3 Ways to Beautifully Brand Your Look

When you get dressed for an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills, your appearance 

reveals how you feel, what type of personality you have and it prepares your audience for what type of experience they are going to have. By making a few high-caliber changes to your look you add extra opportunities for your success. Increase your confidence with this simplified approach to stepping out in style.

Hear me, friends: Know the difference between fashion and style. Jill Martin, New York TV personality and style expert: "Fashion is what is current and in the moment according to magazines and top designers. Style is something you develop according to your personality and body type" (2010, Fashion for Dummies, p. 27). It is not important that you follow trends define your own style. Once you have accomplished identifying your style, you can accomplish pleasing your audience and branding your brand in their minds.

Seek professional services.

It is so important to seek the services of a professional makeup artist and photographer when taking photos for your brand. Yes, you may sculpt your own eyebrows perfectly, but is your overall makeup look camera ready? Ensure that your makeup is flawless so that your forehead will not shine brighter than the flash after your photos are taken. And while your iPhone photos may be the clearest photos you have ever seen taken with a cell phone, pictures in front of trees and other scenery are not appropriate for professional brand photos. Backdrops should be solid colors, preferably white, gray or black, so that your image may be lifted and used for promotions, flyers and more.

Don't get shot down because of your head shot!

I remember my pageantry days… flipping through the program book and seeing all of the beautiful head-shots of my competitors. I certainly had my work cut out for me as all of the women vibrant and gorgeous in their photos! I remember looking for one contestant because I could not wait to see her beauty in person! I had met everyone else and wondered why I could not find this one queen… I thought she was not there. However, she was there; she was much older in person than she was in her head-shot! I was disappointed because I felt I did not meet who was portrayed in the photo.

Look like an expert.

If you were scheduled for a medical surgery and you are laid out on a hospital bed anxiously awaiting to meet your doctor, the last thing you expect to see is a person walk in with a pair of overalls and boating shoes. In that moment, you would quickly question the skill level and competence of the person who walked into the room and there is a possibility that you would not allow this person to touch you at all! A medical expert should be in a white, surgical coat with scrubs and a shiny stethoscope hanging from their neck. We expect nothing less and only the best from those who arrive to “help” us. The same is true of us as professional leaders and business owners. There is an expectation from the “help” that walks into the room. Based on your look, does your look show that you are ready to perform surgery?

The look of leadership is not necessarily becoming a super fashionista, a corporate America professional or a laid-back lounger. It is tailor-made, specific and customized to fit your needs, your comfortability and your brand.

Do...

1. Take notes from fashion magazines for inspiration.

2. Make educated purchases--buy essentials.

3. Dress like someone your audience would go to for advice.

4. Seek professional photography for your head-shot.

5. Wear your brand colors.

6. Seek the help of a stylist when you are not sure.

7. Invest in your appearance as this is a part of your brand.

By the way, I would love to support you in looking your best as a leader in your industry! Sign up for my newsletter at LaQuishaHall.com to receive a free copy of my eBook, The 50 Commandments of Fashion! Meet me at the Unlimited You Weekend, April 15-17, 2016. Register at www.unlimited16.com.

LaQuisha Hall, Confidence Coach and the “Unbothered Queen” of Confidence, goes far beyond what is expected of her. There was a time in LaQuisha’s life where she was not confident in much. She struggled through low self-esteem due to being naturally thin, witnessed domestic violence as a child and was sexually abused by clergy as a teen. Now an international advocate for herself and others, LaQuisha actively works to empower women and youth to overcome catastrophe and low self-esteem through Coutured Confidence. 

10 Things Every Unlimited Woman Absolutely Knows

There are many roles and attributes that describe the unlimited woman. She wears many hats and sometimes finds herself being as much as she can be to everyone. Yes, she strong, sometimes weak, she is hopeful, sometimes a little unsure, and yes she is fearless but at times she lacks a little courage. Regardless, of the  emotions she experiences in life, the unlimited woman is sure of the greatness that she possesses.

She's unlimited not because of her titles, but because of the greatness that she is and is destined for. The unlimited woman is unlimited because she has developed and maintains a mindset and a spirit about herself that carries her gracefully through her journey.

There are specific truths that the Unlimited woman is absolutely sure of as she maneuvers through her journey in life and business.

Her purpose, gifts, and mission in life are non-negotiables because she knows how impactful they are to her family and community.

Here are 10 Truths Unlimited woman believes:

1) She is purposed to lead, nurture, build, and heal others as she is empowered and healed.

2) Despite loss, brokenness, or tragedy, the unlimited woman knows she is an overcome and not designed be a loss. She recognizes that oftentimes pain from these experiences can produce purpose and give way to healing that is greater than the hurt.

3) The unlimited woman recognizes that her greatness is within her, is her gift, and that she is greatness.

4) She knows that her mission is not only for her but for others to assist her in moving her mission forward.
5) The unlimited woman knows that she must be aligned with like-minded, forward thinking, mission driven, community-conscious individuals.

6) She knows that she must balance her hard work and commitment with rest, retreat, & restoration.

7) The unlimited woman knows that her actions, requires goals, which require a plan, which requires accountability, intention, and partners who support her in reaching those goals.

8) She knows that her personal and professional development are ever evolving and that growth is always essential.

9) The unlimited woman doesn't stop at "NO" and doesn't use "I Can't", but she uses challenges as an opportunity to evaluate her strategy, for improvement, and to forge ahead. Purpose is a driving force in her life.

10) The unlimited woman does NOT believe that other women are her enemies, however, she embraces the uniqueness and strengths of other women.

The unlimited woman ultimately embraces all of who she is and the gifts she is blessed with to use in the world. This woman whether she realizes it yet or not is the woman deep down inside of all of us.  She not limited by any thing that seeks to disturb her from her highest level of greatness. The unlimited woman has replaced the the "I Can't" mindset with a "I Can & I Will" mindset. Everything that the unlimited woman sets out to do will teach her something of value. Are you ready to take the limits off of your life?!

If you are looking to align with other unlimited women and continue to evolve personally, professionally, & take your actions to another level --- Join Heal A Woman To Heal A Nation. www.hwhn.org

Cassandra N. Vincent is the creator of The Cassie Brown Project and loves to inspire women to live their most liberated lives.

Power of Consistency

So this article might offend some of you. It might make some angry. But I have to say it. The reason why there aren’t more millionaires, more great businesses, happy marriages, more well­behaved kids, and more people in shape all boils down to one thing.

Consistency. 

If you’re not consistently working to improve yourself, consistently working to grow your business or get better at what you do or consistently eating healthy and exercising, you’re moving backwards. Let's be honest, these days most people have the attention span of a flee.

To achieve anything great requires a commitment to consistency in order to see that vision of greatness come to life.

I can’t tell you the number of times I speak to people who want to lose weight and get in shape. And guess what their number one challenge is?

Sticking to a regimen.

Or in other words consistency.

To be consistent, you have to take the long view. You have to see the forest for the trees. You have to be able to get over the little hurdles and setbacks and know that you are on a journey that most likely won’t happen overnight. Greatness is a process.

Weight loss is a process.

Learning to eat healthy is a process.

Putting your needs first is. a. process.

Communicating well with your partner is a process.

And all of these things can lead to an incredible outcome whether it be making more money, being in a great relationship or wearing a two piece at the beach, but they are require consistency in action and effort.

And the truth of the matter is, when you really REALLY want something, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it. (iPhone 6s anyone?)

So if you’re having a hard time being consistent with anything in your life, question your motivation. How badly do you want it?

Because the truth is most people think they want to lose weight more than anything. I ask them if they are sure they really want it. And they implore me that YES! They really really want to lose weight.

And sometimes I tell them, that’s not the truth. The truth is that they REALLY want something more. They want the cookies more. The fried foods more. The gummy bears more.

Because when you really want something, you will move through hell or high water to get it. You will scrimp and save. You will do what it takes and will do it consistently until you get it.

So what do you really want?

Your friendly neighborhood cellulite fighter,
Aja

P.S. As a special gift to HWHN readers, I want to help you be more consistent when it comes to your workout regimen, so I’m giving away a copy of my 7 Best At Home Workouts. Grab your copy today by clicking this link: Aja’s 7 At Home workouts
www.ajadavis.com

Firefighter- A Necessary Role in Marriage

“More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse.” ~ Doug Larson

I will never forget that horrific day in August of 2000. I came home late morning/early afternoon from a babysitting job with every intention of taking a nap before I had to go to work. My younger sister was at home enjoying her last days before school started again. I honestly don’t remember what happened next, but what I do remember is telling my sister to call 911. I remember grabbing the fire extinguisher and squeezing and pulling the trigger to no avail. I remember scrambling for a bucket and running full speed from the bathroom to my sister’s bedroom trying to douse the growing fire. I remember (after the fact) feeling like the scene from the Little Rascals when they pass the bucket down the line and by the time they dump the bucket on the fire, it’s nothing but a few drops of water. I remember yelling to my sister to get out of the house and frantically looking for our cat to take her with us. I remember standing on the sidewalk watching helplessly in tears as the only home I’ve ever known was eaten alive in flames.

I remember the next days, weeks, and months being consumed with the horrible stench of smoke that was embedded in our clothes and what was left of our home. I remember the annoyance of itemizing and attempting to remember what was lost and what the value might be so the insurance company could pay us. I remember the nomadic moves from our 5 bedroom single family scorched and water damaged home to the 2 hotel rooms and the 2 bedroom apartment and the 3 bedroom townhome my family of five lived in. I remember the guilt of believing I should have prevented this grave inconvenience and tragedy for my whole family…..

Then I remember the day we were able to move back into our “new” home! As I entered the front door, I could see beautiful hardwood floors in the hall and stairway that were once covered by dark blue shag (yes, we still had shag in 2000) carpet. I saw modernized wallpaper in the dining room and a new found elegance in the living rooms. I saw brightly colored walls upstairs that brought a welcoming relaxing feeling. I saw built-in closets in my sisters and my rooms where stand-alone closets used to be. I saw a beautifully upgraded home that my parents talked about and dreamed about, but could not afford to do on their own. That wonderful day in May 2011, we started over. We were happier. We were a stronger family unit and full of optimism.

In marriage, you are guaranteed to have your own “fire” experiences. In these moments when you can justify giving up on your marriage…when you feel it’s impossible to fix…when you feel you can’t take anymore…remember you vowed “for better or for worse.” What if you knew you would live out a happier, stronger and more optimistic marriage after this trial? What if you knew by next year he would come around to get your finances on track? What if you waited another 60 days for that right mentor to help him finally understand how much you need that quality time? What if you waited those next three weeks for God to change his view on parenting and being more supportive around the home? What if you hadn’t cheated after you found out he did?  What if you vowed “for better AFTER worse?” 

We say we know the trials are coming, but we often choose to give up because we convince ourselves “I’ve done all I can do.” “That’s his problem.” “He’s never going to change.” “I deserve better.”

I want to encourage you to keep fighting your fire. If you are preparing for marriage, I want you to take the opportunity to prepare your mind and take an honest look at your values. In my experience, I saw the fire burn my house, but the structure was solid. I had to call for help, I had to shed some tears, I felt some pain, but our house still stood. Our house went through months of gutting out and restoration but in the end, all of that work produced a home that was better, higher in value and more appealing than the one that burned.

I want you to take a moment to be honest with yourself. Whether you are married, engaged or single, I want you to ask yourself these four things:


    1)     What is the real issue? If you separate the emotions, what is the “bare bones truth”              about what’s hurting your marriage? 
 
    2)        Have I asked for help?/Am I willing to ask for help?  Griping to your girlfriends                  just to vent and rehash the story is not productive. This will only feed the negative                 energy and emotions that you are feeling. Be sure to address your challenges with a             professional or a wise and seasoned confidante who will not just hear your issue, but             give you some practical views, insights and solutions, even if it means focusing on                 your own shortcomings.        


     3)      What is the change I want to see? Think about what would be different if this                       challenge went away right this instant. Think about how you would feel and how your             life would be affected. What is the part you play in creating that change?      


     4)      Was this preventable? Looking back, was there anything that either of you could                 have done to keep this fire from starting and how can you better “fireproof” your                     marriage for the future?

Marriage is intended to teach us about ourselves as well as each other as we grow. Trust that there will always be the “other side of through” and with truly unconditional love, you can take the heat. 

Kristin M. Young, “The Marriage Enthusiast” is the founder of Living The Vows-a marriage enhancement coaching organization, and Project Manager for Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation, Inc. She is committed to bringing joy to marriages and supporting women in their journeys to wholeness as individuals and in their marriages. you can find out more at www.livingthevows.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LivingTheVows.

Why Do I Need a Business Plan For My Book?

**As originally posted on http://www.nikkiwoodsmedia.com**

Wondering if you should have gotten the “find my phone” app after you’ve lost your smart phone is sort of like wondering if you should have had a business plan after you’ve completed your book. The answer to both questions is yes, and figuring it out too late can be a costly lesson. Here are five things authors need to know about business plans.

1. Marketability.

It is ideal to write a business plan for your book before you begin writing your manuscript. You may have a great story idea, but you want to ensure that you have a substantial market for that idea, and that it will cater to your target audience. If you think about it – why would you write a book that wouldn’t sell? Do your research to identify readers looking for your type of book and where they are. The bigger the market for your book, the more salable your book is, and the more profitable it will be.

2. Essentiality.

In creating your story idea, think about why you’re writing your book and why it should be published. Is there a need for your book? Are there other books similar in category or genre to yours? Why is your book different? What will make readers choose your book over others already in the marketplace? Do your research and compare your story idea to what is already out there. This ensures that you produce a unique, but necessary book for your target audience.

3. Book structure.

Arranging your book via its content (chapter structure/table of contents, summaries, and book synopsis) help you to streamline all the information you wish to present to readers. It allows you to see if there are any gaps in your story, how your book compares to others in the market, and if what you’re presenting meets the market’s demand.

4. Advertising.

So you know you want to write a book and have the perfect story idea. Have you thought of how you will promote it to your intended audience? Advertising is something you need to carefully think about, as well as develop a strategic and effective approach to build your readership – before writing your book. Waiting until you’ve finished writing your book will have you scurrying to find readers interested in what you have to say. Start brainstorming ideas on how you will get the word out about your upcoming book (blog audience, email lists, social media, and so on), and begin building your author platform now. The more people know about your book, the larger the audience awaiting your book, and the more visible your book will be when it’s released.

5. Future books.

So you know you have a great book idea and have developed your plan on how to make it a success. Have you thought about what other stories you will write? Maybe a sequel or a book series. Is your current book a way to attract publishers to more upcoming books? Is your book part of a strategy to grow your business? Think about your goals surrounding the writing of your book. Writing one book is the start to getting your name out to the masses. However, writing more books will help you to become more discoverable, visible, and profitable.

A business plan is your GPS to success.

Keep Writing!

Multi-media personality, Social Media and Personal Branding Coach, Motivational Speaker and Voice-over artist, NIKKI WOODS is the senior producer of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the most successful syndicated urban radio show in history reaching more than 8 million people on a daily basis. 

www.nikkiwoodsmedia.com