When My Butt Stinks...

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” Dale Carnegie

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I had an intimidating writing project.
In my mind, it was big and intimidating, because it is my highest paid project thus far, and it is equally one I had never attempted before. Two weekends ago, I was getting more and more stressed about it, because I was still sitting on it and my butt had began to stink. I was working on other projects, but I knew I needed to get on this particular one, but I avoided it. I made excuses about how the deadline was still a month and weeks away and how my other projects (which were more "fun") needed immediate attention.


I was intimidated. I simply did not feel like starting, and I was in a rut. Last week, I decided to tackle this project. I had already started on the research, but I knew If I wanted to do a good job and satsify my client's need, I needed to get to it already. I started writing. I got down to it and by Thursday, I was amazed at how much progress I had made. Progess I would not have seen if I stayed on my butt making excuses.





Things are not always rosy with JostWrite especially if a project is not "fun."  However, I have learnt a way to cross these hurdles...I just start. I get off my stinky butt and start. Most small businesses do not survive the first year, a few more are dead in three years and a significant chunk are gone in five years. I am inspired by small business owners and entrepreneurs who push past each year mark. I am also learning that the key to thriving is not just a booming market, a solid business plan or customers, it is also the act of starting and the act of keeping it moving.

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I am learning that we all get overwhelmed, and we question if we have the strength to do what we are called to do. We procastinate, we slack, we start and then we let Facebook or the new episode of Glee get in the way. Well, I did. :) I'm learning that sometimes my body might need to start before my mind and passion catches up, and sometimes, passion never shows its face. The job just needs to be done.

It takes breaking a big task down into chunks, allocating a few hours to it per day and tackling it heads on. As each day went by last week, the project got done little by little, hour by hour and day by day. I'm not done, but I have made significant progress and have plans to spend a big chunk of this week tackling it.

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I am getting off my butt to commit the time, energy and faith my dream requires. When passion and enthusiasm takes a break, determination and hardwork need never rest.

It is important to start. To get off our butts and excuses...to start. With each little step, each hour that creeps by and each new day that emerges, we are one step from the finishing line. At the end, I know I'm one project down, I would have gained a new skill and my portfolio would be one project richer.

Wish me luck as I publish this blog post and spend the next two hours on the now not-so -intimidating project. :)



Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Blazing the Trail...

Stop settling for what’s good enough and start creating art that matters. Stop asking for what’s in it for you and start giving gifts that will change people. Then, and only then, will you have achieved your potential. —Seth Godin

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The day and hour draws near for the first Goddess of the year award ceremony to be presented by Afrikan Goddess to Betty Makoni of Girl Child Network.  As we work passionately behind the scene to prepare for the award night, I am reminded of why I am a part of the Afrikan Goddess team. I am reminded of the vision that gave birth to Afrikan Goddess Magazine. I am also reminded of the lives that prompted the creation of the Girl Child Network. These reminders prompt me to think of why life can be better for ALL!

I am always in awe of people who take life and turn it around whether by speaking up against an injustice or by starting their own business. I am inspired by the vision of Founder and Editor of Afrikan Goddess, Nicole Amma Twun-Baah. The vision to showcase and highlight the path of women who are selflessly building their communities, both at home and in the diaspora. I am humbled and wowed by the journey of Betty Makoni. A journey that speaks out for the girl child in a nation where the volume of their voices are turned down. Women are precious, and Amma and Betty stand for it. 

As I grow older, I am equally aware that our "precious-ness" are rarely protected. I am aware of how our dreams are cut short even for the most ambitious amongst us. The system is messed up. Family and friends sometimes let us down, and in many cases they are too burdened to help us. I daily meet women with potential who cower in fear and hold back all that is possible through them. Life can make us victims, and comfort can make us apathetic. 

It is always refreshing to meet women who are getting up as community organizers, human saviors, entrepreneurs and business owners, but it is humbling to watch as these women selflessly give back to their community and to the world. Betty Makoni is a trail blazer executing a passion and vision that connects us back to our humanity, helps us reach further into our dreams and heal our wounds.

Come June 9th, 2012, Betty Makoni will received an honor she more than deserves, because she stands up for girls and rape victims. Her work has saved many lives by questioning culture and patriarchy. Voices are raised, because she got up. 

Two events are planned to celebrate Betty Makoni of Girl Child Network in the upcoming weeks. We will be honored to have you attend.



[Photo Credit: Afrikan Goddess]

 Documentary Screening of "Tapestries of Hope"

Saturday, May 19th, 2012

3:30pm -6:30pm

Nectar Lounge

Silver Spring, MD

Tapestries of Hope tells the story of human rights activist Betty Makoni and the Girl Child Network (GCN) in Zimbabwe, Africa.

The event is FREE, please RSVP here

Goddess of the Year 2012 Honor Award

Saturday, June 9th 2012

7:30pm - 10:30pm

O'Connor Auditorium

Trinity Univeristy

Washington, DC

 Register and purchase tickets here

You can also donate to our indiegogo campaign "Reward a Goddess ReMake." All contributions go to the Girl Child Network.


Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Genevieve: Lets Go Shopping!

I am a contributer to the new Genevieve online! Yay! Below is my first article.

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You know the feeling you get when a familiar stranger smiles at you at a bus-stop or at the airport? That household sensation mingled with thoughts of “where have you been all my life?” That’s the feeling we felt when we encountered the divine purses and handbags from KUA Designs. A sense of home fused with dreams of faraway, but familiar lands. We were literally gasping and we knew it was time to go shopping. The KUA Designs collections designed by Ruby Buah are one to salivate over.

Read more here

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Adventure!

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Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Entrepreneur!

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Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

A Sweet Serving...

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"To let yourself be carried on passively is unthinkable."
-Virgina Woolf, writer











Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

The Power of People!

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Never underestimate the power of people.
That is the lesson for today.
As a small business owner, the buzz word is no longer change, it is N-E-T-W-O-R-K!
I recently took account of how my clients heard about JostWrite and the services I provide. Majority were either referred by someone who had used my services (paid or free) or someone who came across JostWrite somewhere in the social media world. It makes me smile.

 
It is a privilege to be working on projects, big and small, because someone opened up a Rolodex and connected me to other people. The three biggest projects I am currently working on are connections from old clients. One is a third degree connection meaning I was referred by the client's friend and the client also referred me to another client. It seems each referral gets bigger and bigger, from editing a piece of work for a class paper to writing web-contents to working on magazine articles. It is a whole truck load of doing good work, getting good feedback and watching doors open.

Last week, I worked with a friend on another entrepreneurial project. Lo and behold, my heavens sang when the woman who were working for in preparation for a huge trade-show in Chicago mentioned that she is CEO and owner of a communication and publishing company.  She was equally blown away when I quielty enthusiastically said yelled "I am a freelance writer." She is interested in working with me. The company is a few decades old, its the biggest in that industry with offices in New York and Minnesota. My jaws are still dropped.

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I do not have the funds for big time marketing, and I am still trying to wrap my head around the best social media platform to engage with for my craft, but I am learning that people speak volume for a small business owner and an entrepreneur.

Be good to them. Be nice to them. Tell them about what you do. Get engaged with people on social media. Get involved in groups of similar visions. Talk about your services. Get personal. Be approachable. Provide quality services both for free and for money. Go out of your way to help even with free services and watch how the strings connect. I cannot count how many free services I have given over the years to friends and families before I launched JostWrite and how many more pro bono work I still do. People remember. People talk. Be business smart and strategic about pro bono work.

As I work on launching a small website (which I agree is way beyond long over due), I never want to forget that websites are looked at by people. Regardless of aesthetics, content, logo design and colors, people want to know the you behind the products and services you offer. The way we treat people in the different spaces we occupy will determine if they come back to bite us in the butt or give us a soft warm kiss.



Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Day 13: My opinion about my body, and how comfortable I am with it...

This post is long overdue.

What started out as a 30-Days Challenge last year June has been going on for 10 months. It is going exactly as I predicted; it will take me about a year to finish introducing myself via this challenge. My last update was in December 2011 with Day 12: Five Guys I Find Attractive. I am determined to finish this challenge this year.

Here goes Day 13...

My body is a wonderland, and I am very comfortable with it. :) In high school, I got teased because I was "masculine." I had ribbed arms, soccer player legs and muscles. I also had a low-hair cut all through high school, as in like a guy. The teasing did not bother me much, because I was kinda like a tom-boy and really did not care. However, deep down, I wished I was softer and feminine. Heck, I wished I was more feminine even in temperament. The only thing  slightly feminine about me was my big gigantic bosom. :) I look back and celebrate my dad in so many ways especially for his consistent love and the sense of self over-confidence he instilled in my sister and I.

I came to college and my body was celebrated...muscles and all. It was weird to see how trends change even in regards to my body. It further solidified why I choose the compliments and criticisms I take to heart. A million people complimented my body and wondered about my "thighs of thunder" as one of my friends once described my muscular thighs. I think I grew into myself in college, but then I dumped my Dexter glasses, cut my two year old relaxed hair, re-grew my hair out natural and fell in love. :)

I like my body. I am more aware of how it changes as I grow older and I love my body even more. I feel like my body is still a teenager trying to find itself. One day it is lean and defined, and the next day it is bloated and heavy. I can go from a weight of 115 to 135 in a few weeks and then back to 125. (and it is has nothing to do with that time of the month). Sometimes, I feel like I am an outsider watching my body trying to find itself and other times I am its warden setting boundaries for what it can eat, drink and do. Both positions has served me well and still serves me well.

I love exercising, I love the outdoors, I love running, I love rock climbing, I love extreme sports and activities and I LOVE dancing...I think these have kept my body in its best form without me trying too hard. And I do have good genes too. :)

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

 
About 30 Day Challenge

I have no Excuse...

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Today, I do not feel like working.

I don't feel like blogging, writing, hustling or marketing.

I'm aware that I have an article draft due on Wednesday and another big project draft due end of this month. Regardless of these two deadlines, I'm still yearning for my bed and for sleep. I was awoken in the middle of the night by a strange noise, and it took hours of tossing and turning dreaming about Micheal Ealy's character from "Think Like a Man" to fall back asleep. However, I had to wake up in the wee hours of the morning for a doctor's appointment. Yawn!

I need to decide what to do right after I publish this blog post...go to bed for a crash nap or keep working? I have another doctor's appointment at 6pm and that means if I choose a crash nap, I probably would not get work done until after my appointment.

This is an aspect of working from home and building my own business that challenges me. I am the boss of my time and no-one is sitting around monitoring my every move. It calls for a new level of discipline and self control. It also calls for a new way to manage my time. As a new small business owner, I do not know it all and I do question a few of my moves. I am blessed that doors have been opened for me in many places, and I am meeting people who have been generous with their time and Rolodex.

I am doing my best not to take it for granted, and I did get a wake-up call from the love of my life last week. This call prompted by several warning signs led to my I Made a Decision post from last week. In that post, I talked about how I have decided to focus my energy, cut down on my to-do list and get back on a routine. I also decided to hold back on some other creative and entrepreneurial ideas I am toying with outside of JostWrite. With that decision and follow through actions, I realized I can get a lot more done while reducing my stress level.

I can definitely go back to to bed, because I am kinda my own boss. Then I think of what it takes to build and grow a dream. I think of my wake-up call from last week and also all the clients who are waiting on me to deliver. I realized "To whom much is given, much is expected." 

It takes hard work and determination alongside passion to row even when my hands are tired. I am new at this, but I am learning through JostWrite that you can never let your dreams or purpose lie dormant in your heart or in a word document because of fear, uncertainty or fatigue laziness. I am beginning to realize that even when I am uncertain of the direction to take or fearful of what might happen or tired out of my mind, the key is to begin and keep going. To start, to fall, to trip, to stumble and to get up after each fall and keep going day by day and step by step.

With that said, I'm going to publish this blog post and work on one of my pending projects. I'll start on it...that's all that matters.  

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Pieces of Awesomeness!

I'm in awe of entrepreneurs or people who get up and get things done. People who have a dream, make a decision about it and get to it regardless of how hard it gets. I have always been a spontaneous person, but lately I take my time and think things through before I leap. However, it has become unhealthy, so when I see people who make decisions quick, I wondered what happened to me.Their drive inspires me to keep moving towards all that my heart desires.

As I get more immersed and involved in the writing/blogging community and in the small business/entrepreneur/startup world, I am amazed by the different people stepping up to choose the kind of life they want to live. I am blown away especially by the women who are creating income by creating businesses from the ground up while using their gifts and talents.

This is the kind of drive I have, but with ambition comes sacrifice, and it is important to remember to balance ambition out with rest. These are a few things in my life and around the internet this week that kept me dreaming, but yet focused and grounded. They are my awesome pieces for this week!

The "Be Brave" and "Be Present" prints from Jess LC Wells Collection.
I plan on getting these prints. There is a lot more where these came from.
Go here!

I wake up to this each morning since Wednesday.
 Makes me breathe easier

My friend is getting married tomorrow.
I'm excited to celebrate with her.

I have never been so proud of myself. LOL!

Holy Smoke! Make love to my feet!

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

I Made a Decision Today...

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More like three decisions!

I woke up this morning to an appropriate scold and caution, and I did come to realize two things:
"To whom much is given, much is expected"
and
"He that is faithful in little things will be faithful in much."

I looked back over the past eight weeks, and I realized that I had put in less than quality effort and time into blogging and JostWrite in general. As much as I have been blaming this on my 6 weeks work-vacation, I don't have much excuse. My routine and schedule was messed up and every other thing that came with that got messed up. The only thing or one of the few things, I'm proud of was I did not miss any deadlines. Almost, but did not. :)

As an entrepreneur and small business owner, I have dabbled into quite a few things. Some work and many do not. S-L-A-C-K-I-N-G is one that does not work. H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K works, but I have been exhibiting the former lately. I'm blessed to have a growing list of clients and quite a few phone calls and emails coming in weekly from people and organizations requesting my services. However, I am aware that these calls and emails can slowly dwindle away if I am not committed to hardwork and discipline. I can't slack for three days and expect to catch up in one day. It produces less than excellent work, and I cringe at the thought.

When I woke up this morning to my Beloved asking to speak some hard truth to me, I knew I deserved it. Thank you Dear for always telling me the truth.

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I have been ruminating on this for a while, but after getting a soft smack in the bum today, I decided to JOST do it.

1. Focus my energy: things are going to change around here in aesthetics and in content. Nothing drastic, but more of a focus. I have been talking about finding my blog voice and I am getting confident that I know what it is I want to share. I am very OPEN to change later down the line as I grow, but I am focusing my energy both on my blog and with JostWrite. One thing I am contemplating is changing the name of this blog amongst other things.

2. Cut down my To-Do List: I tend to want to do it all and be it all. I end up becoming Expert in all and Master of none. Going along with focusing my energy, I will be cutting down on my daily and monthly intentions. It makes for a happier me. I am dabbling into other business ventures and ideas different from freelance writing and editing...I get way over my head sometimes. I'll be rethinking some steps this weekend.

3. Get back on my routine: Discipline, Self Control and Hard work are attributes I'm lacking lately. This is a big one and I need to get back on track whether I like it or not. I NEED IT!

When you're running your own show, no one else is there to run things for you. When your schedule is messed up, so is your business. With that said...I say bye to my shadow and welcome back AdeOla!

I have missed you all.

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

JostWrite's Logo is Here!

I have been talking and blogging about a logo, a website and other changes coming to JostWrite.Well, I am very SUPER DUPER excited to announce that my logo design is finally ready. It took longer than I expected due to my million revisions, but it all boiled down to the images below. They make my heart skip. LOL!


I polled quite a few number of people over the past few weeks regarding color, fonts, size etc.  A big thank you to my family and to friends who helped clear the fog in my head on this journey.


I bet ya, it was not easy, but it was worth it. I learnt quite a few things about how the visual I have in my head does not always look pretty on paper. 


This post would not be complete without a big big big shout out to my graphic designer Lisa Butler at Elembee Creatives. She is the creative mind who pulled all my inspirations via hundreds of emails and pinned images into what is now JostWrite's official logo. Thanks Lisa, you made the mess in my head really pretty. :) 

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Trip Update...Back Home in Minneapolis!

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I am back home in Minneapolis. Yay!
It feels good to be back. I had a wonderful trip, but home is where the heart is.
I need to buckle down for the next four weeks and work before I head back to Washington DC in May. My two younger brothers are graduating from medical school and college. Yay!

So excited to see them both walk...its been a journey, and I'm so proud of them. Family endure a lot for one another, and I am thankful for my family.

Like I said, I need to buckle down in the next weeks, because so far...April looks like March, and I am not proud of it. I think when push comes to shove, it is the most important things that survive. This blog is still here, it is slow, but it is here. Which for me means it is important to me. I will be back in full swing soon.

I submitted a draft of a project I'm working on Tuesday and turned in two others final ones last weekend. My current projects are a business plan I am working on for a new non-profit, two more restaurant reviews to go, some editorial work for a small magazine and writing for a few other non-profits. I also have two other writing projects constantly running in the background. I am thankful and blessed.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

JostWrite was Nominated for the Liebster Blog Award

I had a shitty Monday through Wednesday last week. I woke up on Thursday determined to make the best of my day and to choose joy over murmuring and grumbling. I think because I made a choice to choose faith over fear, God responded with a tiny chunk of heaven. I found out that Melissa of Inspiration and Rough Drafts nominated me for the Lierbster Blog Award.

In the moments after I got the message, everything else that was heavy on my heart paled in comparison. Thank you Melissa! I have slowed down on blogging in the past six weeks, I feel like my shadow has been blogging, and I am humbled that she thought me worthy to win the Liebster Award.

“This award we’ve discovered is given to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers. The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning ‘Beloved, Dearest or Favorite."
I connected with Melissa when she introduced her freelance writing business, Melrose Street Custom Content, on the Business in the City Facebook page. I reached out to her as one new freelance writer to another, and I have enjoyed reading the inspiration she offers on her blog. Thanks Melissa.

As a recipeint of the Liebster Blog Award, I am tasked with nominating five small blogs for this award. It was so easy for me to pick five other blogs that inspire me, I knew who I wanted to give the award to the moment I found out about it. "Drum Roll Please!" And the awards go to:

Relentless Builder
I connected with Relentless when she commented on one of my blog post, and we have stalked each other ever since. She blogs about the Nigeria education system and gospel music industry. She also reviews Nigerian gospel artist. She is presently anonymous, and I am on the quest to fish her out. :)

**TheCereusLife
Chimere is an old co-worker and an anthropologist...yes, she is smart and different like that. :) I stumbled on her blog a few months ago, and I am inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit. I am a big fan of entrepreneurs especially women. She has a drive like none other, and she is pursuing it. She shares her entrepreneurial journey as she create and builds Cereus, her plate ware + art business, on her blog. In addition, she also shares her love for decor, culture, shopping, fashion and food on her blog.

Living for Today and Loving it
Petunia is my darling South African sister and beauty. I met her while we were campaigning to raise funds for the upcoming Afrikan Goddess of the year award ceremony. We are yet to meet one on one, but I feel like I know her already. I know we will meet someday. Petunia is a lover of life and beautiful things, and her blog chronicles her journey to living and loving her life.

Lolliez Silhouette
Lola is a dear friend. We have known each other for about 18 years, and she remains very dear to my heart. She is currently working on her residency, but she takes time out of her very busy schedule to blog about her love for God, her growth as a Christian, wife, sister and friend.

**Elembee ETC
Lisa is my graphic designer (She is da bomb) and her blog is fast becoming a staple on my blog-rounds. Her blog is uh-la-la-la. I go there daily to enjoy a burst of color inspiration and ever so beautiful images. She is working on all my graphic and branding for JostWrite, and I love her work. If you need graphic or web design help...contact Elembee Creative

Winners, if you wish to participate, please keep the love going and refer to the instructions below.
1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value (It’s a great way to get to word out there about other blogs!!)
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have received this award.

**I think she has less than 200 followers. :)Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

A Sweet Serving...

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Do not conform to what other people think you should do. Ever. Have absolute faith in your instincts, and be quick to make a decision and stick with it. If you are double-minded, you will never get to where you want to be. Be ready to give up your time and energy to others willingly or freely. Get excited about the opportunity, and don’t ever feel like you are owed anything. I have done work for free, overly given of my resources, and went out of my way to help other people find their passion or success. And those are the things that will reward you the most. -Ashlina Kaposta, Interior Decorator & Blogger behind The Decorista
Via The Everygirl

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Trip Update...Back in Washington DC

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I am back in DC, and I'm getting ready to head back to Minneapolis on Saturday. If you ask me how I'm feeling, I would say "Sad." I am not ready to head back home...not yet. However, I need to get back on a routine and mine is pretty much messed up since I got on the plane from Minneapolis to Miami. Work is suffering, and not just work...my body and health are paying a steep price. I am going to bed late, waking up late, not exercising and eating like a pig. I have gained 15 pounds in six weeks...yes 15!

Something has got to give! I miss my friends a lot and a part of me is contemplating another move. I am however ready to settled down and back in my own space. I will be visiting the East Coast again mid May. My brothers are graduating so I should be back soon for a month-ish.

Quite a few changes are coming to JostWrite. I have been saying that for a while, and it should happen soon. This trip got in the way.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. I sure did.
Thank you all for bearing with my shadow. I feel like my shadow has been blogging in the past month, but the real me should be back soon.

Be Well!

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

My Dear Lappy...

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I am feeling all kinds of sad today, because my laptop died on me this morning. After a quick visit to the Apple store, I was told it'll cost an arm and leg to fix.
I'm not happy at all. 

In other good news: My three siblings and I are hanging out all day tomorrow. I love them to pieces and I cannot wait to be together. Did I mention that I love my sister and brothers? I do! :)

I get to meet with a client on Sunday for the first time, and I am super excited. lol

I wish you all a wonderful Easter weekend, and remember Jesus is the only reason for the season.

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

A Recap of March's Intentions

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Please don't glare at me. I was having way too much fun, and most of my March intentions fall asleep. My excuse kinda still warrants a glare and some scolding...go ahead and unleash. :)

I was such a lazy travel bee this month. I got nothing done, but still managed to get some stuff done. I succumbed to the pressure of hanging out too late and waking up too late. I also submitted to Glee's seduction.  Sigh! 

Okay...Okay, here is my month of EPIC LAZINESS thus far...

Sign on two new clients..."Drum-Roll" Get ready for it...I signed on not two new clients, but three. Two out of three are big projects, these are actually my two biggest pays since I started JostWrite. Feeling pretty overwhelmed and challenged, but excited.

Submit first draft on a big project to a client... DONE! I also got back their revisions and edits, and as part of the revision process, I completed an interview with an elementary school principal today. I am moving forward with incorporating my client's edits and new information from today's interview. I pray this project gets completed in April. 

Utilize Craigslist, Elance and Guru...I could have done better so I am not screaming DONE!, but I started and actually landed one of my three above-mentioned client on Elance. I also made one very promising connection. I think I'll make this intention more specific for the month of April like sign on 2 clients from each site. Dunno, something like that.

Gather all portfolio items...I am currently stalking two old clients. Literally stalking! I need to not only get the official documents (thanks to my old laptop for crashing), but I also need permission. ICK!

Finalize Logo...JostWrite's logo is almost ready. I am pleased with my graphic designer's work. She is Da Bomb. We are currently working on quick last minute revisions. Logo should be ready by mid-April. Yippee!

Start on website...I believe she'll start work on this as soon as I make up my mind about a minute detail on the logo. I finally sent back the website questionnaire with answers which means work on the website should commence ASAP.

Work on my novel...The plan was to take 2 weeks off at the start of March to recharge, but more than a month after, I am yet to re-open the manuscript. I will not call this an epic fail, because I'm gathering ideas and jotting down notes on my travel. These would come in handy.

Blog on Kite Runner...My lips are sealed, because i have no excuse for not blogging about this fabulous book.

Start & Finish The Small Print... DONE! I did! I did! I also read and finished Love at Dawn. Maybe, I should blog about all three together. Hmm...something to consider. Short blurps.

Guest Blog...Yeah, I did not smell the possibility of this at all because I did not make any moves. :(

Blog M-W-F...You and I both know how this one went down. I believe I blogged once a week. :(

Spend time with God M-F mornings...I have no words to describe why this intention was kinda asleep this month. I need to STWG to survive and thrive. I have to do better in April

Go to bed latest 11pm S-TH nights...EPIC FAIL. I went to bed at 2am most night. Heck last night which was the 2nd day in April...I went to bed a little after 3am.

Be up latest at 7pm M-F mornings...Who am I kidding?

Tithe...DONE!

Save...DONE!

Give...DONE!

Exercise three times a week...No comment! :(

Enjoy my trip...If nothing else worked out in the month of April, I can at least say this did.

There you have it pals. Epic Fail for the month of March, but I am going to redeem myself in April. Wish me luck as I tackle intentions for April to share in May. I head back to Minneapolis, Mn next week, and I hope to restore my routine. 

PS: If you're paying close attention, you are probably aware that Showcasing and JostStart:Dreamers to DOERS were missing both in the month of March and on my intention list. That had nothing to do with being lazy; I am working on restructuring things around here. I shall be back. I promise,

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!

Trip Update... In Philadelphia, PA

The first time I visited Philly was in August 2010; I had no expectation , but when I stepped off the bus at the 55th N 11th street bus station...I knew this was a different city. Right smack in the middle of China-Town, I was introduce to P-H-I-L-L-Y. I smelt life. I also smelt the decay of the city as it rots day by day. The roads looked like they were in need of love. The building begged for help. I arrived on a rainy day and China-Town smelt like dung. I visited other parts of Philly, but nothing seem to change my mind. Philly is on a different wavelength.

My friend had just started medical school at Temple University, and I was there to support her. We arrived the same day...her from Houston, Texas and I from Washington, DC. We came to the same conclusion...Philadelphia is a city all on its own. She was sure she was not going to like it, but she had four years to make up her mind. Two years after, I have visited her like five times and each visit reinforces my conviction that you will never catch me dead living in Philly. However, I have also developed a love for the city of Philly that keeps me coming back. I'm yet to find the word to describe Philly, but hey, the food is amazing. Parking is terrible though.

I have also made quite a few friends in her program due to my constant bus trips to Philly. My dear friend had her white coat ceremony on Friday, and I found myself cheering to not just her name but the names of seven other people. Hehehe!

I am having mucho fun. I decided to review an African restaurant on Sunday after church, and this restaurant is getting 5 stars plus more. lol. I was satisfied with almost everything from the food, to the customer service and to the decor. I gave the owner a big hug for good food and experience right before we left.

It is Monday, and I need to get back to work reality. My friend has a final exam today, so I will be home alone typing and nursing allergies. :(

PS: That's a pic of my friend and I just before the ceremony commenced. I put a picture up...YAY!

Until, we talk again. Have a wonderful day...week! :)

Beloved, You are Loved Absolutely!