How do your children work their D.R.E.A.M?

Once you have the dream, you must make it a reality.

Once you have the dream, you must make it a reality.

By Chanda Temple

Go ahead and ask because Stephanie Perry Moore has heard the question too many times to count. 

Yes, people have told her she looks like Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer of “The Help’’ fame. And yes, Moore knows Spencer. 

The two were high school classmates at Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Ala., where they were both in drama class.

While Spencer has a large following for her acting, Moore has one for her writing.

Moore, who’s written more than 70 books full of heart, sass and grit, will be in Birmingham on Sept. 22- 25 for a fall book tour and talk at several Birmingham Public Library locations. She’ll kick off her tour at 10 a.m. at the downtown location, 2100 Park Place. (See the complete tour schedule at the end of this post.)

Stephanie Perry Moore has big dreams and says children should, too. (Photo: Special)

Stephanie Perry Moore has big dreams and says children should, too. (Photo: Special)

The young adult novelist will target youth in her Birmingham message. She’ll discuss the importance of following dreams, writing books and how she’s still on a journey of trying to get her books made for television and movies. Her goal is to inspire youth to live their purpose. Her new series, “The Sharp Sisters,” was released in August, and the next series, “The Swoop List,” will be released January 2015. She will be selling copies of several different books during her tour.

Actress Octavia Spencer Photo from American Library Association via Creative Commons.

Actress Octavia Spencer
Photo from American Library Association.

“If you are still living, breathing and going, you are supposed to keep striving,’’ says Moore, a married mother of three now living in the greater Atlanta area. “So that means, more networking, more education … and (more) prayer.’’

What is her advice for pursuing a D.R.E.A.M.? She has five tips:

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Motivation Monday: Tune up your career on Labor Day

As we take a break from work this Labor Day, we should start thinking of how we can get ahead at the office.

As we take a break from work this Labor Day, we should start thinking how we can get ahead at the office.

By Chanda Temple

I know it’s hard to think about work on a day off like today, but this Labor Day is the perfect time to plot your next career move.

If you don’t have a plan, it’s time to take a pause from the holiday barbecue and race to create one. Failure to do so could leave your career stuck in neutral.

Career coach Melva Tate of Tate & Associates in Birmingham, Ala. offers seven tips to help the unemployed, under employed and even the gainfully employed get ahead in the workplace.

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Breast cancer survivor Demarish Ruffin-Smith’s story of hope

Demarish Ruffin-Scott with sons Rich, 13, left, and Reese, 9.

Shelby County’s Demarish Ruffin-Smith today with sons Rich, 13, left, and Reese, 9. They were 8 and 4 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

By Chanda Temple

Break out the pink. Demarish Ruffin-Smith is celebrating a five-year anniversary today.

She found a lump in her right breast on Aug. 6, 2009 and had a double mastectomy 20 days later. She’s been breast cancer free ever since.

“Most of the time, people are estatic to make it to the five-year mark. Depending on what kind of cancer you have, it can come back,” said Demarish, 43 and a married mother of two sons living in Shelby County, Ala. “I just thank God every day for waking me up.”

Though the lump she found in her right breast was cancer that was in the  early stage and the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, she wanted to reduce any chances of the cancer returning. She opted for a double mastectomy.

For Demarish, the decision for a double mastectomy was easy. At the time of the diagnosis, her sons were 4 and 8. She wanted to be around to see them grow up. It was a decision that worked for her. Each woman, she said, has to do what works best for them.

“I know there are many other life-threateing diseases. Some people, unfortunately, will not have my outcome,” she said. “I caught it early because I know my body and lead a healthy lifestyle. My prayer is that no matter what your diagnosis is and what course of action you choose to take, that you become an educated patient.”

“Know your options,” she said. “Decide what’s right for you and put your boxing gloves on every day.”

She offers six breast cancer survivor tips:

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Monday Motivation: How Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Stays on His Grind

2015 update on Roy Wood Jr.: On Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, Roy Wood Jr. joined Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” as a correspondent. He moved from L.A. to New York to take on the new assignment. The show airs at 10 p.m. CDT. For more info on his new job, go here.

By Chanda Temple

Whenever I need a good laugh, I can count on comedian Roy Wood Jr.

His CDs and stand-up gigs always bring the funny, as do his posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

But what Roy is also good at is motivating others. During a recent interview, I realized just how good when I asked him how he stays on his grind as he pursues his acting career on TBS’ “Sullivan & Son,’’ public appearances and comedy tours across America.

“Everybody says that they are just waiting for their light at the end of the tunnel. For me, the light in my tunnel is the train coming up from behind, threatening to run me over if I don’t keep moving,’’ said Roy, 35. “I’m running blindly in the dark, but I’ve never felt more alive.’’

Here are five of Roy’s tips on how he stays ahead of the train:

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Motivation Monday: Turn your passion into profits

By Chanda Temple

If you’re still a little blurry on what your passion is, entrepreneur and digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong could help put things into focus.

Starting today, Mario kicks off his Never Settle Club, a free, five-week program designed to help people identify their passion and monetize it. People may sign up at http://www.neversettleclub.com, share their ideas and get feedback from others. The idea of such a community connection, which has its own Facebook page and #neversettleclub hashtag, is to offer powerful advice, resources and homework to build bridges to success. There will also be weekly chats with Mario.

With the help of AT&T, Mario offered such a program this summer. He’s back at it this month. Why? Because he said he feels like there’s an “obligation’’ to help other people live their purpose.

As someone who’s recovered from a failed business venture and a layoff years ago, he hopes the knowledge shared will open doors for others. Currently, he’s an Emmy Award-winning tech commentator for the TODAY Show, CNN, HLN and Fuse. He recently started writing a column for Men’s Fitness magazine.

“I want people to be successful and be happy, living life on purpose,’’ he said in an Aug.11 video included at the top of this post. He added that the program is for people with all kinds of visions and even those still trying to discover their passion.

So how do you find your passion, which is something that should excite and motivate you to live it each day? Mario offers these eight tips:

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Oprah Winfrey and my happiness journal

Oprah Winfrey has encouraged me to keep a happiness journal. Image from Canburak via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

Oprah Winfrey has encouraged me to keep a happiness journal.
Image from Canburak via Flickr/CreativeCommons.

By Chanda Temple

I’ve always wondered why people kept journals. Sure, I used to write in a diary as a kid. But once I got to high school, I stopped. I no longer saw a need to write down my daily thoughts.

But after watching a 2007 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” today on a 2012 repeat of OWN TV’s “The Best of The Oprah Show,” I’m a believer in the power of the journal. I’ll be starting mine today. (more…)

11 ways to write good content for your blog

Keep your blog golden with good content. Image via Flicker/Creative Content.

Keep your blog golden with good content.
Image from Flicker/Creative Content via Kris Olin

By Chanda Temple 

I was on a WordCamp Birmingham panel today in downtown Birmingham, Ala. to talk about how to write creative content for a blog. Here are some things that have worked for me:

  • Write it down

When you get an idea, even if it wakes you up out of your sleep, write it down on paper. Sometimes, these are some of the best ideas or headlines for blog posts.

  • Everyone has a story

It’s left up to you to decide if their story is good enough to tell. I’ve written posts based on information from workshops, teleconferences, standing in the checkout line, trends, news, television shows, etc. Stories are out there. You just have to find them.

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I started a blog and this happened…

I'll be on a WordPress blogging panel on Aug. 16, 2014

Our handout for today’s session. So proud to be on a WordPress blogging panel with these fine folks today.

By Chanda Temple

In a few hours, I’ll be on a panel for a WordPress conference in Birmingham, Ala. to share thoughts on what I love: to write.

Writing is my passion. It’s what wakes me up in the morning and puts me down at night. So imagine my joy when I was invited to be on a blogging panel for WordCamp Birmingham, a workshop packed with tips for beginner and advanced bloggers, designers and developers. For an all-day conference that’s only $20 and also comes with a lunch, it’s the Deal of the Day.

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