"Interested" or "Committed"

I want to be a good manager one day. I want the individuals under me to say, "She's a good manager and I want those same qualities." I'm reading The Heart of a Leader: Insights on the Art of Influence by Ken Blanchard. It is a GREAT quick read. I'll share from the book periodically, because I'll revisit the book every now and then. Here is a quote that stood out when reading yesterday.

When you are "interested" in doing something, you only do it when it's convenient, but when you are "committed" you follow through no matter what - no excuses!

As I read, my mind went straight to my commitment to exercise. I'm not committed to exercising. I'll do good one week and then the next week I'll get in maybe two days of exercising and my goal is to exercise four times a week.

I need to stop trying, but actually do it. I don't want to be "Interested." I want to be "Committed." So that means rain or shine, I'll be exercises four days a week. :-)

But it's greater than just exercising. I need to be committed in every thing I do, if I'm just interested I need to commit or not do it at all.

What task do you struggle in being "Committed" and not just "Interested"?


Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something. - Ken Blanchard The Heart of a Leader

You Will Be Broke All Your Life...

Today, I woke up and didn't have any desire to attend my "Financial Peace University" class. Last night was my friend's birthday bash and I got home after midnight. Normally, I'm in bed by 10pm, but lately 11pm. When arriving home I was sleepy, but needed to band my hair and I watched Oprah for company. Therefore, I didn't fall asleep until 1:30am.

My alarm went off at 5:30am and I snoozed it for 60 minutes. I received my daily morning call from a male friend, but I didn't answer his first call at 6:07am or the one at 6:17am. My body was so tired that I didn't hear my alarm after the 60 minutes. If my mother hadn't called at 6:45am, I would have missed my class.

I was in my car and out of the driveway at 7:45am for the 8:00am class. I got there at 7:55am and the door was lock and it's pouring down rain. I knocked on the door and rang the doorbell. Now, I'm pissed, because the door is locked 5 minutes before the class start time. I get back in the car and started the engine to leave, because I have an attitude and I'm tired. Then I turned off the car and said to myself "God, I must really need to be here today, because this morning has been rough." As I sat a few minutes in my car the instructor finally unlocks the door. I'm still a little pissed and realize I need to have control as I walk into the church. I walked into the conference room and signed in. Here is out greeting exchange.


Instructor: Good Morning

Me: Good Morning! The door was locked.

Instructor: I'm sorry I didn't hear you. Please use your keys to knock on the door.

Me: I did...well you know that I here 5 minutes before every class.

Instructor: I must have been deep in thought.


I just hope I didn't roll my eyes at her, because that wouldn't have been appropriate. My mood was just really off this morning.

This weeks lesson was "Buyer Beware," which means "Don't Be A Fool." It explained the power of marketing on your buying decisions, how the media bombards us with advertising from "No Interest Until 2010 to Zero Percent Interest"

I like electronic gadgets and if I had a lot of disposable income 50% would be in this area. I know this, because of the credit card balances on the electronic store accounts and the stuff around my house. It's called "Immaturity" spending. When that came out in the lesson today, I felt really bad. I don't think of myself has immature and to find out that I have that mentality in my spending wasn't pleasent. Then the next statement was "You will be broke all your life acting like at child." UGH! I'm glad I didn't leave.

Here is what I've learned.

Because in American we spend more than we make, we must develop a power over purchase by:

1. Waiting overnight before making a purchase. (I know this, but haven't practiced.)
   
2. Carefully considering your buying motive. No amount of stuff equals contentment or fulfillment.


3. Never buy anything you do not understand.


4. Considering the "opportunity cost" of your money. (i.e. Purchasing a Mercedes with your mutual fund investment vs Keeping the funds in your mutual fund investment).


5. Seeking the counsel of your spouse or friend. (My friends always ask me if they should have been spend their money on items)

When making purchases these steps will reduce buyer's remorse.

What areas in your life are you immature? What was the last item you purchased that caused buyer's remorse?

"He who is implusive exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29 (NKJV)

My Next Move...

My heart just isn't in my current employment. I'm bored! It's just that simply. Last year, I worked extremely hard to prove myself and to receive a 2% raise was a letdown. Before, the cross-the-board raise amount was announced I had my review with my manager. I received a GREAT evaluation. She also told me I was the best accountant she has ever worked with. In my disbelief I said, "Really." I was floored, because she has been in the industry for more than 20 years and has worked with a number of people. I give God all the glory.

When I started here I did a lot soul searching, because I didn't want to bring the bad habits I created at other workplaces. In example, I would talk excessively on the telephone locally or long-distance, constantly on the Internet checking and writing emails, then studying for test or doing class work and etc. However, I was always dependable - on time, stayed late, always there. These bad habits derived due to complete boredom. Not interested in the tasks.

I'm bored again and guess what I'm reading blogs whenever I can. :-)

So now it's time to "Take Control of My Career." During my review, my manager and I discussed my next career move and it should be an accounting manager. I have never managed people and previously wanted to stay clear from managing, because I wanted to do a job and go home without the other issues. Now that I'm in my career field management is in my future.

Over the weekend, I told myself that I needed to start preparing for my new management job and began reading books on leadership. When I left my last position I was given several books. I found the books in my closet and two on leadership. I was excited, because I didn't have to spend any money.

Monday morning, while getting ready for work, I was listening to Pastor Sheppard and he was talking about being a leader. What really resonated in me was when he said, "A leader makes sure everyone under then is fine and not themselves." Interesting! Most of the managers/owners I've worked with have been only interested in themselves and the people above them.

On a scale from 1 - 10 (10 being the highest) I give my current manager a 7. Upper-management would get a 3. They are only concern with everyone above them. The COO and VP are interested in the CEO/President and the CEO/President interested in Dad who is the largest investor. Don't you think if you take care of your employees they will make a strong effort in doing a great job? I would!

I'm going to take you on my journey as I embark on a new adventure. My goals are to read leadership books, work on updating my resume, find out what invigorates me and what tasks have provided the greatest sense of accomplishment.

Does Your Manager Have Your Best Interest In Heart or Are They More Concerned With Themselves and Upper-Management?

Was That In Your Budget?

Yesterday, I went to my favorite finance blog "Fabulous Financial". She posted about the fabulous shoes she purchased from 6pm.com. I was not familiar with the site and could not believe they had Nine West shoes for $19.99 a pair for my size 8.5. Normally, my size is the first to fly off the shelves.

The shoe purchase was not in my budget. I actually took the funds from my efund (emergency fund) to purchase them, which was a big NO NO. I justified the purchase in my mind by saying, "I will replace the funds before the end of month." See, this is a problem. Whenever I save I have a habit of going into my efund/saving and using it.

I know the shoes could have waited and they should have. I need to practice self-discipline with my money.

Here is a picture of one of pairs the shoes. The other pair is no longer available. Please note I could have purchased six pairs. So, I guess you can say I practiced some self-discipline. lol



FYI: I didn't realize it was a weekend only sale. The shoes now have a price tag of $40.95.

How do you practice self-discipline?

It's Not In the Budget

The most popular comment from me these days is "It's Not In the Budget." I am so proud of my budget. Two weeks ago, my assignment from the Financial Peace class was to create our March 2009 Budget. Well, I wait until the last minute and had to get up at 3:30am in order to have my budget completed before the 8:00am class meeting.

I knew I needed time, but wasn't sure of how much. Plus I didn't want to be the only person without their assignment. Here is how I created the a budget I'm so proud of using the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Information.

*Monthly Cash Flow Plan - Charitable Gifts, Savings, Housing, Utilities, Food, Transportation, Clothes, Personal & Debt. These are the categories I needed to address this month. You could have more or less.

The key is every dollar of your income has a name and I named every dollar.

*Allocated Spending Plan - You take your earnings and allocate your money to each expense. I have found this to be a very useful tool in my budget process. In the past, I was aware of the bills that were designated to each paycheck, but it was nice having the other expenses - savings, entertainment, charitable given and etc - all outline in my budget. This is why it was so easy to say, "It's Not In the Budget."

Download the cashflow plan and give it a try.

http://www.daveramsey.com/media/pdf/fpu_monthly_cash_flow_plan_forms.pdf

The below URL will allow you to create you budget online.

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/gazelle_budget_8773.htmlc?ictid=Useful_Tools

Here is the allocated spending plan.

I am not comfortable sharing my financial information on my blog, but I do admire the bloggers that have open their financial books to us. Please visit their blogs and get inspire as I have.

• http://fabulousfinancials.com/
• http://www.moneymonk.net/
• http://fabulouslybrokeinthecity.blogspot.com/
• http://debthater.typepad.com/debt_hater/
• http://abouttreefiddy.blogspot.com/

"People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." - Anonymous

Plan Your Budget!

It's About Time

I am now serious about dropping the pounds that I have had for about two years. I need to thank the Fine Living Network for airing Bulging Bride and The Last Ten Pounds Boot Camp. The programs have motivated me in eat healthy and exercise regularly.

What I enjoy about the shows is how Tommy Europe, the trainer, uses every day equipment with his client's body weight to achieve their weight loss goals. I have manage to incorporate them into my workouts along with riding my spinner bike and workout dvds. Then Nadeem, the nutritionist, provides good healthy eating choices. My problem is junk food - Girl Scout cookies, ice cream, and chips.


Here is my "target dress."

I am using the dress as a brench mark for my weight loss. The dress has been in my closet unwore for three years. I actually purchased it a size smaller when I bought it. At that time, I had planned on dropping the weight. It's a cute Tommy Blue Jean dress with the back out. I definitely need to have a define back and tight abs for it.


I'll let you know when I've reach my goal.

Midlife Crisis

I'm wondering if I'm going through a midlife crisis, because I want to do new things. I'm now interested in knitting. Where in the world did that come from? We are still in the first quarter of 2009 and all of these activates have peaked my interest.

• Belly Dancing - I have gone to one class and paid for eight. I'm still interested in working the hips, but just haven't been back.
• Pole Dancing - It was a girl's night out, but something I always wanted to try.
• Cake Decorating - Last week, I was going to take a six hour class, but decided not. The $135 was not in the budget. Plus I need to save for the class.
• Knitting - I'm schedule to take one class just to see if it's in my future.

I guess it's not a mid-life crisis. Maybe I'm just bore with my life and need to add a new favor. I must admit that publishing a blog has helped me become more activate. It has made me aware of my life or lack of life.

I have really enjoyed reading my family and friends’ blogs and the blogs of people that share my same interest and those who just have great blogs.

I love my Natural Hair Blogs. They have helped me tremendous with my hair. Then there are my baking/cooking blogs. When I'm hungry I can look at my cupcake blog and just wish I was created as them. I just enjoy looking through the eye of my favorite photographer. I can't wait for him to shoot my wedding one day. lol Now, I have added two knitting blogs. There are some extremely talent individuals in this world.

Thank you for your blogs.

I love them all!

I would like to send a shout out to Texture Playground - Check her out http://www.textureplayground.com/blog/