1. You decide you can achieve more and go and do that course you’ve been thinking of doing
2. That you decide to step out from your career into business
3. To pack in that struggling unproductive business
4. You go for that big break - the promotion or change of career

Or is it going to be another year like last year, the year before and the year before that - mundane and uneventful!

Be Aware of Consequences

Whatever it is you are planning on doing this year do keep in mind the consequences attached to your actions, or non-actions as it may be. Time is ticking by, you think it may be too long doing that course for 2 years - remember, you said the same two years ago and here you are today, still on the same spot! Better get busy, if not another two years is about to pass you by, still on the same spot, but now with regrets and frustrations - no need snapping at your spouse and family, or blaming your boss and colleagues - they are not the cause of your lack of progress; you are.

A Time to Focus

Remember, new year new resolution. Take advantage of the season. This is a time more than ever to be focused and disciplined in ensuring you are at least on target to make a positive difference this year. How you live your personal life should also be reflective of the fact that you are purpose driven and working towards a plan - not just living life day to day, and spending hand to mouth. There is nothing wrong in being in a dead end job, so long as you are working a plan to move you out of it…are you?

Action Point

Take a pen, get your diary and write boldly right across the first blank page - This Year is…….. (fill in the blanks according to your heart’s desire of what you want to achieve this year). Then get busy doing what you know you should be doing!

Remember, life is not a rehearsal! Take daily actions in working out your potential!

Read excerpts from Beyond Being Black book and make this year count for progress - visit www.beyondbeingblack.com

Wishing You Potential Progress,

Coach Comfort (Comfort Babalogbon)

www.batacacademy.com/blog

Do you sometimes feel isolated, with no-one to understand the struggles you go through?

If you are feeling isolated, I highly recommend having in place in-person or virtual role models will greatly help. Suddenly, you’ll realise that things aren’t as bad as they seem, especially when you compare it to some of the role models you look up to.

Let’s take Rev Dr Marin Luther King for example - I am sure you’ll agree with me when I say that most of our struggles seems like childs play compared to him. So stop caving in under pressure. Pressure is an expected factor for anyone looking to fulfil potential, so get use to it.

The more we identify role models who have overcome what we are trying to achieve, the more we realise that we are not alone in our struggles, and as such, equip ourselves with the right type of information that shall positively influence us to go all out for our dreams. So, what are you waiting for?

Remember, life is not a rehearsal! Take daily actions in working out your potential!

Read up on more stories like this in the inspirational upcoming Beyond Being Black book - visit www.beyondbeingblack.com

Educate – Inspire – Change- Succeed!

The potential development book for the global black community. A perfect gift for every black man, woman and child. An inspiring book that creatively combines education, history, success stories, research and coaching in a unique and effective manner.

“One of a kind - this is a must-read revolutionary potential development book for every black man, woman and child.”

This book will show you how to -

· Develop Powerful & Effective Black Community Group Programs

· Creatively Overcome Ethnic & Gender Biases

· Successfully develop the potential of youths

· Aspire as an entrepreneur

· Achieve the height of your profession

· Start a new business

· Learn how to inspire confidence in your children

· Prepare black students & graduates for the world of work

· Overcome negative background

Visit www.beyondbeingblack.com today!

Jonathan Oloyede, British-born Nigerian, is a medical doctor who is pioneering in his work on projects that focuses on uniting creed, color and class via the bringing together of churches and communities across the UK. He was part of the strategic leadership team that organised the first UK-wide Global Day of Prayer, in 2006.

Reflection

Not always will our passion be within the corporate or business sector. It can sometimes be a cause, humanitarian or environmental. The most important factor is that your heart be in what it is you choose to do. My question to you today is - ‘what’s stopping you from getting on track with your heart-felt potential yearnings?’ Remember, it is an accumulation of little steps that yield the big outcomes we dream of. So start today with your first step, and a year from now I am sure you would be pleasantly surprised to see how far you’ve travelled.

Action Points

1. Decide today to do something for at least 30 minutes that is in line with your potential aspiration.
2. This may be doing some online research, picking up the phone to speak to that person who can provide some support, start writing a book etc.
3. Make a commitment that at least for the first week, you’ll spend an hour a day, Monday to Friday working on your potential. Use Saturday and Sunday to reflect on progress made. In a month’s time you’ll be surprised how far you’ve travelled.

Remember, life is not a rehearsal! Take daily actions in working out your potential!

Read up on more stories like this in the inspirational upcoming Beyond Being Black book - visit www.beyondbeingblack.com

It is obvious that times have changed for women since the stone age! Gone are the days where the kitchen is a woman’s only office to show off her skills! African-American Edith Cooper showed Goldman Sachs what she was made of, and became the Managing Director in 1998. This was after just two years working at the company. In the year 2000 she became a partner.

Reflection

What do you think Edith went through to achieve this corporate height of success? One thing we know is that she didn’t sit around moaning about the many obstacles she must have faced as a black female in an usually top white, male dominated environment. Being black has its challenge but being black and female also has its additional challenge.

Statistically, top corporate jobs are usually out of the reach to white females not to mention black females. There is still a lot of prejudice against women and their ability to give in the hours and dedication and commitment, usually because of concerns regarding family pressure that may impact on their ability to be sold out to their jobs. But Edith did it! Let’s learn from her, and I would advise to research more into what she did and how she did it, especially if her line of work and potential success relates to you.

Remember, the more we identify role models who have overcome what we are trying to achieve, the more we equip ourselves with the right type of information that shall positively influence us to go all out for our dreams. So, what are you waiting for? Get busy today, and to help you along, here are 3 action points

Action Points

1. Set a goal today on how you plan to achieve a specific milestone over the next 3 months in your potential journey. Remember, Edith achieved Managing Director status just 2 years after working at Goldman Sachs “ I am sure she must have had a short term plan, a strategy for attaining that level, that she regularly reviewed and progressed on.

2. Identify your biggest fear or obstacle “ think of 3 ways you can overcome this, maybe speak to someone who you look up to and possesses the right competence to help you out.

3. Is time to go back to college? Or maybe time to take a professional job. If you aim is to hit top managerial status, then you will need to back this up with the right experience, skills and attributes. So go and take that course if need be so as to position yourself for promotion.

Remember, life is not a rehearsal! Take daily actions in working out your potential!

Read up on more stories like this in the inspirational upcoming Beyond Being Black book - visit www.beyondbeingblack.com