Monday, August 3, 2015

Monday Motivation |How to be your own boss (literally).

Ismail oubarka | 6:52 AM
I hear a lot of people say that they want to be their own boss.   Maybe you're tired of working for someone else, or perhaps you have a grand vision of running your own enterprise. Great! That's really awesome. But before that happens, I invite you to first practice the art of being your own boss.

And by that I mean, "operating like a boss to elevate your own personal performance." Basically, I'd like you to act as if you hired yourself to achieve your goals.  And your job is to ensure those goals happen.  But in order to experience those outcomes, you've got to create some guidelines to make sure those outcomes are met. I've put together a list of three boss moves for you to start your journey.

Be your own Boss tip #1: Create the End Game
Every person reading this post, who is gainfully employed, has goals.  Maybe you have detailed objectives to meet, maybe your job is to satisfy every customer.  No matter where you work, you are expected to meet certain goals every day.  But what about your personal life?  Have you set any daily goals for yourself?  If not, then you aren't operating like a boss.

In my last position, I had to send a weekly list of actions/goals to my supervisor on Friday for the upcoming week.  She wanted to know that her team was identifying our top priorities and planning ensure those priorities are met.  Every quarter, we'd send detailed updates on where we stood with our Annual Objectives.  But once I left my position, I said to myself "I'm glad I don't have to send in those weekly emails anymore."  That, my friends, is not an example of Boss Thinking.  Planning for the week to come isn't a chore, it's a tool to ensure that I stay on course.  Without the weekly plan, how would I reach my goals?

Wanna be your own boss? Then create clear goals for yourself and break down what you will do each day/week to make them happen.  Be accountable, don't let a week go by without planning.  Sometimes I'd be traveling and wouldn't send in my report on time, by the time I landed, there was an email in my inbox with a reminder from "boss-lady" about my weekly report.  Real bosses follow up. So make sure you don't let yourself slide. Be consistent.

Be your own Boss tip #2:  Be Unreasonable
Has your supervisor ever gave you an assignment that seemed darn near impossible to achieve?  Sure they have.  That's what bosses are known for.  They have a knack for always raising the expectations just as you're getting the hang of what you're doing.

A boss' job is to move your out of your comfort zone.  They constantly raise expectations and demand more out of you.

  If you had to you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 on how much you demand from yourself, what would it be?  Are you constantly challenging your negative thinking and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone?  Or, are you the type of boss that let's their people slack off?  That type of boss may be fun to work with, but they don't stay in their positions too long.  If you aren't challenging yourself into a new level of action, please give up your boss dreams, 'cause they ain't happening.

Let's talk about the term "being unreasonable" for a second.  Your boss tells you take on a project even though your workload is packed.  Suddenly, you spew out a bunch of silly excuses reasons why you can't take on anything new.  You boss remains unmoved by your multitude reasons and still demands the work be done by the unreasonable deadline.  You somehow still work your magic (like you always do) and make it happen.
Be your own Boss tip #3:  Measure results and reward your outcomes
Sometimes, we'll set a goal for ourselves and never measure our results. Repeat after me: "This is not a boss move!" Bosses are constantly in meetings reviewing numbers and discussing their business.  They don't write their goals at the beginning of the year and forget all about them.

Bosses have to know where they stand with their goals at all times.  If they don't know their numbers, they don't know their business. If they don't know their business, they aren't managing it.  Plain and simple.  You call yourself a boss? Then get really intimate with your goals.  Know where you stand and what adjustments need to be made to get there.  Measure your results regularly and act fast if you aren't on the right track.

Lastly, a boss rewards her people for their hard work.  When I first started the year, my coach suggested that we right down the milestones we wanted to reach and a reward next to each milestone.  We started with really small milestones than grew to larger, more challenging objectives.  For example, I'd treat myself to a pedicure if I made X number in sales that month.  This system worked amazingly well which made milestones seem easy to reach.

Treat yo' self, as you make progress so you remain motivated to keep going for bigger and better. Which reminds me, It's time create the personal milestone(s) for my August goals and identify the accompanying rewards.  Just thinking about it gets me excited.  Which leads me to my last post.  I (good) boss motivates her people.  If you find yourself in a slump, your job is to get yourself motivated on a daily basis.

Watch Youtube videos, read inspiring books, listen to motivational audio,  re-read my motivation posts.  Do whatever it takes to get you in that boss-lady mindset each and every single day.  For those of you who are working today, I want you observe your boss in a new light. Watch what he/she does to run their business and take detailed notes.  Set high standards for yourself and start making boss moves.






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Quann Sisters Now Represented by IMG Models Worldwide

Ismail oubarka | 4:54 AM

Photos: Diego Villarreal

Makeup: Andrew Colvin

Stylist: Lisa Jarvis

 

I am more than thrilled to announce my twin; TK Quann (aka TK Wonder) and I are now represented by IMG Models Worldwide; one of the top agencies in the world.
 
Before co-founding Urban Bush Babes, during my late teens I was scouted off the streets of New York during a family summer vacation. This jump started a decade long modeling career through my college years and as beautiful as the journey was there were major elements of the industry I did not agree with. I am of course not in anyway saying that all aspects of the job I abhorred. I enjoyed meeting amazing new individuals (I had a wonderful agent then), travel and hey, being financially stable is always a plus, but on the flip side I was constantly addressed on the state of my natural hair by clients, deemed as not “commercial” enough, not considered an “ideal” form of beauty or “I could go so far if I just changed the texture of my hair”. Fast forward to the present and now times are changing but it was a very different story years ago.
 
IMG_1835
 
This is not in any way a boo hoo moment. I truly felt blessed to be able to make a living in the industry but as a model years ago without the surge of social media and the consumer’s need in knowing more on the individual behind the face of the brand she/he is representing many times you were a blank slate, formed and molded into what the client saw as “beautiful”. Like anything there were the exceptions, but for the majority of models this was just the norm. Now I was not naive to that factor but the problem that arose for me was I tended to take those sentiments home, not leaving the work at the office as they say, that “standard ideal of beauty” carried over in my personal space, where it consumed what I thought was the most beautiful standard of beauty in my eyes…my Mother. I know some may say “well it is only hair” but hair was a big connection to my childhood specifically regarding my Mother and how I defined beauty outside of the “ideal”. To see her with this bigger than life glorious Afro, I just thought I was the luckiest girl to be surround by such exquisitely unique beauty inside and out. Then fast forward years later to be a young woman surrounded by naysayers constantly addressing the state of my natural hair as not beautiful, eventually led me to correlate to my Mother’s image, questioning my view on what was beautiful, which I was not comfortable with in the least. This idea that I constantly had to mold myself to fit someone’s else ideal wore me thin, mind body and soul, and decided enough was enough and left the modeling world which was one of the main inspirations behind Urban Bush Babes. Creating a platform, celebrating and supporting women to feel comfortable coloring outside those lines, knocking down those stereotypes of what the “standard ideal beauty” means and showing through example that real beauty has no ideal and goes beyond aesthetics.
 
My twin sister one of my biggest inspirations entered the realm of modeling simultaneously when my career began but left shortly after, feeling creatively stifled TK submerged herself in her ultimate passion; music.
 
I have told this story briefly before but I wanted to elaborate a bit more on why this merge with IMG Models Worldwide is such a milestone for us. What a wonderful feeling to come back into the industry with a voice as well as with the number one agency in the world all for being ourselves. So excited to be apart of the IMG family.
 
IMG_1868



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Sunday, August 2, 2015

5 Minute Sponge Coils- Wash and Go for 4c Natural Hair

Ismail oubarka | 8:08 AM


Watch as TheNaturalChica123 preps her hair for a fierce wash and go using a few basic tools and products!
 
 
 


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The Wraps: ChilliPeppa On Etsy

Ismail oubarka | 6:55 AM

Another day another mumtrepreneur kicking ass, Chillipeppa is an amazing Etsy store serving up beautiful African print handmade items, from wedding invites to the amazing African print head wraps that I'm modelling.



Chillipeppa always has the most beautiful prints available and it stood to reason that she would make these fab wraps, she has several print options on her Esty but she is also happy to customise wraps from any of the print you see on her page.


You already know how much of a lover of head wraps I am, they are a life saver for my many bad hair days, these are the perfect shape and size for an easy wrap that looks good every time. 


The wraps are £16 be sure to check out the goodies on  offer here and follow @chillipeppa_on_etsy on Instagram. 




from Natural Belle http://ift.tt/1KJ9w44

The Vegan Bags: Sustainable Fashion + Love Beatrice Review

Ismail oubarka | 6:25 AM

I'm currently looking at cleaning up my closet, it's a slow process, that is hard for a certified shopaholic like me! As I've gotten older I'm becoming more and more focused on investing in quality fashion items as opposed to fast fashion that falls apart even faster. This has lead me to think more consciously about who I am buying from and adjusting my buying habits, such as...


  1. Buying second hand or vintage
  2. Re working or up cycling clothes I already have
  3. Asking myself "do I really need it?"
  4. If I do really need it buying it to last
  5. Research, there is lots of information online about the sustainability of high street brands  
  6. Shopping small and supporting makers!


Number six is one that's close to my heart, instead of giving my hard earned queen faces to large corps we should be supporting smaller sellers and brands. I've come across so many wonderful brands such as Love Beatrice, an ethical  and sustainable brand creating handmade vegan leather totes, satchels and clutch bags. 


Handmade by Shana in California, she sources all her materials so that they are in line with her mission for sustainability, from vegan friendly leather to  organic cotton zippers. I have a Love Beatrice Sade Clutch and Nalani Bucket Bag. I use the bucket bag daily, I can not get enough of it, it's strong [I need this due to all the Freya crap I have to carry!] and doubles up as a toddler bag.


I also love the popular Sade Clutch which is definitely  a fashionista must have, that can go from day to night. All the bags come in a selection of colours and are fully lined with punchy prints. Prices start at a very reasonable $20 you can check out the full range here


These bags are a great way to update and uplift your wardrobe it's guilt free and won't break the bank. 
stay tuned for more posts on my sustainable fashion journey that will not break the bank! and coment below your tips on eco friendly shopping.




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Saturday, August 1, 2015

Getting My Life: The #EveryDayFitness Challenge

Ismail oubarka | 11:15 AM
Getting My Life: The #EveryDayFitness Challenge

I can't believe that it's actually August 1st. As in, we're about a month away from the final quarter of 2015. This year has been an interesting learning experience, to say the least!

I've gone through a lot of changes, both mentally and physically as I've transitioned to different phases of my life. I ended 2014 and started 2015 as a full time blogger and social media freelancer. It was a little stressful (there's NOTHING like having to hustle your butt off to meet a minimum financial threshold every month), but I was also happy to be doing what I loved on a full-time basis with enough flexibility to set my own schedule, and the bandwith to go off and do random things in the middle of the week, because I could.

Around March, I made the decision that it was time for me to return to the work force, and with God's grace I was able to in May. I work full-time as a social media manager and copywriter for a digital marketing agency based in So Cal. You can read more about that experience here. Having had some time to reflect on my transition into the work force, launching a new career, and trying to balance commitments all the way around, I've reached one conclusion:

My life is out of whack.

No, it's not in shambles and crumbling faster than a Nature Valley granola bar after the first bite. But the general sense of wellness I was able to maintain while working for myself is no longer there. Working full time, maintaining some freelance clients, and getting back into the rhythm of producing good content for the blog, BGLH, and brands while also keeping my relationship strong, working out, and carving out time for God, family, and myself can be pretty stressful and overwhelming.  

It's time for a radical shift, and that's where my #EveryDayFitness Challenge comes in. Sometimes, I think people get the impression that bloggers are living "the life". And maybe some of them are, because they never have a bad day, their eyebrows are always done, they always have the best daytime lighting, never pay for products, jet set across the country for events, don't have ridiculously cluttered inboxes, can respond to texts on time, and never not have the time to do laundry. I ain't living like that. I don't live a curated life, and I never want you all to get the impression that I do. Yes, I'm blessed with certain opportunities, but that is a byproduct of the work I put into The Mane Objective. I could go on another tirade about that, but let's get back to what matters right now.

The #EveryDay FitnessChallenge is my way of getting back on track, restoring balance to my life, and embarking on a total wellness journey that you can relate to. Starting today, August 1st 2015, through December 31st 2015, I am committing myself to:
  • Getting physical activity daily. I'm aiming to work out at the gym at minimum 4 days a week, and for the remaining 3, get at least 15 minutes of activity in --walking, doing the running man... something. 
  • Eating better and cooking more often. I'm not gonna set myself up to fail and embark on a"paleo", "clean eating" or some other kind of radically different diet lifestyle change. I'm simply committing myself to eating better, and making better food decisions when I go out to eat. 
  • Spending more time with God. Nuff said.
  • Being more mindful and present when in the company of others. If I'm delayed in responding to your emails, social media comments, messages, etc...this is why. Try not to judge me too harshly.
  • Making my hair and skin as healthy as possible.
  • Stressing less. #JesusIsMyHelp
  • Saving more money. 
  • Getting organized and de-cluttering .
  • Enjoying my life and the people in it. Appreciating them more.
As you can see, #EveryDayFitness involves more than just physical activity. It's about stringing the last 5 months of 2015 together in a way that's meaningful, impactful, and for myself, revolutionary. I don't want to work on just looking better, I want to feel better, think better, live better,act better, love better, and be the best me that I can possibly be.

Every week here on the blog, I'll be doing a post and updating you all on how the previous week went. I'll share successes, failures, high points, challenges, frustrations, victories, and of course, tips and information. This journey is one of discovery for me, and I'm going to share it with you all because that's what I do best. If I cooked an amazing meal with Flavor God, you'll know about it. If I found the most comfortable work out shoes ever, you'll learn where I got them from and how much I paid.

This journey won't be easy, but it will be worth it. I can't wait to share it with you all!

You can keep up with my daily #EveryDayFitness moves on:
Instagram @maneobjective
 Facebook Mane Objective
Twitter @mane_objective
My Fitness Pal - add me! TinaP17 

If you find yourself inspired, be sure to tag me and use the hashtag #EveryDayFitness!

Got any tips or advice for me? Leave them in the comments below! 
BTW -- scroll ALLLLL THE WAY DOWN past "You Might Also Like" to leave a comment :)


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Avoiding Set Backs: Master Pre-Detangling

Ismail oubarka | 8:51 AM
I'm shifting my thought process around regarding how I view the topic of setbacks.   In the past, I would classify a set back as an incident that resulted in loss of (hair) length.  And, while it's true that losing length does constitute a setback, I also think that remaining the same length for an extended period of time can be likened to a having setback.

Here's why I say that.  In it natural and healthy state, we would retain much of our growth.  I'm sure you've seen progress pics of someone who big chopped 2 years ago and is now enjoying hair past their shoulders.  It's as if they retain most,  if not all of their growth, which is wonderful.  What if we created the expectations of maximum retention for ourselves as well?

In order to do that, we have to find the weaknesses in our regimen and effectively address them.  One of the weak areas for me personally is when I detangle.  I call it a weak area because it's when I experience the most hair loss.  Sure, most of the hair on the comb is shed hair, but I'm sure I can do better managing any detangling related breakage as well.

To do better, I've decided to make sure I implement some pre-detangling actions to minimize the potential damage as much as possible.  Just like how pre-pooing helps minimize damage to the hair on wash day, I'm hoping the pre-detangling will mean less broken hair on the floor whenever we detangle.

Prepare the hair
If your hair is in need of detangling. Chances are it might be dry and a little matted.  That is not the right time to attack it with a comb.  You're only asking for trouble.  Instead, you've got to prepare for the session by priming your hair so it's fully ready to release the shed hair.  Treat it like a game.  Your goal is successfully find and remove all the shed hair and knots without causing one strand to break.  If you can do it successfully, you're winning.

Find out what your hair needs in order to make the detangling session go as smoothly as possible.  Does it need to be moistened?  Then have your spray bottle ready. Does it need the help of detangling products? Then grab your blue bottle of It's a 10.  Does your hair need the power of steam to soften the strands?  Do you need to spray it with oil to help the trapped hairs glide through the madness?  I want you to experiment.  Try some of all of these tips and see how your hair responds.  I know that my hair detangles much more easily when it's moisturized so instead of manipulating dry, parched hair.  So I need to focus on super charging the moisture levels through daily steaming or some other method to increase elasticity.  Elasticity, by the way, is the golden key to detangling without a lot of casualties.  When your hair can stretch, while manipulated, instead of breaking, you have made it to the big leagues.

Another way to prepare the hair is to start at the macro level then focus on the small details.  Start with large sections and gliding your fingers through pre-treated hair. That way you can grab the low hanging fruit, or the hairs that you can easily grab and remove.  One you've completed the entire head, then you can grad your most qualified comb to do the job and start working in small sections.

One more tip, start in your weakest areas first.  The back of my hair seems to get tangles the most.  Before, I would start in the front. By the time I got to the back, I had little patience for those stubborn tangles hiding in the back and I paid severely for it.  Now, I start there and can dedicate as much time as I need to get the job done.

Finally, one other thing to be aware of is how much time you go in between detangling sessions.  When I traveled like mad, I'd detangle once a week on wash days and wore my hair in a bun every day.  That might have been ok if I better prepared for it.  But instead, I would try to detangle parched hair with loads of shed hair trapped in my bun.  If I were to do it all over again, I'd conduct a light session mid-week then do a detailed detangle  pre-moistened hair on Saturdays.

As I mentioned in the last post, the best way to prepare the hair for the manipulation of detangling is to fortify it with protein.  Strong hair is the ultimate win so don't skip your protein treatments.  Heck, sometimes I would saturate my hair with coconut oil overnight before a heavy detangling session. That way, I'm getting the lubrication of the oil, plus additional strength from the absorbed protein.  Worked like a dream.

You can even play around with protein leave-in conditioners like Grund Tiger Protein.  When I was first experimenting with daily steaming.  I decided to braid my hair in two cornrows before getting under the steamer.  Since I was headed under the steamer, I didn't prepare and pre-detangle my hair prior to braiding.  I noticed a little breakage and immediately went into action.  After reaching for the Tiger Protein and misting the length of my hair, the breakage ceased and my hair felt ultra soft and moisturized.  That was the reminder that I needed to always, ALWAYS prepare the hair before heavy manipulation, even before conditioning treatments.

Hopefully, pretangling is one solution that will leads us towards our goal of being as close to 100% retention as possible.



































































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