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I got to experience Chicago, IL for the first time last week. It was exciting. It was a trip of quick work that allowed me to be a tourist for the majority of the visit. On the shuttle to the airport when heading to Chicago, I sat with a curious young man who'd just begun his working career. He asked me tons of questions about my life and businesses. By the way, asking questions is a skill that is taught in 1st grade (I know because I taught it for many years), that can improve just about any endeavor but isn't as highly valued as it should be. He'll go far if he keeps up with that inquisitive nature. He said something that really made me stop and think. He said, "It sounds like you have an exciting life." I then had one of those revelatory moments of my life flashing before my eyes, and I realized that yes, even with some difficulties, my life is exciting. And the funny thing is, the losses that I've nursed in the back of my mind weren't included in the flash. I'm reminded of what my son said after receiving the PS4 he'd been saving for since last year, "It seemed like a long time while I was waiting, but now it doesn't seem long at all." So, I do have an exciting life. I have made sacrifices and experienced losses, as are a part of life. But I have more blessing, joy and abundance than sorrow; and even greater still to look forward to. How can I help you live the life of your dreams? I'm qualified - master's degree in education, I've taught PreK to adults, I'm published. More importantly, I have personal experience of building from the bottom against all odds, and creating a life and career that a 20-something recognized as exciting. If you're ready for your next, schedule a call, select a package or book me to come speak to your group or business. All facets of success, abundance and joy are within your grasp. I'm a witness.   I'm getting ready for another new beginning. And I'm excited about what's in store. Are you? As each month starts I pull out my calendar and fill in my plans for the days ahead. I can't plan for everything, but I plan for what I know is coming to the best of my ability. Planning enables me to focus and be intentional about my priorities. April 2017 was really busy because I traveled the first three weeks of the month. While I planned pretty well for my trips, there were things that came up that weren't on my schedule. But, guess what ... everything worked out for my great because of wisdom, problem-solving and support. I'm thankful for new opportunities to travel, mentor, speak, teach, etc. but I'm reminded more than ever how important planning, preparing and prioritizing are. As my life gets busier and demands on my time increase, I have to be diligent about how I spend it. This is true for everyone, of course, but crucial for me now that I've (and everyone else who has) launched out into greater realms of influence. Here are some tips for those who have entered new seasons of more - more clients, activities, travel, opportunities and like:
If you're interested in having me teach a large-group session or speak at an event you can message me for booking inquiries at Zari Banks. Photo of Sea-Tac International Airport by Zari Banks 2017    April 8, 2017-Virginia Beach, VA I sat on a business panel with five other entrepreneurs, coaches and authors. Everyone was most impressed with a 9-year-old entrepreneur who attended the conference for the second year in a row with his notebook and pen taking notes, and his very mature questions. His name is Ellis and he's looking for sponsors to support his business dream. You can learn more about him on his page. Having a mentor for various areas of your life is crucial. That's what parents are. They mentor, hopefully, and train us for adulthood. They're only given the first 20% or less of our lives to guide us in full measure, and from then on we're responsible for finding our own mentors and coaches. I'm a mentor and I have several mentors. I LOVE to connect with experts and learn from them. One of my mentors told me at the conference this past weekend, that I'm not only mentoring and coaching because of the deep heart and personal issues I address; that I'm actually counseling. What's interesting about this is that a few people have recently suggested I return to college to get a doctorate. I've always said if I ever did get a doctorate it would be in psychology. I love The Grow Your Dreams Conference. It's served as a launching pad for greater things for me each of the three years I've been honored as a speaker. I expect even greater next year. If you want to be launched into your next level, you have to go where the launching pad is. Launching pads don't come to you. I'm available, and the conference has opened early registration for 2018. Don't delay. Windows of opportunity close.    Do you have a movie-going ritual? I do. When I go to the movies, I always get a soda, popcorn and a hot dog. It doesn't matter what else I've already eaten that day or will later, I get those three things every time. Candy's optional for me, but those three items are not. Movies for two usually costs me around $50 so when I go, I'm going to see a specific movie. When I lived in Arizona, my friend Bryan and I used to go to the movies and lunch most Mondays because any showing before 1 p.m. was $5. We'd go see anything - whether we thought it would be good or not because ... who cares about $5, right? I'll tell you who cares about $5. People who've been laid off from jobs and have mortgages, private school and all those other living expenses to pay day in and day out. Homeless people care about $5. Single moms care about $5. I've been in all three of those categories, so please take this message to heart. First, as a business woman, I don't really fuss over what companies charge for their products and services because I realize they've broken the financials down to value per minute (services) and per item. Overhead has to be paid for the business to exist and it has to be profitable to continue. I get that. That's a benefit of access to multiple companies that offer similar products and services. Everyone can't afford my services, and that's ok. I service a higher-income bracket. But, my client base allows me to have fewer clients and be able to do a lot of pro bono work. The services I provide free of charge are important to me because I've been laid off, homeless and a single mom and have needed the expertise of a professional but couldn't afford it. I went to the movies last Wednesday, and when I paid I was kinda grumbling about paying $6 for popcorn, $4 for a hot dog and $5 for a soda. The grumbling stopped when I considered the alternative - sitting through a movie without the items I've conditioned myself to consume. I'm not willing to do that. Let's look at a couple of the many lessons I see here:
I'm going to continue spending $25 and up to go the movies, I'm sure, but what I want you think about is this: If you're in need of a professional mentor's expertise, but think you can't afford it, you're wrong. If you want something, you'll do what you need to do and pay what you need to pay to get it. What do you want? Do you want to break through and overcome blocks to success? Do you want to work from home so you can home school? Do you want to improve your communication skills and negotiate a raise, benefits or a promotion? I can help. Contact me today.   Focusing on today is important. It keeps us from being overwhelmed, helps us to live in the present and allows us to win. Think of all the hours we've spent (or for some, spend) contemplating things that are happening days, weeks or months from now. Or the conversations we've had when we've pretended to listen but were really previewing future events. I've committed to stop doing such. And I admit that's a challenge for me because my brain moves quickly and I'm always planning ahead. Take this very post, for example. I'm writing it well in advance during an hour of my day that's scheduled for rest. There's nothing wrong with planning, everyone should plan parts of life. But you can't and shouldn't plan everything, and note to self: when you've planned to rest, rest. Your mind and body will thank you for it. Let's take a closer look at the above reasons to focus on today:
Simple but not easy - like most things that create champions. Just keep at it. That's my plan. I'm going to practice 1 and 2 in an area at a time and let the wins stack up. Every biography of an extraordinary individual has a line that tells us they repeated a process too many times to count, and then it eventually paid off. The same can happen for you if you want it to be so. If you need help focusing on today, read the book I Say So: Speaking My Way to Success. If you need one-on-one help, an accountability partner or strategy specific to your situation, book a mentoring package or schedule a call today.    The brain is amazing. When a to-do list is created, as we're writing, the brain sends signals to relevant parts that state, "These things need to get done." This happens because you have visual and kinetic focus on the listed tasks. If you're like me, you have visual, auditory AND kinetic focus because I say the tasks aloud as I write them. The more parts of you that are involved in something, the more memory you'll have of that thing. ACTION STEPS FOR SUCCESS:
  Are Americans still concerned with being pc? It's a valid question to ask in 2017. Riots aren't pc. Peaceful protests are ... riots are not. Ever. It's not politically correct to destroy someone else's property. Nor is it pc to murder or to admit you have murderous tendencies - in most cases, that is. From my observations, I've discerned we're only politically correct until the moment we feel we can't get what we want. Then ... all bets are off. I've never been a fan of pc nonsense and I seriously doubt I'd ever be accused of trying to be politically correct. I subscribe to a policy of honor, integrity and speaking the truth in love. My messages aren't always popular because the truth sometimes hurts. But on the flip side, it also sets us free. Therein lies the reality of political correctness - when the truth hurts so badly that we don't want to receive it, be pc instead or risk public shunning. We are a society of ever-decreasing morals which is the truth. But because that truth is uncomfortable, anyone who states that openly is called intolerant and worse. Political correctness is a lie. It's a facade. It's manipulation. Sugarcoating and denying the truth for popularity or bribery to gain something always leaves one party in a deficit. I say if what we're doing and speaking isn't improving and adding to the lives that'll be affected, we have a responsibility to choose differently. I desire for the people I mentor and impact to be free to live their authentic selves and truly be who they are in every situation. I want them to be confident enough to speak their hearts without fear of rejection or retaliation. I'm working on that one client at a time. I say political correctness is trash and I'm throwing it out with a bunch of other junk this year. Care to join me?  |
Zari Banks, M.EdLife-Hack Strategist 
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