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Lost in Love – How can we save our youth from being dumb in love?

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Why are young people putting more time into finding and maintaining relationships than pursuing personal goals? It wasn’t too long ago that I was the young lady deeply in love with a man that was so vividly not for me. All the signs we’re slapping me in my face, PHYSICALLY. So, why did I stay? I stayed because the relationship with my parents was pretty much nonexistent. My mother was an amazing woman but she wasn’t open to girl talk. My father just wasn’t invested. Ok so that leaves a young girl in the inner city trying to figure who she is, what she likes and where her life is going.

I’ve always been a church girl which if preachers new the things I was doing then, they would have locked the doors. I wasn’t a bad girl; I had bit of an attitude, hated for anyone to tell me anything and hated to be accused of wrong doing. That’s typical teenage behavior.  I started having sex pretty early. I wasn’t looking for love but when it got me, I was way too invested for a 15 year old. Not having anyone to talk to probably didn’t help.

Let’s skip the gritty details. Self evaluation is a great tool. Because I didn’t know my worth, I let some lost young man tell me what I was worth. I let him put a price on my body. I sold myself for way below market value. I don’t completely blame him for his jacked up ways. He didn’t have anyone to tell him how valuable he was either. So you have 2 kids that have no idea what love is controlling each other pretending to be in love. This is happening everyday to our young kids. Lost kids are falling in love with other lost kid, which eventually morphs into a tornado of destruction that often leads to reproduction of the storm. Lost kids, have lost babies and continue the cycle until someone is brave enough to say “I’m better than this, this cycle stops now.”

How did I get out? I had to get away from him –  I decided that school was my best option. I’ve always loved reading books, so college just seemed like a natural transition. I applied to 2 schools. I got in and I was ghost. Letting a dude that had no life aspirations keep me stuck wasn’t an option. Besides that my mother wasn’t having a fast tail girl lying around her house. She made it clear way before graduation I needed to do something with my life. I know this situation sounds familiar to a lot of young ladies. Some still stayed at home trying to hold on to the love of a man that would lead to their demise.

I’m fortunate that I had someone to push me. My mother’s love was tough love; regardless it pushed me in the right direction. My mother had made the same mistakes she saw me making but she decided enough was enough. Although she wasn’t up for the girl talk, she was always up for talk about prosperity. I desperately wanted a better life and she pushed me towards it.

What I did miss is someone telling me why I should focus on my school work and future. Everyone says how important college is but not many people take the time to break down why the college experience is important. College changed my life for the better. We have to push our youth and explain why they need to succeed. We need to let then know that love isn’t going anywhere. 

Having someone to confide in is very important but listening is even more important. People give out million dollar advice everyday but on a small percentage listen and an even smaller percentage pursue the advice. Don’t despise wise words. Those words can alter your path forever, just as sleeping with the wrong individual can tie you to that person forever.

I share my experience with you with the hope that you can learn from my mistakes and realize if you’re jacked up now you don’t have to stay that way. We all have choices. Even if it’s only one small voice that’s telling you that you’re special, hold on to that voice until it becomes the loudest voice in your life.

Love yourself first,

Sincerely,
The Inspiration Educator 

If I Were a Poor Black Kid – Written by a White Guy

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Before you go off about what this white guy has to say, write down all his suggestions for educating yourself. He makes some good points. Enjoy!!!!

Written by – Gene Marks, Contributor
Forbes.com

President Obama gave an excellent speech last week in Kansas about inequality in America.

“This is the defining issue of our time.” He said. “This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and for all those who are fighting to get into the middle class. Because what’s at stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home, secure their retirement.”

He’s right. The spread between rich and poor has gotten wider over the decades. And the opportunities for the 99% have become harder to realize.

The President’s speech got me thinking. My kids are no smarter than similar kids their age from the inner city. My kids have it much easier than their counterparts from West Philadelphia. The world is not fair to those kids mainly because they had the misfortune of being born two miles away into a more difficult part of the world and with a skin color that makes realizing the opportunities that the President spoke about that much harder. This is a fact. In 2011.

I am not a poor black kid. I am a middle aged white guy who comes from a middle class white background. So life was easier for me. But that doesn’t mean that the prospects are impossible for those kids from the inner city. It doesn’t mean that there are no opportunities for them. Or that the 1% control the world and the rest of us have to fight over the scraps left behind. I don’t believe that. I believe that everyone in this country has a chance to succeed. Still. In 2011. Even a poor black kid in West Philadelphia.

It takes brains. It takes hard work. It takes a little luck. And a little help from others. It takes the ability and the know-how to use the resources that are available. Like technology. As a person who sells and has worked with technology all my life I also know this.

If I was a poor black kid I would first and most importantly work to make sure I got the best grades possible. I would make it my #1 priority to be able to read sufficiently. I wouldn’t care if I was a student at the worst public middle school in the worst inner city. Even the worst have their best. And the very best students, even at the worst schools, have more opportunities. Getting good grades is the key to having more options. With good grades you can choose different, better paths. If you do poorly in school, particularly in a lousy school, you’re severely limiting the limited opportunities you have.

Read more here

Words of Wisdom – Dalai Lama

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“We find that if a person lives a very selfish life and is never concerned about the welfare of others, he will have few friends, and people will not take much notice of him. At the time of his death, there will not be many people who will regret his passing. Some deceptive and negative persons may be very powerful and wealthy, and therefore some people- for economic reasons and so forth- might portray themselves as friends, but they will speak against such person behind their back. When these negative person die, these very same “friends” may rejoice at their death.

“On the other hand, many people mourn and regret the death of a person who is

very kind and always altruistic and who works for the benefit of others. We

find that altruism, as well as the person who possesses it, is regarded as the friend of all, and it becomes the object of veneration and respect by others.”– His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from “Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to Stages of Meditation”, published by Snow Lion Publications

Is the World Better Because You’re Here?: Use Your Gifts 4 Good

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I do a lot of reading, listening and talking. I recognize God gave me a gift to uplift people that are in need of motivation but aren’t surrounded with enough positivity to fuel their dreams. We all need a boost, but I need you to understand how important it is to package your gift correctly so it’s effective.

A woman’s beauty is tainted if her attitude is nasty. A man’s business sense is irrelevant if he’s a thief. They both have a gift but it’s being overshadowed by how they’re using it. You must 1st recognize that your gift is divine and wasn’t given to you to flaunt but to better the world.

It’s fine to beware of your gift but be sure you are blessing the world with your divine gift instead making it painfully clear you were unworthy of God’s investment in you.

3 Tips for Articulating Your Dreams & Goals

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Slang is cool in the proper atmosphere, cursing should be limited to the people that know the real you. Speaking as if you have no home training in public is a no no. If you don’t know who you’re in the presence of, I suggest you close your mouth. Your next boss or business partner maybe standing next to you. Would you do business with you ? Would you take yourself seriously? People shouldn’t have to dig deep to get to the real you, that should be evident during the 1st impression. Reality check: If you can’t articulate your views, goals & achievements in Standard English you’ll remain right where you are.

Tip 1 – Be knowledgeable

Know what you’re talking about. Study the industry you one day hope to dominate. When it’s time to talk about why you’re interested in that field of interest there should be no hesitation on bright eyes and a eager heart.

Tip 2 – Think Before you talk

This is an age old saying that has not failed me yet. Think carefully about what you want the person you’re speaking with to know. You may have some great ideas that now everyone needs to know. Be protective of your genius. Learn their background and credentials before you lay out your life plan. Here’s a simple format for expressing your career aspirations – When you started. Where you started and Why you started

Tip 3 Live the Dream

The best way for people to see how serious you are about your aspirations is to live it. Show people that you’re working on perfecting your craft. Rather it is blogging, writing a newsletter to friends and family, networking with like minded people or posting your current projects on social media. People want to see progress not just hear about. Suggestion: Create an online Portfolio of your work. My online portfolio is the Rise2Power Project website. People can see what I’m doing.

Your goals are achievable but you must be able to express yourself to others. There is a time and a place for everything. A College education isn’t needed to attain your goals but self education is a must so people don’t get over on you. Become an expert and no one can lead you astray. You have to be the business person, artist and your own marketing team.

Sincerely,

The Inspiration Educator

Weekend Networking Tips – How to Win Friends and Influence People

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Many of the young people I talk to aren’t aware of the benefits of associating with different groups of professionals to make life long connections. Being “real” or true to your hood doesn’t mean limiting your thinking or your circle of friends.
It isn’t always easy to enter different circles but you can be the light in the room. Be the person people enjoy being around. A pleasing personality is a gateway to meaningful connections.

Fear and rejection is a huge reason why many of us choose not to interact with other groups but that’s not a good reason. This is America a melting pot for success! Don’t let fear keep you from expanding your reach beyond what you’re already accustomed to. We are a part of the information age. Yeah, it sounds lame but we have access to way too much information to feel insecure about holding conversations with people that don’t live or look like us.

My 1st word of advice is be confident that even if you don’t know what you’re talking about you have something to give and gain from meeting new people. Your opinion is important.

Use these simple tips below in any networking environment (which is everywhere) to win connections.
From CIO.com

Dale Carnegie literally wrote the book on networking in 1936. How to Win Friends and Influence People demystified the process of making friends out of strangers and inspired legions of business coaches to carry on Carnegie’s message. Peter Handal, the chairman, CEO and president of Dale Carnegie & Associates, shared some of Carnegie’s rules for meeting new people with CIO.com.

Smile: “This is such a simple, basic rule, yet people just don’t think about it,” says Handal. They’re so focused on needing to network at a conference that they don’t realize they’re walking around with a scowl on their face. Scowling, serious, expressions are forbidding, says Handal. People are more likely to warm up to someone who says good morning with a broad smile than they are to someone with a dour countenance.

Ask a question: Joining a group engaged in conversation can be awkward. The best way to do so is to pose a question to the group after getting the gist of the conversation, says Handal. “You build your credibility by asking a question, and for a shy person, that’s a much easier way to engage than by barging in with an opinion,” he says.

Listen: One of the most profound points Carnegie made in How to Win Friends was that people love to talk about themselves. If you can get people to discuss their experiences and opinions—and listen with sincere interest—you can have a great conversation with someone without having to say much at all.

Business cards: Always have them handy, says Handal. “They’re an effective way for you to leave your name behind so that people remember who you are.”

Say the person’s name: “People like to hear their own name,” says Handal, pointing to another one of Carnegie’s basic principles—that a person’s name is the sweetest sound to that person. So when you meet someone, use his name in conversation. Doing so makes the other person feel more comfortable, like you really know him and he knows you.

—M. Levinson

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The Inspiration Educator

Famine is the Real "F" Word – Watch the Video & Sign the Petition TODAY

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Drought is inevitable, but famine is not. The current crisis in the Horn of Africa is the result of a tragic combination of factors that are man-made, including abnormally high food prices, lack of governance and security in Somalia, and a historic lack of investment in long-term agricultural development in the Horn. Over the past few years, we lost the political will and public support necessary to prevent the famine – and its causes. As a consequence, tens of thousands of children have died.

We have also missed the opportunity to help 200 million people from poor farming families lift themselves out of poverty. Communities in Africa can cope with droughts and natural disasters. But we need donors to put resources toward seeds, irrigation and teaching farmers new growing techniques. We need leaders to invest in early warning systems and national social safety net programs.

Congress can help keep our commitment to farmers in developing countries by fully funding Feed the Future— a life-changing USAID initiative that is investing in long-term agricultural development and could help put an end to famine for good.

Please sign our petition to Congress calling on them to fund this vital program:
http://act.one.org/sign/hungry_no_more_us?referring_akid=.5612255.uBAXq1

Thank you!

http://one.org/us/actnow/fword_splash.html?source=hungry_no_more_ussplash

Inspiration Education 101 – Ambition isn’t reserved for entertainers.

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Lil Wayne and Jay Z aren’t the only people in the world with big dreams. It’s perfectly normal for you to boost your confidence by projecting your future career, scholastic and business plans to the world. Don’t be arrogant but having a positive outlook on your future will inspire those around you. Start on your business plan, even if you have no money. Put a picture of your dream house on your wall, even if you stay in a shelter. List the characteristics of your dream job, even if you’re a freshman in high school. It’s never too early to start planning for your future wins.

Keep pushing and believing in your dreams but remember without hard smart work there will be no reward.

-Rise2Power