Ava Brown's Blog, page 12
November 18, 2014
Beyond My Grasp!
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Beyond My Grasp!
I cannot seem to get a hold of this
Someone come here quickly
Why is it so hard to juggle this struggle?
I am not the worst gal about still all I get is grief and strife
I work, I struggle, and I study but still am in the hussle
Mama didn’t have much and so I tried to escape
Yet even with education it’s still not enough
When will the pain and strife end?
Was marriage supposed to make a mend?
Still each time I try to educate, work and to sort out the mess
Everything just seem to be Beyond My Grasp!
I not giving up no not I
It’s not in my DNA to even stop and cry
I will keep reaching for the stars and even if all I grasp is the cloud
At least something will now come into my own world and eventually my grasp
Then I can breathe and say It’s not Beyond My Grasp.
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Get An Indomitable Spirit
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Get An Indomitable Spirit !
I have had what most people would call a disastrous life, but I BEG TO DIFFER. In my opinion, I have had a life that has helped to shape, cement and mould me into what the maker intended my life to be.After having suffered numerous levels of abuse some from the people who were meant to protect me, (parents in absentia), others from strangers and acquaintances, I embarked on the journey of getting my book Bamboo & Fern published. Initially I toyed with the idea of publishing as to be truthful, the book was just something in a diary format that I kept to heal my wounds. A cathartic object in one sense.
Handling Tragedies
As the years went on and different tragedies and disastrous struck, the need to tell my story was ever more pressing. This gave me an urge to focus more on my diary entries and solidify what I was putting down on paper.
On reflection, there are certain parts of my life that have left me feeling very angry e.g.: What my step-mother did to me by allowing men to abuse me and robbed me of some level of innocence, coupled with my neighbours in the UK who were antisocial and racist in their behaviour and attitude, by trying to make my life uncomfortable etc.
I could list many other situations that most people would simply give up on, but I “tuffed” it out as we say back home in Jamaica.
How many people could stand being shouted at in the presence of others by their managers? Yet, although I saw it as humiliating and degrading, I strongly believed that the perpetrators who do this, did so with a clear agenda to destroy one’s confidence and esteem to exalt themselves and hide their own insecurities.
Indignities
We don’t live in a perfect world, nonetheless I will never understand why one human being will set out to harm another human being physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially, sexually and so forth. As the world is not perfect, these indignities occur in many environments and within a wide range of capacities. Many communities choose to hide from them, bury them under the carpet or simply dismiss them. Whatever choices are made in these testing times, we can chose to sink or swim when faced with these adversities, yet I chose to stand! I cannot lie and say it has been an easy journey, but as Les Brown says:
If life knocks you down, try and land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. And if you get up, you can stand up. And if you stand up, you can fight for your dream once again .
Through all this I have come out bruised but not broken with an Indomitable Spirit. The lessons I have learnt along the way are numerous and I will leave a few with you namely:
Know what you from your life.
Don’t ever get bugged down with the past.
Push, hold and stand again, after a fall, it’s the man who is able to stand after a fall who lives to run the race.
Life will always have trials but it’s how you handle them that determines the Victor in you.
“Sometimes, just swimming into the waves is all you can do, letting the tide carry you to the destined place.” Ava Brown (August 14)
All in all, I will encourage each person I come into contact with , to understand that it’s not the failing or failing that matters , it’s what you chose to do when you fall or fail that counts.
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What stops you today from Getting An Indomitable Spirit ! Contact me and lets talk about it.
To understand how I overcame other struggles grab a copy of Bamboo & Fern today , it’s a great Christmas Gift.
Ecopy only £4.99! www.avabrown.org
November 16, 2014
The Importance of Knowing Who You Are
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The Importance of Knowing Who You Are 
The answer to the question exists inherently in discovering your true Self.
I am certain each of you reading this post can pinpoint someone in your opinion who doesn’t seem to know who he/she is.
Being able to answer who you are for yourself, not by what others think of you is fundamentally important in your journey to self-happiness. Happiness, inner peace, healing and wellbeing, effectiveness in what you do as well as your ability to bond with others and enjoy intimacy. All these are inseparable from a strong and clearly defined identity. An identity is the reality of being who you are.
When you know who you are from an early age, it’s a great platform on which you will be staged in life. It took me a long time to know who I was, but once I understood that I was empowered to conquer the world.
Self-Awareness
How one defines himself, to yourself, depends on your core beliefs, the level of personal development you are at and the stage of life you are in. In other words, your identity changes and evolves over time. Most people enter adulthood with unresolved inner conflicts that remain unresolved out of ignorance of who they are, including an inability to function as a whole person. Self-Awareness is the process of discovering your true self by means of self-observation and assimilating and implementing accurate information about you.
Know where you are headed
If you are someone who is on a journey and unsure of who you are, you may also be unsure of where you are going. This would mean that you are clearly not in the driving seat of your life. Therefore, it will be hard to set goals, get motivated and determine the best course of action. Before we can do any of these things we must establish who we are. I am a firm believer in knowing what the plan is for my life, knowing where I want to go and in having a roadmap.
As the person responsible for your own destiny , I recommend that you must be in the driver seat of your own life as if you are not, life will drive you and the destination may not be one you desire but could ultimately be disastrous.
Once you get into the driving seat, then the next step is to take action.
Here are some tips to help you along that drive:
Live Consciously
The beauty of living consciously is that it increases the likelihood of creating the results you desire.
Develop Your Passion
Learning and developing your passions provide you with tools for tapping into your happiness.
Learn What You Hate
Learning what you hate can be just as powerful. The personalities and things that make your hair stand up on end hold lessons!
Acquire Self knowledge
This helps you figure out what you want to work on and what you are willing to let go.
Get a hobby
You may be surprised that by being asked to choose a hobby, you may be guided into knowing a bit more about yourself. Naturally we tend to choose to do things we enjoy, which is factored into who we truly are. So why not get out and find a hobby today and start self-discovery.
Get my your FREE chat today to help you fond your road map and who you are info@avabrown.org
Ava Brown MBA, BBA, Dip. Ed.| Trainer, Speaker & Consultant | Author of Bamboo & Fern
Tel: 078 0886 6870 | Email: info@avabrown.org | Web: www.avabrown.org
November 14, 2014
Get In The Driving Seat Of Your Life Now!
Get In The Driving Seat Of Your Life Now!
To get 5 of my quotes on Getting Your Life in The Right Direction pop your details below.
Ava Brown MBA, BBA, Dip. Ed.| Trainer, Speaker & Consultant | Author of Bamboo & Fern
Tel: 078 0886 6870 | Email:
info@avabrown.org
| Web: www.avabrown.org
November 13, 2014
Come on inside and lets talk!
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Meet Ava Brown
Tell us about your family; I live with my two kids Chardonae Elizabeth who is 16 , very musical and academic and ,my stylist for the most part as well as my three year old son Mikhel Kai , who is going 30 . He is very cuddly and just an amazing son to have.
What did you do before coming up with your business idea and how was it making the transition?
I have juggled many various roles before becoming an author, coach, business consultant, speaker and mentor. My roles have included: teaching, banking, working in maritime, retail and odd jobs such as call center roles.
Making the transition was challenging as it’s almost impossible to match giving up a steady income to having none initially, but I knew that in an effort to focus and build my dream, I had to make the move and that’s exactly what I did.
When did you launch?
Bamboo & Fern the book was launched August 2014 and the services were rolled out after that. I continue to services as the business I am in is ever changing.
How did you get started?
I started with the book and through the story a number of clients’ started coming to ask me to talk to them about issues in their own lives, libraries asked me to do Black History month and then talks came before I knew it I was on radio, TV and in the papers.
What’s your favorite thing about running your own business?
I love the fact that I can work in my Pyjamas all day and see my kids more. The fact that I save £200 on travel and isn’t stuck in peak traffic daily has given me back 5 years on my face that said, I work some long hours at home , some days I do 14 hours but I love it.
What’s the thing you least enjoy about running your own business?
I dislike some of the distractors at home and the fact that you can’t predict your income.
What has worked well about your business?
My biography has opened a number of doors for me in speaking and coaching that has really worked well as I speak on the topics in my book they aren’t made up, they are what I went though.
What’s been your biggest business mistake? How did you deal with it?
I waited trusted someone with money to sort something out for me regarding my business. They never delivered, I was really hurt and didn’t talk to them for a few months, but then on reflection looked at the relationship we had over time and reconciled. I still didn’t retrieve the money and that left a dent in the young business.
How do you fit in work with the family?
It’s such a hard juggling act , I wouldn’t lie , it’s hard to get the balance right especially with kids, so I find myself doing late evening walks with my son , or just taking my daughter for a date at Starbucks . We try to have dinner together as that helps to catch up with everyone. I set time aside for the family as work can consume you and family is important as they are who support the cause. At points I will just sit in my bed, with the laptop while the kids are in it to watching television. There is a feeling that we are all connected then. We try to take frequent holidays when we can afford it where all is switched off and its family time.
Are you working towards a financial goal for your business?
Who isn’t right? I would like to turn over sufficient that my family is very content and I can give back to my charities.
Would you ever give up your business to do something else?
No I wouldn’t give it up, the fulfilment and passion I get from working for myself is priceless.
Do you have an exit strategy?
Yes if it come down to not doing well, I will bring partners in but I wouldn’t run away.
Have you had your ‘I’ve made it’ moment? Tell us about it. If not when do you think it will come.
I have had my I’ve made it moment not necessarily in a monetary format but in other aspects e.g. When I first saw the cover for my book , featured in the Financial Times, Guardian, made Fashion Fair Finalist for Author of the year (International Women’s Day 2015) , interviewed on a TV programme back home that only the intellectuals or people who are seen as having accomplished something go on . Those were some of my yes moment coupled with earning my MBA.
Where do you hope to be in five years’ time?
I see myself some place hoy hosting my own TV programme, with a successful business and a household name.
If you can offer a discount or special promotion for Family Friendly Working readers, please write it here:
I have a 10% discount for new coaching clients’, 20% discount on speaking engagements that include family settings, churches etc. .For Christmas if I am emailed the code XMAS14 then there is a discount on my book hard copy for over 5 copies and over. In addition the ecopy is discounted currently.
November 12, 2014
Are you happy where you are?
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Are you happy where you are?
Happiness is state of mind, a safe place, place but a place only you can create. You are responsible for your own happiness. Ava Brown.
This is a question that many of us ask at different points in our lives. Wondering, pondering, pacing the floor, screaming, comparing our lives with others and even crying when the answer is no. Being truly happy where one is takes a certain level of being at ease in one’s life, essentially in one’s skin. How easy it is to get to this state is a question that varies, based on our individual circumstances. There are many factors to conditions that will determine the idea of happy be it lifestyle, culture, religion, disposal income, family background etc. Whatever the factor happiness is an individual thing and isn’t the same for any two people.
Determinants of Happiness Vary
For different people being happy is just having enough to eat, for others it means driving the best Range Rover, a house in the Hamptons and kids in the best private school. Oh how different the realities can be in different homes?
My mum would say don’t envy anyone for what they have as you do not know how far they have climbed to have it. This is such a profound statement, as far too often people are murdered for what they have materially, by others trying to create a desired happiness but in the fast lane, a high jump instead of a relay. Sadly, the need to have overshadow the sacrifices those killed have made to acquire.
The ignored, taken for granted….
Often no one knows the sacrifices that others make to add dimensions of happiness to their lives materially or otherwise. Therefore, the next time you think of envying others happiness, stop and appreciate the things you have around you. Let’s start counting the blessings, it could be health, the fact you can read this blog post, your children, some of you may be in the sunshine while I am freezing here in London. Those are things we often times do not stop to see and realise as happy factors, freedom of worship, our neighbours and the list is endless, how about you adding as you go along? Yet if we were to truly stop and look around us we would see that we are actually happy where we are. We need to stop, smell the fresh air and smile a little more, now answer the question are you happy where you are? You know the answer……….
To get 5 of my quotes on creating happiness pop your details below.
Ava Brown MBA, BBA, Dip. Ed.| Trainer, Speaker & Consultant | Author of Bamboo & Fern
Tel: 078 0886 6870 | Email:
info@avabrown.org
| Web: www.avabrown.org
November 11, 2014
Passport Out of Poverty
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Passport Out of Poverty.
“Providing quality education for all is not only a question of human rights. It is the only way out of poverty and exclusion for millions of children around the world. Yet many privileged young people literally squander the opportunity while others crave the resources these squanderers have.
My own story
Having grown up dirt poor myself, with a mother who has a minimum amount of education, I can speak to passionately about how education has changed my life. It’s the vehicle that made who I am today. I often look back and wish I had half of the resources my own children now have, believe it or not many of my lesson were held under trees back home in Jamaica. Though enjoyable, on reflection I just realise how much more I may have been able to achieve given the resources available in the West to children today. Others would argue that perhaps I may not have worked as hard as I did, while too late to prove I still wish I had some more resources.
All this is debatable as for those born into poverty, every day is a natural disaster. Yet in this case, society often appears to turn a blind eye. The very same people who shed tears watching the aftermath of the Japanese Tsunami are the ones who cross the road to avoid the homeless. Those who ran around the office with a bucket to help the Haitian people in the wake of the earthquake that claimed 220,000 lives, are the same ones who avoid eye contact with those, who really should just go get a job.
Some Statistics
In 2007, UNICEF’s report on Child Poverty in the OECD stated that Australia has a relative child poverty rate of nearly 12 per cent. That is, 12 per cent of children living in a house where the family income is 50 per cent or less of the median wage. Some people argue that the poverty level is higher than this, as relative poverty only looks at those who (for whatever reason) earn very little, and not those who earn nothing at all. More than 500,000 Australian children live without an employed parent in their household. The UK and USA rate far worse coming last and second last respectively in a comparison of Child Well-being throughout the OECD.
If we can educate the young, they can break free of the poverty trap. I however, say educating your child isn’t just a task for the government and the teachers, it starts at home. Parents ought to start educating at home by beginning to almost drill it in them that that is their only passport to success, not being a footballer or a wag , the chances are 1000 to 1, especially when your parents aren’t filthy rich.
Starts at home
Education at home doesn’t just start with maths and English, but with smaller immediately trainable actions such as please and thank you, helping with the chores around the home etc. It’s instilling a disciplined mind-set that will be needed to grasp the academic training at school.
If children do not get involved in activities that help them understand taking responsibility, then they won’t understand how to take responsibility for their own learning. Some of us are forced into using this vehicle like myself, others are taught by parents and careers to do so. Whatever or whoever teaches this isn’t as important as the fact that it is taught in my opinion.
Whatever your reason is for using this great platform to change your situation, I can guarantee you that its success proof. Therefore, I implore you be it parents , careers or young people to take the challenge today and step out and be counted, by using the only tool universal almost to all young people globally . Note I said almost as not everyone has the access and chance to an education, therefore, if you do make the best use of it.
About Ava Brown:
I can speak on this topic having lived it and proven it .
Why not book your FREE consultation today and let us speak about the Education of your children.
Ava Brown MBA, BBA, Dip. Ed.| Trainer, Speaker & Consultant | Author of Bamboo & Fern
Tel: 078 0886 6870 | Email: info@avabrown.org | Web: www.avabrown.org
November 8, 2014
Hope for this Generation
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Successful leaders love this quote:
“50% of something is better than 100% of nothing”These are important words to keep in mind when setting goals for success. Today, there are thousands of messages about the perfect life, the perfect body, the perfect home or the perfect career. Yet, everyday people have lives filled with less than perfect homes, jobs, families or role models. The truth is, life is messy for regular folk.
Growing up without a parent is tough, not getting nutritious food each day is tough. Not being able to move freely in your neighborhood is tough and trying to get ahead at school is also tough. So how does a young person overcome adversity? Adversities that are often out of their control? By deciding to give each day 50% of what they’ve got. In our perfectly obsessed world, many would say 50% is not enough, yet successful leaders know different.
Success isn’t perfection
Successful people never wait for perfection to arrive because they know they’ll end up with a big fat nothing. 100% of nothing, if truth be told. Success comes when everyday people like you and me keep pushing forward with every last ounce of their being. Sometimes this can mean a 50% effort yet it’s still something and every bit of something gets us one step closer to our goals.
Contact me today for a FREE chapter of my book that focusses on HOPE
