career 

Let’s discuss why you should push to be in rooms you don't belong to! 

Sounds controversial, right? I know. But I’m referring to things you have convinced yourself you are too good for you…

Opportunities you believe are out of your grasp and therefore won’t even try to get…

And networking possibilities can help you develop connections with the right people even though you may feel like you don’t belong…

Let’s imagine you wake up craving chocolate cake. You have three options for how to get it: the hard way, the medium way, and the easy way.

You roll over in bed, pull your phone and ask Google to help you find a recipe for the most delicious chocolate cake on earth. In seconds, your eyes are scrolling over the screen with your mouth salivating at the thought.

Google gives you are recipe, but you realize that you will also need to buy an oven and a baking pan to bake the cake, apart from the ingredients, none of which is available in your lifeless pantry.

You drag yourself to the store, pick up the ingredients, and a small oven. You can go home and manually mix the cake.

Hours later, you sit down, ready to bite into the moistest chocolate cake you have ever seen.

That option required too much work and time. You needed to have the patience to craft a perfect cake manually. You doubted your ability to pull it off all along the way, but you still did it. 

But you have never doubted your ability to take pictures. Taking pictures is your superpower. Photography has been your bread and butter for many years, so you take pictures, sell them, and use that money to walk over to Sugar Fix and buy the most perfect chocolate cake you could ever have.

Or you go to work. It's Mel's birthday. Walking into the room, you hear that famous birthday tune. You immediately realize today is the day she turns 34. 

You join in the celebrations. You indulge in the most delicious chocolate cake when they cut the cake. Even though the idea of chocolate cake hadn’t even crossed your mind. 

Although I'm not saying that working and learning to do something is wrong, I recognize that it is the most challenging way to do it.

In life and business, sometimes the room or the mind you find yourself in can give you a more significant advantage than the work you put in.

This is why it's important to stop yourself when you begin to doubt how good you are. It would be best if you always pushed yourself to take advantage of opportunities that allow you to be in new places and connect with new people.

You must also be willing to share what you do. Share how you helped others. And listen to what others do too.

As you open your mind to people and ideas, unexpected opportunities begin. So…

If you are scared to share your artwork with artists much more qualified and experienced than you, do it anyway.

If you are worried about emailing that more significant business or submitting that bid because your business is small, press send anyway.

If you are scared to pick up the phone and reach out to someone, dial that number anyway.

You can get yourself in that room and remember to be memorable when you do.

Share your ideas, and create experiences that live in the minds of others.

Listen to others, ask questions, and become a part of what is happening. Accomplish this often and do it passionately. The rooms and minds you enter will open up opportunities you never saw coming.

Stop doubting yourself. Put yourself out there. And watch how the universe rewards your courage.

The Challenge
Is there something you should do for your business but have yet to talk yourself out of? I would like to challenge you to get it done this week. Leap. Share, connect, and believe in yourself. 

The Hard, Medium and Easy Way to Get Things Done

I read a book a few years ago that reminded me to enjoy the process. It reminded me to be present and enjoy the small things I can do to move toward the life I envision.

And I have been mindful of it over these past few years. But today, as I sit down and write, I write to you, seeing that I have lost that.

And in hopes of reminding myself about it, I am sharing this with you.

See, most of us learn to set goals. Most of us know how to write down our goals, break them into bite-sized pieces, and make the sacrifices to get us from point A to point B.

Yet, amid the pursuit, we get lost. We lose our way because we only focus on the big goal in the future.

We lose our appreciation for the small wins we have. We lose the gratitude for the everyday "mundane" things that were once a dream.

These little things we get to do become a responsibility, and we often forget the days when we longed to be able to do them.

We used to wish someone would see the value in our products. We hoped for customers who longed to buy what we created. Yet, today, we find ourselves blinded by the work and responsibility of delivering to our customers. We forget to be grateful for this part of the dream that we already have.

We feel the drag of promoting our business and forget about the days when even having a 'business' to talk about was just a dream.

In the pursuit of our bigger goals, we suck the fun and gratitude out of the things that were once a dream. We forget all the hard work it took to get here. We begin to take these little things for granted.

We do this not just in our business. It happens in relationships, family, careers, and everything else we do. See, our brains are wired to look for danger constantly.

We are constantly looking for where to put up defenses or attack next.

Our brains put the things we already worked hard to achieve on the back burner: That girl you once dreamed about taking to dinner. That one business partnership you dreamed of having. That weight you hoped to be.

Once you have it, your brain puts it in the back. Proirotiy, focus, and gratitude run in search of other things. This is why you need to challenge your brain.

You must learn to focus on being grateful for the things that were once dreams.

So, what have you been taking for granted? What was something you once dreamed about, something you have now but take for granted?

When Did You Start Taking It For Granted?

Time is the only currency that is equal to all of us. We all have 24 hours in one day, and it doesn't matter how much money you have or don't have; you can't buy more.

So, how is it that some people seem to have more? What differentiates a highly successful person from one who isn't?

That answer is simple- The things they choose to invest their time on.

While the things you invest time on will differ for everyone depending on their goals, what is the same are the things you can decide to stop wasting time on.

Here are three things I decided to stop wasting time on. They not only changed my life, they made me unstoppable.


Sometimes, you want to be accepted, so you morph into a new person. You tire yourself out, placing your self-worth into the hands of others, all in the name of approval.

By giving away control of your value, you enter a game you can never win. In the process of seeking approval, you lose the thing that made you different. You give up your uniqueness, the things that made you, you.

Instead, don't be afraid to stand out. Carve your path. Embrace your validation, and prove that you are who you claim to be.

Regain your confidence and self-belief by taking it into your own hands. Define your self-worth, and stop seeking the approval that someone could take away in seconds.

Worrying about things outside of your control


Is worrying your drug of choice? It is for most people around me. Do you constantly worry about how people would react, what would happen if you did or didn't do something, and everything else under the sun?

Do you lose sleep thinking up scenarios, only for it to affect your performance the next day?

You need to learn that worrying never changes the outcome. Only action does.

And only some actions are within your control. If you do your best to address these, you can let go and let everything else fall into place.

Letting go of this habit is not easy; you need to talk to yourself. Remind yourself of what is in your control. And stop letting worry rob you of your present moment.

This mindset shift frees up space in your mind and allows you to navigate through the uncertainties of life gracefully.


If your best friend came to you and started calling themselves stupid, an idiot, or foolish, you would immediately try to correct them.

Yet, in your head, you constantly talk to yourself this way. When you set out to do something, and it doesn't go according to plan, you judge yourself the hardest.

Your negative self-talk is a silent conversation with yourself that destroys your confidence and kills your dreams.

You say all these negative things that break down your belief in yourself.

To break free of this habit, you must constantly adopt a language of empowerment, love, and belief in yourself. It isn't about just walking around thinking positively but creating a space where you can constructively criticize, accept mistakes, and love yourself through them.

The next you notice the negative self-talk starting, stop yourself, imagine that you were speaking to your best friend, and then start the conversation over.

The challenge
Take some time to reflect this week. Are you engaging in any of these habits? If you are, acknowledge that you are, then devise a plan to stop it.

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Stop Wasting Your Time on These Things

Someone asked me about planning for retirement recently, and it got me thinking. Yes, you can be proactive.

You can go to an insurance agency and buy a package early in life.
Or you can start setting money aside and making investments in preparation for the golden years.

But before you do all that, you must decide and understand what you want retirement to look like.
It's important to know where you want to go to better plan how to get there.
Remember, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, so figuring out your situation before purchasing a package is vital.

You don't want to be sitting on your deathbed, regretting your choices because of failure to plan.

Here are some simple things you should consider before choosing a retirement package.

At what age would you like to retire? 30? 50? 60? 70?

How long do you expect to live based on your lifestyle and the morality rate of people around you?

Be honest with yourself. Are you living a healthy life now? Do you have a chronic disease? Do you take care of your body?

These factors also play a significant role in determining life expectancy, so don't take them lightly.

Let's say you hope to retire at 60 and decide to live into your 90s, so it looks like you will be retired for 30 years.

This assumption means you must have 30 years of expenses in your retirement plan or assets that can sustain you.


What quality of life do you expect to have in your retirement years? Do you wish to be able to lie on a hammock reading a book on your verandah?

Or do you see yourself going on exciting adventures around the world?
The price tag for both is very different. Be honest and as specific as possible.

Do you own your home, or are you renting?

How much money will you need to sustain the lifestyle for a month? A year? The 30 years you plan on being alive?

Now that you are clear on the sum, account for inflation.

Remember that $100 today will buy you more than $100 in the future.

After these steps, You should better understand the money you will need to live during retirement.


Do you already qualify for a retirement plan with the company you are working with? How much of your future expenses do you imagine that covers?

If you are sure about the sum you will receive, reduce it from future expenses.

You should have a clearer picture of the money you need to sustain the quality of life you wish to have during your retirement years.

Now that you know where you are going, finding the right approach should be a breeze.

Based on your current and planned retirement age, working with an agent to determine which plan is right for you should be more accessible than before.

Remember that there may be some hiccups along the way, but by creating a plan, you can be more confident when life throws you a curve ball.

The challenge
This week, take some time to brainstorm and understand what retirement looks like to you.

Making a plan is the first step in taking control of your later years. Don't just let it knock on your door and find you unprepared.

How Much Thought Have You Put Into Retirement?

Since we were young, we sought "yes." Getting and giving a yes response always seemed like the better option. The word no brought along with it negative connotations and feelings of rejection.

But as you mature and grow into your entrepreneur role, there are many ways that constantly saying yes can impact your business's growth.

Therefore, building that "no" muscle is essential to growing your business.


Everyone says that becoming an entrepreneur requires sacrifice and dedication.

I'm not going to disagree with them because I have learned that becoming an entrepreneur does come with tradeoffs, but it doesn't mean life has to be bland.

It doesn't mean you have to say no to the things that are important and valuable to you. On the contrary, when you define what's meaningful to you, it becomes easier to say no to the things that aren't.

Then the people around you begin to see your values, not just because of what you say they are. But more importantly, because of the things you say no to. The things that you are no longer identified by.

When I became serious about being an entrepreneur, I realized alcohol would be a problem. It messed up my sleep and affected my productivity. I decided one day, about four years ago, to give it up for good. And I haven't even been tempted with a sip ever since.

My friends all know me as the girl who will hang with them for a bit but will not dare to take a drink. I have fun, dance, eat, and leave with enough good memories and energy to continue my entrepreneurial journey the next day.


The more successful you are in business, the more opportunities come your way. As an entrepreneur, you are responsible for making the tough decisions for your business.

Do you need to meet with every client? Do you have time to fulfill another order? Can you increase the marketing budget without increasing the need to hire someone else? Is this client a good long-term fit for your business?

You become exposed to more questions and opportunities every day. If you default to saying yes at every turn, it could seriously jeopardize the success of your business. Some options may be better than others. And while you have no way of knowing the future, you should develop techniques to test them and make more long-term decisions.


as a young business owner, you want to open the door and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to ensure your business's success. It can be scary to say no to an opportunity that may seem like a good fit for your business. However, you must be intentional with what you say yes and no to.

When you are intentional with the things you say no to, it establishes a clear competitive advantage. Saying no to things that don't align with your mission and vision for the business helps keep you and your team focused.

Try to be as intentional as you can with who you employ, serve, and partner with. You can only engage some people that apply to work with you. You can only partner with some who reach out seeking a partnership. You can only serve some customers. Define who you can say yes to, then use the metrics to evaluate them and say no to the rest.

Remember that what you choose to say yes and no to will contribute significantly to your success or failure.

Rewire what you have believed all your life, and remove the negative associations with the word no.

Recognize that you will have to say no to a lot of things. But the power to say no, remain focused and uphold your boundaries is a skill that only some of the most successful business owners have developed.

The Challenge
Evaluate your associations with the word no. If they are negative, remind yourself of the benefits and power of this tiny word. And begin to be more conscious about using it in the right situations.

The Power of Saying "No" as a Small Business Owner

Time is the most valuable currency you have. How you spend it today is a good predictor of your life in a few years.

Are you spending it on things that bring you happiness and a quick dopamine hit in the short term, or are you using it to build your desired future?

I recently stumbled across an article that made me sit back and evaluate the activities that I choose to engage in.

It presented the concept of time spent vs. time invested.

After reading it, I had to take a long, hard look at the activities I chose to spend time on.

Today, whenever I agree to do something, I evaluate it using the same criteria. Some may say I'm a little extreme about productivity, so you don't have to take it as seriously as me.

But do take some time to try this week's challenge.


Time spent are activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment in the short term. Although they make you feel great today, they don't contribute toward your bigger life goals.

These include binge-watching a show or spending hours mindlessly scrolling through social media.

There is nothing wrong with doing these activities; as a matter of fact, sometimes you need to unplug. However, if you want to ensure that you continue to grow, you should limit them.

They can consume much of your time and be quick dopamine hits. They heavily affect your discipline and motivation.

I remember finding a medieval show on Netflix and binging it to forget and de-stress. After finishing, it was highly challenging to get back into the swing of things.

I had lost my habits, routines, and momentum.


These activities could be more fun. They don't give you quick dopamine hits. They require discipline and dedication. Usually, it takes work and more time to see the reward that comes with these small investments of time.

They are harder to be consistent with, and they require choice.

Yet, these snippets of time you spend on building your business, developing your sales skills, completing a challenging workout session, and being fully present with your loved ones improve your life ten folds.

They push your limits and challenge you in the present.

They require you to zoom out and envision the bigger picture. They build your character, relationships, health, and life goals.

It takes work to sit down every Saturday morning to write these blog posts for you. Yet, I know it not only serves you, but more than anything, it helps me. I have become more articulate. My writing skills improve with every post I pump out.

I'm building a small community that shares knowledge and fosters relationships with my readers. So while I don't get a dopamine hit from it, I am growing and improving one blog post at a time.

What activities are you investing your time in? How do they contribute to the bigger picture of your life?


I'm not telling you to eliminate all the 'spent time activities' in your life. God knows you need time to unwind, step away, and recharge.

But you can be more mindful of the time you spend on these activities, which can only make you happy while engaging in them.

You should evaluate your actions and invest more time in activities that build your life over the long term.

Figure out how much time you dedicate to activities that fall under each category. Evaluate how you could keep a balance.

The balance will not look the same for you as it does for someone else, and that's ok. The point is to encourage you to be more conscious of where you allocate your time.


What activities fall under each of these sections?
How much time do you spend engaged in them?
How can you transfer more time from spent activities to invested activities?
What is the ideal ratio for you?

The Challenge:
This week reflect on these questions and develop a plan to help you reach your ideal ratio.

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Share this blog post with someone you care about to remind them to be mindful of their time. 

And comment  below or shoot me a message to share your results of this week's challenge. I'm always excited to hear from you. 


Are You Spending Time or Investing Time?

Income has always meant my salary. It meant the money that I would get paid from going to work 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.

So all my life, my goal has been to study hard, get an education and get a good job. Find a husband that did the same, and our combined income could help to give me a comfortable life. I may even have enough to raise a family.



When I started learning about money, I realized there was more to income than I thought. I couldn't believe that I never realized this even while holding a degree in accounting and graduating at the top of my class.


So how could I have worked towards something that I never knew existed? And how can you too?

Now that I know, I can choose the income I wish to work for, and I want you to be able to do the same. So read on and learn about the different types of income, the advantages and disadvantages and how to use them through out your life. 

Earned income is the money you get from working a job or the profits from running your business.


Earned income is the income you pursue all your life. However, it can become problematic when you realize you can only increase it at a fixed rate every year. This rate is usually predetermined by your employer.


Those of you who have been with a company for a very long time, know that this is true. The only other way to increase earned income is to work more hours.


Don't forget that even if you do this, there is only a limited number of hours that you can work per day, week and month. Meaning you will eventually hit a a ceiling.

Also, remember that as you get older; your ability to work longer hours begins to decline. Your health takes a toll when you work longer hours. 


If you are like most, your responsibilities outside of work also increase. When you are 40 years old, you need to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones who may not appreciate the long working hours.

It's also important to consider that this income is one of the highest-taxed incomes in the world. In Belize, salaries endure a tax rate of 25% of your chargeable income.


(Note: Chargeable income in Belize is any money earned over Bz$ 26,000 from self or other employment.)


So once you start earning over a certain income threshold, you become less motivated to try and increase your income due to the taxes you must endure.

Portfolio income is income you make when you invest long-term into things like stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. You receive this income when you sell the investments at a higher price than what you paid.


This income is commonly known as capital gains. It has zero relation to the number of hours you work. You don't receive any money from it until your investment is sold or matures.


With this income, you run the risk of your asset losing its value before you are ready to sell. It is considered a more long-term approach to income preservation and growth.

In most countries, this income has a lower tax rate than earned income. In Belize, there is no capital gains tax. Meaning that the profits you get from any portfolio investment in Belize are tax exempted.

Passive income is a hybrid form of earned and investment income. It is especially important  as you age.

Passive income is similar to earned income because you receive recurring payments over set periods, like a salary. However, the income that you receive no longer depends on the time you put in. Instead, it is determined by the capital that you invested.

Basic examples of passive income are rent revenue, interest, and dividends.

Passive income often has a lower tax percentage than earned income. In Belize, taxes on passive income such as dividends is 15%. You can also reduce income on things like rent by including items like depreciation. When you do this it results in paying fewer taxes.

How and When to Strive for Different Income

Now that you are familiar with the three types of income, and their characteristics, you need to understand that they are all important but suitable for different areas and stages of your life.

Understand them so that you can determine where in life you are. Then you can start thinking about creating different types of income to ensure a more vital financial existence.


Understand that Earned income is usually the foundation for most people. However, remember that as you get older and your earned income increases, you should try your best to keep your expenses low.

If you do this, you will have more liquidity to move over to investment income.

Use investment income to grow your wealth, and start moving it into items that can help you to generate passive income as you continue to age. This will compensate for your ability to work fewer hours. It will also help you to maintain the lifestyle you like.

This week I challenge you to figure out where on the income spectrum you are. Decide where you want to be, and begin to set financial goals and develop habits that will get you there.

Diversify Your Wallet 

You have an idea about something great you want to do. You tell it to a good friend. 

They assure you that it’s a great idea and encourage you to go for it.


First you feel pumped. You are sure that it will work. And you are sure that you are the right person to do it.


But when you start to plan and work on it, you start hearing a little voice in your head.


It starts telling you that this isn’t such a good idea. What if you start and it fails? What if you put so much time and money into it, and it doesn't work? What if you are not as good as you thought you were? What if? What if? What if?


See you are not alone, most people experience this when they start pursuing a goal. 

It is especially true in careers. It doesn’t matter if you take the traditional route, or decide to become an entrepreneur.


Most people experience them at some point in their lives. These feelings become magnified when you start comparing yourself to others.


This is the concept of Imposter Syndrome:


Imposter Syndrome is the inability to believe that you deserve the success you have. Or the belief that you don't have the ability to achieve the result you are seeing through your own efforts and skills.



This is because, when you have these feelings bottled up, you slowly start to believe it.


You become skeptical about your skills and your talents. Your believes start to become self fulfilling prophecies. And your actions begin to align with the ideas brought about by the imposter syndrome.


Others around you may praise you for your hard work and dedication. But you don't believe it. You feel like a fake.


These are some of the most obvious ways in which imposter Syndrome show up today. And if you speak to almost any successful person, they could relate to feeling this way at some point in life.



Sometimes imposter syndrome doesn't appear so obvious. Sometimes it comes in the form of perfectionism and over achieving.


Say for instance, you want to start your business. So you convince yourself that you need to write a business plan or design a logo. You get stuck for years working on your business plan, or designing the logo.


Because these things will never be perfect enough to put out into the world...
You never actually start the business.


Many people don’t realize it, but it’s the fear that they feel that keeps them from starting.


The fact that they don’t believe that they can achieve what they set their mind to keeps them from taking action.

Sometimes imposter syndrome shows up in the form of fear of asking for help. You become scared to look for outside help because it confirms that you could never do it.

Sometimes you judge yourself too hard for not getting something right the first time.


Sometimes you see how something looks so easy for others and you can’t comprehend why it’s so challenging for you.


Remember that you don't have to do these things alone. On 

career

The Hard, Medium and Easy Way to Get Things Done

When Did You Start Taking It For Granted?

Stop Wasting Your Time on These Things

How Much Thought Have You Put Into Retirement?

The Power of Saying "No" as a Small Business Owner

Are You Spending Time or Investing Time?

Diversify Your Wallet

Are You Suffering From Imposter Syndrome?

The No Bullshit Truth About How We Spend Our Time

Do You Love Your Job? -The Ultimate Guide to a Happy Career

career

The Hard, Medium and Easy Way to Get Things Done

When Did You Start Taking It For Granted?

Stop Wasting Your Time on These Things

How Much Thought Have You Put Into Retirement?

The Power of Saying "No" as a Small Business Owner

Are You Spending Time or Investing Time?

Diversify Your Wallet

Are You Suffering From Imposter Syndrome?

The No Bullshit Truth About How We Spend Our Time

Do You Love Your Job? -The Ultimate Guide to a Happy Career

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