Black Friday orders are in! Cyber Monday shipments are out. Then there’s the US Mail rush. Where the most mail is sent. In a given day. Gotta gift wrap 2009. Before un-packing 2010. Some have goals. To lose weight and walk straight. Betta bring a New York State of Mind.

Make it there. Make it anywhere. Elevate your strengths. The way you roll. Manage weaknesses. At least be aware they exist. Got vulnerabilities? Minimize the distractions. Watchout for the detours and derailments. Enough material wants to entice. Drugs and alcohol to suffice.

It’s the way to go. To reach your goals. Like house-hunting. Know what you want. Close the gaps. In financing and romancing. Don’t overlook the flaws. Could come back to cost you. It’s about raising your living standard. See it before you hit it. Make smart decisions. Have faith in the future.

This is how you do it. Use specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-tested goals to make it. Shoot for the moon. Land among the stars. Set a target. Go to market. Define a vision. Refine with precision. Rome wasn’t built in a day. There’s a waiting period. For the ship to come in. 

New York. New York. Where dreams are made of. Nothing you can’t do. Bright lights will inspire you. Ready to go? From heaviest to biggest loser. From sick and tired. To just got hired. From setback to comeback. Maybe zero to hero. Set sail in 2010. For deeper waters. And greener pastures.

Hip Tip: Goal planning is like house-hunting. Gotta know what you want for yourself and family. 

Blog Talkback: Has the recession caused you to cut back on your gifts or goals?

 Nice up the dance! Spice up the food! All about having a good time this holiday season. You can go old-school. With some new-school. Mix in reggae music. Just keep it grown and sexy. And make sure the juice is plenty. So what’s a holiday party without a good vibe?

A Comedian once asked, “why did Jesus turn water into wine at the wedding?” ”Because He wanted to keep the party flowing.” Maybe that wasn’t the primary reason. But it makes you think. Might have wanted people to know. It’s OK to have some fun. A good time in between work and the daily grind.

Food flavored with herbs and spices. A plate of curry chicken or oxtails could do your body good. Of course, gotta dress your best. Makes you feel like a million dollars. Even if wearing the bargain basement brand. A dab of perfume or cologne. Good to enhance your personal effects.

The right music turns people on. Gets them on the dance floor. Break a sweat not a leg. That’s just a little too painful. Remember the purpose of the occasion. Just like there’s a reason for the season. Keeps you happy and hopeful. At the same time. Wanna get your party on or groove back?

The new year will bring welcome relief. Maybe even a fresh start. On a path to new options. As long as you’re learning, you’re growing. Not a member of the walking dead. So live a little. Love a little more. And split the difference between hate and needing to appreciate.

Blog Talkback: Has the Cha-Cha Slide taken over a good party that used to feature the Rub-a-dub, Bump-and-Grind or Dollar-Whine?

 Bill Gates started Microsoft during a recession. It’s become one of the largest software companies in the world. What does Gates have in common with many? The big break. Going from idea to making money. See it in today’s headlines and tomorrow’s horoscope.

GM reinvention. Palin resignation. DL Hughley gets NY radio gig. Randal Pinkett as possible NJ Lieutenant Governor? Man on the moon 40 years ago. “Do the Right Thing” 20 years later. So take your pick. Before the big break, comes a big step. Start up. Step up. Start over. Step out. Start now.

Cancer, Capricorn. Leo, Libra. What’s your sign? It tells something about personality. But what does it say about prospects? Success is not based on zodiac sign. But on being yourself. Do you. Do the things that most don’t do. To have the things that most won’t have.

Sotomayor nomination. All-star game first pitch. NAACP historic speech. Healthcare debate. Here’s the deal. Obama’s big break made him President. But long ago he decided to follow his heart. To live, love, learn, laugh. And his legacy? Maybe Affirmative Action’s return on investment. 

Speaking of legacy. Will the King of Pop rest in peace? After a star-studded tribute the rumors continue. Maybe the price is right. Or you got next. For the green light. Talent over privilege. Wealth over broke. Knowledge over ignorance. Dream over stuck. That’s right. You deserve a break today.

 Lionel Ritchie is back! So is Charlie (last name Wilson). Both veterans in the music business. 25-30 years ago they were hot on the charts. Then their careers went dark. How did they make a comeback? Maybe with help from Justin Timberlake (JT). By bringing sexy back. The second time around.

Looks like GM executives got the JT memo. The company is working on a makeover. Off-loading losing models. Uploading a new image. Buick’s Creative Design team made it clear. They described Buick’s new look as a sexy sedan. Say it this way. Reinvention that puts ‘sexy in the city’ on wheels.

Bringing sexy back? Good for career or business? Hold that thought. GM says Buick’s new look is more aerodynamic. Sleeker lines. Glitter and glam to the light panel. Nothing like Oldsmobile of the past. Before it had an older appeal. But now it’s more chic. Re-discovery made that possible.

GM knows it takes skill to be discovered again. You either got it or you don’t. Coming out of bankruptcy means what? They have to find new customers beyond their base. That’s what Ritchie and Charlie prove. They still got it. A sense of soul. The skill to thrill. Style that keeps them current.

Wanna bring sexy back to the workplace? Soul-search your way to stunning results. Look East, West, North and South. Before you’re dead and gone. Head to toe makeover. Go bald, natural or blonde. Re-discover the soul of your genius. Develop new skills. Be discovered again for your fresh style. (Working on bringing sexy back myself. Gotta run now. There goes my Baby. She lifts me up when I’m down!)

 The word is out. 100 years in the making. GM executives are getting jiggy with it. Retooling auto plants. Repositioning brands. Restarting engines. Reinventing business. Is it going to be a hit? Fitting question for Detroit. The Motown city. What’s the plan? Adding old-school and new-school to the mix.

Here’s how. Meet John Farmer. Grandson of sharecroppers. A country boy. Experienced with reinventing the farm. John works in seasons. Winter for tool sharpening. Spring for planting. Summer for nurturing. Fall for the harvest. Farmer says it’s a process. A reason for each season. A purpose and a point. A lesson behind the stressin’. Even Michelle Obama and the White House Chefs know old-school.

Here’s new school. GM launches a new beginning. The process started with bankruptcy. A kinda tool sharpening. They’re getting down to work. Customer and company are priority. The jury is still out on the results. GM is entering a new season of business. Their purpose is under review. What have they learned so far? You’re never too big to fail. You’re never too small to be great.

What does this mean as you reinvent your game? There’s nothing wrong with starting over. See it as a new season in your career/business. Build around purpose. It’s the reason why for enduring anyhow. And the point of it all? Go to the next level. Grow your success. Make a living. Live your making. See a difference.

The new you becomes a sure hit. Old-school plus new-school. Outdated to updated. Frustrated to fulfilled. Get jiggy with it. Add more rhythm and rhyme. More style and substance. Bring it. Live it. That’s right. “It’s all good” says John Farmer. Good for GM. For Joe Urban and Jane City. And for Suburban dealers and drivers everywhere.

 Chapter 11! The legal term for bankruptcy. General Motors (GM). An automaker going broke. Even after receiving numerous bailouts. The CEO says it’s time to re-make the company. Is it too late? Is this a good time to buy? For those just hired, recently fired or sick and tired, listen up. Time for a reality check. Refresh your game.

GM will focus on four brands. Cadillac, GMC, Chevy and Buick. The others are doomed or for sale. Brand is just another word for ‘core competence.’ It’s about working with what makes you best. If brand is the ‘what’ then niche is the ‘who.’ GMs future lies in vehicles that fit their strengths. On those that feed their revenue streams.

Green is the new green. Technology plays a major role. GM plans to make smaller cars. More fuel-efficient and environment-friendly. An electric car is coming soon. They have to lower their cost structure. Why? In order to compete. They must use technology to spur innovation. They better build vehicles that are right for the time. With the latest bells and whistles.

How does GM come out of bankruptcy? Get employee and customer buy-in. The reinvention campaign is big on reaching both. Town meetings. Progress reports. Web chats. Part marketing and part networking. GMs bottom-line is at stake. They gotta make this work. So their makeover strategy is critical for success.

Can you relate? Reinventing yourself is about visioning a new you. Building from a new place. Leading with your brand. Networking with peers and peeps. Expanding biz/career success.  Use technology to work smarter. Join in on social multi-media. Take a page from GM. Get your skills, tools and team to work. Where? Pitch your niche in the new marketplace.

 “A dream delayed is not a dream denied!” That’s what I was told. Maybe you can relate. It might even apply to Lebron James. In 2004 he made the USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Dream Team. It was a revamped team with some young NBA stars early in their careers. They had a disappointing finish. Taking home the bronze medal.

They had more losses than in prior Olympics. So this was a meltdown. Fast forward the story to 2008. James was again a member of the ‘new and approved’ Redeem Team. This time a gold medal was their prize and source of pride. What does this say about living your dreams? Well, chances are you’ll have a letdown or setback along the way. A defining moment for sure.

How did they turn things around? It started with a return to basics. A change in philosophy to build complete teams. In the past, USA Basketball had been putting together NBA superstars. They were good on paper but bad on the court. The change in philosophy resulted in better balance. The team had play-makers and game-changers. Players playing team-ball. Ballers making clutch plays.

It also produced a return to bliss. Webster’s dictionary defines bliss as a state of complete happiness.  Ever watched a child using playdoo? Or a senior citizen playing bingo? They are lost in time. No care in the world other than the moment. The USA Men’s team went from a losing record in 2004 to a winning record in 2008. Their mojo was back!   

So what about being on a dream team as the CEO of Me Inc? Hone the basics. Develop balance. Do more to educate. Watch how much you medicate. Got job dissatisfaction? Pursue your passion. Find bliss. Let it rip! You’ll be surprised what you can do when your butt’s on the line. And never let a disappointment prevent you from making a comeback. Keep rising to the top!

 More than 13 years ago I had a wake-up call. I was told “you’re not promotion material.” This experience was the start of something good. It caused me to ponder where my career was going. How would I climb the career ladder? Was it time to do something else? By now you heard First Lady Michelle Obama share her wake-up call. It prompted her to leave a high-paying job at a mega law firm to enter Public Service.

Most everybody has a wake-up call experience in their career or life itself. You get laid off. You miss out on a promotion. You feel disconnected, rejected or disrespected. Some people enter a mid-life transition. You look at reinventing or repositioning your skills. This happens in pro sports as well. A team loses a close game. A star player is traded. The coach says “shake it off and re-group.” Maybe someone retires after a career-ending injury. Then becomes an Entrepreneur or Broadcast Analyst.

Here’s what happened almost three years after my wake-up call. I left my job to pursue my dream. I became the CEO of Me Inc. I now have a built-in wake-up call. An internal alarm clock. Each day provides the opportunity to grow, excel, inspire. You have more focus of mind. Fire in the belly. Fun at work. Fighting spirit. Purpose in living. Why? Because you come ready to work. Ready to play. Ready to go to the next level.

That’s what Lebron James displays as a pro athlete. He takes more shots in practice. Works hard and plays smart. Puts it all on the line in the game. On the court he’s in the zone. On the bench he’s cheering his teammates with high-fives and a big smile. Some say they look unstoppable. Are they going to need a wake-up call? That’s what the TV Commentator asked of James after a game.

James’ response left a hint of the Me Inc.CEO experience.”Each game is a chance to grow as a team. The win is important but getting better is what matters.” James does the extra work of a champion. His play brings a lot of joy to the game. He comes ready to work, play and go to the next level. In the NBA and in life. He lives in the moment. In his words, “my time on the court feels like everlasting.”

The first round of the NBA playoffs is off and running. 40 games in 40 nights. There’s more excitement in the air. It’s like what happens after a job promotion or pending breakthrough. You experience the feeling of ‘access granted.’ You feel rewarded for your efforts. Recognized for your work. Blessed for giving your best. So do these players.

The Cleveland Cavaliers is the only team thus far to have done a sweep. They won four straight games in the kick-off series. Some say it’s a sign they mean business. But it might also be a sign of leadership. Just listen to Lebron James in his post game interviews. He’s always making his teammates feel appreciated.

This is a priceless practice as CEO of Me Inc. Turning Me Inc. to Team Inc. Turning Me Inc. to ‘wink wink.’ It allows others to play their role. Raise their game and bring it to the max. It makes them feel validated. We all seek a sense of belonging. The knowing that who we are and what we do matters. How do you feel when someone looks you in the eye and says “well done”? It gets you motivated.

With James on the court we see great play. What happens off the court is great leadership. The CEO of Me Inc. delivers both. Your example gives others a free pass to shine. I get this every time I speak, do an interview or book signing. The opportunity makes me feel appreciated, validated and even more motivated. Here’s why.

Ever parked your car and needed to get the ticket validated? You get it stamped by someone in authority. You depart with no charge (wink wink). That is your free pass (now ‘pay it forward’ or wave to ‘the haters’). As CEO of Me Inc. you can be first-class at the office. Top dog in business. No match for the competition. Leadership makes it happen. But the ultimate validation and inspiration is when ‘Big G-o-d’ comes through for you. There’s nothing like the stamp of approval from a Higher Authority.

 Heard the buzz about ISEECOLOR? It’s a new Social Networking site started by a nationally syndicated radio personality. It seems to combine social and content. Fast becoming a hit, it raises the question “do you see color?”  Choose Yes, No, or let me explain.

If yes then maybe you’re able to see people for who they are. You see them without having to second-guess them. If no, then maybe you’re fooling yourself. You should be able to see color without having to judge color. That’s basically what Dr. King said in his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

Don’t take my word for it. Let’s go to the video tape transcript. King started out by recounting the days of slavery, segregation and discrimination. He chastised the Government about the lack of equality for the Negro. He spoke about poverty in a land of prosperity. He said America had issued the Negro a Bad Check which came back marked insufficient funds.

The ‘60s freedom campaign was about opening the doors of opportunity. It was about leveling the playing fields. King warned that there was a fierce urgency of now. This often used slogan by President Obama meant that the waiting game was over. So, WWKD? What would King do or say in response to the question “do you see color?”

The answer is right there in the speech. King said “militancy must not lead us to distrust all white people. Many of our white brothers and sisters realize that their destiny is tied up with ours.” Whether you’re Black or White, our collective destinies are tied together. When you see color you won’t devalue or overvalue others. You can see color without having to judge by color. So what does it really mean if you don’t see color? Let me explain.

You saw the recent Newspaper cartoon. You heard the speech by Attorney General Eric Holder. Race in America is not going away. In Jamaica where I grew up we learned to focus on ethnicity (what makes us same). This helped us appreciate race (what makes us different). That’s a lesson we can all use to see color without having to fear race. Remember, success runs in every race.

Music Soundtrack – “Conscious Flava Jams”

Play ‘If You’re Out There by John Legend,’ track here

Play ‘Everything is Everything by Lauren Hill,’ track here