From Mystery Shopping to Self Employed

Millions of people dream of working for themselves and striking it rich. I had that dream, too! I'm half way there. I am a self employed field services professional and it all started with mystery shopping!

Free Time in Hollywood

Living in Los Angeles, with Hollywood right in my back yard, is the business! Since I am self employed, I can arrange my schedule to take advantage of the great opportunities in my lovely town. I don't have to request permission or fill out a request-for-leave form. I don't have to inform my boss. I do, however, have to make up the time.

When you are young in your business, chances are you wear many hats. You have to be the business development person, the legal person, the secretary, the president, the worker and the staff! That is a lot of juggling and scheduling. It's no wonder that I'm half off my rocker, at times. But, I seem to get'er done! Could I do better? Of course I could do better, and I will! What about you?

Will you be the same person this time next year? Or, will you have taken charge of your life. Will you start saying "no" to the things and people who don't have to be a priority in your life?

Not everyone deserves to be in a front row seat of your life story.

Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life

I make it a point to be someone new this time next year. I didn't stop at mystery shopping. I looked for other opportunities that I could do as an independent contractor. I've taken photos for extra cash. I became a merchandiser for extra cash, slinging and straightening newspapers. I've traveled to different states for work. The work was plentiful like a gold rush, so I headed for the hills of North Carolina. I lived in Florida.



Now that I've taken up residence back in my adopted hometown of Los Angeles, I'm successfully working my field services business and enjoying the amenities, too! I didn't guest host on #TheRealDaytime, but maybe some day. I have the time!

Check me and my girls out on The Real on Monday, March 9th. Channel 11 @ 3pm on the West coast.

Thanks for reading and sharing.

by Michelle Brown

Power Walking For Exercise

Power walking for exercise has long been my "go to" exercise. I used to frequent 24 Hour Fitness to enjoy the aqua aerobics classes, but have fallen off. I wanted to purchase a bicycle, but that hasn't come to pass. Power walking is the next best thing! 

"What is power walking?" you might ask. Power walking is walking at a brisk pace and swinging your arms that are bent at the elbows. Swing with full range and motion. Remember to breath in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. 

Have you ever race walked? We did as kids. We race walked to see who could get to the dinner table first - walking without running! Try it with your kids for fun.

The best three things about my power walk this morning:

• Accomplishing a goal: I've put myself in an arena with some amazing women and I must prove myself, to myself. I am now a contributor to an online women's magazine that will debut soon. I can't get shown up. This is like "The Hunger Games" so to speak. We all come from various backgrounds, have different priorities and ideals, and all want to win, in our own right. A wise old prophet [George Clinton of the Parliament Funkadelics] once said: "There's enough light under the sun..." There is enough light under the sun for everyone! I like light. I like sun. 
  
  In this forum I will be discussing my amazing weight loss of 50 plus pounds and walking has been, well you know, my "go to" exercise. I haven't walked in a while, but I've been speaking about it. Today was the day to BE about it.

• Enjoying my neighborhood: I realized while I walked how much I enjoyed walking around in the hustle and the bustle, rather than driving in it. I have become so spoiled working from home. When I do work in the field the amount of traffic in the evenings is almost unbearable. Coupled with coordinating my schedule with my daughter since we share a car, I'm frazzled when I get home. Seems I just want to crawl in my cave and stay there! But while walking, I felt alive. I enjoyed seeing the people almost miss their turn signal because were watching me! The driver was probably thinking, "That should be me!" The jogger I encountered encouraged me to pick up the pace even more. "Burn more calories!" he huffed as he smiled and trotted in the opposite direction. A couple of the young adults offered greetings and salutations and a couple of youth failed to make eye contact. They were on their way to the college prep school near my home. We'll have to do better on Monday.

and the third best thing about my power walk this morning;

• Enjoying nature: Spring has sprung and the sun is out early! It was cool in Los Angeles this morning, but the sun was shining bright like a diamond. As I age, I take more care to cover my neck when I am out of doors. I want to stay healthy so I donned hats, gloves, and sweaters, etc. I wasn't a couple of blocks from home before a sister got HOT! All of the layers started coming off. By the time I arrived back home they were wrapped around my arms, waist, or wherever they could ride! I'll have to do better tomorrow.

Power walking is a fun way to stay in shape, get out in the sun, and have some fun!

Now that I've done something for me, I'm ready to get the rest of my day started. I'll be working with EBT/SNAP (food stamp) vendors today and volunteering this evening. 

by Michelle Brown

Photo Credit: http://fitness.makeupandbeauty.com/do-at-home-walking-exercises-for-winters/

South Central Los Angeles

What do you think of when you think of South Central? Do you think of Korea Town? Do you think of the Ghetto? Maybe you think of home. I am proud to say that I grew up in South Central and I survived. Being from South Central (no Los Angeles needed) became a topic of discussion while we volunteered at Shelter Partnership’s Shelter Resource Bank. I am part of a volunteer organization called One Brick. 

I was the only Black woman among my group of 16.

After easing my way into the conversation and whoo’ing the crowd with my varied background, I stammered a bit when asked where I was from. I had practiced this weeks before. I wanted to be fair to my hometown and my homies who are all over the world. I wanted to glorify Los Scandalous. ”I’m from South L.A.” I managed. 

Being from South L.A. wasn't good enough, though. I’m from South Central! I corrected, with a Cheshire cat’s smile on my face. As I’m the consummate devil’s advocate – “Let’s talk about it…” A cute little vegan, white lady from Ohio thought of Korea Town when she thought of South Central and “The Riots…” she added. The [L.A.] Riots of 1992 ensued after 4 Los Angeles police officers were acquitted in the brutal beating of Rodney King, which was caught on tape. The vegan woman, from Ohio, saw it all on t.v.

Previously, some in the group were amazed that I had been a flight attendant. I trained in Ohio and Kentucky. There was a woman who was from Kentucky volunteering, as well. “Yeah,” I went on. “I met a white woman at a swanky hotel in Marina Del Rey and she was insulted because she was offered a teaching position in “South Central” she said with disdain. After having whoo’d her in all my glory, I didn't have the heart to shatter her bubble by admitting to being from South Central. “I’m from South L.A.” I muttered to the woman at the hotel. 

Sharing the hotel story got the volunteers talking. I’m sure they have different thoughts about people from South Central now. They all agreed that I was not an angry Black woman, either. I am Black and I am proud to be from South Central. I like being a Stereotype Buster! I enjoyed my time volunteering and met great people. 

Shelter Partnership is a wonderful organization that coordinates donations for the needy - everything from furniture to sneakers to Kleenex. Check them out at Shelter Partnership. 

You can find One Brick and other volunteer opportunities, as well as other events at Meetup.com. 

by Michelle Brown

Earthquake! in Los Angeles March 03.17.2014

We experienced a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles in the early AM. Around 6:25, when children readied for school and parents, fought traffic. I AM happy to be in the collective "we" experienced..." because I have mad FOMO (fear of missing out) on earthquakes. I'm not scared. I AM brave. I figure when your number is up, your number is up - YOU WILL get to YOUR final destination. hahaha!

I thought it was bigger than a 4.4, but it's been so long. I enjoyed it, nonetheless. It felt like a big jolt and a little rumbling to follow. I've had numerous careers and side-gigs. I was once a newscaster on a live cable news program. I think I was pretty cool under pressure, but check out these cool cats this morning experiencing a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, live on the air.

Suge Knight Arrested For Tupac's Murder...?!

If you've heard that Suge Knight was recently arrested, that is true!Arrested for an outstanding warrant and subsequently released; not, for the murder of Tupac Shakur.[full story]  Let's wish Suge Knight peace, happiness, and success in the coming year. Of course we all pray that Tupac's murderer is found. Or is Tupac really dead...?

 

L.A. Parking Enforcement....

Los Angeles Parking Enforcement is some aggressive ass, big pumpkin head-having, fake braid in a bun wearing biotches!!!!! I motioned to the prostitute that I was moving...damn, ain't there a such thing as common courtesy these days?! I guess the hell not! She swooped on my sh*t from across the street! As I was driving away, she was mean muggin me, looking me AND my car up and down and like, "yeah, b*tch, I got yo' ish, n e wayz..."  and I'm rolling my eyes at her like, "SPK! "You make me sick..." 

That's why we have those convenient license plates on the front and back of legally registered automobiles in California -- so they can get yo' azz, coming and going! Those fother muckers! ARGH!!!!