Vision Board or Craft Project?

As 2014 approaches are you creating a vision board or developing resolutions for the New Year? I am asking this because I have been reading posts, tweets and text messages about how people are excited to put 2013 in their rear view mirror and begin to look ahead at all 2014 has to offer. It made me wonder for the people who did create a vision board or developed resolutions this year have they looked back at it? Did any of the goals they wanted to accomplish manifest?  My vision board is an accomplishment board, because many of the things that I envisioned, have come to realization. 

I believe that creating a vision board is only the first step in making your dreams a reality.  I know many of you get together with friends, family and other new year resolution hopefuls at vision board parties to change the fate on they upcoming year.  These parties are tons of fun, because everyone is in great spirits eating, drinking and inspiring each other as they design boards that highlight their hopes and dreams.  The problem with most of these boards is that they are not the end of your vision but the beginning and without action these boards are just a craft project.  A collage that gathers dust after the excitement wears off.  I discussed the success of my vision board with one of my accountability partners and I came up with 5 D’s to make a cool craft project into successful vision board...

1. Design a Vision Board  - Create a vision board that showcases your goals for the upcoming year (this does not have to be January 1, you can do this at any time of the year). This board can be developed with magazine cut outs, hand written thoughts or anything your want to put on the board.  Make sure your board highlights your vision and not what others may want for you.
2. Display the Board - Your goals and dreams need to be in front of you every day.  If you travel a lot for business like I do, take a picture of the board and carry it with you, so you are constantly reminded what you are working towards. You can even make your vision board your screen saver, so that you see it everyday.
3. Devise a Plan/ Timeline - Develop a plan to help make your vision board become an accomplishment board.  A timeline with specific dates will keep you on track of making your visions come to fruition.
4. Designate an Accountability Partner  - Find someone to hold you accountable for your plans and goals.  This person must know your plans, have seen your board and will hold you liable if you veer from the plans.  You do not need a yes partner (someone that will let you slide when life gets tough), you need someone that will push you when you are ready to give up and remind you of everything you want to accomplish.
5. Decide to Act – There is not point in creating a vision board, developing a plan, asking someone to hold you accountable if you are not actively pursing your goals.   
6. 

I know many people believe that by creating a vision board you are putting in the atmosphere the things that you want to accomplish and the universe (or as I believe - GOD) will help you attain them.  However, I believe that creating a vision board is the first step and when you act on the things that you want, God will help you bring your dream/vision to reality.  It is like exercise…In order to lose weight or have a tone body you have to exercise, believing you will have the body you want will not make it happen.

Start the New Year off right by following the 5 D’s which will make your vision board come to Life faster.   You and your accountability partner will be excited to look at you board at the end of next year and see all of the things that you have accomplished.

God Bless

A. Mayartis J

Branding Babies for Success

Is it wrong for parents to start preparing their kids for success before they can talk, walk or decide what they want to do in life? This question popped into my head, when I started thinking about the process of developing a personal brand for student athletes. If we can begin branding high school students we certainly can brand junior high students and even younger.  Think about it, if you develop a personal brand for each of your children, it will give them an advantage over their peers, IF, it is done the right way.  I definitely want my children to have as many advantages as possible and if creating a brand for them will help them to be the best they can be in life and in their chosen profession…. Then let the kiddie branding begin.

But what exactly is baby branding and how do you get started? 

I recall watching a Will and Jada Smith interview on Oprah several years ago when they were discussing their family business plan and I thought to myself… that is ingenious.  What better way to get your family started on the right track, then to write your family’s goals down and then create a family (business) plan.  This does a few things… It starts an incredibly important discussion on what each of you (meaning the parents) wants for your individual and family’s future.  It ensures that both of you are starting out on the same page as it pertains to your future.  As you continue to update your plan(s) it gives develops important checks and balances that show that you are both still a cohesive unit moving in the same direction.  Obviously your family plan will evolve when your first bundle of joy arrives.  Your current plan(s) could drastically change depending on your off springs talents, health, personality and so on… but as the children grow you can determine what their plans are as a family.  I am an advocate for setting up a great foundation for the future, but please allow your kids to enjoy their childhood, remember they only get one.  The brand you create for your child must be organic and specifically for them.

There are several things you can do to start branding your child before they can even walk and none of them have anything to do with putting up cute sometimes embarrassing pictures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any the other social media sites. I understand that the social media sites are a place to share photos with family and friends that do not live close, but please remember that things entered on the internet are there FOREVER. So that cute photo that you have up now may not be so cute when he/she is running for president.  Secondly remember that photos can be taken off of your sites and used for others personal use…Please protect your children.

Baby Branding tips

1. MyBabysname.com: When a child is born one thing that you can do is reserve their domain name, so if they need it when they get older you already have it for them.  Some experts say check the domain name before naming your child.  I disagree… Name your child and then find a domain name that works, because your child’s name should have some emotional value to you.  You can also create Facebook, Twitter or any other social media sites, however the social media landscape changes so fast that those sites, may not be valid when your child is able to use them

2. Genius Boot camp – Children begin to show their personalities, talents and traits at a young age, so your job as parents is to discover and then nurture these abilities and provide avenues for them to continue to expand.   Remember it is not for you to live your dreams through them… It is time for them to live their dreams.

***Although some children may show their talents early, other children may not exhibit their talents until later in life.  Do not push them to decide.  Continue to introduce them to new things, activities, and let them enjoy their childhood.

3. Website Brag Page: Instead of flooding social media sites with pictures, why not design a website that will allow you to share their talents with the world.  A site that will continue to evolve as the child grows and their desires change.  Developing a site together would be a great way to work with your child on maintaining a positive online image.

4. Plan-it – After you have determined what their goals are help them to develop a personal plan to make them happen.  Incorporate your child’s plan into your families business plan.  Revise the plan often to accommodate the changes that constantly happen in your lives

5. Have Fun – It is great to have a plan, but it is extremely important to enjoy every moment that you have with your child, because it goes so fast.

God Bless

A. Mayartis J.