essence magazine – Lucinda Cross

Beware of Chronic Freebie Seekers

The business building process has many levels, and many people come to me for coaching for visibility and marketing strategies that open doors but they complain about the fear of charging what they are worth.

I believe that Fame and Fortune are twin sisters. Don’t run for the spotlight to be seen, but you fear charging because you believe that charging will keep you from getting your foot in the door. In my experience and observation- professionals get paid, amateurs get swayed.

Choose which one you want for your brand and business and let’s get this money.

It’s normal to feel empathy or sympathy for those who are struggling financially. Luckily, with the career you’ve chosen of providing useful information, you can help those people succeed.

You’ll feel good about yourself and the ones you help will be lifelong customers. You’ll both benefit from the help you give. As an entrepreneur who is in the business of helping others achieve success in whatever niche you’re leading, you should go above and beyond.

That doesn’t mean giving away all of your knowledge and secrets for free, but the products you do offer should have meat in the content and go beyond a simple freebie that you secured from the Internet.
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Productivity: Are you beating a dead horse?

Daily routines can prove invaluable for improving our lives. However, they aren’t all made equal. When you are creating your first routine, there are several things you may miss out on or get wrong. Your routine may have worked for you initially, but now you have stopped seeing the progress advancements you wanted.

As women on a mission, we change and evolve over time. Where you are now and how you feel will look completely different from how it did a year ago. This means, what works for us initially, may not work for us further down the line.

Not sure whether your routine is working for you? Examine the issues, situations, and signs below to help you decide if your current routine needs an update.

You find the routine is difficult to stick to.

The right routine will become easy to follow over time. However, all routines require effort in the beginning. When you are making changes, the mind needs time to adjust and re-learn different patterns of behavior. It is said that it takes around 21 days to build up consistent habits. If you are still struggling after 21 days, it could be a sign you need to change it.

You don’t see the value in it anymore.
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My ESSENCE Fest Experience

There is too much to share to type in one post so please be on the lookout for a Follow-Up video.

Let me just share that the ESSENCE Fest experience is all about the side events. Just when you think you are having a blast at the Convention Center and the concerts at The Superdome before you get there you have to decide between a dozen or so dope events that you must narrow down to two or three that you can attend per day.

I was a featured author with a book signing and I sold out.

Side events include celebrity brunches and lunches, meet-ups with decision makers and corporate big wigs, your favorite product Pop up shops and then there’s the all-white parties, all black parties, movie premiers, listening parties, and album releases.

I was able to get in on:

AT&T Brunch with Isaiah Thomas– it was polished. Everyone was dressed to the T. Me and hubby literally just got off the plane and headed over to the brunch not realizing it was fancy schmancy. As we were going back and forth whether we should stay or leave because we were underdressed, cute still but a bit underdressed, here comes a big wig, greeting us, loving on us and welcoming us to an elite table in our un-elite attire. LOL
Here is where Isaiah Thomas was showcasing his new champagne which was really delicious and I had a chance to meet some top executives and media outlets. One connection I made, in particular, had me ready to do a Glory run around the room. (more to come about that)

Strength of A Woman Brunch hosted by Mary J Blige- yoooooooooooo, this event is my personal highlight ever year, thanks to one of my sister friends. Here you are in a room full of A-listers but everyone is super cool and relaxed. The energy in the room is light and the ambiance is flawless. Plus I get a chance to see Mary J Blige up close and personal. Yes, I had to hold back a few yells and OMGs when I saw her but her smile and even acknowledging my Yellow dress was everything.

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Interview on Support is Sexy podcast

Lucinda’s is an incredible story of resilience and vision. And on this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Lucinda — who is now President and Chief Activator of her own company, Activate Worldwide, speaks around the world about the power of vision, and who has appeared in media, such as Essence and the Today show — shares how to shift your mindset, hold onto to your vision, remain resilient and believe in the possibilities, no matter your circumstance.

On this episode, you’ll learn…

How to know when it’s time to share your story.
How to shift your mindset and hold onto your vision no matter your circumstance.
The power of creative visualization.
What a vision board is.
Why your vision board only works if you work it.
What are three key things that you should keep in mind when creating your vision board?

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Use of Vision Boards: Your Vision Board is not a Ouija Board

Your “Vision Board” is not an Ouija Board or a question and answer channeling foreign spirits to answer organic questions that only you hold the answers to. Please leave the spook out of this phenomenal creative visualization process. Vision Boards are designed to be enlightening, inspirational and help individuals have a place to be creative without judgment. There are no set rules to creating your vision board. It only requires an open heart and the power of belief.

Vision Boards are not created to give you answers, it is created to give you the permission and confidence to understand that YOU ARE THE ANSWER. God gave you the answers for free. LOL

Vision Boarding is a tool I used while in a hopeless place and it helped me to look at what I could be, the places I could go, and the things I could accomplish. It gave me a sense of freedom. Oftentimes we place restrictions on what we believe we can be, do and have.

“Make the decision to give yourself the gift of your own time as you explore the happiness that is within you. It doesn’t cost a thing and it’s full of the greatest riches!” Jane Beach

Many of us go through life with restrictions that places other people’s agenda on your time from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. Some of us are not even sleeping because we are so busy with other people’s claims on our mind, living a life of chaos to meet other people’s needs and less focus on fulfilling our purpose, visit thelockboss.ie to know more.

Here are some ways to use your vision board for inspiration:

Help you organize your goals
Help you focus on taking action daily and completing your to do list
Use as a bonding tool with your kids
Help to ignite your bedroom and boardroom fire
Help you see what dreams you and your mate share
Help to focus on company or personal life vision
Boost employee moral
Finish your book project
Jumpstart your business

Stop. Breathe. Relax. Create a Vision Board

(pictures taken at the Essence sponsored by BE@T Vision Board Party hosted by Charreah Jackson and Lucinda Cross)

Please email us if you are interested in hosting an Activate Your Vision Board Party, facilitated by Lucinda Cross as seen on the Today Show.

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Vision Board Series: How to Create A Vision Board for LOVE

“Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.” ? Iyanla Vanzant

“Love
So many people use your name in vain
Love
Those who faith in you sometimes go astray
Love
Through all the ups and downs the joy and hurt
Love
For better or worse I still will choose you first” ~Musiq Soulchild – Love

9 years ago I decided to create a Vision board for my goals and a separate vision board for love. I called it my “Love Board.” I used this Love Board to write down the kind of relationship I desired. My Love Board was flooded with characteristics, values and mannerisms. I added my mother and father, my grams and pappy. I included stories of successful marriages, scriptures and the whole shebang.

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Exactly 1 year later my man, now husband showed up at the most unexpected time, and was completely opposite from the type of guy I would’ve normally dated. He was completely out of my comfort zone. Dressed different, talked different and had different mannerisms. He was what my girlfriends would call a “square.”

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What I had to embrace during this Love process was the reality that the love I was seeking is the love I had to first find within myself. I had to work on Lucinda. That meant getting rid of my craziness and limiting beliefs about men. Try it! Make a decision to BE LOVE and then draft out your King or Queen. Just to think we are on Pg. 85 in front of millions of readers.

“Of all the people that you will know in a lifetime, you are the only one that you will never leave nor lose. To the questions of your life, you are the only answer. To the problems of your life, you are the only solution.” -Jo Coudert

Things to remember when creating your Love board:

Always put your picture on your board as a signature.
Make a list of the characteristics of the person you wold like to attract. Keep the inner qualities in mind vs. the outer appearance.
Find words and images that represent the relationship you desire.
Choose images that reflect love, family sitting at the table eating, praying, playing in the park, couple on romantic vacation, etc.
Ask God to teach you how to love and how to receive love

There are so many types of vision boards that you can create, not just vision boards focused on goals and things you desire. You can create a Career Board, Relationship Board, Business Board, etc. Register for my next Vision Board to be held in Ft. Lauderdale Feb. 7th by clicking on this link. http://lucindacross.com/trainingcourses/visionboardparty/

If you would like for Lucinda Cross to come to your city please email Nye Scott lucindacross.pa@gmail.com

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Vision Board Series: 4 Things To Know Before You Grab The Scissors and Glue

More than cutting and pasting…

On Dec. 6th 2014 one of my greatest visions came to fruition. I was featured in the January 2015 Issue of Essence Magazine. With all intentions to have an intimate Vision Board Party, the feature created an awakening in many I am connected with. Hundreds of emails, tweets and messages where flooding my inbox in reference to hosting a Vision Board Party.

As the “get it done” kind of person I am, I contacted my team, a flier was created, location secured and an announcement was made. “Join the Activate Your Vision Board Party in NYC January 18th“, in less than 72 hours we had 50 visionaries signed up and 20 more who slipped in before we could shut the registration link down. We are sitting with 23 on the waiting list, forcing us to do another one early Feb in NYC again. How cool is that?

If you are attending the Activate Your Vision Board Party in NY, here are some things for you to consider before you grab the scissors and glue:

1. Keep Your Head in the Sky and Feet on the Ground

Anything is possible in life. You can and will accomplish great things. Creating a vision board puts your intentions on blast. You get a chance to look at your desires every day. Your vision board is the rope of hope you need when your back is against the wall. It’s the hope you need when everything seems confusing and complicated. Images make your vision simple. God loves a cheerful giver. What do you think will happen when you become a positive thinker, a productive doer, and a go-getter who keeps his/her head in the sky and his/her feet on the ground?

2. Spread your wings and fly

Vision boarding is about releasing. Going back to that five year old who was courageous and fearless. As you prepare yourself to attend the Activate Your Vision Board Party or any Vision Board Party give yourself permission to be excited about the impossible and unimaginable. Thoughts of lack about money, time, support or love have no place in the creative visualization process. Get ready to fly! It would be a disgrace for you to have wings to soar and not even use them because of self-limiting beliefs.

3. You have choices

Keep in mind that you give your life meaning because you have been put here for a purpose. Get rid of any regrets, unforgiveness or expectations that you have hoarded from others. Think about the power of choice. You are here today because of the decisions you have made yester-year, whether they were good, bad or indifferent. Make the choice to let go of being perfect, getting it right or knowing what to do. Vision boarding is about being visually active and detached at the same time.

4. There is no right or wrong way to do YOU

Don’t allow your thoughts to confuse you. Don’t let your thoughts confuse your heart. Make a decision to remove the power from your inner critic that will often times dilute your creativity. I was asked this simple question 5 yrs. ago that changed my perspective of life, “What are you pretending not to know?” Creative visualization is more than just cut and paste, it’s making a statement that you are taking out the time to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

Your vision board will come to manifestation when you make a solid and persistent connection to your purpose. When your visions are supported by a “why” that has meaning, you will find the “how” to bring them to reality. See you next post. Feel free to tweet and comment below.

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Lucinda’s keynote at the Activate 2K14 conference

My keynote at the Activate 2K14 conference was based on the Parable of the Talents.

Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 provided a perfect foundation for the Activate 2K14 attendees. A framework about purpose and passion, success and wealth.

1. The Parable teaches us that success is about results.

We each have been given talents to use, trade and maximize. These talents are given to glorify God which in turn provides a fulfilling lifestyle for us to live. These talents are given to us to produce a return, not to hide. What talents are you hiding? How are you increasing what you have been given?

2. The Parable teaches that God has already given us everything we need to operate in our purpose.

This means that you are not comparing your gifts, talents, skills and abilities to anyone else. God has given you specific talents that are customized for you. Use them, increase them, leverage them, and activate them. Many of us sit on our talents and hide them because we are looking at our short comings. Use what you have because it is more than enough. How can you turn your ideas into a brand? How can you turn your brand into a movement? How can you help others by using your story, your expertise or life experience?

3. The Parable shows that we are responsible and held accountable.

The Parable of the Talents is about being a servant leader. Not wasting your opportunities. The man with one Talent wasted an opportunity because he was afraid and fearful. We are responsible for our purpose and held accountable for what God has given us.

I hope those of you who were in the audience have been Activated to use your talents, and those who did not attend can get the DVD or video to watch the keynote presentation by Lucinda Cross.

Lucinda Cross is available for coaching, speaking and training. Please inquire as her 2015 calendar is filling up. Email Nye Scott assistant@lucindacross.com

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How To Avoid Distractions (vlog post)

Avoiding the distractions is one of the hardest yet simple techniques that most people find hard to do.

Watch this quick video on How to Avoid Distractions and share it with your circle. One lucky viewer who comments and shares the video will have the opportunity to attend my 1 Day Intensive here in NY in December 2012.

Excellence is in the details. Give attention to the details and excellence will come.

– Perry Paxton

It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.

– Anthony Robbins