Enjoy the ride~~~

Just going with the flow~~~~~  and SO enjoying the ride!  :))

Are you an "Employee-Preneur"? You should be!

Guest Post by Tina Olivero  

Source

Employee-preneurs are a new breed of worker that will excel above all others in the 21st Century. This era of recession, plummeting profits and stressful business conditions is creating an exciting new breed of people – employee-preneurs.

What would happen if every person in your organization adopted an entrepreneurial mindset, whereby it was a daily practice to think creatively and have an attitude of “everything is possible”?

The employee-preneur mindset is one where people take responsibility for where they are and how to make things better. They look around the landscape of the company and find a way to serve their managers, to serve their clients above and beyond the call of duty, and to serve their team members, by being open, communicative, happy, peaceful and productive supporters. Who do you think the boss is going to promote, the one who is creating stress or the one who is relieving stress and making things happen with great results?

The employee-preneur is the one who’s first to the meeting, excited about new plans, is open to new ideas, is willing and able to adapt. Employee-preneurs realize that working on themselves is the primary most important trait in succeeding at work. They take responsibility for being healthy and energetic; they have foresight and realize the impact they have on others. Imagine your organization where every person realized the impact they had on others with their actions or lack of actions. Now that’s powerful. Employee-preneurs are people that we LOVE being around because they touch, move and inspire us. They understand our world and support us in our work lives. Employee-preneurs adopt a way of being understanding, being compassionate and raising their value within the organization, by every step they take. They continuously keep commitments, keep their word and follow through instilling trust and appreciation with others.

The Law of SUCCESS is the foundation of the employee-preneur! Employee-preneurs realize that they are responsible for not only their “job description,” but also for the entire company’s success and when one person is struggling or failing – the entire operation is at risk. Employee-entrepreneurs do whatever it takes to create employee-preneurs in the entire team.

Take a good look around and ask yourself, who do I really want to be? The old employee or the new employee-preneur? Old ways of working 9:00-5:00 are passé. The employee-preneur realizes that work is a self-expression, and therefore, they stress less and produce more, because their focus and intention is to seek strategies for success – even in their sleep. They focus, and remain focused, until outcomes are achieved, profitability is available, and the company provides an entire culture of leadership at the level of every individual. Employee-preneurs are super wow, so BE SUPER WOW!

You Can Pursue Your Dreams While Working A 9 to 5!

The following article is from www.DannyBrown.me  :))

Danny Brown is VP, Product Intelligence at Jugnoo Inc., an internet and media technology company for consumers and business. An award-winning marketer and blogger, he is also the author of The Parables of Business, offering business strategies and advice through the art of storytelling. [Read More…]

"Chasing Your Dream While Keeping Your Day Job"

This is a guest post from Andrew Weaver, a photographer, blogger, and self described social media geek. He has an interest in helping others improve their lives both personally and professionally. He authors the blog Leave It To Weaver and you can connect withAndrew on Twitter.

I’m no social media expert. I’m not a PR maven. I’m not a marketing guru. I won’t show you how to get thousands of followers on Twitter.

I don’t have any New York Times’ best sellers. I don’t have a Fortune 500 company to tell you about. I can’t show you how to make millions sitting at home.

I’m just a guy with a dream. I’m going to wager many of you are in the same boat.

I have a love for writing and a dream of growing my photography business. The goal is to one day leave the daily 9 to 5 grind behind and to be doing what I love for a living. If you have the same goals, I understand that it can be difficult to know where to begin.

We live in extraordinary times. The Internet changed the game and social media brought the game to a whole new level. There has never been so many tools available at our fingertips. Geography is no longer a restriction. The list could go on and on. The point is, it has never been easier to start your own business.

If you have a day job that takes up most of your time, it can be a little tricky starting your own business. So how to begin?

If I were to give you just one basic tip, it would be to utilize social media. In today’s world it is imperative to have some form of online presence, especially when starting a business in your spare time.

Social media provides you with exposure and a cheap way to market your business. You don’t have to be on every site out there. Just a couple you can devote some time and effort to. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. Pick your poison and start building.

Build relationships. Build conversations. Build communities. Build fans. Build your network. Build, build, and build some more. By the way, building is much different from non-stop self promoting. No one likes a border line spammer.

Think about this. Without social media how many of you would be reading Danny Brown’s blog? How many of you would know much about Chris Brogan without Twitter? How many of you would care thatGuy Kawasaki uses ghosts of anything without social media? If you are building your business from scratch and very few people know much of anything about you, there’s no good reason not to utilize social media. Start building.

Finally, I’m going to throw in one last bit of advice for free. Get rid of the excuses. Whether it’s fear of the unknown or any other reason, quit
using lousy excuses for why you refuse to utilize the tools the Internet has to offer your business.

3 Favorite Excuses YOU Can Not Use

• No money. How many successful Internet startups do you know that opened with a huge budget? Quit using this excuse.

• No time. This will be the most tempting excuse if you have a day job. Quit asking about social media if you’re going to instantly turn around and say, “I don’t have time for that.” You can and will make time for anything you really want.

• No knowledge. It’s good to be knowledgeable in your field. It’s good to do your homework before you dive into a business in any field. At some point though, you have to dive in. You must get to work. Quit hiding behind your fear of starting your own business by saying you don’t know enough yet. Get to work and learn as you go.

You may just be a girl or guy with a dream, but there is no reason you can’t be working to achieve that dream. Social media is one of the best ways available today in helping you get there. I like how Seth Simonds’ bio on his Twitter breaks it down: “Drink some tea, ignore some experts, pursue your dreams…”

If you're chasing your dream, you're not running fast enough. Run Faster!

Let's Go!  Don't Stop!  Let's Get It!  Lock In!!

If you don't know what I'm talking about... Watch the video :))  Great words of wisdom from P Diddy.  Let's GO!!

Money Smarts: 18 Ways To Live Below Your Means

Don't live above your means, if you ain't got it like that don't spend like you do... #ActYourWAGE  ~Unknown

1. Redefine your definition of “rich”. – “I remember sitting in a cubicle at my first professional job staring at a picture of an SUV I wanted to buy (and eventually did).  Now, I sit in my office and look at the pictures of my kids, and just outside my window I can see the beater I drive sitting in the company parking lot.  What a difference a decade makes!  To sum things up, my definition of being rich is having enough money to meet my family’s basic needs, a few of our wants, and to be able to give some away to others.” – via Frugal Dad
2. Borrow and share.  Everyone wins! – “We borrowed a DVD from a friend instead of renting or buying and had a little snack from our own fridge!  Way cheaper than using gas to drive to the theater/rental place, paying for a movie, and paying for a snack.” – via My Dollar Plan
3. Avoid the mall. – “Going to the mall is not entertainment!  We used to go when we were bored.  Of course, we usually ended up spending money while we were there.  If you need clothes, then shop sales or go to stores that offer name-brands at a discount.  You can save a ton on these items if you are a smart shopper.  Dave Ramsey says, “Never pay retail!”  We probably save $15 to $30 per month by staying away from the mall.” – viaMy Super-Charged Life
4. Limit your intake of advertisements. – “Advertising sucks.  That’s the cold, hard truth.  It’s engineered to make you feel like you’re incomplete, that you have an unfulfilled need, that you’re not good enough.” – via On Simplicity
5. Buy with cash. – “You can’t spend money you don’t have.  Many bank accounts provide overdraft protection, so even with a debit card, it’s easier to go over your account balance than you think.” – via Simple Mom
6. Find a better deal and actually SAVE the difference. – “Regardless of what they sell, if you’ve switched companies for price reasons, save the difference.  Think of phone companies, internet access, cell phones, credit cards, and others.” – via The Wisdom Journal
7. Adhere to a long-term investment strategy. – “I’m a long-term investor.  The stock portion of my portfolio is spread over several mutual funds, a few ETFs and a few individual stocks.  Each and every one of these holdings was carefully chosen, after thorough research.  I believe in these stocks and funds.  I consider them as my best bet in growing my money - LONG TERM.” – via MomGrind
8. Curb your consumerism! – “Have you ever watched how a child can play with a cardboard box for hours, and leave the toy that came in it by the wayside?  How is it that children can enjoy themselves without a lot of “stuff”, but we as adults feel the need to reward ourselves by buying more stuff?” – via Billionaire Woman
9. Stay Healthy!  Medical problems drain bank accounts. – “James M. Rippe, M.D is a best-selling author, world-renowned cardiologist, and founder of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute.   He explains that if you look at all the risk factors for dying, the one that is most predictive is fitness level.  In addition, an older person with high cardiovascular fitness is healthier than a younger person who is physically inactive.  By increasing your fitness level, you can actually roll back your biological clock.” – via Abundance Blog
10. Stay in and relax. – “So, think about it the next time you go out.  Are you going for with a purpose?  Maybe the solution is to not go out at all.  Stay home and save!  Save up for something you really want or need.” – viaThe Jungle of Life
11. Gradually prepare yourself for a rainy day. – “Even when things are going great, and you feel on top of the world, you must always be prepared for a change.  If you take the time and patience to set yourself up properly, then when things to take a turn for the worse, you will be prepared to handle it.  If you live above your means, then when the slightest change occurs, you will not be prepared to adapt.  Financial flexibility is more important then keeping up with the Jones’.” – via Yin vs. Yang
12. Stop competing.  Forget about the Jones’ altogether. – “If getting rich makes us happy, then why don’t countries as a whole get happier as they grow wealthier?  They discovered that as a country gets wealthier there’s no overall increase in happiness.  Why?  We continually compare our wealth against that of others.  We are competitive and envious. Add to that the fact that Western countries encourage people to strive for more and more, and you have a formula that spins many into depression.” – viaColor Your Life Happy
13. Get out of the “easy street” mentality. – “I think there is too much emphasis on the quick fix or the easy option in today’s society.  For example taking diet pills to lose weight instead of the “hard option” - exercising and eating well…. money is sometimes being used as a substitute for hard work.  Do you think there is an increasing expectation that you can get want you want by throwing money around instead of working hard and “earning” it? – via Forever Change
14. Avoid impulse buying.  Buy things you truly need. – “Don’t you just love the excitement you feel after coming home with a new TV?  Driving home in a new car?  Opening the box on a new pair of shoes?  I sure do.  But, from watching the behavior of myself and my friends I’ve found that the new quickly becomes just another item.  The excitement of novelty passes quickly.” – via Think Simple Now
15. Time is money.  Properly manage your time. – “The fewer tasks you have, the less you have to do to organize them.  Focus only on those tasks that give you the absolute most return on your time investment, and you will become more productive and have less to do.  You will need only the simplest tools and system, and you will be much less stressed.  I think that’s a winning combination.  Focus always on simplifying, reducing, eliminating. And keep your focus on what’s important. Everything else is easy.” – via LifeDev
16. Find ways to give without spending. – “Want a quick, easy and (almost) free way to be guaranteed that you’ll make someone’s day special?  Send them a letter.  Why not set aside some time this weekend to sit down and write to a few people?  If you don’t enjoy writing, try buying some nice postcards of your home town.  If you’ve got an artistic streak, why not design your own note cards?  You don’t have to write a long letter for it to be effective.  It’s the thought that counts and the personal touch that makes it special.” –via Dumb Little Man
17. Don’t let greed and deceit get the best of you. – “According to Stephen R. Covey, if you reach an admirable end through the wrong means it will ultimately turn to dust in your hands.  This is due to unintended consequences that are not seen or evident at first.  The example he gives inThe 8th Habit is:  The parent who yells at their kids to clean their rooms will accomplish the end of having a clean room.  But this very means has the potential to negatively affect relationships, and it is unlikely the room will stay clean when the parent leaves town for a few days.  Now, to return to the topic of wealth, I think it is possible to see much of the world’s current financial problems as stemming from people who wrongly believe the ends justify the means.  My advice?  It is fine to aspire to wealth, but don’t lose sight of the means to accomplishing it.” – via The Change Blog
18. Never ever pay retail. – “You can easily save hundreds of dollars a year on clothing purchases by waiting for sales or shopping at discount retailers like Marshalls.  Better yet, avoid name brand clothing all together.” – viaMarc and Angel Hack Life  

Article Source:  http://www.marcandangel.com

Estrogen In Our Food & Water Creating Feminine Men, Cancer And More?

I have not blogged in a while.  A lot has been going on and I haven't found the time to sit down and tell all my business.

The reason I decided to blog today is because I was watching television this morning and there was an interesting topic being discussed on one of the shows.  There was a doctor discussing the amount of estrogen found in our drinking water and our canned foods.

I am concerned.  This is so scary to me because our men drink water (obviously) and many eat canned foods.  Has anyone else noticed an increase of femininity amongst our men?  Could it be the estrogen consumption?  This is yet another one of those things that make you go "hmmmmm".

Research shows that about 80% of 139 US rivers are contaminated with trace estrogen compounds.  Some of the sources are:

1) Livestock urine and feces
2) Human excretions which contain contraceptives and hormone replacement meds; like birth control, etc.
3) Insecticides
4) Plastic bottles

I did some research on my own about plastic and this is what I found:

The Dangers of a Plastic World

Since you can’t see, smell or taste them, you can’t tell which products contain estrogen look-a-likes. But they are very common. Here’s a short list:

Vinyl Flooring	Deodorants	Moisturizers	Pesticides
Detergents	Perfumes	Garden hoses	Fertilizers
Shampoo	Hair Spray	Inflatable toys	Plastics

And the list goes on… But plastics are the worst – because they are everywhere. 


From plastic bags and water bottles to the packaging your food comes in – plastic is almost impossible to escape.

Two of the big offenders are bisphenol A andphthalates (pronounced THAL-ates). These man-made chemicals have structures that look strikingly similar to estrogen.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is another. It’s used to make Teflon and Gore-Tex. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tested for the presence of phthalates and PFOA in the general population. The results were sobering. Every person tested – without exception – had trace amounts of both chemicals in their bloodstream.1

Jim Pirkle, deputy director at the CDC’s Environmental Laboratory warned that these findings have serious implications – especially for men. “The big concern with phthalates is that they have anti-androgen activity. They get rid of things that are in the testosterone line – the things that make a man a man.” ₁

_Source: 

http://www.alsearsmd.com/excess-estrogen/

If that's not enough, check this video out!  FOX did an investigation on the chemical Bisphenol A.

Scary!  To me it is at least.  This is just not natural.  And why is there estrogen being found in canned goods? Well, because all canned goods are lined in plastic!

For more information on the feminization of men check this link out http://www.drcurtisduncan.com/2010/11/chemical-effeminization-and-castration.html  It is a must read article! 

What are some things we can do to decrease the amount of estrogen being pumped into our bodies?

1) Drink filtered water out of glass.
2) Store left overs in glass, not plastic.
3) Eat natural foods instead of canned goods.

It's up to us to keep ourselves and our families healthy, not our governments!

To your HEALTH,


Monique ~Mo'Love~ Bradford  :)

You Better Work!!

The following is the daily devotional from http://bible.com   You better WORK!!  :)) Mo'  Proverbs Day 91 (KJV): Proverbs 13:4-6(KJV): 4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. 5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. 6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

Thoughts for the Day The book of Proverbs in these verses compares the actions of the righteous and the wicked in regard to work. The Bible tells us that whatever a man sows that will he also reap. Verse 4 tells us that a sluggard (one who is lazy and idle) always desires to have something, but because of his unwillingness to work, he will never have anything. We live in a time when desiring wealth without diligent work is popular. There are untold number of books being published on "how to become a millionaire" and millions of people are making the authors and publishers of these books wealthy. The lotteries and gambling casinos are filled with people who want to make a fast buck. Again, it is the coffers of the lotteries and casinos that are amassing wealth. Proverbs 13:11: "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase." Many people are investing in the stock market with the same kind of attitude; that is, one of trying to find the stock that will make them rich. Instead, many are losing their life savings as they invested with the wrong motive. Investing in stock is not sinful, as scripture speaks of wisely investing our money; however, many are not investing wisely. They are playing the stock market just like they play the gambling tables. This is why so many have lost their money. They invested in companies on a hunch, a tip, or calculating the ups and downs of graphs, or going along with the crowd as to what looked like a winner. Many invested in companies that totally ignored basic business principles. The basic principle of the stock market is not wrong if it is followed properly. What is that principle' When a man or a group of men have a good and righteous business or company that benefits humanity; yet they lack funding to make that business productive, it creates a need for another's help. If another man or a group of men (investors) have surplus funds and could use the monies as additional or future support, it also creates a need for another's help. When the one group physically does the work and the other supports that work with his funds, it becomes mutually beneficial for both parties. However, today, many people invest without any research in the company they are investing in. They do not know if the company policies are based on good Biblical principles. They know nothing as to how their employees are treated. They know nothing of the history of the company. They do not know the character of the ones running the business; whether they are honest, reliable, or trustworthy, etc. They know nothing of their alliances (do they support or promote unholy causes such as pornography, abortion, etc.). Sad to say, but most of the stock market is run by lust and greed, instead of wise investment and helping one another. Many investors have lost their money because their approach to investing was no more than pulling a slot machine handle and taking a chance on winning. This is also why people get taken in other "Get-Rich-Quick" schemes. They are naïve and somehow feel that they can get rich without really working, simply by investing in what sounds like a good deal. We should know better, but unfortunately many of us are gullible. Many companies that have stock are run by people who do not care about the other participants. They know that a great majority of their stockholders will lose money, but since their motivation is greed, they are just looking for a way to get rich themselves. Nothing will stop them unless they get caught. “Those who do not work should not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The desire to make money without working for it is an unrighteous desire. God uses work to build and shape our character. He delights in providing for those who put His Kingdom and His righteousness first. Some people talk about using wealth that they are going to gain from schemes or gambling to promote God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom is not promoted by unrighteousness. It is promoted through the loving sacrifice of those who are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not wrong to take money that you have earned and put it in the stock market if you have done your homework in regard to the company or companies you are investing in. However, many people today have run up their credit card debt to use the money to invest in a certain so called "hot" stock, only to lose it all and be left with a debt to pay. This is not wisdom. Verses 5 and 6 in Proverbs 13 tells us that a righteous man hates lying and deceit and will flee from it, while the wicked person will pursue sin and it will become his downfall. We should flee from any unrighteous business dealings, unwise stock investments, gambling, or activities that are promoted by greed. God's work is promoted most fruitfully by people who learn to love and give wisely, from an obedient, cheerful heart. If you keep God's Word, you will grow in the knowledge of Him and prosper in your soul. If you seek His Kingdom first and His righteousness, He promises that you will always have enough of everything you need to be blessed in this life. Even a good investment has risks in this world, as we all live in uncertain times. We should not look to stock market investments for our future security. As Christians, our security is in the keeping power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer for the Day Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your daily provision. You have been gracious to me and my family. I am truly grateful. Lord, I pray for those today who may have been caught up in the deception of trying to obtain wealth in the wrong way. Deliver them and guide them in Your ways. Teach us all to use our money wisely and to give when You speak to us to give, and to help when there is a need. Lord, deliver Your children from greed and lust. Take anything out of my heart that would keep me from following You completely. Deliver us from evil. I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.