The Fearless Factor by Jaqueline Wales

About Jacqueline Wales

Jacqueline Wales is known the world over as The Black Belt Millionaire. Her unique programs have helped women around the globe develop strong personal success, confident communication and clear visions of their goals. She is the author of five books including The Fearless Factor available at http://www.thefearlessfactorbook.com.

Wednesday September 9 – Unknown.
Are You Traveling The Jungle of Your Life?

“What lies behind and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Four women stroll along a paved walking path and notice a shaded, winding trail leading into a dark and mysterious jungle. A hand-painted sign at the entrance promises the adventure of a lifetime, untold treasures, and true, lasting happiness to anyone who dares set foot upon this trail and follow it through the entire jungle.

The four women discuss among themselves the wild creatures, frightening situations, and treacherous terrain awaiting any who travel that route. Three of the women, determined to change the course of their lives and fully realize their dreams, decide to enter that jungle, despite grave danger and certain difficulty.

How many women are left standing on the paved path gazing into the darkened jungle with trepidation?

Four.

You see, the three brave ones decided to enter. And that’s as far as many people take it.

Everyone has experienced good intentions. It manifests in your desire to go to the gym regularly, eat the right kinds of food, get more sleep, work less, spend more time with the children. But it’s not a real decision until you are ready to commit to some action and follow through. Taking the first baby steps towards change is essential, even if you’re scared to death.

When you take a decision, you are making a commitment to change what isn’t working. You are ready to step up to the challenge and do something different for you that will lead you toward living your best life now.

You must set goals to get where you want to go and you must take action to succeed. Remember, a goal without action is just a wish unfulfilled.

Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan. —Tom Landry

There are four steps towards creating and fulfilling your plan:

What Do You Want?

Think of three things you want to accomplish in the next several months. It can be personal or professional but it must be truly important to you and within your power to accomplish it.

Start With The End in Mind

Describe in detail what you need to do to succeed. Be specific. Write ‘as if’ you were already there and have achieved your desire.

Question Everything

What is your goal and why you feel you MUST achieve it?

Ask yourself the following:

What pleasure will it give me?

What will I be able to do?

What will I miss if I don’t achieve it?

How will my life be changed by this achievement?

Start Taking Action and create SMART goals.

Specific – Make your goals active. Define them to the smallest detail.

Measurable – Chart your progress by making to-do lists and deadlines

Attainable – Be realistic, but at the same time think outside the box.

Relevant - Set goals that are in line with your values, experience and passion

Time Sensitive – Set deadlines for each step of the way.

One year, three years and five years.

Create your goal plan according to these deadlines.

Dreams are just a wish until you start taking action towards making them reality.

What would it mean to you if you:

• Had a stronger more loving relationship?
• Could communicate more powerfully with the people in your life?
• Made more money?
• Built a successful career?
• Could be more productive and satisfied at work?

The Fearless Factor will show you how to turn off the fear, doubt and anxiety and turn on the confidence so you can Live Your Best Life Now.

We will schedule blogs and radio shows to participate in this tour. Jacqueline will do written or live interviews, providing excerpts from the book, writing guest posts that are applicable to the topics in Fearless Factor, we can also supply PDF copies of the book for reviews.

Who Needs to Read The Fearless Factor

• The Fearless Factor addresses issues that any age can understand although many of the people are women in the 40s – 60’s range with a wide variety of interests

• Women concerned with self-improvement but they avoid doing the needed work, but they are looking for answers.

• People who buy self help books and they may have complete libraries of books they have never read, but with the intention that they will.

• People who are in denial or avoiding how much work needs to be done

• Whether these people are making changes, they know something needs to change.

• People in the workforce, or are self-employed either successfully or not.

• Many of these people are not financially sound.

• They are married and single, but are in a kind of relationship that may or may not be working

• Women in their 50’s having major changes involving their job, family, relationship, meaning in life.

For more information about Jacqueline and The Fearless Factor, visit

http://www.thefearlessfactor.com

http://www.thefearlessfactorbook.com

http://www.youtube.com/fearlessfactor15

http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/08/fearless-factor-by-jacqueline-wales.html

Book Review: Culture Warrior by Bill O'Reilly

"The world is filled with concern but also with hypocrisy. Hypocrisy on the part of people who see no evil and speak no evil to avoid becoming involved."

Marcello Pera

Bill O'Reilly, love him or hate him, has dedicated his life to "becoming involved" and championing what he believes good and just. As long as he champions for the innocent children, the soldiers who defend the land that I love and the countless other causes that make this country great and powerful, he will have my respect.

O'Reilly epitomizes the greatness of this country. A descendant of Irish immigrants, O'Reilly has studied, worked hard and dedicated his life to achieve success. When I look at the faces of the students who sit in my classes, many of them immigrants or descendants of immigrants themselves, I see the desire, the hope they carry with them. They too dream of success and deep down inside know that this great country provides that opportunity. Freedom paves the way...

Ideology does matter; what we believe matters. What and where we come from matters, for it helps to define us as a people and as a nation. The United States of America is far from perfect. O'Reilly and I agree on that. Traditional values remain essential to the preservation of this great nation. Without these values, could any of us have achieved all that we have achieved? Could we dream the dreams we dream?

In Culture Warrior published in 2006, Billy O'Reilly, host of The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, explains the differences between secular progressives, a term he coined, and traditionalists.


Do you reject school voucher programs?
Do you support abortions of any kind and abortions without parental consent?
Diminishing parental authority?
Abolishing Christmas from schools and public places?
Do you support income re-distribution?
Euthanasia?
Legalization of drugs?
Restorative Justice( treating convicted criminals rather than punishing them)?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then you are a secular progressive.



Do you use fact based arguments?
Do you believe the USA is a good and noble country?
Do you believe the USA is founded on a Judeo-Christian philosophy?
Do you reject seizure of private property?
Do you believe in a disciplined society that distinguishes between right and wrong?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then you are a traditionalist.


In Culture Warrior O'Reilly provides numerous specific examples to support his premise that the media has tremendous power to influence people. He accuses many in the media as secular progressive leaning. He profiles some of the most important faces in the news industry and provides insight into their political and social inclinations. For instance, O'Reilly describes Tom Brokaw as the most liberal of the three major network anchors but refers to the late Peter Jennings with fondness and describes him as "advancing neither secularism or traditionalism on the air." (46) Ted Koppel is a "straight-shooter, but you don't know where his gun is holstered," says O'Reilly in a somewhat complimentary manner. (48) He outlines famous faces of late night talk shows and cable news networks. While he describes David Letterman as a "passionate advocate for the left," he spares the label for Jay Leno whom he describes as rarely confrontational and pretty much just in it for the laughs. (57)

Bill O'Reilly spends a considerable amount of time in his book illustrating the short comings of the ACLU and George Lakoff who he refers to countless times as a key figure in the secular progressive movement. In an attempt, I think, at being fair and balanced he even criticizes the Catholic Church for its short comings. He shares interesting personal stories, some filled with betrayal, others comical or life changing. If you read nothing else, I recommend you read chapter 10 entitled "The Color of Tradition." It is pithy but effective.

Numerous sections of the book contain specific stories involving children and the injustices committed against them by criminals and then by the justice system. Judges such as Edward Cashman from Vermont felt O'Reilly's wrath when the judge chose to sentence a child rapist to 60 days in jail because he felt sorry for the guy and thought he would benefit from treatment rather than punishment, an example of restorative justice. The judge felt sorry for the rapist. He felt nothing for the child.

Most Americans, according to O'Reilly, lean towards the traditional and resist drastic change. To win what O'Reilly describes as the culture war, traditional Americans must fight the battle with honor, avoid personal attacks and insults and focus on the issues by providing specific facts.

In essence secular progressives, according to O'Reilly, believe that the government must provide for their needs and wants. Traditionalists, on the other hand, try "to help others before pursuing personal gratification." (197) He goes on to explain this statement, but I can sum it up this way...

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Lao Tzu

Devotional For Mothers and Daughters

JUST IN TIME FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Over two million copies of the beloved Cup of Comfort® brand in print!

A CUP OF COMFORT^® DEVOTIONAL FOR MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

Daily Reminders of God’s Love and Grace

Edited by James Stuart Bell and Susan Townsend

Author of Pumping Your Muse, Windwalker and Beyond the Fifth Gate, Donna Sundblad has written six devotionals which have been included in A Cup of Comfort^®Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (March 10, 2009; Adams Media) edited by James Stuart Bell and Susan Townsend. Donna's stories span a number of years, everything from the day she was ready to bring her daughter home from the hospital almost 40 years ago to a conversation she and her daughter had last year. There's also a special story about Donna and her mother.

In the short interview below Donna shares some of her stories and a little about herself.

Give me a little background on yourself and the stories you write about in this new book.

I grew up in a close-knit family and was honored to know my great-grandparents and grandparents. This story is about what I went through when it came time to move away from my family and friends for the first time. I was 38 years-old at the time. My mother's prayer for me that day is burned into my memory. It was life changing. I know it wasn't any easier for her to say goodbye to me. In some ways it might have been harder. I was leaving with her grandchildren, but she trusted me to the Lord in a way that blessed me. People will have to read the devotional to see what I mean. They can find "Stay Rooted" on page 282.

The stories I contributed to this devotional offer glimpses into moments in time when God impressed me with an illustration of his love and or faithfulness through circumstances of everyday life. I really enjoyed writing for this collection because it has eternal value. I've been so blessed and I'm honored to have the opportunity to share those blessings with others. Along with the faithfulness and love of God, my stories touch on topics like comfort, obedience, and wisdom--the way God teaches us heavenly lessons through worldly incidents. That's exactly what this book is about...tangible lessons that stick with you throughout the day along with a Scripture verse.

For me personally, the book came out the day before my daughter's birthday. It was such a perfect gift, and now I know what I'll be giving my mom and mother-in-law for Mother's Day. It doesn't get much more special than this! Just think, I'll be able to give back to my mom in a special way. She may not even remember that moment back in March 1989 when she said that prayer, but now through the Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters I hope it will bless her in the same way it blessed me 20 years ago.

I am curious about your relationship with the many women in your family…your mother, daughter and great grandmother…what qualities do you share with them and how did they bring out the best in you…

My great-grandparents owned a small farm. My great-grandmother lived through some very difficult times. Her first husband was an alcoholic who tried to kill her. She ran for her life as he chased her with a gun. He shot, she stumbled and fell as the bullet grazed her hand. He thought he had killed her and turned the gun on himself. This left her a young widow with four young children. She worked hard cleaning houses, but she needed help with the children. The siblings were separated and went to stay with different family members. My great grandmother married a polish immigrant, and reunited the family. I'm not sure my great-grandparents loved each other at the outset of that relationship, but they made it work. They were still sleeping in the same bed by the time I was in my 20s, so God blessed their efforts to do the right thing.

My grandmother and I were extremely close. I remember when she turned 40, when she started coloring her hair, when she got her false teeth, when her eyesight started to go. I spent many weekends and vacations with my grandparents. Their youngest child was only six months older than me. In fact, my mother was three months pregnant with me when she helped deliver that baby in her mother's kitchen. We saw each other every weekend as we made the trek to their house or they came to ours (along with aunts and uncles).

I moved away from my family when I was 38 years old when my husband took a job in another state. It was not an easy thing to do. I'm thankful for the strong bonds that were established because now I'm experiencing the same with my daughter and granddaughter (and grandson).

My family has handed me a legacy. You don't quit when the going gets tough, you do your part and trust God for the outcome.

• Read Chapter 1 of Pumping Your Muse
• Read Chapter 1 of Windwalker
• Read Chapter 1 of Beyond the Fifth Gate
• Read previous blog post about Donna Sundblad
  
• Read more about Donna Sundblad
• www.cupofcomfort.com

• James Stuart Bell served as editorial director at Moody Press for many years. His work includes A Cup of Comfort^® Devotional for Women and A Cup of Comfort^®for Christians. Before joining Moody Press, he was the director of religious publishing at Doubleday in New York.

• Susan B. Townsend author of A Bouquet for Mom is a writer of nonfiction and fiction and a stay-at-home mother. Her work has appeared in A Cup of Comfort^® for Mothers and Daughters and A Cup of Comfort^® for Teachers.

The Sugar Island by Ivonne Lamazares

Imagine waking up one morning and walking away from your home, your friends, your books, your clothes, your photo albums and never looking back. With empty hands and somber hearts, you board a bus, a train, a plane or a boat knowing you may never return to your homeland again. Would you? Could you? People all over the world do this everyday while I sleep comfortably in my king size bed in my air conditioned home surrounded by the ones I love. If abandoning everything you have, everything you know and everyone you love to begin anew does not define courage, then I don't know what does. Yes, it may be risky and it may even lead to death, but the people who risk so much must truly suffer great injustice and despair to be willing to lose it all to gain it all.

Anyone living in South Florida knows an immigrant or is one himself. People come to America from all over the world, Haiti, Venezuela, Columbia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Cuba or Jamaica just to name a few. We leave behind our mothers, fathers, cousins, or childhood friends in search of freedom and opportunities too many in this country take for granted, for they have never experienced what is all too common outside the great walls of this nation.

In Ivonne Lamazares' novel The Sugar Island Tanya and her mother, the main characters in the story, typify the dissatisfaction and the sometimes destructive desperation that emptiness breeds. As the story progresses, I am forced to understand the complex nature of the decisions these two women make as they struggle to find their place under the sun. Instead of judging the characters, I find myself accepting or perhaps excusing their decisions and their choices. While Tanya fights to retain what little she has, her mother embarks on a never ending pursuit for something better, something different, something more. Hope is the only thing neither one allows herself to lose as she navigates through life. I cannot help but admire their strength and determination to survive and prosper in the most difficult of places or the most difficult of circumstances. Against the odds and even against each other, they fight to regain themselves.

Like a tug of war they pull and soften and pull and soften without ever letting go no mater how exhausted, bruised or disappointed and betrayed they may feel. In the chaos of their lives, they find solace in each other and in themselves, for though they may be very different, they are still the seeds of the same tree.

I must confess that I still remain somewhat foreign to their plight, the plight of the immigrant, for I was too young when I left my birthplace to remember what I lost, what I left behind and what I should have missed. Although our own personal stories may vary, the underlying story remains the same for all of us. We share a yearning for our own special place in the world, a place where we can be true to ourselves without masks and without chains that bind us and restrict our breath. We search unrelentingly for a place where the sun always lives.


Read an excerpt from The Sugar Island in the National Endowment for the Arts.
More about The Sugar Island

Joan Cartwright: Jazz Singer , Composer and Author

In honor of African-American History Month, my class and I attended Women in Jazz a lively jazz performance and lecture by Diva Joan Cartwright. Born in Queens, New York, Diva JC as she prefers to be called received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a Master's of Communication from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.

During Ms. Cartwright's visit to Miami Dade College, she performed many popular jazz tunes, discussed the history of jazz and blues and outlined the many contributions of performers like Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Alberta Hunter just to name a few.

With 30 years in the music industry and after having toured 5 continents and 15 countries, she has also published several books. One of her books Amazing Musicwomen focuses on the lives of women who changed the face of the music world. Some of her other books include Songs for My Children and So You Want To be a Singer?

More information on Joan Cartwright
Women in Jazz South Florida

25 Random Things about Myself

My colleague Geoffrey Philp, author of Uncle Obadiah and Alien, Florida Bound, Grandpa Sydney Anancy's Stories , Benjamin, My Son, Hurricane Center, Twelve Poems and a Story for Christmas and his soon to be released book entitled Who's Your Daddy?: And Other Stories has tagged me. He recently posted a list of 25 random things about himself on his blog and has suggested that I too participate.

Here goes

1. I hate and fear only one animal and it's not the shark. It's the cockroach. They are everywhere here in Florida.
2. I speak English and Spanish, and I am somewhat versed in American Sign Language.
3. My husband and I have been married for 21 years.
   
4. My favorite fictional novel is Wuthering Heights.
5. My least favorite subject is math.
   
6. I was born in Cuba, but my parents immigrated to the US when I was a year old. I have yet to see my birth place.
7. As a child I lived in Louisiana and New Jersey before moving to Florida.
   
8. I live in Florida but North Carolina is where my heart is.
9. My grandmother is 100 years old. I just hope her genes made their way over to me!
10. I love Pearl Jam, Creed, Andrea Bocelli, Shakira, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel, Elton John, Juanes and U2. I know... I know... what a mix!
    
11. I met my best friend Iris in 3rd grade, many moons ago, and we are still the best of friends.
12. When I was a child, I wanted to be an actress. Although I am "not" in films or movies, I am a teacher and therefore a performer.
    
13. I drive a Chevy.
    
14. I am surrounded by many truly wonderful people.
    
15. I made my singing debut at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans, Louisiana. Those were the good old days!!!
16. I lost my fear of deep water snorkeling off the Florida Keys.
17. In my twenties, I had a near death experience. I will write about that one day.
18. I truly believe that opportunity does not find you; you find opportunity.
    
19. I love open spaces, fields, pastures, woods and mountains.
20. I am not a follower.
    
21. Believe or not, I am allergic to salt.
    
22. I am a big Dave Ramsey fan.
23. I love sushi.
    
24. Life has not made me bitter. Instead it has made me wiser.
25. I am very blessed.

Participate if you like or post a comment.

Confessions from a Crazed Crafter by Patti Cox-Charles

The cover of Patti Cox-Charles' book Confessions from a Crazed Crafter provides a wonderful sneak peak into her crafting world. Patti refers to herself as a "crazed crafter," and I must admit her commitment and dedication clearly show in her work, her blog and in her writing. However, I choose not to call her a crazed crafter but a fearless one, for her life has truly been an adventure. While snow covers her yard and nearby streets, PIGS and UFOs inhabit her home. It may be very cold outside her Wisconsin home, but inside all is cozy and comfy, including the cats.

Her words flow with a sincere warmth and delightful sense of humor. Not only is Patti a talented crafter and writer, she is also well versed in songwriting. And you will have to read her book to understand just what I mean.

In addition to helpful tips and colorful photographs, she describes her love of needle work, card making, knitting and many others. Yet, she admits pine needle basketry remains her greatest passion.

So much of Patti's personality seeps through the pages of her book. Her decision to honor and recognize some of the very special people in her life clearly reflect her generosity and thoughtfulness. She acknowledges her sister as well as other notable crafters, but most importantly she recognizes the valuable contributions of her mother, who has always served as a driving force in her life. Her respect and admiration for her mother echoes throughout the book. Many of us may have felt this gratitude and appreciation, but few of us have put it into words, decorated it with pictures and had the glossy pages bound.

I find it admirable and refreshing that Patti chose to generously include the works of other crafters in her book. In fact, her gesture reminds me of a painting outside the main building at my campus. Every time I see it I am reminded that on our way up we should always bring others along.

We should all be so blessed to live
our entire lives
doing what we love most
whatever that may be.


Peacoxcreations on Etsy
Peacox Creations
Confessions of a Crazed Crafter

On Writing Well: The Zinsser Way

"Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity."
William Zinsser

In 1922 the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. as thousands of people gathered to watch. Archaeologists also discovered the tomb of the Egyptian King Tutankhamun. And in that same year, William Zinsser was born while actors like Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford enjoyed their popularity and lucrative work.

Although Zinsser began his career as a journalist for the New York Herald Tribune, and went on to write more than a dozen books, he is most well known for his book entitled On Writing Well now in its 30th edition. Today, the legendary William Zinsser lives in New York City and teaches as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of Journalism. Even in his eighties, Zinsser continues to contribute to the writing world. In 2006, The American Scholar published an essay by William Zinsser entitled How to Write a Memoir: Be yourself, speak freely, and think small and just recently in 2008, The American Scholar published The Daily Miracle: Life with the mavericks and oddballs at the Herald Tribune where Zinsser writes about his days as a writer and teacher.

I began reading On Writing Well (fourth edition) by William Zinsser a few weeks ago and as usual I took notes, reread pages and contemplated his message. I reflected on my own writing, my style, tone and use of language. While some people believe that a "simple style reflects a simple mind," Zinsser on the other hand believes that a simple style "is the result of hard work and hard thinking." (106)

Every chapter of his book contains specific evidence of his immense knowledge and experience. He is a skillful mind reader and quickly predicts my moments of skepticism as he provides concrete and vivid examples to support his points. If that is insufficient, then he provides short excerpts from an array of noteworthy writers. When faced with such compelling evidence I find it difficult to reject what some might call daring assertions.

I have always enjoyed simple, clear and passionate writing that says something, means something and has value and significance. I am drawn to the writings of Robert Frost, Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, and Walt Whitman. Simple writing pleases me. Zinsser asks writers to remove pretentious, flowery and pompous language, keep sentences and words short while remaining true to individual style, tone and message. In addition, he recommends that a writer please himself or herself first and then the reader. Although this may sound somewhat contradictory and difficult to accomplish, Zinsser believes “hard writing makes easy reading. Easy writing makes hard reading.” In the end, what do we really want? Something for someone to read, enjoy and remember? Or do we want something "strictly" for our own enjoyment? Perhaps, the word "strictly" is the key.

If I don't enjoy reading my own words, why would anyone else enjoy my words. As writer I must remain loyal to myself but I must also remember my reader. Of course I want to write "my" way, but I also want to write something that someone else enjoys and understands. So how can writers best serve their readers, according to Zinsser? The answer is quite simple; write clearly and without clutter. Unity, according to Zinsser, is "the anchor of good writing" and "good writing is lean and confident." (60, 111)

On Writing Well

• Highly recommended for all writers
• Less than 300 pages of clear and easy reading
  
• Plethora of examples
• other links *photo taken by Skip Weisenburger(NPR) and NPR Audio

Do you write to please yourself first?
As you write, do you consider your reader?
Do you feel confident about your writing?

Collaborative Book Review Project

When I read Bert Lorenzo's writing, whether it's his newsletter or the many essays he has published in Reflections Magazine, I recognize his simple yet eloquent and highly skilled use of language to communicate clearly with his readers. Although his topics may include difficult issues involving politics, economics or history, I always walk away better informed and with a much clearer understanding of the subject matter as well as his position. Therefore, it is no surprise that Bert is a big fan of On Writing Well by William Zinsser and thanks to Bert, I did not have to use my library card. He placed a copy of the book on my desk the day after I mentioned that I wanted to read it.

In true Zinsser fashion, the book contains less than 300 pages, so I encourage anyone else who has a library card and a little time this summer to read along with me. After I complete my read of On Writing Well, I plan to post my review. However, a collaborative book review might make for a more interesting project. If you are interested in participating in a collaborative review of this book, just leave me a comment and I will link back to your review once I have posted mine.

NPR Audio Interview by NPR 8 minutes

Preview On Writing Well