Being a leader is perhaps the hardest challenge any of us will ever face. No matter how long we work at it, practicing the right behaviors is a never-ending task. Knowing – and avoiding – the wrong ones is too. Thus, we offer the following six common leadership pitfalls:

1. Not Giving Self-Confidence its Due.
[...]

The Six Deadly Sins of Leadership

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Posted by Adriana

First things first: Confidence is not bravado, or swagger, or an overt pretense of bravery. Confidence is not some bold or brash air of self-belief directed at others.
Confidence is quiet: It’s a natural expression of ability, expertise, and self-regard.
I’m fortunate to know a number of truly confident people. Many work with me at HubSpot, others are fellow founders of their own startups some of whom I've met through my angel investment activity. But the majority are people I’ve met through my career and who work in a variety of industries and professions.
It comes as no surprise they all share a number of qualities:
1. They take a stand not because they think they are always right… but because they are not afraid to be wrong.
[...]

Confidence

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Posted by Adriana
No, no, not the kind you see in movies or hear about in stories but the kind who might be sitting beside you right now.

You might be one and you don't even know it.

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Zombies are real...

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Posted by Adriana



1.     You sent  in an application, and your email address is something close to one of the following: sexypoonkie@___.com, no.stress.zone@____.com, babymomma@____.com, pornstarcupcakes@___.com, sweetcheeks@___.com, Rudeboy69@___.com... Yo get the drift right? 

Most likely who ever you sent that application to, looking for a job, saw your email address, sucked their teeth and went on to more important things on their list of tasks for the day. Find an email address that sells you as a professional!

2.     The person you sent your email address decided to check your Facebook profile and realized that yo not only proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel but yo could hold yo liquor quite well, and very often…and that yo seem to be the baddest youth bout the place, ...every pan knock yo dey dey… Clean up yo Facebook profile nuh!

3.     Your application was filled with spelling and grammatical errors and or had a weak structure. Trust me, ain't nobody got time to try to figure out what you trying to say. Spell check please!

[...]

10 Possible reasons why yo can't get ah job.

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Posted by Adriana


Written by: 
10/15/2013 1:37 PM  RssIcon

At St. John’s Riverside Hospital, innovative techniques open the door to safer, more efficient treatment for many patients previously contraindicated for gynecologic surgery.

Suzanne Greenidge, MD, FACOG, Senior Clinical Attending at St. John’s Riverside Hospital, says surgeons at the Yonkers hospital embrace the trend away from traditional open procedures to less invasive surgeries associated with minimal complications and faster recoveries.
[...]

EVOLVING SURGICAL CONCEPTS

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Posted by Adriana
I grew up in many churches, as a child I enjoyed going to church.

I would sometimes go to one church on a Saturday and then another on a Sunday.

I liked to listen and look at preachers.

Anyways, in all of those churches there was one message , "Do not be unequally yoked".

[...]

Unequally yoked

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Posted by Adriana

Your 20′s are the building blocks of your championship, so build toward greatness. Don’t fall into a trap of holding a weak mentality, and living your life without passion, purpose, and dedication. The phrase “If Only” is for those who hold fear more than faith, and who put more weight on excuses, than present blessings.
One decision can develop into a habit, and the habits you form create your reality. Here are 10 choices that carry significant weight. Learn to be conscious of the decisions you make so you can do your best to live like a champion:
1. Wearing a mask to impress others. 
If the face you always show the world is a mask, someday there will be nothing beneath it.  Because when you spend too much time concentrating on everyone else’s perception of you, or who everyone else wants you to be, you eventually forget who you really are.  So don’t fear the judgments of others; you know in your heart who you are and what’s true to you.  You don’t have to be perfect to impress and inspire people.  Let them be impressed and inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.
[...]

10 CHOICES YOU WILL REGRET IN 10 YEARS

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Posted by Adriana
A sister in church used to always say; “when God can’t find a man he sends a woman”. I always thought it was something queer to say but I have had two incidents that made me see the good in that expression.
[...]

Call a woman!

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Posted by Adriana
So  I got up this morning and I read a post by my bestie that started me thinking on …yes you’ve guessed it- Marriage and Divorce.

I sat down and I wrote a very long response ; I made sure I explained everything I said because I did not want to offend anyone. I lost internet connection and could not retrieve the entry yada yada yada
So you know what I am not writing anything long again here it is in a nutshell and uncensored :

Marry someone who makes you happy and someone who you could grow with and grow old with... Do not allow yourself to be pressured by church, family nor friends because in about 5 years you will wake up and realize that you have no idea who is sleeping next to you…if you still sleep together at all.
[...]

Marriage and Divorce

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Posted by Adriana
I like writing about the good people I meet, because sometimes I think we forget that there are still genuinely good people among us.

I was taking in a taxi yesterday when the driver pulled aside to buy a drink from a street vendor...without missing a beat he turns to me big grin on his face and asks- "Yuh want something or wha?".  I returned the smile, but did not accept the drink.  My belly was full already!
[...]

They Exist!

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Posted by Adriana

Had to share this...

 I am always amazed by the fact that so many people believe that no matter the condition of the relationship they are in it is a 'blessing' from God, that this man/woman who wipes the floor with them was chosen for them by God.

We are so often afraid to be happy, or think we do not deserve be happy that we find the most ridiculous explanations to stay in relationships that leave us unfulfilled, and hurt.

Then we end up raising children who grow up to be just like us, afraid of their shadows, children who believe that they too are not worthy of happiness...until one day, by some miracle, the cycle ends.

We worry so much about what people might think that we end up paralyzing ourselves...sometimes literally. 

Know that you are worth it.

Know that you deserve to be happy, and to be cherished.





You don't have to stay in abusive relationships



Published: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 11:59 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 11:59 a.m.


Are you feeling obligated to hang out with people who are repeatedly offending you? Are you trapped in an abusive relationship because someone told you that Christian love means staying at all costs?
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You Deserve to be Happy!

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Posted by Adriana

Polyandry: The Rarest Form of Marriage

Polyandry in Tibet


Polyandry is a rare form of marriage where one wife may take two or more husbands. The Tibetan, Toda, Sherpa, and Marquesan are the only four societies worldwide that practice polyandry today [hmm, really?]. There are two types of polyandrous unions: fraternal and non-fraternal. Fraternal polyandry occurs when multiple brothers share a common wife, and non-fraternal polyandry occurs when co-husbands are unrelated to one another. So why did polyandry become the age-old tradition instead of monogamy or polygyny? In order to address this question, we shall turn to the Tibetan case of fraternal polyandry and explore its kinship practices, economic concerns, and presence in serf society.

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Rare Marriages 1

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Posted by Adriana


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Mad Contractor

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Posted by Adriana

When Pigs Are Given a Badge – My Mother, Sister and I are Currently Facing Federal Charges in Trinidad & Tobago



On Thursday, June 20th, my mother, sister and I left New York City and landed in Piarco International Airport in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago around 1:30PM. Upon receiving my baggage, a verbal altercation began between myself, my mother and a customs officer at the airport’s exit. Such occurred due to the officer’s blatantly rude responses to simple questions of ours. We were asked for declaration forms, which we did not recall having or filling out at the time. We asked the officer where we would go to get it and he proceeded to insult us and say that we were clearly illiterate because there are signs providing such instructions. (There were many people asking various folks in uniform similar questions regarding various airport protocols). I decided to stand aside to get away from this officer and instructed my mother to do the same.
[...]

Any truth to this?

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Posted by Adriana








I believe in giving my best, if I am too tired of doing something, or too tired to do something, I stop...I rest.

There are few things worse than someone giving you half baked affection, half baked effort, half baked  loyalty...I am sure you ketch the drift.
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Tired

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Posted by Adriana













Ask someone if they love you, and you might get a quick yes...ask them if they love themselves and   you might get a half baked- "Of course!".

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The Greatest Love

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Posted by Adriana




It always amazes me that so many people believe that growing up with one parent is the worse thing that could happen to a child.

So many of us have been raised by just our Moms , or our Dads and have turned out to be remarkable people.

People despise  single parenting so much that they would rather see a child be raised by two bitter people who have not an ounce of love for each other. They would rather be in abusive situations than take on the 'shame' of being alone.

[...]

Single Parenting

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Posted by Adriana











The older I get, the more I realize that the world is becoming filled with zombies.

People who wake up every day but somehow they are not alive. They don't live!

They go to bed at nights with little or nothing to smile about.

How dreadful!
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Zombies

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Posted by Adriana




I am beginning to think that I have a 'vacation blog'.  Teaching is a demanding job and being as introverted as I am it drains me...

I love my job! Seriously, I love my job!
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YOLO

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Posted by Adriana

The news came- "a woman was killed last night".

I wasn't shocked.

Not that I knew who was killed, but it is getting to a point where everyday I expect to hear of some fool taking the life of a woman, he cannot OWN.

Then Marijke sent me a message explaining that, "The victim was Helen Fox".

Helen and I were not best friends in school, I can't tell you what her favourite colour was back then, or is now. I guess I should use the past tense but...
[...]

Helen

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Posted by Adriana

10 Tips For Better Business Writing


Susan Adams, Forbes Staff


The ubiquity of e-mail means that everyone in business, from lords of finance to programmers who dream in code, needs to write intelligently. By using simple, clear, precise language, and following a few other basic writing rules, you can become a better communicator and improve the prospects for your career.
“Clarity is the most important characteristic of good business writing,” says Mignon Fogarty, creator of the “Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing” podcast. “Often businesspeople will use big $10 words because they want to sound intelligent. Instead, they end up sounding like they’re trying too hard.”
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Business Writing

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Posted by Adriana
It never ceases to amaze me that most people believe you must pick a side. I would support anyone I think is in the right but ultimately I support what is right. If both parties are in the wrong it is never a toss up between who I like more; it becomes a matter of appealing to reason, and creating a win-win situation.

Win-win situations are never easy to come by because as I said before people are always looking to be sided with...everybody wants to be the victim.

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Choose One

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Posted by Adriana

10 toxic types you shouldn’t date


...



Five toxic male archetypes for women to avoid:

1. Peter Pan. At first, you’re confused; he’s over 30 and (physically, at least) looks his age. And yet, there’s something about him that reads “college dorm” and “secretly wearing green tights beneath his Dockers.” You’ve found Mr. “I’ll never grow up,” otherwise known as Peter Pan — someone who can handle the superficial issues life throws at him, but don’t dig too deep looking for a strong connection, commitment, or an equally mature partnership from him. Toxicity permeates the relationship when you’re the only one who stays grounded, spinning your wheels, and wondering why you can’t land him the way you’d hoped to while he flies off to Neverland again. He’s fun, but if you think that will translate into a long-term relationship, you’re only kidding yourself. 

Related: Is he the wrong man for you?
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Toxic Male Archetypes

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Posted by Adriana

Tips for Perfecting Your E-mail Etiquette

   June 14, 2010

Do you have bad netiquette? In other words, are you appalling colleagues with your awful e-mail manners? Clean-up your act with these etiquette tips from the experts.
In the age of the Internet, you might find yourself clicking "reply," typing up a quick response, and hitting "send" without giving so much as a thought about what you've just written. But experts agree that your e-mail behavior has the potential to sabotage your reputation both personally and professionally. Inc.com got in touch with some of the industry's most seasoned e-mail experts and had them weigh in on how to perfect your e-mail etiquette.
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Email Etiquette

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Posted by Adriana
The world is a confusing place and boy girl relationships simply make things worse. :)

Ok ignore the smiley face I am quite serious.

I have been listening to Pink's "Just Give Me a Reason", and every time I play it the line "we're just bent, not broken" sticks with me . The song goes on to say "we can learn to love again".

I believe though that there are two things you cannot force- love and compatibility.

Now before I ramble on and on the question is this- "When do you consider a relationship bent and not broken?

[...]

Learn to Love Again

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Posted by Adriana

5 Body Language Tips to Increase Your Curb Appeal


A long time before your performance proves them right or wrong, people will have made an emotional decision about whether to follow you, trust you, or even listen to you. They’ll do that by evaluating your curb appeal.

In The Political Brain, Drew Weston talks about curb appeal as one of the main determinants of electoral success. According to Weston: “Curb appeal is the feeling voters get when they ‘drive by’ a candidate a few times on television and form an emotional impression.” For years now, I’ve noted that people judge business leaders in much the same way.


So a question I frequently ask my clients is: What’s your personal curb appeal? How do team members, customers and colleagues feel about you when they “drive by” your office a few times, observe you in the corporate hallways, or attend meetings you lead?

[...]

Body Language

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Posted by Adriana

Healthy Breakfast Tips: Avoid These Morning Mistakes

Posted:   |  Updated: 03/23/2013 10:35 am EDT

Breakfast Mistakes



By Keri Gans for U.S. News Health
Many of my patients admit to skipping breakfast with this excuse: Whenever they eat in the mornings, they wind up feeling much hungrier than if they hadn't eaten at all. Sound familiar? My nutrition intuition tells me that they're not feeling hungrybecause they ate breakfast, but rather, because they ate the wrong breakfast. In my years working with patients, I've found that for some people with good intentions, there seems to be a disconnect with what they consider a healthy breakfast.
[...]

Breakfast

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Posted by Adriana

Symptoms of fibroids may include:
  • Heavy Vaginal Bleeding — Excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding is a common symptom. Women describe soaking through sanitary protection in less than an hour, passing blood clots and being unable to leave the house during the heaviest day of flow. As a result, some women develop anemia, also known as a low blood count. Anemia can cause fatigue, headaches and lightheadedness.

    If heavy bleeding interferes with your everyday activities or if you develop anemia, you should see your doctor to discuss fibroid treatment options.
  • Pelvic Discomfort — Women with large fibroids may feel heaviness or pressure in their lower abdomen or pelvis. Often this is described as a vague discomfort rather than a sharp pain. Sometimes, the enlarged uterus makes it difficult to lie face down, bend over or exercise without discomfort.
  • Pelvic Pain — A less common symptom is acute, severe pain. This occurs when a fibroid goes through a process called degeneration. Usually, the pain is localized to a specific spot and improves on its own within two to four weeks. Using a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, can decrease the pain significantly. However, chronic pelvic pain can also occur. This type of pain is usually mild but persistent and confined to a specific area.
  • Bladder Problems — The most common bladder symptom is needing to urinate frequently. A woman may wake up several times during the night to empty her bladder. Occasionally, women are unable to urinate despite a full bladder.

    These symptoms are caused by fibroids pressing against the bladder, reducing its capacity for holding urine or blocking the outflow of urine. Treatment for bladder problems can provide great relief.
  • Low Back Pain — Rarely, fibroids press against the muscles and nerves of the lower back and cause back pain. A large fibroid on the back surface of the uterus is more likely to cause back pain than a small fibroid within the uterine wall. Because back pain is so common, it is important to look for other causes of the pain before attributing it to fibroids.
  • Rectal Pressure — Fibroids also can press against the rectum and cause a sensation of rectal fullness, difficulty having a bowel movement or pain with bowel movements. Sometimes, fibroids can lead to the development of a hemorrhoid.
[...]

Fibroids Signs and Symptoms

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Posted by Adriana
It is important for you to be in a job that you love.

Why embark on a career path simply to make others happy? At the end of the day you will be the one getting out of bed to go to this job, not them.

No job is easy, but doing something you like ensures that when the days get rough you will be able to 'smile at the storm'.

Many are in jobs that reward them financially but at the end of each day they feel drained and hate the fact that tomorrow is going to find them at the same desk. Money isn't everything.

If the job you are in makes you miserable, get out.
[...]

Love your job

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Posted by Adriana

They say; “ no good turn goes on unpunished”.  

I am reminded of this daily. You stop to give someone a ‘shelter’ under your umbrella and the next thing you know they are pushing you out into the rain. You save a seat for someone and somebody else comes in and gives you a few choice words for doing so.
There I am at the supermarket today waiting on a ride home, three children come up to me; “Miss this money could spend here?” they flash Trini dollar bills at me. I told them no and then questioned them a bit, “where did you get the money from?”,  “why aren’t you at home?”…
[...]

Such is Life

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Posted by Adriana

Cervical Cancer: Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for the development of cervical cancer, both genetic and environmental. These include:
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
  • Family History of Cervical Cancer
  • Age
  • Sexual and Reproductive History
  • Socioeconomic Status
  • Smoking
  • HIV Infection
  • In Utero DES Exposure
  • Long-term use of oral contraceptives
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection:
Human Papillomavirus Image
HPV infection is associated with virtually all cases of cervical cancer. HPV is among the most common sexually transmitted diseases and most women clear the infection within two years without complications. Long term infection with high-risk strains of HPV can lead to the development of cervical dysplasia and cancer.(1)
Because of the very high correlation between HPV infection and cervical cancer, the following paragraphs describe HPV in more detail.
The Human papillomaviruses are a family of sexually transmitted viruses consisting of over 100 different viral strains, 40 of which are known to infect the human genital tract and 15 of which have been associated with cervical cancer. Most infections are asymptomatic, but some strains of HPV lead to the development of genital warts.
[...]

Cervical Cancer: Risk Factors

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Posted by Adriana

Ever start up a conversation with an ex and then slap yourself 5 seconds into the conversation?

Most of us have that one idiot we simply can’t stand, although we try.

You walk into a bar there he is, you look around because you think to yourself there must be someone else around who you know. Hmm …no one…

You say a word of prayer as you walk over, big smile on your face that somehow gets bigger with each step… “Hey”.

He responds cheerfully, you whisper ; “Thank you, Lord”.

At this moment it is as though the Devil himself takes over and the idiot just starts ranting, next thing you know, he is calling you names.

How did you get from “Hey” to “Look , don’t let me knock you out with this stool”

Who are these crazy people and why don’t they come with a danger sign.

It would be soooo good if when we meet someone we could hit the ffwd button to take a peak…to see how the relationship would it…would it be over after two years or would it be until death.  That would make steering clear of the psychos a lot easier.

It is truly a sign of immaturity when someone simply cannot let a relationship die peacefully. Try not to be that someone, don’t call people names to make yourself feel better about being left, you only make a bigger fool of yourself. 
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Calling Names

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Posted by Adriana

I am not one for making New Year resolutions because I think that if you wish to change something in your life you will just do it; you don’t need a new year to do so. I do understand that some people just need to mark an ‘official’ start time, and I respect that. Now, after saying all that I made a resolution- to blog more.  J

So here beginneth … hmm not sure if that is a double n or not…oh well

A friend of mine called me today to look at a post on Facebook . She felt it was in poor taste, and oddly amusing , I am yet to determine how I feel about the post. Let me explain.

There is this young lady boldly proclaiming that she is praying to find a man, I rather not use spouse because that could be man or woman… so yes she is praying to find a man in 2013.

Is that faith in God or desperation?

[...]

Happy New Year and all that jazz

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Posted by Adriana