When The Time Is Right

I'm writing this for women who feel like it will never happen for them. When the time is right. It will happen. Work on your relationship. Work on yourself. Exercise. Eat right. Take your vitamins. Pray. Don't stress. Jehovah knows what's best.

My husband and I got married in 2007 after 4 years of dating. In retrospect, we were young and dumb. He was still in residency, I was still in school but we both knew that we were made for each other. The first four years of our marriage were TOUGH! Mostly due to selfishness and immaturity on both parts. What people don't tell you about getting married is that you don't automatically think like a wife or a husband right after you say "I do". There's no switch. You have to grow into those roles.
We had essentially been in a long distance relationship the entire 4 years that we dated. Even though DC and Baltimore aren't that far from each other, with his school schedule and my work and school schedule, the weekends or every other weekend was when we spent time together. The rest of the time was spent talking on the phone. No Facetime back then. LOL! Sometimes we went as long as 6 weeks with out actually seeing each other. Absence makes the heart grow fonder but you also don't realize how annoying someone can be when you aren't around them all the time.

My Role

I was I-N-D-E-P-E-D-E-N-T. I had purchased my home and maybe one investment property. I had a car. I was making decent money. I lived alone. I was used to coming and going as I pleased because I had no one to be accountable to. I liked things a certain way. The right
way. My way. I was brash and bossy. I was a caretaker. I did everything and did not expect him to help out around the house because he was working 80-100 hours per week. I handle all of his "business" without him asking for help. I did not allow any negative consequences so that he could figure stuff out on his own and learn.

His Role

He was "focused" on his career, which meant quality time with me was often neglected. If it came down to spending time with me doing something he didn't necessarily want to do or work/sleeping for work or softball, he had a habit of choosing something other than me. He did not offer to help me out around the house because usually it was taken care of. He ignored me when I fussed.

Delay In Kids

We never put our marital problems on blast. EVER! We worked on them in private. I'd joke when people asked me when we were gonna start a family and say "We gotta figure out if we like each other enough before we do alladat." or "With all these advances in medicine, I got until a smooth 40 before pregnancy becomes an issue. I got trips to take."
But the reality was, we had some things to work through before we jumped into adding even more stress, like a crying infant. LOL! We had to get our finances in order. People assume because you're in a certain tax bracket or have a certain career that your money is right. No. We had to learn to set a budget and stick to it. I had my way of doing things and he never had any financial responsibility. He had been in school from age 6 to 26. We had to learn how to communicate with each other. We had to perfect our roles on the team. He learned to do laundry and dishes. I folded, dried and put them away. We budgeted in a housekeeper for all the other things. I went to the grocery store. He carried bags and put groceries away. I handled the bills and communicated where we were. He made sure I had access to everything I needed. Most importantly, we went to marriage counseling. I'm not talking about going to sit with our pastor at church or a marriage ministry bible study, not that there is anything wrong with that. But we needed something a little more candid. I'm talking about a certified therapist, who gave us assignments and helped us really hear each other. Our therapist gave us a book to read that really helped us understand each other better, Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix, with the work book.
Once we went to therapy together, we were able to get to the root of "why" instead of focusing on the "what". Things were moving in the right direction but it still wasn't enough. Both of us had to do some work on ourselves, so still, to this day, we have regular individual therapy sessions. We have grown leaps and bounds....together. Once our communication improved, everything else improved. EVERYTHING.
We got our money right.  We traveled. We bought dumb stuff. Had regrets. We were finally able to got into our groove late into year 6.

The Plunge

Our marriage was on track. We had checked everything off of our bucket list from our 20s. We were in good places in our careers. We decided that we'd start trying for a baby in August 2015. August was ideal because we had a few trips in the summer and we wanted to be able to drink and do excursions. LOL! Although we are both healthy, it was still in the back of our minds that we were 35 years old and that we may encounter some difficulties getting pregnant now that we'd "done it right". You know, finished school, advanced our careers, traveled, enjoyed marriage, and THEN started a family.
We were both taking our vitamins, working out, eating right and so in July, we counted 14 days from the first day of my cycle and set the date to begin trying, August 1. At least twice a day, every other day for 7 days. We had fun. No stress.
I had some of my closest friends in town to celebrate my anniversary of birth, August 24, for the weekend.
Lots of food, fun, and sun. AND libations. Then it hit me, my period was supposed to come. So I took a test before they left. That thang turned positive within 30 seconds. I showed my husband. He high fived me, like I was a softball teammates. LOL! We had done it. The time was right. We were in a good place in our marriage and in life. Jehovah had blessed us at 35 with our first son. No fertility treatments, even though those vitamins had our loins on fleek. LOL! No stress. No in vitro. Just love. We celebrated 8 years of marriage this year and pray for a healthy baby boy to be born in April 2016. God is good.

How Fancy Free Came To Be

Growing My Relaxer Out

I grew up in a salon, my great aunt's salon. A blue magic, press and curl, Marcel irons salon. My whole family grew up with long, healthy, relaxed hair. So, when I told my mother I wanted to grow my relaxer out
Since big hair was attainable with relaxed hair, I kept relaxing my hair for about 10 more years. After 3 degrees, a husband, and reaching my career goals, I was now more focused on my health. I was working out, making sure my food was organic and trying to eat right. I say "trying" cuz I love sweet and cakes and pies. One day, I asked myself why I was cautious about what I was putting in my body but still putting that crap ON my body. So, I had a talk with my husband, since my hair is his hair, and we decided no more relaxers. I would grow my relaxer out and finally have the big hair I wanted 10 years before.
Transitioning was tough for me, even though I knew how to take care of and style hair. Something about the 2 different textures made it difficult. But I saw it through and about 6 months into my transition, I was able to cut the last 2 inches of relaxed hair off and be totally "free" from chemicals.

at 20 y.o., her first question to me was "Why?" At 20, I ain't have no real answer other than that I wanted big hair. LOL! Which was a legit answer. She told me to rod my hair, pluck it out, and I'd have big hair. Hahahahahhahaha!!!

Fancy Free Natural Hair Consults

Not relaxing my hair has been a journey for me. I have had to experiment with styles and products. About 7 months in, I was able to get into my groove. That's when the questions started when I'd go out. And not just "Is that a twist out?", I'm talking they wanted step by step instructions for the entire process while I was walking out off my office building, running late for an appointment. This would happen to me all the time.

Almost every where I went. When my accountant suggested we start a home based business, I hadn't been introduced to direct sales yet, so....I ordered business cards and set a new gmail account. Voila! "Fancy Free Natural Hair Consults" was born. My marketing strategy? I would answer 3 questions about my hair, if there was a 4th question, I'd hand them a business card to set up a time for the interested party have a consultation. That didn't really start popping off until the product came around.

Fancy Free Shea Pomade

I have thick, kinky hair. Kinky hair tends to get dry. In experimenting, I found that I needed a heavy, shea based product to seal the moisture in and hold my twists. I tried a few products off the shelf but the texture was too waxy and difficult to work with or I didn't like the smell. I never thought about making my own. I went to a natural hair expo on a mission and I found a product made by a natural hair stylist, based in North Carolina. It smelled great and was easy to work with. However, the cost of shipping and time it took for me to get what I needed was just too much. So, one day I decided I could make it myself. I got me a recipe from the interwebs, picked up the ingredients and got cooking.

The first batch was a disaster. After making a mess in the kitchen, my husband spilled my shea all in the refrigerator and on the floor. *sigh* I was laugh-crying about it at work and one of my colleagues told me to whip it instead of melting it. It's less work, doesn't separate, and doesn't make that big of a mess. She was right! I whipped my own hair product for about a year before I started using it on my skin too. 

I kept that product a family secret for about 2 years. Only my sisters and I were using it. LOL! Then one of my master public relations girlfriends was getting dressed at my house for an event and used some of it. She said "This product is bomb! Start selling this ASAP!" So, I did and the rest is history.

NOW, my Natural Hair Consults include a 2 oz. Fancy Free Shea Pomade, a 3 day supply of awesome sauce nutritional supplements, that I use myself, and a customized hair care plan. I also sell the whipped shea by itself. With lots of support and word of mouth testimonials, Fancy Free Shea Pomade has grown leaps and bounds in just 9 months. As we continue to grow and try to fit the needs of every curly hair texture, stay tuned for more products in the Fancy Free line.

Just know that it is our goal to have everyone fall in love with their natural tresses and keep skin glowing and moisturized. 

Visit our website at www.fancyfreellc.com/hair for more about me and sign up get email updates about products and sales.  

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What's your number?

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In 2013, I started my first home based business. I started it fort he tax benefits only. I really wasn't looking to
be a full on entrepreneur. Let's face it. I have a cushy job as a supervisor. That comes easy to me. I re-direct, delegate, and solve problems. I get paid for what I know, not what I do. I take that back. I get paid to accomplish goals and meet deadlines, not to cover a work area for an allotted time. Which was all fine and dandy to me until I started hanging around people who were making monthly what I make yearly. I say, in the most humble way possible, I do well for myself. So, to see that kind of money in someone's income statements really got me thinking about my real "worth".

Most home based businesses are considered "direct sales". What is direct sales? The principal behind it is, the individual markets a product or service for an established company. As an individual, you get paid a commission for the sales you make and then you build a team to do the same thing. The company compensates you for adding member to your team. You help the people on your team sell the product and/or services and receive a portion of the commissions from your team's efforts as well. The great thing about this model is that it encourages team work. As a team leader, I want to sell and make money and I want my team to sell.

Not only do you get to help a gang of people earn the kind of income they dream of, you also open your mind. Prior to opening my mind to direct sales, I thought I would be set with a salary anywhere between $80,000-$100,000 per year. I'd earn that going into an office, working about 40-50 hours per week. I'd have to be on call, since I'm in the healthcare field, which meant my phone may ring in the evenings after I already left the office for the day, on the weekend, in the middle of the night, or even while I'm on vacation. I was fine with that until I saw that there were other ways to earn money, help people, like I enjoy doing in healthcare, and feel like I'm being compensated properly for the time that I spend "working".

I LOVE the technical aspect of my healthcare profession. The patient testing. Process improvement. Buying new equipment. Validating a new test method that will save my staff time and frustration. It's awesome. I don't like the managerial aspect of it. Personal issues. Disciplining staff. Terminating staff who don't correct their mistakes. It can be really stressful at times. Late nights. Coming in early to catch up with night shift staff. Staying late to be prepared for an early morning meeting. The thought often passed through my mind..."I don't get paid enough for this." I know I am not the only one who has had these thoughts.

What is enough though? Like, if they suggested they'd double your salary, would you still feel like you didn't get paid enough? Maybe I would take double to deal with the same stress. Maybe. But eventually, the feeling would come back. "I don't get paid enough for this crap."

What's your number? How much money will it take for you to deal with the "crap" of your job on a daily basis where you would feel like you get paid enough to deal with it? Everyone has a number. I'm curious. Being around entrepreneurs in all fields, not just direct sales, I've become more comfortable in naming my number with confidence. I am fine with walking away from the table if the numbers and conditions aren't satisfactory to me. Why? Because I know my number. I know what I bring to the table and the value I add. Truth is, the people I end up negotiating with know it too.

Remember, know your worth. When negotiating a salary, a recording contract, or a distribution deal, you have to know your worth and stand behind it. Otherwise, the person whom you're negotiating with is going to try to  low ball you. Nothing personal, it's just in their best interest to get the most value for the least amount of money.

Although I wholeheartedly believe in the power of direct sales and the benefits of a home based business, but I love my career. Direct sales has given me the confidence to venture out in to some other things while I build my team. It also gave me the confidence to negotiate terms with my employer that give me the flexibility to grow my own businesses and also continue to grow in my career. Those negotiations took over 3 months but I knew my number and I knew what I had to offer so I could advocate for myself.

If you don't know your number, figure it out. If you don't love your situation at work or in life, fight for change. You add value. It's highly likely that the people you are working with know that and will give you everything you want. That's how you live the "Fancy Life".

Enzymes - How Digestive Enzymes Assist With Weight Loss

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An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a saying that is mostly true. Not so much about the apple. We need to eat more than apples to stay healthy but the concept is true. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables keeps our body healthy and functioning at peak performance levels. The problem with today's microwave and fast food society is that most aren't eating fresh foods. The average American's diet consists of 61% processed foods. Not only does that mean that their bodies are not getting the nutrients they need but also some of the other things that play a key role in bodily functions, like enzymes.

Digestive enzymes are very important. Our body has billions of cells that need "energy" in the form of nutrients. Well, an apple is food and we look at it as energy but our body needs what is in that apple. One apple has sodium, potassium, carbohydrates (also known as sugar), fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin B6 and magnesium. We enjoy the taste, texture, and satisfaction we get from eating an apple. But digestive enzymes play a significant role in breaking the apple down so that our cells can absorb these nutrients.

Enzymes are molecules that start a chemical reaction breaking food down into smaller pieces. These pieces are what the body uses fuel day-to-day activities. Without enzymes, food will sit in the stomach and, eventually, pass through the bowels undigested. Digestive enzymes targets types of bonds that processed foods may not exist in processed foods. Looking at some of the ingredients in processed foods may make you wonder if it's food at all. Most of the ingredients have no nutritional value at all, mostly sugar and salt.

Digestive enzymes are naturally occurring in fermented foods like kimchi. The bacteria that causes fermentation also releases enzymes that help with digestion. Enzymes are also found in apricot, avocado, banana, papaya and pineapple. When you're on the go and aren't able to merge these foods into your diet, high quality supplements are a good alternative.

Enzymes are good for your digestive system but they are only as good as the food you eat. If your diet has a large part of processed food, enzymes are not able to properly break them down so that your cells can get the nutrients they need. This can lead to obesity and chronic illnesses. Eat to live. Make sure you are getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, including those that naturally contain enzyme. If you can't do that, get your daily dose by taking a high quality nutritional supplement that have enzymes.

At Fancy Free, LLC, we are healthcare professionals. Health and wellness are very important to us. We take great pride in helping people live healthy lifestyles, physically and financially. Call me at (410)929-0302 for your complimentary health and wellness consultation.

Antioxidants - The Key To Anti-Aging

The fountain of youth is a mythical legend. Or is it? The fountain of youth was believed to contribute to ancient people living for a substantially longer period of time than most because they consumed and bathed in the "water of life". The reality is, it wasn't the water, it was what was in the water that allowed the people to live longer than most.

What causes aging and, ultimately, death? Well, all of our body parts are made up of cells that have a pre-determined life span. Along the course of time, some cells die due to age and release products of the dead cells into the body, called oxidants. It's a natural process, which is why anti-oxidants are found in foods that we eat. Cells also die from other causes, such as exposure to elements in the environment as well as disease. Lack of nutrition can also cause cells to die. You ever notice that people who are not getting all of the nutrients they need look older or sick? It's because their body is not getting the proper nutrients needed to balance out the effects of cells dying and releasing those toxins.

So what was in that "Water of Life"? Most likely antioxidants. Antioxidants counter the effect of oxidants released from dead cells. Growing old is a beautiful thing but no one wants to get age prematurely. Without antioxidants, perfectly healthy cells surrounding dying cells are effected by the oxidants released causing them to die also. Eliminating oxidants before they damage healthy cells prevent cell damage and prolongs youth.

As far as we know, we don't have access to a "fountain of youth" but we can have the same effect if we make sure antioxidants are a part of our diet. Most berries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, are rich in antioxidants. Prunes, cloves, walnuts, and pinto beans are rich in antioxidants as well. Green tea has antioxidant properties too. Another way to get the appropriate amount of antioxidants to keep your body young and healthy is in nutritional supplements. Taking supplements that contain antioxidants daily insure that you are getting everything you need, even when you don't have access to the food.

The fountain of youth may be a legend but we can still have long life by preventing cell death. Our body is made up of cells that do eventually die and release oxidants that effect surrounding cells. Antioxidants counteract the effects of oxidants and are found in foods or nutritional supplements.

Fancy Free LLC. is a home based consulting company that assists people in reaching their personal and financial goals every day. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation. 

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Keeping a Healthy Body With The Right Food

Your body has all the mechanisms in place to take care of itself but it needs the proper fuel to do that. It's just like any other equation. Junk in, junk out. Quality in, get quality results. If you are health conscious and want to stay healthy, making sure the food that you eat is quality. Food is fuel. Food and nutrients are ultimately nature's medication. Eating clean is all the rage now and it's not a fad.

Eating clean and organic is here to stay. No matter your activity level, what you put in your body decides how you feel and even how you look. Packaged foods were developed to help prevent food shortage and became very useful in times of war. However, the odds of a modern country having a famine or food shortage are very low. The fact is, packaged and processed foods are not good to eat for extended periods of time. Studies show that chronic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, are preventable by decreasing the amount of packaged and processed foods in the diet. Have you ever looked on the back of a package of food to read the ingredients? If you haven't, you should try it. Most of the ingredients are very difficult to pronounce because they are chemicals, not food. How about packaged goods that can sit on the shelf for months and not go bad. If bacteria, fungus and bugs, which help the process of "rotting" food, don't want to eat it, why should you? 

Using manufactured medicines have become standard practice, but every illness had a natural remedy. All foods have properties that meet your body's needs. Leafy greens, bright colorful vegetables, fruits, red meat, poultry, fish, herbs, and spices all contain nutrients that our body needs to support and repair. When you are not feeling your best, look at what you've eaten. Have you been eating a lot of processed foods? Foods that come in packages? Fast food? Too much protein? Lots of starch? Are you eating enough to fuel your body? All of these things contribute to how your body functions and feels.

The best way to make sure you look and feel your best is to make sure you are eating quality foods and getting all the nutrients your body needs to work properly. Make sure you plan your meals if you have a hectic lifestyles. Proper planning prevents you from eating bad food, which always seems more convenient and cost-effective. The right nutritional supplements help bridge any nutritional gaps left open from not eating enough or not having a balanced diet. Sometimes, even a balanced diet does not insure that you are getting enough of everything you need. 

Eat clean. Make sure your meals are fresh foods. Minimize consuming preservatives and ingredients that you cannot pronounce. If you don't plan anything, plan your meals. Take a nutritional supplement to make sure you are getting all of the proper nutrients your body needs.

Fancy Free LLC. helps new people to reach their personal and financial goals every day. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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Being Honest - What You Stand To Lose When You Tell The Truth

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Honesty is the best policy. Being honest says more about you than most anything you do. However,
everyone isn't ready for the truth and what the truth means to them. There are consequences to being completely honest. Sometimes telling the truth will result in loses. Be prepared but always be honest.

Things You May Lose When You Tell The Truth 

1. Guilt 
Whether it be revealing your true feelings or telling a business owner about a huge mistake you made with payroll. Telling someone who you love them can relieve lots of guilt if they pass. We know they knew how we felt. There is no guilty feeling of "I never told them that I loved them." Suppose we make an error while processing payroll but do not let anyone know. The havoc associated with bounced pay checks and bank fees might be profound. Imagine how guilty you would feel watching the business owner see the consequences of your error. Knowing that being honest about your mistake could have, at the very least, mentally prepared the owner for what was to come or, even better, take measures to fix the error.

2. Lack of respect 
No matter how harsh it may come out, the truth is always respected. We gain respect when we have the courage to speak on the things that are hard to say. If someone did not respect you, they will after you have been honest about something that most people will not. A reputation for being honest is much more respected than a reputation for being "nice".

3. Weak associations 
 Whether it be family or friends, only weak people do not want to hear the truth about themselves or a situation. Personal growth comes when you work toward becoming a better person, which begins with owning your truth. Everyone is not in that space at the same time. Everyone is not strong enough to face those hard truths about themselves. While it is perfectly fine to accept people for who they are and where they are in life, people who are not ready to face their own issues usually shy away from someone who is completely honest. If you are in a space of growth, associations with people who are not growing can stunt your growth. Be honest anyway and let those weak associations go.

 Honesty is the best policy. Being honest will keep you from feeling guilty about not sharing necessary information. You will also gain respect from many and keep up gain an honest reputation. People who are not strong enough to face their own truth will avoid someone who is. Be honest anyway. It is perfectly fine to no longer associate with people who do not encourage your growth.

Fancy Free, LLC. believes in the concept of building relationships that turn into business relationships. We can help you do the same. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 for your complimentary consultation. We would love to help you do the same. Complete the form below to join our emailing list.

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Are you misunderstood?

One of life's greatest challenges can be being misunderstood. Look at how Kanye West acts out. He is not crazy, he acts out because he is frustrated. He is frustrated because he is misunderstood. Kanye just wants to create without limitations and bless the world with his genius. Having people question his intentions and ultimately stifle his blessing us is frustrating to him, so he acts out and is labeled as crazy or a misfit, when he is simply misunderstood.

Most geniuses are considered crazy, just because they think differently than the masses. Just because someone doesn't understand what you're doing doesn't mean that what you're doing is not valuable. They just don't understand it....yet. Sometimes they will never understand and that's OK too. What I love about Kanye is that he knows that people think he's crazy and does not care. He knows that he is going to be misunderstood before he opens his mouth and he says what he wants to say anyway....and MEANS IT!!!

The same goes for me. In conversation, I process things pretty quickly, and start thinking faster than my mouth can communicate. So, my responses can sound...well....crazy. It can be frustrating when someone doesn't read your mind and think and process the way you do. LOL! I feel misunderstood.

I have learned that my perspective and my point of view are just that, mine. There are sooooo many interesting point of views out there. I have realized that everyone doesn't want what I want or see what I see and it's AWESOME! I have learned to ask more questions and do less talking, so that I'm not misunderstood as often.....like Kanye. My mind still processes quickly but by listening more, I have time to come up with coherent sentences that don't make me sound like a total nut job.

Everyone does not have to understand you. Genius ideas are considered borderline crazy at first. Don't be afraid to be different and to think like an individual. If you don't care about being misunderstood, get your "Yeezy" on, speak your mind as soon as the thoughts hit you, no matter how esoteric they may sound. I have learned that I come off as less of a crazy person when I listen more than I talk. The people who "get" me know my heart is genuine and anything I say comes from a good place even if it comes out sounding ridiculous.

Life would be boring if we were all the same. Even as a genius, life is better when you're able to communicate with people who think differently than you. Thinking like a artistic genus is only fun when people are interested in the art you share. I love Kanye for not caring but I don't want to offend people when I talk. So I ask questions and listen. My point of view isn't the end.

If you find that you are misunderstood more often than not and you want to fix it. I would LOVE to help you work toward that. Give us a call (410)929-0302 or fill out the form to join our email list for weekly pointers on succeeding.

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Secret To Success Is No Secret

There is no secret to success. Huge successes do not happen over night. A lot of sweat equity and sacrifice goes into these seemingly overnight success stories. The interviews, documentaries, biopic, and biographies that chronicle the accomplishments have common themes no matter the industry. One of which is consistency. Being persistent over a long period of working toward goals is one of the things that led to success.

Consistency is a key to success. Being talented is nice but consistently improving, consistently learning more, and consistently marketing your skills is what is going to separate you from the rest of the talented bunch. There are many talented people in sports, entertainment, writing, and business. However, the ones who are consistent in their efforts see the success they want.

If we apply this concept to everyday life, you will notice a differences every area of life. Financial planning, budgeting and saving are a good one because most people struggle with it no matter what their income is. Recognizing the need for a budget and actually creating one are only the first steps financial responsibility. The budget doesn't work if you do not stick to it. There are many great savings plans floating around the internet. No matter how good the plan is, if you do not consistently execute the plan, your savings account will not grow. Getting fit is another area that requires consistency to see results. Committing to changing your diet and regular exercise is awesome. However, you only see the results after an extended time of consistently eating healthy and exercising.

Working toward your goals every day helps improve your skills and shows others that you are dependable. Pushing through obstacles and continuing to work even when you don't feel like it shows dedication and passion. Being persistent even when you aren't getting the results you anticipated shows commitment.

Often times close family and friends will not take you seriously in the beginning of your journey. They are watching you even more carefully than the rest. They may not support you in the beginning when you need it most. Persist anyway. Your consistency shows them that you are serious. Eventually, they will support you. If not, others will.

Being consistent is a common theme in all success stories. Talent is god given but consistency takes discipline and will set the talented apart from the successful. Applying consistency to financial planning and fitness is the only way to see real results, the same with business. Being consistent demonstrates that you are dependable, committed and demands that you be taken seriously.

Fancy Free LLC. is a home based consulting company that helps new people reach their financial and personal goals. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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5 Things You Should Know Before You Start Your Own Business

The US economy is very fickle. That proved very relevant in 2008 in the crash of the housing market, which had a domino effect on the entire job and stock market. Yes, the economy is cyclical and periodically corrects itself, which sometimes means that your job is at risk. What is the solution? Work for yourself or become an entrepreneur. While entrepreneurship is not an easy course of action, it may prove more rewarding than anything you've ever pursued.

Here are some things to keep in mind before you start your business:

1. Develop a relationship with a mentor.

Just like anything in life, if you have never done it before you should listen to your mentor's advice. The insight that an experienced entrepreneur can offer you can save you time and money by helping you avoid mistakes early in your journey.

2. Be ready for the long haul.

No success story happens overnight. An entrepreneur is able to learn from mistakes and not get discouraged. Remember why you got started on your journey and never give up. While it may seem easier to go back to your job, nothing worth having is ever easy. Your mentor will be there to push you when times get tough. A business owner's commitment to success is the distinguishing factor between businesses that stand the test of time and those that do not.

3. Consider building a home based business before starting a traditional business.

One of the deterring factors of most is lack of start-up cash. A home based business, also known as direct sales or network marketing, gives you the opportunity to start a business for less than $1000. The great thing about a home based business is that there are no caps or limits on the income you can earn. Eliminating the need for a small business loan. You can invest in yourself. Direct sales allows you to learn marketing techniques and other business strategies that you can apply to traditional business as well. Often referred to as "personal growth programs with a compensation plan", some of the greatest business masterminds in America, like Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, and Bill Gates, endorse direct sales. Network marketing also gives you a network of mentors that want to see you succeed while generating income.

4. You have to invest in your business.

Be it a traditional brick and mortar business or a home based business, you must invest before you see a profit. Your business is not a job where you get paid to show up. In entrepreneurship, you get paid when you produce results. You must invest time and money. Look at your business like one of your children. Much time, energy, and money goes into raising productive children. While raising your children, you believe in them and their potential even when they stumble. You keep encouraging and investing in them. You never give up on your children or consider them a lost cause. Do the same with your business.

5. There are no short cuts.

Fitness fanatics say that the results you want only come from discipline and hard work. Taking short cuts might get you results but they will not last. Listen to your mentor's advice, then roll up your sleeves and get to work. Hard work will always beat talent, no matter the industry.

Entrepreneurship is an incredible journey. Before you get started, develop a relationship with a mentor. Be ready to go the distance to see success. If you have never started a business or feel like you don't have access to the money required to start one, consider building a home based business first and using that income to invest in your business idea. You will have to invest in your business before you see rewards. Hard work and discipline is the only way to see success.

Fancy Free LLC. is a home based business that helps people reach their financial and personal goals, daily. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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Busy vs. Productive

In this day in age, everyone is soooooo busy. Busy building a brand. Busy changing lives. Busy on
social media. Busy walking in circles. Busy protesting. Busy rallying. Busy doing nothing. LOL! Yes, sometimes I say I'm busy because I don't want to do anything. A consistently full schedule can be exhausting. Sometimes you do need to schedule in "nothing" also known as down time.

Being a business woman and a hospital laboratory manager, I find it more valuable to be productive than "busy". We only have 24 in a day, so when I work on my business, my "Money Making Time" needs to be spent doing just that, doing activities that will make me money. Or get my mind right so that I can make money. If I find that that is a way to automate a task. I automate. If there is a task that doesn't require my direct input, I delegate. There is a list of things that I have to do every single day and then there are special items on my "to-do" list that I like to take inventory at the end of each day to make sure I got those things done. Boom. Productivity.

As a lab manager, productivity looks a little bit differently. I can pull data to see the "productivity" of my staff. Who did how much of what and how long it took them. Sometimes, I measure my own productivity by how messy my desk is. LOL! I am constantly looking for ways to improve processes so that my staff can use their time efficiently instead of wasting time working on, what I like to call, "foo foo ka ka stuff". It's just not efficient use of resources for me to pay a skilled professionals to perform clerical tasks, like scanning and filing papers, just to say they're "busy". When the auditors come to assess my department, there is no fat to trim. We are all "productive".

Let's get into "busy." I"ll admit it, I, too, have fallen victim to popcorn brain and shiney object syndrome. I'll start doing one thing then get distracted by a text message or an indicator light on my phone. The next thing I know, I've spent an hour on the internet chasing down the real reason Mariah and Quad, from Married to Medicine, had a falling out. Yeah. I was busy. If no one actually saw what was on my phone, they'd probably think I was reading emails or a personal development book. But was I productive? No. LOL!

A goal is nothing but a wish if you don't have a plan of action. Actions without a plan just keep you busy and not productive. It's so easy to get caught up in "activities" for the sake of doing something or being seen or getting the attention of the media. Everyone is busy but are they busy making decisive, calculated moves or are they just running on a treadmill. Moving, just not toward anything. When you are participating in activities, ask yourself "What am I trying to achieve here?" "Is this a good use of my time?" "Is this helping the cause?" "Will this activity actually make a difference?" "Is this going to help me reach my goal?" Or am I just gonna be busy?

In my journey toward the fanciest life possible, I've learned a lot about myself and improved how I operate to increase productivity. Having a Fancy life is possible but if you need help with getting where you want to be, I would LOVE to help you. Fill out the contact information form so we can schedule your consultation on how to move from being busy to being productive.

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Friendship - When To End A Friendship

Personal growth is a normal part of life. We become aware of areas in our own lives that need improvement. We also start noticing behaviors in others that are not in line with our own growth. People grow at their own pace. Don't try to force your own goals on someone else. At the same time, being in around people who do not have similar goals can stunt your own growth. Sometimes, loving someone from a distance is the best thing you can do for yourself and the other person. Here are some examples.

4 Types Of Relationships To Distance Yourself From

1. They always need something.

Relationships should add value to your life, not drain you. If you have a friend that always needs something, back away slowly. They need to borrow money. They need a ride somewhere. They need you to do them a favor. They need you to babysit. The whole relationship is about what you can do for them. They have not added much of anything to your life. We all need each other but when you find that this person can't function without needing help from someone, it's time to stop being so accessible. Deal with them on your own terms from a distance.

2. Everything is about them.

In conversation, there is no concern about your feelings or life or anything to do with you. Even when you start talking about what's going on with you, they find a way to talk about themselves. When you are together, they make a point to redirect any focus or attention from you to them. When you ask them to do something, there is hesitation or they never follow through. When it comes to you, they have a reason why they can't support. Self absorbed people don't make good friends. Acknowledge that everyone isn't where you are and decrease the amount of time you spend with this type of person.

3. They have a problem for every solution.

Life is full of challenges. Sometimes we feel defeated. Negative people dwell in defeat and do not want to move forward. If your friend calls you upset, your natural response will be to try to help them find solutions. However, if this friends has a reason why they can't use solutions every time you offer one, no matter the situation, it's time to distance yourself. Not only can you not be helpful, this person does not want help. Save your breath, just listen to them vent but don't consume yourself with trying to help. Negative people don't want a solution, they don't want you bettering yourself either. If you want to continue on your path of becoming a better you, stay far away from problem finders.

4. The slightest misunderstanding sends them over the edge.

In any kind of relationship, misunderstanding is inevitable. If you have a relationship that is at risk of crumbling at the first sign of disagreement, move away. Emotionally unstable relationships cause unnecessary stress. Being able to speak your opinion openly is what makes friendships great. If someone wants to end their friendship with you because you don't agree with their opinion or perspective, let them end it. Staying away from stressful situations is better for your health and sanity.

Life reveals who is genuine and adding value to your life. It is important to recognize when a relationship is one-sided and does not add to your growth. As you travel on the path to greatness, surround yourself with people who want as much for themselves as you want for yourself. Do not feel bad about moving away from people who do not.

Fancy Free LLC. helps new people reach their personal and financial goals everyday. Contact us at 

(410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation. 

Mentor Advise - Why Aren't You Taking Your Mentor's Advise?

Business owners are ambitious and hard-working people. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a vision come to reality and getting paid from pursuing a passion. However, the road to success is full of challenges that may push the entrepreneur to the point of giving up or worse, doing something that is not in line with an established set of morals. It may seem like the someone in the practice of underhanded dealings is getting ahead faster and even more bountiful than someone who is not, but it never lasts. Those who violate a set code of business ethics always end up losing more than they gained. Here are some tips to prevent you from falling into that trap.

1. Trust the process.

Having a business mentor to bounce ideas off is very helpful. If your mentor confirms that you are on the right path with your actions, trust that you will have great success. Look at the challenges as learning opportunities. Usually, there is something that you need to learn before you see huge success.

2. There are no shortcuts to the top. You have to put in the work.

Ambitious people always want more and are open to different types of challenges. Success looks very different to different people. It is so easy to want what someone else has and more. The question is, are you willing to do what they did to get that? An opportunity to take part in unethical dealings may tempt someone to take a shortcut that presents as very lucrative. Don't fall prey to that trap. Stand firm in your own version of success and don't try to take shortcuts to get there.

3. Be someone who you want to do business with.

Let's be honest. If someone has a history of crooked dealings and wants to do business with you, most likely, you will decline their proposal. Sacrificing ethics usually means that someone is getting the short end of the stick. That may not register when you are benefiting from it but it's only a matter of time before the tables will turn. Will you still want to do business with someone who is getting over on you? Will your customers want to do business with you after you've short-changed them? Make business decisions that are in line with someone whom you would want to do business with.

4. Stay in touch with your accountability partners.

When no one is around, you feel like no one see's you in the act of making a poor judgement call. If you feel like something you're about to do isn't right, it usually isn't. It's natural to want to go against your gut feeling when you think you will profit in the end. Ask your accountability partner for insight before you make your final decision. Usually, they will confirm what you originally thought and talk some sense in to you.

5. All money isn't good money.

In 2008, the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of the United States all came falling down. Bernie Madoff promised investors an unheard of return on investment in an unheard of amount of time, conning investors out of $65 billion. It took a large team of people to pull a scheme of this proportion off. They all made lots of money over a short time. They also all went to jail. Every dollar earned goes farther than dollars "given".

When you aren't progressing as quickly as you think you should, don't take easy ways out that will violate business ethics. Trust the process and learn from it. There are no shortcuts to successful business. You have to put in the work to make it last. Behave like a business person that you would want to do business with. Have your accountability partners hold you accountable. Stay away from deals that are too good to believe because all money is not good money.

Fancy Free LLC. specializes in wealth building techniques with personal development coaching. Call us at (410) 929-0302 for your complimentary con sultation.

And Here's the Conflict.....

This whole Drake vs. Meek Mill conflict brings up a lot of items for discussion. But lets focus in on the claims that started the whole thing. Meek Mill was upset about something and then started spilling all the dirt....that's not really dirt. Drake has a ghost writer. So what. No seriously. Who cares that Drake has a ghostwriter. Everyone does. You need help to stay on top of day to day business AND continue to put out music as regularly as Drake does.

What Meek fails to realize is that Drake is the talent. Drake is very good at what he does and he is also very versatile. People want him to perform their work. I mean would you rather hear Beyonce perform 1+1 or The Dream? No disrespect to The Dream but it's just that sometimes the talent gets the shine because......they are the talent. LOL! It's that simple. If you look on the writing credits for some of pop culture's biggest icons, they all have multiple people listed on each song. All of them.

Who cares if Drake doesn't write everything. People are still going to buy Drake's music, no matter who wrote it. No artist writes every single thing they perform or record. We know Drake has written and can write. Clearly. If Drake has a ghostwriter, let that ghost get paid. Geez.
Don't try to take food out of the ghost's mouth, Meek.

We thought Meek and Drake were cool. Putting secret society knowledge on blast says more about Meek than the "tea" says about Drake. My mama always taught me to keep my private business private. Everyone doesn't have to know your business and they shouldn't. The best way to resolve issues with a person is directly with that person. Most misunderstandingss are just that, misunderstandings that manifested because of a lack of communication. Use your words, Meek. Use your words.

What lessons can we learn from this situation? Everyone that you associate with ain't your friend. Period. Keep your secrets close to your chest. Let people prove their loyalty before you reveal potentially damaging information to them. Pay close attention to how someone responds to other people when they don't get their way. If they are talking smack about someone else around you, telling everyone else's business, it's only a matter of time before they're telling yours. When someone tries to put you on blast, don't retaliate, just state the obvious. In the end, petty and witty will always beat angry and argumentative. Not that it's always about winning but....it's always about winning. LOL!

I don't have an opinion on how it could have been handled better because, quite frankly, I have been entertained by all of the shenanigans. That's what it was supposed to do, right? Entertain us. For me, I prefer to address conflict directly. Even when I'm in the wrong. I address, try to resolve, and move on. I'm not one to hold grudges but I WILL cut someone off after forgiving them. Like "I forgive you but you're not gonna give me your behind to kiss on MULTIPLE occasions. Nope."

Enjoy your Fancy Life....as drama free as possible.

Weight Loss Supplements - What The Manufacturers Don't Tell You

Too much of anything is not healthy. Even things that are good for you are best when enjoyed in moderation. Drinking too much water is not healthy. Too much fiber can wreak havoc on your gastrointestinal system. Too much exercise does not allow your body to rest and repair. With that being said, losing weight too quickly is not healthy. There are so many miracle weight lose drugs, pills, and potions that claim dramatic results in a short amount of time. The marketing is very tempting for us to try them but the reality is the results achieved by these supplements are not good for the body and usually are not long-lasting.

For true weight loss and maintaining your ideal weight you need a lifestyle change. If your diet and activity level causes weight gain, a fad diet or magic pill is not going to help. In this culture of instant gratification, advertising weight loss in a way that boasts of quick results without exercise and/or adjusting the types of food we eat is creates a false sense of accomplishment and is not in the best interest of your health. The reality is, making up your mind to completely change your lifestyle is really the only way to lose weight and keep it off. It's that simple.

The goal of marketing these unhealthy products is to get you to buy. After you buy, the results may vary based on body type and metabolism. When reading the fine print, you will see that a lot of these supplements do not offer guarantees or refunds if you do not see your desired results with in a certain amount of time."Results may vary" is the go to disclaimer.

If you are on your journey to a healthier lifestyle that will result in weight loss. Look for nutritional supplements that suit your needs and lifestyle. In most cases, healthy lifestyle habits result in weight loss. Supplements can fill in nutritional gaps to make sure your body gets everything it needs to work properly. Not only will you see a decrease in cravings or appetite suppression, which results in weight loss, you will also see a decrease in risks of health problems associated with being over weight and malnutrition.

Don't be fooled by marketing of fast weight loss. It's not healthy and it's not sustainable. These market products in a way to boost sales. As a customer, your best interest is not what the company has in mind. Instead of just losing weight, set a goal to live a healthier lifestyle. Weight loss and other health benefits will come along with the change in lifestyle. Look for nutritional supplements to decrease cravings and to make sure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to function properly and repair itself.

Fancy Free LLC. finds joy in helping new people reach their financial as well as personal goals in all areas of life. Call us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Business Ethics - Maintaining The Mindset Of An Ethical Business Owner

Business owners are ambitious and hard-working people. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a vision come to reality and getting paid from pursuing a passion. However, the road to success is full of challenges that may push the entrepreneur to the point of giving up or worse, doing something that is not in line with an established set of morals. It may seem like the someone in the practice of underhanded dealings is getting ahead faster and even more bountiful than someone who is not, but it never lasts. Those who violate a set code of business ethics always end up losing more than they gained. Here are some tips to prevent you from falling into that trap.

1. Trust the process.

Having a business mentor to bounce ideas off is very helpful. If your mentor confirms that you are on the right path with your actions, trust that you will have great success. Look at the challenges as learning opportunities. Usually, there is something that you need to learn before you see huge success.

2. There are no shortcuts to the top. You have to put in the work.

Ambitious people always want more and are open to different types of challenges. Success looks very different to different people. It is so easy to want what someone else has and more. The question is, are you willing to do what they did to get that? An opportunity to take part in unethical dealings may tempt someone to take a shortcut that presents as very lucrative. Don't fall prey to that trap. Stand firm in your own version of success and don't try to take shortcuts to get there.

3. Be someone who you want to do business with.

Let's be honest. If someone has a history of crooked dealings and wants to do business with you, most likely, you will decline their proposal. Sacrificing ethics usually means that someone is getting the short end of the stick. That may not register when you are benefiting from it but it's only a matter of time before the tables will turn. Will you still want to do business with someone who is getting over on you? Will your customers want to do business with you after you've short-changed them? Make business decisions that are in line with someone whom you would want to do business with.

4. Stay in touch with your accountability partners.

When no one is around, you feel like no one see's you in the act of making a poor judgement call. If you feel like something you're about to do isn't right, it usually isn't. It's natural to want to go against your gut feeling when you think you will profit in the end. Ask your accountability partner for insight before you make your final decision. Usually, they will confirm what you originally thought and talk some sense in to you.

5. All money isn't good money.

In 2008, the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of the United States all came falling down. Bernie Madoff promised investors an unheard of return on investment in an unheard of amount of time, conning investors out of $65 billion. It took a large team of people to pull a scheme of this proportion off. They all made lots of money over a short time. They also all went to jail. Every dollar earned goes farther than dollars "given".

When you aren't progressing as quickly as you think you should, don't take easy ways out that will violate business ethics. Trust the process and learn from it. There are no shortcuts to successful business. You have to put in the work to make it last. Behave like a business person that you would want to do business with. Have your accountability partners hold you accountable. Stay away from deals that are too good to believe because all money is not good money.

Fancy Free LLC. specializes in wealth building techniques with personal development coaching. Call us at (410) 929-0302 for your complimentary consultation.