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

3 Reasons Why We Don't Prosper Financially

Pop Quiz!!! I’m sure most of us have vivid memories of an elementary school teacher making this announcement. I used to cringe. Have no fear! This quiz will be quick and painless. Please answer the following questions…

1.       Who is the wealthiest African American female?

2.       What basketball legend became a billionaire last year?

3.       Which hip hop artist was reported to have made $3 billion from the sale of their product line to Apple?

4.       What does the acronym FIN stand for and do you know your FIN?

5.       What is your FICO score?

6.       When will you be debt free?

I’m sure you answered Oprah, Michael Jordan and Dr. Dre respectively to the first three questions. But what were your answers to the last three questions? Did you have an answer? I usually try this little experiment as an ice breaker at my seminars and workshops and no matter what 3-4 questions I ask about pop culture, the participants are engaged and shouting out the answers. Then, as you’ve probably figured out, aren’t as quick to answer the questions that pertain to their personal finances because they don’t know. My job as a Money Coach isn’t to make anybody feel bad. It’s to help us become aware of this mindset and realize that it’s more important to understand and have an active role in their own lives. In other words…know what’s going on with YOUR money! This is particularly important for women.

You see, there are three reasons why people do not prosper financially:

1.       Lack of financial literacy. Fewer than 2 in 10 women feel “very prepared” to make wise financial decisions. Half indicate that they “need some help”, and one-third feels that they “need a lot of help”. (Financial Experience & Behaviors Among Women 2010-2011 Prudential Research Study) Not to mention, in 80% of the nation’s households women are the primary decision makers regarding purchases. (People Support, as cited on www.womanmotorist.com) However, women are least likely to have a financial planner or money coach.

2.       Lack of a written financial game plan. The average life expectancy for women is 81 years, compared to 73 years for men. (The Social Security Administration) The fact that women are less likely to sit down with a professional to map out their financial future is very dangerous because even though women have longer life expectancies, when asked how much they were aiming for in retirement savings, women aimed lower, with a median goal of $200,000 versus $400,000 for men. (Retirement Fitness Survey 2010) So it’s even more important for women to make sure they are on track for retirement. Most people I sit down with are more concerned with running out of money in retirement than dying too soon. It’s still important though to address both concerns.

3.       Lack of accountability. Life is full of ups and downs...peaks and valleys. Statistics show nearly two-thirds of U.S. women ages 40 to 79 have already dealt with a major financial “life crisis”, such as a job loss, divorce, death of a spouse or serious illness. (AARP, “Understanding Women’s Financial Needs and Behavior” 2007 survey) So having a money coach who has a vested interest in your financial success is essential to helping you navigate the twists and turns that life can bring about.

As you can see, women have a very specific set of needs when it comes to creating a financial strategy. If you have financial concerns, need to ask questions or would like assistance in taking inspired action to create the life you desire, please send me an email. I pray this information was helpful. Brightest blessings!

Misty Muhammad

Financial Strategist/Money Coach

muhammadmisty@gmail.com

What Happened to our Queens?

A few weeks ago, a guy posted a question on Instagram asking, “What happened to my queens?”  And my response to him was, “They tried too hard to become Kings so that the Kings would pay them attention and mistakenly became Harlots because they saw that the Kings preferred them.”  I call this “The Mirror Effect”.  It’s where a woman mirrors a man’s behavior in hopes that he will then mirror hers in return.  But what us women (yes me included) don’t understand is that while we move on emotion, men move on logic and reason.  If something is working in their favor, they won’t see a reason to change.  Let me give you an example: Man and woman meet, man says to woman, “I don’t want a relationship, I just want friends, maybe even a cut buddy from time to time.” Woman agrees (Mirrors him). Man and woman start hanging out and woman gives man some “cut”.  Woman really starts to like man and starts to do things for man to show him that she is feeling him.  In the back of woman’s mind, she is hoping that man is changing his mind and wanting more just as she has (hopes he mirrors her).  But what woman fails to realize is man is getting what he wants and therefore sees no reason to change.  Now this is not the case in every situation; there have been plenty of healthy relationships where this “practice” has worked in the woman’s favor.   But let me serve as a voice of reason to my ladies; the way to a man’s heart is NOT through YOUR vagina.  Fortunately or unfortunately; however you may look at it, men are wired differently.  Their natural instinct is to procreate that is why they are able to separate sex from their emotions.  IF THEY CHOOSE TO.  We are not conditioned in this regard.  Now I understand that some of the blame should be put on them as well, but it’s time for us women to have accountability for our own actions and stop pointing the finger elsewhere when we have the power to change our lives.  I know some of the blame can go to our fathers for not being there and some to our mothers for not knowing how to give us that paternal love but at some point in our lives, we must take a look at what we are doing to cause the strife in our lives. 

We gotta get back to the days where the men were the pursuers because the women knew their value and wouldn’t allow for anything less.  “(S)he who chooses, holds the power”.  Ladies, we gotta get our power back. We have to understand that we have the power, yes fellas THE POWER; to make a man do ANYTHING we want him to without him laying one finger on our body.  My mother used to always tell me, “Never reveal all your cards to a man up front.”  We must keep an air of mystery ladies, keep them guessing, keep them engaged.  Not being so available.  We need to remove the mirrors from his face and place them in front of our own.  We must get back to making ourselves happy first.  Not compromising our Queendom just to emulate his supreme when his duties as King are different than our own.

I know that our Queens are still out there and I have faith that we can gain our power back and once again reign supreme.

Tiera Gray

Tiera has launched her Love Sex & Baggage movement in hopes to bridge the gap between men and women and help destroy the myths that each sex has in regards to each other. This movement is meant to inspire, intrigue, and provoke all your senses and evoke change in your love life. She has also launched her highly anticipated new web series, “The Amazing Woman’s Guide to Loving Her Single Life” on the Love Sex & Baggage You Tube channel which takes a modern day look at single women today trying to navigate their way through dating.

Her next book, “The Girl in the Uhaul” is scheduled to release August 2016!

To see or hear more of what Tiera Nicole has going on, check her out:
http://www.facebook.com/iamtieranicole
http://www.youtube.com/lovesexbaggage
Instagram- @Iam_TieraNicole

True Love is Your Birthright: You Don’t Have to Choose Between Love and Work!

 

As a smart and driven professional, you’ll have to make sacrifices.  But your relationship shouldn’t be one of them.

Your work life and love life are not separate.  In fact, they are intricately weaved together and perfectly complemented.  Your relationships give you the external accountability you need to expand and refine yourself. 

There’s no such thing as “perfect” in business or in love.  You must be willing to start where you are, seek out information and mentors, and strategize if you want to succeed.  You don’t have to do it alone and you don’t have to choose one area of life over another. 

Love provides the best space to nurture, cultivate and share your unique purpose.  Practicing these four strategies helps even the busiest most driven women strengthen their intimate and professional relationships to make the journey as sweet as the destination.

1.       Mindfulness

I know the ideas never stop coming and there’s always work that needs to get done, but taking time away from your work can actually help your business.  Setting a time to work and a time to connect with your love is vital for true work life balance.  Mindfulness in your relationship lets your love know they are wanted and it lets you enjoy the moment without stressing over the past or worrying about the future.  Mindfulness is also important in your professional tasks and work contributions because it produces excellence through focus versus measuring volume in quotas or time.

2.       Intimacy

Intimacy is all about quality over quantity.  As a busy professional, you make sacrifices to make way for your vision but intimacy shouldn’t be one of them!  Love is service.  Make the time to learn your partner’s love recipe and serve it up daily.  Put your love life on your to-do list by doing one thing each day to let your love know how special they are to you.  And remember, your professional expertise comes not only from mastering the techniques of your trade, but also from an intimate understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of your clients.

3.       Purpose

Be as purposeful about your love as you are about your business!  Set relationship goals like you set business goals.  Choose a skill you want to develop and read the book, find the mentor or attend the conference that will help you get to the next level.  Take inventory, track your progress and don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments.  Being true to your purpose helps you stay focused on why you do what you do.  Purpose lets you define your own definition of success in both love and work.

4.       Communication

Everyone says communication is important to a successful relationship.  But what exactly does that mean?  We often know WHY we want love … but we don’t always know HOW to communicate our wants and desires so they are understood.  Practicing great communication involves mastering self-expression, male/female communication, and conflict resolution.  Knowing how, what, why and when to communicate to partners, current clients and potential clients helps you cultivate strong relationships and build community.

  

When our relationships are thriving they give us the fuel to drive through disappointments, the energy to recharge our commitments and the courage to face our fears.  When they aren’t, we miss the connection to others that make it all worthwhile.  The best way to ensure you thrive is to be as passionate about your love life as you are about your purpose.  

Nwasha Edu is an internationally recognized best-selling author and relationship expert who serves women of color in their intimate, personal and professional lives.  She is passionate about ending misogyny and helping women master the art and science of soul-mate strategy.  She is the author of Akoma Day: Guidebook onto the Sacred Science of Soulmating & Cultural Alternative to Valentine's Day and You Are What You Cheat: Guidebook into Understanding and Overcoming Infidelity.  She has been featured in national and international media, including Essence Magazine and the Oprah Winfrey Network.  She is the co-founder of Akoma House Initiative, a culturally-based counseling firm, and co-creator of Akoma Day presently celebrated in 13 countries. www.akomahouseinitiative.com