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2010 New Year, New You!
A PURSE OF YOUR OWN by
Wealth Coach Deborah
Owens
You’ve seen her, know
her, and might even be her! The woman with the “counterfeit purse.”That’s the term for the symbolic bag that some of us may carry.Those who might dress fashionably and drive a nice car but have nothing
of real value. Many women are smart enough to know that they should put their
hard-earned money to work for them.However,
most are too overwhelmed, bored or intimidated by the particulars of stocks,
bonds and mutual funds to be proactive.
In
A PURSE OF YOUR OWN: An Easy Guide to Financial Security (ISBN:
9781416570813; $15.00), Wealth Coach Deborah Owens shares how women can use what
they know about fashion, dieting and romance to take charge of their finances.
This book offers respite to women who are tired of “renting” a wealthy
lifestyle with credit cards and are ready to utilize their unique strengths to
build wealth-a la Oprah and J.K Rowling.In
this straight-forward and easy to understand financial guide, women learn how to
increase their PQ or Purse Quotient and learn the principles to
becoming financially fit in any economy.
The purse is a reflection
of a woman’s economic power and Owens insists that in order to fill up a
purse, women must adopt wealthy habits that put them on the path to fiscal
independence and a financial identity. These are the behaviors that Deborah
observed in financially successful women throughout her more than twenty years
in financial services.She is a
former financial advisor and was a vice president at Fidelity Investments.A PURSE OF YOUR OWN shares examples of women practicing The 7
Wealthy Habits,” which include: 1. A Wealthy Outlook 2. A Wealthy Appetite
3. A Wealthy Vision 4. A Wealthy Mindset 5. A Wealthy Legacy 6. A Wealthy System
and 7. A Wealthy Focus. A PURSE OF YOUR OWN provides a distinctly
feminine financial perspective.
By adopting these habits,
Owens was able to fill her own purse. As an author, radio talk show host and TV
wealth coach she now shares her successful strategies with others.Each chapter of A PURSE OF YOUR OWN focuses on one of these
principles and discusses how to acquire and then apply the wealthy habits.In this easy to follow financial guide, Owens covers the basics and
intersperses stories from real women who have used the 7 Wealthy Habits and
achieved their own success. Owens empowers women to discover their own Purse-onality,
and use their female intuition to take control of their finances and create
financial security in their lives. In addition, A PURSE OF YOUR OWN
includes helpful quizzes and exercises and offers a free online supplement. [Read
More]
Help
your members clean out their purses and get a fresh start in 2010! EMPOWER
your book club and START A PURSE GROUP!
Author
and Wealth Coach Deborah Owens is on a mission to empower ONE MILLION WOMEN and
she would like for your book club to be on board. In her new book, A
Purse of Your Own, Deborah shares how you can start a "Purse
Group" for support and accountability.
Join
the Power of the Purse Community receive a free download of Chapter 10 of A
Purse of Your Own, and get instructions on how you can start your own Purse
Group. Register
at here and you will receive updates on the Power of the Purse Campaign
and announcements for additional promotional offerings and events. Offer
expires: February 10, 2010.
JOIN THE MISSION TO ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN AND EMPOWER 1 MILLION WOMEN ACROSS AMERICA
TO CREATE A PURSE OF THEIR OWN!
2010 New Year's Resolutions for African American Women
by author Hazel Mills
When people talk about making resolutions for the new year, it usually involves quitting or losing something or someone. For example, millions of people will resolve to quit smoking and twice as many more will promise to lose weight. Beginning
the new year, we will be saturated with television and print ad campaigns for gym memberships, weight loss program and equipment deals as well as products to help with nicotine addiction.
Although these changes in lifestyle are great and for some, can mean the difference between life or death, there are so many other things that we, as African American women, can do to make our lives more healthy, positive and meaningful in 2010.
1. Resolve to spend more time with God. This should be non-negotiable and always first on everyone's to-do list for the new year. He has created so many beautiful and magnificent things, including you. Resolve to attend church or bible study more often than you do now. Make time in your busy day just to say a quiet "thank you".
2. Resolve to ditch the drama. I can't say enough about this one. The stress of living a drama-filled life can affect your mental and physical health. Find ways to get rid of your own and to avoid getting pulled into the madness of others around you. This is much more challenging to accomplish around the holidays.
3. Resolve to take control of your health. On the morning of January 1
and the rest of the year, ask yourself the following vital questions: What is my HIV status? What are my cholesterol numbers? When was my last pap smear and/or mammogram? When did I last see a dentist? If you can't answer these questions definitively, on January 2nd, call your doctor(s) and make an appointment.
4. Resolve not to starve your savings account. 2009 has been a year of economic hell and we have all cut back on rewarding ourselves with luxuries like new cars and vacations. Some may have dipped into the piggy bank just to make ends meet. In 2010, try to make a point to put a little something away from each paycheck. It doesn't have to be much. Pennies add up to dollars.
5. Resolve to be more generous. I am not talking about money here. Your time is more valuable than your dollars. Volunteer to read to hospitalized children, to serve food at a local women's shelter or build a home with Habitat For Humanity. The warm fuzzy feeling you'll get from knowing you helped someone else will be worth more than rubies.
6. Resolve to learn something new. The new year is a great time to create new adventures by learning to do something new. Check out your local community college for course selections. Many classes are available in the evening. You can learn all sorts of interesting things like how to play golf, speak a new language, play a mean game of chess, tune-up your car's engine or countless other hobbies. When we stop learning, we stop growing.
7. Resolve to re-unite with an old friend or relative this year. Invite your room-mate from your college days out for dinner and some catching up or call and chat with a cousin whom you haven't seen since the last family reunion years ago. Sharing a laugh always lifts the spirits. But when planning a reunion, remember to heed number 2 on this list.
8. Resolve to be more informed about social and political issues. We all could use a nudge in this department. Celebrity gossip rules the talk show circuit and magazines covers but how well do you know the political climate of your own city? Let's resolve to spend time expanding our minds this year about what is going on in our world and with those we have elected to represent our interests in government.
9.Resolve to take yourself on vacation. Getting away on a shopping excursion with the girls is therapeutic and relaxing on a tropical beach with your significant other is wonderful. But why not take the concept of "me time" to a whole new level by treating yourself to a weekend at the spa? Treat yourself to a one night stay at a beautiful hotel across town. No phones, no text messages, no emails. You can't take care of others if you don't first take care of yourself.
10. Resolve to speak the truth in love. Hard but necessary. People don't always want to hear or accept the truth. Lies make life so much harder than it has to be. If you tell the truth with sugar rather than with salt, it is usually a littler easier for the other person to swallow. They may not agree with you but you don't need a fan club. Respect, from others and for yourself is the goal.
This list is a great place to begin to think about your life and the direction in which you want to go in 2010. Empower yourself to be a better person than you were in 2009. There is always room for improvement and you don't have to wait until the new year to make a change. Today is a good day.
Website: www.hazelmillsstories.com
Copyright 2010 written by author Hazel Mills
Detox
Your Finances by
Deborah Owens
Just
as liquids are important to flush toxins from your system as you diet, a similar
approach can trim the bulge in your budget. Americans have been bingeing on debt
and according to the Federal Reserve Board have racked up more than 2.26 billion
dollars in consumer debt.
Like
dieters who get on the treadmill daily and the pounds don’t come off it can be
difficult to gain control of your finances. The culprit---- fees and monthly
interest charges that have the same affect on your budget that nutritionist say
artificial sweeteners and refined sugar have on weight loss. Here are a few
ideas that you can use to implement a financial cleansing.
Financial
Fast
Like a fast when you’re dieting it is important to approach ridding yourself
from debt gradually otherwise you feel deprived and then start to binge or in
this case overspend. Start by making a list of all your debt and identifying the
largest balances with the highest interest rates first. Pay off your small
balances first and eliminate a bill or tackle the balance with the highest
interest rate in order to short circuit the compound interest on your balances.
The key is to gradually reduce your debt burden and experience a feeling of
financial peace.
Drink
your liquids
When I talk about putting liquidity in your budget I’m not talking about
grabbing a can of Slim Fast, I mean having readily available cash. One of
the main causes of credit card debt is not having an emergency fund. Building
liquidity may require you to cut your expenses. If you haven’t been saving
money, I hope to convince you to reverse that trend.
Make
a commitment to pay yourself ten percent of your take home pay each week and
have it automatically transferred from your paycheck or checking account. into a
savings or a money market account.The trade off is settling for the paltry current interest rates of 1.50%
or less. For listings of top-yielding savings, money market accounts and CDs,
check www.bankrate.com and www.imoney.net
When an emergency happens you can reach for cash instead of credit.
Spend
Organically
Going green in your finances means using cold hard cash. A study on
spending behavior found that people who use credit cards for everyday purchases
spend fifteen percent more than if they were using cash.
Give yourself an allowance every pay period and make a commitment to use cash
only. When you open your wallet and there is no cash it means you have
reached your spending limit. The sweetest sound a financially responsible person
hears is the sound of their wallet or purse snapping shut.
Deborah Owens is the Wealth Coach on My Generation TV on PBS and
is the author of a Purse of Your Own; The Easy Guide to Financial Security
published by Simon and Schuster. Visit www.deborahowens.com
to read an excerpt.
Advice from the Top: What Minority Women
Say About Their Career Success
by author Valencia Campbell
Join me in welcoming author Valencia Campbell to the family. Valencia is a consultant on educational topics and women’s issues. Her completed projects include those for the Baltimore Public School System, National Science Foundation, National Congress of Black Women and the National Council of Negro Women. She has taught sociology courses at Howard University and Bowie State University.
Her many awards include: Governor’s Citation for Work on the Improvement of the Status of Women, Woman of the Year for Southern Prince George’s Business and Professional Women, WHUR Hometown Hero Award, 9to5 National Association of Working Women Awards and a Presidential Appointment to the United Service Organization World Board of Governors from 2006-2008. Valencia holds a Ph.D. and M.A. degree in Sociology from Howard University and B.A. in Sociology from Virginia State University.
Intimate Conversation with author Valencia hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations
Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies, was rejected 32 times for a business loan. Joy Bramble, publisher of the Baltimore Times, started her newspaper business in her kitchen. And Gwendolyn Calvert Baker, former president of the United States Committee for UNICEF, didn't obtain her bachelor's degree until she was in her 30s.
Author Valencia Campbell shares these and other stories in her book, "Advice From the Top: What Minority Women Say About Their Career
Success" (
ISBN-10: 0313358583 | ISBN-13: 978-0313358586 ). Campbell, a Maryland-based consultant on educational topics and women's issues, traces the careers of 14 successful minority businesswomen to find out what challenges they faced and how they worked their way up the ladder. We spoke with Campbell to see what others can learn from the women's experiences.
»Ella: Introduce us to the primary message in your book, Advice from the
Top.
One of the key messages in my book relates to how the minority women define success. A common theme was the idea of setting your own goals and achieving them. Nearly all of the women did not equate money with success despite the fact that they all had achieved considerable financial wealth.
»Ella: What led you to create Advice from the Top now?
I wrote this book to help minority women realize their career dreams. Often we minority women are confronted with race and gender barriers that impact our career aspirations. By learning from the career experiences of other women, we can move ahead at a faster pace. I include specific tips that will help women overcome some of the barriers as well.
»Ella: What impact will Advice from the Top have on the community?
I think my book will inspire women to set their career goals high. Chapter Three for example, shares the amazing stories of millionaire business owners like Cathy Hughes and Eunice Dudley. Also, former Prince George's School Superintendent Iris Metts is included. News anchor Andrea Roane and medical doctor, Beatrice Muglia, among others are included too. Readers will see how the women's family, mentors, professional networks, and personal drive propelled them to success. These women's stories will leave a lasting legacy for those who want to improve the status of women in our society.
Advice from the Top offers tips and advice to minority women and others wondering what it takes to succeed in careers in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. To gain the insights, Valencia Campbell reviewed research on career success. Then she interviewed fourteen extraordinary minority women, all of whom shared stories about the path to the top of their fields. But this book goes beyond the usual superficial profile of women achievers. Rather, it shares their views on what constitutes success, the factors they consider important to their success, the obstacles they encountered and overcame, and what women can do today to get ahead.
Advice from the Top will inspire minority women who want to advance their careers. The compelling stories described in this book will, further, help them avoid common pitfalls on the road to success. Better, it provides action steps designed to help readers vault the same hurdles with aplomb. Advice from the Top will also help organizations, educational institutions, and business organizations develop and support career and mentoring programs that promote the success of minority women.
»Ella: Is there a defining message that you want readers to grasp and share?
It's so important to me for my readers to start sharing their own stories of success whether it is in a news article, magazine article or their very own book. It is important that minority women across a wide range of occupational fields share their stories.
»Ella: Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS. What part does GRATITUDE play in achieving success, in your opinion?
Like the women I interviewed, I believe that success is achieving goals that you set for yourself. You should not let others define success for you. When we receive support from our families, mentors, professional and or social networks, we can show our gratitude by helping someone else realize their career dreams.
Cedric
Muhammad, a unique political, business and macroeconomist, has influenced the
worlds of culture, electoral politics and finance. His analysis and advice are
sought by World Leaders, Members of Congress, entertainers, activists,
journalists, and businesspersons. As President of CM Cap, he has advised a
range of individuals and institutions from first-time entrepreneurs to
international governmental bodies. He has been published or appeared in
respected financial media such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg
Financial News.
In
the Spring of 2004 Cedric successfully consulted the campaign of Cynthia
McKinney, helping her to return to Congress, representing the Fourth
Congressional District Of Georgia. Cedric served as chief strategist to the
campaign.
Also in the Summer of 2004, Mr. Muhammad was hired by Source Enterprises CEO,
Mr. David Mays, to serve as a strategic consultant to the CEO and The Source
Magazine, the most widely circulated Hip-Hop magazine in the world.
Video
Book Introduction: Cedric Muhammad gives an Overview of each of his three volumes in his
brand new Book Series entitled "The Entrepreneurial Secret to Starting a
Business: Without a Bank Loan, Collateral or Revenue." Volume 1 - 'The
Political Economy'; Volume 2 - 'The Business Principles'; & Volume 3 - 'The
Personal Struggle'. Purchase the series
here.
The
under 40 year old’s unique background in the entertainment industry,
congressional campaigns, and media provide him with valuable skill sets and a
network which he deploys in a variety of causes and ventures. An example is
Cedric’s brokering of a meeting between Congressman Bennie Thompson and
Hip-Hop artist David Banner to discuss local and national economic empowerment,
education and community development in July of 2005.
Cedric
served as General Manger of the multi-platinum music act, Wu-Tang Clan,
negotiating its tour with Rage Against the Machine in 1997, and endorsement deal
with Pepsi Co. That same year, he established an inner city consulting firm
advising McDonald’s Corporation and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, among others.
In
2000, he debuted BlackElectorate.com,
a news-analysis daily covering issues and events that impact the global Black
electorate. The site is viewed in over 50 countries. Cedric
also runs Black Electorate Economics University (BEEU) - an online school
dedicated to making separate branches of economic thought applicable to everyday
life. BEEU’s student body is comprised of professionals, college
students, investors, and working class laborers, in America and in over 10
countries. Course topics include, personal finance, entrepreneurship, business
strategy and international monetary policy.
In
2007, Cedric founded the unique multi-media broadcast network, The Black Coffee
Channel (http://www.blackcoffeechannel.com/)which
hosts "The Cedric Muhammad And Black Coffee Program" and covers
culture, politics, and business developments on the ground, in the Black-English
speaking world. Cedric’s
weekly column on music industry marketing trends and business models, “The
Hip-Hoppprenur™” can be read each week at AllHipHop.com. For more
information on Cedric and his work visit his website at: http://www.cedricmuhammad.com
Featured Bookclub Only One Key Stroke Away (O.O.S.A.)
Only
One Key Stroke Away (O.O.S.A.) was founded in January of 2005 by a group of
readers, wishing to share their thoughts and opinions with others. We started
out as a group that simply read together. Eventually we moved to inviting
authors to chat with us about their books. Shortly thereafter, we decided to
review our selected reads. Our reviews are posted at several sites including:
Amazon, Barnes and Noble, MySpace and GoodReads. The rest is…OOSA! Our resume
includes hundreds of titles of varying genres as our motto is: OOSA Gets It
Read!
Ella:
What is the vision for your organization?
We do not have a president. We are a team and there is no “I” in team. We
each have responsibilities and tasks that make OOSA what it is. We are an online
book club and reviewing team that focuses on African American authors. We wish
to further promote African American literature by taking special interest in new
and self published authors. We read, review and recommend.
Ella: Give a deeper understanding of how important reading is to you.
It’s cliché, but reading is fundamental. It’s the corner stone to life. We
read everyday in our lives, whether we want to or not. Because literacy is so
important we believe in starting as early as possible. The Ladies of OOSA are
mothers, grandmothers and aunts. We promote literacy within our families first.
When our children see us reading and enjoying ourselves, it encourages them to
read. They learn reading is not a chore but something fun to do. What better
method than to teach by example.
Ella: Favorite couple from a book: Nina and Dutch (Dutch - Kwame
Teague), Yuri and Britt (The Sweetest Taboo - Risque), Portia and Jay (A Dollar
Outta Fifteen Cent - Caroline McGill), Clark and Devin (Caught in the Mix -
Candice Dow) and Natalia and Shawn (Triangle of Sins - Nurit Folkes).
Ella: Favorite genre, series or sequels: We are a group of
avid readers with various tastes in literature. As such, we really don’t have
particular preferred genres. We welcome and enjoy all genres. Some of our
favorite sequels include: Little Black Girl Lost by Keith Lee Johnson, the
True2Life series by Al-Saadiq Banks, Dutch by Kwame Teague, Naughty by Brenda
Hampton, the Vernetta Henderson legal thrillers by Pamela Samuels Young and the
Dilemma series by Reign.
Ella: Share your news or events with us. What's next for your group?
What’s next…more Author Spotlights and contests.. And as always, we read,
review and recommend. It’s what we do.
Marriage 101 : Building a Life Together by Faith
by Jewell R. Powell
7
STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
What is financial freedom? More than just a dollar amount on your paycheck,
financial freedom is a state of mind. It’s the comfort of knowing you’re
debt-free. Getting started with eliminating debt is easier than you think. If
you follow these seven simple steps, you’ll be on your way.
1.
Change the way you look at money – renew your mind!
We tend to think of money as the enemy, a scapegoat for all of our financial
woes. Learn to look at money as a means to living comfortably, not the cause of
your struggles. Ultimately, we are the ones who decide where our money goes.
It’s not like dollar bills sprout legs and go buy a new TV, right? Money
discussions can be uncomfortable for many married couples, but talking is an
important first step. A good book on this is “Secrets of the Millionaire
Mind” by T. Harv Eker or “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki.
2. Get out of debt – owe no man anything!
Living with debt is more than a financial drain and mounting interest. It’s
also constant worrying over whether you can pay your bills. Here’s the most
effective (and simple) way to tackle your debt: Start by paying off the credit
card with highest interest rate. Set some specific goals here. How much extra
can you pay each month? Always make more than the minimum payment. Once that
card has been paid off, start working on the bill with the next highest
interest. Throughout this process, you should be paying the minimum on all of
the credit card bills you have. Check out this free e-course on getting out of
debt (http://www.youneedabudget.com/index.php#order).
3. Don’t create any more debt – be a wise steward!
Now that you credit card balance is down to zero, you want to keep it that way.
To remain debt-free, all you have to do is spend less than you take in. Easier
said than done? Maybe. This is another opportunity to have a good heart-to-heart
talk with your spouse about both of your spending habits. Some people recommend
cutting up all your credit cards. However, keeping one credit card as a safety
net in case of emergency is perfectly fine. Keep only one card, take it out of
your wallet, and put it some place less accessible – such as your family’s
fire safe. The time it takes to get out the card will serve as a “cooling
off” period.
4. Create a budget – count the cost!
Budget can be an unpleasant word – like ‘diet’. But don’t think of it as
depriving yourselves – think of it as investing in yourselves. Which sounds
better: one dinner at your favorite steak house or going to be every night
knowing you’re debt-free? Think of your budget as an opportunity to cast a
vision together as a couple. What’s important to both of you? Your spending
should reflect your values, what you hold most dear in your heart. Here’s a
simple software program you can use for creating and keeping your budget
together(http://www.youneedabudget.com/index.php#order).
5. See where it goes – make a list and check it twice!
For an entire month, track everything you both spend money on – down to the
last penny. Evaluate whether you are prone to making impulse purchases. Also,
look at whether advance planning will help. For instance, plan your meals at
least a week in advance. Multiple trips to the grocery store mean multiple
opportunities for impulse purchases.
6. Start saving – plan for the future!
Build yourselves a nice cushion of cash. After you’ve lowered your debt and
begun living on a budget, you should money to put into a savings account each
month. When an emergency arises, you’ll have cash to cover the expenses – no
need to borrow money or use a credit card.
Seek wise counsel about different kinds of accounts you can use to save money
tax-free. For example, you can contribute to a 401(k) and steadily build a nice
nest egg – and the difference in your net paycheck is so small you might not
even notice it.
You’re
not limited to stocks, bonds, and savings accounts, either. There are a lot of
pretty creative ways to save money that you might not have considered before.
Check out www.liveoutloud.comfor some great ideas.
7. Get insurance – get yourself into good hands!
If you don’t both have enough health insurance, one accident or illness could
devastate you financially. Even if you have insurance through work, evaluate
whether it’s enough to prevent a financial crisis. Consider getting
supplemental insurance if you believe you’re underinsured. Also, don’t
overlook disability insurance. Should you find yourself unable to work, debt is
guaranteed to mount. You might think extra insurance is too expensive – but
you’re wrong! For most young adults, life insurance and disability insurance
cost less than a dollar a day. You’ll never know unless you ask – so call
around and start learning about your options.
Small
changes add up quickly. Don’t let bad money habits wreck your marriage.
You’ve got to both be committed to this goal if you’re going to make it
happen.
Financial freedom is closer than you think. Don’t wait a minute longer to
achieve your dream – start on these seven steps today!
A little shy girl who grew into a woman with dreams and a voice to be heard
And no one told me this world was going to be so cold
I am but a spec on the earth from up above, looking down
I am but one,
I am but a person,
I am but another writer, another author, another expression of my serenity
I also recognize I want to get noticed...but no one knows my name
I can hear a mild sound, a distance bump-bump in the night,
It is my heart and it is yearning and sometimes stirring with mixed emotions, not knowing which turns are right
Walking on a line so thin, trying desperately to figure out my pathway
I already tried to be someone else, but I now know I can only be me, and yes… I have a name
Calm, delicate, watching the world pass right in front of me,
I see love and hate – a world filled with so much drama and different attitudes
And I just feel full of energy and take on the world by writing in magnitude
Writing is my comfort, it is my Life – I sometimes find myself hidden behind the words on the page
Words for people to read, enjoy, cry and laugh,
I’ve made my decision, and you will find out it’s affections upon you - generations upon generations
I’m ready to say what’s on my mind, so I need your attention, because this may take you on many elevations
I’ve been chained, banged, whipped and multiplied
And you don’t know my name
I’ve raised many children – some, not my own, and they have carried my values and fed from me
I have slaved the fields and held down an entire generation
And I am everyone’s mother, it seems
I’ve been called the minority because of my gender and my race
I have to fight with words and stand by my man and defend my family
If you only knew what these eyes have witnessed…Go ask you grandmother
The world is changing and things are happening, and if you don’t pay attention…well… you may have already missed it
A new generation, a new time…afro-puffs and hand cuffs, trying to fight for freedom. Black Power!
I now have many roles
I have my struggles, but I move on, cause my kind is strong like that
I can be anyone, the opportunity is there for me to grab
Visions, desires, and new challenges…
I am taking on the world with boldness
And yes, you will remember my name, because I am a Black Woman
An undeniable, evident, special, beautiful, God-fearing, phenomenal Black Woman
Bankruptcy
Ain't Broke
Putting the pieces back together through life lessons.
by Theresa D. Royal, CMP
Finally, a straight talk book about bankruptcy through the eyes of a regular person. This is not a rags to riches story. This is a true life account of the emotional ups and downs of filing bankruptcy and putting the pieces back together through lessons learned.
Theresa Royal is an entrepreneur who dispels the myths that everyone who files for bankruptcy has bad credit or is just trying to get out of paying their debts. Bankruptcy "Ain't" Broke will give a true account about the struggles of bankruptcy and dig deep into this taboo subject, especially in the African American and Latino communities. It's a subject that is whispered about in minority communities but is often discussed openly in other ethnic groups. Bankruptcy in most cases helps folks who have no way out of a really bad financial situation.
TD Royal Enterprises, LLC Company Overview:
This straight talk book about bankruptcy and the lessons learned was a God ordered process. Theresa, an entrepreneur specializing in event planning, was forced to file bankruptcy in 2006 due to her putting her trust in one client, and not putting her trust in God. She had good credit all of her life but due to the unethical practices of this client, her finances spun out of control.
In addition, she had never been late on her mortgage payments until her income was abruptly cut off. Even though she tried to work out a forbearance with the mortgage company, they accelerated the foreclosure process and she found herself in a situation where her home was about to be auctioned off within a very short period of time. After many phone calls for help from so-called friends and family, the last option was to file bankruptcy to save her home.
Theresa D. Royal, who holds a degree in Small Business Management from Central Pennsylvania College, dispels the myths that everyone who files for bankruptcy has bad credit or is just trying to get out of paying their debts. Bankruptcy “Ain’t” Broke will give a true account about the struggles of bankruptcy and addresses this taboo subject, especially in the African American and Latino communities. It's a subject that is often whispered about in minority communities but is discussed openly in other ethnic groups. Bankruptcy in most cases can help those who have no way out of a really bad financial situation.
She is also the owner of TD Royal Enterprises, LLC, the holding company for her book publishing, event planning, real estate investing and other business ventures she is pursuing, and is the President and CEO of Entrepreneurs and Professionals Network (EPNET), an organization that encourages individuals, especially minorities, to pursue their passion of owning their own businesses. She plans to educate others about bankruptcy and will release a second book in the near future.
This straight talk book about bankruptcy and the lessons learned was a God ordered process. Theresa, an entrepreneur specializing in event planning, was forced to file bankruptcy in 2006 due to her putting her trust in one client, and not putting her trust in God. She had good credit all of her life but due to the unethical practices of this client, her finances spun out of control.
Share
with us your news, events and articles. If
you would like to submit articles for the Black Pearls Magazine, please check
out our editorial calendar and send in your stories at least 2 weeks prior to
the deadlines. You can post to any topics designated for that month. Edit your
work well and share it! Read the submission
guidelines here.
Your
submissions to EDC Creations signifies that you agree to our terms and policies.
We also accept book excerpts, reader's guides and audio interviews.
Seeking
Book Reviewers EDC
Creations seeks to add avid readers to our community as book reviewers. We would
like readers to share their honest opinions about the books they read. You do
not have to be a professional writer, we want to feel your passion for reading.
Reviewers receive books from EDC Creations’ publishing partners monthly.
You can review our policy for book reviewers by
clicking here. Email Ella Curry for more details at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
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Seeking
Book Club Interviews Ella
Curry and EDC Creations celebrates the rise of book clubs in the publishing
industry. We host monthly tributes and parties for our featured book clubs. You
too can become a Black Pearls Bookclub Star! Request that your book club obtain
a interview and receive a gift bag of books!
Your book club and network of friends are invited to check all the great authors
in the Bookclub Reading Room and to explore
the magazine for your next featured book of the month. Email Ella Curry for more
details or to request the interview questions at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
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Skype
and BPM Video Chat We
host bi-weekly Skype and BPM video chat sessions to introduce authors to our readers. Do you want
an author to visit with you and your friends without leaving home? Add us as a
friend at Skype and you can join the fun. If you would like to be invited to our
BPM Meet the Authors Video Segments,
sign up here.
Skype ID: [ edc1creations]
Join
Skype to get Video Messages from Ella Curry and featured authors. Add me to
your Skype friend list. Also, send me your Skype address so that I can add you
too! Email your Skype ID to: edc_dg@yahoo.com
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Seeking
Blog Tour Hosts
and Radio Hosts Each
month EDC Creations hosts a tour of 5 wonderful authors. We travel across the
web sharing our message of Give the Gift of Knowledge. We are now seeking
bloggers, book clubs and book lovers to host the authors on their websites,
blogs or radio shows. If you would like to feature authors on your website or
blog, we provide all the material for you. It's as simple as emailing us your
interest.
We
will hold live readings weekly and would like for readers to share the news on
Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. Gather 5 or more friends and meet us for an
online party! We promote great books via the phone, Skype and the web. Great
benefits available for tour hosts. Email Ella Curry for more details on joining
the tours at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
Please take a moment to view our previous tour
hosts here.
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Business
Interviews Requested Do
you have a great business that serves our community? Tell Black Pearls Magazine
about it! We are seeking community leader interviews. We showcase 5 business
owners per month. Email Ella Curry for more details at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
The
Black Pearls Magazine family wants to take the time to thank each of you for
joining us monthly in celebrating the best in literature and the arts. Our
team of writers, bookclubs and authors are so humbled that you have allowed us
entrance into your life. It amazes me each month as I check our subscribers how
many of you deem us worthy of your time and support. We appreciate
each of you for telling 10 people about the magazine and for driving people to
this site. YOU make Black Pearls the magnificent publication that it is, by
sharing the gift of knowledge!
Please
know, as we prepare each issue for you, we look for those stimulating
conversations, the most thought provoking articles and most of all the best
books on the shelves. We want each page of this magazine to add value to your
lives! Your comments and feedback are welcomed. Join our
blog and share your news, advice and wisdom with the other readers. Tell us
what you want to read too!
As we take off in this new decade we hope to bring you more provocative topics
and life empowering books to shape your lives. We have contest for the readers
and more interactive sections added to the magazine. Let us know what you think
of the fresh new content by emailing
us here. Thank you! Ella Curry, President of EDC Creations
Founder & Editor In Chief Black Pearls Magazine
When people talk about making resolutions for the new year, it usually involves quitting or losing something or someone. For example, millions of people will resolve to quit smoking and twice as many more will promise to lose weight. Beginning
the new year, we will be saturated with television and print ad campaigns for gym memberships, weight loss program and equipment deals as well as products to help with nicotine addiction. 
Just
as liquids are important to flush toxins from your system as you diet, a similar
approach can trim the bulge in your budget. Americans have been bingeing on debt
and according to the Federal Reserve Board have racked up more than 2.26 billion
dollars in consumer debt. 
Join me in welcoming author Valencia Campbell to the family. Valencia is a consultant on educational topics and women’s issues. Her completed projects include those for the Baltimore Public School System, National Science Foundation, National Congress of Black Women and the National Council of Negro Women. She has taught sociology courses at Howard University and Bowie State University. 
2. Get out of debt – owe no man anything!
Small
changes add up quickly. Don’t let bad money habits wreck your marriage.
You’ve got to both be committed to this goal if you’re going to make it
happen. 
A little shy girl who grew into a woman with dreams and a voice to be heard
Finally, a straight talk book about bankruptcy through the eyes of a regular person. This is not a rags to riches story. This is a true life account of the emotional ups and downs of filing bankruptcy and putting the pieces back together through lessons learned.
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with us your news, events and articles.
