A Moment of Realization!

Hi Everyone,

Its been a couple weeks since I've written, but nothing has been forgotten.  I have been going through quite a few changes, personally, physically and in my career.  It has been a long... LONG two weeks, but I am excited to share everything with you.

I moved in with my boyfriend!  :o  I know I'm not the first, I will not be the last independent woman to make that transition, but that doesn't make it any less challenging.  There were quite a few ups and downs before the actual move in date and there are still a few every now and then.  We were both constantly tired, under a lot of stress with the move and work and trying to make sure everything went smoothly.  Lots of fights and miscommunications, but we got through it.  My boyfriend is completely unpacked, and I still have two boxes of clothes and a box for the office that I haven't gotten to yet.  Mostly because I have no idea where to put it all.

The animal (cat and dog) are going through transitions.  Fiona (my little cat) still doesn't like to be around the big bad monster dog (precious boarder collie that just wants to play).  Mola (the collie) keeps eating all of Fiona's food (maybe that's where the aggression is stemming from...) but growls at fiona if she gets too close to her food bowl.

Fiona's potty training is going well.  She is a little bit behind schedule but that's because I didn't want to bump her up to the next level before we moved and now I want to make sure she is on a good routine before we go to stage number two.  My boyfriend keeps telling me that we have all the time in the world, so there is no need to push or pressure her, but I would like to see her move on to phase two.  We have been on phase one since June (3 months) I think probably for the first of September I will move her up. :)

I've been doing a lot of growth in my career.  Trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and I think the answer to the question is a social media consultant and sales leader.  I am trying to actually focus on my own brand.  Spend some time on my own pages and make sure I have everything inline for when the the opportunities come flooding in. :)  ANY ideas suggestions or recommendations are always welcome.

I am so used to doing like 10 different things at once that focusing on just one and trying to make it happen is difficult.  I need to outline a budget for myself and a business plan.  Also, I need to dedicate time everyday for my own postings, musings, videos, editing etc to make sure that when someone googles Amanda Social Media they don't get a crappy social media page. :)  Also I need to get my confidence up and running again and stop being afraid.

I think fear is our biggest inhibitor.  And its not always the traditional fear that people thing about.  Its not being scared of not making it or being scared of the unknown.... it being so deathly afraid that if we do it and do it well and make it and actually succeed, what is going to happen to us.  Will we be able to keep up? What if people don't really like it or you? and How are you going to continue to move forward if you've tapped out everything you have on the first try.

The trick I am learning is to believe in myself.  Not in the stereotypical disney version way, I'm not going to break into song.. but to believe that you can, that you will, and when it gets to that next step and you need to again, you did, and you can and you will. And I keep reminding myself that I'm the one that puts this pressure on me to succeed.  Maybe I don't become the president of my very own multinational consulting conglomerate, but each step on the ladder is another rung closer and something that I should be proud of.  If I don't make it all the way to the top, just by climbing up I've made it farther than most.

So, that's what I'm doing.  I am starting my climb.  I am starting my business and I am starting towards my own personal definition of success.

Thanks for reading.  I will write again this weekend with my continuation of the book.  I just needed to get some of this out of my mind.  Thanks for listening. Let me know what you think in the comments.  Can you relate? Have you gone through this before?  I would love to hear about it.

Dare to Dream -- Part 2

Hey All!

Today I am going to take you with me on the second of three dates with my imagination!  It is entitled "Imagine, if you will..."

To coax a dream out of hiding it indicates that there are 3 steps.

First, put yourself in a comfortable position, close your eyes, relax and complete the sentence "I would like to be.."

• I would like to be someone well known in my industry.  

• I would like to be a speaker that travels around the world and speaks to large groups helping them complete and follow their own dreams.  

• I would like to be someone that other people can count on or look up to.  Someone that helps their friends and family, that gives back to whatever community I live it either long or short term. 

• I would like to be someone that my parents will be proud of.

• I would like to be someone that can delegate responsibility, that is a good leader and can manage multiple projects without getting overwhelmed or stressed out.  

Second, restate these goals in the present tense. "I am..."

• I am someone who will be will known in my industry!

• I will be a speaker that travels and speaks to large groups, helping them complete and follow their own dreams

• I  am someone that other people can count on and look up to.  I am someone that helps their friends and family whenever possible and that gives back to the community no matter if it is my community for the short term or long term, I do what I can to help.

• My parents are proud of me!

• I am someone who can delegate responsibility and I am a good leader.  I manage multiple projects at the same time with good stress management. 

Third, envision a scenario happening that would allow you to get that much closer to your ideal dream. Complete the sentence "I see myself..."

I see myself being my own boss.  Being a leader that helps raise those around me, not put them down.

I see myself living close to a beach.  Being a mentor to kids in foster homes.  Being a positive female role model.  I see myself working a lot, but making it look like I work very little.  Managing my time and making sure I always have time for my family and friends.

I see myself owning my own company.  Having an office that has a great view of the city.

I see myself playing sports, volleyball or baseball, smiling everyday and enjoying all the positive opportunities that life, the universe and love have put in front of me.

I see myself having enough money to be able to travel back home whenever I want to... no matter where I am in the world.

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Maybe it all sees far fetched, especially for someone who is already in their 30's and it seems like is just starting their career, but I think it can happen.  I think there is still time for me to be able to make a difference and an impact in the world.  :)

Thanks for reading and you should try the exercise.  It actually brings up some feelings, longings and desires that you had forgotten that you had. :)  It's never too late or to early to dream!  Again, please follow me and/or leave a comment below if you like this blog.  Come back next week for date #3 with my imagination!  Thanks again and good luck dreaming!

Dare to Dream -- Part 1

HELLO WORLD.

I haven't written in a really long time, two years to be exact, but I found myself in a little bit of a rut and I have decided that I am going to take this blog in a new direction.  This is going to be something much more personal.

Recently I have rediscovered a book that my sister bought for me a few years ago called "You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls". I've included the link in case you would like to find out more about the book and possible challenge yourself to complete parts or all of it yourself.

I am going to take you step by step with me while I start to make changes in my life that I hope will also be enjoyable for others to read.

Basically the book contains a series of "Dare to Dream" type challenges and as you go through completing them you receive merit badges, just like in Girl Scouts.  I was never in Girl Scouts myself, just Brownies... something about my mom not wanting to be a Girl Scout leader, hahaha.  So, lets get down to it.

The first challenge in the book is Dare to Dream.

"Imagine this... Anytime you want you can leave behind the world as you know it and enter the world as you dream it.  Follow your imagination all the way up to the podium to accept your Nobel Peace Prize, or onstage to take a bow with Baryshnikov.  You allow yourself to think bigger than life, becuse even the most fantastic dreams have something to tell us about who we are-- and who we may yet become.  When you finally let those deep-down dreams bubble up, your spirit soars, and everyone around you is uplifted by your example...." That is basically the first paragraph in the chapter.  It challenges you to make 3 play dates with your imagination, answer a few jumpstarting questions and visualize your dreams in reality so that you can watch them come true.  This morning I was starting to answer the first few questions.  I was about a page and a half in my notebook in when I realized that I type way faster (and with better spelling) then when I write by hand, and that's what brings me here.  Ok, lets get started!

• What have been the proudest moments of your life? 

The proudest moments of my life have been when I moved on my own to Miami.  Also, when I received the Ambassadorial Scholarship from Rotary International, and the fact that I am still living/working in Mexico.  I have a lot of things that are on my proud moments list which I still have yet to accomplish, such as

1. Become financially independent/free
2. Get my Master's Degree Title
3. Own my own company
4. Land my first consulting client
5. Consider myself a successful entrepreneur 

Despite these 5 things, I am still very proud of the fact that everything I am currently doing, and the direction that my life is going in is towards making all of these things possible.  I am proud of the fact that I never settled or got stuck in a job or town because it was confortable.  I may not make a lot of money at this point, but I am 100% the owner of my time.  Yes, I have bosses and managers, but I have created a work environment for myself that is exactly how I like it.  I don't have to report to an office. As some of my friends in Miami know, getting up on time and getting to the office was one of the most challenging parts of my day! hahaha  I am able to schedule my own appointments and manage my own calendar.  I know the consequences of not getting the necessary work done during the day and decide for myself where I work, when I work and how long I work.  Sometimes the results of those decisions are that I work from 9am until 9pm, and sometimes I am able to have lunch with friends or have a beer at my desk on a super hot Friday afternoon.

But all in all, I am very proud of the fact that I am living independently in Mexico, working towards goals that are my own and will eventually cause me to have the life I want instead of working to make someone else money/success.  

• What would you do if you won the lottery and money were no object? 

If I won the lottery... hmm.. well I am assuming that since money were no object the sum was quite large. First I would put at least 50% of it into investments in order to secure that the money was going to continue to be around for quite a long time.  

Next I would pay off all existing credit card debt, which isn't much, but it would be nice to have it off my back.  

And finally I would take about 10,000 dollars for me to spend on whatever I damn well please!  Remember, we said this was a lot of money so 50,000 would be like pocket change.  I would use that money to plan a vacation for myself (and my boyfriend) in Europe.  I want to go to Italy, Germany, England and Spain.  I would also buy a couple tickets to Asia and the Philippines because heck, I'm already on that side of the world.  I would also buy new clothes.  Lots of new clothes!  Some really nice bottles of champagne just for the heck of it and I would get surfing lessons.  Once my play money was gone, I would get back to normal life working and continuing to grow professionally (and I would be able to check off that proud moment above of being financially free)! 

• What did you daydream about as a kid?

When I was little, I wanted to be a lot of things.  I was never one of those kids that knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. and then became that.  I still don't think I know exactly what I want to be when I grow up but at least now I'm a little bit closer. :)  

I always wanted to be an actress.  I loved performing, speaking, playing sports and doing all those things were I was in the spotlight.  I know it probably sounds very egotistical, but I liked completing and doing things where people were watching me.  I think somewhere along the lines I lost that spark.  When I was in highschool I always wanted to be the center of attention, and I had the confidence to do that, but as I grew up I started losing that confidence, doubting myself and standing in the background more and more!  I am hoping that to try to get that back.  

I have my first speaking engagement, in a long time, coming up in August.  Maybe, hopefully, that will be the start of me getting back in front of the crowd and not being intimidated anymore!  

I have been writing for about an hour now and that is how long I had planned for this first "date with my imagination".  

Thanks to whoever is reading this.  Please feel free to write comments, I will check and answer them and I am hoping to make this a weekly ritual, so please come back next week to read what date number 2 brings up!  Thanks again and good luck dreaming!