Motivation Monday: Turn your passion into profits

By Chanda Temple

If you’re still a little blurry on what your passion is, entrepreneur and digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong could help put things into focus.

Starting today, Mario kicks off his Never Settle Club, a free, five-week program designed to help people identify their passion and monetize it. People may sign up at http://www.neversettleclub.com, share their ideas and get feedback from others. The idea of such a community connection, which has its own Facebook page and #neversettleclub hashtag, is to offer powerful advice, resources and homework to build bridges to success. There will also be weekly chats with Mario.

With the help of AT&T, Mario offered such a program this summer. He’s back at it this month. Why? Because he said he feels like there’s an “obligation’’ to help other people live their purpose.

As someone who’s recovered from a failed business venture and a layoff years ago, he hopes the knowledge shared will open doors for others. Currently, he’s an Emmy Award-winning tech commentator for the TODAY Show, CNN, HLN and Fuse. He recently started writing a column for Men’s Fitness magazine.

“I want people to be successful and be happy, living life on purpose,’’ he said in an Aug.11 video included at the top of this post. He added that the program is for people with all kinds of visions and even those still trying to discover their passion.

So how do you find your passion, which is something that should excite and motivate you to live it each day? Mario offers these eight tips:

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Oprah Winfrey and my happiness journal

Oprah Winfrey has encouraged me to keep a happiness journal. Image from Canburak via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

Oprah Winfrey has encouraged me to keep a happiness journal.
Image from Canburak via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

By Chanda Temple

I’ve always wondered why people kept journals. Sure, I used to write in a diary as a kid. But once I got to high school, I stopped. I no longer saw a need to write down my daily thoughts.

But after watching a 2007 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” today on a 2012 repeat of OWN TV’s “The Best of The Oprah Show,” I’m a believer in the power of the journal. I’ll be starting mine today. (more…)

11 ways to write good content for your blog

Keep your blog golden with good content. Image via Flicker/Creative Content.

Keep your blog golden with good content.
Image from Flicker/Creative Content via Kris Olin

By Chanda Temple 

I was on a WordCamp Birmingham panel today in downtown Birmingham, Ala. to talk about how to write creative content for a blog. Here are some things that have worked for me:

  • Write it down

When you get an idea, even if it wakes you up out of your sleep, write it down on paper. Sometimes, these are some of the best ideas or headlines for blog posts.

  • Everyone has a story

It’s left up to you to decide if their story is good enough to tell. I’ve written posts based on information from workshops, teleconferences, standing in the checkout line, trends, news, television shows, etc. Stories are out there. You just have to find them.

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I started a blog and this happened…

I'll be on a WordPress blogging panel on Aug. 16, 2014

Our handout for today’s session. So proud to be on a WordPress blogging panel with these fine folks today.

By Chanda Temple

In a few hours, I’ll be on a panel for a WordPress conference in Birmingham, Ala. to share thoughts on what I love: to write.

Writing is my passion. It’s what wakes me up in the morning and puts me down at night. So imagine my joy when I was invited to be on a blogging panel for WordCamp Birmingham, a workshop packed with tips for beginner and advanced bloggers, designers and developers. For an all-day conference that’s only $20 and also comes with a lunch, it’s the Deal of the Day.

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How WordCamp Birmingham will rock your blogging world

WordPress logo. Image from Flickr/Creative Commons.

WordPress is a popular online website creation tool that many bloggers use.
Image by Phil Oakley for Flickr/Creative Commons.

By Chanda Temple

Last summer, I attended a cool conference known as WordCamp Birmingham, which is sort of like a blogging bootcamp for WordPress users. And even though I didn’t have a blog at the time, I took enough notes to fill up a blog for days.

My biggest lesson from last year’s conference came when I heard someone say, “Stop waiting to get your website ‘pretty’ or ‘just right’ before you start blogging. It won’t happen, so you might as well get to writing now. The ‘pretty’ will come later.” (I launched my blog this summer, tweaking the look along the way. I think I used four themes before settling with the current one.)

Straight talk like that will likely be back this year when WordCamp Birmingham returns on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. Admission is $20. Sessions will focus on helping beginners set up their own website and give them tools to make it successful.

Jump into WordPress. The water's fine. Photo from HubSpot.

Jump into WordPress. The water’s just fine.
Photo from HubSpot.

If you are new to blogging, you don’t want to miss the sessions, especially the 9:30 a.m. panel discussion with Karla Archer, Wade Kwon, Williesha Morris and moi. Wade will address marketing your blog, Karla will address blog design, Williesha will address blogging for pay and I’ll discuss creating content. It should be fun because these panelists have their pulse on the blogging world and WordPress. I’m just honored to be in their presence. (Go here to see the schedule.)

The panel and other speakers will offer helpful tips that you’ll cherish. I should know. I still have last year’s tips Karla, a Birmingham web designer and lifestyle blogger, gave on blogging. To get you prepped for Saturday, here’s some of her advice.

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Motivation Monday: How Rejection Fueled Wedding Gown Designer Heidi Elnora’s Future

Birmingham-based wedding gown designer Heidi Elnora Baker helps a bride on TLC's "Bride By Design,'' which premiered in July 2014. (Image from TLC)

Birmingham-based wedding gown designer Heidi Elnora Baker helps a bride on her new TLC reality show “Bride By Design,” which premiered in July 2014. (TLC image credit: DCL)

By Chanda Temple 

What a difference a year makes.

In 2005, Alabama designer Heidi Elnora Baker was the second designer eliminated on Season 2 of “Project Runway.” But she refused to stay stuck in her present. She used the rejection to fuel her future.

In 2006, she started her wedding gown design company, heidi elnora. Today, her designs are in 25 stores worldwide; she’s preparing to show at Fashion Week in New York in October; and she’s on Hollywood’s radar.

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Wednesday’s Word

If you want it, go after it. Image of ballerina Misty Copeland from Under Armor

If you want it, go get it.
Image of American Ballet Theatre ballerina Misty Copeland from Under Armour is part of the company’s new ad campaign “I Will What I Want.”

By Chanda Temple

If you are feeling that you are too old, too big or too anything to accomplish what you want in life, check out Under Armour’s new “I Will What I Want” video of American Ballet Theatre ballerina soloist Misty Copeland. It will leave you dancing, on your tippy toes, to your destiny.

The video, which was released on July 30, 2014, has had more than 4 million You Tube views as of today.

Under Armour’s campaign is full of empowering images, words and videos about women athletes going for the gusto. The online ad with Misty says “You must have the passion, strength and belief that you can become anything.” I love it.

Here’s what some of the other ads say:

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Why you can’t tell everyone your dreams

By Chanda Temple

As a child, Eunice Elliott always said she'd be on television. Her classmates called her idea "ridiculous.'' She ignored them. Today, she's living her dream as a television traffic reporter for the NBC station in Birmingham, Ala.

As a child, Eunice Elliott always said she’d be on television. Her classmates called her idea “ridiculous.” She ignored them. Today, she’s living her dream as a television traffic reporter for the NBC affiliate station in Birmingham, Ala.

How many times have you told someone an idea and they’ve criticized it or told you you should do something else?

You know these kind of people. They live for the thrill of hunting down a vibrant dream, only to pick apart every detail until there’s nothing left but the bones that once held together everything.

When you encounter these type of negative people, especially in business, know this: Their opinion does not matter. Trust your judgment and know that you and your dream are good enough.

Being good enough is what Birmingham, Ala. motivational speaker, comedienne and television/radio personality Eunice Elliott promotes in her public appearances. Here are her five tips on how she stays focused.

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Motivation Monday: 9 weight loss tips to a thinner you

Apples are a good tool in the fight against the flab. Image by Dustin Bouwhuis via Flickr/CreativeCommons

Apples are a good tool in the fight against the flab.
Image by Dustin Bouwhuis via Flickr/CreativeCommons

By Chanda Temple

For three years, doctors had been telling John Long that he needed to lose weight.

And for three years, John didn’t respond to their comments. “Nobody, friends or family, was telling me I was fat,’’ he said. “For me, being 225 (pounds) and 6’2, I thought I was a good size.’’

But he began to pay attention to what doctors were saying in June 2012 when tests showed his glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were all high. A test had also categorized him as “obese.’’

He was 41 and on the verge of becoming a diabetic.

The medical reports were a lot to digest, but his wake-up call came in July 2012 when one of his college fraternity brothers had a fatal heart attack while playing with his children. The man was only 40 years old.

“Besides the news of his death being devastating, I knew I had to make a change in my life,’’ said John, who pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. at Tuskegee University. “I didn’t want to have all those health issues. That was my extra motivation to go to work.’’

A week or two after his friend’s death, John researched information about diets, exercise and losing weight.

His wife, La’Shara, bought them a YMCA membership. John also did a meatless detox, workouts and other things.

Within six months, he lost 45 pounds.

John, assistant program director for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment in Montgomery, Ala., said he’s only gained back six pounds since losing the weight.

Today, his medical test levels are normal and he’s maintaining his weight. How did he do it? Here are nine of his weight loss secrets.

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