Seeking New Challenges

Ben Silverman’s promotion as co-chairmen of NBC Entertainment and the NBC Universal Television Studio, has inspired me to examine my current and future progress. He is 36 years old and by age 36, I will have graduated from Harvard’s Business Economics doctoral program and still be on the fast track to become this agency’s Chief Economist (I will also be married and a homeowner!). His ascension coupled with a friend's economics professorship challenges me to reassess my long-term goals. I can foresee myself as a tenured professor who is also a Fortune 500 CEO. Furthermore, I will have the first non-white firm to be included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). This will happen because I will make it happen! Kevin Liles, current record president and author of the book entitled, Make It Happen!, has begun his music career as an unpaid Def Jam intern rising through the corporate ranks to become label president; and, one the label was acquired by Universal ascended to is presidency. I, too, remembered my days as a non-paid intern; and, it still amazes me that at the end of my twenties, I have fully realized my goal of becoming an Economist, but I have so much more inside of me to explore and offer. I refuse to be content (Working at a top statistical agency, is a badge of honor, however, I define my life and career.) because I know that I can do so much more.

The Impact of Positive Thinking

Making suggestions to the writer about helping eliminate poverty and providing positive alternatives to the youth, gives me a wonderful feeling because I’m now stepping into the mentor role. Mentioning Upward Bound, Gear Up, YMCA Black Achievers and America Reads recalls the importance the organizational staffs have had on me. When I return to Washington, DC, I will participate in these programs. This exchange coupled with reading Earl Graves Sr.’s June 2007 Black Enterprise editorial advocating that black businesses step up and provide high quality alternatives to the dearth of role models within the community (I am glad that he does not finger only the poor but also the rich!), has made me realize the amount of leadership and knowledge skills that I possess. This summer I will participate in both DC and Arlington Reads. I know that I possess the training and the talent to help people become more literate. Furthermore, I would love to teach GED preparation courses in addition to community colleges. After completing my UDC math courses, I will apply for an Upward Bound Science Math precalculus teaching position. Moreover, I can incorporate my SAS knowledge to create a computer science class that exposes children to new computing languages. Aha! This exercise has enabled me to positively channel my creative energies which result in change. All I have to do are focus on my work and devote thirty minutes daily towards learning. Improving my skills will help me improve my community.

Since founding my own college is my life’s goal, participating in educational programs and learning more about the grant process are imperative towards realizing this dream. Even attending the Ingenuity Festival and traveling to Brazil will deplete my vacation hours, I will enroll in the DC Foundation Center’s one-day grant writing seminar to acquire the writing abilities necessary to finance this endeavor. It is important to obtain as much experience as possible to ensure that I know what I am doing. It amazes me the impact of one little email has had on today’s critical thinking!

The Art of Dealmaking

Yesterday after exiting the disappointing DuPont Circle opening house (the apartment was half the size of my current one), I struck up a conversation with a fellow AU undergrad student about apartment hunting. I told him about my success calling real estate companies and that he should try this and next week to obtain July and August. Also, I told him about my Friendship Heights and Arlington, VA basement apartments to which he responded that “those were some great deals.” Prior to his remark, I never saw myself as a deal maker. However, I managed to pull off what many in the metro DC area could not: getting the most space for my buck! And, if I could blindly seal deals then think how effectively I would be now with my eyes and ears wide open!

I will call more firms to receive insider information for the July/August vacancies. In addition, I delay purchasing my trip until June 5th, when I have a ballpark figure and pulled my credit score. By the time I settle in to my new diggs, I will have closed my biggest deal ever: a basement apartment with no less than 900 sq. ft!

Clearing the Benchmark

Yesterday’s meeting with my boss helped me set a benchmark for achieving success. Thus it was important to finish the first estimate by Friday. I needed to send a message that I would be a ZP-III Economist! This motivated me to excel on my work!

During my Toastmasters meeting, I met my coworker's husband who graduated with his economics doctorate which was truly inspiring (What was less inspiring was that very same coworker trying to correct me when I mentioned that he would receive GS-12 ranking. She remarked that he would command more than that [Not so with him being straight out of grad school; but, I digressed.]). Every morning I envisioned myself earning my doctorate working as the Chief Economist or starting my own business en route toward becoming the first black woman of my wholly owned Fortune 500 firm!

Since most top-tier doctoral schools have daytime curricula, I will build my clientele to sustain myself. Entrepreneurship pushes me to the next level. Upon graduation, my company will have a market capitalization of over $2 million.

Liberation

In between eating lunch at my desk and pondering tomorrow's apartment viewing, I realized that before I signed my life (well, one year of my life) away to a landlord, I must conduct due diligence by revisiting my old stomping grounds where I arrived one year ago. Boarding the red line, I arrived in Friendship Heights to write down some apartment names and inquire about apartment listings. Both secretaries helped me immeasurably. During the first, I thought about how much my financial position had changed since last year and how grateful I was to have the money and the credit to rent. Leaving both rental offices, embarking on my return to work, little did I know walking down Wisconsin Avenue doodling about achieving financial liberty, that the school would accept my credits! Right after exiting the Farragut North red line subway station from apartment hunting, I called the head of the math department who informed me that UDC accepts my USDA calculus I class! This is great because now I will retake not only calculus I but take calculus II. This presents another opportunity to excel because my goal is to complete both classes and land into calculus III this fall. However, I wills till remain diligent especially since I haven’t taken a class at UDC and therefore do not know the teaching style; yet, I am hopeful that I will excel wherever I am placed!

After processing all of this information, I asked my boss about the status of my promotion to which he replied that he hadn’t spoken to his superior yet; but, that he would. Furthermore, he declared that my performance on these estimates served as a great indicators as to whether or not I would receive one. Hmmm! Well, all righty then. At least I was working on them and asking questions because now I have something to shoot for; and, by the time I lay on the sunny beach on Brazil, I will know that my raise will be awaiting me! J

Opportunity Journal Entry #6: Taking Credit

When the landlady told me what the rent would be for next year (it was super affordable!), immediately I shifted into high gear. Earlier this morning, I checked UDC's 2006-2008 catalog for calculus II and it will be offered immediately after my AU classes. This discovery further motivates me to return back to Washington, DC. During my lunch break, I've traveled to the university's mathematics department to obtain additional information. The doctor has told me that my calculus course depends upon the course description. I ask for the fax number and when I return to the office, I've faxed this information; and, tomorrow I will fax my syllabus. In addition, I've checked the university's off-campus housing and viewed the real estate listings.

Financially, I've filed both online and telephone disputes to all three credit bureaus to clean up my credit. Even though the post office has raised stamps to 41 cents, I've still assembled my credit dispute letter package including a copy of my payoff letter. Talking to the representatives has helped me immensely because I've received my new confirmation numbers and timelines. All of this should be resolved by early June. Taking control of my finances have eliminated (sort of) the fear of not resigning my VA lease.

It is important to take advantage of all available opportunities abound because these will position me to harvest low-lying fruit!

Opportunity Journal Entry #5: Business Travel

Even though I have a massive headache on the left side of my brain (which is not because of the sun which is a nice 75 degrees), I can spot an opportunity when I see one. The table has the Annual Meeting brochure and since I am a member, I could pay the Meeting member fee of $750 (since I am both a member and an Economist I could ask my employer to do this!). Also I have until July 31st to pay the fee leaving me with enough time to decide what I want to do. This is big because the business Annual Conference in Orlando is the same week meaning that I must make a choice between school (the first conference is held on Monday and Tuesday) and work. I can visit blackboard for micro's syllabus to make my decision but if I decide to go to the NABE Meeting I will have to tell the other teacher.

Networking in my field and the Pacific Coast provide a lot of opportunities to grow and learn plus I like to travel and since I will be off Friday, September 7th it will allow me time to wind down and enjoy the sights before the conference. Earlier this morning during the meeting I dreamt about attending Harvard for my business economics Ph.D. (this carried over from my morning break walk) and how it along with working as a consultant would boost my career profile. I could envision myself working on the sixth floor (with an Ivy League, I am a virtual shoo-in but attitude still determines altitude.). Attending either conference would help me build a strong professional portfolio because I have taken the initiative to meet people and development the acumen to be successful in every environment.

Awake (I wrote this to get out of my lethargy)

Snap out of my doldrums
Be happy that I am freely breathing in the optimism
Able to capitalize upon any opportunity available to me

Break out the slumber
Awake my creativity
Spring to life
Nurture it through the growing stages
Mines sprouts out life a geyser
Flushing out with spurts of energy, imagination and passion
My creativity will envelope everything like a rainbow

Be

Be happy
Be wise
Be fair
Be kind
Be optimistic
Be aware
Be educated
Be alive!

Show Appreciation

What am I appreciative for?

The fact that I am healthy and able body
I can pursue all of my higher educational pursuit anywhere my ambition and grades will take me.
I can earn a decent wage in my major
To be literate and to use this skill to learn more about life.

Review of Russell Simmons' Do You

This book was inspiring by providing insight from someone who has been in the music business for 25 years. Every time he gave an example from moving to where the action was to clearing off your lenses to realize the abundance of available opportunity, it resonated with me. I wanted to become an economist so I moved from Cleveland to Washington, DC. I knew that continuing my education was important so I transferred from Cleveland State to American (I am in the process of trying to reduce my tuition costs because this fall the university wants $1,111 per credit hour. Yikes!). Also I sought out more challenges to improve myself because ultimately I was in charge of my life. I refuse to believe that there is a glass ceiling (well, concrete because I am a black woman) and that’s why I push the promotion so hard. My work will be rewarded or I go elsewhere. Furthermore, the story about Jinx was extremely heart warming. As former high school dropout, he has returned to earn his GED, and advocates education to everyone who crosses his path. You cannot help but root for him and his recovery from a gang shooting. I hope to hear from this artist soon.

There are some things, most importantly proclaiming himself to be a mogul when he sells all of his ventures. Equity, not money, makes one a mogul because it doesn’t matter if you have money when you have no ownership. Russell has sold Def Jam, Phat Farm, everything so he has essentially no equity. I’ve decided to modify his message since I will become the first black Fortune 500 CEO of a wholly owned company: never sell up to move up.

Motivated and Moving On Up

Today Bloomberg reports that Ursula Burns may succeed Anne Mulachy as the first black woman to head a Fortune 500 company! This is black history in the making because although there are several black male Fortune 500 CEOs, there are no black women. This historical news places me one step closer towards realizing my dream of becoming the first black female Fortune 500 CEO of a wholly owned company.

Since I am anticipating the new Black Enterprise BE 100s, I have decided to request investor and annual report information from last year's list and examine those companies, learn from their mistakes and fortify my own plan for success. I know that I can accomplish any feat!

The Friday After

After finishing two term papers, I declared that I would buy a steak from a high-end restaurant in downtown DC, a swanky place where the politicos hammer out deals; however, after seeing that it cost $20, I opted for the veal that cost $14. Omg! Even in victory, I was cheap! No, I digressed. I was financial astute!

During the lunch, I decided to forego preparing for the macro final exam because I needed down time to breathe after typing and revising 38 pages. Yikes!

The Best Line of Today is from Russell Simmons’ new book Do You: Please don’t tell me you quit your job, or you can’t get ahead at your job, because of a glass ceiling,” he writes, adding after an unprintable exclamation: “If you think there’s a glass ceiling holding you back, then you’re a slave.” Then he urges: “Shatter that glass, brush off the shards and get on with your vision.”

This is why I know that I will become the first black female Fortune 500 CEO because I refuse to allow anything to hold me back! I am a fighter and continue to put God first, I will be successful!

The Early Bird Chronicles: Entry 2

Having two papers due on the same day next week Thursday and the data management project deadlines breathing down my neck, I arrived early to work to type the SIS summaries. I managed to not only complete this task but also find three additional journal articles (one discussed norms!) and travel to AU to withdraw a book. Though I cannot buy some of the older books given time constraints (the shipping date is April 20 and the paper's due date is April 26), I am confident that I will still receive an A because I have revised my thesis statement. Now I can work on this week's summary and use my off day to revise and strengthen my SIS paper.

Also I resubmitted my economics proposal. My paper will focus on Brazil's Central Bank inflation targeting practices. I know that I can complete reading all of the papers using my off day because every week I had to read 200+ pages. So what's 20 per journal article? Later this afternoon I will start reading econ articles and summarized material to ensure that I get a head start.

Virginia Tech Massacre

The Virginia Tech killings got to me emotionally. I resided in Arlington and attended American so I took it personally though I did not anayone. I could not have comprehended it. Still don’t. What would make someone snap. Even worse than the gunman were the politicians jockeying for position on the gun control debate. At that hour did we really need that?

What is needed are prayers for the wounded and condolescences for the dead.

Aspire: Become the First Black Female Fortune 500 CEO of a Wholly-Owned Company

The Fortune 500 is out today and I will need to generate $4.4 billion to be number 491. Also 50 is the average age of a woman CEO so by age 50 I will have become the first black female Fortune 500 CEO. I am so excited because I have positioned myself to realize this ambitious goal. I possess the education, finances, insight, and tenacity to make it happen! I will neither be deterred nor denied of my rightful place in this world! Already by year's end, I will have written my own business plan, started my virtual assistant business, traveled to Brazil, strengthen my professional network, and cleaned up my finances to shore up the money to stay afloat for a 18 month period.

I know that I can accomplish this long-term objective!

Opportunity Journal Entry #4: You Never Know if You Don't Ask

Giving thanks: Prior to the CAAB seminar, I have mailed three thank you letters to Craig Jones, Lavern Chatnam and Marion Barnwell for accepting me into the fold! Regardless of what’s going on today, stopping to give thanks for the many blessings that I have received. So I am too blessed to be stressed!

Blog: Yesterday I was accepted into Johns Hopkins University's Applied Economics program as a provisional student. The school requires three courses then I could change my status to degree-seeking. Since I currently attend American, this status is okay especially since I intend on remaining here.

While peeking on the secretary’s desk (to see if she was there to gather a training justification), I saw one in her inbox which said JHU. Immediately I asked Rob about if funds were available (I told him that I did take a course. Honestly is the best policy.) He said to apply for the summer to see what happens and if money was available this fall then I could resubmit for that semester. This liberates my finances because now I can use my HSBC money towards my trip and relocation (though I am still entertaining taking statistics but that is another matter.) Furthermore, I called the training officer to locate the form on the intranet and during our conversation mentioned that no comparison was needed if my course was below a certain dollar amount (which it was!). Finally, after some kind of weird email exchange with a JHU financial aid secretary, I contacted my AU financial aid counselor who provided the consortium financial aid agreement releasing my funds to JHU.

All of these developments would have never materialized if I had not asked the director about summer aid. Now I have more options available to me simply because I overcame my indifference to taking more than one class and asked.

First 100 Days of 2007

The First 100 Days of 2007: Overcoming Fear

Today marks the 100th day of 2007 and I have accomplished a lot by overcoming my fears of rejection. I have paid off two creditors, applied to two graduate schools to reduce costs, and maximized my money by opening an online savings account.

By the Thursday, July 19th, 200th day of 2007, I will have accomplished the following:

Better credit
Ace my spring and summer graduate courses
Finalize my vacation
Improved my health
Have my new DC apartment

Not Sweating the Small Stuff

One of the creditors I paid off informed me that because my finance charge payment was received last week, I could not receive the payoff confirmation letter until May. This infuriated me because in February the representative told me that I did not owe any finance charges. I hoped that I did not deter my credit report.

My anger subsided somewhat while mailing my monthly payment, receive an updated credit report, and RSVP for a finance seminar. I will ask about DC Saves because I will align my savings goals with this organization.

While walking to the bank to open another account, a woman was asking for directions to the testing center. I told her the right way because I took the GRE test there. Immediately I remembered that God placed me in this woman's life to help her get to the next level because I wanted to leave earlier but had something else to do!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April is financial literacy month and I will dedicate myself towards improving my finances. Today my counselor informed me that it received the extra money from the previous creditor and asked what I wanted to do with the money. Immediately, I instructed her to apply it to my current balance. This amount coupled with my monthly payment would accelerate my payoff.

More good news: I received an email from a college loan officer notifying that my credit dispute had been resolved and that only positive information would be on my report! This would assuredly boost my credit score.

The best news of today: My internet bank told me that I would earn 6% APY on all new money deposited into my savings account until April 30th. All the more reason to stash money there! By May 15th, I will have accumulated enough to pay for my summer class, relocation and vacation!