Learning Leadershp from Moana

After last week's blog, I had the pleasure of watching Moana again (and again! When do these kids go back to school though?). I love that every time I watch that movie, I see something new. I learn a new lesson that I can share with my son and with all of you! Here are two more lessons that I learned from Moana.

1. Don't become so content that you lose your focus on becoming better. Who you are is important, but growth is the goal. Every person should be focused on becoming a better version of themselves. When you focus on enjoying the person you are today AND simultaneously welcome and prepare for the person you can be, you can give so much more to the world.

I think Grant Cardone says it best in 100 Ways to Stay Motivated: It is my duty to be successful. Take that duty seriously, and strive to be better every moment of the day.

2. Think outside of the box. Leaders should be empowered to discover new roads and help their people to become better versions of themselves! It is our role as leaders to encourage idea generation and improve upon the processes, rules, and procedures in place. The only boundaries that exist for a leader and their organization are the ones that the leader establishes. If you choose to allow freedom within your organization, it doesn't undermine your power.

If appropriately built, your organization will know what your vision is, and they will bring you ideas to support and sustain that vision in the long term. After all, what is a visionary without the help of his or her "visionees?"

Shanta Wilkerson

Moana: Disney's still teaching life lessons!

It is no coincidence that today marks exactly 1 full year from my last post! It is #WINTENTIONALWEDNESDAY, so let's not talk about the losses or the unforeseen events of the last year that lead to my silence. What I want to discuss today is far more necessary than that! When I was a kid, Disney movies were always teaching me something. The Lion King taught me that family may not always have your best interest in mind. The Little Mermaid taught me never to sacrifice your voice for the affections of others. Beauty and the Beast taught me to always see the good in people even when their past has made them ugly. There are so many more, but let's dive right in! These are just a few of the lessons I learned from watching Moana (approximately 1 million times since my child found it on Netflix).

1. We are given our life mission before we know what life is.
2. We have our ancestors to guide us through our journey. We call it intuition.
3. We may be tempted to give up on our mission/vision/goals when things get tough, but we can't. People are relying on us to get it right!
4. We don't need special tools to complete the assignment. (Shiny isn't always a good thing LOL)
5. We will need to find our own strength to face the challenges of our journey, but those destined to help will always come when we need them!
6. We may have been chosen to fix a problem that we didn't create.
7. The reward of a completed mission is well worth the risks it took to get there.

What are some of your favorite Disney movie lessons?

Today is #WINtentionalWednesday!!!

Today is #WINtentionalWednesday, and I am so excited about it! One of the most important skills in life is the ability to set and reach your goals! Why? Because to successfully set and reach goals, you must be intentional about your personal development: What are my strengths? Weaknesses? How can I improve in my weak areas to maximize my impact and minimize the time it takes to reach my goals?


What are some dreams that you have for your life? What visions of yourself inspire you? Each of us has inside of us the propensity to dream and to create the life we choose! Personal development is the key that unlocks the door to our greatest experiences while consistency is the force that pushes that door open! Think about your life goals and visions for a few minutes. Do they seem lofty and frightening? Mine often do. That is when I remember that I can accomplish those goals with ease when I take calculated and INTENTIONAL steps towards them.

One of my dreams is to own a Maserati Ghibli Q4 (although those Teslas are quite appealing!!) With all of my current customizations, this car is well over $80,000. However I dice it, TODAY, this car is "slightly" out of my reach. Fortunately though for me, I know that by setting and reaching small goals and staying consistent with my stated intentions, I CAN own this car!

 Once again, really think about your goals, dreams, and visions for your life! Sit down with pen and paper and write down ALL of the tools that you currently have to get you there and then write down all of the tools you THINK you need to get you there. Now is where the work comes in! Find a way to utilize personal development to improve the skills you have and gain the skills that you need. This is your challenge. How do you intend to win today?

Current Events: Pause for the Cause(s)

This week millions of Americans celebrated independence day: black, white, brown, and albino, and then a few days later the news of two fatal police shootings shook the "entire nation," rather it should have. (Click here for the stories.) Once the news broke, it exposed the fractures and fault lines of America. #BlackLivesMatter was once again (and frustratingly so) the subject of discussion with sentiments ranging from "If they'd done... they'd still be alive" to "I don't understand why they keep doing this to us" and whole lot of in between!

While I agree that #BlackLivesMatter, I also know that this issue is deeper than race. It's much deeper than systematic oppression, and much deeper than police brutality. This is an issue of good versus evil, light versus dark, and heaven versus hell. If you disagree, think about this. You have a black friend in the LGBT community whose life was turned upside down after the shootings in Orlando. People were killed because of their sexual preference/identification. Take it even further and think about the possibility of another friend who is black, LGBT, and raised Islamic who is hated because of the actions of another radical extremist group!

Prejudice and categorization exists to create division, disdain, and a lack of trust within communities that, if we could ban together with a positive purpose, would become an unstoppable force for good. Don't let you absence from the groups being affected stop you from speaking. Don't allow your absence from a certain struggle cause you to belittle the struggle and rights of those in that struggle. We must all come together and learn to empathize with our fellow human being. We must realize that there is more at play than race.Think about this:

While we crusade for racial equality (which is a VERY worthy cause), the unseen hands that shape our country are pushing forward agendas that will take our rights away and have us stuck with no one to depend on but the very people that we are so prejudiced against.

Moldy Bread and the Championship Fighter

Today, I had the pleasure of being a guest host on the Dr. Walter Sims radio show on 106.3 WJPMG! It was truly an amazing experience, and I was honored to be a part of it. We talked about a lot of things, but one point that stuck out to me was when the Doc asked me "Why is personal development so important?" I responded to his question with another question:

Would you make a sandwich with moldy bread?

Of course no one wants to eat a sandwich made of moldy bread (and more than likely, no one will), but we often neglect ourselves which, in this analogy, implies that more often than not we are eating that moldy bread. Not only are we eating it, we are forcing it on others as well! We form relationships with people when we should be focusing on our foundation alternatively we push our needs to the back of the cabinet and work to provide for everyone else's. When you are working to rebuild yourself after trauma or discover who you are in life, period, you need to work on the foundation of your life: YOURSELF!

 

When you truly focus on personal development and becoming the best version of you that is possible, you will discover just how flawed you are! Don't let that stop you!

You are more powerful than you even realize. Take the first step, and you will be forever thankful! This principle applies to everyone, but if you are a survivor of domestic abuse and an entrepreneur (especially if you've been feeling a little lost after leaving), I am here to help you navigate your new life! It can be intimidating, but when you realize that you are not alone, you can accomplish new and amazing things. Let's rebuild your life together; we are all championship fighters!

 

Great Missions Reuire Great Minds

In 2016, you can hire a coach/mentor to teach you just about anything, prepare you for just about anything, or push you to become the best you possible! I've met and interacted with so many great coaches (Rochelle Ford-Wilson, Dr. Walter Sims, Aprille Franks-Hunt, Allyson Byrd, the list goes on and on) over the last 2 years, that it's literally become a goal of mine to see how many lives I can impact. I have just been a bit confused about how to impact those lives.

I know that I talk a lot about living on purpose and doing what God placed you on this Earth to do, but I must admit, it can be a challenge (especially if you don't know what that purpose is or if you have so many ideas that it's hard to narrow it down). Purposeful living has been a challenge for me in many ways, but the biggest challenge came from within! Yes, the greatest challenge that I've faced on my mission to live on purpose is my own SELF CONFIDENCE! "But Shanta, you're all over the internet doing stuff. How are you not confident?"

Let me break it down a bit. For about 6 years, I was in a relationship with a person who was mentally, spiritually, emotionally, financially, and lastly physically abusive. He was able to break down all of my defenses and implant these negative vibrations into my psyche that created a very volatile and negative co-dependency between us. Even though this month makes 3 years since I left that relationship, I am still dealing with the residue from staying so long in that negative environment!

Last week I made the decision to take my life ALL THE WAY back! I took a HUGE step in my life, and I hired a coach of my own! He's not just any coach, I hired a friend to keep it 100% real with me & share my life with! After everything that happened with my abuser, I was so ashamed and embarrassed which kept my confidence at those lower levels. Dr. Walter Sims is a PHENOMENAL mentor! He is helping me rebuild my self confidence, and be accountable & consistent with my business, vision, and message.

Going forward, you'll see a lot more posts about finances, entrepreneurship, and domestic abuse! It is my mission to help survivors become thrivers and live their best lives possible. Each of us has a purpose to fulfill. Some of our purposes are meant to reach a larger audience than others. In order to be as efficient and intentional with your purpose as possible, you need a coach! Every coach is not for every body, but when you're ready, the right coach for you will become apparent! And remember, someone is looking for that special gift that only you have!

Your Gift will Make Room for You

I was having somewhat of a panel discussion a few weeks ago with some associates and one of them said "Your gift will make room for you." (Proverbs 18:16 A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great.) The young high school kids we were talking to were getting so many golden nuggets of truth that I wish someone had known to share with me back in 2008! Her statement resonated with me on such a deep level & I haven't been able to get it out of my head! It wasn't until I started writing this blog that I realized exactly what that means. The definition, simply stated: Your passion will create a sense of urgency that no need ever can!

That's right. A sense of urgency makes all the difference. Think about it. How hard are you likely to work for some thing or someone that doesn't speak to your passion or purpose? Some people live to serve others in whatever capacity they can, but for the rest of us, we need to be pursuing our own passions and utilizing our other talents. We thrive on purging ourselves of our gifts. Our fulfillment is in our ability to procreate our vision for the WORLD to see!

As a mother, my child is one of the most important creations that I've ever made. Before he grew inside of me, there was a purpose growing there. It was a seed that the creator planted. He also gave me all of the tools and the blueprint for how I should prune and strengthen the seedling as it grew! Once I discovered the blueprint, it unlocked a level of power and energy in me that nothing can squelch! You have the same experience available to you. You just need to unlock it!

Money Matters: Income Basics

If you are an astute financial guru with years of experience and knowledge, this blog series will likely bore you to tears. This series is for the young and young at heart who don't quite know where to start. This simplified equation will help you to clear up confusion about budget building basics and clear up the misconceptions that may be plaguing you, and it is important to understand the basics before you move into more complex issues like credit, income taxes, etc. Having an income allows you to create goals for your finances (and pay your expenses). My top 5 financial goals are listed below:

1. Save for my son's college education (should he choose to go)
2. Save for retirement
3. Travel to at least 2 countries a year
4. Build a home
5. Build a strong empire/legacy to leave to my son

For our purposes we'll use the following definition for income: all funds flowing into your bank account from all sources. This includes wages, money received from business activities, unexpected gifts, interest, etc It is important to know where your money is coming from. For most people starting out, their income comes from working a job and receiving a direct deposit on some set schedule throughout the month.




If this is your only source of income, it will be much easier for you to track. If you have multiple streams of income, it is important to know when and how much to expect at any given time. This is one area of your finances that you have complete control over! Yes, you have complete control of your finances and no one can convince me otherwise.




You may be limited on a job by your title; however, if your job offers opportunities for advancement and higher pay, you should strive to obtain that higher pay grade. If there are no offers for advancement, you may (you should) find a place that allows you to grow and be promoted. If you are an entrepreneur, you know that your income is dependent on your efforts. What can you do within your business plan and parameters to boost your income? How can you attract more paying clients and referrals? This is for you to determine and there are several industry leading experts in this area!




Once you've mastered your income, you can start building a plan to reach your financial goals. Your income is your choice, and it is the most important piece of creating a boosted budget!

Money Matters: Understanding the Equation

Once you've taken the time to discover where your money is coming from, where your money is going, and how your money is growing, you'll need to make a plan to get to where you need to go! This is where budget planning comes in handy! What are your top 5 financial goals? My goals are

1. Save for my son's college education (should he choose to go)
2. Save for retirement
3. Travel to at least 2 countries a year
4. Build a home
5. Build a strong empire/legacy to leave to my son

How can I achieve these  goals? I must set forth a realistic yet challenging budgeting and savings plan and know what options will get me to my goals in a way that truly suits my needs. The equation below is a very simplified way to understand your monetary goals:

Income = Expenses + Investments

 Although simple, if you understand what each component contributes and how to balance the equation, your financial goals are attainable.

Income: all funds flowing into your bank account from all sources. This includes wages, money received from business activities, unexpected gifts, interest, etc

Expenses: all fixed or variable outflows (rent, electricity, water, etc)

Investments: all money moved strategically and intentionally to a separate account to gain interest credit and the interest added to this account

If you've never created a budget or need a coach to guide you along the path, Start Young Financial Group and finance coach Latasha Kinnard are the place to be and the person to know! You'll have access to resources and tools that will help you create your best budget and live your healthiest financial life possible! The Virtual Budget Box is a great option for beginners or anyone who just needs help putting it all together while the 90 Day Income to Empire Intensive Course is a great option for people who are looking for a hands on, one-on-one coaching to not only reach their financial goals, but to surpass them! Get started on your path to financial freedom today!

Money Matters: Coming, Going, Growing?

This year we are going to spend a lot more time talking about finances and budgeting! When it comes to your money, you need to know where it's coming from, where it's going, and how it's growing. If you miss any one of these three areas, you can end up in a lot of trouble! This is when Payday loans and high credit card balances can create a huge sinkhole in your financial pathway! You don't want to get sucked in to a sinkhole!


How do you take control of your finances and start making smarter decisions? You start with the beginning: income. How much money do you bring home each week, biweekly, monthly? Once you have this figure, you need to look at your expenses, ALL OF THEM! This is not the time to get cute with yourself. Be honest with your expenses. Count how often you stop at the drive-thru for coffee and how many packs of roasted unsalted peanuts you buy when you stop to pay for gas. These little expenses add up very quickly over time!


Next step, determine what expenses are necessary, acceptable, and extravagant. Try to reduce your extravagant expenses to zero or less than 10% of your income. Yes, it may be nice to go to the beach every weekend in the Summer, but the amount that you spend on fuel, food, and lodging (if your relatives don't live there) could be better utilized in category three: money growth!


The last category is your money growth. What kind of investments do you have, stocks, bonds, insurance, annuities? Is that investment strategy working for you and your family? If not, you need to reevaluate your strategy, and I'd love to help!


Visit the Prosperity Legacy webpage today to schedule a free consultation by filling out the "Contact Us" form (please include 3 dates/times that you are available), and remember: when it comes to your personal finances, you need to know where your money is coming from, where it's going, and how it's growing.


~Shanta Wilkerson

Happy New Year 2016!

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's 2016 already! 2015 was a blur, but so many amazing things happened! I gained a new family/business, my cousin survived a vicious put bull attack, my son turned 4, and I am becoming more and more the woman that I was designed to be!

This journey has not been without its lessons, so I want to share three important lessons that I am taking into 2016:

1) there are no shorcuts to success

• consistency and persistency are key
• plan, try, fail, repeat, SUCCESS

2) it's ok if people say "no"; everyone isn't meant to be a part of your business or our message

• know your target audience and market to them
• brand your business and stick to it
• you have to sell yourself on your vision everyday; stay motivated so the rejections can be fuel

3) self-development is business management; you need to constantly improve for your business to improve

• my challenge this year is to read 1 book per month (not very high, but last year...)
• do a self inventory at least once a quarter to measure your growth
• the better you develop and manage yourself, the easier it is to do it for your business

What are some lessons that you learned in 2015 that will make you even better in 2016?

Smart Money: What is life insurance?

When it comes to life insurance, there is a lot of misinformation and lack of education. There are 5 types of life insurance available on the market: term, whole live, universal life, variable universal life (I do not offer this product.), and indexed universal life. Term is the cheapest, but it expires after a certain period and you may be left without coverage or your coverage premium spikes. Whole doesn't build as much cash value, but these are the two most people know about. Variable is invested in the stock market and if you die at the wrong time, you could have less than your face amount to leave behind. Universal life builds at a set percentage, and indexed builds at a percentage based on the market. Of course if you just need coverage, you should find an agent who is honest and willing to share all of this with you so you can plan accordingly. I would love it if people did pay their policies for the year at tax time.

When I meet with potential clients, I start by completing a financial analysis. This is a very important tool when deciding which of these products best fits their current needs and their goals.

I use the DIME theory of insurance.

• Debt - how much consumer debt do you have? This can be covered with a term insurance policy.
• Income - how much income needs to be replaced for 8-12 years? This  needs to be covered with a permanent insurance policy.
• Mortgage - how many years and how much remains on your mortgage? This can be covered with a term insurance policy.
• Education -  how many children do you need to fund through college if you pass away before they get there? This can be covered with a term insurance policy.

Some people are firmly set against life insurance, and of course it's their right to choose one way or the other, but we readily insure cars, phones, homes, apartments and all kinds of material possessions without regard for the vehicle that we use to make the money to make these payments: our bodies/lives. If an individual has other means to replace their income, pay off their home, settle all their debts, pay for their children to maintain life and attend college after they are gone, and have their money work for them, I applaud them! The benefit, in my opinion, of investing with life insurance is that it gives you protection on your life while making you money at the same time. It's a great place to start your investment plan!

Life insurance is a contract that you purchase from an insurance agency that allows them to invest your money for a certain period of time. In exchange, the agency promises to pay your beneficiary upon your death and to pay you interest along with payments for any other provisions specified (disability income, long term care, children's insurance, etc) for a specified amount of time and money. Term contracts do not offer cash value accumulation. You can pay for your contract in small increments or in a lump sum.When you die, the company will then pay your beneficiaries your contract. This is how and why wealthy people (white or black or other) pass down wealth to their families. You don't pay $250k for a $250k contract, you only pay $26,520.95 and you own it. These are the things that more people need to be aware of! Let's kill the stigma around life insurance by becoming educated about how to use it and protect ourselves and our families while we can!

Smart Money: How to Invest your Income Tax Refund

2016 is fast approaching which means income tax season is coming! If you are like many Americans who receive an income tax refund, you have already estimated your refund and you're anxiously awaiting W-2s! So while you are mapping out what you could potentially do with your refund (if you get one), make sure you prioritize. Put the most important things FIRST: life after tax season! There are several things you can do to maximize the use of your refund and position yourself for life after refund. Including (not limited to):

• invest in bonds
• invest in stocks
• pay your current bills up for 6 months
• buy & pay up your life/health insurance for a year or two
• start a business
• DO NOT buy or finance a vehicle, jewelry, anything from Aarons, Rent-a-Center, etc!

Let's focus on two options: business and insurance. In 2013, I received an income tax refund of $1,118 and started my natural product line. I invested those funds to start a business that I was passionate about without going into debt. Another great option is life insurance. Life insurance is a great investment tool to have in your portfolio (not term or whole life). When you receive your income tax refund, pay it up for year or two! No new "bills," and your life is covered!

Let's take a look at some numbers for me. I am a 25 year old female, no tobacco usage, with no medical issues, and I have not been prescribed any medications in several years (since a bad stomach flu in 2012). I also have a four year old son that I want to protect. Here are a few options available to cover me and my son for a year (these numbers are for 12/17/2015):

Foresters
Smart UL $250,000: $1,275.31
20 Year Term: $484.60

AIG
Elite Index II $250,000: $817.60
20 Year Term $250,000: $186.50

Mutual of Omaha
Guaranteed UL $250,000: $$1,144
20 Year Term $250,000: $452


These are just a few options that I have available. Keep in mind that permanent insurance is customizable, and the right agent will customize a protection plan that fits your needs and your budget. Stay tuned for more information about how to customize your life insurance to fit your needs and your budget. Be blessed!

~Shanta Wilkerson

What is your #HustleWhy?

Everybody has a reason that they work as hard as they do, hustle. You may hustle for your family, your friends, your name, security, stability, growth, or to live the fullest life possible. Whatever your hustle why is, let it be ever changing. Your hustle why needs to be something that takes on roots in your life and evolves as you evolve. Your hustle why is a goal that you seek to achieve, and once it's done, set a new goal. Never become stagnant. Never become complacent. Never allow yourself to be haughty or unappreciative of the people that helped you reach that hustle why.

We as business owners have a responsibility to be innovative, successful, strong, and determined to achieve our vision. Without the innovation and stick-to-itness of entrepreneurs, there would be nothing. We'd still be living in caves, and walking around naked! Now that second part sounds great since I hate doing laundry, but I do enjoy the modern comforts of central heat and air and cooking on the stove top.

So, tell me, what is your most recent #hustlewhy? Let's start a conversation and you can tell me what makes you hustle the way you do. One of mine is my son, and he is definitely growing, changing, and putting down roots in my life every day!

Tidbits by Tay: The "Patti Pie"

This post was originally posted on my personal Facebook page, but I felt that it was necessary to share here as well!

Congratulations Ms. Pattie! Your pies are sold out of nearly every Wal-Mart in America, and you were able to pull in $2.5 million in sales revenue from your venture in one weekend (roughly $104,667 an hour)! People went out in droves to support you and buy a pie they can make themselves or eat for free in a few weeks. The majority of people buying these pies were African Americans, and I commend each of you for supporting her pie venture.

Now I have three challenges for you all: 1) While the cost of a sweet potato pie is not the same as the cost of a handcrafted Blessed Body Brand bar of soap (shameless plug here), find a local minority artisan to support with your dollars. (If you can't find one, I can help with that.) 2) Again, while the cost of life insurance is higher than the cost of a sweet potato pie, why not buy some coverage even if it's just enough to bury you with dignity so your family isn't selling fish plates? I'm sure most of you that bought pies bought (& ate) more than one. Let's see if you qualify for at least $25,000 before you "catch the suga" and can't get anything at all! (I offer this service too.) 3) Take note of this event, and realize that while you may not agree with the "hoteps" or the "sheep" on anything else, we can all agree that the "black dollar" has power in America & we fail to leverage it by our own divisive actions!

While this post is mainly discussing small businesses run by African Americans, we should also support small businesses run by and/or founded by other minorities in America as well. We each stand to gain so much by supporting each other. Buy at least one item for each room in your house from a small business rugs, wall art, bath products, hair care products, food, dishes, etc. Minorities are represented and under-supported in every industry in America! You as a consumer just have to take the time to support them. There are multiple minority supported Facebook groups, such as the Buy Black Friday - Online Market. You will find minority owned businesses representing quality products and services in a multitude of industries! Just head over and request entry! You'll be glad you did.

***UPDATE***

Oh my goodness, I didn't realize that I'd allowed 3 months to pass by with out posting to my blog! What on Earth was I doing? Well, I'll let you know exactly what I was doing: building my knowledge of Finance! In the past three months, I've spent countless hours going back over what I learned in college and putting it with what I am experiencing in the field, and I have to say that I've learned so much since I became a licensed life, health, & annuities agent than I ever did in a classroom!

When I go out and talk to people, I get the opportunity to see real world scenarios (not the simplified examples that we get in textbooks!). I have the opportunity to see in real time what the stock market has done, is doing, and will do to the retirement plan for the working class (401(k)), and I see the inequality in financial services that the middle class and lower income Americans receive EVERY DAY!

The systems in place are being re-written by a select few companies, and I am thankful that I partnered with one of them! I'll be talking a lot more about finance and many of the different ways to make your financial goals a reality! STAY TUNED!

~Shanta

Entrepreneurship: The Commission Decison

When talking to people about entrepreneurship in the network marketing industry and as an independent startup, the number one question is always about how and how much cash flow can be relied on. These questions are very valid! I am aware that bills don't pay themselves and creditors do not accept excuses or allow extensions while you're trying to figure things out.

I am an entrepreneur in the network marketing arena and in the start-up arena as well. There are three basic and very important skills that an individual needs to be aware of before making the journey to entrepreneurship and making the commission decision. Most Americans have an employee/guaranteed paycheck mindset, and due to the "commission" nature of entrepreneurship, you'll need to develop these skills to survive!

Coachability: You must be coachable. If you are a start-up entrepreneur, you will NEED a mentor. Read books, hire a coach, and focus on personal development. The more willing you are to learn and deflect to wise counsel, the better off you are in the long run. You will be able to learn without the critical mistakes that most entrepreneurs have made.

System: Follow a proven system! If you are a network marketing entrepreneur, FOLLOW THE SYSTEM THAT YOUR UPLINE TEACHES YOU! This will ensure that you can maximize your chances of having the same results that top earners in the company have achieved. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Just implement the skills that you are learning from your mentor.

Effort: Do you put in the same effort when you're alone that you do when you're around others? I have to be honest here. I truly believe that the issue with the commission decision is hat most people don't work their hardest when no-one is looking! I believe that we have come to a place where individuals are goofing off and doing just the minimum for a guaranteed paycheck! As an entrepreneur, you will need to work harder than you've ever worked.You will need to be accountable to yourself and your family as well as your upline (if you're a network marketing entrepreneur).

If for any reason you can not master or practice these skills, you are set for a truly bumpy experience! Challenge yourself more so that when you step out into the market, you are ready for the chllenges that are sure to come!

~Shanta

The Reaper Effect

What happens when a person dies? Their families lose everything they've ever worked for and move to an apartment a few blocks away from the projects, the children leave their home, their school, and their friends, and the remaining parent or caregiver struggles to make ends meet while the child struggles to cope with the loss of a parent and making new friends!

Wouldn't it be terrible if that was the grim reaper effect? Total loss? For far too long people have lived this reality and families have gone without proper protection from the reaper, and this has to stop! With the growing rate of single parent homes, we need to be educated on how to properly plan for our futures so that our children can grieve us properly! Death is inevitable, but it doesn't have to effect our children's lives any more than our loss already does.

Over the next few weeks, we will be talking about life insurance: dispelling the rumors, educating the masses, and how to get people the coverage they need on their budget! Let's change the reaper effect from total loss to plain grief. You can rebound from both, but loss lasts much longer!

As a single mother, this information truly changed my perspective on some things! Now I can truly say that my son will be financially established if I pass away.  Let's start the talk about insurance! Let's not stop until everyone has the coverage that they need!

~Shanta

My Take: The Natural Hair Debate

I am personally natural and have been for over 10 years, but when I made the decision it was frowned upon! People that I love told me that I looked "thrown away" with my curly tresses or that I "needed to do my hair." Now that it has become popular and is often a trending hash tag (#teamnatural #curlyhairdontcare etc) people are more accepting of it; however, it is still not accepted as a lifestyle change, and many people do it for what I consider the "wrong reasons."

My reasons for going natural...

1. To make sure that my hair was healthy.
2. As I traveled on this journey, it was also a step to embracing myself in my rawest form.

Other people's reason for going natural...

1. "I wanted hair like Joan Clayton from Girlfirends (Tracee Ellis Ross)."
2. "I wanted hair like Freddie on A Different World (Cree Summers)"
3. "I had 'good hair' when I was a little girl before they permed it!"

When people go natural for any other reasons than healthy hair and lifestyle changes, it usually ends badly. Natural hair is AMAZING, but it does require work! If you don't moisturize, wear protective styles, comb from the ends (if you comb at all), and keep it moisturized (LOL), it's very difficult to manage! Then this happens...

1. "I can't walk around with no nappy hair on my head like that!"
2. "I tried that natural thing, and it was not for me! Those naps were too hard to deal with!"
3. "Girl, you DO NOT want to do that! That nappy hair is not where it's at!"
4. "If you do that, you can't get a good job!"
5. "If you wear your hair like that, you'll look too ethnic!"
6. "Mh mh, what is that? A bird's nest? Oh, a twist out... Mh, ok..."

Natural hair comes in many different styles!! The curly waves, ringlets, tight coils, loose coils, and the KINKY! Whatever kind of natural hair you have growing out of your scalp, be proud of it and who you are! If you get braids, wigs, extensions, relaxers, etc, be confident in your decision and don't put down another woman for choosing not to. If you choose to wear your hair in its natural state (curls, locs, shaved, etc), don't down other women who choose not to. Let's remember to support and uplift one another as sisters, NOT COMPETITION! After all, we are not defined by our hair but by the spirit in which we interact with our fellow sisters!

3rd big chop

~Shanta

How to start in business: LLC or Network Marketing

Let's talk business. There are many firms in the marketplace and in every industry that claim to be "just right" for you and everyone else, but if you are a business man or woman, you are very specific about what you are looking for in business and what you want to do. When it comes to starting a business from scratch, consider the following:

1. You are on your own. No one is there to help you figure things out. You are likely pioneering this business.
2. You accept all risk of failure or success. There is likely no system in place and every thing rests on your own actions. You are only accountable to yourself.

Of course it's not that simple, but these are two truths that I have found to be very relevant over the last six months. In a network marketing company, there are many other benefits Let's take a look at two I found in PHP.

1. I have a team. My marketing director and business partners all have my best interest at heart. They keep me focused on the system so that I can be successful.
2. I am accountable to others. My team keeps me honest! I can't waffle no matter what legitimate excuses come up in my personal life.

 Another thing to consider is that most network marketing firms are proven in their industry unlike an individual start up firm. In my recent Marketing course, we discussed branding. This YouTube video regarding social media marketing was one of the resources used for our last assignment. It may surprise you to know that 90% of consumers trust peer recommendations while only 14% trust advertisements! This is why network marketing, along with social media, are the wave of the future. As we become more "social" and interdependent, person to person recommendations are key to convincing the public that anything is worth their dollars!

Think about your life. I am passionate about healthy finances and healthy skin. Since I was not able to gain experience in the financial arena on my own, I decided to make my own experience. PHP is the vehicle that I am using to make that a reality. It's not for everybody, but there are many network marketing firms in the marketplace that can fit into anyone's passions and feed the need for entrepreneurship! Franchising is still entrepreneurship, and the skills that you learn will help you avoid costly mistakes when you step out on your own. Here are a few lists to get you started doing your research for the Network Marketing firm that fits your passions! I'll be talking more about PHP and why I am passionate about this firm in the coming weeks!

Top 100 Global Direct Selling Companies 2015

Network Marketing Central 

~Shanta