Monday Morning Motivation - "Fail Proof"

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here You're receiving this email because of your relationship with The Literary Loft./Monica Marie Jones/Inspirationista Ink! Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us.   You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. Monday Morning Motivation "Fail Proof" Greetings! What would you do if you knew you could not fail? That is one of my favorite quotes, by Robert H. Schuller, that inspires and informs many of the things I do.  I take my leaps of faith with that basic premise as one of the many sparks that fuels my fire.  If I wasted any time worrying about whether I might fail I would be overcome by fear and self doubt.  So I go into everything with the idea that I will not fail. During this time of year, ten years ago, I experienced two major milestones while in college.  The first was founding Diversion Dance Troupe and the second was winning Homecoming Queen, both on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. I started Diversion Dance Troupe because after years of professional dance experience and training, I tried out for the University's dance team and was told that I did not make it because I did not have the "Collegiate Look."  To this day I'm not exactly sure what that meant but I did not let that deter me.  I used that energy to start my own organization that would not discriminate on any student based solely upon looks.  I wanted all of the young men and women that had come to college with the hopes of continuing their dance careers to have the opportunity to be a part of a student organization based upon their dance experience, not their size or the color of their skin. Diversion Dance Troupe is still going strong and just celebrated their ten year anniversary last month. Shortly after starting the Dance Troupe I ran for Homecoming Queen.  An African American Homecoming Queen was far from the norm and I even had the people closest to me doubting that I would win.  That night, I stood on that large football field and listened as they announced the Baron and the Baroness, The Duke and The Duchess, The Prince and the Princess...All of the names had been called except for mine. It was at that moment that I realized that all that was left to be called was the King and The Queen...and my name.  "And the 1999 Homecoming Queen is...Monica Jones!" From then on, it blazed a trail and several African American Queens followed. Many people have never tried things that they really wanted to do, because they thought that they might fail.  I never stop trying, because  I never believe that I can fail. If I do not accomplish the goal that I set out to accomplish, I count it as research and a learning experience for what I can do differently next time, not a failure.   I tell my dance student's that can't is a curse word.  How do you know what you are capable of if you don't give it a try?  So again I ask you.... What would you do, if you knew you could not fail? The Swag Book Release Experience As much as I love to write, sometimes I find it hard to capture the most meaning experiences of my life with words.  Like the time I went to visit my father in Belize after not having seen him in almost fifteen years.  The experience of seeing and being with him in a country and a culture that is half of me was so special that I just chose to keep it tucked in a special place in my heart. The same is the case with the Swag Book Release Experience.  Not because it was a success, not because I sold a lot of books....But because the support that all of you showed me meant more to me than words could ever express.  I thought that I would give you the play by play of the night's events, but that would feel like a sports reporter covering a wedding.  Some things that are just so full of love and meaning are meant to be experienced in that moment.  So the only words that I can say are, thank you, I appreciate you, and it means so much to me to have supporters like you. Sincerely, Monica Swag is available at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Lacquer (The Hotel Lobby Gift Shop), on my website and on Amazon.com.  If you order it from me, or buy it from Lacquer it will be signed and it will come with a Free Swag Mixtape.  If you already have the book, don't forget to leave a review on Amazon.com. You can also join me on Thursday October 15th at 6pm at the Baker's Keyboard Literary Lounge where I will be signing and reading all of my books accompanied by live music and a talented singer.  Visit my website calendar for more details.   Sincerely,   Monica Marie Jones The Literary Loft Forward email