Hello!
My apologies for suddenly dropping off with the daily inspirations! I have been under a major re-construction of my brand and my blog!
I will now be blogging as TrulyTess. A lifestyle blog of a twenty something nothing. Please join me by subscribing to Trulytess.com to continue on my journey of self discovery and professional Entrepenuer! I am looking forward to seeing you there!
Tess
Tackle Experiences Show Success!
Do you ever get overwhelmed with the possibilities of life that you don’t even know where to begin? I can relate. For me, I love this feeling. It is a chance to really map out a plan of action to achieve a greater goal. Moving forward is very exciting, it can also be daunting. How do you know if you are making the right decisions or not?
Here are some ideas to help think through what you would like your outcome to be.
Hope this helps to motivate, move forward, take chances and dream big!
Tess
In college I was a volunteer leader for an after school program for Middle School girls. If you have ever spent more than 15 minutes with a 14 year old girl you can see insecurities and the pressures already setting in on a young vibrant soul. During the time I spent with them I gave them every ounce of energy I had. I wanted each one to feel special, feel loved, feel awesome. I would run around and scream with them, get dirty in a mud pit, play pranks on the boys at summer camp. I would talk to them about challenges they would endure, boys, drugs, the alcohol scene. Say things their parents didn’t realize they needed to hear. After the late night cabin talks I would even sing them to sleep.
Being with these girls on a weekly basis took a lot of time away from my busy school schedule. Full time student balancing work and friends I still somehow made time to show up at their basket ball games. The impact made was mutual. As much as I made a difference for them they were also impacting me. I was being fed feeding others. I still keep in touch with a few of the girls. They are graduating high school now with only faint memories of the nights we shared. My wish is that they pass on what they learned to the next generation. 11-15 year old girls are a precious gift. If you know one give them extra attention. They will soak it up!
Tess
When I was a little girl in Sunday school I remembered connecting to the story of Job. I was at the edge of my seat to see when he will give up his Faith and turn away from God. He NEVER did! I thought that was the coolest story and knew that no matter what I endured in life I would always mimic a heart like Job.
Sometimes the waves of life can get a little choppy. We all go through trials where small decisions end up being the most crucial. We may even be faced with a recent loss or un-favoring circumstance. Ultimately these are times of character building. How you handle your boat decides whether you sink or swim. Remember the story of Job in the Old Testament? God took away his livestock, land, home and finally his Family and he still did not give up his Faith. Thankfully God does not throw these same challenges at us today, or at least not all at once.
What you are going through right now, cannot be worse than what Job endured. I know it may seem unfair, harsh, like you will never be the same, but trust me there is joy to be found. Whether you are dealing with a personal struggle or one of life’s harsh circumstances, know that this is not the end.
In Marianne Williamson’s book The Gift of Change she explains the process for grieving. “Every night is followed by a new day” she expands on the emphasis for ultimate love and the power to fight the deeper shadows in your soul and cover them with light. It takes time, “the soul has to bleed… but in the hands of God, the blow can become a spiritual gift.” If we do not endure trials and hardships we can not become the person He put us here to be. “With every scar, we become carriers of the universal wound as well as transmitters of a universal healing.”
You may be right at the brink of a major breakthrough!! Train your brain. Train your brain to see the bigger picture, the next step, the good around you. You are a overcomer. Instead of asking “why” in a broken situation, ask “what”. What can I learn? What can I do? What can I change? Your answer will be revealed to you.
Remember the strength of Job.
Tess
Did you know that over 40% of small businesses do not make it past the first year? 80% will fail in the first 5 years. If they make it past the 5 year mark 80% of those will fail in the next five years. Scary huh. Especially as a young women starting a path of entrepreneurship. I read these statistics in The Emyth Revisited by Michael Gerber.
For the last six months I have been apart of an Entrepreneurial book club. I can honestly say that this is one of the coolest things I have ever been apart of. We are a small group, twenty somethings at the start of our careers. We read through entrepreneurial books and exercises that help keep each other accountable and growing. Recently we have been focusing on a One Page Strategic Plan that will break down what we have to accomplish on the daily to get us to our desired goals and income (a plan discussed in Mastering the Rockefeller Habits).
A business is your brand and to share details of what we are doing and not doing has been extremely eye opening. We are a close knit team all in different industries striving to better each other and better ourselves. Book after book is mind blowing and the information shared between the leader and peers is purely priceless. The power of belonging in this intimate society is overwhelming. It gives me confidence to do better with my business. It gives me motivation to read and implement strategies weekly. The information always seems to hit me at perfect time for the step I am on. The process of learning and growing helps me gain perspective of things I never would have known if not for the conversations we share.
Here are a few of the books we have read so far.
Next we will be starting The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma.
If you are striving for excellence but not getting the support you need, look into joining a book club or starting one of you own. Stay tuned for reviews of the books and entrepreneurial tips! I am soaking in all the knowledge and tools to create well established business and brand. I will not be a negative statistic!
Tess
After networking in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 8 months I have observed a lot of do’s and don’ts in regards to networking. I am certainly not perfect but getting close to perfecting the art of growing my business through effectively using my time in a networking meeting.
This will be the first of many post regarding this topic as there is an abundance of information to share. Lets get started with A few things to know about networking. Times are changing. New standards, new trends, new faces, new techniques. Walking into a room for a networking event can be scary for some people. First things first, you NEED to make the best first impression you can.
A few overall rules:
I can go all day with details of what works and what doesn’t I will save that for another post. I would love to hear your thoughts on networking your business and any questions regarding networking. What works for you?? Stay tuned and subscribe to read more ways you can effectively promote your business and get the most out of networking!
Tess
This past weekend I conquered the Tahoe Tough Mudder! The Tahoe course is known to be one of the most brutal courses and with 8,500 people running through it with me it was quite the experience. At the starting line I heard one of the greatest inspirational messages I have heard in a long time. In order to fully respect the men and women who serve in this country we need to do ONE NEW THING every week. In order to take full advantage of our American Freedom, our Individualism our American Pride we need to ever be pushing ourselves to take on new heights, discover new breath taking views, push our minds and bodies to the max. They are risking their lives so that we can live ours to the fullest.
What can you do this week that will push you to the next level? What will be the mountain that you move or the goal that you conquer? We live everyday with physical, mental, spiritual and emotional challenges. Once you push through one challenge do not stop, move right on to the next. We should constantly be the best we can be. We owe it to our protectors of this country the men and women who fight for our Freedom.
Tough Mudder, Check. Now back to reality, where I will take on new measures to push myself past the limits to grow my business and my brand. I will take full advantage of my rights as an American and push myself harder to make the men and women who serve this country proud!
Tess
In everyday life we are like tiny planets that orbit around the earth, immersed in our daily goals, routines and activities. But when was the last time you sat down and had alone time with yourself? Stopped the orbiting and planted yourself in the world? It is so important to incorporate “me time” into your schedule. All you need is a timer set for 10 minutes and a quiet place to think. Do you have a personal relationship with yourself? I know that may be a weird thing to ask, but do you? It is so important to establish many things in your mind. Here are a few things you should know about yourself.
When you give yourself time to think through your current situation it will clear your mind and help you make a solid decision. We can only handle so much, but when we indulge in a little bit of self love we can endure so much more! Next time you are feeling anxious, stressed, tired, confused, out of rhythm, find a quiet place to rest your thoughts. A bedroom is fine, a park is ideal. The LEAST amount of alone time you should be practicing is 10 minutes a day. So if you don’t give yourself that much time, its a good place to start. Let me know what you think! Tess
Part of proclaiming to live the Modern American Dream means to actually live a life Americans can relate too. To me the American Dream is not a status that we reach but a mindset. Living every day fully motivated to be the best individual one can be. Finding balance in housework, career, faith, family time and personal time. It’s hard to pull off, especially with constant distractions, gadgets fighting for our attention, media reports and negative feedback. How is one person suppose to thrive when being faced with challenge after challenge? By having the best attitude ever!! Have you ever watched a protagonist in any movie? They undoubtedly have a problem to overcome, execute the plan and pull of their goal by the end of the film. Clues along the way help guide their decision to take the next step. I am not eluding to any story in-particular, this is a observation made from watching to many movies. What if we had that same dedication, the same spirit, the same fire in our belly? Are you living day to day trying to get to the weekend? There is a big, wide world out there and your job is to own it! (figuratively not literally). SO! What is your ultimate goal? What are you living for? Lets create a plan and Execute!
Tess
Hello Hello! It’s Monday morning! I love the smell of Mondays, the opportunity, the backlog, isn’t life fun! I want to share with you a concept I have been thinking about the last couple of days…
You know how when you are saving up money for a specific purchase and every dollar counts. You even consider pocket change to be more valuable then before. You think twice before making a purchase because you are so focused on getting that ONE THING you are saving for. Maybe it’s your first car, your first house, getting out of debt, whatever, every dime is 10 cents closer to making your dream a reality.
HMMMMM what if we channeled this concept in weight loss. Calories in vs. calories spent. I look around and there are so many people who have lost the concept of fitness. When did we decide that this is okay? Anyway, calories in vs. calories spent, think of it like a bank account. If you are wondering where that extra 5 pounds came from reflect on the last week. Did you spend more calories than you brought in? Well….
Okay so, I think you get where I am going with this. And of course I am going to point out the positive side! We get to change!! Know your body, know your calorie bank, constantly be spending calories. I am always looking for ways to spend more calories. You do not have to change your daily routine just incorporate working out in what you are already doing. Flex your abs when putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Leg lifts while folding the laundry. Anything extra you can do to spend a calorie, it will all add up and you will be a happier, healthier you! Don’t over complicate going to the gym. What materials do you have around you to do a few exercises? Like your special purchase you are going to get there, I know you can!
It’s going to be a GREAT WEEK! Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think!
Tess
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