Gearing up to go

I am going on vacation for the first time in eight years on Friday! Someone asked me yesterday, “What are you going to do with all that time?” I had to laugh inside because while 7 days sounds like a lot, I know it will fly by.

What am I going to do? First of all, I will sleep incredibly soundly. I can turn off my “mother’s hearing” and get some deep, deep don’t-care-what-I-look-like-when-I-get-up sleep.

With Kalii not coming with me, I can truly just be me with no “Mommy” label. I can move to my natural rythm instead of the one I have adopted to be a mother.

I am going to move my body, swim, eat wonderful foods and do some strategizing for what’s next in my vision work. I am going to write and do somethings on my website that I can never seem to get to. I am more excited about the business I have today than I was when I first set out on this journey.

The pieces are all here, it’s just time for everything to come together powerfully. This is the business I dreamed of building when I was a little girl when my sister, Debrena, and I used to sit at the dining room table playing tea and playing make-believe about our lives.

While everything is still fully manifesting, this is the beginnings of the life I have always wanted. So, as I am up in the mountains deeply exhaling and inhaling, I will be thinking of how wonderful it will feel to be able to get away quarterly and rejuvenate.

Oh, yes, and I plan to have a wonderful massage! I love deep tissue work and the last one I had was so surface that it annoyed me and stressed me out even more.

In the meantime, today I am just finishing up. I just prioritized my list for the day and it is a full one.

As excited as I am about vacation, the true lesson here is that I literally asked God for it. I have been working on expecting more of God and moving completely out of struggle in all of it’s forms and this is a direct fruit from that work.

As you move on your vision path, remember to expect more of God and believe Him for what you expect of Him. As believers, we are spending WAAAYYYYY too much time hoping and not enough time using the incredible powers that having full access to God, The Holy Spirit and Jesus afford us. It is like having a membership to the best and most exclusive club ever and never using your benefits.

What do you need to serve God more effectively? Ask for it. Believe Him for it. Expect it.

Let me know how it goes. Have a great day and I’ll talk to you soon!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

I’m getting my life back…

I just love Mary J. Blige’s new song, “Fine” (at least I think that is the title). I asked my daughter to download it for me from I-tunes and I finally remembered to bring a blank CD home from the office last night for her to use. I put the song on repeat and danced until I broke a good sweat.

It brought a part of me back. Ever since I was in Jr. High School, I used to dance each and every weekend. Whether it was on skates or at the school dance, I absolutely LOVED to dance. I still do, I have just outgrown the club scene.

For years I have had to put so much of myself on the back burner to be a mother raising my daughter on my own and building this vision and I am getting pieces of myself back now. From taking better care of myself, making healthy food choices, getting back in the gym (I used to work out everyday), or actually having time to take to choose the right color of finger nail polish or cook a great meal in more than 20 minutes flat. Did I mention that I’m taking long baths again???

As I was dancing around my room last night, my daughter was crackin’ up at me and actually joined me in getting her groove on for a bit. She doesn’t know that part of me very well and it makes her laugh uncontrollably.

I can move my hips with the best of them and it felt good to shake off some of the rust and dust last night. Today I am continuing to get more of myself back. The part I am focusing on is prosperity and order. Yes, I did begin to unpack those boxes of books and put them in the storage room and it felt good.

Today it is about getting The Fearless Revolution and The Coaching Club (this is an amazing new way to coach!) out there so they can continue changing lives. I’m trying to figure out this blog thing so I can post some info about the new programs I am launching, so as soon as I figure it out, I’ll let you know…

In the meantime, have a phenomenal day!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

PS. Email me at info@erickajackson.com if you want more info on any of the programs I mentioned until I learn how to post it here.

I love Mondays!

About four years ago, I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with all I had to do in building my vision. Then I worked even on the weekends late into the night on top of being a solo parent.

By the time I got to Monday, I was ready for a loooong nap but had to get up and actually function.  I remember calling out for help and setting up a coaching session.

It became clear that I simply needed to take it easy on Mondays. I began to give myself permission to do whatever it was I needed for myself. Some days that looks like straightening the house if I’ve had a busy weekend, others it looks like getting back into bed after I take Kalii to school and reading.

On other days it looked like taking a long bath and reading. It was a tough transition to make from being a non-stop workaholic.

No matter what, it does mean honoring my natural pace. If I am able to just slow down and be thorough, I get so much more done. I do not set up meetings on Mondays and I let the phone go into voicemail so I can create some time to just think and unwind.

Today I just couldn’t bring myself to put on business attire. So, today it looks like jeans, tennis shoes, and working at a slow and quiet pace. It feels so good! I am getting soooo much done!

I feel ready to finally unpack boxes from my last large speaking engagement and get things back into place. There are even three boxes left from when I moved into this new office space on February 14th.

In case I needed some help, it truly looks like a Seattle day today here in Raleigh with gray skies, overcast and rain showers. I am convinced that days like this are why there are so many entrepreneurs in Seattle. You have to have something to focus on other than the weather or you would be depressed all the time.

When I look outside and see gray skies, after so many years of living in the Seattle gloom, my body is programmed to focus in and work. That way I never had to get sad about not living in the sunny environment my body craved for so many years.

The great thing about Raleigh is that the sun will be back out soon! In the meantime, I’ll just keep plugging along and getting things done…Have a great day!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

p.s. – Today I am working on getting my new Coaching Club info out and getting out new info on The Fearless Revolution. Stay tuned for more…

 

 

Women’s Empowerment was AWESOME!!!

I had the opportunity to speak at a large event in North Carolina on March 29th, The Women’s Empowerment Expo. It went marvelously! I had the amazing support of an incredible team of people who were willing to give their time and talents to this incredible vision God has planted within me.

Here are a few of the pictures from the event (Thank you, Derrick Yellock!!!):

 Here I am speaking to the ladies and gentlemen at the seminar.

This was my book reading in the literary lounge. I did not even know Derrick was there shooting pics! Me and a mic in my hand are a dangerous thing!!!

I tell you, I would have showed up in a burlap sac to do this work, but God sent a wardrobist to the rescue! Oh, yes, and make-up artist and hair stylist – Thank you Zandra and Candy!!!

Here is a pic of my daughter, Kalii and I. She gave me a guilt-trip when I told her she couldn’t come. She said, “Mommy, this is my dream, too. I need to come and see what your work is really about.” How do you say “No” to that?

 

Here I am at my booth doing a book signing. I have a funny thing about signing books. It is an odd thing to me that someone would want anyone else to sign their book. But, people seem to really enjoy it, so I go along with it. I do love the process of connecting with people over this work.

 

It was a special day thanks to the team! Tonia, Terry, Linda, Marcia, Mona, Paulette, Felicia, Rachel, Ashley, Della, Theresa, Adriese, Derrick and Martha, you made it all possible!!!

This is me hugging my daughter’s science teacher,  Mrs. Peake. It was a great feeling for them to see a part of who Kalii is through me. I bet they have been much harder on her, hmmm…

Also, the team that came together to help assemble everything was amazing!!! Thank you Shakiria, Fran, Angela, Della, Martha, Jennifer, Bridgette, Theresa, Rachael and son, Kalii, Matthew, Martin, Marcia, Rob, Kevin, Martin and Dawn at The Light radio station! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I couldn’t have done it without you. I will be paying you all back for years to come for all of the sore backs, aching feet and tight leg muscles from lifting all of those boxes! I owe you!!!

Love, Ericka

Do you have this kind of freedom?

Today started out as a rather normal day for me.

I got up, read my word for the day, “Commit to The Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed,” – Proverbs 16:3. Packed lunches. Dropped Kalii off at school and headed into the office.

Had a coaching client. Made calls. Checked messages. All was well until I got the shakes and started feeling not-so-good. At that moment, I just knew with all of my being that I had to get into bed.

I was able to make a couple of calls, pack up my files and laptop and head home to rest and finish up my work day. I took the nap my body was telling me it so desperately needed.

As I was on my way home, all I could do was Thank God!!! I remember working in corporate America seven years ago and having to ask someone for permission to do what I wanted to do. 

I remember asking my co-workers, “Can you listen for my phone? I have to run to the bathroom.”

I would have to schedule a meeting with my manager to ask, “My daughter has a dance recital, is it possible to leave 2 hours early next Wednesday afternoon?”

I am feeling much better and I have the freedom to be sitting in my bed in my tattered, faded, stretched velour sweat pants that I wear around the house writing this note and getting my work done. This is the only place I would choose to be in the world right now.

I am flashing back to the l-o-n-g hours I would put in over three shifts everyday in my business to be able to have the freedom to be able to take a nap in the middle of the day. Just as I woke up, my daughter called from school and needed picking up.

No problem. This is normal to her. I have been building this ministry since she was in kindergarten and I have been able to be there for her even as a parent raising her on my own.

It is not earth-shattering, but I am just so thankful and grateful for the freedom to take a nap in the middle of the day and be there to pick up Kalii.

It is my prayer that you are able to have this freedom. Do what it takes right now to be able to have this freedom. I am free to make the money I choose, cook dinner in the middle of the day and to go to the mail box hoping my neighbors aren’t home yet because I look CRAZY in these sweat pants – but I love them!

We all deserve to experience these little moments of pure bliss and freedom in our lives. Fearlessness is the doorway and I pray that you will let me teach you how. I’ll talk to you soon! Have a great day!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

P.S. - I finally have had a chance to get through the pictures from The Women’s Empowerment Expo here in Raleigh. I’ll be posting them in just a bit. It was a BLAST!!!!

It feels so wierd…

It still feels a bit strange for me to share more and more of my story. As a coach, it is really all about the client and not me, so for years I have practiced holding back my story unless someone asks. I am working on sharing the pieces that will benefit you the most.

If you have specific questions, I invite you to post comments or questions so we can have a dialogue. I have been through so much in this process of building God’s vision and now it’s time to take the pieces apart and assist you in moving through your process.

So, today, I am just grateful. I am so grateful that I held on. Our Bible Study (at Raleigh North Christian Center) last night was all about the promises God has reserved only for those who overcome. I sat there knowing that I am truly an overcomer and have “stuck” through things that would have made most people run.

Can I just share about the financial struggle over the years? I have actually have to understand that is has not been struggle, it has literally been a stripping-down of anything and everything I was attached to. This was a serious challenge for me as I grew up in the midst of a highly successful family business and never wanted for a single thing.

Yes, I worked, but I never even had to make a choice about having or not having. My parents’ business not only took phenomenal care of my family, it took care of many other families. To fully commit to God’s vision meant releasing all attachment to how things look financially knowing that tremendous wealth is on the way once the pieces are in place.

Sacrifice is just part of the process. Don’t make it mean anything more. Just hold on because as your vision comes to fruition, God will restore everything even better than it was when you had it. Let it go and it will be returned to you bigger and better. I received a random call the other day letting me know that a business loan I took out was paid off, and not by me, they “took care of it” on their end. They took my last payments from a group fund I had paid into years ago and had long forgotten.

God restores, renews, and takes care of you in ways that go far beyond money. The money is the least of what God will do for you once you fully commit to bringing forth His vision for your life. I’ll share more tomorrow. In the meantime, be blessed!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

Encouragement for the Encourager

I am constantly amazed at how this work just keeps evolving. I was having a conversation with a Dinah, in whom God has placed a powerful ministry, and when I asked her how I can best serve her, she replied, “Encouragement.” I am hearing that more and more from those who are attracted to my work.

When you are ready to build your ministry, where do you go for encouragement, support and mentorship? Well, the answer is here. I realized that I really haven’t done much sharing on what keeps me going and how I stay encouraged and looking forward no matter what.

Yet it is the most critical skill you can develop on the path to living God’s vision. I shared with Dinah that my number one way for staying excited and encouraged is by attaching my emotions to The Promise. God showing me what is possible in my ministry and what it will look like is what keeps me going. I learned years ago that I had to find ways to keep myself encouraged because this work was between me and The Lord.

My directives came from God and therefore no one could encourage me because the work I am called to do did not exist, which is usually the case with vision.

I decided that no matter what my current circumstances looked like, I have attached myself to what I know will come to pass as I dig in and remain obedient to what God tells me to do on a daily basis.

And you wouldn’t believe some of the things I have dealt with and kept moving forward in the process. I will be sharing more and more so the insights of my journey can be something that impacts your ability to stay in the game. Be blessed and I’ll talk to you tomorrow!

Love, Ericka

www.erickajackson.com

Back to the rhythm

Whew! I dropped my daughter off at school this morning and as much as I enjoyed her, I breathed a sigh of relief because having her spring break over means that I can get back to the rhythm of my life and work. We did have some fun, though. I took her to Frankie’s, a family funplex, in Durham and I think I had more fun than she did. I noticed that I was drawn to the games where I could throw and pound things (those poor little moles in that mole-hill game!). It felt so good to let off some steam and just have some good ole’ fun. As a matter of fact, I wanted to go back and of course, my daughter thought it was just to take her back, but the truth is, I had a great time and wanted to get in the batting cages. Once my memory of how to hit the ball came back after 20+ years and I moved to the slow pitch cage, I was able to make some great connects. It felt so good!

I am loving the feeling of getting the pieces of myself back that had to be put on the back burner between being a single mother and the sacrifice of building the vision of my work. Now I get to focus on losing weight, taking better care of those who already know my work and having fun with Kalii. We also went to the new movie, “Nim’s Island” and I loved it! I laughed so hard in parts that the kids in the seats in front of me kept turning around. I guess they thought it was odd for an adult to so thoroughly enjoy a child’s movie. Hah! If it is Disney, family adventure or PG – I’m there! Little did they know! I’ll talk to you tomorrow!

It was amazing!

I got into the office late today and worked from home a bit so my daughter could sleep in. It is her spring break and boy do we both need it. She is in the office with me today and I am having flashbacks of coming to the office everyday of my spring and summer breaks as I was growing up. I used to love it! She is sitting down the hall using the computer and on the phone with her God sister. I actually love having her here with me. It feels much less stressful than having her call from home asking me how long it will be until I come home. She is making the transition well, though. Considering that I have been so focused on Women’s Empowerment prep the last 2 weeks.

Our HUGE event on Saturday went tremendously well! My team was simply amazing! Having a team to support the work was a new level for me and it felt great! I was truly in my element. But, can I tell you…after being on my feet all day, I truly had “Fred Flintstone” throbbing feet by the end of the day. Once we finally unloaded, it was almost midnight by the time we all got home. I count it an honor to have had the opportunity to work with such a phenomenal team of women. Now, onto getting back in touch with all of the areas that suffered due to me having to focus on Saturday. I am excited because it all feels wonderful. I’ll be fully back in the swing of things after one more good night of sleep tonight. I’ll talk to you soon…Singing off for now.  Love, ej