Pursuit of Happyness...Either you're with me or you're not

I have this movie on DVD and I watched it a few years ago when I was still employed as a Juvenile Probation Officer. It came on TV this past weekend and I watched it again. (I'm an entrepreneur now) The feeling I had when I watched it a few years ago and the feeling I had when I watched it a few days ago was totally different. I could relate to what he was going through more than ever this time around. Not everyone understands what I'm trying to do, friends have come and gone, people owe me money that I still don't have and so on and so forth.


In my pursuit of happiness and success, many people have fallen to the wayside. Rev Run stated something along the lines of this, "On the journey to success, you will lose a few friends, but keep it moving." This keeps me going everyday. I don't think anyone understands how hard I work but ME and at the end of the day, I really don't care what anyone else thinks. If I don't like something, I will change it, but if you don't like something I'm doing, your bad *Kanye Shrug*

2nd Annual Le'Chic Couture Fashion Show

As you all know or you may not know, I have an Event Planning Company, Creative Party Designing. I am collaborating with two business cohorts to bring to West Palm Beach the 2nd Annual Le'Chic Couture Fashion Show. I am selling tickets for this event; however, you can also purchase online at www.lechicfashionshow.eventbrite.com. General Admission is $25 and VIP is $35. This event will take place at the Palm Beach Convention Center (Downtown West Palm Beach) on Friday, April 9th at 7pm. Cocktail hour begins at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. I am kinda well connected with a lot of people in the music industry and because it is the same weekend of Spring Bling, I'm trying to see if I can pull some strings to get a few artists to make an appearance or attend the show. I'll see what I can do. Don't be surprised if I get some HOTT celebrity attendees to attend the show. :-)

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to my foundation, Makeva Harold Foundation. For information on my foundation, visit the website: www.makevaharoldfoundation.org.

This is gonna be a spectacular show and I'm not exaggerating because I'm coordinating this event. It is gonna be spectacular! We did this event last year and it was awesome! I recommend that you attend this event. You won't be disappointed. Take a look at the clip below from last year's show. Hope to see you there! Call with any questions you may have. (561)449-1124.

Random Thoughts

I NEED PATIENCE!!!

I'm not feeling it today. I been kinda down. Anyone that knows me, know that I'm working really hard to get my foundation off the ground. I try to stay on the positive side because so many people are looking up to me, depending on me and believing in me to make things happen. I feel like giving up today. The only reason I won't is because I remember Tyler Perry's story as well as Michael Baisden's. They didn't give up and I'm trying my hardest not to give up also.

Every time I start feeling down and I have thoughts about giving up, I always get another confirmation (Read Listening When He Speaks 3/18). I left the house this morning to run errands, deliver the sponsorship proposal to various companies in Palm Beach County for the Youth Scholarship Benefit Dinner and purchase Monica's new CD. I felt so down because I feel like I'm working so hard and I'm not getting what I should be getting in return. As soon as I made it back home (working from home today), I logged on to check my email and I received an email that my non-profit organization is being nominated for a small business grant. It's for $1000. Of course, we need more but every little bit counts. I say that to say this was yet another confirmation from God that I should be patient and not give up. As you read this blog. Vote for Makeva Harold Foundation, Inc. to win this grant. Please see the link below. Thank you in advance.

http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/small_business_grants/grant_vote.php

Words of Wisdom by Will Smith

I try to motivate my readers but I also have to stay motivated too.

Listening When He Speaks

For two years I've been struggling with something God told me to hang on to. It's not that I don't want to hang on to it, I'm just tired of waiting.

God gives everyone a message. It's up to you whether you listen or not. Speaking to you as well as myself, we all should listen when he speaks because he knows what's best. Matter of fact, he knows us better than we know ourselves. Over the past three years, I've grown more into God and I have a better relationship with him. We talk all the time. Every time I'm about to make a very important decision, I speak with him and ask is it the right thing to do. The decision I make is not always what he tells me. Sometimes I'm in denial and I want what I want so I'll do it anyway then say to myself, if it's a success then I know it's God, if it's not, it's still God, he's just telling me NO because that's not what he told me to do and I did it anyway. Though people on the outside looking in don't quite understand why I do certain things, it's not for you to understand. I've spoken with God and he has told me my next move. He has told me what I deserve, what I'm going to get and he's gonna give it all to me in his time. He also said that this isn't going to be easy but I'm giving it to you anyway because I know you can handle it. I can't tell you what he told me I'm getting because that's our secret ^_^ but I will tell you what he said it's gonna take to get there and this is for my readers too because he may have spoken to you about your own situation.

This particular day I cried, I cried and I cried. I prayed to God and laid everything on the table; feelings, questions and all. There are two things I want so bad and I work so hard to have them both. God has told me he's going to give them to me but I need to be patient. He's not going to give them to me when I want it because I'm not ready to have it and it's premature. He says all things need growth including me. Remember I spoke about tunnel vision? He confirmed that I'm in the tunnel, the toughest part of my life. Sometimes I go back on his word and say I doubt it's gonna happen. I think I'm psyching myself out because I want what I want so bad. Then God steps in again and confirms that I'm going to get it, just not yet and that I need to press forward. I've never been so confused about certain things in all the days of my little 26 year old life but God says it's on it's way. I know God works in mysterious ways so I'm sitting back wondering what is he gonna do to make these things happen for me. I don't know; all I know is he says it's gonna work. When I feel like it's not working or it's not going to work, I try to run away and my little confirmation runs me down and hits me smack dab in my face and...I smile again. Anyone that has a relationship with God, understands where I'm coming from and anyone that does not, you'll get it later. I go back and forth with God all the time about the message he gave me. Is it really gonna happen God? Why do I feel humiliated? He says you're suppose to feel humiliated, it humbles you. Then I'll say, I'm throwing in the towel, it ain't happening; I think I misheard the message. Then God steps in again and says, Child you are gonna get what you ask for, keep believing in me!!! Every time I have a negative thought and I feel like giving up or throwing in the towel, he always gives me my confirmation in a different way that this too shall pass and I'm gonna get all that I ask for plus more. I need to be obedient, live holy and lastly, listen when he speaks.

Working Late

It's 11:47pm EST and guess what....I'm still working. I'm tired but I always tell myself, how hard I work will determine how much money I will get in return. It may be true that good things come to those who wait but hustlas don't wait for things to come to them, they actually go get it!

Here I am....home alone, researching grants, typing a letter to the IRS, listening to my iPod in a shuffled rotation. I'll go to sleep sooner or later and get back up to do this all over again. If I don't do it, who's gonna do it?

I spoke with my Aunt tonight, we had a long conversation and she told me how much she loves me, she's proud of me and all that I'm doing because it's hard work. It felt good to hear that from her, aside from my daughter calling me today telling me that I'm a cool mom. :-) Plus, my cousin opened up and told me how I've inspired him so much. I was almost in tears. Helping others, motivating others and inspiring others is something I love to do. It touches my heart when I have touched someone else's heart in a positive way. As you read my blog, I hope I'm inspiring you too. :-)

Inspiring Interview

~Sent from Tiffany Black (Thanks Tip, I love it! I will not give up!)

Committed to my Dream

This past Saturday I attended a going away party for my friend's fiancé. He is transitioning from being the head high school football coach to a college football coach. Saturday was a busy day for me and my friend texted me at 11am saying "Are you coming to the party?" I said to myself, "What party, she didn't tell me about a party." She responded and said that she forgot but the party was at 6pm. I said okay, I'll try to stop by but my day was already planned out. I had a youth workshop with the Makeva Harold Foundation, Inc. from 1pm-3pm then I was going to the movies to see Alice in Wonderland with my daughter and my friend and her daughter. After that, I just wanted to go home and sleep. I had no intentions on going to the party, I was just going to tell my friend I was tired, she told me at the last minute and I couldn't make it. *keep reading, I'm getting to the point* While were watching the movie, I thought to myself, I have to go to my friend's fiancé’s going away party. There's no doubt about it. This is the closest friend I have, I love her and she's always here for me through thick and thin. She's that friend that I know I can call on for anything....ANYTHING (this has been proven) I need to support her so I'm there! I called her as we were leaving the movies and I asked, "Are they having Publix cake?" Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE me some Publix cake; it's the best, in my opinion. She said yes! Her family likes cake from Sam's club and I hate their cake! *no pun intended* "Okay I'm on my way." I called her back to find out if her fiancé’s friend was going to be at the party because she's tried to introduce us before and I turned him down :-( *shame on me because he's a great guy and he’s in Med School studying to be a doctor* don't judge me but I'm a hard working woman and I deserve a hard working, trustworthy, man. :-)

I arrive at the party at 6:30, they were still setting up so I stepped outside and made a few business calls and sent a few emails from my iPhone, of course, *this is what iPhone can do, lol* Okay, okay now to the point....party started around 7:45, you know black people don't ever start on time lol. There were about 30 people in attendance at the party, mostly everyone got up and gave their farewell speech. EVERYONE piggy backed off each other stating how he was committed to his dream and he never gave up. He comes from a family of lawyers and they all wanted him to be a lawyer. They talked about him taking the LSAT and having a great score; they knew he was going to law school and were very excited. It was his dream to always be a football coach, so that's what he worked towards and NEVER gave up. His family didn't agree with him becoming a football coach but supported him in all that he did. Being committed to his dream placed him exactly where he wanted to be, a college football coach! Way to go Alan! I'm proud of you too!!! :-)

After hearing all their farewells I said. “Hmm I'm glad I came and I think it was meant for me to hear this.” Lately, I've been feeling as though I need to make a career change, I'm 26 years old and I feel lost, what will I do, do I apply for jobs to work for someone other than myself, I don't want to work for anyone else, do I keep going in the same direction? These are the questions I've been asking myself. Just to hear everyone talk about how he was committed to his dream inspires me to continue to be committed to mine. Its tough trying to do that when your family doesn't believe it's going to happen. At least that's what I think. They don't even know what my organization does; they don't know what type of organization it is. I've given them brochures, showed them the website and they still don't know. Makes me feel as if they don't care or it’s not important to them. My grandma constantly tells me I should get a job. Am I not working now? I'm here in this office, my house or her house working AT LEAST 60 hours each week. I don't know, I guess she doesn't quite understand. I love my family, I just want them to support me in what I’m trying to accomplish because this is no easy task and I'll say it again, if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. I love a challenge!

Leaving the party, I felt that I received my confirmation to continue to be committed to my dream. Though my eyes are blurry right now and I can barely see where I’m going, I'm going to continue moving and praying my GPS(God) leads me in the direction I should go. That's called Faith and I have it, I just need to strengthen it.

People: Reasons and Seasons

Did you know that everyone comes in your life for a reason and a season? Think about it...are you still friends with ALL the same exact people from preschool or even Middle School or High School? Where are they now? All people have their reason and season for being in your life. I read a poem once that stated you have a friend for every reason. A friend to go shopping with you, a friend to gossip with you, a friend to go to church with you, a friend to cry to, a friend that makes you cry, a friend to travel with, a friend to work with, a friend who motivates you, and so on and so forth.

God puts people in our lives for a reason and we may never know why but "all things come together for the good of those that love the Lord" Romans 8:28

I'm a very analytical person and I always wonder why I meet certain people, why are they in my life, what are they bringing to me (good or bad), then I remember, it's all for a reason that I may never know, but it makes me who I am, Makeva Harold. Don't ever ask God why someone is in your life, why they left, or the reason behind an experience. It's all done to mold you into the person he wants you to be. If God didn't think you could get through it, he wouldn't have brought you to it. (power thought)

Have a fantabulous day! :-)

Success

Today is a day where I'm lost for words. I don't really have anything to talk about. My mind feels as though it's moving 100 miles per hour. "I just wanna be successful!" I'm thinking about all the endless opportunities I have with my career. Makeva Harold Foundation, Inc. may only be known right now as a county/state/city organization but in due time, we will be nationally known since....of course...I'm on my Global Grind! I plan to have an office in a few other cities and states. I work so hard I know I can only go up from here. I've been down for a while but nobody or nothing can hold me down. I've fallen several times but I always manage to get back up and that's what's important. If you ever fall, get back up and try it all over again but with a different strategy.

Currently, God has put me in a position where I've humbled myself, I now appreciate the value of a dollar and things I've taken for granted in the past, I am now grateful for. I realize that things really are here today and can be gone tomorrow. I've heard this from other people time and time again but because it never hit home, I always brushed it off. Now that it has hit home, I realize it. DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED!



Although there are many people that think like me, there are still many people that don't. I look at success and say, "I'm on my way." I'm closer to my goal more than I ever thought. Success doesn't fall in your lap, you have to WORK for it. I don't ever expect anything to be handed to me. I work for all that I have and all that I want. Of course, my vision gets a little blurry at times but I still find my way to keep moving to the end of the tunnel. I have tunnel vision. I remember starting at the beginning of the tunnel and seeing all that I was gonna go through as I struggle to get through the tunnel and make it to the end. Now, I'm in the jungle (tunnel) fighting my way through. I'm almost there. I keep God in the midst of all that I'm doing and all that I have going on. God is my GPS and I cannot go anywhere without him. I'm not perfect but I'm trying my best to live holy. Not to mention, through everything you must have FAITH. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1

Another thing about being successful, you can't be the smartest person in your pack. You have to surround yourself with a few people that are smarter than you; that way you can learn from them. One can never stop learning and if you're the smartest person in your pack, what are you learning from everyone else? Absolutely nothing!

I don't have anything else to say. Time for me to pack up in the office and get dressed to go to the gym to get my sexy back! Have a productive remainder of the day! Be great this day and everyday! That is all!

Struggling to get to the Top

Ever wondered how Bill Gates became a millionaire....or even Diddy or Oprah? They all had to struggle to get there; not to mention they all had to start somewhere. They all had to crawl before they walked, or should I say, which is my favorite, they all had to walk before they ran! Climbing the ladder of success is not easy and if it were, everyone would do it. Meaning, everyone would be a millionaire. Also, no one would want to read your book on what you did and how you did it, to make it to the top. When climbing this ladder to the top, you cannot skip any steps as you will miss out on pertinent information that is needed to get you to the next step. Of course, along the way you're gonna fall, you're gonna laugh, you're gonna cry, you're gonna be lucky, you're gonna be broke, you're gonna take two steps back; maybe even three or four steps back, but all of this is done in preparation of moving to the next step. Sometimes I wish I could write and publish my book now. I've struggled, I've struggled, I've struggled! Do you hear me?! I'VE STRUGGLED and I'm still struggling. I know I'm closer to my goal than yesterday because I give it my all each and every day. :-) I'm thankful that God continues to keep me because had I not had a relationship with him, I don't know if I would've made it this far.

Okay, let me back track a little and tell you about me, Makeva Harold. I'm 26 years old and I'm a single mother of a beautiful little girl, Ceniya. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Criminology and a Master's degree in Social Work. I've applied to Florida State University to pursue my Doctorate in Social Work also. Well, originally it was Counseling Psychology but I changed my mind about a month ago so PhD in Social Work it is. I'm waiting to hear back from them about my acceptance and if and when I'm accepted, I'll be pursuing a Doctorate degree (1st in my family, might I add). I'm an entrepreneur and I don't take it lightly. It's very challenging being an entrepreneur. I have to pay business expenses as well as personal expenses and guess what? I'm not making enough money to pay both but somehow, I'm managing. Being an entrepreneur you have to be very responsible and disciplined. I'm my own boss, if I don't want to go to work today or the next day, I don't have to. Keep in mind, how hard you work, determines how much money you make so I grind it out everyday. I'm not a slacker but I am a "crybaby." I cry almost every time I'm frustrated but....I still get the job done.

I have a friend that bought me a charm; a Tiffany & Co. charm which reads "Worth Ave" on the front and on the back, it says "One Million" she told me to always remember that I'm working towards my first million. For those that don't know, Worth Ave is similar to that of Rodeo Drive and Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles, California, only in Palm Beach, Florida. Basically, you ain't shopping over there if you don't have money. Every time I wear that necklace, I remember her telling me in her annoying, squeaky voice "Remember now, don't ever take this necklace off and always remember we are working towards our first one million dollars." I keep that in mind because that I am, I am working towards my first one million dollars and I will not stop there. I will keep going like an energizer battery. I too, will be a millionaire like Bill Gates, Diddy and Oprah. They had a struggle to get where they are and so do I. I won't give up! I won't give up! I WON'T GIVE UP!

Let's keep it real, I know there are a few people out there, who don't want to see me successful but guess what, NOTHING or NO ONE can hold me down. I remember when I was in High School and people would gossip about me and say "she's never going to be anything but a troublemaker with her talking self," "she's gonna be stuck in Belle Glade," "she's gonna be just like her mom," Well....surprisingly enough that same person you talked about back then is now a homeowner, business owner, role model and well educated black sistuh! *looks to the sky and smiles* :-)

So as I take this journey struggling or not to the top, I will cry, I will laugh, I will be the best mom I can be, I will continue to inspire & motivate others as I do myself, I will be a good friend, a good role model and most importantly....I will be myself; Makeva Harold.

Welcome

Welcome to My Blog!

This is where I will come to inspire my readers, vent when I'm down, upset and frustrated and occasionally....gossip. I'm open to everyone's thoughts, ideas and opinions. Thank you for reading and enjoy the time spent with me as I invite you "Inside the Life of Makeva Harold." Oh and ahh....leave your feelings at the door. Thanks in advance.