New Location

I've moved!!!

For anyone who happens to pass on through, I can now be found on tumblr, same name! :)

Revelation

I have learned a great deal over the past two years during my time in Corporate America. I have learned that it is not at all what I thought it would be and that the real world can be downright unpleasant. Yes, there is the occasional joy that comes from learning something new and accomplishing something you never dreamed you were capable of achieving. The opportunity to be involved in projects that challenge you and produce results dreamed up and developed by creative minds is great. Being involved in challenging work, broadening your mind beyond anything you learned in your undergraduate studies is an amazing thing. 

But at some point, at least this was the case for me, reality sets in and you realize there's so much more to this corporate game than meets the eye. Corporate America is not just about your work or the amazing results you are capable of producing. It also includes being social and knowing the right individuals, making the right moves at the right time, and of course, being able to manage the murky waters of corporate politics.

Sounds simple enough right? And for the most part, I think it can be. Be above average in your job with the right amount of inquisitiveness and a strong desire to succeed, you're golden. Be active, build your network, internal and external to the company. You can even achieve much and reach your dreams with less than superb social skills.

The unpleasantness that I mentioned before comes from Human Nature being thrown into the mix- the "murky waters" is what I am talking about. These are the things that can blindside you if you're not expecting it and are not prepared. The murky waters can include, but are definitely not limited to: 

• Cliques
• Backstabbing
• Jealousy
• Etc.

So, the clarity came when I realized that, yes I have to pray and heed God's wisdom and command, and ultimately He knows the plans He has for me. These are simply trials that I am having to face. I am only responsible for my actions, my work product, and bringing God glory (also known as not going Ape s*** on anyone even though my flesh really REALLY wants to). I am responsible for maintaining my professionalism, values and most importantly, my character-the essence of who I am, at all times and cannot allow myself to be baited into something that I will have to answer to in the future. 

I read a quote this morning:

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." -MLK, Jr.

That spoke volumes to me today-especially because I have seen a lot of leaders searching and not molding. Now, by no means do I consider myself to be the leader that I dream of being one day, but I am striving to be exactly what this quote means. A leader doesn't conform to any one's standards nor does he/she seek to search for what the general consensus is saying or doing simply to fit in. Doing so will cause you to lose yourself...I really believe that. And, if following the beat of my own drum causes me to be an outcast, so be it. I am willing and ready to accept the outcome that is waiting for me, and like I said, God knows the plans and all the blessings He has in store for me.

Natural Chica's "The Big Chop Files"

So...as I was sitting at my desk today working on a report that's due at the end of the month (eeek!!! about to start working some long hours, but that's another story!!) my Blackberry pinged to let me know I had received a message. I opened up my trusty Gmail and discovered that my "file" had been posted. How cool! I wasn't expecting it-because I didn't know how it worked. I saw the post on facebook requesting pictures along with a request to answer three questions briefly and decided I would participate this time. I assumed that Natural Chica would sift through thousands of emails and choose "the one". So, naturally when I saw another feature a few weeks ago, I put this to the back of my mind.  What a nice surprise to put a dent in a slightly less than interesting day! Everyone who has had their big chop experience posted thus far has beautiful hair! Thanks Natural Chica for posting my "file"!

See the file here:

http://thebigchopfiles.tumblr.com/post/2717960746/big-chop-date-november-10-2009-length-of

In the Year 2011: Out with the Old, In with the New

The New Year tends to bring in new hopes and dreams, new career aspirations, and new resolutions; many of which fail to reach fruition. I have resolved not to make any resolutions. I want to make life changes. I expect this year to be a year of great change for me as I prepare to make certain strides in my life. I am preparing to take the graduate admissions test as I pursue an MBA. I am attending the MBA Texas tour this week and will be narrowing down the schools in which I plan to seek admission and will apply this fall. 

There will be changes in my career as well. As I approach my two year anniversary, I find myself hungry for more professionally. I want to grow more in my professional experience, especially as I prepare to market myself as an exceptional MBA candidate. I expect new developments in my personal life as well; better health physically and emotionally. I have started working out and again and plan on participating in a four week boot camp this year. I will be researching some professional organizations to join so that I can expand my professional network. I have signed up for the singles ministry at my church. I'll be volunteering in the special events group within the singles ministry. I'm excited!! I have the opportunity to do something that I love and to meet new people. 

This brings me to the entire point of this blog: Sunday's message at church. The pastor's message was about "The Carnal Christian." This message really struck a nerve within me. A Carnal Christian is an individual who believes in God and is saved, but is lacking spirituality. In other words, a Christian who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, but continues to live life as though they're not saved; not walking in God's way. The pastor provided this analogy; I think this is an excellent way to describe the Carnal Christian. He described visiting a fast food restaurant and purchasing an unhealthy meal: a double quarter pounder with cheese and large french fries. And then, in an effort to cancel out that unhealthiness, you order a DIET COKE. This tickled me because I thought, "That's so silly-why not just order the regular coke??" He then relates this example to real life. He says that the week, Monday through Saturday, is the double quarter pounder with cheese and large french fries. SUNDAY IS OUR DIET COKE.  The Carnal Christian lives their life unhealthily, the way they want to, and show up to church on Sunday in the hopes of canceling out the unhealthiness, the ungodliness that took place Monday through Saturday. When the Carnal Christian leaves church on Sunday, they say "That was an awesome message!!" and forget that message on Monday morning. They don't apply God's word and way to their life everyday. 

WOW!! That is my number one priority this year and for the rest of my life: to have a spiritual relationship with the Lord-to recognize my carnal ways for what they are and cast them aside for the Lord's way. The Carnal Christian's life is filled with misery and chaos. The Spiritual Christian's life is filled with joy and peace. The Carnal Christian is dead in Christ and the Spiritual Christian is alive in Christ. I look forward to what 2011 brings and what the Lord has in store for me.

Ava

My little Ava is growing up soooo fast!!! I'm pretty sure she's a good 9lbs and change. I took her to the groomers today to get her "first" haircut, bath, etc. etc. The first cut she actually had, I did because I was being cheap and trying to save some money. My poor Ava was walking around looking crazy for a few weeks. But now she looks beautiful!!! She's also losing teeth! Out of all the teeth she's lost, I've only come up with two-she's swallowed them all!! I still can't believe that she learns so fast. I had her for about 2 months and she learned how to go on the puppy pads. The next thing is to get her to go outside...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

It's 2011 and I am anxious to see what the year has in store for me. Let's start with a recap of the holiday season. This year I spent Christmas with my family. My grandma spent the holidays with us this year as well, and I enjoyed visiting with her. I ended up doing some last minute shopping...even though I tried to avoid it. We celebrated my sister's 21st birthday by going out to dinner and us girls went out to party...that was interesting...we'll have to redo that when she's home for the summer. We went to church on Christmas day, ate a big Christmas meal which included grandma's special stuffing (it's got cherries and extra goodness in it...AMAZING), sweet potato stuffing, fig salad (DELICIOUS), goat (YUM), sorrel, and a lot of other things. I ate until my belly hurt! And of course, new year's eve, or as my grandmother says, "old year's night", was spent in church. All in all, it was a pretty good holiday season.

Thanksgiving/Christmas

The Thanksgiving holiday was really nice. I stayed in Dallas. My dad and youngest sister came up here to spend the holiday with me. We went over to Ms. Griffin's house. It was really nice, everyone enjoyed themselves-good company and good food!! We went out for Black Friday...yuck...it's better when you're in a big group. On Saturday, we drove out to Longview for my other little sister's basketball game.

I'm excited for the Christmas Holiday-I put my tree up :) It's soooo pretty. And, I hung a wreath on my front door this year too.