WANNA BE ON TOP?

Today I had the opportunity to speak to students participating in the leaderSTATE program at Mississippi State University. After changing my talk at least 3 times, I settled on the topic of "Self-Improvement/Professional Development". I am in no way an expert, but I have been fortunate to participate in several professional development opportunities. In addition, I have been blessed to have a people in my life who make it their business to hold me accountable and gladly contribute to my personal and professional success.

"Make the most of yourself...for that is all there is of you."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Many of us (self included) want to be successful, but do not want to put in the work....so...how bad do you want it? I guess that all depends on your definition of "success". Again, I do not have all the answers, but I want to give you three points that I truly believe will contribute to your personal and professional development. I will not give you an exhausted list, as I believe in the power of the small things. So, here are three things that you can do TODAY:

1. Read a book: Find a good book and read 10 pages each day. Yes, reading is fundamental. The more you read, the more wisdom you gain. It's just that simple folks! Grab a book and get to it. Since I love love love reading, I'll provide you with a few of my favorites.
   a. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
   b. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
   c. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

2. Update your resume: Your resume is basically your brand. I don't care if you are the best person for the job, if you have a crappy resume, you will never get that face to face interview. Keep it current! Joined a professional organization?...update your resume. Change careers?...update your resume. Trust me, it is easier to update it as life happens versus trying to cram everything in at one time---you are bound to forget something!

3. Get a mentor: I can not stress the importance of having a mentor. A mentor should be your champion! He or she does not have to look like you, nor do you all have to share experiences. However, your mentor needs to be someone that you can trust, someone who will hold you accountable and someone who is invested in your success. In simple terms, "Someone who has been there--done that--and willing to guide you as you go through."

Again, there are several factors that contribute to an individual's success. My hope is that you read something that will assist you on your quest to a better you! If I can be of assistance, please let me know. Remember, you are the ONLY person responsible for your success.

For more information on leaderSTATE, please visit http://leaderstate.msstate.edu/.

xo,
NaToya Rae

My life is a lifetime movie

Today was a hot mess! Anytime your day starts with a spider... let me just tell you.
So this morning I headed out early to make a coffee stop. [I'm pretty sure I'm being punished for not using my Keurig. Sorry mom, I needed creamer]. Anyway, I got in my truck, put it in reverse and there it was...... a spider! Yall I freaked out. I got out of the truck and started swatting. After about 10-15 minutes I lost the spider. I was scared to death and even contemplated calling a friend to pick me up,  but I decided to be an adult about the situation  ::insert laugh here:: I headed to work...turning around every 3 seconds to make sure Mr. Spider Man wasn't crawling on me. Fast forward to noon---I went to vacuum my truck out. Did I get the spider?  Probably not...it's probably hiding on the ceiling  waiting to jump out tomorrow morning. Not today, Mr. Spider...not today.

Ok, now let's talk about supper. Yall,  this was a typical Monday! So I've been daydreaming about pork chops all day. I always bake them but decided to [try] to fry them today.  I consulted with mom and sis and felt pretty good about it. Go ahead and fry them, they said. They will be good, they said.  So I get home and the angel on my left shoulder is saying "Just bake them, Toy." On the right,  the devil is saying "Go on and fry them girl, you got this." Without realizing I'm being influenced by an angel and taunted by the devil..... I chose to fry the freaking pork chops. Why?????

Let me speed this up. 1 pork chop magically disappeared...down the garbage disposal...do NOT ask. I began to fry the others and it just didn't seem right... the breading/crust wouldn't stay on. So I decided to take it one at a time. OK Toy,you got this......until I turn one over and grease flops evvvvverywhere...all over the stove, on my ARM [yes hot grease] and all over the kitchen floor. I quit. Yes, I gave up. Forget the stupid zucchini.  Forget the stupid rice. Forget the stupid pork chops. Tonight we will have Harveys. 

Through this entire fiasco, I am thankful.  Thankful that we do not [yet] have children that depend on mama's cooking...and thankful for a husband who laughs at my dinner fails. I'll put my apron on and try again tomorrow.

In all things, give thanks. xo
NaToya Rae

A Beautiful Mess

Ladies! How many of us can admit to being a bit EXTRA at times? ::raises hand:: For some reason, my family likes to refer to me as a DQ---Drama Queen. I have no idea why they would say such a thing ::sheepish grin::

Haha! Who am I kidding? I can be a mess and a half at times. In addition to being clumsy and forgetful, I am sometimes irritable and very easily annoyed. BUT, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." 
Psalm 139:14

We (women) are so hard on ourselves. We look in the mirror and want to change everything that makes us....us. We want longer hair. We think we are too short...or perhaps, too tall. We find all these slight imperfections that most people never notice. Each time I begin to complain about something insignificant, I stop and thank God for His many blessings. There is someone going through chemotherapy treatments wishing they had hair to comb. There is someone who was just told they will have to have a double amputation, yet we are complaining about being too tall. Father forgive us! We are made perfect in His sight. We are fearfully and wonderfully made...and that is to be praised!

I am thankful that I've learned to truly love and accept me for me...flaws and all. True love and acceptance does not come from altering your physical appearance, but by understanding that God designed you even before you were in your mother's womb. He designed you...perfect...in His image. That alone should be all the assurance you need. So ladies, let's focus on self love and remember, you are enough.

xo,

NaToya Rae