JaySpeights

Your personal brand is a spriritual statement.

2008-06-24T15:37:00.009-04:00

Today I hosted a Washington Times online chat on Personal Branding with nationally known branding and marketing expert, Karen Saverino, from The Metropolitan Group, which is a strategic planning and marketing firm located in DC and with other offices around the country.

Personal Branding is a persona or presence that you want to project that embodies your values and beliefs. It is self-packaging for your career, dating, etc. For example, when you think of Oprah or Bill Gates certain things about them readily come to mind. Bill 's dress is understated and Oprah is elegant and stylish. Both give their money freely and are caring compassionate people. These are the statements they project.

Take Tim Russert, his personal brand was a tough, fair, balanced get at the truth journalist. Donald Trump has one of the strongest personal brands. Please read the transcript for this online chat by clicking the above title to this post and learn how to develop or enhance your personal brand.

Remember your brand is a personal statement of excellence, congruence and the values and beliefs that you want to apply in all that you do. Ask about my Personal and Spiritual Branding sessions.

Family Gathering

2008-06-24T06:31:00.004-04:00

This was one of my most enjoyable afternoons in a long time. My brother hosted a get together at his Kensington, MD home for my other brother, sister-in-law and some cousins who were visiting from Florida and my family here. The last time we were all together was for my mother's funeral. It's nice to gather with family and others that you love for a happy event and to do nothing other that eat, drink and be happy. Thanks God!

Be yourself and make miracles happen

2008-06-11T14:15:00.007-04:00

You know, most of us live by prescription. This means that we develop a set of values, persona, and approach to life that are placed upon us by others. Think about it. For many of us, our political party affiliation, religion, where we live, how we dress, our personal interactions, who we marry, and career paths are largely based on assumptions and expectations are also usually the result of outside influences. They are consensus decisions, values and assumptions, which are shaped and molded by society and important figures and institutions in our lives.

Living by prescription prevents us from expressing our individuality, which denies our community and ourselves the unique gifts and benefits that we have to offer. Henry David Thoreau said, "When we bring what is within out to the world miracles happen. So get out there and stop living by prescription and make miracles happen. Be sure to ask about my "Spiritual Branding" sessions.

EXPRESS YOU INDIVIDUALITY!

Is America's preoccupation with race ending?

2008-05-27T13:43:00.003-04:00

Now that Obama has clinched the nomination. I want you to know there is one thing that really bothers me about the reporting and general discussion around the race between Clinton and Obama. It’s how race continues to be injected in this election. All you hear and read about is how the hard working White voters are overwhelmingly supported Clinton and the African American voters for Obama. But there is little talk about Whites who vote for Obama and African Americans who vote for Hilary. Isn’t that a topic worthy of discussion? I certainly think it is.

I will tell you why it’s not, however. We are preoccupied with race in this country. The media likes to talk about our racially divided country. They think it’s what we want to hear and see. And, they are right, because no one seems to complain. The politicians use it as a wedge issue to keep them in power.

I think there is a fantastic story surrounding this Democratic Primary where an African American is the nominee. I also think it’s a big story that both Hilary and Obama, no matter how much or little, got votes from all types of voters Black, White, Latino, old, young, etc.

Look at the facts. Hilary got a fair share of the African American vote in New York and Ohio. There are many African American leaders supporting her. Obama has won states like Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Oh and let’s not forget Iowa, the state that put him on the way to securing the nomination. These states barely have any African Americans at all. Hey! This is good news people. Let’s talk about it. It shows that America is growing and evolving beyond centuries of being preoccupied with race.

To the media, politicians and all the others who operate from a fear-based paradigm, I say stop it. And, please take note that America is really evolving on the issue of race. Based on this election, there is strong and compelling evidence that racial attitudes are changing for the better. Regardless of the scope and size of the change, it’s progress. So stop stoking the racial fires that have divided this nation for so long and support the change that is occurring before our eyes. This nation is healing. Why not embrace and nurture it?

Look an African American Male named Barac Obama just clinched the Demcratic Nomination! I think America is the big winner.

Let me know what you think.

Thank You Holy Father!

2008-04-18T19:07:00.002-04:00

You know by having a healthy dose of pessimism, you protect yourself from being disappointed. And I have to tell you, that I was not expecting much to result from Pope Benedict’s visit to our country. I felt that the Pope would visit this divided nation and not address the sweeping tide of religious intolerance in America. I expressed my hope that he would do this during his visit on this site yesterday. Well my friends I was wrong because he did that a yesterday and more in a very understated way

In an evening meeting with leaders from various faith traditions at The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC, he said, “Protecting religious freedom within the rule of law does not guarantee that peoples -- particularly minorities -- will be spared from unjust forms of discrimination and prejudice. This requires constant effort on the part of all members of society to ensure that citizens are afforded the opportunity to worship peaceably and to pass on their religious heritage to their children." He also said, “In their attempt to discover commonalities, religious leaders have shied away from the responsibility to discuss our differences with calmness and clarity."

I like what this scholarly and understated man did during his visit to Washington. Yes he has made some mistakes and made some controversial statements. But, he basically said what this divided nation needed to hear, which is what I have said in so many past columns on this site, and that is, “we have to build upon our common values and use them as a cornerstone for peace.” You go Pope!

Holy Father Please Help Us Find Christ In Each Other

2008-04-17T03:57:00.014-04:00

I hope that it is not lost on Pope Benedict during his visit to the US, that we have some serious problems. And, that one of our major problems is that of intolerance. So a few words from him on the subject might prove to be healing for a divided nation, where we rank and score people based on their level of belief in and adherence to Christianity. And for the most part, there is a tendency to devalue or ignore those from other faith traditions and who are different.

Yes we are in need of a serious and strong universal message and The Vicar of Christ on planet earth is the best one to do it if he wants to step up to the task. We all have the light of Christ within us regardless of our faith, ethnicity, class or gender. It is sad to say that these are the things this society has taught us to see first and not the basic goodness and humanity that is within each of us. I call it "The Christ Within."

Holy Father, it's a simple message, but a much needed one for a very divided nation.

A Simple Thought

2008-04-12T12:46:00.003-04:00

Step up to your greatness; it will not step down to you.

Silence your inner critic

2008-02-05T08:06:00.000-05:00

Hilary has a past and a record too

2008-01-29T08:01:00.000-05:00

How come no one has challenged Hilary Clinton about her years as a Young Republican, where she supported Barry Goldwater, a segregationist, who ran against Lyndon Johnson in 1964? It's funny that she referenced Lyndon Johnson's mastery in getting landmark civil rights legislation passed. I wonder, if Goldwater had been elected President, would Hilary or Obama be able to seek their party's nomination for President. This is something that I think all of us should reflect on, including Hilary.

No Hilary or Obama without LBJ and MLK

2008-01-29T07:57:00.000-05:00

Family: It's A Spiritual Thing

2007-12-13T11:40:00.000-05:00

You know remembering and connecting to our roots and family is critical to our spiritual health. Sometimes this fast-paced-digitized-noise polluted world of ours prevents us from taking time to reflect on this. Over the past few weeks since my mother departed this life early Thanksgiving morning, I have interacted more with my family on an intense level than any other time in recent decades.

What I have realized during this period about family is that you don’t need to see them every day or week, or even speak to them regularly to know that there is a deeply rooted and inextricable connection that you share with them. Yes, no one can get on your nerves like a brother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc. But you are part of them and they are part of you. It’ a spiritual thing.

God chose for us to share a closer bond with them than the rest of our human family. So I am thankful for all of my family no matter how lovable or crazy they may be. I hope you all take a minute to lovingly reflect on your family and remember to see them without anger, judgment, and all of the things that prevent us from fully sharing the God given spiritual connection we share with them.

We have to manage the bears, bulls, goats and snakes in our lives

2007-11-08T22:34:00.000-05:00

Let's join the polite patrol

2007-11-06T09:17:00.000-05:00

Finding God on the golf course

2007-11-02T21:54:00.001-04:00

Proud to be an intefaith fundamentalist

2007-10-31T11:33:00.001-04:00

Stupidity and my comfortable train ride

2007-10-31T10:05:00.001-04:00

Step Gently Into Your Day

2007-10-31T09:56:00.000-04:00