Hola Ladies!!!

First of all, I want to tell you what an encouragement you have been over the years.
You bless me much more than I have blessed you… so there. Thank you for the notes, emails, Facebook and twitter messages. The word is out: I do this because I believe in you… Yes!! BUT…I benefit so much more than you will ever know. My investment yields exponentially in my own personal and professional development. Thank YOU!

Well, I wanted to, in classic Brenda-fashion, check in on you.

How are you doing with your 2010 goals? Are you walking in Clarity, Confidence, Connection and Courage?

As you know, I set an intention this year to really invest in my relationships.
It is not easy work, and often comes at a great price — but it is the most meaningful thing I will ever do.

With that in mind, I decided to start with my immediate family. My parents and brothers.

I went home to the Virgin Islands on a surprise, last minute visit.
I wanted to put my actions where my heart is— so I took a free ticket (that I was saving for a European or African trip), and instead used it to go surprise my parents. I hadn’t been home in three years. What’s up with that?

So I gathered my t-shirts and shorts and went home. Yahoo! My parents were sooooo shocked. They didn’t have a clue. And I loved every minute of watching them be speechless in shock. My dad speechless? That is a once in a lifetime treat. hehehe.

We hung out, I played with the dog, went to the beach, we laughed and ate as a family for only four days.

Why only four days? I am glad you asked. I got wind that a major snow storm was coming to D.C. the following week, and because of prior commitments, I had to shorten the trip and return to Washington. Ugh!!! Snowmageddon!

We couldn’t believe it. This was a sad but real moment of how our best intentions are often met with reality. Bummer….
BUT those four days meant alot to them —- AND to me. I needed them to know how much they mean to me and I needed to put action where my heart is.

So enough about me. I am sure you had fabulous intentions at the beginning of the year on what you would hope to accomplish in this first quarter. And I know many of you have been successfully executing. However, sometimes our best plans and intentions are met with harsh reality. Something doesn’t go as planned, something goes awry, our perfect little details go down the tubes.

Don’t let reality kill your intentions. It’s time to recalibrate and refocus!
If you are meeting resistance, that’s a good sign. It means you are in momentum. Take another route, reset the goal(s), follow the detour and see where it leads you. Just don’t give up!!

I encourage you to see March and the spring as an opportunity to finish the first quarter of the year with a bang! Look over the past two months and reinvent, refocus, rethink, adjust your mindset — and then get back on the track.

Invest your resources, time and energy in reaching your goals whether they look like the original or not.

I had to switch gears unexpectedly but nothing was lost. I think that visit, although abbreviated, breathed a much need fresh breath of air and perspective in my heart, mind and soul … as well as that of my folks. It is just what the doctor ordered although it was not what the patient wanted. hehehe.

This is harrrrrrrrrrd work but oh so good. Get back in the race, lovelies. I will see you at the finish line!

It is almost Friday. Make the rest of your work week fabulous for you and someone else. Ok?

Ciao!

The Strengths Finder assessment is my absolute favorite!!! Hands down.

Thanks to Jeff Galley, I learned about the Strengths Finder book and assessment. The results helped me make sense of the way God created me. My strengths were so clearly explained by this test, and provided clear direction on where I should spend energies (and where I shouldn’t). Yep! I could be a poster child for this assessment.

Take a spin off to assess your Emotional Quotient. Buckingham created this for women and has a book that supports it.
If you are able, check out the Discover your Strengths book. Once you take the assessment associated with that book, try to find work, hobbies, community projects, personal duties that put you in a place of utilizing those strengths. You will be such a happier, more peaceful person.

Be more of who you are, ladies!!!

Brenda B

p.s. If anyone knows Marcus Buckingham, I want to interview him one day. I am making a shameless plug as I believe that everything I need or want is already in my life. So if you know him AND me, please email me. I want to make a connection with him and other leaders for quick 20-30 minute phone, in person or email interviews. I want to have a no-holds barred interview on how women, just like you, can live a “Strong” life at work and home.

A girl can dream, right? I think this dream will come to pass. Check out my soon to be published and growing Interview Dream List.
Feel free to check your Rolodex. ;0)

Take the Strong Life Test:

FYI: Here are some indications that you’re moving in a strengthening direction (Per Marcus Buckingham):

* You are engaging your strengths most of the time.
* You think about your work outside of work hours, solving problems, considering new approaches.
* You feel a sense of contributing to something greater than yourself.
* You share your work experiences with the people you care about—speaking about them, writing about them. The stories you tell are filled with positive feelings.
* You hunger to learn more about your chosen career and seek out ways to grow—you don’t need to be given incentives to learn.
* You seek new and creative ways of tackling routine tasks. You have lots of ideas on how to approach your work.
* You have the energy and creativity to tackle any setbacks that you’re faced with.
* No one needs to dangle a carrot in front of your nose to motivate you or inspire you to contribute extra effort.
* When you wake in the morning, though you may be tired, you positively anticipate what the day holds for you.

I encourage you to read anything by Marcus Buckingham.