Chicago Life Coach

The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group Financial Seminar & Networking Event

2011-09-09T09:40:00.001-05:00

Join the L.A.D.I.E.S. Group for our very first event....

A Financial Seminar & Networking Event for WOMEN ONLY brought to you by Executive Life Coach and founder of The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group, Niquenya D. Fulbright and featuring Chicago Tribune personal finance columnist Gail MarksJarvis.

When: October 21, 2011 5PM - 6:30PM
Where: Ing Direct Cafe
21 E. Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Get Directions

Buy tickets now!

This 90 minutes of power-packed fun FOR WOMEN ONLY includes:

•Networking - Meet & greet other L.A.D.I.E.S. and exchange your business cards.
•Learning - Get inspired and educated by Gail MarksJarvis, an award-winning author, TV commentator and personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
•Eating - Enjoy a number of delectable treats, fine wine and other beverages courtesy of Drinks On Me Catering.
•Winning - Attendance includes participation in a raffle with amazing prices you won't want to miss!

Get your tickets today as space is VERY LIMITED for our first event. Don't miss out on this exciting networking opportunity and educational event! And in keeping with The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group's mantra to "Share the Wealth!", a portion of all proceeds will benefit the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's Income Initiative.

Buy tickets for The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group Financial Seminar & Networking Event

Can't attend but still want to contribute?

You can give to the United Way by mailing a completed Pledge Form along with your donation to:

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
c/o Niquenya D. Fulbright
560 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL, 60661

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Contact Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright for additional details!

This is a women only event! Please note that absolutely no refunds or admittance to this event will be available to men. All ticket sales are non-refundable after 10/11/2011.

About The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group:

The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group is a free, public, virtual Facebook group for women to Learn About Debts, Investing and Economic Strategy. Our mission is to create a safe space for women to gain control of their economic station by becoming financially literate, savvy savers and strategic investors. Facilitated by Executive Life Coach Niquenya D. Fulbright, the group is moving burdens through the promotion of economic self-sufficiency. For more information, visit The L.A.D.I.E.S. Group on Facebook.

Financial Confessions

2011-04-19T10:38:00.001-05:00

Financial freedom involves being honest with yourself and others about your financial situation. If you avoid taking a good look at your saving and spending habits then you risk falling into a downward spiral of economic despair. If you pretend that you have more than you really do then you put yourself in a position where you can fall into the trap of living beyond your means simply to keep up with the Jones'. Almost everyone has some guilty pleasure that is preventing them from reaching that pinnacle of prosperity that defines their own economic success. The longer you keep your financial situation in the dark, the more you allow yourself to sink into the abyss of economic destruction. It is time to gain control of your finances by facing your situation head on; thereby, successfully destroying any roadblocks that stand in your way to prosperity.

Because I walk the walk and not just talk the talk, I am going to share my own financial confession and subsequent wake-up call. Yesterday, I drove to work ($14 to park), bought Dunkin Donuts for breakfast ($6.49) and ordered delivery from the local pizza place ($10 after tipping the driver). I spent a total of $30.49 in one day simply because I was being too lazy to walk to the train or prepare my meals at home. Now what if this were typical of every day (and I'm embarrassed to say that it is more often than I would care to admit), then I would have spent over $600 every month and that is not even counting the gas money I eat up by driving.

Now let's look at the other option. My monthly transit pass is $86. Last night I purchased instant oatmeal packets, cereal bars, a box of teabags, cold cuts, cheese slices, a loaf of bread, Miracle Whip, a family pack of chip snacks, cookies, and a box of Capri-Suns for a total of $36. Combined with my other groceries already in stock at home, this should last me at least 2 weeks so we can safely say $72 worth of groceries for just breakfast and lunch would get me through the month. $72 in groceries plus $86 in transit is equal to just $158. So if I did the smart, responsible thing and both took the train in to work as well as brought in my meals, then I would save well over $400 every month which can either be put away in my savings and other investments or redirected to pay off credit card bills, loans and other expenses that are accumulating interest.

So I ask you, what is your financial confession?

Believe, Achieve, Receive

2011-04-02T13:43:00.000-05:00

This morning as I drove into work in my new-to-me Toyota Rav4, something amazing hit me. I had spoke and willed my ride into existence. Seriously! The power in thought and words is immeasurable. I had been dreaming of owning a small truck for a very long time and had even wanted it to be forest green. I told everyone that one day I would have it and now I do and it is exactly as I had imagined years ago. But it wasn't just the thought and words that brought my dream into fruition.

Words are powerful. In fact, a great deal of the Bible talks about the power of the tongue as a double-edged sword and the effects words can have on our lives. We are cautioned about how we use our words with one another from early childhood because of the impact that they can have. An entire revolution sprung forth after the book/movie "The Secret" highlighted the benefits of the law of attraction. But something very critical was missing in that movie.

My thoughts and words by themselves are very powerful indeed but in order for me to fully realize my dreams, I had to also be moved to action. Because I did want a new ride, I chose to believe that I would get it but then I also performed the necessary steps to make it be. I started reviewing and revising my credit history in case I needed a loan. I began saving specifically for the vehicle and I launched a search to begin pricing vehicles. Then I went out and test drove my options until I was ready to make a purchasing decision.

I share this with you because not too often do things really happen on a wish and a prayer but many of us walk around with our heads in the clouds thinking this to be true. I know that I have often dug my hands into the hope chest - hoping my dreams would come true.

The truth of the matter is that no matter what your dream is, it is probably achieveable; but, you have to DO something to make it happen. To ensure that your wildest dreams come true, you have to set your B.A.R.

B. Believe that it can happen and speak it into existence.
A. Achieve by creating an actionable plan that you consistently work on completing.
R. Receive all the fruits of your LABOR!

Your level of engagement, or how high you set your B.A.R., is a direct indication of how fast, if ever, you will make your wildest dreams come true. I set my B.A.R. really high and have yet to be stopped.

Choose to continue sifting through the hope chest or become unstoppable. Really, it's your choice!

My Two Cents on Higher Education

2011-03-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

In order to make and have more money you need a good, quality education. But what does that mean? Many people are concerned about the rising costs of higher education. Afterall, tuition costs have risen by almost 50% in the past decade alone. College graduates remain in tens of thousands of dollars in debt long after they finally secure that coveted "great" job, that is if they even are successful in landing that job in the first place.

The problem here is that one must understand the difference between education and a credential. An education is an in-depth understanding and gaining of knowledge, concepts, skills and practicuums that will help you to accomplish something whereas a credential is a sort of social sign that you have achieved a certain level of accomplishment. Think about this: Bill Gates dropped out of school where he would have earned a credential and became a business owner where he grew his education. Running your own business and diving into real-life experience is the best education that there is. Does Bill Gates need the credential to prove his value? Absolutely not!

Does this mean that quality education isn't important? Absolutely not! You must have a quality education in order to be taken seriously. This means that you must possess the necessary knowledge, understanding, concepts, skills and practicuums to do the things you want to pursue for financial gain. You just do not have to follow the traditional pool of thought that success means you go to school, get a good job, buy a house, and have a family. That might not be your idea of success and, let's face it, may take way too long to help you out right now.

So what do you do? Your education can come from experience (open your own business, shadow someone doing what you want to do, etc.), reading good books, attending seminars and workshops and many other ways. The bottomline is that you do not have to go broke in pursuit of a credential that few people will even care that you have if you are able to prove that you have the knowledge, skills, and understanding to practice.

Using myself as an example, how many of you have asked me what my qualifications are to run my L.A.D.I.E.S. group on Facebook or this blog? How do you know that the information I am providing can be trusted? The same goes for my coaching practice. I have coached close to two hundred people by now over the last decade. How many times do you think I have been asked for a coaching certification? I have provided consulting services to dozens of businesses and have lectured and trained at dozens of organizations. How many of them have asked me for a college degree? The truth of the matter is that this has NEVER been asked of me. And I just last year graduated with my BS in Technical Management and just became certified as a Christian Life Coach four years ago.

My education came from reading, doing, observing and living. Knowledge is power and the best education is a cheap but quality one that allows you to dive in fast. Afterall, does it make sense to go into debt in the several tens of thousands of dollars for a credential that will only allow you to secure a position that makes maybe a third of that in the first year? Absolutely not!

My advice: think about what you really want to do and then find ways to learn how to do it without the credential. If there is no way to get around the credential due to legal issues, (think doctors or lawyers), then find the cheapest and fastest ways to get the credential so that you can start earning faster and amass wealth instead of debt.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-05T13:44:00.001-06:00

So it's a new year and a new me. I've started off this year with a whole lot of changes, many that went into effect last year but I am continuing full-force with them this year.

First, I am back in school full-time pursuing my MBA in E-Commerce. This is a bit of a change because initially I was all gung-ho to get my next accolade in Psychology. I'm also considering adding a CPA track to my MBA pursuits depending on how I can work in the extra accounting courses. As it stands, I should be in good position to finish up by September.

Second, there is a new man in my life. We actually started dating in the summer of 2009 but since we made our 1-year anniversary last August, things are heating up to something serious. Pretty sure I have landed my husband. It is true what they say, once you stop looking, you find love. I definitely wasn't looking and he found me. Yay!!! I am truly blissfully happy.

Third, I made a super serious huge decision to reenter the corporate workforce. I've been self-employed for so long that this transition was very dramatic. Don't worry! I am still working my own businesses as a life coach, mediator and all of the other services that I have been sought after for. My priorities have just changed a little to require that I have more regular, consistent, "guaranteed" income. I was lucky that I found a really great position at a well-known nonprofit agency. I get to use all of my skills, continue learning new ones and help people while doing it! I think for the first time ever, I might actually LOVE my job. The compensation isn't too shabby either.

Fourth, I am on a super savings kick. I am stacking dollars from every income source. If you know me by now, then you are very aware that I am a strong believer in multiple income streams. So yes, I have my full-time gig, my coaching and consulting business and this year I am also preparing individual income tax returns. I needed somewhere to grow all that loot I'm making so that I can set myself up for the long-term and acquire some assets I've been looking forward to (a new car and house are on the agenda). Of course I pay myself first through my job's retirement plan and taking advantage of as many pre-tax deductions as I can via flexible spending accounts and such. But I am also beginning to invest on my own using my Ing Direct Sharebuilder account so I am the proud owner of several shares of stock which are already working to increase my income and net worth. I am also sharing a lot of what I learn about building wealth in my L.A.D.I.E.S. fan page and group on Facebook.

Finally, to be on a traditional New Year's resolution mode, although I'm really not calling it that, I have a goal to lose a LOT of weight. My boyfriend is helping me out by being my partner and competitor in our own Biggest Loser type competition. You can check on my progress by taking a look below or at the new widget in the top left of this blog.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

So in a nutshell, 2011 promises to be an interesting journey for me. I hope it proves to be just as fruitful to you as well.

More About Writing

2010-06-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

As some of you very well may know, I had just gotten my action plan together to monetize my writing when I got blindsided. eHow seemed like it was going to be my bread and butter, my meat and potatoes, my foie gras. I was really starting to earn a nice passive residual income from my articles and had high hopes of writing many more. Unfortunately, suddenly the eHow site started having all of these major glitches and issues that prevented publishing and then some genius over at the parent company decided to stop accepting articles direct from eHow and to move everyone over to the Demand Studios site. What a load of bologna!

First off, any old average Joe was able to write for eHow. Although there were a few crappy articles, for the most part eager writers offered some really helpful how-to information and advice on how to do just about anything. I didn't mind the typos or grammatical errors if the information was useful. On top of that, the articles were literally SEO keyword goldmines which made the whole site a Google favorite.

Writing for Demand Studios is a much different animal in that they have a lengthy approval process and want you to be a serious, professional writer. The earnings are also kind of sucky. I have yet to complete my first article because I'm in limbo with getting my author's bio to the proper format according to their stupid, strenuous guidelines. I don't even think I have a live link to my profile page yet. Seriously? I didn't sign up for this.

My suggestions: HubPages and Associated Content are the way to go. Both still have their guidelines but you still have a good chance to earn something nice for quality, well-written articles. If you find out about any other great article-submission sites (I know about Squidoo and Bukisa - still testing those out), please let me know.

Back to the drawing board I go. :)

Dissecting Bad Relationships

2010-05-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been talking to friends who have came right out and told me that they are jealous of my current relationship which is going so fantastic. They are ranting and raving about how their relationships are so bad and they are just generally unhappy with the situation. One woman is dating a married man and the other is involved with an unmotivated, jobless, perpetual cheater. Now I know it seems like we all know what's wrong with these pictures without needing to know the whole story, but I implore you to look deeper into why these women stay in such obviously unhealthy relationships. Furthermore, I want you to look at your own relationships and decide why it is that you stay in those as well.

It has taken me a long time to find happiness in a relationship and I have realized it is because I needed that time to first find happiness within myself, by myself. You can not fully commit to a relationship if you haven't first fully committed to yourself. When you enter a relationship broken, you do so with baggage and expectations of the other person making you whole. It is unfair to place sole responsibility for your happiness on another person's shoulders. What you are essentially doing is draining the life and energy from your partner rather than inputting your positivity along with theirs to build you both up. Now just imagine the chaos that ensues when both people come to the table broken. You both become codependent parasites leaching off each other's happiness until there is nothing left and you fall into the cesspool of negativity and loneliness you have buth dug for yourselves.

Relationships are merely reflections of our own self-image. If you think your partner isn't good enough, then you probably don't think that you're good enough either. If you believe that your deserve better then you will demand better. It is as simple as that. So if you find yourself in an unhappy, dead-end and/or abusive relationship, it is up to you to examine why you are really there. End it and let it die. Go ahead and grieve for it but in your grieving, learn from it and grow. Remember, opposites do not attract, only complements do so if you find yourself repeating a pattern of bad relationships, it is time for some thorough self-exploration. Your happiness is really in your hands.

Vision Quest - What's Your's?

2010-04-16T09:26:00.005-05:00

With vision comes direction. Open your eyes to see whose path you're really on. Today is the perfect day to take the wheel and steer right.

Too often we spend our days living in "supposed to do" and "need to do". What do you "want to do"? Maybe it's due time to take the bull by the horns and get started on your own hopes and dreams. Too much time living by the expectations of others can leave much desired. The key to finding happiness is to follow your heart and desires. Get in tune with you.

The funny thing about getting in touch with your own wants and desires is that many of us have gone so long without putting ourselves first that we often don't know where to begin. How do we do it? How do we give ourselves permission to step away from the many directions friends, family, careers, roles, etc.; are pulling us in order to focus on the central element in the equation...me?

Time to get quiet and listen to your soul. Sounds silly but you might be surprised by the complete clarity of thought one can achieve just by getting quiet. So find some quiet, "me" time today. It doesn't have to be too long. Just a few minutes is more than enough for a purposeful pause.

Let all the stress and burdens slip away while you let your mind and body ease into relaxation. A clear and calm mind is the best platform for problem-solving and decision-making. It may take a few attempts before you can fully take advantage of your purposeful pauses but keep at it. You will eventually develop a clear vision and the perfect peace you need to follow it into fruition.

Still need some help? Schedule a free introductory life coaching session and I will be happy to partner with you to find the direction you need.

Bukisa?

2010-03-23T21:31:00.004-05:00

Well I totally thought I had finally gotten on the ball with my writing over at eHow. I mean, afterall, I was definitely seeing a return on my few minutes of investment per article. I figured if I started writing one article per day at the very least then it wouldn't be long before I had a nice residual income from the site but wouldn't you know it! That darned eHow has some sort of site glitch (they're calling it a bug) that is preventing articles from being published correctly. This means my last few articles are just sitting in some strange article limbo hidden away from the eager eyes of my readers. UGH!!!

That leads me to Bukisa. Now this is another article site that pays out a revenue share from advertising to its member writers. I joined Bukisa almost a year ago but hadn't revisited the site until today. I decided to publish the papers I had written for my Graduate courses as articles. So this blog post is dedicated to my new relationship with Bukisa. I will let you know if I start seeing the revenue that was being generated over at eHow but I do so hope that eHow gets their act together. I like receiving a passive income.

http://www.bukisa.com/people/coachniquenya

Join Me Today for FREE Online Resume Workshop

2010-03-12T11:11:00.001-06:00

Resume Workshop for Career Changers by Niquenya D. Fulbright

Get your own Virtual Classroom

FREE Online Resume Workshop for Career Changers

2010-03-10T01:08:00.004-06:00

I'm hosting a free online resume workshop for career changers. I delivered a live customized version of this course at a local school with great results. See the positive feedback from the students on Yelp.

About the e-course:

This 90-minute workshop targets jobseekers who are in a career transition and/or have little or no work experience within their chosen industry. The course highlights key transferable skills and assists with the development of a functional resume. Cover letters and interview techniques are also briefly discussed. Attendees will walk away knowing that they possess the tools needed to land a dream job within their new targeted career fields.

When:

Friday, March 12, 2010

1:oo PM - 2:30 PM

REGISTER FOR THIS FREE ONLINE RESUME WORKSHOP FOR CAREER CHANGERS

Latest Articles Posted on eHow

2010-03-01T11:32:00.002-06:00

This eHow thing is great and I am still just trudging away with publishing a little article here and a little article there. This is most ridiculous of me to say the least. I sincerely could knock out two articles a day if not more but yet again procrastination and distractions are rearing their ugly heads. I'm not giving up though and have been diligently working to get my home office in order so that I can have the space to breathe easy and write more frequently. Afterall, eHow is making me some serious cash and is an excellent vehicle to generate additional passive income online.

In any case, here are the latest articles that are already generating a little bit of buzz on the net. Please visit the articles and leave a rating and comment on them. I love constructive feedback. You can also share the articles to your own social networks as you see fit.

Change Your Mind, Change Your Path

2010-01-22T08:13:00.001-06:00

Fulfilling your dreams often takes inner work. It is impossible for you to be the same person broke as you would be financially stable. Think about it. Look at where you are now and where you would like to be. Will you reach your goals if you continue to practice the same bad habits and negative behaviors that have landed you in your current situation? Probably not. Examine your dreams and decide what needs to be changed, improved and/or stopped completely. Change your mind, change your heart, change your path. Growth is a process. Are you willing to commit?

"The greatest reward in becoming a millionaire is not the amount of money that you earn. It is the kind of person that you have to become to become a millionaire in the first place." - Jim Rohn

Become A Life-Long Learner

2010-01-20T10:37:00.002-06:00

Commit yourself to being a lifelong learner. Knowledge is power. Make an effort to learn something new today. Sharpen your skills and hone your talents. Don't forget to share!

If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.

-Lord Chesterfield

Things you can do to enhance your personal development:
*read a book
*attend a seminar
*join in on a teleclass
*visit a museum exhibit
*pick up a newspaper
*talk with your kids (you'd be surprised at what you could learn)
*chat with a senior citizen
*go back to school
*join a Toastmasters club

The list is endless. Be creative and have fun. Learning can be enjoyable and goes a long way in extending your productivity. There are health benefits to learning too! Studies have shown that those people who actively feed their minds are less likely to develop Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments as they age.

Let those cerebral muscles flex!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

2010-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

Good morning and happy MLK day. Regardless of your race, color, sex, national origin, creed, sexual orientation or disability, take a moment to reflect upon your own "learned" prejudices and decide how you can not only be more tolerant of those who may be different from you but also more accepting. What would Jesus do?

Federal Free File Opens Today

2010-01-15T06:30:00.001-06:00

Federal Free-File with the IRS begins today. E-file your federal return and select direct deposit to receive your cash in as little as 2 weeks. Here is a table that provides estimated 2010 refund direct deposit and mailed check schedules.

2010 IRS e-file Refund Cycle Chart

How do you plan to spend the extra cash? Do you have an emergency fund or a savings account? Are there bills or other debts you need to catch up on?

Create a plan to budget your refund now so that it doesn't slip through your fingers when it arrives. One thing I have found to work well is to pretend the refund doesn't exist. After all, you have been without this cash for a year already. Why not save or invest the whole amount? Think about it.

Changed My Mind - It's My Prerogative

2010-01-01T09:26:00.000-06:00

So I started to move over to WordPress but it didn't happen. In fact, I am spent much of my time these last few months, attempting to get my personal life in order so my business has suffered. Dealing with children with disabilities (be they mental or physical) is NO JOKE. Things are going better now so I'm hoping to get back on track with this blog by offering my readers more of the great tips, tools, techniques and advice that they so deserve. Looking forward to reconnecting with the blogosphere. :)

Moving to Wordpress?

2009-06-20T23:36:00.002-05:00

I've been hearing for quite some time now that Wordpress is a much better blogging platform than Blogger. Apparently, using Blogger is risky because you don't actually own all of your content and are at the mercy of Google's will to maintain the platform. Call me crazy but that doesn't sound great to me so I think I am finally going to join the Wordpress revolution.

What's more, I've recently heard about this great ebook about Wordpress from a fellow blogging friend. It basically gets you started in the right direction to making a money-generating blog for your desired niche. That sounds like what I'm trying to do. I was also told that there are a lot more features available on Wordpress than Blogger.

So, it looks like I'm going to be a convert. As soon as I'm finished preparing myself by reading this great ebook about Wordpress, I will definitely be making the transition. I will update my regular Blogger readers here before I'm gone for good but I like to give you all the heads up.

I'd love to hear from you if you've had experience using Wordpress and Blogger. Tell me what you liked and disliked about both and which you prefer. I'm all ears (or eyes as the case may be). Also, if you've read this ebook about Wordpress, please give me your thoughts on that as well.

2009 National Dump the Pump Day

2009-06-17T11:53:00.004-05:00

June 18, 2009 is the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day. The day is designed to encourage people to get out of their cars and ride public transportation to raise awareness of the financial benefits of transit. Public transportation has the ability to save people money, conserve gasoline, and reduce the harmful greenhouse gases emitted into our environment.

On June 18, CTA will join with RTA, Pace and Metra, to participate in the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation to go to work, to school, and for a variety of community and recreational activities.

Riding CTA reduces energy consumption by 40 percent and carbon emissions by 60 percent compared to driving. One individual using public transportation instead of driving a car saves the environment over 4,800 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. A full eight-car train carries more than 800 people, which is equal to taking more than 600 cars off the road.

Please invite people you know to give CTA a try instead of driving their car. To welcome new riders and thank their regular customers, Transit Ambassadors will be on hand from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at:

95th/Dan Ryan/Red Line
Rosemont/Blue Line
Clark/Lake
Union Station
Route 59/Naperville-Aurora Metra Station
Join in on June 18 to ride CTA and encourage everyone you know to do the same.

Visit transitchicago.com today to learn more and plan a trip on CTA!

Writing, Writing, Writing

2009-03-02T21:16:00.004-06:00

As you may very well know, I belong to quite a few article submission sites. Writing has always been one of my fortes so that probably isn't a great surprise. I've been hit by a writing bug lately so I thought I would direct your attention to some of my latest work currently being displayed on eHow.

Now if you don't know about eHow.com, you are really missing out. First, it is an awesome resource for anyone wanting to do just about anything. The site is composed of millions of how-to articles from how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to how to build your own robot. You can literally find out how to do just about anything. I even saw a funny article about how to fart silently or discreetly.

Not only can you find great articles, you can also make money writing your own. All of the articles featured on eHow are member-created. eHow pays its members a portion of the advertising revenue made on every article posted. There are many eHow members like xrayness who are making at least $1000 per month and there are several others making tens of thousands.

I am still new to the whole eHow compensation program so I'm just now getting my butt in gear to take advantage of its income potential. Here's a short list of my latest articles:

Vacations Are Absolutely Necessary

2009-02-17T13:38:00.002-06:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take advantage of a time share package as a referral by my aunt. I had never experienced the fun of a time share before now. It was...AWESOME!

First off, this was a much needed vacation. It has been a few years since I've actually been out of the state so I was glad that my destination was sunny Florida, especially in the dead cold of a Chicago winter. Things have been really hectic with me trying to balance all of my commitments. I have had many speaking opportunities lately and my 2009 special has had me VERY busy with coaching clients. Not to mention, I am sooooooo late with launching my new website update. Matter-of-fact, I can't believe I fully designed and launched the Life Coach Support Network's new site already.

Also, this being Valentine's Day weekend was a great plus. I hardly ever celebrate this holiday for lovers because my daughter's birthday is the 13th. Lo and behold, at 16 years old she thought that spending her birthday in Florida with her mom was...er...what's the word these kids say today? LAME! So I packed up my son, my boyfriend and myself and off we headed to sunny Florida on a Greyhound. That was kind of crazy but we did it to save a little money on transportation. Plus taking the bus really was an adventure. I collected a shot glass from every state we stopped in including Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Georgia.

The resort itself was FABULOUS. We stayed at the Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club. Our 1-bedroom suite included a full kitchen complete with dishes, an in-room laundry, sofa bed and a jacuzzi tub in the bedroom. The grounds were ginormous and included 7 pools, a mini-golf course, a park, restaurants and a full-range golf course. The best way to get around the resort is by car or golf cart. I don't recommend going without a car rental as we did this time but we survived because I brought groceries with us and we were only staying for the weekend. Week-long stays would require a car.

It was a lot of fun. We played mini-golf, swam, took long walks, watched the Disney World fireworks from our balcony, took a tour of the resort and much more. I did end up buying the timeshare which I originally planned on not doing but I just couldn't pass up the offer. The key is to hold off until the salespeople get to the very last bare bones offer. Don't immediately buy. They will most likely drop the price three to four times before they give up and there's often freebies in it for you as incentives.

So my advice to you today is to TAKE A VACATION! Whether it is a stay-cation or you're lucky enough to go farther, just do it. It is soooooo worth it. I came back relaxed and ready to work.

Oh and as an added tidbit, my new timeshare ownership allows me to extend the same offer to friends, family and associates as my aunt did for me. If you want to take advantage of all the amenities a timeshare has to offer for just a fraction of the price, let me know and I will extend a referral your way. Just email me your request.

You can also take a stay-cation in Chicago or many other cities using a Go Card.

Life Coach Support Network Official Launch

2009-02-09T02:15:00.000-06:00

The Life Coach Support Network Has Officially Launched!!!

The much anticipated move of LCSN from Google Pages has finally arrived. As you may know, I am the owner and founder of the Life Coach Support Network which is an online networking resource for coaches and also a directory for potential clients to find a coach. Take a look around the new site and please, by all means, offer your feedback and suggestions for how we can be better. Visit our contact page via the link under Navigation on the lower left-hand side of this page or send an email to info@lifecoachsupportnetwork.org.

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP OFFER

There is still time for you to take advantage of a limited offer available to only the first 50 coaches who register for a membership to the Life Coach Support Network. For more information about the many benefits inclusion in the Directory of Coaches has to offer visit http://www.lifecoachsupportnetwork.org/introoffer.htm.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

One of the many benefits of an LCSN membership is your ability to display your expertise and market your coaching practice and/or other services related to personal and professional development. LCSN is calling for member-only submissions to its newsletter which will be widely distributed to over 1000 coaching professionals and interested clients around the world and growing.

LCSN is currently seeking articles, events and workshops for inclusion in the March and April editions of our newsletter. Remember, you must be a member in order to qualify for submissions.

ADVERTISING

A select number of ad spaces are available on the new LCSN site. You may submit your proposal for ad space and requested pages to info@lifecoachsupportnetwork.org. Text and banner ads related to personal and professional development, business and select other topics of interest to LCSN members may be accepted. NO ADULT or ads in poor taste accepted. LCSN does not accept link exchange requests; however, resources of great significance to its members may be considered for addition to our Coach's Toolkit or Client Support Center.

My Updated Website

2009-01-21T15:41:00.000-06:00

So I know it was a long time coming but yes ladies and gentlemen, I did finally update my primary website at http://www.niquenyafulbright.com. Now I am attempting to put together some decent training classes. I did change the color to purple as one of my readers suggested so THANK YOU.

I am being pulled in all sorts of directions at the moment. I guess that is just one of the many blessings of being gifted in so many areas. I am trying to take it all in stride. I must say that I am having a difficult time maintaining my commitments to myself to do it all so I have been revamping and revising my action plan almost daily, lol. I am hoping to settle into a decent groove so that I can balance my work and home life much the same as I have impacted my clients to do.

Make 2009 Your Year to Prosper & Shine

2008-12-31T08:41:00.003-06:00

Okay, it's that time again!

In celebration of the New Year, fresh goals and a new perspective, I am offering a seriously discounted coaching special for the entire month of January. Yes, this is an even better deal than my birthday special.

For any NEW client who schedules a FREE introductory coaching session from January 1st through 31st, you will lock in a special price of just $20.09 per hour for every session scheduled in the entire year of 2009. That's right! You save over $100 off of my normal coaching fees but you'd better act fast as introductory coaching sessions are already being filled!

To schedule your free introductory coaching session simply email me or call (773) 368-3575.

MAKE 2009 YOUR YEAR TO PROSPER & SHINE!!!

New Year's Resolutions

2008-12-15T22:22:00.004-06:00

It's that time again. Time to review the past year's accomplishments, trials, challenges and transitions. Time to see what worked and what didn't work. Time to evaluate goals and realign one's self with "the plan".

2008 has been an interesting year for me. I started it off with the hopes of making 2008 my year to be great and in many ways it has been. I landed several media interviews including my first television spot courtesy of Anthony Ponce and NBC5, I watched myself appear in a small cameo in the Dark Knight in the scene just after Bruce Wayne threw his lamborghini in front of a police convoy, I helped three times as many people as I did last year and in the process doubled my income.

On that same token, 2008 has also been filled with several major challenges and disappointments. The year began on a severely injured ankle of which my doctors gave me little hope for recuperation, my daughter's mood disorder progressed alarmingly and for all my mediation skills my unruly neighbors have made it impossible to cohabitate in peace. Needless to say, many of my goals have gone uncompleted and at times even I have found myself overcome with a feeling of despair and hopelessness.

Despite these issues and drastic deviations from my plan, I am happy to say that I am coming out this year ahead of the game. I wanted to increase my writing, which although not as much as I would have liked, I have done so. I intended to gain more coaching clients and speaking engagements which I did. I cleared my life of negative people and in the process found love.

That is what it is all about. Setting goals, creating a plan and then holding on to that plan with your passion and purpose in check. Life will happen but it is how you choose to react and "pro-act" that really makes the difference. You can either let those unexpected difficulties creep in, hinder you and leave you immobilized or you can stand up, overcome and keep moving. I could sit here and rattle off the number of things that I have not accomplished although I had every intention to or I could focus on what I did do, where that leaves me right now and plan for how to move forward.

The new year is a natural time to reflect and start afresh. Doing so requires clearing the clutter from your life, whether that clutter is things, negative people or your own fears and stagnating self-talk. It starts with a personal choice followed by immediate action. Choose it, state it and then do it. Accept that things may not always go according to plan and know that you may need to alter your actions in the interim but the point is to keep on working toward that prize.

I am preparing for the new year with a personal evaluation that includes celebrating my successes, being thankful for every blessing and forgiving myself for my shortcomings and failures. I will be posting my new list of goals for 2009 in the next week or so and of course I will be looking to you, my faithful readers, for support and help in holding me accountable.

To your dynamic success and happy living!

Niquenya