On December 31st 2017, I did something insane. After going back and forth on when I should start my blog, I hit publish and let my post hit the internet. Here I am three months later and wow what I ride these three months have been!

While I started nervous and scared (and sometimes still am), I can say it was the best decision I have ever made. Blogging to me is more than just typing words week after week. Its more than just sharing information. To me blogging is an opportunity to make an impact, a chance to help people all around the world. 

No matter who you are or where you come from, you too have the opportunity to impact someone. While it may seem scary and unknown, today I dare you to get out there are share with the world. It doesn't have to be fancy, it doesn't have to be perfect. Effort, dedication and consistency are the only three things you need to start, and I guarantee you, everything else will fall into place.

In honor of my first three months of blogging, today I want to share 3 lessons I've learned in my first three months of blogging.

Planning is key in blogging! When you do not have a plan you will find yourself scrambling and putting out mediocre content. One thing I have learned is to plan my content weeks ahead of time. Right now it is the end of March and I have already planned a tentative schedule for every week until the end of quarter 2.

Blogging is so much more than just typing content, especially if you want quality content. You must take time to research blog content, to determine SEO strategies and to type and edit your blog. 

When I first created my blog, I will admit I didn't have much of a plan, but as I've produced content over the last three months while working a full time job, I have learned the importance of planning. I have learned the importance in productively managing my time. Planning out the time that I am not at my 9-5 and effectively using that time to work on my blog has helped me to blog effectively and consistently!
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Secondly, I've learned that creating balance is vital. It is so easy to get so caught up pouring into everyone else that you forget to pour into yourself.

I've learned that serving your audience is important but you have to take time to unplug and serve yourself.

While I love to blog, blogging isn't my life. Personal time is now a priority to me!! 

Creating balance to me is taking time to connect with my hubby, taking time to relax and have me time. When I first started blogging I would come home after working an 8 hour day and get straight to working. Lately, I have learned to take about 1 hour to unwind, even if it means I have less time to work on content.

Its better to do one thing well than to do it from a place of empty. I have learned first hand that you can quickly get burned out when you don't take the time to connect with yourself on a personal level. Creating balance is necessary!
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Finally, I've learned the importance of not focusing on the numbers! Wow this is a big one! When I started this blog, I slowly started looking into more and more ways to get my posts in front of people. While this is important to me I have realized it is not about numbers to me.

I created a Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. And guess what, I deleted them all! Well not Pinterest because I mean inspiration right!!?? Haha! Instead of focusing on chasing after an audience, I have learned the importance in effectively producing content.

No matter who you are trying to reach or what you are trying to put out, it should never be about the numbers!

Learn that if you only reach one person and reach them well, that is enough. Not focusing on the numbers have provided me clarity in my mind allowing me to focus on my content. 

I know in due time the people will come, and all I have to do is keep showing up, and you do too!!

​Well there you have it, the three things that I have learned in my first three months of blogging. If you are a blogger, whats the biggest lesson you have learned during your blogging journey and how has it impacted you?

Until next time,

Tamika

As the second quarter of 2018 quickly approaches, you, like many of others, may realize that many of the goals you set at the beginning of the year have already failed!

Yeah you wanted to lose that 5 pounds, grow your social media following or even start that business! As you reflect on you Q1 goals, you quickly realize that you have not completed any of them! 

While we know that everyone falls below the mark at sometimes or another, it is easy to allow failures to define our plans moving forward. Allowing discouragement to defeat us, it is easy to find begin questioning if this dream you are chasing down, is nothing short of a false reality.

While it is easy to allow the discouragement bug win, I am here to remind you that you that your setbacks do not have to define you. Do not let your setbacks now to ruin your future later. 

How you started the year doesn't have to define how you continue the year. I have created a guide to help you reflect on your Q1 and being planning your Q2! 

​So lets get to planning so that together we can knock out this Q2! **PDF download available at the end of post!

In order to best prepare for your second quarter you must start by reviewing your first. Page 1 of this guide will walk you through how to review and examine your Q1!

Start by reviewing and writing out the goals you set for Q1. When reviewing your goals consider:

• Q1 Wins
• Q2 Losses

Place a check mark next to the goals that went well, and an x next to the goals that did not.

When considering your wins and losses be sure to evaluate:

• What helped you in achieving your goals.
• What limited you in achieving goals.
• Anything that caused setbacks.
• How you could have improved.

Also be sure to list any big projects/goals that you had in quarter one separately. Did you reach your goals? Why or why not?

When you understand the WHY behind things, it helps you to evaluate ways to improve in the future.

Finally, examine your Q1 feelings. Consider the time you spent, as well as the attention and energy you gave towards reaching your goals. How did this make you feel?

On the second page, you want to set a plan for Q2! Start by listing your goals. Consider what you want to accomplish in Q2, i encouraged you to use what you didn't reach in Q1 to help you build that plan.

If there are any Q1 goals that you did not reach or did not meet completely, consider building off of those goals. Only consider this if those goals are as asset to your overall business/life goals.

Instead of trying to reach more goals in a short period of time, you want to focus on reaching less goals but reaching them well! Remember that reaching your goals is not about how fast you can reach them, but it is about how effectively you can reach them!

List 1-3 BIG goals or projects that you want to reach by the end of Q2. Consider your bigger goals, I am talking about things that actually scare you and/or push your forward.  Working towards those goals each and every day is key.

And finally, consider your feelings when you set your goals. Allow your feelings to push you forward and not move you backwards!

Here on the last two pages, is planning out your Q2. In order for you to start scheduling the time that you are working on your goals and/or business, you must start by examining the time you have available.

Here you want to evaluate your schedule over the next three months. Be sure to list any prior arrangements such as scheduled appointments, leisure time and/or travel.

You can also use this space to get an idea of your free time during your weeks, and begin setting mini deadlines! So if you know you work a 9-5, Monday-Friday, make sure to list an estimate of the time that you have available on evenings and weekends! 

Understanding the time you have available is key to planning out the completion of your goals.

I hope this guide can help you as much as it has helped me. Remember that you can download this for free below.

Let me know how this guide works for you! I look forward to hearing from you.

​Tamika

For your free PDF download of this planner click below!

One thing about being productive is people think that it can just come naturally. Its crazy how we think being in the right headspace is enough to effectively knock out any task set before us. Well I am here to say that is not true!! Being productive requires so much more, such as focus, motivation and dedication. It is something that we have to INTENTIONALLY work at.

Join me today as I share the final 2 reasons your busyness is killing your productivity.

Distractions often get the best of us, and more times than not we are distracted without even realizing it. Most of us are aware of our obvious distractions but refuse to limit them. Why sit in front of a TV if you know you will be tempted to turn it on while you work? If your anything like me, if your working and watching TV eventually the TV wins and your work is pushed to the side. So how do we limit these distractions without feeling completely neglected?

Set breaks!

While your working, treat it like a job, allow scheduled breaks to check the things that you want to check and to socialize. Yes your in control here but you have to create an environment of structure. Too often while we are working we have our email and social networks open and not to mention our cell phones are buzzing left and right.

You have to be intentional about your time working on your goals, SO you have to intentionally limit distractions! This might hurt when I say it but NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE truly cares as much about your goals as you do! At the end of the day, social media, and your friends are doing what they need to do to move their lives forward, so do what you need to do to move yours forward!
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Setting a routine is often overlooked but it is vital. Do not underestimate the need to have a plan. I can't tell you the number of times that I woke up early to work on my business but because I didn't have a plan I got nothing done. Setting a routine not only helps you but it helps those around you to know what times you are doing what.

I know that some of us have 9-5s and its hard to have a set routine, but if you can, I encourage you to make the most of the time you have by getting a routine. Whether it is day or night, make the time and space needed to work on your business. Make a designated work space that gets you excited about working. Set office hours so people know when they can and when they can not interrupt you. Plan your day from start to finish, and do whatever routine works best for you.

No matter what routine you set, I am a believer that how you start your day sets the tone for your day. Be intentional about how you start your day, and how best to achieve your goals.

Remember, no one is responsible for reaching YOUR goals but YOU. Be intentional on your part and know that in due time the results will come.

Lets chat: What are things limiting you from being productive?

Until next time

Tamika

PS Check out part one HERE!

"Wow I've been so busy today"

I remember uttering these words after spending yet another day in front of my computer thinking of ways to start my blog. I was so excited to start my journey as a blogger. After days of "working on my blog" I finally sat down to examine what I actually got done, and boy was I surprised. Why?

I didn't do anything! I quickly realized, although I spent hours on the computer being busy, nothing that I did was actually productive. I spent most of my time jumping from site to site, trying to figure out what I should do. I had no clear plan, no clear goal. I was simply busy for the sake of being busy!

In that moment I realized that, yes it is possible to be busy, but there is a difference between being busy and being productive. You can be so busy doing SO many things, but you never get ONE thing done well. I have learned that its better to do one thing well than 10 things half way. The lessons learned from this time were valuable, and once I examined and fixed them, I was able to get my blog up and running as is today.

​Join me as I cover the reasons why you are busy but not productive.
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How can you possibly focus on something when you don't have a clear goal? Having a clear goal is the number one way to clearly plan your strategy. If you are not clear on what you are doing or why you are doing it, there is no way to measure whether or not you are making strides towards achievement. When you have clarity on your goal productivity comes naturally.  

Once you have a set goal, make sure you are measuring whether or not you have worked toward that goal. At the end of each day ask yourself these 3 questions:
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• What have I done to move toward achieving my goal?
• What have I done that limited me reaching my goal?
• How can I make a change for tomorrow?

The only person that can manage your progress is you, and if you want to be productive you have to start with being honest. Don't cheat yourself out of reaching your goals, rather get clear and focus so that you can move forward.
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Its more important to do one thing well that to do a million things part way.

Prioritizing is vital in achieving any goal. You make think that everything is important but trust me, if everything doesn't get done the world WILL NOT end. Stop trying to do everything at once, instead rank everything on area of priority.

Your priority should be things that move your goal forward. Creating content for your audience is more important that keeping up with web design! Is web design important? Yes! But the truth is you can have the flyest website and the most disorganized content. Focus on the things that are going to keep your audience interested, and that is perfecting what you have to offer!

When prioritizing consider the following:

• What needs done right now, or in the immediate future?
• What is important but can wait until the immediate tasks are complete?
• What is not important and can wait?

Once you understand this, work on 1-3 of those tasks a day. If one of your tasks takes up a lot of brain power, then just focus on that 1, OR allow your other 2 to be more simple tasks (not important and can wait). Prioritize and focus on your most important tasks first, and focus on the smaller tasks later.
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Remember: Its not about how much you can get done, but about what you can get done well. 

​Stay tuned for part 2,

**Part 2 is now up! Click HERE to check it out!!

Tamika

If there is one area that we all seem to struggle with, its the area of focus. I mean, how could your possibly stay focused in a world full of distractions? We have TVs, smartphones, TVs in our smart phones. I mean everything is calling us right now, and everything seems more interesting than what we are doing. Well I am here to tell you today, there is one thing that will take you further than any void a distraction can fill, and that thing is FOCUS.

Focusing, doesn't sound attractive right? It sounds BORING! I mean why focus when I could be doing something more fun or interesting? Well this isn't going to fluff your feathers, but learning to focus and say no to distractions is what is going to produce results in your life and/or business. Steve Jobs said it best: "Focus is about saying no". WHAT???

​Yes! If you want to succeed in your goals and dreams it starts in the small stages of saying no. Do you think that Apple gained its success by Jobs saying YES to everything, NO! Learning to say no to things, even if they sounded like great ideas, is what allowed Jobs to say YES to the things that helped build Apple into the success it is today.

Too many YESSES leads to overcommitment, wasted time & poor results! 

​Often times, when we are saying yes to things, its things that we dread and do not want to do.  We are over committing to things out of our core of being people pleasers. When we let our inner "people pleaser" lead us, we end up only hurting ourselves. The truth is when you say yes to something you don't really want to do, you are saying no to something that you do want to do! When we overcommit to people and things, we begin to snatch away the valuable time that we have, and as a result our goals suffer. 

"If you short-change your priorities for those of others, you might sacrifice the very benefits you were seeking as an entrepreneur in the first place" -Adelaide Lancaster, The Muse

No matter how it may look or feel, I am here to tell you that no one cares about your goals like you do. Although it may seem like something small, when you give into distraction you are only pulling away from YOUR GOAL, no one else's. You open the door for procrastination. Yes it might just be one night out with friends, but now your tired, unfocused and you're scrambling to rearrange meeting your deadline. One small distraction can lead to major setbacks in reaching your goals.

I know we have been taught to put others first, but I am here to say you need to place yourself and your goals first. Reaching goals starts in saying no. 

When you learn to say no in the small distractions, you learn to say YES to the big things. Your goals are the big things! 

As Steve Jobs said, its about FOCUS. Good results are a product of good focus! Focus on getting your goal done, and getting it done WELL. Whatever is distracting or threatening your focus, SHUT IT DOWN! It doesn't matter if its a person or thing, or even YOURSELF! Remember that saying no to others, is saying YES to you! Can we be YES (to self) people today?

Lets chat! What is the biggest thing limiting you from reaching your goals?

You can do it guys! Here's to focusing more starting today!

Tamika