.During this past year I have experienced highs, lows; gains, loss; frustration, pure joy; and everything in between. I learned 5 Lessons in my Year of Bliss and I'll share them one by one over the next few weeks before we enter year 2020. Earlier in the month I discussed Lesson Number 1: Give Yourself Permission to Take A Break, Lesson Number 2: Flexibility, Lesson 3: Give Money A Destination, and Lesson 4: Laugh.
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5. Give Generously
Give of your resources and time. Resources can be talent, skills, money, and/or time. As you can see, I did not say money first. I feel more blessed when I use my travel skill-set.  Planning people's travel itineraries allows me to utilize my project management skills, and make it possible for them to save money and more time enjoying their trip.

Thank you for reading my series, Year of Bliss, as an entrepreneur. May the New Year bring to you good tidings in 2020 as you pursue your personal and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Rhonda's word for 2020 is Gratitude. Sharee's word is to be Present.

                               What is your One Word for the New Year?

Rhonda W.

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During this past year I have experienced highs, lows; gains, loss; frustration, pure joy; and everything in between. I learned 5 Lessons in my Year of Bliss and I'll share them one by one over the next few weeks before we enter year 2020. Earlier in the month I discussed Lesson Number 1: Give Yourself Permission to Take A Break, Lesson Number 2: Flexibility, and Lesson 3: Give Money A Destination.
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​4. Laugh
Watch your favorite comedic movie.  Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, and Eddie Murphy are a few of my favorite comedians, and their movies are black cinema classics. Last Holiday, Girl Trip, Think Like A Man, and Boomerang are favorites. Read the funny comics section in the local newspapers that are dropped off at many public businesses. Laugh with friends and family. Remember a joke shared with a love one who is still here physically or may have passed on to be with the Lord. Watch someone laugh and see yourself laughing within seconds. And you don't even know what they are laughing about. Try it!!

What makes you laugh?
Rhonda

​During this past year I have experienced highs, lows; gains, loss; frustration, pure joy; and everything in between. I learned 5 Lessons in my Year of Bliss and I'll share them one by one over the next few weeks before we enter year 2020. Earlier in the month I discussed Lesson Number 1: Give Yourself Permission to Take A Break, and last week I shared Lesson Number 2: Flexibility.
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​3. Give Money A Destination

I found that when I give money a destination, I have money for retirement, savings, and travel every month. Once I pay in full my credit card bill of groceries, gas, and incidentals; health insurance; church offering; and my half of the mortgage, I designate where all the remaining money goes to. I'm happy to share my money destinations.

Retirement: Roth 403b for which I continue to contribute even though I left my previous full-time employer - $250 every 3 months; Regular Roth via a brokerage firm - $100 per month. Biggest Lesson – Have a retirement account outside your employer state  or 401(k) retirement account

Savings: I currently have both a $1,000 savings account and a full emergency account before I even started listening to financial experts Dave Ramsey and Chris Hogan. In 2019, I began contributing $84 per week for 3 months that equals $1,008. At the end of each 3 months I use $1,008 to fund my Retirement, Savings, Travel accounts and additional principal of the mortgage . Finally, I have a mutual fund via brokerage firm - $50 per month. Take Away Lesson – If you need to pay for your emergencies with a credit card (i.e.. car transmission) pay for it immediately with your emergency fund and replenish your fund as quickly as you can.

Travel: I have several domestic and international trips in 2020, ending with my much talked about trip to Ghana in December 2020. Why don't you join us!! In addition, I am already planning and saving for my yet-identified 2021 trips.

Do you give money a destination as apart of your personal financial goals?

Rhonda

During this past year I have experienced highs, lows; gains, loss; frustration, pure joy; and everything in between. I learned 5 Lessons in my Year of Bliss and I'll share them one by one over the next few weeks before we enter year 2020. Last week I discussed Lesson Number 1: Give Yourself Permission to Take A Break.
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#2 Flexible

I have pivoted often and lost my focus at times as to what is my goal with my travel consultant business and non-profit organization. What has helped has been to be flexible each day. Each week I do my best to only stay in my home office one or two days per week. The remaining days are spent at networking luncheons, going to co-working space like Converspace, or using the library meeting room. I mix my days up because it keeps my ideas fresh. When I first began this entrepreneurship life I stayed in my home office 3-4 days per week. It wasn't until I started going outside the home office that I met people who could not only be a potential client, but give me a referral. Take A Way Lesson: Clients are not able to find you if you are not flexible with your day and with your business ideas.

How do you go about changing your daily work routine? 
Rhonda W.