Are Your Goals Realistic Or Do They Have Consequences?

Are you setting goals that are in the result hurting you?  I read an article today that talked about Considering Not Setting Goals in 2013 and honestly my thought was WTH because I truly believe that when I set goals I sent myself up for successor am I really setting myself up for success with multiple side effects that will affect me later. Often times as business minded people we look for ways to get things done quickly, effectively, and productively while making a sound decision involving our revenue but is it always the best choice? 

I would love for you to read the article I read and give your feedback and tell me your thoughts.

I am still on the fence because I am a stronger believer in goals and setting the bar high enough so that the result is something I can be proud of.  Yeah I have set a few big hairy audacious goals or BHAGS as the world of goal setters say…

How about you?

~Truly Blessed,

Misherald "Missy" & Jonathan "JB" Brown

Overcoming Obstacles Even Personal Ones

Graduating college was always a goal for me but never did I realize how hard that obstacle was going to be. After leaving the Army with an injury, I started noticing things about myself things that well just did not make sense.  After carefully research and a lot of self-evaluation, I decided to see my pediatrician, (Yeah I was over 21 seeing a kid’s doctor ROFL let us not judge). It was rather interesting to find out I had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder better known as ADHD.  Yes, it can go undiagnosed as well as it is very common in adults some famous as well as well-established people in history have had it.  My family just thought I was a busy body never did they realize it was not that it was something within me that kept me in this state of hyperactivity. The reason it was not found out in the Army was because I had a structured life and that structure life is what helped me stay focus. I write this particular blog today to help people realize that no matter what your circumstances are goals are attainable.

Here I was a single mom with ADHD and a new baby who had a whole set of special needs of his own while I knew medical school was out the question I still wanted my degree in something to show myself that I still had a chance.  For me that opportunity came with online college the day Jonathan came home from the hospital had I began my research and within 2 days I was enrolled in Kaplan University as a Business undergraduate and I was starting completely over not transferring any credits.  I set goals throughout the whole process I was determined not to allow this program to take more than two years. I’m proud to say I missed my deadline by only six months and that’s because let’s just say I don’t know how to simply let things go. So I failed a class because I couldn’t see eye to eye with an instructor. 

After achieving that I wanted more I was a thriving entrepreneur with a company that was doing well and I was itching to get more in tune with the business side of life so I changed things up in graduate school and I decided to get my MBA but to challenge myself and get a Project Management Degree. This time I gave myself another 3 years to complete the courses.  I am happy to say I started my MBA in 2008.  I did take a year off to take care of Jonathan who had to have some major surgeries during 2009. However when I restarted in 2010 at Strayer University not only did, I finish in 2 years but I also graduated with honors and within the top 20% of my class.  

I was competing against myself and no one else I had goals and I wanted to achieve those goals. Therefore, before you let someone tell you what you cannot do tell yourself what you can do. You just have to want to and you have to know yourself well enough to know how to achieve it.  My way was online school with structure that may not be the case for others. My redeeming quality was a PDA, a schedule, and simple the energy to just do it.

Let me blow your mind here is a few famous people who had or have ADHD: 

Jim Carrey       Prince Charles (yes that Prince Charles of England)     Bill Cosby        
  Tom Cruise            Walt Disney    Dwight D Eisenhower           Danny Glover        
Whoopi Goldberg                       Magic Johnson                        Michael Jordan                   
  Anna Eleanor Roosevelt                     Will Smith                         Steven Spielberg

  

                    “Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll understand.”

                                                                      - Confucius  

~Truly Blessed,

Misherald "Missy" & Jonathan "JB" Brown

Are You Up For The Challenge....

A challenge has been posted all around Facebook and it has called the 52 Week Money Challenge.  At first, I was considering not doing it but I figured what could it hurt.  

If you are game I challenged you to open a savings account and every week just put the amount that is shown on the schedule and if you cannot remember juts count the week and put that up. I will suggest find you a high interest yield bank to do this with and whatever you do make it a total separate account do not link it.

If your looking for a great place to open a savings account try ING Direct.  They have a great yield  of interest rate!

~Truly Blessed,

Misherald "Missy" & Jonathan "JB" Brown

A dollar saved is a dollar earned.

What Is Life Like Raising A Autistic Child?

People often ask me what is it like to be the mother of an autistic child and often times it takes a lot not to just laugh. They find it weird that I am quick to say it is like raising any other child except I have more people involved in our lives.  With Jonathan, I have a team of about thirty other people that are involved in his health, education and any other major factors of his life.  

We work as a well-oiled machine between his pediatric physician, a team of specialize doctors, three private therapist, a team of ABA therapist, and me acting as his advocate we are a great team. That usually makes some of them give me a weird look wondering how I keep it all in line as well as control of my life. The answer is easy it is all about time management, being able to say no, making sacrifices knowing what you have on your plate, and knowing what you want out of life for both parties. When I finally got my mind focused on those things, I made quite a few changes that changed my life.  From cutting work, hours to be able to adjust for all of Jonathan's appointments to making sure that everyone who needed to be involved in his life had the time that they needed to do their part.  I had to cut back on some luxuries that I enjoyed for life to balance correctly. The biggest challenge is not to let the situation take over your life and get you upset with circumstances. 

The greatest thing I have learned since becoming Jonathan's mom is simply to live a fun fulfilling life.  When things do happen you have to be able to respond to them quickly without reacting without thinking this eliminates what if mode. Those thoughts will drive you crazy. Now many of you may think oh I feel sorry for her the sacrifices she make have to be great but instead I ask that before you pity me you simply root for us to overcome all obstacles that come our way.

So out of all of this my life lesson is simple: LIVE LOVE LAUGH... life is full of fun moments and you have to accept those fun moments as they come but be prepared for those rough moments as well.

A quote that we live by:

"Remember life is a precious gift, love is a wonderful gift, and laughter is a glorious gift.So live life to the fullest, love with all your heart, and laugh as much as you breathe."

~Truly Blessed,

Misherald "Missy" & Jonathan "JB" Brown

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

A New Year. A New Me. A New Plan.

2012 is officially over and 2013 is has begun. 

Many people would say settling is not the best way to handle a situation as a matter of fact most would say that settling is simply giving up.  However, the question remains is it wise to settle for a career, a spouse, or simply settling in life all together. Just so, you as a person do not feel alone or as if you are not, accepted?

I will admit for the past seven years I have just been settling for things never realize attempt to overcome issues.  My way of thinking is settling it got the situation handle quickly and effectively but then I began to wonder that if settling was just my way of avoiding instead of really working through things. For example, my love life or really the lack of a love life I have always made the comment about how I sacrifice it with the everyday needs of taking care of Jonathan and that I was more than willing to sacrifice this part of life. For me this was just settling because I was not wanting to deal with rejection or having to defend my time with my son. Was it right to settle maybe not but did I do it for all the right reasons?  There are many things I have simply settle for between the careers I have recently had in the past years to simply get by to simply settling for life as it is instead of attempting to push forward and achieve better things.

I am sure everyone has their whole list of resolutions that they are making and have been planning to do with the New Year. I honestly do not believe in resolutions however, I do plan to reevaluate things in my life and make some changes for the better. This year some of my focuses are my finances, my personal life, as well as increasing my direct sale business.

Now as you, all look into the future I am sure you all have things you want to work on and things you plan on working towards. Therefore, I simply say to attempt to do the best you can towards these goals but remember while things do not always happen overnight that you just have to continue working on them until you get them where you want them. The great thing is all of these changes are going to make a better life for Jonathan, and me, which is always the essence of everything I do.

A few quotes for 2013…

Your success & happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.         

 ~Helen Keller

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.                               

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebrate what you want to see more of.            

~Tom Peters

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.               

~Brad Paisley

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.                   

~Oprah Winfrey

A few recommendations if you are interested on working on making your life better:

Finances: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey 

The workbook is also a great tool to use as well...

Personal Life: It’s Complicated (But Doesn’t Have to be) by Paul C Brunson

Motivation For A Better Tomorrow: Today Matters 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success by John C Maxwell

~Truly Blessed,

Misherald "Missy" & Jonathan "JB" Brown