When I was in high school, I played the clarinet and marched two years in the BEST band in the land, Sidney Lanier Marching Poets! We practiced a lot and sometimes they’d be so rigorous and exhausting, but the reward I received from marching and performing, was not only worth it, but priceless. After each practice and before we were dismissed, our band director Mr. Charles C. Cooper, would have us chant our motto: “There are NO shortcuts to success….REPEAT”!
There’d be times the drum major would have us repeat it over and over again, until we were begging to stop. I knew the message behind the motto, but I didn’t understand the message behind the motto, until I started my own business October 2018. Naturally, I’m a hustler, go-getter and will stop at absolutely nothing, to achieve my goals. One of the biggest goals I set for myself, was to have a successful and lucrative business/brand.
As crazy as I can be at times, I set my goal a little too high and became extremely hard on myself, because I made a promise I couldn’t keep. Essentially, within my first couple of months of being in business, I aimed to make thousands of dollars. A bit ambitious, but I was determined to do it. Within the first few months, I not only didn’t have the thousands of dollars I was hoping for, I was NO…WHERE…NEAR…CLOSE!
Initially, I beat myself up…pretty bad, but I remembered the motto Mr. Cooper had us to chant. Rather than continue to beat myself up, I just knew I had to be more realistic with my goals, and not expect success to happen overnight, or try to take any “shortcuts”, because there are none. Five months after starting my business of writing and publishing my books, I have added Motivational Speaker to my resume, and the door of opportunities having been opening up for me!
Two months ago, I prayed to God for paid speaking opportunities, and He has definitely delivered. I’m so blessed and fortunate to have booked 3 paid speaking engagements, and I just know this is only the beginning! Although my dreams and goal of having thousands of dollars within my first month of business didn’t go as planned, I PLAN to have that and so much more, by the year’s end. Remember when I told you all I was a 34-year-old multi-millionaire? #waitforit
No matter how high you set your goals, or how ambitious you are, if you don’t meet the expectations you set for yourself, when you said you would, don’t give up! Keep going, and remember, “There are NO shortcuts to success…..REPEAT”!
Until next time my NOTE takers!
Writefully yours,
Deetra La’Rue
Notes by La'Rue 
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