What is girl power?  Well, I think it’s the amazing ability to get things done.  You know rolling up your sleeves, jumping in there and making it happen.  To some it represents a sense of sisterhood – kinda’ we can do it together.  Either way, it represents the power that women around the world have as they take care of themselves and their families every day.  I would like to challenge women everywhere to take that ability to make things happen and do what you can to help the many families around the world who are suffering as a result of the numerous hurricanes that has been happening lately. 

I believe there were six hurricanes and I understand we have many more to come.  It’s been one behind each other with no time for us to recover.  Too many people have died.  It’s left countless families homeless and destitute.  So plan now to shop less this holiday season and let’s help people who have been devastated by the storms to get what they need to survive.  From Atlanta to Peru, people can use our help.  United Way and the Red Cross are good organizations to contact.  It’s time to use your girl power diva – let’s go.

There is no doubt in my mind that we are living in trying times.  When the bottom fell out of the housing market a few years ago, most people thought it couldn’t get any worse than that, oh but it has.  The economy is tinkering and racism is at an all-time high.  So, when there are economic issues facing the country and then hatred is a staple, it fosters a climate for disaster.  Some are concerned about a civil war that may cause the deaths of many Americans of all nationalities.  A bullet doesn’t discriminate.  Hopefully cool heads will prevail on both sides of this issue.

It is share stupidity to waste even a moment fighting amongst ourselves because of the color of our skin.  There are real problems that need to be addressed in our society and this is the worst case distraction.  Distractions is what takes place when they let the fox in the hen house.  So what’s a diva to do?

Well, for starters Divas must keep living the best life possible.  Time waits for no man.  So, don’t waste your time.  When you wake up each morning, thank God for another day.  Have your best day.  Do your best work.  Live your best life.  Don’t waste not a minute of your time absorbing the chaos caused by others.  Do what you need to do to stay healthy and strong.  Protect your happiness at all cost.  Don’t let anyone rob you of your joy and peace.  But next time, do yourself a favor.  Lock the hen house door and protect it with pit bulls. 

And yeah, if you feel like it, invest in real estate – people have to live somewhere and there will always be money to be made in this sector.  However, we can never afford to believe the hype again.  If it looks too good to be true, believe it is.  Every market has a realistic limit.  Know what it is and stay within it.

One of my graduate school professors asked the question, “Are leaders born or made?   As you could imagine, there was much discussion on the subject.  Some people felt they were made.  A person can be trained to be a leader.  While others felt that it certainly is something you are born with a gift of sorts.  There was a third group that believed, it’s both.  Leaders are born and made to lead effectively.  I happen to agree with the latter.

Leaders, true effective leaders have certain qualities that are gifts.  Their charismatic and focused.  They are driven and can effectively pull a team together to accomplish the required mission.  Leaders are wise and have the ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner.  They know when to coach, when to be part of the team and when to provide directive.  They understand that there is usually more than one way to solve a problem and they are open to examining the possibilities.   A born leader can perfect his or her leadership abilities through training and experience.  Sharpening the tools, I like say.  The point is, you have to own tools to sharpen them.

There are so called leaders who have been trained to lead.   They have the book knowledge but no real ability to apply it.   Someone has leant them the tools, but they don’t have the innate ability to appropriately use them.

Then there are those who are neither born to lead nor trained to do so.  These guys, don’t know what they don’t know because they think they know everything.  It looks easy, so they are prepared to plow through without even as much as a road map.  Just know when there is a mission that needs to be accomplished, ignorance is not bliss.  It has led many companies to bankruptcy.  Everybody has a lane.  Everybody has a purpose.  Stay in your lane and know your purpose.  We can’t all be doctor’s, we definitely can’t all be leaders.  But whatever we are called to do, training will certainly help.  Divas know they will do the world a service if they find their purpose, train and then diligently implement to perfection.  The only thing worse than a leader that can’t lead is a worker who won’t work.