Last night, Baker performed with the Louisville Youth Choir in their first official concert since she joined. It was a struggle, but I didn’t spill any tears. So proud!

It got me thinking about success. One hundred talented kids from all walks of life: some were certainly more talented than others, but they could all sing well or they wouldn’t have made it into the choir. Is that what it takes to succeed?  Talent?

Which of those kids will give up singing in a few years because of soccer, boys, homework or boredom? Which will continue on to become music teachers and community theater performers? And which, if any, will become a Broadway star or the next Taylor Swift?  If any do, what will push them into the spotlight? Talent? Drive? An all-consuming passion? Pushy parents?

Who knows. I’m sure there are more studies than I’d ever care to read about what makes one person successful and another a Zippy Mart cashier.

Right now, for Baker, the passion is enough. She just dearly loves to sing and is naturally drawn to any opportunity where she can sing or perform. It’s not that she’s driven to succeed or to be the best, she just genuinely loves it. Like my husband genuinely loves his music and performing, and my son genuinely loves drawing. Such an artistic family!

I genuinely love writing and chardonnay. Maybe I should strive to be the best chardonnay drinker in the county? Such high ambitions.

It seems like some people are just cursed while others are blessed with luck and fortune. I’m very happy to be among the second group.

But I have a friend that’s in the first. She had a horrible drinking problem and literally lost everything. Now she’s having some serious health problems. This poor girl just can’t catch a break.  I do acknowledge that these things didn’t just happen to her. She brought all of them but the health issues on herself. (Then again, her unhealthy lifestyle probably contributed to that, too.)

For people like her, taking that first step down the wrong path has monumental consequences. And without a tremendous amount of strength, it’s so hard to turn back and turn your life around. I’ve tried to help her over the years, but at this point, I think all I can do is pray.

Then there are those for whom everything just always seems to turn out right.  I’m fortunate to be among this group. Lose a major source of income? Other things always come along.  Facing hardship? It always seems to work its way out. Of course, these things don’t just happen. These people work for them, do everything they can to create opportunity, and (at least in my case) pray hard and earnestly.

I don’t think I have any good advice for people in the other group, except to pray and keep pushing forward. But if you’re somewhere in between, please know that you are in charge of where your life goes. Yes, God blesses us, but he also gives us free will. So make smart choices, work hard, create opportunities and keep praying.

It will never happen unless you go for it.  This has been on my mind for the past few days, and when I woke this morning (quite early, I might add) and saw Cheryl’s last post, figured I’d better put it out there.

It won’t. No matter how much you dream, scheme, plan or hope, or blog about it, it ain’t gonna happen sista unless you actually take the steps. Make that to-do list. Break it into little chunks — things that will only take 20 minutes to do, but are a necessary step to reaching your goals. Then get those little chunks down on your calendar and start doing it.

In Arbonne, we call it “doing the do.” We’re full of all sorts of little phrases like that.  Yes, it’s helpful to have that to-do list. But unless you’re actually doing it, you’ll go nowhere. So get moving!

I just recently figured out that I wear three hats.  I’m not sure why, but it’s rather freeing to finally accept that and own it.  I spend too much time wrestling with what I want to be when I grow up. Instead, I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’m kind of already doing it. Or at least I am now. So…(drum roll, please)…my three hats are:

1. Writer
2. Arbonne consultant
3. Publicist

The writing is going really well. I took my own advice and just started putting myself out there. I’m on Craigslist daily, looking for new assignments. And enough have actually come through that it’s going well. Most of all, I LOVE IT!!!!

I’m building a strong Arbonne business on the side that earns extra money. It continues to grow as I bring in more business builders that are working to change and improve their own situations. And I really love that, too!

I’m also a PR professional with 17 years of experience. I take on a few clients each quarter, and I can choose which ones I want. I’m very good at it!

So there you have it. I don’t have to be just one thing. Rather than thinking of it as scattered and undecided, I choose to see it as entrepreneurial and multi-talented.

Just read through my post yesterday. Those tips were taken from my own experience and the advice that a countless number of motivated go-getters have given me. Yup, that’s what it takes. Think I’ll take my own advice and sit down and make a plan instead of writing out a lengthy blog today.

How are you spending your morning?

I am totally enamored by Craigslist. If you work from home or freelance, or you dream about becoming a freelancer, you need to be on that site. As a writer, good ole Craig has helped me find several assignments that I never would have found on anything as huge as Monster or Hot Jobs. (In fact, I have to offer my official, professional opinion on those sites: they suck.)  Now that I’ve been getting on Craigslist every morning, I’m making it happen. Being a full-time freelance writer seems much more feasible. 

In the process, I’ve figured out a few truths that can (I hope) help anyone that wants to start working for themselves from home. 

1. Get Off Your Ass – If you have a dream, quit complaining and stressing and talking yourself out of it. You can talk about it till you’re blue in the face, but only action makes it a reality. Nuff said.

2. Build a Resume – Whatever you plan on doing, you need experience to show potential clients before you can even consider quitting your full-time gig. Consider taking on side jobs at night, or even volunteering for a non-profit to get that experience.

3. Check Craigslist — New opportunities come up daily, so check back a few times a week and respond immediately if you see anything that’s a fit.

4. Biz Cards — Get yourself some decent business cards with your personal contact info on it. That way, if you meet a potential client at Starbucks, you don’t have to give them a card from your current employer, which puts you at risk of being both unprofessional and getting busted by your current boss. Try Vistaprint, which has cards for less than $10.

5. Be Purposeful — Your dreams of working from home or being your own boss won’t happen if you just sit around and think about them. Write down your goals, write down your timeline, and map out some steps you need to take to get there. Keep that list handy and review it daily to help keep yourself on target. Try to do at least one thing every single day to bring you closer to your goals.

Good luck!

Finally! A company out in California (no surprise) has come up with the best idea — health vending machines. Fresh Healthy Vending offers smoothies, yogurt, fruit and veggies, healthy snacks and 100% juices.  I’ve got to get those in my kids’ schools!

It’s about time. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years, 12% of American kids are obese and 16% are overweight. The adult numbers are even more frightening. The junk they serve in schools is embarrassing. I ate lunch with my daughter a few years ago and they served this nasty congealed macaroni that was total carbs and fat. Yuck! Ever since then, my kids always bring their lunch. If we had these vending machines at their schools, I’d be able to trust them with a few quarters in their pockets, too!

As parents, we need to take the role we play in our kids’ health a lot more seriously. You can pack healthy lunches for them every day, but if they see you snacking on Little Debbies, guess what they’re going to do? Our kids model our behavior, which often is not a good thing.

So my new resolution for the week: no more unhealthy snacking! When the kids get home, I’m having carrot sticks and low-fat ranch dressing with them, not a Coke float!

Have you ever had one of those weeks when it just rushes by you in a blur of meetings, deadlines and just miscellaneous junk that pops up? Seems like I haven’t had one free moment this whole week. But it’s Friday morning, and I swore I’d finish up a few things I set out to do on Monday.

Writing — Write first 3 articles for my new freelance assignment (haven’t even started) plus the article for my plastic surgeon client (Done!), and take steps to get an assignment from the local paper (Nope).

PR — Finish up release for nonprofit (Done!) and do their media list (Haven’t started), also wow them at tomorrow’s meeting (Done)! 

Arbonne — Send out an end-of-month special (Done!) and make 5 calls a day to book events (Nope!).

Health — Exercise at least four times this week, whether it’s Jazzercise or walking (Are you kidding?)

Looks like I’ve got some work to do.

It’s such a cliche — today is the first day of the rest of your life.

But it kind of is. People always wait until New Year’s Day to set new goals about how they want to live their life. But why wait?

I think Cheryl’s got it right — make small goals that are easier to accomplish: tiny steps that are part of what’s needed to realize your larger life goals. So here are my small goals for this week, and the larger goals are noted in parentheses. Check back on Friday and see how I’ve done! (Better yet, set some small goals for yourself and check back on Friday to see how YOU have done!)

1. Writing — Write first 3 articles for my new freelance assignment plus the article for my plastic surgeon client, and take steps to get an assignment from the local paper. (Goal: Be a writer, not a PR person.)
2. PR — Finish up release for nonprofit and do their media list, also wow them at tomorrow’s meeting! (Goal: Be able to pay my mortgage.)
3. Arbonne — Send out an end-of-month special and make 5 calls a day to book events. (Goal: Pay my mortgage, build a lasting business.)
4. Health — Exercise at least four times this week, whether it’s Jazzercise or walking. (Goal: Lose 10 pounds, again!)

I never realized how much a writer needs peace and quiet to be able to write. We’re getting a new roof today, and you wouldn’t believe the noise. The very windows are shaking, and every few minutes the house does, too. The stomping, hammering, throwing, dropping, yelling…it’s enough to drive you insane. I’d love to just leave, but they need a power outlet and my 100-year-old house doesn’t have one outside. So I’ve got a cord running out the front door and it won’t shut securely. I’m stuck.

Trying to get some writing done…totally futile. Tried laying in bed and reading…too anxious about what I’m not getting done to even be able to focus. I’ll have to think of something that needs doing without having to think. Maybe I’ll clean and organize my office.

I’ve been so focused and motivated the past two weeks. Maybe this is God’s little way of giving me a break to recoup. I think I’ll take it!