Peaks and Valleys

I've been self employed 6 years this year. I took the big leap in 2010 and to say I haven't looked back, would be a lie.

I've looked back at the comfort blanket of PAYE on many occasions. The guaranteed wages, the set routine, the sick pay, holiday pay, office parties and work/family unit, some one to be accountable to, other than myself.

This last 10 days has been particularly tricky. I'm usually an optimist. I try not to look for problems or the bad in situations. There are no problems, just pending solutions. This week my little world went in to free fall, through no fault of my own. Sh*t started to hit the fan in my business and personal life. I knew who I could turn to but instead I rolled up like a hedgehog and hoped it would go away. I planned a pity party for one and I wanted to hibernate.

Thankfully I have some amazing friends, they sensed what was going on and rather than joining the pity party and feeding me chocolate, they put on their boots and aimed them at my behind. Within 12 hours I had gone from hibernating hedgehog to Sonic the hedgehog. I still had problems but I now also had ideas, solutions and 2 absolutely amazing opportunities. One as a writer and another from a Radio station.

I'm a big believer that things really do happen for a reason. My life had to start to fall apart so I could be pushed out of my comfort zone, change things and see the opportunities that I'd actually been creating for myself. Granted the two big opportunities were offered from outside influences but it was my hard work with my blog and podcast that got me noticed in the first place.

If things are starting to free fall in your world, please don't do what I tried to do. Embrace the change and look for the bright side and opportunities. You don't have to receive them from outside influences, you can use this time to try some thing new, launch a product, change your master plan. Things are falling apart anyway, you might as well try something risky.

Look forward to catching up with you soon
Until then,
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast
*YouTube coming soon*

Take the leap, it could lead to success. 

Second Chances

I'm not usually one for second chances. I am however one to hold a life long grudge, even if it's to my own detriment. It's not a quality that I admire in myself and to be honest i'm working on changing my outlook on chances and grudges.

I think i'm going soft in my old age. That or i've just started to realise that not everyone is perfect like me, and you might just make mistakes every now and then ;) My gramps was one for a grudge. If you got put on his naughty list, you stayed there. If i'm honest, I think I might have got it from him. I've got a lot of myself from my Gramps.

So, back to second chances. Recently, I was put in a position that made me think and question my own reasoning. A long time ago I put my trust into someone and I got burned. It was bad enough that my friends also carried the burden too. Years later our paths crossed again and I realised how much of a grudge I was carrying. I also realised 2 other things. 1) How heavy this burden had been to carry for all these years and 2) how much I didn't want it any more. I was done with the grudge, the hate and if i'm honest, I wanted this person back in to my life.

A friend of mine had recently lost her husband, someone who I considered a friend too. Scrap that, they always have and always will be like family to me. It made me realise, at least reinforced, my belief that life is too short. So we made the decision there and then, after visiting J's grave, that I would contact the person and we'd talk it through. Before we met up, I contacted the friends that were there to pick up the pieces the first time. It wasn't a great conversation but they agreed that it was my choice and whatever happened they had my back.

I also carried out a basic online survey. 50% of people said Yes, They give second chances. 14% said Nope and 36% said it depended on the situation. Thats 86% of people who would give, or at least consider giving someone a second chance. I was a bit shocked it was so high.

So, I bit the bullet and hoped I wasn't about to make another big mistake. Turns out there really are 3 sides to every story and after long discussions, honesty and a bit of a laugh the past was finally buried and boy does it feel good.

I'll be making a conscious effort to spot the grudges i've been holding for too long from now on. I'll either talk to the person or just let them go.

No one wakes up in the morning and decides they'll intentionally hurt someone. sometimes a mistake is just a mistake. Surely, everyone deserves a second chance?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on second chances.

As Always,
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast
*YouTube coming soon*

It's not always an attack

Did you know that it's not always a racist, sexist, homophobic, religious attack?

Some people are just arseholes and deserve a kick in the butt!

Why on earth do we always have to look for an excuse for someone being bad? Maybe the man or woman is just a bad person. It has nothing to do with their race, religion, colour or geographical location.

We all know - White men can't jump or every black guy is going to mug your gran, right? wrong!

We've started to build these stupid social stereotypes that make everyone seem the same as their similar looking counterpart.

I'm from East London. In my little corner of London we joke that if you're 30, have a job and no kids, then you are weird. Jeez, If you hit 20 without getting knocked up you're doing well. It's not the greatest of places any more but wow, does it come with a lot of history.

Anyway, back to my point. Why do we need to put people in to a group before hating on them? It is our stupidity of doing this that allows our media to scare monger. If you sit and think for 2 seconds before declaring all Muslims terrorists, you'll realise how ridiculous it all sounds.

Lets all make a pact right now, if someone is an arse - you can say mean stuff. If they are not - Then don't. Actually, don't be mean to anyone, it only fuels their idiotic behaviour and creates ripple effects for other people.

If we're all nice, the world will improve. Not only for us, but for future generations.

Think before you start to tar people with the same brush. Not all white people support the KKK, not all germans are nazis, Not all muslims are terrorists, etc etc - you get the picture. If you have to judge, judge a person on their direct relationship to how they treat YOU.

Until next time
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

Website - FB - Twitter - Podcast