Lather, Rinse, Repeat! Make the Right Choices for You!

I

was in a business meeting, a teleconference call actually, describing the operations of my department as we were developing a database to fit my needs.  Needless, to say some of the operations were repetitive, so I said jokingly, lather, rinse, repeat.  We laughed and as we continued the conversation whenever the repetitive steps were discussed we merely laughed again and said, lather, rinse, repeat.  Well, days later as I read the report, lo and behold, inserted in this report was lather, rinse, repeat.  The phrase had stuck.  It is a common phrase seen on shampoo bottles around the world, but it took on its own meaning when I saw it embedded in the report to lather, rinse, and repeat. 

I started thinking about all the things lather, rinse, and repeat could mean, and it hit me.  One of my goals was to share with teens, young adults, and adults that the choice is theirs to succeed or fail.  I was already making notes for a book and had created a PowerPoint presentation for an opportune speaking engagement, so I went back to learn more (lather), assess what I was learning (rinse), and repeat (put my choices to the test using what I have learned).  I hope you get the message as I lather, rinse, and repeat in this blog to assist you in making the right choices to succeed or fail.  If I can take this simple phrase and help you to remember that the everyday choices you make will take you where you want to go or where you don’t want to go.  After all, it is all about choices.  Now let’s all succeed.









To engage Dilsa Saunders Bailey, author of Dreams Thrown Away and soon to be released LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT as a speaker, send an email to dilsa@simplydilsa.com.  Read an excerpt of Dreams Thrown Away at http://www.dilsasaundersbailey.com/.

Something's Wrong With This Picture

This week in Georgia, a young black male in his teens was beaten to death by a group of young black males.  The only thing that Bobby Tillman did to provoke this ungodly and senseless beating was to be the next person to arrive at a party in Douglasville. 

Flash back 55 years earlier, and another young black male --only 14 years old -- was beaten senselessly, shot, and then lynched by older white males.  Their only reason for murder was that they didn't like the color of the young man's skin.  Supposedly, the young man had whistled at a white woman and that was provocation enough to lose his life.  His name was Emmett Till.  His murderers never paid for this, not by the justice system anyway.  So what will happen to Bobby Tillman's murderers?  Bobby's death had nothing to do with the color of his skin or did it?

The big question is, what has happened to many of our young black males who hate themselves so much that they think nothing of taking a life of one of their own?  After years of the civil rights movement, after years of opened doors and opportunities, who is to blame for such self-hate?  Can we point fingers at rappers who degrade their own women as if they were spewing a children's rhyme jumping rope, or do we point fingers at the proverbial man who is carelessly blamed for everything, or do we blame ourselves for not instillling respect for life, for education, and for a spiritual understanding of oneself?  I don't know the answer, and I don't like to point fingers before I check my own image in the mirror.  What am I doing to help?  What can I do?

I think its time for all African-Americans in this country and around the world to start thinking about how to stop the bleed.  How to uplift our communities and let our children know that life is better than what they are being led to believe.  We have to get it through their heads that they can be their own worst enemy or their own best friend.  Life is about a choice.  Everyday choices lead us down a specific path.  The great thing about life, especially in the United States, is we get to choose.

To engage Dilsa Saunders Bailey, author of Dreams Thrown Away and soon to be released LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT as a speaker, send an email to dilsa@simplydilsa.com.  Read an excerpt of Dreams Thrown Away at http://www.dilsasaundersbailey.com/.

KEEP YOUR JOB WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

Your skill set may get you in the door, but it is your attitude that keeps you there.  Today's work environment is not just about "can you do", it is about "how you do".  You could be the greatest at what you do, but if your attitude keeps your clients, your staff, and your co-workers at bay, what you can accomplish or how well will it be accomplished is at risk.  Your attitude can determine the success of a company or a team within a company. 

Recently, I observed an individual whose skills were a match, but whose attitude toward the team members were not.  This individual’s discrimination was based upon staff positions.  If someone on the team was in a support position, this individual ignored or talked down to the support person.  This individual was not impressed with the training methods or processes already in place, so those processes were ignored and not respected.  When team members offered correction to help meet the team’s goals, they were met with defensiveness instead of an open-mind and conversation to improve.  On the other hand, this individual was open and friendly to management.  But, management was observing the dynamics of the team when this individual was present.

So please keep in mind when you walk in the work place, leave your bad attitude and your pre-conceptions at the door.  Look at your team mates as part of your family, and they will look at you as the same.  Everyone has an overloaded plate these days, so the "how" to get through it is just as important as "doing" through it.  So just do it with a smile, a kind voice, and extend a helping hand to your team.  Treat everyone the same.  If you can’t treat your team mates with kindness and an uplifting, helpful spirit, how can your company expect you to treat its clients in the same manner?   If you are the new kid on the block, learn with the right attitude the processes already in place.  Ask questions; let your team know that you are there to contribute to the ultimate goal.  Pitch in, make recommendations, but respect the team’s history and all the individuals on the team.  You might be surprised that it will make you and everybody else happy that you are there.

Remember that when you are hired to be a part of a team, your goal to succeed becomes the team’s goal to success.   Keep the right attitude.   And, remember one more thing:  Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude!!!

To engage Dilsa Saunders Bailey, author of Dreams Thrown Away and soon to be released LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT as a speaker, send an email to dilsa@simplydilsa.com.  Read an excerpt of Dreams Thrown Away at http://www.dilsasaundersbailey.com/.