New Single Is blog entry: Lessons From A Child

Please support Single Is. An awesome organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring women. 

Check out my new guest blog entry for Single Is at: Lessons From A Child by @delesaj http://ht.ly/5B2wP

Faith Will Get You Through

Hey guys here is a quick free write that I did one day. There has been a lot going on in my life recently; both good and bad. I feel like I am being pushed to my full potential only to breakthrough into a stronger, wiser person. 

The journey has been hard and I am nowhere near the end (although, I'm closer today then I was yesterday) but I wouldn't change it for anything. So please take from it what you need and/or pass it along to someone who may need it. 

Faith is what keeps me going; faith is that little flickering light at the end of the tunnel, faith is that tiny mustard seed, faith is seeing someone worst off than you, faith is hope, faith is...

So when in doubt, despair, pain or whatever the case may be just remember Faith will get you through.

Faith Will Get You Through

We often do things on our own and seek God’s help after we have failed. Then we have the nerve to question why he did not save us or how could he let us struggle?

Here is a wake up call: He does not operate like that. The problem is you.

You have to remain faithful to the Lord and pray everyday. Pray before and during a crisis not just after.

The most important lesson you can learn is that prayer works and faith will get you through the darkest hours. However, you have to make God your plan A instead of your plan B. He cannot be placed on standby.

Challenge yourself this week: increase your faith and mediation time. Then watch miraculous things take place right before your eyes.

Remember; when in doubt always remember that faith will get through. 

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

New International Version (NIV)

Passage taken from: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17%3A20&version=NIV

~Delesa J

Question to ponder: What is Faith to you? Please feel free to share. 

Look at me Now!

Hello all! A lot has been going on recently and I feel so blessed and favored. I recently became a writer for Feva La Bella Magazine and one of my articles was recently published in the June edition of FEVA!!

According to Fevalabella.com: 

The mission of “FEVA” LA BELLA MAGAZINE IS TO GIVE HOPE TO THE LEAST, THE LOST, AND THE LEFT OUT!

“FEVA” LA BELLA MAGAZINE seeks to provide insight into issues that affect and impact women of color, to inspire women to achieve, to educate women in both practical and intellectual subjects, and to create a supportive and nurturing community.

I am so excited to begin this new relationship and to write articles that will inspire and motivate other women and women of color. Everyone knows, I'm a feminist at heart ;). So once again I am blessed to be combining my passion of helping others with my passion for writing. Who could ask for a better job? 

So cheers to my new journey! I look forward to continuing my work with FEVA as well as building new relationships with other magazines and newspapers. So let the writing begin!

Note: In order to view my article (page 56) (and other upcoming articles) you must purchase the magazine, either in print or digital. Here's a link if you are interested in purchasing: @FEVALABELLA officially welcomes @delesaj in June with “Recession with a Lemon Twist” http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/200221 “FEVA”!!

Thank you all for your continued support. 

"So remember when life gives you lemons, do not just make lemonade, plant your own grove of lemon trees."-Delesa J (quote from my June FEVA article)

~Delesa J 

How to do it Yourself: Resume Writing and Business Workshops, act now!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to write your own resume? Delesa J Writing Services is giving workshops that will teach you hands on skills and prepare you to write that eye catching resume and to put you on the right track for starting your own business. Sign up today to lock in the $25 cost!!!

Resume Writing Tips by Resume.Com

During this tough economic time it is important to have a strong resume. Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself; your resume should stand out and make a bold statement. See the tips below on how to write a strong resume. Get ready, set, write!

Resume Writing Tips

Resume.com | Resume Tips

10 Resume Writing Tips

Keep in mind when writing your resume the importance of using PAR statements.
PAR stands for Problem-Action-Results, in other words, first you state the problem that existed in your workplace, then you describe what you did about it, and finally you point out the beneficial results. Essentially, you use action verbs to portray your accomplishments and briefly describe the results.

1. Your resume must be presentable; that means it has to be neat and error free. No room for typos or grammatical errors. Always have someone proofread your resume for errors and clarity.
2. Presentation is important. Format your resume so that the employer can peruse it quickly and identify your strengths. This is the opportunity to make a first impression.
3. Use specific key words and buzzwords in your resume. Keywords are related to your job skills, experience, and qualifications. Buzzwords are words related to the industry you are applying in or employer’s business type. Do not abbreviate words.
4. Remember to use action verbs to portray yourself, such as active, accomplished, contributed, transformed, improved, etc. Managers and supervisors can use a different set of action verbs, such as Managed, Supervised, Directed, etc.
5. Avoid Personal Pronouns such as “I” or “me.” If you use them in your first draft, remember to remove them in the final resume document. For example if you write “I helped with the creation of a recruitment program…” You can say “Created a recruitment program that…” or “Contributed to the creation of a recruitment program…”
6. Be specific and to the point. Highlight accomplishments and key points. Accomplishments can be listed; key points can be highlighted in bold or italics text. Bullets are key to minimizing text.
7. Your objective should read clearly throughout your resume. Emphasis should be placed on skills and strengths. Personal traits (hard worker, responsible, self-motivated, organized, etc) may be important depending on the job you are applying for. Your personal traits will show in the resume and the interview.
8. List only recent information. The general rule of thumb is to show your work experience by most recent experience first; and keep it relative to the position you are applying to. Avoid experiences that go back many years and are irrelevant. Keep it concise, well organized, be honest and keep it positive. Remember your resume is a reflection of you.
9. Avoid vocabulary, or words, that do not reflect who you are. The person reading your resume will not be impressed. Keep it simple and use words we all understand. Having someone else, say, a Resume Writing Service, write your resumes may not reflect who “you” are.
10. Use clearly identified section headings. Section headings are your Objective, Employment Experience / History, Skills, Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Licenses and Certifications, Honors, and References (if requested). Accomplishments and Strengths should be reflected in the body of your résumé.

Note: Never write in your resume or cover letter, that you are interested in the position because you want to “grow” or “advance” your career with them. You do not want to make the company feel like you are using them to grow your career; they will not risk having you move on to another company with what they have taught you. When a company hires you and they train you, they are making an investment. Companies are not in the business of teaching their employees so they can move on to other companies – hence advancing their employees’ careers.

You want the position to establish a long lasting relationship with the company so you can contribute your past experience and knowledge, and at the same time grow with the company. Mention that you want to utilize your past experience but at the same time, enhance you knowledge to the benefit of the company.

Resume Tips

A resume is the tool that, if written correctly and presented accurately, will help you land a job. It outlines your experiences, accomplishments, qualifications and skills. If formatted properly, an employer should be able to see immediately if you have the right qualifications and skill set he or she is looking for and whether you can contribute to the company. If you cannot communicate that in your resume within the first 30 seconds, almost by glance, then you have most likely failed the first round. Your resume will end up in the rejection pile and filed away.

To be effective keep your resume clear and focused. Highlight previous employers, city and Job Titles. Your previous employers’ job description / duties should focus around the requirements, as much as possible, of the position you are applying for. Mention accomplishments. Use key words. You should know as much as possible of the duties and skills of the job you are applying for.

Before you begin to write your resume, write down in chronological order (with the most recent position listed first) your past jobs, dates of employment and responsibilities or duties. Include only the most relevant duties and responsibilities, in addition to accomplishments, applicable to the position you are applying for. Again, the more you know about the employer and position, the better you can organize your resume. Avoid superfluous information (things that are not relevant).
You will note that the more experience you have, the easier it will be to write your resume. High School or college graduates will have a difficult time organizing a resume, for lack of work experience. In this case coursework, part-time jobs, summer internships, and volunteer work can be just as impressive. Good luck!

"You’ve got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it. It’s called perseverance." – Lee Iacocca

~Delesa J 

Are You a Writer? by Dr. Wayne Dyer

I loved this blog by Dr. Wayne Dyer. If you know who Dr. Dyer is then you know no further introduction is needed. If you don't know who he is please visit: http://www.drwaynedyer.com.

Author: Dr. Wayne Dyer
Source: http://www.drwaynedyer.com/blog/are-you-a-writer

Are You a Writer?

3/2/11 at 11:00 am | by DR. WAYNE W. DYER

People ask me about writing all the time. How does it work? How can they get their message out to the world? On the recent Hay House I Can Do It cruise, I spoke to the Writer’s Workshop which was one of the programs given on the ship. What a great group of eager, empowered, and energetic people! I told them that it all hinges on what Abraham Maslow taught me many years ago when I was a young doctoral student. He told me to put forth what I wanted, my work, my message, and then detach from the outcome. This is true for any life work because the work itself must be what is satisfying and fulfilling for you. Writing is challenging work because it’s so easy to get consumed with how it’s going, what’s going to happen to it, who’s going to like or not like it. You want to get all of that stuff out of your head and just let the work flow. If you incarnated to be a writer, if that is your passionate calling, then you’ll be getting messages from Source, from Spirit, leading you in that direction.

If you are thinking these thoughts and being guided to write, remember that you incarnated to be a writer, not necessarily an editor. Your first job is to write and not to apply a critical eye to your work without first letting it pour forth. Writing is like anything else—the more you do it, the better you get at it, the easier it comes and the less concerned you’ll be about what’s going to happen to it, where it’s going, what it sounds like, whether it’s right. After my four decades of writing, I have a practice that works beautifully for me. I just let the ideas flow through my heart. I don’t write with a machine. I write with a pen and a paper which is what is most comfortable for me. I just let it flow, and I have a wonderful editor who’s been with me for 32 years. I let her take care of all the details.

To get started, forget the details and let your ideas come out on paper. Get your passion on the paper. Let the passion that you feel come through. You won’t be able to stop and it will be the best writing you ever did. Detach from the outcome. Forget about whether it’s going to get published, whether it’s good or not good, whether it’s the right thing. There is no right in this. Let it come; be an instrument of flow. It’s the practice that makes it work out. If you told me you had a lousy backhand in tennis, wouldn’t I tell you to go out and hit 1000 backhand shots this week? Keep doing what you love to the best of your ability. Stop judging and get out of your own way.  I always tell audiences when I talk about writing: Writing isn’t something I do, writing is something that I am. I am writing—it’s just an expression of me. Is that how it is for you?

"Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind." - Rudyard Kipling

~Delesa J

Not Your Normal Seducer ;)...

Seduction is an art in itself however The Art of Business Seduction is a newly acquired business phrase. It's time to transform your everyday art of seduction into a business skill that can plow your company into the next level. Thanks to Mark Jeffries, you can use what you already know to get what you want, that is for your business of course! So let the seduction begin ;). 

Author: Marcia A. Reed-Woodard

Written For: Black Enterprise 

Resource: The Art of Business Seduction by Mark Jeffries

In today's ultracompetitive marketplace, succeeding in business has never been more difficult. "Every professional needs something that gives him a leg up on the competition and allows him to come out ahead in any situation,” says author and executive coach Mark Jeffries. In his latest book The Art of Business Seduction (John Wiley & Sons; $22.95), Jeffries writes that one's power to attract, entice, and win over others can be the difference between success and failure in this current business environment. Business seduction, he says, is the process of convincing bosses, clients, and co-workers that you are the professional they want to do business with.

"Every interaction--sharing information, exchanging ideas, guiding opinions, and influencing direction--is an opportunity to be seductive,” he states.  "Seduction is consciously putting the needs of your audience first by understanding what they want and giving it to them," he adds.

Here’s how you perfect the art:
Don't network, netseduce. Unlike the note card collecting and name dropping associated with traditional networking, netseducing is predicated on establishing trust, making the sell, offering a promise, and committing to the follow-up, explains Jeffries. He recommends leveraging commonalities, selling how your skills may assist them, offering information or an opportunity that is of value, and following up to deliver on your promise.  "This focused attention provides you with an ability to connect with contacts--even forge friendships--well beyond the boundaries of a standard business relationship," says Jeffries.

Employ the L-WAR strategy.L-WAR (Listen—Watch, Anticipate and React) is the driving force behind all business seduction activities, insists Jeffries. “[It] enables you to be persuasive in a way that is not offensive or imposing.”  His four-step approach is outlined in his book:

• Listen: “It’s not about what you have to say; rather, it's about using what the other person has to say in order to get what you want,” he writes.  He suggests listening for meaning and paying attention to tone, pace, speech pattern, and choice of words.
• Watch: “When it comes to your audience, their actions speak louder than their words.”  Watch body language, such as eye contact, posture and “nods per minute” for helpful insights.
• Anticipate: “Being able to foresee a problem or challenge before it presents itself is the sign of a sharp thinker.”  Anticipate needs and objections by conducting due diligence and putting yourself in your audience's shoes to see the interaction through their eyes.
• React: "This is the culmination of the three previous steps and proof that you not only recognize what someone wants, but can give it to them.”  React with an individualized response to what your audience has requested.

Woo them rather than wow them. Seducers are never self-absorbed; they thrive on accommodating others, not showcasing their own achievements.  Show your audience how your skills will support their goals and make their life better, suggests Jeffries. “The smartest pitches contain a core of facts that are surrounded by a flexible, dynamic set of sell ideas that can be altered to appeal in exactly the right way to the right person at the right time."

"I looked into the eyes of my Future and saw my Dreams of today"-Delesa J

~ Delesa J 

10 Commandments for the Writer in You!

Hey Sonny Essence Readers,

I know it has been such a long time since my last post (May 12 to be exact) but God has been so good to me. I've been putting in hard work and reaping the benefits from planting my seeds. Delesa J Writing Services has recently took on more clients and is flourishing right before my eyes. Soon we will be expanding and bringing on more staff, so I'm very humbled and excited for that blessing. I can continue on all day about my recent blessings (including graduating from CSUSB and being awarded third place in the It's Your Time Program by IEWBC) but I will get to the post at hand, yayyy!

I was sent a very informative article from Writer's Digest that I felt I need to share with you all. Now even though the article is titled The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing, I felt the rules can be applied to any writer, entrepreneur, poet, or business owner. So please enjoy it as much as I did and really take the rules to heart. They definitely ring true, I can attest to that.

Written: August 10, 2010
Author: Raymond Obstfeld
For: Writer's Digest

1. Take yourself seriously
This is the most crucial commandment—and the most difficult to follow. Many beginning writers feel guilty about working so hard at something for which they haven't been paid a cent. Immediate family members or friends may look on writing as a harmless little hobby, to be encouraged only when it doesn't interfere with their own lives. Because of the cavalier attitude of others, writers may fail to prioritize writing as a necessary part of their lives, regardless of whether or not money exchanges hands.

You must emphatically demonstrate to yourself and to others that writing is a part of who you are, not just an amusing pastime. The measure of being a writer is not how much money you make, but how important writing is in your life.

2. Act like a professional
To be taken seriously as a writer, you must act like a professional writer. That means whenever you deal with other professionals in the writing business, such as agents, editors and publishers, you should act the same as you would for a job interview, and present a professional appearance. This is especially important in cover letters and manuscript preparation.

First, proofread for grammar, punctuation and spelling errors. I have heard many editors admit they sometimes reject a manuscript within the first few pages solely due to the number of grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes. After months or even years of hard work perfecting your story, novel or screenplay, it would be a shame to have it rejected just because you didn't bother to check your spelling or fix a sentence fragment. And don't rely solely on spell-checking and grammar-checking computer programs—they make errors all the time. If grammar is your weakness, then find someone, either a friend or professional, who can proof the pages for you.

Second, perfect the format. The place to be creative is in your writing style, not the manuscript format. Avoid fancy fonts. They're distracting and hard to read. Stick to standard margins. Narrow margins crowd the page and slow the story's pace; broad margins make it appear as though you don't have a substantial story. Don't design your own cover. It smacks of desperation.

Third, polish the cover letter. Just tell the editors what they need to know. That includes: (a) a brief summary of the work, one to three paragraphs, and (b) anything about yourself that might be relevant to the work (if you're submitting a police procedural novel and you're a journalist who worked the crime beat, that's relevant). Avoid overhyping yourself or the work by making extravagant claims: "This will earn millions of dollars!" or "The world has never seen a novel like this before!" Hyperbole makes agents and editors less eager to work with you.

3. Write your passion
Some beginning writers try to write for whatever trend is popular. But by the time you finish your manuscript, get an agent and send your work to a publisher, the trend will be on its way out. You're more likely to produce publishable material by writing what you're passionate about. If you love romances, then write one. If you love mysteries, then that's the genre for you. You don't have to write only that genre, but as you first start out, if you write what you know, you'll have a stronger feel for the proper conventions to include as well as the cliches and stereotypes to avoid.

Ultimately, all that matters is that you care about the material and convey that passion to the reader.

4. Love the process
If you want to become a professional fiction writer, you'd better love the writing process. That doesn't mean you don't have doubts, fears and an aversion to your computer. It means that despite those hesitations, you still sit down and write. Even after you've sold your novel, finished your book-signing tour and watched Brad Pitt star in the film version, you still have to spend most of your days at a computer. That process must thrill and delight you, since all the rest of the celebrity trappings are only a small part of what you do.

5. Read—a lot
While it's a very good idea to know your genre, the best writers don't limit their reading to that genre. Artists need to experience other artists' work, which can teach and inspire as well.

When I read a fascinating novel or watch an insightful movie, I can't wait to get back to my own writing and make it better. This also works when I read a boring novel or watch a cliched movie; then I can't wait to make sure I haven't made similar mistakes in my work.

 Earth Angel.

6. Stick to a schedule
The main difference between successful writers and wannabe writers is not talent—it's perseverance. They finish what they start. Create a writing schedule that works for you and stick with it. Two types of scheduling work best for most writers.

1. The Gridlock Method. Fill out a weekly grid with all your responsibilities that cannot be changed—work, school, family, etc. Find two-hour blocks on at least three days of the week that you can claim for writing. Announce to your family and friends that those are your writing hours, and you are not to be disturbed during that time except for emergencies. (Be sure to define "emergencies.")

2. The Spare-Change Method. This method is for those whose schedules are less predictable. On a calendar, write the number of pages you intend to complete per day. Regardless of how busy you are that day, commit to staying up until that number of pages is complete.

Whichever method you use, the result will be the same: You will end up with a completed manuscript.

7. Be critical of your work
Writers live with the hope that someday they will read what they've written and not want to tear it up. The bad news is that the better you become as a writer, the more critical you are of your writing. The more you know about writing, the less you can tolerate bad writing (your own or others'). The good news is this critical ability will make you better. You will learn to reject the predictable and strive for invigorating style, plotting and characterization. Stop worrying that you'll never be a good enough writer, and embrace the inner critic.

8. Develop thick skin
As a beginning writer I dreamed of the day when I would never have to face another rejection. Forty published books and 12 sold screenplays later, not a day goes by when something I've written or proposed to be written isn't rejected by someone. Usually some publisher or producer buys what I've written, but not always. I still have a few unsold novels stashed in my garage, rejected stories and poems in my filing cabinet, script treatments on my desk.

Rejection still stings. But it doesn't hurt as long as it used to because I have so many projects to pursue. I no longer mope around and curse the short-sightedness of a universe that fails to recognize my genius. I just work on the next project. And if the same manuscript keeps getting rejected for the same reason, I re-evaluate the work and maybe rewrite it.

9. Trust your editors
First, I'm going to broadly define editors as not only professional editors at publishing houses but also writing teachers and writing workshop members who read and offer editorial suggestions. Most editors aren't frustrated writers—some are accomplished writers publishing more than you. In general, they have your best interests at heart. That doesn't mean you won't have disagreements with their suggestions. You most certainly will. You may even be right sometimes. But you will miss out on some very helpful suggestions if you refuse to listen.

The goal of most editors is to help you best realize the story you want to write. Because they come at it with fresh perspectives, they may be able to see flaws that you can't because you're too close to the work.

My typical first reaction to editorial suggestions is this: "What an idiot! You understand nothing of what I'm trying to say." An hour later I think, "Maybe that's not a completely stupid idea." After I incorporate the idea I think, "I'm a genius to have thought of this change." Point is, I have learned to carefully consider each suggestion. Sometimes I reject them, but many times those suggestions have significantly improved my work.

10. There are no certainties
William Goldman said it about Hollywood in his excellent primer for screenwriters, Adventures in the Screen Trade (Warner Books), but it applies equally to all writing. No one knows for sure what's going to sell and what isn't. If an agent from a big agency or an editor from a major publisher rejects your book saying that no one's interested in that type of story anymore, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Think of all the "knowledgeable" studio execs who rejected Star Wars or big-shot editors who turned down The Godfather.

You must develop your own instincts about writing and have faith in them even when no one else does. That doesn't mean you will be inflexible to suggestions, it just means you will feel confident in whatever decisions you make.

"Don't be afraid of your talents and skills"-Delesa J

"We write to taste life twice"-Anais Nin

~Delesa J