Why New Year's Resolutions are Dangerous to your Money

Many people look at new year's resolutions as a good thing. They make vows to get healthy, save more money, spend less money, give up vices or bad habits and more. Do these all sound great to you? Most people would say yes. However, all of the above are bad resolutions. Why do you ask? Because they are all too vague! What exactly is meant by get healthy? Are you resolved to eat healthier? How? What exactly is meant by save more money? How are you going to do it? How much is more? You have to create a specific plan if you want to achieve these goals. Making vague resolutions is setting yourself up for failure. Do these three steps to make concrete financial resolutions or goals.

1) Write a plan.
Write out what your resolution is. That's the what. Then get very specific as to how you are going to achieve it. What the steps necessary to achieve this goal. For example, say your resolution is to start saving for retirement. Look up what that entails. What is the first step? You need to know about different types of retirement accounts such as 401(k), 403(b) traditional IRA vs Roth IRA, SEP IRA for those who are self-employed. Learn the advantages and disadvantages, money going into the account pre-tax vs contributing after paying taxes on your income. I would go into the differences but that's is an entire blog article itself. Then write out how to start the steps to start these accounts. How much you're allowed to put in etc. You see where I'm going get very specific, write out a detailed plan.

2) Set a date.
For each step in your plan, write a deadline. When are you going to accomplish each task? Writing it out without saying when it should be done is a good way to ensure that it never gets done. Giving each step a deadline will also allow you to avoid getting overwhelmed by the steps and tasks. You'll be able to complete them in an orderly fashion with less stress. Staying with the example from above, if your first step is to learn the differences between retirement accounts, by what date are going to have that accomplished? Put the deadlines on your calendar as a visual reminder so you ensure they get done. Remember each task accomplished takes you closer to your financial goal.

3) Set a dollar amount.
Every financial resolution should have a specific amount attached to it. You have to have a number that you're working towards. At what number can you claim success. If you're resolved to save more money. How much money do you need to save per month, per year? Make it specific. For example, I will save $1,000 this year. Now you have a number. Now you have a concrete endpoint for when you have accomplished the goal. If we stay with the retirement example, a goal with a dollar amount would be: I will contribute 20% of my income. You know how much you make and how much should then be contributed. 

About Your Author: Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. While an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University she co-founded an organization called STOP, which taught basic self-defense to women and children. Her has a passion for diverse communities led her to live in Costa Rica for three weeks to learn more about the culture and community. Maria also continues to pursue her other interests which include, Spanish and finance. Maria also founded the business Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life. Meet Dr. James at our 2014 Unlimited You Conference April 11- 13, 2014 www.hwhn.org.

5 Ways Blogging Can Help You Build Your Brand, Grow Your Business and Advance Your Career

Now that social media has fully infiltrated every industry in the world, blogging has finally started to be seen as more than a fun hobby for moms and college students. We now know that blogging is a useful professional tool for learning, networking, job-seeking, personal branding, business-building and leadership. 

Have you been hesitant to jump on the blogging train or maybe inconsistent in your blogging efforts thus far? Chances are, you could be passing up opportunities for greater visibility and success online.

Here are five ways that blogging can enhance your brand, business and career.

1. Blogging can help you become a better writer. 
Blogging is great writing practice, especially if you commit to doing it at least once a week! Knowing that you have an audience (no matter how small) pushes you to bring your "A" game in how you express your thoughts and ideas. Getting better at the craft can definitely help if you aspire to publish a book or do any freelance writing work.

2. Blogging can help you get found easily when people search your name in Google. 
Have you Googled yourself yet? If not, go ahead and do it now. I’ll wait. Chances are, if you have a blog, it’s very likely to come up in the first page of results when you search for your name. Because Google ranks blogs pretty highly in their search engine, having a blog makes it easier for potential clients and employers to find you and see how awesome you are.

3. Your blog can get you noticed by traditional media outlets. 
Because of the knowledge I share on my blogs, I’ve been featured in many press outlets such as JET Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BBC London and The Washington Post. The side effect of this is that the more people see you in the media, the more they perceive you as an expert!

4. Blogging can get you invited to speak to groups about issues you care about. 
Since blogging shows people that you have something meaningful to say, it's a natural fit for event organizers looking for speakers. Since 2007, I’ve been invited to participate in almost 100 speaking opportunities – mostly through people who read my blogs!

5. Blogging can help you make extra money. 
If you're a good writer with good ideas, companies may be interested in having you write for them. I took advantage of this possibility a few years ago when I got paid to write a career advice column for Change.org. Besides freelance writing, you also have the option of advertising on your blog to earn extra income.

The best thing about blogging is that the possibilities are endless once you start putting yourself out there. Women’s voices need to be heard online and with today’s technology, you’re just a click away from becoming a part of the blogosphere! 

About Rosetta Thurman:
Rosetta Thurman is the founder and CEO of Happy Black Woman, a supportive community that empowers black women to create their ideal lives. She is also the creator of The Blogging School, a 4-week online course that helps you create a professional blog, build your personal brand online and become known as a leader in your industry. When she’s not writing or teaching, Rosetta enjoys good food, good drinks and good music. Preferably all at the same time. Rosetta will be joining us for 2014 HWHN Conference. Grab your seat here!

8 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

A new year is here and if you've set goals or resolutions we'd love to see you accomplish them and much more.  Read on for eight steps to achieving your goals. And I look forward to seeing you hit it soon.

Take small steps and be patient. Think about the speedometer on a car. Unless you're racing the Indy, you don't want to go from 0 to 120. Instead you might want to move a needlepoint at a time. Small steps are alright... just keep moving.

Once you start, you're already finishing. Understand that it's hard to start new things, but it's easier to keep things rolling once they're started. Just don't stop until you're finished, and if you do it's OK to reset.

Not now doesn't mean not ever. Be sure to prioritize. You don't have to do it all at the same time. Choose the tasks with the most immediate timeline or the greatest payoff to start.

Get up early! There is a truth to the early bird gets the worm. Use your time wisely and get your day started early. This also applies to the task, don't wait until the absolute last minute, get started early when you can.

Do things that excite you! This means enjoy the work! Yes, it may be a task you don't love but if it needs to be done...find something to enjoy about the process. It maybe that you enjoy knowing that it's something important or just getting it finished. 

Multitask. Also, don't multitask. This may seem funny but it's true. In some areas you may be able to multitask well, in others it's overrated so check in with yourself. Are you getting more done or less? Running a load of laundry while, vacuuming... GREAT! Reading text messages while driving...BAD.

Get UNBOXED! Often, there has to be no box. Experiment with crazy stuff to see if it works for you! Talk to yourself (just make sure you record it so you can listen to your brilliant ideas later). Buy a personal dry erase board. Write on your walls! Just get crazy!  

Begin with the End in Mind. What will it look like and feel like when you accomplish your goal? Get clear about what you're really after! Then begin to work your plan.

Author: Monokia Nance, Executive Director of HWHN, Inc. learn more on About Us page www.hwhn.org.

Happy New Year!

Hey there!

We are thrilled to say Happy New Year! We want to start off the new year in true gratitude, so thank you for being a part of our family. Last year was good to us. It wasn't easy but it was good. It had it's challenges but also its triumphs. With your help 2013 was powerful yet, we know that greatness is still available. We're clear that 2014 will be unrecognizable, because while we have big plans there bigger plans in store.

We encourage you to join us in knowing that you are Unlimited! That your future, your dreams, your goals are bigger than you can see right now. The impact that you're going to make in 2014 will surpass the limits that you see. We would love to be with you during the journey.

So let's go! Let's make 2014 the year that made a difference in our limitless life. 

In Sisterhood,
Maria, Monokia, Adia and Mothyna

Liberate Your Inner Awesome

You have such an awe-inspiring power.

Many remarkable things have happened in the last month. Some families have suffered the loss of loved ones and role models. Others have celebrated the blending of families through marriage and the addition of new births. Our careers have shifted. Our faith has deepened and our bonds have been tested. As is our birthright and responsibility as women, we continue to endure and rejoice.
As you move through each day, I encourage you to keep an open mind and heart while you gather information that will arm you as a woman focused on being “Part of the Cure”. What are we working to cure? We are working to cure each other, our nation and ourselves. Yet, the first step is to remember, reclaim and nurture your GREATNESS.

It’s simple really. Being “Part of the Cure” is you being your natural, beautiful self. It’s your desire to continue to learn and grow into the confident, healthy, fun-loving and informed woman that lives inside each of us. The cure has no age limit or barriers other than those we create for ourselves. Often times we struggle with many personal attributes. These things may include our weight, skin complexion, relationships, educational level, financial status and if many of us are honest, our self-esteem. In reality, as women we are expected to, “Take a licking and keep on ticking”. Well sister, it is ok to be tired, but it is not okay to give up. It is not easy but it is necessary and you are NOT alone.

As women, we have the power to invoke change, promote healthy relationships, and demand a standard of excellence from each other and all who cross our paths. It is our right. However, we must first heal ourselves. I believe we all need constant reminders of this fact. What’s you reminder to continue on this journey of self-empowerment and the creation of a healthy nation?
In the words of Dee Marshall, Do You! Be You! Love You!

It Does Work!

20. That’s the number of days left in 2013. Whew! Soon, 2014 is going to roll in and we’ll be ready to make resolutions. Well, I remembered this oldie but goodie and we think now is a perfect time to share It Does Work!***

I recently reflected on my goals for the year and there is quite a bit left to be accomplished! How about you? Are you where you thought you’d be when you “organized” your goals in January? Too many of us wait for a change in the calendar to make changes in our lives. The reality is when we wait, well often the only thing that changes are the dates on the calendar.  We set goals, resolutions and “make” plans, but we often fall back into old habits. We get involved in caring for everyone and everything while we allow our dreams to become a murky something that then disappears behind an armoire of regret (literally and figuratively).  Now, at next year’s spring cleaning (literally and figuratively) we may reminiscence and say something akin to “oh that’s where you went.” Then, we’ll chalk it up and add it to a list of things that don’t work. You know that list… vision boarding, meal planning, the gym, the whole goal setting thing. None of it works! Right? Check again. It DOES WORK! Post. Prioritize. Plan. Persist.

Where is your vision? Is it POSTed at eye level where you can see it every day?  You may not have completed an actual vision board, but you're vision should be POSTed where you can see it in your mind and heart. I suggest creating an actual vision board. IT DOES WORK!

PRIORITIZE... your aspirations (goals/dreams) from short term (3- 6months) to long term (9 months to a year). Write it down. Choose an accountability partner for each goal. IT DOES WORK!

PLAN...share with your "partner" your aspirations and ask for their help in achieving your goal. Allow them to be your "mirror" or reminder. Choose this person with care but choose someone. Act now. IT DOES WORK!

PERSIST... it may be difficult...not just at first but along the way. However, you can do it. Your partner is there to help you. Your vision is your reminder. Continue to work prayerfully; being persistent and you will continue moving forward toward your goal. IT DOES WORK!

So, let’s work together… dust off your dreams. Now is a perfect time to create a new vision board and set goals you can accomplish by the close of the year. Commit to being worthy of your goals. “Post” your dreams. Prioritize your goals. Plan and persist.  As my own vision board reminds me, “change begins with you.” You're worthy. 

About the Author: Sister Mothyna James-Brightful is a self proclaimed “Self Love Revolutionary”. She has spent the last decade empowering women and girls to live authentic lives. Sister Mothyna is the Visionary Director and Co-founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation. Sister Mothyna is co-author of Because I am a Queen...100 Affirmations for Daily Living. Stay connected www.hwhn.org: Twitter @mothyna

Success Isn't for the Weak

Whether you have owned a business for years, just starting one, or a leader in some way, we all have strengths and weaknesses.  As I described in my book, Max Out I Want It All, strengths are the traits that help you excel in your talents and weaknesses are the traits that hinder your progress with your talents. One way in planning for success in the gifted area you lead is getting to know you. Until you are real with yourself, you are unable to help and lead others. When you can identify your weaknesses you will no longer be blind to the things that hinder you from your business goals. The reason these traits are so important with identifying yourself as a person and a leader is because are key elements in the outlook of your success.

Two ways you can minimize your weaknesses are:

1. Act on your Gift - How do you act on your talent? Acting on your gifts with your strengths is what will bring you the desired success. Operating through your weaknesses is a door opener for a weight to hold you back. Weaknesses build obstacles that keep you from your potential! Acting with your strengths will make the process to a maxed out life less tedious.

2. Set Goals - Setting goals is so important because that is a great way to act on your gift! Doing this, you are able to see the areas where you are weak. What is that is keeping you from maxing out your life? Are you great at what you do, but find yourself having trouble getting customers because you are advertising? Everyone specializes in something! This will help you identify what you are spending so much time in that it is actually keeping you from reaching your goals.

Your time is so precious. People are waiting for YOU to change their lives! You will not be heard if you are letting your weaknesses waste your time. Focusing on your strengths will keep you positive and confident. Your weaknesses are signs of struggle that open a gate for fear. So, use your strengths as stepping stones to MaxOUT your life! This is your season to go BIG! I would love to help you Maxout your life and business!

Author: Zenovia is a highly sought after Speaker, Author, Business Development Strategist and TV/Radio Personality.  She is the Founder and CEO of Max Out, Inc., a successful company committed to empowering, and revitalize women to discover their purpose and walk in their divine destiny in Life while radically “Maxing Out” their unparalleled potential regardless of the obstacles or challenges in their way. Zenovia will be joining us as a presenter for the 2014 Unlimited U Conference, April 12, 2014.