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Monday, May 31, 2010

Today I'm inspired...

Today I'm inspired! I'm motivated! I have the fashion bug...

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. " Michael Jordan

Today I was feeling inspired by someone to write a little something, and to talk about how such an incredible succcessful guy faces situations just like we all do. Nobody in life just wins without obstacles. If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence. Determination. The will to endure to the end, to get knocked down seventy times and get up off the floor saying, ''Here comes number seventy-one!'' I hope that you enjoy this and read it til the end..

The person I chose, whose story is so powerful is Michael Jordan, the world's best basketball player, has not only affected the game of basketball, but American society...By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time -- although a summary of his basketball career and influence on the game inevitably fails to do justice to the man. A phenomenal athlete with a unique combination of fundamental soundness, grace, speed, power, artistry, improvisational ability and an unquenchable competitive desire, Jordan single-handedly redefined the NBA superstar But Jordan was not born a NBA alstar, nor was he born knowing the outcome of what he was going to acheive,it was through the plan that god created for him. Jordan was born in Brooklyn.. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when he was a toddler.As a child, Michael Jordan always wanted to play with the "big boys", he was always striving to be better. His parents never pushed him to be a great basketball player, they pushed him to be a good person and believe in where he came from and who he was. He was molded into becoming the young boy his parents desired him to be. Throughout the years he found a love for sports..Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he anchored his athletic career by playing baseball, football, and basketball. He tried out for the varsity basketball team during his sophomore year, but at 5'11" he was deemed too short to play at that level and was cut from the team..Motivated to prove his worth, Jordan became the star of Laney's junior varsity squad, and tallied several 40 point games.The following summer, he grew four inches and trained rigorously. ( Again determination, persistance, and belief was in order as well as a DREAM) Upon earning a spot on the varsity roster, Jordan averaged about 20 points per game over his final two seasons of high school.As a senior, he was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team. Jordan earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he hit a turning point with his love for the game, and then went on to being drafted by The Chicago Bulls who selected Jordan with the third overall pick. Little did they know a" star" was going to be born. Now what does all this mean? Well in my eyes it means that Michael had a passion, or a vision... Just like we all do on a daily basis. Nothing comes easily, nothing comes without hurdles, and nothing comes without failure. Just as Jordan got cut his sophmore year, or people told him he wouldnt make it, he used that fuel for fire to motivate him. He pushed through and made it to the top! Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality and the other, a matter of time. I like this story so much when u relate it to something you want to achieve, but it could relate to anything. Whatever your Dream is whether it be a family, a job, a goal, something you desire, you must expect and accept to fail, you must expect people to say "it wont work" or " that will never happen"..

Just like Michael If you want to have more, you have to become more. For things to change we have to change. To get better you have to get better. For things to improve, you have to improve. And if you grow then everything else around you WILL grow. Empower others, supports others, and give to others... and when you do, it will come back to you ten fold!


"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. "

"I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot... when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result. "

"I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win. "

"If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome. "

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. "
"My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength."

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. "

"To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don't isolate." "You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. " Michael Jordan


Thanks Maital Maly
The Don'ts of PR
1. Don’t Mass Pitch
There is nothing that waste’s a reporters time more (and on their bad side faster) than mass emails to all the reporters on your contact list regardless of whether the topic is relevant to what they write about or not. A personalized email may take more of your time but it really goes a long way to getting people to pay attention to your name. While each message does not have to be completely different, it should at least contain the person’s name to which you are mailing as well as at least one customized sentence explaining why your pitch is relevant to their readership.
2. Don’t Pitch Untargeted
Your favorite magazine may be GQ but that doesn’t mean you should pitch the editor your collection of women’s shoes unless you are pitching to the stylist for an upcoming photo-shoot involving women. Be realistic and do your research. Know the target demographic for the magazines you are pitching to and be sure that your line fits within that demographic.
3. Don’t Respond on Your Own Time
Reporters often have very short deadlines, that is why it is called "the News." If you don’t think you will be able to turn something around quickly make sure you inform the reporter right away and don’t take a long time to respond because you don’t have something to say. If you can’t make it on their deadline respond to them as soon as possible letting them know. If you are working on an article or answering interview questions a brief email to let them know that you are working on them will go a long way in building a relationship with the reporter.
4. Don’t Fib
If you don’t know something, never resort to making up facts. Reporters are taught to fact check and do background research on the subject matter so making up information will not only ruin your credibility but may also embarrass you…as it should.
5. Don’t Overwrite
Sending pitches that are pages long beyond what they need to be is a sure way to get ignored by reporters. Put the most important content in the first paragraph of the email or even better; keep the email to only one paragraph. Do not make a press release longer than a page and a half, for the best results keep it limited to one page.
6. Don’t Be Trite
While I should not have to ever say this, unfortunately I do. Think outside the box. Fashion should be full of original ideas and ground-breaking creative direction. While the adage, "No plot is new" comes to mind, I beg to disagree. Do not aspire to be the next Coco Chanel; aspire to be the first you. Inspiration is fine, but there is no excuse for confidence in your own creation and the audacity to take risks.
7. Don’t Be Negative
Never speak poorly about another line, a photographer you have worked with, or, frankly anyone whatsoever. While it is bad business etiquette to knock someone, it also demonstrates a complete lack of class. Be wary of small talk with media personnel containing such statements or they could very well be the news you didn’t want published. If you have a controversial statement to make with your ad campaign or line, stand behind it, but acknowledge that for everything there are consequences.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Vegan chocolate chip peanut butter cake!

2 1/4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 1/2 CUPS BROWN SUGAR
1 CUP ALL NATURAL CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER
1/2 CUP EARTH BALANCE BUTTERY SPREAD
1 GM SEA SALT
2 TBSP GROUNDFLAXSEED
1 CUP HAZELNUT MILK
2 TSP BAKING POWDER
1/2 TSP BAKING SODA
2 TSPS VANILLA
1/2 CUP VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIPS

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. gREASE 10X10 PAN. COMBINE FLOUR
BROWN SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER, BUTTER (COLD) AND SALT. THIS WILL CREATE CRUMBS, SAVE 1 CUP FOR TOPPOING. IN ANOTHER BOWL WISK FLAXSEED AND 1/2 CUP OF EATER UNTIL FROTHY. ADD HAZELNUT MILK, BAKING POWDER, BAKING SODA AND VANILLA TO CRUMB MIXTURE, STIR BUT DONTDON'T OVER WORK. TRANSFER TO PAN AND SPRING REMAINING CRUMBS AND VEGAN CHOC CHIPS ON TOP! BAKE FOR 25-30 MIN