It has been far too long since my last post; but I had to take a hiatus in order to complete several other projects going on all at the same time. Now that I'm back in action, the first topic I'd like to address on my return is the idea of challenges (and if you must, challengers).
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chal·lenge (noun) 1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.; 2. something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc; 3. a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.; 4. a demand to explain, justify, etc.: a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.; 5. difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.
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The emboldened definitions are the ones I want you to focus on, in particular the difficulty in a job or undertaking. Life is a funny thing. Everyday of it is a gift, yet there can be those days that come with a set of challenges that push you to the brink; that sometimes can make just being alive seem like a burden unto itself. The thing is no matter what you are going through, your goal should be to just keep living, keep perservering. Rise up and answer the call - face your challenges, your obstacles, your impediments, and your nay-sayers face on. Don't let anything distract your efforts and that which you are out to accomplish. To help with the process - here is a five step guide I've created to help you overcoming and move forward.
>>> IDENTIFY - Be aware and know what challenges you have faced (past), what challenges you are in the midst of (present), and what challenges could arise in the time ahead (future). You'll have the mindset of being currently aware, the knowledge gained from your past tribulations, and the ability to prepare for your obstacles on the horizon. Sit and ask yourself, what are my challenges? Always be honest. Get out a note pad and write an outline. What are your challenges, and what are the ROOTS of those challenges (the causes/ instigators/ agitators). Be thorough, and be truthful; that is the only way any progress can be made - shatter any denial(s).
>>> RESOLUTION - Come up with a game plan. How will you get out? Who can/ will help you get survive the challenge? What do you need to do to fix the situation? When can the problem be fixed (and be realistic...)? Set goals and timelines. Have a starting point, and a finishing point. Know where you are, and where you want to be so you can monitor your progress. Don't be afraid to "coach" your way out of turmoil. Be methodical and thoughful; not rash and irrational. Sometimes moving out of a predicament can be tough, but be up to the task. Again, be realistic with your goal setting. Garnish all the help and positive influences you can - let your family and friends know your plans (you need support to succeed).
>>> EFFORT - This is an important key before you initate your plans. You must put yourself in a positive mindset, and gather your strength. It's not just enough to come up with a solution to your challenges, you've got to get ready to implement them and that takes work. Rallying your supporters to help you is a vital step in both creating a resolution, but in putting that plan into place as well. Get yourself in the shape you need - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Exercise, it'll help with all three. De-stress by finding hobbies you enjoy and gravitate your mind away from your problems. Stimulate yourself - don't just lay stagnant without anything to do - all that does it leave your mind fixated on your problems.
>>> IMPLEMENTATION - Devising the remedy isn't the end of the story. Just like a New Year's Resolution isn't enough - you have to actually follow through with it and that's where a lot of people slip up. Moreover, you can't just start down the road, quit halfway (or give a mediocre effort) and think you're going to get to the end of the road. You've got to give your solutions your all, and dedicate to becoming better/ overcoming the challenge. Enact your solutions, and stick through them thick and thin. You can't falter, you can't quit, and you can't put up a sorry effort towards your plan. Create a journal and keep track of your progress and to take general notes. Do a check up and evaluation with your support group, have them help you monitor your progress.
>>> PROGRESS MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINING - So you've put in the hard work, you've singled out your challenges and what is causing them. You created a solution/ way out; built your effort up, and then begin putting your plans in place. So now what? Now comes the really hard part - continuing to make progress. Maintaining and sustaining can sometimes be the hardest things you do when you're on the upswing. Too often we let ourselves plateau or "coast" once we've hit a certain point. Don't let yourself get into that phase because before you know it, you can begin going in reverse. Effort and implementation will continue through this stage, you will constantly need to revitalize your effort and re-implement your game plans. The notes of progress should continue, and every so often you should create a new outline, a new starting point, and a new ending point just to stay fresh. If you're having a hard time and feel like you've hit a ceiling at any point - consider it a new challenge and restart the whole process from step one. It won't be the end of the world if you occasionally stumble, just keep notes in your journal/ outline you've created on whatever happened, and come up with ways to avoid it from happening again. We're all only human; to hold yourself to any higher regard and seek out absolute perfection is a mistake in itself.
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Challenges in your life will arise all the time. Just when you think you've conquered one thing, three more will pop up in their place. It's all about managing them, taking them in stride, then constructing your way either out or around. Being a champion or someone who succeeds does not mean you will go without struggles - keep in mind that every set of situations or circumstances can present it's own unique challenges (which is why you should always be careful about what you wish for). Difficult times and situations will arise, so be prepared not only to endure, but to fight your way through/ out. Practice the I.R.I.E.P. steps above. Lean on your support (family, friends, love ones, co-workers, associates), and examine your landscape for resources than can help you (financial, social, psychological, weight loss, etc.). It might not always be easy, but where there is a will, there is a way. Life is too short to do anything but dance while you have the chance.
Until the next time, make it a great week!
J. Junior II
12/8/2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Motivational Tid Bits
Just a few thoughts and "tid-bits" to get your fall started right...
> First and foremost, life is never about the mistakes you make, have made, or will make way down the road. It's about the lesson(s) you take from them, and the journey they place you on. If a mistake placed you on the road to destruction, know that while mistakes can't be changed, the actions and/or results in/ of their aftermath can be altered. You write your own storyline. Plan and choose to write a successful one.
> Maximize your potential as an individual. Scan over your dreams, your hopes, and creative desires that you have. Don't let any hidden talents escape, and worse yet don't let any hidden talents sit unused. Your hidden/ unused talent(s) could be the things that bring you forward into a brighter era within your life. Don't be afraid to hone and fine tune your talents either. Everyday should be a day of betterment. Train yourself and your talents if necessary, give them the soil they need to grow.
> Know the different types of motivation and adjust accordingly. There are two general branches - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation driven by the interest in, or the enjoyment of the activity itself, rather than external pressures. Extrinsic is just as it would sound - a motivation that is derived from the external environment of an individual. For example; rewards, coercion, threats, prizes, and recognition. While not all extrinsic motivations are bad in nature, try to focus on the things that come more natural, and thus are likely intrinsic to you (internally based).
> Plan out a realistic timeline for your future, whether short-term or long term, and stick to it. This can give you internal motivation to accomplish whatever goals or complete whatever projects you have out there. This can also serve as a source of optimism if you're lacking.
> Always enable those who surround you if you plan to succeed yourself. You cannot have constant success if your growth stymies those around you. Growth should be done in conjunction. Growth amongst your surroundings will lend itself to more growth; whereas you growing yet breeding a stagnant atmosphere around you lends to your eventual upending.
> Remember that your struggles are polishing you up for a better place. Don't get distracted, distraught, or disorderly when things don't work out as they should. Unfortunately, they never do. With anything, expect the unexpected but don't let it bend you out of shape. Maintaining a positive attitude even in chaos usually makes the struggle not so bad, and makes it pass you by just a little faster. Keep your mood together and push forward.
> Comprehend, communicate, achieve, succeed. And as always, live unconquered despite your circumstance, not conquered because of.
- J. Junior II
9/21/2011
> First and foremost, life is never about the mistakes you make, have made, or will make way down the road. It's about the lesson(s) you take from them, and the journey they place you on. If a mistake placed you on the road to destruction, know that while mistakes can't be changed, the actions and/or results in/ of their aftermath can be altered. You write your own storyline. Plan and choose to write a successful one.
> Maximize your potential as an individual. Scan over your dreams, your hopes, and creative desires that you have. Don't let any hidden talents escape, and worse yet don't let any hidden talents sit unused. Your hidden/ unused talent(s) could be the things that bring you forward into a brighter era within your life. Don't be afraid to hone and fine tune your talents either. Everyday should be a day of betterment. Train yourself and your talents if necessary, give them the soil they need to grow.
> Know the different types of motivation and adjust accordingly. There are two general branches - intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation driven by the interest in, or the enjoyment of the activity itself, rather than external pressures. Extrinsic is just as it would sound - a motivation that is derived from the external environment of an individual. For example; rewards, coercion, threats, prizes, and recognition. While not all extrinsic motivations are bad in nature, try to focus on the things that come more natural, and thus are likely intrinsic to you (internally based).
> Plan out a realistic timeline for your future, whether short-term or long term, and stick to it. This can give you internal motivation to accomplish whatever goals or complete whatever projects you have out there. This can also serve as a source of optimism if you're lacking.
> Always enable those who surround you if you plan to succeed yourself. You cannot have constant success if your growth stymies those around you. Growth should be done in conjunction. Growth amongst your surroundings will lend itself to more growth; whereas you growing yet breeding a stagnant atmosphere around you lends to your eventual upending.
> Remember that your struggles are polishing you up for a better place. Don't get distracted, distraught, or disorderly when things don't work out as they should. Unfortunately, they never do. With anything, expect the unexpected but don't let it bend you out of shape. Maintaining a positive attitude even in chaos usually makes the struggle not so bad, and makes it pass you by just a little faster. Keep your mood together and push forward.
> Comprehend, communicate, achieve, succeed. And as always, live unconquered despite your circumstance, not conquered because of.
- J. Junior II
9/21/2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
"Weathering The Storm" Timeline
As I push forward with my new manuscript project - which will carry the same name as this blog - I was excited to get an update on Weathering The Storm, which will allow me to offer a pretty firm timeline on it's production course.
Currently, WTS is in the copyediting phase, which will last about a month. Afterwhich, it will go through a three month period of conceptual editing. To kick off the new year, a cover will be designed, followed by two months of layout design. As spring nears, the book will be finalized, afterwhich I can begin the preliminary distribution of copies. While WTS won't yet be on the full market, books will be available through me and at any various events I hold (book signings, etc.). The book goes into a 90 day marketing phase, in which I work with the Publisher (Tate) to find my niche, build support, and ready all the markets for the "official release date". This gives Tate time to have copies ready for distribution once sales go mainstream. At the end of those ninety days, the book is officially released, and available in all major markets.
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Here's the timeline in a date format...
Copyediting - currently through the end of September.
Conceptual Edit - Phase I - October
Conceptual Edit - Phase II - November
Conceptual Edit - Phase III - December
Cover Design - January 2012
Layout Design Phase I - February 2012
Layout Design Phase II - March 2012
Book Finalized - on/ around April 15th, 2012 (copies available via me and/or my events such as book signings)
Book Marketing/ Preparation Phase - on/around April 15th, 2012 - July 15th, 2012
BOOK RELEASE DATE - on/ around July 15th, 2012
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These dates are not exactly set in stone, but a general timeline that will flex and flow as the production process moves forward, and give you a general idea of the "what/when" process for WTS. It may seem like a long time off, but I'm sure the time will fly by, especially as WTS nears its "birthday".
In the same time, I have also developed the timeline to complete the manuscript for "Live Unconquered", which will be the follow up to WTS and follow the scheme developed by this blog. I'm working now to draw out a frame for Live Unconquered, which could take a month or so. Afterwhich, I'll start filling the frame with the selected material, and give the manuscript a clear concept and message, all the while serving as a sequel to WTS. I'd like for the whole process to be done by the end of January, 2012. Once the manuscript is complete, I will begin the process of finding and selecting an appropriate/ compatible publisher (more than likely Tate) - and the production process will start all over again.
It'll be a lengthy but rewarding process, and I already can't wait for it to be complete. I'll keep working hard until that day...
JJR II
Keep Living Unconquered
9/8/11
Currently, WTS is in the copyediting phase, which will last about a month. Afterwhich, it will go through a three month period of conceptual editing. To kick off the new year, a cover will be designed, followed by two months of layout design. As spring nears, the book will be finalized, afterwhich I can begin the preliminary distribution of copies. While WTS won't yet be on the full market, books will be available through me and at any various events I hold (book signings, etc.). The book goes into a 90 day marketing phase, in which I work with the Publisher (Tate) to find my niche, build support, and ready all the markets for the "official release date". This gives Tate time to have copies ready for distribution once sales go mainstream. At the end of those ninety days, the book is officially released, and available in all major markets.
---------------------------
Here's the timeline in a date format...
Copyediting - currently through the end of September.
Conceptual Edit - Phase I - October
Conceptual Edit - Phase II - November
Conceptual Edit - Phase III - December
Cover Design - January 2012
Layout Design Phase I - February 2012
Layout Design Phase II - March 2012
Book Finalized - on/ around April 15th, 2012 (copies available via me and/or my events such as book signings)
Book Marketing/ Preparation Phase - on/around April 15th, 2012 - July 15th, 2012
BOOK RELEASE DATE - on/ around July 15th, 2012
---------------------------
These dates are not exactly set in stone, but a general timeline that will flex and flow as the production process moves forward, and give you a general idea of the "what/when" process for WTS. It may seem like a long time off, but I'm sure the time will fly by, especially as WTS nears its "birthday".
In the same time, I have also developed the timeline to complete the manuscript for "Live Unconquered", which will be the follow up to WTS and follow the scheme developed by this blog. I'm working now to draw out a frame for Live Unconquered, which could take a month or so. Afterwhich, I'll start filling the frame with the selected material, and give the manuscript a clear concept and message, all the while serving as a sequel to WTS. I'd like for the whole process to be done by the end of January, 2012. Once the manuscript is complete, I will begin the process of finding and selecting an appropriate/ compatible publisher (more than likely Tate) - and the production process will start all over again.
It'll be a lengthy but rewarding process, and I already can't wait for it to be complete. I'll keep working hard until that day...
JJR II
Keep Living Unconquered
9/8/11
Monday, August 22, 2011
Weathering The Storm Update
As my first book production date begins (less than two weeks away), I thought I would go through some of the first steps that occur for Weathering The Storm to go from manuscript to actual book. It may not as be as easy of a process as you think; it's certainly been more complex and time-consuming than I ever would have guessed. Moreover, as a first time author, this is a completely new process for me so it's not entirely surprising.
The first step Weathering The Storm will enter is a copy-editing phase of production. This process will obviously be completed by my publisher, Tate Publishing. They will work to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of my manuscript. They don't change the actual text, but make it more clear, correct, concise, complete, and consistent.
Once Tate has completed the copy-editing, they will turn it over to the conceptual editing area of their company. Conceptual editing looks at the overall book and see what's missing from it, what I could do to make it a better project, what needs to be expanded, and what areas I could condense. This stage, in a sense, gets the message I want to portray across in the most understandable manner. In addition, this is also where the appropriate illustrations and graphics are incorporated into my manuscript. If all goes to schedule, this should happen around a month after the copy-editing process begins - so around the beginning of October.
I imagine this will be a busy and exciting time. I cannot wait to see how Weathering The Storm progresses, and everyday that goes by is a day closer to its release date. I will continue to provide updates (and hopefully in the latter stages I can offer previews), and concurrently begin working on the manuscript for the next book in line - Live Unconquered.
Always remember to make the best of your time. Be productive, and have optimism. Life is too short to be a downer - stay positive, stay motivated, and keep living unconquered.
J. Junior II
8/22/2011
The first step Weathering The Storm will enter is a copy-editing phase of production. This process will obviously be completed by my publisher, Tate Publishing. They will work to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of my manuscript. They don't change the actual text, but make it more clear, correct, concise, complete, and consistent.
Once Tate has completed the copy-editing, they will turn it over to the conceptual editing area of their company. Conceptual editing looks at the overall book and see what's missing from it, what I could do to make it a better project, what needs to be expanded, and what areas I could condense. This stage, in a sense, gets the message I want to portray across in the most understandable manner. In addition, this is also where the appropriate illustrations and graphics are incorporated into my manuscript. If all goes to schedule, this should happen around a month after the copy-editing process begins - so around the beginning of October.
I imagine this will be a busy and exciting time. I cannot wait to see how Weathering The Storm progresses, and everyday that goes by is a day closer to its release date. I will continue to provide updates (and hopefully in the latter stages I can offer previews), and concurrently begin working on the manuscript for the next book in line - Live Unconquered.
Always remember to make the best of your time. Be productive, and have optimism. Life is too short to be a downer - stay positive, stay motivated, and keep living unconquered.
J. Junior II
8/22/2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Live Unconquered - The Next Project
In the next couple of weeks, my first book - "Weathering The Storm", will hit the editing and production phases. I will be working with Tate Publishing to make this dream become a reality and bring WTS into market. Concurrently, I have began to develop a concept for my next book, which will carry the same name as this blog. I have already started working on this next project, and hope to have the manuscript completed around the time WTS is officially released in early 2012.
Live Unconquered
breakthrough to a brighter day...
The goal for WTS was to bring you through and out of turbulence; Live Unconquered will serve as the follow up and move you forward/ away from the fringes of said turbulence. My goal is for Live Unconquered to be more in depth and hit more specific topics, in addition to giving you the tools and motivation to live undeterred no matter your circumstance.
This will be a busy yet exciting time. I'm a newbie to this whole area, but I am confident that everything will run smoothly. I look forward to working with Tate and creating the best book possible out of "Weathering The Storm", and constructing another viable manuscript with the Live Unconquered theme --> that of continuous growth, development, transformation, reorganization, faith, hope, and motivation.
Of course, I'll give all the details and exact dates as they arise. Thanks to all my supporters, and don't forget to keep living....
UNCONQUERED.
J. Junior II
08/08/11
This will be a busy yet exciting time. I'm a newbie to this whole area, but I am confident that everything will run smoothly. I look forward to working with Tate and creating the best book possible out of "Weathering The Storm", and constructing another viable manuscript with the Live Unconquered theme --> that of continuous growth, development, transformation, reorganization, faith, hope, and motivation.
Of course, I'll give all the details and exact dates as they arise. Thanks to all my supporters, and don't forget to keep living....
UNCONQUERED.
J. Junior II
08/08/11
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