My Phoenix Moves: Rising From the Ashes

​My Phoenix Moves came on the heels of my illness related catalyst moment.  Read along as I paint the picture of the ashes that I rose out of with my phoenix moves. It was December 2013, the first day of my six week assignment to train Best Buy employees at two different stores. However, just before the assignment started, I experienced the flare up of a former recurring bronchial asthmatic condition that used to put me out on disability for two to three months at a time. It manifested as a lingering non-stop hacking cough that ripped through my throat and chest.

The first time I experienced it was in 1990 and the last time had been in 2009, including two to three episodes in between the years. Now, four years had passed since I’d gotten it under control by addressing the emotional related causes (more about that later).

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​I hoped and prayed for healing before that first work day arrived for the two self-scheduled job sites.  Although I felt a little better when the day arose, I knew in my spirit that I needed to stay home. But I didn’t want to let down the company that I had independently contracted with and would receive paid training from. They were on a tight time schedule to provide the training in accordance to their contract with Best Buy.

I pressed my way to the first site, barely making it through my training script while trying to stifle coughs. Then the phone application malfunctioned, requiring me to start over inputting and submitting the evaluation work form that I had been completing as I went through the training. By the time I finished the do over, I was an hour behind schedule, late for the next site, hungry and in need of an inhaler.  I sat outside the store, used the inhaler, ate the sandwich I had brought from home, and called my “Honey Bear” to hear his warm strong supportive voice. I prayed about my next move and continued to cough as rain began to drizzle down on my “lovely” day. Decision made, I walked homeward bound to the train station, coughing uncontrollably all the way. One precious lady offered me several cough drops and courageously sat beside me until her stop approached.

Upon arriving home and spending quiet time in prayer and meditation, I ascertained that I could not honor my commitment to complete the assignment. I wept because of the position I had put myself and the company in. I acknowledged that this was a test from God, regarding my trust issues and knew within my soul that I must pass it this time for good. I had learned, during the 2009 respiratory flare up, from Louise Hay’s book, “You Can Heal Your Life,” that it was an indication of too much going on at once and confusion. So, I cancelled my assignment online, sent an email to the job coordinator that evening and set an intention to followup with a call in the morning. It was no longer an option to straddle the fence of entrepreneurship. It was time to commit and trust 100% that this was the path God had led me to and walk a straight path, without the safe side-street detours.

My Phoenix Moves:

• On New Year’s Day 2014, I tuned into the 24-Hours of Motivation live stream event, presented by Sales Expert Che Brown, Marketing Guru Trevor Otts and the Les Brown Platinum Speakers Network. From 10 am that day until 5:30 am the next morning, I opened myself to the downpour of inspiration and took notes with the intention of recapping the info for my blog sites. I allowed myself to be uplifted and motivated. I stayed connected to the group, networked and made connections to share my “who, what and why” on various conference calls and blog talk radio shows.
  
  
• I made a decision to commit 100% to my dream and make me and my projects more important or as equally important as my clients and the other people in my life. That looked like me working on my projects first or simultaneously with my client projects; and me stepping down from my commitment to be a daily inspirational reading contributor and commentator on a 7 am prayer-line.
  
  
• I kicked fears booty a couple of weeks later when I followed up that 24 Hours of Motivation with a “How to” Self- Publishing Book; and then in July and September, went on to publish a three-volume series called, “Living a Vocal, Valued and Victorious Life”; plus published a book for a client.

• In August 2014, a new client reached out to me to create a last minute flyer and ended up hiring me to be her Social Media Maven for her monthly book club conference calls, blog editor, web admin and business coach to this present day. I prayed for more clients to serve in ongoing monthly support and in December, responded to an email from my local writers union soliciting a webmaster. I was the only one to apply and got the assignment, effective April 2015 to present.
  
  
• In September 2015, Brand Story Challenge shifted my mindset, brand and paid experience to a whole new level when I boldly put my brand on blast to get seen, heard and paid. It resulted in me getting paid to do websites for two sister Brand Story Challengers within a week of completing the 10-days. Not only did I get paid, but I got full payment in advance without hesitation. That was huge because first, I had previously been attracting several fixed income clients who either needed to pay in installments or a month following the services. And second, it was the manifestation of my prayer for “clients who love to joyfully pay for my services in full and in advance.”

• In April 2016, I started round 2 of the Brand Story Challenge, going deeper and sharing more of my story. And today (April 12), after inquiring about my March payment from the writers union, I received an email informing me that I will be getting paid quarterly in advance for my web services as of May 1; and I will also start receiving an additional stipend next quarter to provide services for their YouTube channel.

​YES! I am a living witness that YOU really can live your dream and get seen, heard and paid doing what you love! That is if and when you do the work and put your authentic self out there. This is my testimony of how I rose from the ashes with my phoenix moves.

What is your story?


#BrandStoryChallenge #Round2Day3 #PhoenixMoves