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Hit the Reset Button

Becoming the Happiest Black Woman YOU Know

Jul 12

7

Going for the Maximum

Posted by admin on July 7, 2012
Posted in Uncategorized 

A few days back, I touched on the first part of my brand…SAVVY…showing what I currently bring to the table to accentuate it and future opportunities to enhance it.  The second part is MAXIMUM…as in top, most, best…all those superlatives.  MAXIMUM continues along the same vein as the first post..well, almost.

Maximum…top, most, best..gets me to thinking about specific times and places when I exceeded goals and expectations…like in my current employment.  I believe, and I might be wrong (who knows, I might be right), that is why the goals and expectations have been set higher.  I also think about the opportunity that was presented to me last fall, being an ambassador for my department.  One gets chosen to serve in this role because they are “the best of the best.”  As I said, MAXIMUM!  While I expected to help train new hires as part of my responsibilities, I DID NOT expect to get hand-picked to facilitate any training modules, but it happened. It happened once when I was selected to lead training modules for a group assigned to MY shift..and it happened again when I was selected to lead training modules for a group assigned to ANOTHER SHIFT.  My boss hand-picked me for THAT assignment.  I think those moments go beyond MAXIMUM, but you didn’t hear that from me (LOL!).  That’s just one example. I can name others, but this is most recent, so I’ll stick with that for now.

When I reflected on this brand that I selected for myself and what each letter could stand for, the only thing I could come up for with M was MOTIVATED.  I could have chosen it, and tried to sell it, but it was not an authentic or original representation of me.  Everyone considers themselves MOTIVATED.  I searched for another M word that would most accurately represent myself.  MAXIMUM was that word.

For all the skills and qualifications that I present that are MAXIMUM, I still have opportunity for growth in this area.  Reflecting on the feedback from a recent interview, I plan to use the advice to build my skills and qualifications and develop new ones.  The interviewer suggested taking on seasonal roles, which I plan to do and will be looking out for.  I have also signed up for new committees formed at work, and those committees should be meeting soon.  Outside of work, I can develop new skills through workshops and seminars (more than likely online).  These will come together to present a stronger portfolio of experience to take me to a new MAXIMUM level.

For sure, being MAXIMUM requires hard work (smart work?), commitment, desire, and focus…which I think I have in spades.   Being MAXIMUM also requires knowing what is worth the hard work, commitment, desire, and focus, and what is not.  In short, having specific interests and knowledge bases/expertise.  That part of the equation requires diligence and purpose..and that is what I work on daily.  The results, I trust, will speak for themselves.

Jul 12

7

Weight Loss, Part Two

Posted by admin on July 7, 2012
Posted in Personal Development • Self-improvement 

Call it what you will…vanity, self-promotion, shameless plugging…..I am proud of myself for getting this far in my weight-loss journey.  I walk a bit taller, stand a bit straighter these days. Changing the way I view food and eating..and body image…has made me more aware and responsible for how I treat my shrinking…ahem, temple.

I cannot and do not eat nearly as much I used to..partly because my body cannot hold that much food anymore.  Going in family reunion-style…a big NOT!  One plate of food usually does it for me….along with the occasional dessert.  I am not willing to use food as a crutch anymore; I have other, more exciting things going on in my life besides.  And having those other exciting things has not only changed how I view food and its place in my life, but how I view my body image.

Let me be clear and say that tight clothes with fat rolls hanging out is not my idea of good body image.  It’s all-around nasty and unattractive, and people who try to convince me otherwise is lying…but enough about that.  Body image, for me, is a proper appraisal of what my body is like now and what I am working toward in the future.  I still have body parts that are in less than ideal shape and proportion right now, but it’s far and away better than what it used to be! It’s a work in progress, and a year from now, that will change.  I will have shed 50 or more pounds on the way to a healthier, leaner body.  In the meantime, I work with what I have, grateful that I have the opportunity to do so…and not internalizing other people’s ideas and beliefs about body image.  Like I said, it’s a work in progress.

On my way to shedding those pounds, I still have to contend with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  I’ve had this condition for almost twenty years..and still, I am challenged with ways and means of managing this condition. Fortunately, it’s not life-threatening, but it feels like it sometimes…especially when you are in a food line ready to eat, and a flare-up comes on.  So, my challenge is trying to find the right combination of foods that will keep flare-up at bay and have good health benefits as well.

Current successes and challenges aside, I am excited about the “more” that I can do to control my weight…investigating that Zumba class I’ve been meaning to take forever (I think), do some weight training, swimming, etc.  Like I said, my goal is to be 50 pounds lighter by this time next year…so now is my time.