to become the next Bob Johnson or Bill Gates or Oprah Winfrey. But until then, give yourself credit where credit is due - and ignore those spectators who have no idea how business works.

Check out more from Dantel Lee here.

  Greetings Ladies!

As promised, today is the kickoff for the on-line book tour for my new e-book- 30 Days to Success: How to Up Your Success Quotient and Become Young, Black, and Rich!

Check me out on Mahogany Butterfly today!  This is the first entry in my new monthly column The Mindset of Success that will be featured on this site.  Learn how to revamp your thoughts and actions and create your most successful life.

Click here to buy your $8 copy of my e-book NOW!

Alecia D.

In today's environmentally safe and health conscious world it's hard to escape all of the new research and information available on living a greener life.  While it is important to focus on the impact toxins have on our earth, it's equally important to focus on the impact they have on our beauty.

Let's face it, "We are what we eat and what we put on our skin", says master herbalist and natural health guru, Ashia P. "Toxic chemicals in our food and body care products are now found in everything from toothpaste to dish washing detergent. The health and beauty industry is not monitored by the government to make sure that they are not producing toxic products for consumer use. Therefore it is important for consumers to be proactive and aware of the dangers that lurk from within!"

That's where Mineral Indulgence comes in.  Mineral Indulgence is a beauty line that specializes in products that are less chemically based, certified organic, and all around good for our hair, skin, and body!  I just ordered a bottle of the Shea & Cocoa Butter Hair Creme and the Honey Avocado Moisturizing Facial Soap.  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!

Alecia D.

30 Days to Success: How to Up Your Success Quotient and Become Young, Black, and Rich!

• On-line 1 1/2 hour e-course (supplement to the e-book)
• A copy of the Success Manifesto created by Alecia D.
• A compilation of the top 5 best reviewed published articles and blogs by Alecia D.
• Exclusive invitation to the interactive YBR on-line network
• Top Holistic Health Tips
• Top Credit/Wealth Tips
• A copy of the up-coming audio version of the e-book

Monday, May 26 will kick-off our on-line book tour.  Follow me as I spread the word about the new e-book- 30 Days to Success: How to Up Your Success Quotient and Become Young, Black, and Rich!  on the top black blogs and magazines on the net!   Stay tuned for the exact locations.

So many of us dream of the day when we can creatively express ourselves freely without worrying about the constraints of the work place or the judgments of others.  We want to pursue those dreams that we've had since we were young children of being an author, a dancer, an artist, or graphic designer.

It seems that the older we get, the more we shrug off our initial desires and replace them with more "practical" means of professionally expressing ourselves.  We opt for the safe desk job that provides us with a steady paycheck and a set career path instead of chasing our true calling which would provide us with a more prolific and fulfilling experience.  While there is nothing wrong with aspiring to make it in the corporate realm, we shouldn't strive to do so at the expense of our creativity.

There are many women who are lucky enough to have found a way to incorporate their passion with that of their paycheck, but for those of you who are still struggling to find ways to get paid for our passion, check out some tips below to channel your inner creativity and find your true calling.

Don't fight your artistic identity:
It's truly up to you to own the title of artist, writer, musician, etc. This is a very important part of the process, possibly the most important. Creative people aren’t shy about what they do, or about their love of creative expression. Even though they may have corporate day jobs they tend to view themselves as writers with desk jobs rather than as corporate employees who also write as a hobby.

Become an early riser:
Creative people tend to have developed the habit of rising early in the mornings. They are able to use this quiet time before the day gets started to clear their minds, plan their day, and focus their attention on important projects that need to be completed.

Journal:
As we go throughout the day it is easy to get bombarded with all of the outside issues that come our way.  Our minds become cloudy and we are hard pressed to find that place within where we can find a creative outlet.  Get into the habit of writing things down as they come to you.  It helps to focus your energy and you are able to pick up where you left off as soon as you are able to find the quiet time to reflect.

No matter what you choose to do in your life, be sure to make time for your personal interests.  Never get so wrapped up in your daily routine that you lose sight of taking the time to feed your creativity.  Having a creative outlet can mean the difference between living a fulfilling life and one deprived of expression.

Greetings Ladies!

One of the most common areas that people express dissatisfaction to me is the area of finances.  It seems that more and more in these times of recession, black women are feeling "left out" of the circle of wealth.  The idea of wealth seems elusive to so many people and in turn causes frustration and feelings of anxiety.  While it is normal to want to live a life of abundance, what separates the wealthy from the norm is the willingness to develop the mindset of abundance.  Too many times, we feel that wealth simply falls into the laps of a few lucky people and that we have no influence on whether or not we are one of the chosen few.  This idea could not be further from the truth.

In a recent article by Elon Bomani, she clarifys the true interpretation of wealth- "Wealth is the idea of having more than enough. It is an abundance of tangible and intangible assets. You can have a wealth of health, a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of material goods. Accumulating wealth in one area of your life has a domino effect of creating wealth in all other areas of your life according to the law of cause and effect. In other words, within you are all the resources you need, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual to manifest worth in your life."   If we accept this definition, we are essentially taking responsibilty and ownership for our own ability to produce wealth.

Some of the ways that Bomani advocates producing wealth into our lives and creating a wealth mindset, are thinking wealthy, speaking wealthy and associating with wealthy people. She goes on to say that "by doing so, you will manifest a wealthy outcome. It truly is that simple."  I couldn't agree more.  Ask yourself the following questions -What is my interpretation of what wealthy people think?  If you aren't sure, do some research.  Who are the top three people that you admire for their wealth and success?  What are their thoughts?  What are the daily words I am speaking about wealth in my own life and the lives of others?  Are your words mostly negative?  How can you turn those words around into positive statements?  Who are the people that I surround myself with?  Are you taking financial/business advise from broke people?

It is important that we begin to realize exactly how important our thoughts are in creating and maintaining a wealthy and abundant lifestyle.  The Universe will only give back to us that in which we put forth. 

Alecia D.

I was all ready to post my blog this morning about black love and relationships... when I stumbled upon the below Guest Post.  The below is exactly the thinking that YBR stands for.  What are your thoughts?? (You can check out my original blog on the network! Sign up today.) "Success is not a destination we arrive at, it is an attitude we hold along the way". -Caterina Rando Isn't it true that if more black women in network marketing expected success to happen in their business, we would make more phone calls to potential clients and prospects, schedule more appointments to talk about our business opportunity or products, follow up with existing customers and invest more time and money into our training and self development? And wouldn't those actions result in more business, more confidence and more overall success in our network marketing business? These are the questions Caterina Rando, DSWA Success Center Director, speaker and personal coach, posed in an excellent article she wrote about the importance of going for what you want all the time, every time and being proactive and confident as you would be if you knew you could not miss! Caterino went on to explain that it is our responsibility to make the offer. It doesn't matter what the thoughts or actions of the other person are; it doesn't matter whether they agree to what you are offering or not. What really matters is that you go for what YOU want, with the mindset that you will get what you want! Remember, as a woman of color building your direct sales or network marketing business, you are the promotor of your products or services, your business opportunity. It is your responsibility to share what you have to offer with others....period. When you have this type of attitude or mindset, you are expecting success to happen because you are doing the necessary actions to grow your business. You are also bringing what you believe to be is something of value to the other person, it is up to them to say yes or no. The only way you will know if they are interested, is to expect success by offering them your product, service and/or business opportunity. Success is not a destination we arrive at; it is an attitude we hold along the way. All the joy of our professional lives is not in the outcome, but in the process. Do not rob yourself of the satisfaction that lies on the path along the way. Instead, enjoy every call that you make, every order that you take, every presentation you make. Revel in the process of being a success TODAY!! I give great thanks and gratitude to Caterino Rando for sharing great words of wisdom with us and reminding us that reall success happens along the way...respect and enjoy the process:-) "Successful people are simply those with successful habits". -Brian Tracy

  Goodmorning Ladies,

Be the first to join the new Successful Lifestyle Social Network from YBR!!  Starting today you can be apart of the action. The network is a supplement to the main site and provides a place where you can share your profile, thoughts, photos, blogs etc with other like-minded successful, rich, and beautiful black women.

Check it out!

Sign up today and don't forget to tell a friend!
www.YoungBlackRich.ning.com

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Today's Affirmation: I am Strong.
Today is the day to be strong.
Not yesterday.
Not tomorrow.
Grow strong by embracing each moment today as an opportunity to show your strength.  Before you start your day picture the way you look and feel as you go throughout the day in confidence.

Alecia D.

My heart is so full
What a wonderful morning it is!  My heart is so full right now, ladies.  We are coming to the end of the first week of the YBR Network and I am happy to announce that we have had 300 visitors to our site and 60 new subscribers to our network and newsletter!  I am so extremely humbled by the responses I'm receiving and am excited to know that you all understand and crave the importance of living a successful lifestyle.  I look forward to sharing with you in the future.

Check out this blog post I saw on www.marrysmart.com
The next time you leave the house know this: You are one of a kind and
irreplaceable. There is only one you. You don't need a guy, but if
you're going to have one, he must love you for you (not your body parts,
your money, or your clothes).
 
He must add value to your life.
 
Once you love yourself, really and truly love yourself (because of who
you are inside, as opposed to the fact that you just forked over $450
to have your teeth whitened), you will attract better men.
 
Good men definitely exist. But they want to be with a woman who values
and esteems herself. (Self-love trumps pretty every time!) Once you
become that woman, you will magically find yourself enjoying a happy,
angst-free relationship with a guy who's in it for the long term.
 
To your happily ever after,
Terry

P.S. Attract a better man and marry him. Invest in the program that works: http://www.marrysmart.com  

Affirmation for your friday
Hold this in your mind as you go throughout your day today-
"I am beautiful, I am loved, I deserve good things."
Have a happy and safe weekend!  Don't forget to tell a friend about YBR Enterprise Inc.

Truly Yours,
Alecia D.

 

Any YBR woman knows that image is important and that any plan geared toward business success should include provisions on how you present yourself. It is for this reason that I try really hard to put my best foot forward and look my best as much as possible. Keeping in line with this, I decided recently to start getting back into the habit of getting regular manicures. As an author, my hands are one of my most important assets and it's important to me to keep them looking their best. Enter: disappointment. It seemed that after two days, like clockwork my nails would chip and the polish would crack.. Not cute at all! I had all but given up on manicures when I stumbled upon the God send of Nail Salons- Dashing Diva!

Dashing Diva salons are clean, cute, and oh so pink! My manicure is still going strong- six days and counting. This franchise has several locations in New York and a couple others around the US and even Overseas. If you're ever in the area of one of these fine establishments- Check them out!

How many of you actually enjoy and love what you do for work? That is- look forward to waking up in the morning, skip all the way to the bathroom to get dressed, and smile the entire time you are on your two hour commute (one-way)?? Not many of you, huh? Believe me, I know the feeling. It is for this reason that I have come up with a sure-fire way to make sure that I am O.U.T by 30!

The path to "own ur time" by the time you reach 30 may seem like a daunting task, but it truly is not as bad as it seems.

1. Define your purpose- What is it that you want to do with your life? If you did not have to worry about having the necessary credentials, experience, and money- what would make you happy?

2. Focus on your plan- What steps would you have to take to accomplish the dream you have set above and how long will it take to get there? Do you need more training, do you need to do research in a particular field? Networking? No matter how outlandish you think your plan would have to be write down all the steps it would take for you to get there. Do you need to save an emergency fund? Scale back on your overtime at work?

3. Set aside the time- Now that you know what you want to do and you also know what you need to do to get there. Set aside the time in your daily schedule. I've put aside 2 hours a day to work toward my age 30 goal. If you need to go back to school- then start researching programs. If you need money, then start creating a budget for yourself. Do whatever you need to in order to get the ball rolling for yourself.

The only thing keeping you away from being the person you want to be is your fear. Don't let life pass you by. Today should begin the journey that you will take to be O.U.T by 30 or 40, or 50... It's never too late to get O.U.T!!

Check out the below post from the Zen Habits blog-

http://zenhabits.net/2007/11/escape-your-location-how-to-become-free-from-the-office/#more-539

Monday Mornings.

For most, it's the most dreaded day of the week.  We have to get our mind back on track to focus on the day to day task we are assigned at work.  If you're like me and you're still trying to transition your passion into your full time job, chances are the place you are getting ready to go to this morning isn't the place you are looking forward to spending your day.  If this is the case, you have two choices- Be disgruntled and look at monday morning as the worst day of the week or be focused and look at monday morning as a time to re-group and get re-organized.

Believe me, I've tried the first way for years.  I've woken up dreading going into the office.  I wake up groggy and upset.  I mumble as I'm getting dressed and don't look forward to the day ahead.  My mood spills over into everything I do and I end up feeling tense and angry.  Why not try something different for a change?  You should know that your mindset determines your success in any endeavour.  If you feel successful you will be successful.  Instead of thinking of your monday as negative, revamp your thoughts and think of monday as the first day of a wonderful work week.
Don't know how to do this?  Check out some tips below.

Visualize your day
As soon as you wake up, think about how much of a great day you are going to have.  See yourself getting a seat on the crowded subway and not having to wait in line at the deli for your morning bagel.  Plan how you would like your entire day to play out.  If you can visualize the positivity it is more likely to happen.  Utilize the quiet time before the chaos begins for some pre-work meditation.

Start your day off right
Make sure you grab breakfast.  If you have time for a morning workout, take advantage.  Having a little bit of personal time in the morning helps you feel focused and allows you to feel as though you are making deliberate choices throughout your day instead of feeling like you are simply going through the motions.

Put your best foot forward
Make sure you dress to impress this monday morning.  It's a proven fact that if you feel like you looked polished and productive, you will also begin to work more polished and productively.  Taking the time to look your best will in turn help you feel your best.  It will be much harder for those monday morning blues to sneak up on you if you're feeling like a million bucks.

If all else fails- call in sick!  LOL...
Have a happy monday ladies.

Alecia D.

As I was sitting down earlier today putting together my plan for the next few months I realized that I have alot of things to get done. I am finally on the cusp of accomplishing alot of the personal goals that I have set for myself. I'm at a place where I can either get to the next level from where I am or fizzle in a downward spiral. Of course, because of the type of person I am I would love to move upwards from here, but I am realizing that it is definitely going to take alot of work.

In most of my previous endeavours I was able to obtain maximum results with minimum investment of time, energy etc. Not so for the new goals I have set for myself now. I am finding that I am discovering new things about myself as I move closer and closer to these goals. As you guys should already know, one of my goals is to quit my job in the near future and seriously be on the path to owning 100% of my time. I am committed to full control with how I spend my life and do not want to find myself living to chase a paycheck.

Because of this goal, it is necessary for me to build ways to create wealth so that I can always be able to support myself without having to be a slave to Corporate America. This is involving conducting research, enrolling in different classes, and reading alot of material dedicated to bettering myself and my business outlook. I guess today it all became very overwhelming because I found myself getting a bit discouraged and even re-thinking my plans. It was at this moment that I realized I must be right on the edge of a huge breakthrough.

It has been my experience that whenever someone is just about to go through a huge life changing event, they may become distracted or encounter negative thoughts. I've decided that this must be a roadblock designed to test your drive and help you realize exactly how much you really want this change. Whenever these roadblocks come up it is important to see them for what they really are and not succumb to them.

After my momentary feelings of self doubt, I realized that I was specially built for this. Whatever it is that I have to do in order to accomplish my goal is what I will do. I know that even though it may not be easy, it is necessary. If it were easy to achieve great heights of success, I guess everyone would be successful. My goal is to own my time, my life, and my world. I'm going to do it- period.