The Empowerment Plan

It started out as a project for a college class. Instructed to design and make something that would fill a need, Veronica Scott walked into a homeless shelter to go to a direct source. She spoke with homeless people and asked them what they needed most. Most became anger by the the question, however, a few sat down and tossed some ideas. And that was when Veronica went home to work in her basement and design a coat that would keep warmth, keep out rain, and be able to expand into a sleeping bag. While researching the company I found the creator had been invited to do a Ted Talk! And as you know I love Ted Talks! For such a young person she has been able to do so much.

Max's Story  how The Empowerment Plan succeeded in changing lives.Here is an article about a woman who was finally released from prison and how Veronica's project did more than just keep one person warm. Veronica's open heart has not only created a coat that is functional but has actually succeeded in giving people lives back. With a steady job, a person can have a place to live and food in their belly.

Most of us see a homeless person and the street and judge them for their actions that led them there. This judgement is leads nowhere. Not only does it keep people on the streets but it shows us who we really are, selfish and small minded. We can't see past our noses. Understandable that we all have issues as well, but hearing Veronica's Empowerment Plan and how it creates jobs as well as helps the homeless, I can't help but be in awe of her natural brain process. Of course if you watch the video that introduced me to this fantastic idea, you'll see that everything just happened by chance. Even so, the idea and the process fascinates me. My hope is one day to meet Veronica in person and help in some small way. After all a leader who can be so young and so selfless is someone I wish to be near.

The Empowerment Plan for more information, this is their direct site.

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As always thank you for reading and I hope this motivated you to do something or create something for someone in need. If you know someone who could use a Empowerment Coat, please look up and see if it can be delivered to your area and I will pay for half of it. I love this idea and would like to spread this project worldwide.

Have a Sweeter Day than Yesterday 

Les Brown (Video Review)

So I am a pretty big fan of John Maxwell and while watching one of his Minute with Maxwell daily videos he had A guest speaker named Les Brown was on the video and John mentioned that Les had been doing motivational speaking just as long as John had. I got curious and wanted to see his style of speaking. I found this older video on youtube.com and loved it! 

This Les Brown video is 48.59 minutes long. The Title is "You Deserve" with an introduction at the beginning and a short biography of the speaker. One thing that shocked me in the quick facts mentioned about Led is that growing up he was diagnosed EMR or Educated Mentally Retarded. During Les' speech he explains that when was young a teacher asked him to write something on the board, and Les told him he wasn't able to. The teacher insisted and when he asked Les why he couldn't Les explained that he was EMR. The teacher said, "Don't ever say that again. Someone's opinion of you does not have to be your reality." Les has done great things in his life time that he couldn't have done had he not started to think about himself differently.

It is an older video but still amazing lessons to be learned and right from the beginning you can feel Les' energy. I loved his booming voice and his timely placed humor. One thing he said that made me giggle was your always going to have problems. Life is hard, it's not perfect. So you need to invest in yourself. Take time to work on yourself. Ask what things do you need to improve? If you don't you: "Will wake up one day and find that your behind on your dreams and you bills"

I found myself laughing a lot and soaking in so much information. Les' energy was all over the stage and in his hands. He has a different technique that I hadn't seen yet. One thing he did was make the audience repeat phrases throughout his speech. He would say something and make the ground repeat it word for word. From it I got, if you say it yourself about yourself it's possible because you believe it. But you need to start believing it. Start by saying your goals or writing them down somewhere you can read it everyday.   

Even though the video is a bit long I did learn a lot. And it kind of opened my eyes on a couple view points. For example: "Develop the habit of doing more than what you're paid for." if you go into work right on time and you pack up your stuff 15 minutes before it's time to leave you're not cheating the company that you work for. You're cheating yourself by limiting yourself and creating bad habits. Get a habit of being mediocre than that is what you will become. Need to set high standards for yourself and who are want to be for your next job. We talk ourselves out of greatness all the time. Stop holding yourself back."   

Les also through out many quotes that I hadn't heard of before. Here a couple more things that I go from the video.  

“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have one and not be prepared.”

– Whitney Young, Jr., American Civil Rights Leader

It doesn't take much to be a loser. Actually it takes no effort at all. It's easy to do nothing. It's easy to complain about your life and how people around you are succeeding. 

Practice makes Improvements, it's doesn't make perfection. There is not such thing. But you can always make improvements. Practice, Practice, Practice. 

Overall an amazing video and seeing the different hair style in the audience were pretty entertaining too. If you have time I definitely suggest you watch it. And if you don't have time do what I did, listened to it while working and cleaning my house. Remember that you have to take the time to invest in yourself. 

Thanks for Reading 

Have a Sweeter Day than Yesterday! 

Add Value To Others

So for a little over two years now I have been trying to bring more positivity into my life. I tend to be a worrier, a dweller, and someone who doesn't always have high esteem. While working at a company called Candy Craze my boss thought pretty high of me. She trusted me to run the store and handle things while she traveled to help other stores. While working for her she bought me a book to read during down time at work. The book was written by John C. Maxwell. I never finished the book, but I started following John Maxwell online as well as researched other popular speakers.

John Maxwell Books

One out of several reasons why I enjoyed my time working at Candy Craze was the faith that my boss had me; that I could get the job done. And that she wanted more for me as a person. Adding values to others is what makes a great leader. A quote by Tom Peters, "Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders," reminds me of her teaching methods and her energy.

Every time I think of my old boss I think of a great leader. She wanted what was best for everyone. She was fair in her decisions and what she expected of me and others. But what I loved most is the creativity and positivity that she passed on to me. I miss her greatly. 

This thought for the week came from my daily video from John Maxwell. He has a new video every day that is based on one word or phrase that is a positive outlook and seeing oneself more as a leader. So the word of the day was Add Value. If you are someone who is always waiting for good things to happen to you, I suggest you watch this video and sign up to receive the other daily videos. Because you need to make your future, it unfortunately it will not fall into your lap. 

The video really hit me though. John speaks about adding value to others around you. Not waking up every morning wanting someone to add value to you. Adding values to others is what makes you a great leader as well as a better person and it also makes you a more positive person as a whole. 

Well that's what was on my mind. So start being a positive influence in someone's life and you're bound to be a happier person with great opportunities. 

Thanks for reading 

my 

thoughts!

~~

Have a Sweeter Day 

Than

Yesterday