Competitive Advantage....

Think you know your competition? Think again. What gives you competitive advantage over your competition in your business and personal relationships? I read the book cover of Competitive Advantage and this title sent a blaring alarm off in my head. It's rather catchy and makes perfect sense. I thought about it from both perspectives of business and personal. On the business side marketing and technology is key. Long gone are the days where you can survive without a website and referrals can only keep you afloat for so long. Shoot even a day laborer might get more business if he had a vcard! You have to get your brand name out there so it becomes a household name and even so outside the normal circles in which you do business. I learned while working at RBC that you should keep a pipeline of leads and this pipeline is fed by your inner circle. As it relates to that particular business your inner circle would be a real estate agent, lawyer, physican, insurance agent and other bankers. These five professions in relation to banking would help to generate new business for you. Think about what businesses you patronize and how they can in turn help to grow your business. I love learning and applying it to other avenues which brings me to the personal side of things. Personally I like to support black businesses first. I'm so tired of hearing how little the dollar is circulated in my community before it ends up back in general population. I even sport at "Bought Black" button on my members only jacket and often get comments and inquiries on it. Although I originally got it from buying Jay Z's black album it has alternative meaning for me. Also when I think of personal relationships in terms of courting you market yourself to the best of your ability in order to attract those that you wish to 'patronize' your business. We do this alot better in our personal pursuits than on the business front and I think if we can figure out a way to marry them both we could discover a goldmine.

Minique~

Black and White and Sometimes Grey

I was just thinking about the differences 'if any' there are between black and white businesses. I've had the pleasure of working for a black owned small business this past week and was truly inspired by being in the company of such an intelligent African American CEO. After getting my barrings together and being more comfortable in my environment I started to think to myself of how 'different' it felt being in an all black corporate environment. Over my career I've had several supervisor's and only one was African American. I don't know if by default but she was my favorite and mostly likely it is because of our chemistry and mutual respect for one another. I noticed that when you take away the 'racial barrier' it has been my experience that I felt free to really perform to my best ability and not feel as though there were underlining meanings to feedback and certain instances that can occur. At my last employer there were times where I would be speaking to a co-worker and the supervisor would walk by and the co-worker would almost scurry back to their desk almost as if to motion "Let me get back in line before Massa get's mad!" lol Now I am making light of the situation here but it did bother me enormously that there was always a feeling of walking on eggshells in some corporate environments. I pray that I am hired FT at this new BLACK place of business so that I can grown and reach my best potential being mentored by one of my own. ;)

Minique~

Emotional (Wo)MEN

When it comes to emotions, its women that are usually pegged as being "overly sensitive", or "too emotionally attached", and so on and so forth. And while I will admit that I do have my fare share of emotions, I many times find that it's MEN who are just as, if not even more emotional than women are. I need a strong, confident, supportive man. I cant tell you how many men I know that act more like a (wo)man than I do. Sensitivity is all well and good, and I love a man that can express his feelings with you and show a softer side, NOW AND THEN, but there is nothing worse than a whinny, complaining, super sensitive, overly dramatic man! Come one! Who's really wearing the pants here? I always find it funny when I hear my girlfriends complaining about how they just wanted to have sex (ill say that instead of the 4 letter word of choice), and the guy wanted to cuddle and caress! Or when I have (wo)men catching a hissy fit because I didnt return or answer there phone call or text them back in a timely manner. Isnt it supposed to be the other way around?, according to what men say? Pleeease!, Ive had (wo)men show up at my doorstep, friends houses, or other places where they knew I would be just because I didnt answer their call!, lol....now Ive never been that emotional!...

....so I guess its safe to say that when it comes to being emotional, both sexes are guilty as charged!...what do you think?...

~J. Genese

Soooo ANNOYING!!!......(in connection with My Morning Commute)

-People who jump on the train, clearly not knowing where they're going, and after 2 or 3 stops then decide to ask someone, "hey does this train stop at ...?" You couldve saved yourself the trouble if you wouldve asked before you got on the train buddy!!
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-Sitting next to bad a** chilren on the train! If I see a child coming to sit next to me I switch seats!, lol....

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-OMG!, people who when they hear the train coming have to cover their ears like they've never heard it before! We all know the train is loud...knock it off!!, you've heard it before!!

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-People who sit on the train floor, or on the floor in the train station...and by people, I mean

w_ i_e people...fill in the blanks!

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-When someone is intent on squeezing themselves into a seat that them and their puffy coat cant fit in!

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-Slicked down bangs that swoop to the side!, lol...I just remembered seeing a girl with her hair like that on the train, and I got a flashblack of highschool...as in 1998....as in, leave that hair style in 1998 already!!!

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-People who rush to sit down...and then get off at the next stop!!

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-People who get on the train before allowing others to get off!!!...and people who clearly see me getting off yet their talking about "excuse me" and are trying to get by....you see me getting off too!!!

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-For WTC Path train riders...people who dont know, or cant see that clearly one side of the escalator is for those who choose to walk and the other is for those who choose to simply stand and escalate!....get off the wrong side and out of the way!!

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-The infamous "candy sellers" who "are not raising money for no basketball team, but so that they can have money in their pockets"....BEAT IT!!!!!!

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-When you're on the escalator and you turn around and someone is standing right behind you all up on your back!...give me a step worth of space pleeease people!, a step worth of space!

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-The whole B, C train line!!!

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...I could go on all day!!!

~J.Genese

My MORNING COMMUTE

Train Sightings...

...so much to see and comment on during my morning commute!

-Ahhh, someone just walked past and I can smell the scent of baby powder!, and I know its one of those baby powder scented oils!, I love the scent of baby powder, its just so refreshing, especially in the morning...

-Orange pumps with a Louis Vuitton handbag? I dont know, but I think it kind of works for me...I applaud the splash of color!, go girl!...

-Ok air conditioning on the train??, ummm not when Im still wearing my winter coat! Get it together MTA!..

-Pink Uggs? I think I like them...

-Uggs and liquid leggings??...ummm....ok....?, lol...

-When did Louis Vuitton become the standard handbag?, sheeesh, another one...oooh its nice:)...

-Ok now I know this is a clearly a man sitting across from me with his tan knee boots, skinny jeans, aqua colored shoulder bag, and purple suede blazer....but he better work!, cover girl!!, lol...

-Oh how I love being in the way going down the stairs at the WTC station to the PATH train as all the New Jersians are getting off the train and trying to get up the stairs!:)...and they say New Yorkers are rude, as if! Learn how to share the staircase New Jersey!!!, sheeeesh! Thats why I always boguard my way down the stairs, even if the train already left...its the principal!!! Your in a hurry, so am I!!...he he he, not im not...but still!...

-Those sneaker shoes I see guys wearing, Maru's?, Mauri's?, Mauvi's?, whatever there called, there ugly...

....tune in next time!:)

~J. Genese

"REALITY" TV Time!

Ok first, that picture above is funny, he he he...get it?...well alright anyways....its Reality TV Time, and boy do I watch a lot of it, Monday nights being the ring leader. I cant wait to see who's going home tonight on "Ray J of Love"!, and I think Unique and Danger are finally going to have it out. I must say, doll face Unique has been stepping up her game as of lately, I guess she really does have love for Ray J, or she just really wants to win the most. I think she's too big for him, lol, and omg she may have a beautiful face by far, but does that mean she has to dress like...like that?!, lol....and even though I say I dont watch "I Love Money 2", I already heard that its going to be funny tonight so ill probably tune in...I hope that dang green team finally loses cause Im tired of Safari, Buck Wild (with her fake "black girl"/hillbilly accent) and Frank the Entertainer thinking they running things on these challenges! Oooh!, and speaking of challenges, The infamous Real World/Road Rules challenge is coming back on!, and it looks good! But back to Monday, now I can only watch "I Love Money 2" in between "Dancing With the Stars" because I have to keep up with Lil Kim, who is doing awfully well, and my two favorite professionals, Edyta and Cheryll...man I long to have a ballroom dancers body!!, but I'll take a video girls body as well....and speaking of, I think I missed "Candy Girls" yesterday, but im sure I can catch it on the repeat. I thought I was making reality tv progress when I gave up watching "Rock of Love 2, or 3, or whatever number it is", because last week he got rid of my two favorites and most watchable ones, but Ive only migrated to a new show, "Tough Love", he he he...I dont know whats funnier to watch, this guy find love for 12 hopeless women, or "The Millionare Matchmaker" find love for hopeless men, millionares or not, there still pathetic. Thank goodness "The City" is off!, wheeew!....I get some time to breath before "The Hills" comes back on, yaaay! I still have to catch up on and catch the new "Real Housewives of NY" this week, and then tune in for the season finale of "The Bad Girls Club"...and then I think Im done with my reality TV fix for the week!

....now that wasnt so bad was it?:)

~J.Genese

Me....the Fashionista??

Ok...not to toot my own horn, but I must say, when it comes to fashion, I do know a thing or two (or three). And its not just me that believes so, Im frequently complimented on everything from my shoes, to my accessories, to even the color of my nail polish, lol. Im always asked where do I work?, and have been told on numerous occassions that I belong working in a fashion. So last week I was having this same conversation with my mother, who's always admired my nonchalant sense of fashion. She told me that while I do look like I should be working in some type of fashion house, dont just go for any old store, I should aim for the big leagues! So on my morning commute to work I was inspired by our convo and decided to make a list of all the big league fashion houses. To think, I could be working for one of them. But who doesnt dream of working in fashion for a living you know? I guess thats what they call a pipe dream. But anywho, I got to work, and spent that Friday sending out my resume to the somewhat hard to find human resources departments of Gucci, Prada, Louis, and so on and so forth. And then I went on about my day. By Wednesday when my phone rang I had totally forgotten about my newfound career path, so I was in absolute shock when I was on the phone with a rep from Chanel doing a quick phone interview for a position! Needless to say I was inspired all over again! I can see it now....me walking down Fashion Avenue!, and really belonging there! Hey....you never know!:)

~J. Genese

I AM

I AM....

BEAUTIFUL

FEMALE

BLACK

SISTER

SISTAH

GIRLFRIEND

LOVER

DAUGHTER

NIECE

AUNT

CREATIVE

SENSITIVE

WRITER

PAINTER

ARTIST

FREELANCE INTERIOR DESIGNER

YORKIE OWNER

SPIRITUAL

MOTIVATED

DETERMINED

HOME OWNER

FRIEND

BEST FRIEND

WOMAN

ATHLETIC

STRONG

INTELLIGENT

HAPPY

NATURAL

KNOWLEDGE SEEKER

INSPIRED

LAID BACK

FUN LOVING

FASHIONISTA

SHOE WHORE

OPTIMISTIC

HOPEFUL

CYBER BUDDY

I AM BORED lol (right now)

I feel a strong kinship with female entrepreneurs....

I am truly inspired! I recently went on an interview with Vantage Point Staffing and was truly inspired by the possibility of working for one of their clients. The owner of my 'future employer' truly inspires me as she is a successful female black business owner and charitable woman as well. After conducting my research for this week's working interview and reading online all to learn about her past education, employment and charity involvement I was inspired to take charge of my life and give back to the community as well. I have been blessed many times over by God and should take time out of my life to give to someone less fortunate. I used to give back personally by mentoring a high school girl a few years ago as well as volunteered through my past employer's "Give" initiative; in which I started the first effort by coordinating a planting day at Excel, a community center for disabled men and women in Smyrna. I even was able to have a landscaping vendor of my former employer to donate free plant materials and soil to the community center. I was so pleased and proud of myself after we completed the project in knowing that I helped to shape the future of volunteering at LMGI. I look forward to signing myself up to volunteer and I especially would like to do so with some involvement in our youth's education and financial awareness. 

If someone was to ask, "What inspires you most?" I would have to say the possibility of my future's potential.....Knowledge is empowering! 

Minique~

Mommy Dearest

Here is Kelis looking oh so 'Mommy Dearest' shopping in her maternity snakeskin cat suit and yellow flip flops. Nasir Jones aka Nas is following behind her as the protective thug like father to be in his fashionable polo, thermal, NY yankee and Adidas.

This picture makes me think of how I'd dress as a fashionable mom on the go? hmmmm

~Minique