[PIC] Picture From This Weeks 2011 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference

Me, Diane, and a conference attendee

I had a LOOONGGG week. Between the conference, and MANY meetings... I can finally play catch up on today. BUT, its my Saturday... I want to scream. Well, I pray one day I will have a better balance of my work, play, and travel!!! Anyways, I wanted to share a pic from this week's conference. I deeply enjoyed myself and I met some great people.

I'm getting ready to shoot a indie film in a week ( I have a small role in it as a counselor), thank God its a speaking role. I must say right this minute, I am getting more business-focused work done, and less creative work done. I will just take it all in stride. Being an artist and a business woman is my dream and I am starting with what I have. I must make the best out of all of my opportunities.

For once in my life, I am finally doing what I am supposed to be doing. I feel blessed, regardless of the trying times in the midst of my upward climb.

If you are reading this... I hope you enjoy your holiday weekend :)

[CAREER] As I Predicted... A Busy Week!

I LOVE conferences but before you go... you must have a tight game plan on how to handle business, while learning, networking, and etc... especially if you don't have a personal assistant or a admin assistant. For the conference that I attended this week (The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference), I went on Monday and Tuesday. So today, I tried to get back into the swing of things and I must say, its been hard.

This typically does not happen, because I multi task at conferences. But for this one, I deeply wanted to take in the entire experience. I wanted to listen deeply. However, I must admit, on Monday I was in this one session and I was texting about this audition... and I must say I did not pay attention in that session.

I hate that. I feel grounded when I do one thing at a time. I feel like I am connected to the experience better when I focus on one thing at a time. Now I do a lot with my life, but when I am creating anything... from business to art... I prefer to do one thing at a time.

I do have some new "haps" gong on in my professional life:

1. I received a registration confirmation for this Global leadership conference that I wanted to go to hosted by Harvard University. Its in Florida next moth.

2. I received a provisional acceptance letter for Atlanta's Junior League. We start our official training in August. I'm glad to join this organization.

3. I will be joining the Atlanta chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as a local speaker. In this volunteer role I will go out in the community and educate and all. This will really help me increase education about the disease my God mother died from, and also help me with my public speaking!

4. I officially start working with a new business partner/client this week, Germany's " Match 2 Blue". Its a great social media application. I met one of the Co-Founders last week and I am excited to start connecting the company to US clients. I'll chat more about this company in a few days.

So as you see, this week-- I have been active in business, education, and philanthropy. Which brings a HUGE smile to my face. However, so far... no, new acting work. I have this great opportunity brewing to assist some scientists at UNC with a project. However, I need to be in NC on Friday to audition.

Well, Friday I meet with my UN folks here. I have asked the creators of the project if I can submit a video audition. I pray they give me the okay... I want to book that job and give it my all in a few weeks!

Well, I'm off to do more work. Hopefully, soon some romance will intertwine with my work. I'd be VERY happy with that...

[Career] Lots Happening This Week

I have a lot going on this week. An entrepreneur conference this week for two days, a United Nations Association meeting on Friday, and a lot of work in between. I wish I could be with my family for this holiday weekend, however, I will be in Atlanta. I really wish I could go home. I really do! Oh well, this week I need to reach out to commercial agents and Casting Directors.

In around 2 weeks I shoot this indie film I'm in. I'm excited to have a speaking role with this project. I pray that this week goes well and I pray that if you are reading this post that you enjoy your week as well!

Oh! I studied a bit of TV shows this weekend. The main one that I was impressed with is the former ABC show, " Brothers and Sisters", the show had some great acting and I learned a lot from the actors techniques.

Oh my, I read a bit about Cannes this weekend and I really want to attend next year. God willing, I will have a project their next year. I really want to go next year. Cannes, Sundance, Davos, and etc....

[LIFE] Sometimes All We Need Is A Good Nature Walk......

I went for a simple 1 mile walk today and it did so much for my spirit. The street that I live on has beautiful trees. I'm happy I live here at this moment around just an abundance of vegetation. It doesn't hurt that my favorite color is green... so maybe that's it???

[LIFE] The Letter That Made My Entire Year...

Sure this letter has typos and what not, but it just reminded me that I am on this correct path in life. It reminded me that I have wanted what I have really just started since 1991...

I'm so glad my Dad found this letter yesterday!

[LIFE] I'm Very Proud of Myself...

Today, I read a letter I wrote my Dad in Feb 1991. That's like 20 years ago. I wrote him about the following:

1. I told him that I wanted to be an actress. Specifically, a theatrical and commercial.
2. I asked him his thoughts on the Persian Gulf War. I told him I was sad it was happening.
3. I told him that my Social studies class was studying the Middle East, and that we were studying China next. I told him I was so happy to learn about China. ( I could not believe I wrote that :)
4. I told him that I was working on loosing weight. ( yep, I wrote that)

Gosh, nothings really changed at all. I was 13 years old. 

[LIFE] Hanging On...

This week so far has been the worst week of 2011. So many things happened to me that were crazy personally and professionally. However, I will simply pray and hang on to the little bit of faith that I have. I certainly will. Today, I was so tired of worrying that I went home after set ( one that I was not admitted to b/c I was late) and I just slept.

Although my life is choppy right this minute. I am a believer in Christ/Higher Power. I also believe that I can overcome the challenges that I face right now. I believe after I overcome these challenges, I will have grown and gain clarity of what I am made of.

God willing on Sunday when I update on here... I will have a FAB update. Life is funny that way, you never know whats around the corner when you don't give up. 

[EDU] Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts

For the past year I have been going back and forth to this site about acting in Spain. The class is cool, its for two weeks and I would have taken a vacation and acting classes. I think the trip would cost me like 1500 - 2000. 

So, I forgot about that desire for a bit, and then my soul was stirred again, and I just feel the need to take a vacation and do a bit of studying of drama. My senses are heightened when I am in foreign lands, so I feel like this may be good for me.

So, today... I have decided that I am going to apply for this program. If I am admitted, I'll have to find a place to stay in London for 2 weeks and etc.

I think this will be great for me :)

[LIVING] The Art Of Calmness

That's What I am practicing today. 

[LIFE] Me & Life Balance...

I always come back to life balance. I love the mastering of life balance. Yet, I have not been successful with this balance yet. Its like the axis of my life. Or rather, I can tell when I am deeply happy when my life has a healthy balance. When my love life is cool, my career is okay, and my family and etc is ok. Social life is ok. Faith is ok.

I'm off balance.

I need to discover that one thing that can bring balance to my chaos.

Maybe its simply prayer and meditation.

I think I need to read one of my fav books again, "Zen And The Art of Falling In Love" by Brenda Shoshanna... The book is more about falling in love with your self, instead of people...well it shows you have to love yourself, so you can be compassionate and love others....

ANYWAYS, 


This week on my radar, lots of serious writing, prepping for a meeting next week at the German Chambers of Commerce, I was booked Friday for a film, working this weekend, and so much more. Glad, I am doing what I love... even if its on a very low level.....


What  I can say is that the more I write out my dreams, the more it makes sense to me. 


Oh, I was told by an ad agency that I had some pics that were not good. They did tell me they liked one pic best.... I took it all in stride. To be honest... they were telling the truth about my pictures. I love how I am growing and peaceful with people's feedback and it does nothing to my self esteem....because I know who I am. I can't say I was at this place maybe 3 years ago...

[UPDATE] Acting, Writing & Racism :)

Well, today after working the Georgia Renaissance Fesatival, I had to just come home and shower and digress. Its weird working in Fairburn, GA. Not that it matters, but it is the city that I encountered racism as a girl ( same city and all), and ironically today I overheard racism as well.

Funny, but the festival and Drop Dead Diva are located right beside each other. One side hicks and the next side Hollywood. So this week, I had a taste of "Hickdom and Hollywood".

It all happened very simple. I started my day by going to wardrobe and getting my custom on and tied up. I then went to where my co workers were and I overheard this one co worker talking loudly about these two "Indian" men. It was a surreal scene b/c when I walked in, all my other co workers just stood in shock or whatever, and then I felt they looked at me to see ponder on the fact that I may be "Indian".

To be totally honest, I was too hot to cuss anyone out. But what I realized today was that people who have no or low self worth have to call people by racist names. I guess it makes them feel better. The girl who made the comments seems troubled. She is not nice at all, and maybe it made he feel better to describe someone as she did.

I dunno.

But what I realized today is that I don't like working at the festival. The festival is an era based event, and maybe whites came to the event believing it would be whites only portraying people. Who knows. I only have a few more weeks in working the festival, so I will keep my word, and stick with it. But I will not be back. I wish the company well with their future endeavors, but the exp has been 100% weird. I typically have a very short temper and instead of fussing, I just quit jobs. But this time, I'm not. Its just in my spirit to stay, and do well, and then leave and never look back.

Its cool that this week I did my thing on Drop Dead Diva and then my acting thing at the GRFestival. Yet, I pray to God that I can go higher like lightening. I felt good on the TV set, I felt like crap at the festival. I'm taking it all in stride.

On another note, I have not seen the film, but I am so proud of director Salim Akil with the film"Jumping the Broom". I read a story about his career and all and how at 46 he has finally helmed his own stuido film. I am so proud of him, because I remember providing script coverage for his scripts back in the day and they were good. I wish him many more films and many more great years of partnership and marriage to his wife Mara. I look up to them. One day, hopefully, I can meet them in person and work with them.

I am excited for this week. My life is coming together, and I only have God to thank for my survival. I pray I have a peaceful, yet productive week.

Amen

[RANDOM] There's Something Very Special About Candles...

Its almost midnight in my time zone and I am about to light the candles in my house and clean up a bit before calling it a night. Speaking of candles... I light them all the time because they calm my soul, I'm not sure why... but I light them and it makes me all warm inside when I walk around my house and see these little flames :)

This is a random post... but hey, sometimes I am VERY random.

[ACTING] Booked Drop Dead Diva

Good news, I booked DDD for later today. Its good to get to work, no matter how small a role is...

[MY LIFE] Writing Through My Fear

The other night I was so afraid. I was so worried, because I thought to myself, just maybe I should not have gone after my dreams ( I was doubting myself) . I thought to myself how much easier it was to do what I did not enjoy, because I did not feel responsible for the outcome.

However, it was through my writing that I discovered that I should not try to hide from my wildest dreams any longer. I also found out that through my dreams, I have created my current life. A new life. When I look back at where I was May 4, 2010 and I then look at today May 4, 2011... I can honestly say that I sleep better at night. I must say I appreciate my life more. That I am happy. I smile more and I do not take my laugher for granted.

My only true short coming now has to be that I don't make money with my dreams. I would totally do what I love for free, but that won't pay my bills. It was through my writing (journal writing) that I realized that if I created my current new life, then I can create a life where I can make money doing what I love. I just have to make that decision to make money doing what I love doing which is acting, writing, and helping people with global advocacy and communication.

I'm doing all I love for free on today, May 4, 2011. Its my goal to make multiple streams of income based off of my gifts and talents within 30 days or less. I believe that when I get over this initial bridge, I can then gain self confidence to go higher and higher.

I never knew that I would take my dreams so seriously, until now. I always wrote about this day, and it has come. I must say right now I'm bittersweet and fearful, yet amazed at where my dreams have brought me.

Its my prayer that this month of May... I fully transition to a Full time self-employed actor, writer and global advocate and communications consultant. I'm doing all for free right now, I just pray come June, I can say I am also getting fully paid doing what I love. I don't believe the struggling actor story. I want to be a well paid actor. I know I can do it, but I must create the opportunities. I also know I can be a well paid writer, and global advocate and communications consultant. I can do it. I can.

For the record, I do have semi-acting work going on via the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Its a job that I am learning so much from. I am grateful for it.

All in all, I wrote through my fears and what I found is that I have created a great new life for myself. Now its time to go higher...

[New Month] I'm Entering May Very Tired...

I feel beat. Yesterday, I wrote a month by month review of 2011 to date, and I have made great progress in all areas of my life. Of course I want to do better, but this very moment, I am deeply tired, and I just want to have romance, and vacation.

In that order.

I can't even think of anything serious today. I'm trying my best to take all my current projects very seriously, and I am. But gosh, I've worked hard, and right now, I am going to just chill for the rest of the day and plan my week out.

I must say, that when I peeped my accomplishments from the past four months, I saw some trends that were good and then some were bad. So, I will work on all of it and then just make some changes.

Dream living, comes well with proper planning, and of course living a balanced life.