October 2010
9 posts
6 tags
What Does "MLM" Mean to YOU?
For some it means “making little money,” while for others it’s “making lots (of) money.” Why the difference? Why do some succeed wildly, while others try MLM opportunities again and again, only to fail?
For those of you who wonder what the heck I’m talking about, let me say that MLM “is a marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not...
4 tags
How to be a Good Leader
“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion.” — Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame
OK. So you’ve got a vision. You’ve recruited a team of others whole share that vision. How do you keep them motivated?
Getting people to accomplish something is much...
6 tags
Are You Working from Home?
Lots and lots of people are realizing the need for, and benefits of, working from home. Maybe you’ve lost a job, or had your hours cut back - maybe there’s a new baby in the house, and you need to set up a home business to meet all those additional expenses. Whatever your reason for working-from-home, I’m doing everything I can to support you - which includes discovering great...
5 tags
More Reasons Not to Multi-task! (This is for YOU!)...
A friend of mine who is a professional writer made this post on her writing website, www.thewomanwriter.com. I thought it was so good - for home based business owners, students, entrepreneurs…anyone who really needs to get the “most” from their time. Enjoy!
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One of my favorite email newsletters comes from...
5 tags
How to Get Through Tough Times
I hear it every day…”How can I get through this?” The definition of “this” differs for everyone…whether it’s no money, too much work, too little work, divorce, kids acting out…I always tell them “You can get through this.”
Because I know they can. And you can too. Here’s what I suggest.
Tighten your belt. If you are experiencing...
2 tags
Top Tips for Home Based Business Success
Lots of people are coming to me to ask, “What makes a new home-based business succeed?” It seems more people are realizing the need for a second income - and they’ve discovered the tax-advantages of operating a business from home. They’re hoping for success…but we all know “hope” isn’t enough!
Here are the top things I think you need to do, be or...
5 tags
Can You See Your Failures as Blessings?
Mahatma Gandhi did. This is what he had to say about the subject…
“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.”
There was an article published in the United Kingdom this past August, titled, You’re a Failure…Now Get Over It! I really liked it…and wanted to share the basic premise, with a...
3 tags
Are You Confused? Tired? Uninspired?
Are you looking for some inspired ways to see life in a new way? I’ve recently made a favorite ebook available - Albert Mensah’s Favorite Folktales: Changing Your Life through the Wisdom of African Folktales.
It can be yours by sending an email to: folktalesebook@aweber.com. Here’s a taste…
The Weavers with Vision…and a Brilliant Teacher
Once upon a time (these stories...
9 tags
College Students and Time Management
Note! When I originally wrote this post, I wanted to focus on college students. But, after ‘sitting with’ the post for a bit, I realized that much of the content applies to the rest of us. People who make excuses, whine, and adopt the attitude of a ‘victim.’ Enough already! Let’s all take steps, take responsibility, set goals and achieve them. Read on.
O.K. The fall...
September 2010
8 posts
4 tags
Do You Enjoy Complaining?
Just for fun, I took a casual inventory of all the world’s folktales which focus on ‘complaining.’ The Internet makes it easy, of course; and my own library of folktale volumes helped a great deal…and let me say this: every culture, around the globe, has stories to share about the meaninglessness of complaining.
Most of us know what complaining is - and we should, because...
6 tags
Greed and Envy are Enemies of Happiness
Here’s a West African folktale about greed, avarice, and envy. I’m sharing it because I see a lot of people feeling envy around the success of others - those who have larger houses, more money, or seemingly-happier lives. This is a tale I heard during my childhood - and I’ll share my perceptions of the true value of this story at the end of the post.
Greed Makes a New Friend One...
8 tags
Mirror Neurons and Storytelling
I’ve been speaking with lots of college and high school students over the summer, and I asked them what made an excellent teacher. What I learned was this: a great teacher is a phenomenal storyteller. They engage the student’s hearts and minds, with stories.The same is true for successful business people. Read on…
In a blog post from 2009 enticingly titled, Barack Obama is...
Feeling Discouraged?
I discovered this remarkable website, www.mixergy.com, where you can get virtual inspiration and mentoring (of sorts) from highly successful entrepreneurs. I’ve been most intrigued with the story of Todd Smith - who faced the pressure many of us currently face:how to rise above our perceived limitations to excel - so that we can support our families!
Here’s a brief bio, from his blog,...
4 tags
Storytelling Secrets
“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” ~Robert McKee
I opened with a quote that just inspires me so much…because I know what the world needs today are great ideas. Concepts that will change the way we do things as we move into the next decade, bravely facing the problems we have created with our “old way” of seeing and doing. Why...
5 tags
The Six Types of Stories
I’m an avid reader, and I think all storytellers - even when they are just telling themselves inspirational stories to get through the day - need to enjoy good books. Especially the genre of ‘short stories’ - a well-written short story is a powerful experience for the reader or listener. And most of the stories you’re going to be telling are relatively short.
All the...
Important habits for college students
itstimtime asked: What would you say are the three most important habits a college student should develop for success in the real world?
Hey, Tim!
What a great question. You’ve given me a lot to think about – just what are the threemost important habits for college students to cultivate? I made a list of five, and then honed it down to that magic number…three. Here goes.
I bet you’ll chuckle...
3 tags
It's Storytime!
O.K. Let’s have a bit of fun. This is a folktale about Hare, one of the “trickster” characters in Africa - the other being Anansi, the spider. Both Hare and Anansi are clever, daring - and often manipulative: finding ways to create advantageous situations. In today’s economy, where many of us feel (to some degree) powerless, such as story as this one can illustrate that opportunity is where you...
August 2010
3 posts
4 tags
What Does a Good Story Bring?
I’ve been thinking about that question for quite a while. Here’s what I’ve come up with. Whether you are crafting a story to motivate and change your own life, or using storytelling to create the spark of change in others, a powerful story gives:
Purpose to those who are purposeless
Meaning to those who have no meaning
A bigger goal to those lacking a big goal
Direction to those who lack...
5 tags
Storytelling is Playtime – Even for Adults!
It’s my belief that storytelling is play – no matter how old you are.
When we were kids when we told stories to support our activities, pretending we were soldiers fighting, or young girls who were teachers in front of a classroom of their dolls; or (and this was my favorite storytelling pastime) we were going on adventures to faraway places.
Back then, we didn’t need a structure to the story...
The Power of Storytelling
I don’t know how many of you are parents, but for those of you who are, I bet you’re aware of just how much kids love stories! When my son and daughter were younger, I’d read stories to them, but more importantly, I’d tell them stories – from my childhood in Ghana, and also from my imagination.
Why is storytelling such an amazing way to connect with others? To make them interested in what you...