The Tribune

DESIGNER 101

By TERI MONIQUE

I have never heard of anyone who gets paid to watch TV. So instead of watching TV or spending hours on Facebook you could be making gorgeous designer handbags or painting up a slew of ready-made clothing, shoes, bags and craft. Have you noticed recently that the folks making the movies are getting rich off of those who just want to sit in front of the television?

Those who have decided not to and are bent on using their time productively are generally the ones making steady advancements. You may not get rich overnight but you sure will be better off sharpening a skill and selling your wares rather than constantly being sold a non-productive story that takes you further away from your destiny.

Now once you get in the groove you may want to turn on the tube. But until you begin exercising some of your God-given abilities, your entertainment should be put on the shelf, if only for a season. I am all for a good belly laugh or a time to curl up on the sofa to watch a great, life-changing movie every now and then but not at the expense of my future.

You can learn, love and laugh all the way to the bank with your clever self if you really want to. You say you have tried and fallen flat on your face so many times that you have given up. Now being entertained is your lot in life.

Thankfully Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken did not give up after his many rejections. At the age of 65 he persisted with his idea of selling his chicken recipe. The Colonel was rejected 1009 times before he got his first yes. We get rejected a couple of times and quit. Walt Disney was turned down 302 times when he sought financing for his theme park. Now look at Disneyland; who would have thought?

Thomas Edison the man who is said to have invented the light bulb claimed not to view a failure as most folks do but saw it as another learning lesson to improve what he was working on. Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

You really haven’t failed yet have you? You are merely in the middle of another lesson on the road to your success. It is all in the way you look at your situation. There are usually at least two voices talking to you: one encouraging you to shake off the dust and keep moving; the other, well that is the crippling voice of doubt, fear and condemnation.

So move with the voice that celebrates you and pushes you closer to achieving your destiny dreams in life. Make a bag; paint a shirt; run the marathon; just get busy moving towards your dream. Now that is the picture you will get paid to watch, and you will be the star of your very own show.