Be Productive During This Time

Happy Friday! For those that are working, I know you are excited that this day has come. To those who are home with pay or just at home, this blog is for you. I go back to work on Monday ( from home), but I am a little mad at myself that I wasted 2 whole days watching YouTube and sleeping, lol. Granted I am getting over being sick, but I could have more productive. How, you ask? Well, I have so many books that I need to finish writing and finish reading.  If you read yesterday’s blog, you know I want to blog every day! I’m proud to have stuck to day 2 of consistency.  Nonetheless, my point is to take the time to do some things that you didn’t have time to do because you were working.

If you wanted to start a business, now is your chance! Want to write that book that you’ve been putting off? Do that to. We can’t allow this situation to put fear in us from continued living. I’m going to continue writing and figure out how I can be paid to do just that as a side hustle. Learning is re-learning. Always remain teachable  and the sky is the limit. Taking action steps to do the unthinkable shows not only character, but that you don’t give up. Tell me, what is one thing that you enjoy doing that you would do it for free if it still brings you joy? Whatever that is, figure out how to bring in income doing just that. It just maybe your calling. I know I am. Be Productive. Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

New Year, New Financial Goals!

Happy New Year!

It’s that time of year when we all make promises to ourselves and the world and stick to them for one month. Some say setting goals or resolutions is cliche, but in my opinon, people are giving themselves hope. It’s very rewarding to see that people won’t give up on the changes that they want to make for themselves. But, what about your financial goals?

Love Money? How Much Do you REALLY love it?

The more I learn about personal finances and just finance in general, it gets more and more interesting to me. With that being said, how many of you made financial goals this year? Some may want to save as much as they can this year or pay off debt, or start to invest. The sky’s the limit. Whatever you do make sure that your goals are realistic and obtainable.

For example, say you want to save $10,000 this year. What is the first thing you have to do?

1. Write out a written budget. See what your number is for your important fixed bills that are due EVERY month. This does not include netflix, cable, magazine or game subscriptions, etc. I mean let’s be honest, are those really important? Once you figure out what they number is it’s time to do some math.
2. Calcluate your MONTHLY income and substract from that number(important fixed bills).
3. Now you know what your important bills are every month.
4. The goal is to save $1000 a month for 10 months. Depending on your income you may can do that in 10 weeks if you’re paid every week or $2000 a month for 5 months. Or pay $834 a month for 12 months and you are at goal.
5. The way that saving works is to be CONSISTENT and have lots of discpline if you don’t already.

If you are paying off debt, let me just say, kudos to you! There are so many that ignore the debt that they have until the IRS comes knocking demanding their money. Don’t let this happen. Call the creditors, collectors, Navient, Sallie Mae, whoever you owe and make a payment plan, no matter how much your debt is. I know it can be frustrating and stressful, BUT the little payments do add up. Give yourself some credit, you are taking control of your finances.

Again, whatever you do make sure this goal is obtainable.

1. Get a copy of your credit report. Review it, STUDY it hard to make sure it’s correct.

2. Call the creditors and see if you can get on a payment plan.

3. If there is more than one debt, do the snowball method, which is to pay as much as you can on that particular debt alone. Just that one debt, once that one is paid off, put the same amount and a little more on the second debt.

4. You can pay off debt in two ways: the highest interest rate or the highest amount. My suggestion is to pay off the highest interest rate first. I.E, (If these are student loans, pay off the highest interest rate first because interest accures DAILY!!)

5. Keep track of how much you’ve paid off and I guarntee you will see the results in your credit score.

No matter what your financial goals are for 2019, have fun while achieving them. Don’t be so consumed by the number, but the progress you are making.

Following Your Dreams: Nature or Nurture?

Lately, I have been watching a lot of Ted Talks and YouTube videos on how one finds their purpose and lives their fullest life. We are told at an early age in life that you can be whatever you want to be. In some ways I think this is true, but what happens when fear gets in the way of your dream. If you are like me there has been SEVERAL times where I had a lot of dreams or goals that I wanted to accomplish. I started to write when I was about 13 years old. First it was poetry, then I essay and I soon graduated to short stories and full on novels. It was a talent that I realized I had. I was someone who could tell amazing stories through words. Pretty fascinating stuff, right? When I turned 18, my dream was to be a nurse. I wanted to help people heal and get better. My mother went to school for nursing and I was inspired by her drive. It was short-lived because addiction became her focus. Then, I realized nursing wasn’t the way to go. Don’t get me wrong, I tried, I went to community college and took an anatomy and physiology class. It scared the crap out of me to learn that I had to memorize every bone in the body. That’s a lot of bones. I panicked and asked my mom for help. Not only did she know all of the bones, but she knew what bone helped what. Clearly, that was her dream and not mine. Then, later on I wanted to be a shrink. I was always told that I give great advice and that I was a trust worthy person. My mind was focused and I was a great listener. One of my professor’s  Ms. Brisel taught psychology 101 in a way that I had become fascinated and knew I was getting into the right field. So, what did I do? I got a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. Guess, what? Til this day I STILL don’t use it. I tried to find a job in that field, without experience, no one will give me a shot.

Now, I’m about 23 years old and I feel like the biggest failure known to man. I went to college, got the degree and couldn’t find a job in the field. My mind was starting to play tricks on me telling me I’m stupid and that I wasted money on a useless degree. I believed it. So, I did what any other person would do who was trying to find their way, I went back to school. First, I majored in Master’s in Social Work. I’m like yes, I am going to be a counselor! This is my time to shine and help people. Within the middle of the first semester, I put on academic probation and was flunking out. I had never told anyone that, until now. My life as I knew was in shambles. I had been a professional student for so long that I wasn’t able to find a secure job. Oh, did I mention I had just moved to North Carolina on a wing and a prayer? I had about eight thousand dollars saved and me and my friend just left. I wasn’t getting a job in Delaware so I figured I’d try my shot somewhere else. Somewhere where I wasn’t reminded of my failures within myself, my family, the friends I thought I had, the men that disappointed in life. I needed out. When the advisor told me I was flunking out of graduate school, I didn’t want to quit. I mean, I didn’t want to keep that major, but I didn’t want to quit. There I was sitting in my new 2 bedroom town house with no furniture or food, just electric, I started to write a new book, which was my third book. I did some research on new schools and found FullSail University. It was a film school that was located in Florida and I could go online. The options for majors were very long and then it found me. What was a release for me majority of my life was sitting there, it was creative writing.  I could get my MFA in Creative Writing. It was still my Master’s degree and I was still in school! Woo hoo! The phone meeting with an enrollment counselor went great. The program was for a year and I would be finished. The following year I had my Master’s in Creative Writing. Due to money issues, I was unable to go to the graduation, but I still passed. I learned to write everything, films, games, TV Pilot, Animation. I graduated with a 3.5.

Although I got my Master’s I still wasn’t able to find a job in the field. It seemed I had to relocate to California or New York in order to write. My advisor told I didn’t have to move, but yet, I still wasn’t finding THE job I wanted. I wanted to write for a company or network. But, in all honesty, I wasn’t able to find my niche. It’s that way still. I’m so versatile in my writing that I can’t stick to one genre. But, then again, why should I? I’ve dabbled in journalism, magazines, blogs and even proposals.

Now, it’s 2018 and I’m still not writing  for a company or network. I’m still trying to find my niche. But, in between that I’ve written several books and ghost wrote a few as well. I have written many screenplays, treatments for shows and TV Pilots. It’s all in what I call (the vault), saved on my computer and USB drive. I won’t give up. My dream is to work as a writer of some sort and I will do just that. Monday I start a new job working as a customer solutions specialist. I’m going to be the best employee that I can be until it’s time to work that dream job.

As I was thinking about my topic for today I thought about something DeVon Franklin said his book that I’m reading, ” The Hollywood Commandments A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success.” He said, ” You have to be able to carry the crown, before you can wear one.” It resonated with me because he talked about who he wanted to work in entertainment and every job that he had before he got his dream job and eventually starting his own company, prepared him to be where he is now in his life.  I believe this job I’m starting on Monday will do the same as well. Now, even though I am starting a different job, I still applied for writing jobs everywhere. I am thankful for my new job and I will serve there to the best of my ability. Who knows, I may even get to be a technical writer at my company, if something else doesn’t come along. DeVon states, ” you have to realize that you must start at the bottom in order to make it to the top. ” Or one must pay their dues. Another mentor that I’m following is Evan Michael and Laura Berman Fortgang. Evan said, ” Explore your options and find out what your purpose isn’t or what you like doing. It can only happen with experience.” He talked about trying snow boarding, salsa dancing and really enjoyed it. He said you won’t know what you don’t like to do if you don’t try it. It’s okay to explore because your purpose will find you. The bible says, ” Your gift will make room for you.” I wholeheartedly believe that. Laura said, ” A lot of people have a lot of ambition based on what they don’t want to be in their life i. e  their parents, a statistic.”  Career satisfaction doesn’t come from what you do, it comes from who you get to be while doing it. The beauty is who you get to be is the real you.”  The more I read these books by DeVon Franklin and watch videos like Evan Carmichael and Laura Fortgang, I realize that I am where I am supposed to be right now and I will be a writer because it is what I want to do. Dreams are what you make them to be. Some are born with them knowing what they want to do and some are learned by life’s experience. Is your dream nature or nurture?

Book Review: Mindset: Te New Psychology of Success by Carl S. Dweck, PhD.

Publisher: Penguin Group

Page Count:245

Genre: Motivational/Self-Help

 

Date Started; 2/20/16

Date Ended: 3/o1/17

Purchased: 9th Street Book Shop (Located in Delaware)

Rating: Plot 4 stars, Characters, 4 stars, Ease of reading 4 stars.

Quote from Book: ” You have to decide what kind relationships you want”

My Review:

This was a good book. In fact, it was so good it took me almost two years to finish it. Who wants to read a book about change when are stubborn to do so? After reading this book I realize that I had changed some for the better and there are still some areas of improvement.

Happy New Year

It is finally 2017 and I must say that I am ready for the new year! I am working on myself and trying to change my mindset from negative to positive. Granted, Rome was not built in a day, so let’s just see how this goes. A few people asked me what my resolution was. Usually I’d say to loose weight or get better with finances. This will still happen, but I am ready for love. If you have been following my blog long, you know the mishaps that I have had with this endeavor already, lol. I will say that it has been a journey. Well, this year I hope to find the real thing and it lasts.  I hope that whatever your resolution is that you achieve it and be happy!

 

So tell me what is your new years resolution and what are you doing to achieve it?

My Goals For 2017

As the year of 2016 comes to a close, I am ready focusing on the new year. Yes, 2017 baby! There is so much that I want to do. As I reflect, I realize that I have grown a lot. But, for the upcoming year I want to continue that growth in all areas of my life. So, here is my list!

 

2017 Goals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Stay Positive:  I have had a negative mindset about a lot of things for a long time. It can be related to work, school or even dating.Oftentimes I have to tell myself that it is okay to be positive even though there has been so much negativity in your life. This also goes with friendships. I want to make more friends. Since high school, a lot of people have grown up and live their lives. Most of the time I’m a loner, but I want to make friends and go out.

2. Be Realistic:  This really goes with money. I have so many things that I want to do in life that I focus on trying to pay or provide for everything I want. I am not rich or well off yet. Budgeting will be a MAJOR THING for the new year.

3. Get Better With Money: I think this may be on everyone’s list. But, for me I really need to get it together. I want to buy a house one day and saving is so essential.

4. Be Successful In My Business: I stated my own publishing company from home five years ago. In the beginning things were going great. Then, it went down hill. With a new plan and marketing, I recently opened back up for business. This time around I want to be successful with it. I know that it will take time to re-build my clientele, but it will happen.

5. Get My Driver’s License: Yes, this is a goal. I currently have my learner’s permit. It killed me to have to reschedule my driving test because I did not have a car to take the test. This time around I am going to have a car and take it.

6. Get Into Church: I have been praying a lot more this year and God has been fulfilling all of my needs. My fear is that the church will be full of drama and I won’t enjoy it. Pray more and allow God into my life during the good and bad times.

7. Date: Dating is an ongoing thing for me. I don’t get out too much because I don’t drive. But, I will start to put myself out there and actually try. I have a few online profiles, but have not had much luck with men. I either attract the ones with no ambition or they are just not in my preference of age range. God will bring the right one along. I would love to meet someone who is looking for a long term relationship and wants marriage with a family.

8. School: I will continue to excel in school. Studying for a PhD is not easy at all. As of right now I have 4 classes left and I want to finish and then write my dissertation. I will get this done.

9. Develop Structure: I am always all over the place. I need to focus on following one task at a time. How do I achieve such a thing? It seems really hard when I get so excited about so many things like writing projects, reading books, and other things that go on in my life. But, I will do better.

10. Focus On Me: I know that this might sound really weird, but all my life I have dedicated it to pleasing and saying yes to everyone else accept myself. If my parents need money or me to do something, I do it, a friend needs me to write something for them, I do it. This year is about me getting healthy, wiser, and stronger. I want to be happy and be the best me that I can be.

I know that these goals are not your normal goal like loose 30 pounds or buy a car. I want to do all of those things as well, but that is going to be my lifestyle, not a goal. In order to be happy or successful in anything I first have to develop the mindset of having faith. Putting priority in front of wants. Yes, I want to buy a book or spend money on food, but the bigger picture for me is to be able to make rent and save money. This is the year for me to be frugal in my life, my thoughts, my money, my sanity and my faith. It’s early, but I will say it now, Happy New Year. May God continue to bless you and the universe gives you what your heart desires. Your gifts will make room for what you want for your life. Be blessed guys!

Krystol

 

 

Goal Setting: Is It Really Important?

Hey readers! I wanted to talk about goals and setting them. Me and a couple of my friends were talking about how to say ” no”. It took me a while to say no, but now it is my favorite word ever in life. Then, I started to think about my goals and where I want to be in life. Ever think to yourself, ” how did I get here?” ” I should be more accomplished in life?” Yep, that was me tonight. I was not thinking bad thoughts, but it made me think about my goals and what I really wanted in life.

Then It Hit Me… 

It may sounds cliche or you could have heard it before, but FOCUS ON YOU! Life is hard enough trying to stay a float with bills, children, school or whatever else that maybe going on. Jim Carey said, ” If you can fail doing something that you hate, why not try to fail at doing something you love.” This maybe hard for some of you to read, but it is time to take over your life. You have one life to live, why not live yours instead of worrying about anyone else, because I bet if it was between them or you to be chosen, they will choose them. After talking to my friends and having the long conversation with myself (hey, I am a writer, I talk to myself all the time), I decided to set goals for me.

My goals are structured different, but you get my point, right? 

I had read a blog where a girl had several copies of her goals listed everywhere. This is where I thought I would be creative. I set my goals on my computer, the tasks portion of my phone, Evernote( organizing app that is AMAZING, also can be used on any computer or device) and in my journal of to-do lists and goals. Once I did that, I felt like I was ready for world. Here a few tips to go with goal setting.

1. Make sure they are obtainable. I mean, don’t set something that is too hard to do like ” buy a house in 6 months”. Be realistic with it.
2. When someone asks something of you,anything, if it is not helping you with your personal goals, say NO. ” DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200″  You don’t have time to do, you are FOCUSED on your OWN GOALS!! Often times people may ask for help with what they got going on and you get sidetracked and may never finish your goal.
3. Give your goals a due date. When do you want to achieve by?
4. Keep your goals to yourself. This is something I am doing for myself. When you tell people your goals, some may not be as positive or happy about them as you are. After all they are YOUR goals, not EVERYONE’S goals. I honestly used to tell everything that I was doing and as soon as someone said, ” Oh, I would not do that because of X,Y,Z and then you don’t because you listen to that person who probably does not even know what a goal is because they don’t set them and then you don’t do it. When you don’t do it, you have regrets of what could have been. Trust me, I have been there and done that. It’s over rated. Keep your mouth shut and just DO YOU!
5. Celebrate  as you achieve your goals. These are milestones in your life. No matter how little or big the goal is. Getting an A on a hard paper is worth celebrating for. If no one wants to celebrate with you, do it alone. You don’t need anyone to validate your success and awesome you are.

Goal setting is something that has been taught to me a lot this past year. I did not focus on them one bit. I was too busy worrying about what other’s thought or being lazy. Let’s keep it real, Facebook and YouTube had my full attention instead of me achieving my goals. Make a list, plan it out, and do some incredible things that you never thought was possible. After all, you do so much for everyone else, now it is

A Writer With Something To Say

Good morning readers, 

I was reading a blog by my previous professor and she talked about how she matured as a writer. It really got me thinking. You see, all my life, I had wanted to be accepted by others and in the ” in” crowd. Once I got of age, I realized that it was okay to look different, act different, and enjoy different things than what other people liked. I was/am creative. I am an individual. When I started to really get serious about being a writer, I now notice that I had been writing for the wrong reasons. I was writing to belong. I wanted to be that best-selling author, and sell that great screenplay. It hasn’t happened yet, and I am now okay with that. But, the fact that I saw I was being immature as a writer, I had to think of the bigger picture.

 

The bigger picture that it’s okay to not be the best-selling author, but achieving my goal to even write a book was more rewarding and gratifying then making it at the top. Don’t get me wrong, being successful by making it at the top, is great too. But, I often felt like failure because it wasn’t being done to me. I read articles all the time about people getting instant success with their writing by doing the SAME exact thing as I, and yet, I can’t budge or get a mention. LOL…I know it sounds silly, but I was really bothered by not being the best at…well, everything. I think that we as writers always start off with ” Oh, I’m going to win this and get this great agent and do that” when in reality–the opposite occurs. We put so much on ourselves that we miss out on the joy of just being a writer. Writing for ourselves first and then our readers. No one else knows our thoughts, dreams, fears, hopes, or desires first expect us. We decided when the world gets to see our short comings and celebrations. ( We rave more about the celebrations than the short comings). I totally get it.

 

I guess this post is to encourage all writers, myself included, and let you know, it’s okay to just be a wrier. Write for you before you decide to share it with the world. Make goals to achieve things and really embrace each journey. When you have writer’s block, embrace it, but when it’s over you will be so busy tapping the keys, it will feel like you never had it. Embrace that review you got whether it was a 5 star or a 2 star. Think of it as, “someone new who I don’t even know, has read my work.” I used to always think that I had something to prove. I didn’t have to be proving it to family, friends, but to myself. I thought I had to show myself that was a great writer, a great student, a great friend, even a great relative. The pressure is real! To want people to see you are your best always is exhausting! I now see that was immature of me to think I had to look like I had it all together. For the most part, I do, but there are days when I think, ” Why am I writing or doing this?” Of course I don’t know the answer, but I can not stop writing or doing the task at hand.  Now, at the age of 29, turning 30 in December, I have accomplished  A LOT and I am thankful for that success, but I have also had some tough times with writing, life, etc. But, I am not letting that negative thinking to get in the way of what I want to achieve in the present. After all, they call it the present, because it’s a gift, right?