2011 Business Goals Mid-Year Review

It's really been quite a fruitful first half of 2011.  Though there's still a lot of room for improvement, I'm feeling pretty good so far.   


But now, I have to revisit the goals I've set out for myself  at the beginning of the year.


My Business Goals
1.  Create a physical "work space" separate from my "chill space."
I've kind of had to put this on the back burner.  This is kind of dependent on getting a lot more space freed up in the living room or at least rearranging a bunch and getting rid of stuff.  And it's something I need to do with the boyfriend.

2.  Keep better track of my money and my time.
I've done a fairly good job at this so far.  I'm a bit behind on updating my budget spreadsheet, but I've done fairly well thus far.  Money is tight, so there isn't too much to really keep track of.  Otherwise, I've been pretty good about the use of my time when it comes to my business.  I've even been able to participate in a lot of the teleconference calls.

3.  Increase my average number of monthly parties to 5-6.
I've actually managed to get about 4 parties a month, with March and April having 4-5 parties.  I'm still working on getting those bookings, though I had to focus more on getting some consistent day work.  But I'm still going to push for 5-6 parties a month! Why the heck not???

4.  Sign Up for a Sex Education Certification from Planned Parenthood.
Before the goddamned year is over, I will definitely be doing this.  It's mainly been about having the money in time, which has not been easy.  But, hopefully, it will happen in September.

Team Goals
5.  Become a Demi Goddess (have 5 active recruits) by the end of 2011!
I'm still working on getting 3 more recruits.  I've had a couple of small bites, and I'm trying to stay consistent with all the recruit leads.  But, when they're ready, they're ready.

6.  Hold at least 1 Team Meeting via internet, phone, or in person every 3 months.
Okay, well, I need to do better about this.  I've had to do a lot of rethinking about other areas of my world, so unfortunately this hasn't been my priority.  But I will be on it in the upcoming months.

7.  Make it to Golden Circle 2011 in August!
I've made it to 26 points!  I've earned me a dinner and breakfast, and all I need to worry about is the hotel!  I'm not sure if I'll have enough time to earn another 24 points, but now I know that I will be ready for next year's Golden Circle!

8.  Host an event (Bingo, Athena's Cup..or both!) with my Team (recruits and sisters if possible)!
Oy, well, I did manage to host a Sex, Druggs, and Juggs Trivia last year.  Unfortunately, the Sex and Drugs Trivia and the Savant Project have had to close their doors.  But I'm not giving up!  Once I have a better idea about the time I and others have available, I'll be on it.


I know it sounds like a lot of promises.  But, I know I have a half year left.  I'm probably going to be extremely busy, working several jobs alongside my Athena's biz.  It'll be nice to be busy and making money again.

2011 Business Goals

I feel like this year is going to be a fabulous year indeed.  But I know that I have a lot I would like to accomplish to better my business.  So, here are my 2011 Business Goals!

My Business Goals
1.  Create a physical "work space" separate from my "chill space."
Right now, I have a chair in a corner of our living room.  I share a small apartment with the boyfriend and our 2 kitties, so I've had to make do.  However, I do know that having the little corner be for both work and play is quite distracting for me.  I would like to separate the two and further organize my area.

2.  Keep better track of my money and my time.
In terms of my finances, I've usually done more backtracking than anything else.  I know I need to do better at the beginning and end of each month so that way I'm not scrambling when it's tax season again.  In terms of my time, I need to start really utilizing my Post-It Notes and my date book, keeping track of the tasks I need to accomplish.

3.  Increase my average number of monthly parties to 5-6.
In the beginning, my goal was to have about 2 parties a month.  In the past four years, it has increased to about 3-4 a month.  By the end of 2011, I would like to have at least 5-6 parties per month.  If I want to be able to save money, I need to be making more of it.

4.  Sign Up for a Sex Education Certification from Planned Parenthood.
I feel like I'm fairly educated about this topic, and I know I've got the skills to teach youth about this.  But I feel like having this certification makes me "more legit" and less like I'm possibly peddling toys to kids.

Team Goals
5.  Become a Demi Goddess (have 5 active recruits) by the end of 2011!
I'm nearly half-way there, and I would love to keep growing my team!  I know that the successful candidates will be the ones who ask questions, respond to emails, and generally keep in touch.

6.  Hold at least 1 Team Meeting via internet, phone, or in person every 3 months.
I would definitely prefer to see my team members in person, but I do think it's nice to keep in contact with each other.  It helps to keep us involved and inspired...together!

7.  Make it to Golden Circle 2011 in August!
I've been making sure to gather some points by listening to the teleconference calls and participating in different things.  I would at least like to have 25 points for free dinner and breakfast, if not 50 for free dinner, breakfast, and hotel room!

8.  Host an event (Bingo, Athena's Cup..or both!) with my Team (recruits and sisters if possible)!
I have been thinking about doing a bingo for a while.  With the holidays, it became fairly busy to try to get something accomplished.  However, I know that I can get my butt in gear to pull off at least 2 events that benefit the Athena's Cup!

So, here we go 2011!  Let's do this!

Rambling Thoughts about Sexual Health and an MSW

I've posted a little bit about this before.  But, now I feel like I've done quite a bit more research about what I can do.

Earlier this month, I attended a panel hosted by Harvard University on Sexual Health Careers.  I admit that I felt like a college student, especially once I realized that the target audience was students who were looking into careers.

Well, shoot, I've got a career.  In fact, I've got two careers.  Now, I'm trying to figure out how to expand and blend my careers!

It was great to hear from the different panelists, who ranged from HIV Researchers, to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, to Sexologist Megan Andelloux.  While it was great to hear about all the exciting things that were happening in the world of sexual health, I hadn't gotten what I wanted necessarily.

After the panel, I spoke with Megan, asking her about the possibilities of getting a sex ed certificate and she pointed me in the direction of the Executive Director of Partners in Sex Education.  Partners in Sex Education is another small non profit that works specifically with adolescents about sexual health and healthy relationships.  I was super excited to meet the ED of this organization!  I'm definitely planning on nurturing this contact.

Otherwise, I think I might try to attend a certification program through Planned Parenthood just to further my education.

Then, there are times when I think about sexual health in the Philippines and Filipino American communities.  I know that there's lack of education in all arenas, but perhaps especially in such a Christian-based country like the Philippines.

I've dreamed of providing educational opportunities at the sari-sari stores that dot the neighborhoods in the Philippines.  I've even done a bit of research to find organizations that might already be doing the work.  Not an easy thing to find, necessarily.

Considering that the Philippine government has taken an anti-contraception stance AND anti-abortion stance, and they've removed sex ed from schools, what if parents were being taught how to speak with their kids about sexual health?  But not just that, also about healthy relationships and healthy bodies?

It's fun to dream of doing that kind of work in the Philippines.  It's something I would definitely consider.  If I could just spread some of that knowledge to others, it would feel really quite satisfying.

"Advanced Technology" from xkcd.com

 

Why I am a Goddess

In my early 20's, I thought I would give direct selling a try.  So, I started selling AVON.

It was fun selling such neat products, but I was definitely not making any profit.  In fact, I was probably buying more for myself than selling.

Then, I discovered Athena's.

I was fresh out of graduate school, planning to stop my direct selling business, but also having trouble finding work at the time.  I attended an Athena's party (by Goddess Michelle), and had so much fun.  I was encouraged to consider becoming a Goddess, but I didn't go for it right away.

When I decided to join Athena's, I wanted to work on being comfortable with public speaking.  I had already done quite a bit of performing, but was still very scared of doing anything on my own.  Funny thing about Athena's...you're never really on your own.

Yes, this is my own business.  Yes, I can control the amount of parties I have.  But Michelle and the Home Office (and now Amy, my upline), are never too far.  They helped me through the entire experience, from building me up to keeping me motivated.

The Training Team is fantastic!  When I signed on (I signed up for the $250 kit), I opted to attend the 2 days of training in Woonsocket, RI.  The first day of training was about the business.  The second day is about sex education and meeting all the new products.

But, there's so much more!  The company is really good about keeping in touch - you always hear from the Mother Goddess herself!  I'm always getting party leads from the Home Office and from friends, and I don't often feel overwhelmed with the amount of work I have.

Three times a year, we're able to attend Sales Meetings that are always so much fun and energizing!  I always come back super excited (if you want to look back at previous posts about Sales Meetings, you can read exactly how excited I am).  The Athena's community is strong and supportive.

Now, 3 years later, I'm still proud to be an Athena's Goddess.  Though I became a Goddess for supplemental income, I continue being an Athena's Goddess because of all that I share with my parties.

While there's a lot of technical and logistical information to keep track of (it is a business after all), I love doing the parties.  Lugging those toys to people's living rooms and talking and laughing about sex and pleasure - it's all so worth it.

Not only do I get to provide a route to further self-love, but I get to promote self-care.  I get to walk away feeling like there are more women, men, couples who are able to have fulfilling sexual experiences, and hopefully that will lead to more fulfilling life experiences.

I want to share that feeling even more.  How about $99 for a $250 kit?

If you're looking for supplemental or even a complete source of income, if you want to make a difference in your life and others, if you want a community that will support you through ups and downs and sadnesses and celebrations...Athena's is a wonderful choice.

**Any questions?  Email me, and I'll send you more information about becoming a Goddess!**

Goddess Guidebook - Tentatively Planning 2010

I'll be honest, here. There's been moments when it still feels like 2009 is holding on to dear life. Or perhaps 2010 is trying to prepare me for something even more difficult.

Either way, I'm forging on ahead.  I'm not going to let the difficult times get me down.  I've been able to overcome a lot of difficulties in the past, from going on my own in Boston to my boyfriend and I signing up for unemployment.

Interestingly, what keeps me going is a past memory.  When I first decided to stay in Boston instead of moving back home, it was a devastating moment in my life - one that I'm not ready to re-hash in the interwebs.  I was speaking with my father about my choices. 

He said to me, "You know...whatever you decide, if you come home, stay in Boston, or even if you move to Chicago...your mom and I know that you'll be fine...no matter what..."

Here I am 5 and a half years later, continuing to be fine.

I'm starting to go through different sections of the Guidebook, and completing the sections that feel pertinent to me right now.

Lessons I Want to Learn

Gifts for Myself and Things I Want to Release

 

My 1 Big Travel Plan

It's interesting, really, the whole idea of making plans.  Generally speaking, I'm the planner.  I'm good with the little details for big things.

But with this Guidebook, I've had to almost take a step back and realize that this is planning for 2010 - an entire 12 months, 365 days.  It's not planning for something that's going to happen in the next week.  While I do have some general dates, I'm trying not to stress over rushing through my plans.

Kind of refreshing, really.

Finally, I'd like to introduce my Word for the Year.  While I haven't produced a collage or any artwork yet, I'm planning on documenting my word and building on it.

MOVEMENT

I plan on using this word to encourage me to exercise, do more pilates, do more yoga, do more bicycling, do more walking, do more parties, do more visiting old and new places, do more dancing around my living room, do more belly dance in more places.

Here's to moving on.

Let 2010 Be My Goddess Year

While 2009 had a lot of blessings, the latter half was full of challenges.

At one point on New Years Eve, I was getting my nails did and I reflected on 2009.  I must admit that I felt the tears welling up inside me as the spa chair rollers went up my back.  It had been a really tough year.

I couldn't wait for 2010, a new beginning, another chance, a reason for hope.

Then I came across this:

I quickly decided that I needed to participate.

At all the Athena's Sales Meetings, we talk a lot about thinking positively and truly living it.  I'll be the first to admit that it was difficult to walk that talk in 2009.

But with 4 days of 2010 behind me, I think it's time for me to take up this challenge.

I'll be talking some time to use this Goddess blog as a space to reflect on my Goddess Guidebook.  I hope you enjoy a bit of the journey.

Filipino Fusing with Middle Eastern?

Before I started belly dance classes, I decided that I needed to learn a bit about my own cultural dance first.  Though I was involved with the Filipino Student Association at my undergrad, I never made it in time to join the dance troupes.  However, there was a one-semester class for Filipino Dance.

As the class fulfilled a graduation credit, two of my friends joined me in the class.  Though it was a small group, it was quite an enjoyable class.  I learned a lot about the regional differences in the dances, and how most of the traditional dances are choreographed for specific stories or purposes.

For example, as the music and dance reflects the culture, there are Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous dances.  The Christian-style dances reflect the Spanish colonization, featuring a lot of 3/4 beat music and socializing dances.  Muslim-style dances reflect the influences from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian cultures, and mainly tells stories.  The Indigenous dances are more drum and kulintang-based, and are more ritualistic.

My favorite part about the dances was the focus on the hand and arm movements.  While it was so many years ago, I remember the teacher talking about the importance of grace in the arm movements.  However, there wasn't necessarily much room for improvisation.

Nonetheless, I'm suddenly struck with the idea of fusing traditional Filipino dance movements with Middle Eastern dance. 

I feel that I have to brush up a bit on the movements in Filipino dance.  I know there is a Fhilippine Dance Company in Boston, but it doesn't seem very easy to get in touch with someone who could point me in the direction of classes.  I might try to go through Boston University's Filipino Student Association, perhaps use my powers as an alum - no matter how minuscule they might be.

In the meantime, here are some clips I found on YouTube:

Traditional Southern/Muslim Filipino Dance:



Tribal Filipino Fusion with Belly Dance Fusion:

Dancing to Live (Music)

When I first moved to Boston 5 years ago, I knew that I wanted to continue taking belly dance lessons.  Since I considered belly dance a hobby, I didn''t realize that I would feel as passionate about the art as I do now.  While I don't consider myself a professional yet, I think it's something I'm considering more and more with every new experience.

I've had the pleasure to interact and learn from fabulous dancers, and I look forward to continuing my dance and music education. Through the different teachers, I've been exposed to opportunities that I've never thought I would be a part of.

Well...let me backtrack for a second.

I've done some performing for most of my life - from piano recitals to orchestra and band concerts in high school.  Perhaps because of my being trained classically, I've always been freaked out by improvisation.  Even in jazz band, I was so unsure of my abilities that I didn't think that I could possibly pull off something as musically awesome as some of the old songs I love.

When I was in undergrad, I participated (performed and directed pieces) in the Queer Fashion Show.  I loved that whole experience!  Working with large groups of people and putting together an entertaining peice...oh, then the performance!  I loved it.  But I never performed on my own.  I felt that the people who I performed with were like my backbone, giving me strength to go on through my anxiety.

When I began to belly dance, I anticipated a lot more troupe performances.  When recitals would come around, I would get extremely nervous.  I had to psych myself up, just saying to myself that I've done this before, there's nothing to worry about.  

Four recitals later (in 2008), I gathered enough courage to perform at a casual talent show in Vermont.  It was the first time I had sought out dancing alone for a group.  I was so nervous!  I couldn't even tell you about the massive amounts of butterflies in my stomach and the bullets I was sweating afterwards.  But throughout the weekend, I received so many complements.  People I didn't even know were watching came up to me in the days following my performance, complementing me and asking me about my dance background.  It was an exciting feeling.

(Celebration of Expression, Photo taken by Cat O.)

Later that year, my fellow social workers and friends organized an event that created a safe space for women to express themselves.  One friend read erotic poetry, another friend shared her baking wisdom, and I danced.  It was my first time performing a full routine (though broken into sections) for a live audience.
 
2008 seemed to be the year I finally had enough "belly dance balls."  Prior to the last two shows I wrote about, I was given the chance to dance with the Jewels of Jamal at the Athenian Corner in Lowell, MA.  This time was different.  This time, I danced to live music.  Amira Jamal had been preparing us for this experience through all her classes, encouraging us to dance to songs we weren't familiar with.


 (Athenian Corner, Photo by Albert Ma)


All of her lessons were flooding into my head at that moment.  Don't forget to smile, make sure your hands are "alive," move around the floor.  I'm surprised I didn't fall over from all the thoughts in my head.  In the end, I survived.  I knew that dancing to live music was another goal to add to my list of accomplishments.

Viva La Diva Weekend Part 2 - Show and Competition

Viva La Diva Competition and Show
On my way to the Courtyard Marriott in Woburn that morning, I didn't think I would stay the whole day. With my weekends being so busy, I haven't had a lot of time to relax and spend time with my boyfriend and friends. But after Saturday's workshop, I had made some wonderful connections, and after telling my boyfriend about all the fun I was having he encouraged me to stay and get inspired.

I'm so glad that I did! It was my first Viva La Diva show, so I had no idea that it was going to go on for more than 5 hours!! But I love watching other dancers and hearing songs that I'm not familiar with yet.

Once Za-Beth posts up information about who the winners are, I'll update this blog with more of my impressions.

I was excited to see that one of my classmates with Amira Jamal was part of the competition! I was so proud to be there to cheer on Shakima Laila. She had performed some of her competition pieces to us in class, so it was exciting to see her in full regalia! She started up the night' festivities with one of her graceful routines.

I like that the belly dance community is so tightly knit. I'm sure that not everyone gets along swimmingly, but you can count on the fact that you will always see some familiar faces at an event. I asked Dondi a little about the differences between the communities on the coasts. She said it's a lot more competitive on the Westside, maybe because there's a higher concentration of them within a given radius and it seems like they're all trying to make it big. I definitely got the feeling of being "larger than life" from my small exposure to the Los Angeles bellydance community.

Viva La Diva Weekend Part 1- Dondi & Titanya's Five Elements and Middle Eastern Dance

It's been a really busy August.

It's been a really expensive August.

It's been a really wonderful August...so far.

In my decision to expand my raqs sharqi education, I signed up for the Viva La Diva workshops hosted by Za-Beth. I had been looking forward to this weekend for a while. Since August has been so busy - and expensive! - I've been too broke to take a month's worth of Najmat's classes (and they're not even that expensive!). All I could do was rely on my Netflix queue. But I do so much better in a classroom. I've missed a lot of the interaction with classmates.
 
This past weekend, however, was exactly what I've been craving all month.

Za-Beth was hosting Dondi and Titanya Dahlin, two fabulous dancers who I've only recently discovered but fell in love with their stylings immediately.
 
I discovered Dondi through the Bellydance Superstars, which seems to be how many students have found her. She has this amazingly infectious smile and is a mesmerizing dancer. After watching her (and the other Supah Stahs) on the DVD, I Googled and YouTubed like crazy. I loved how relaxed she seems while she's dancing, like it just took no energy at all.

Through the powers of Google, I discovered Titanya. I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt a sort of simpatico with her style. Oh wait...it's because the first thing YouTube led me to was Titanya as a mermaid. I mean, really. Is there anything else I need to say kids? Alrighty then.

Ramblings and Eggs

Earlier this year, I was speaking to my belly dancing teacher, Amira Jamal, about feeling insecure about my dancing. I was in a belly dancing rut. Though I was trying to listen to more belly dancing music when I could, I wasn't really connecting with it. I felt that I wasn't being creative enough with my steps when we would improvise during class. I felt like, "Well, I'm no professional, and I don't really have any goals necessarily."

We even talked about it in class with my classmates, and they made me feel so much better. They talked about their own experiences, and how they're not all going towards being professional dancers. They talked about using their own standard set of moves until inspiration hits them. And they talked about connecting and not connecting with the music, and how it's okay to not connect sometimes.

After speaking with them all, I felt I had a better grasp on what was bugging me. I was focusing too much on hammering the skills and the music into my system without any real direction.

So, I realized that I needed to expand my knowledge not by hammering, but by exploring the belly dance community. But more importantly, I needed to embrace the image of myself as a dancer and performer.

I hesitated so long because I didn't trust myself. I definitely have a habit of dabbling without getting fully immersed - and really only because I didn't think I could be that good at anything. Below are some examples.

*I've been playing the piano since I was 7 and the bass since I was 10 (that's right, the big ol' upright). And while I've played bass for a year in the University Orchestra at UC Santa Cruz and I have an electric bass and keyboard at home, I rarely practice. I'd love to find the time to practice more. I've even tried to schedule it into my life, but it's just not happening.

*I've made jewelry and sold little pieces, learned how to use a sewing machine and made a couple of purses for myself, and I've stenciled/silk screened a couple of designs onto my own clothes. While some folks turn it into a profitable passion, I just haven't been able to do it. I've even been told at crafty-type fairs that I could sell seashell necklaces similar to the ones I always wear - which I've put together. But...you have to invest something to make a profit. And I just haven't had the funds to really invest.

Now that I've been a Goddess for almost 3 years, I'm fully invested in that business and I love it! As a part-time job, I couldn't ask for more. At this point, starting a side business in seashell necklaces or even practicing my musical instruments seems like putting too many eggs in my basket.

That's another thing that's made me hesitate so much. The eggs in my basket.

With belly dance, it's definitely another very expensive investment. Just classes alone is an investment. But clearly, I can't just dance without pretty shiny things, so the cost of costumes has to be taken into account. Mentally, I know I was still super nervous about performing in public - even though I had already gone through several recitals and even organized an event to help new performers get accustomed to putting themselves in the public eye.

Interestingly, I realized that if I can go around with a luggage full of sex toys and wave them around, I could probably grow some belly dancing cojones. So, after dancing at the Athenian Corner in Lowell in May 2008, then for the Quarry Hill Talent Show in August 2008, then for the Celebration of Expression in October 2008... AND after some serious mental training, I embraced the image of myself as a dancer and performer.

I started looking at the different online belly dance communities - Yahoo! Groups, Facebook, bhuz.com, etc. I also love that my classmates always came back with new information and skills from different workshops they attended. So, I made it a point to look for workshops and events to attend, and use my wonderfully talented classmates as resources. I also knew that there were many teachers in the Boston area, so I did some research and signed up for more classes. Finally, I attacked my Netflix queue, and now have found several belly dancing DVD's that I've used for both exercise and skill acquirement (and they're consistently kicking my butt!).
So, after I found my belly dancing cojones, I am now juggling 3 eggs. Day job, Athena's, and belly dance. At this point, I'm still not seeing belly dance as another way to make profit - though that would be sweet! But, I'm just trying to grow in my skill set...strengthening my cojones...and trying to juggle these eggs without dropping them.