Hello to all! It has been awhile since I posted to my blog but this post is special to me and I hope others will be inspired by it. Today, May 18th, 2024 marks the 5th anniversary since I started on my plant-based journey. Yes, that means FIVE YEARS of no meat, no dairy, no eggs and 5 years of none of my wife's red beans and rice and classic spaghetti, my mom's gumbo and sweet potato pie, and other staples of the first 49 years of my life. It also meant no fried chicken strips from Ezell's, no Jones's BBQ, no teriyaki, no burgers from Dick's. You get it! I mention all of this to just highlight that it has not been easy and there are times I may crave fried chicken, a nice steak, or a juicy burger. But I resolved in my heart to to forge ahead on this path because it literally SAVED MY LIFE! So yes, May 18th is a special day for me. There have been struggles and setbacks but I am proud to say I have never touched meat, dairy, or eggs from day one. In the process of exploring the world of veganism and particularly, whole food plant based eating, I have learned so much about myself and the lifestyle. I have lost 85 lbs but it has come with many challenges. Over the last two months I did a 60-day personal challenge as I looked forward to my anniversary. Over the next few weeks I will share details of what that entailed as well as other things I have gleaned over the last 5 years. Stay tuned!

There is absolutely no question that a plant-based diet and lifestyle has captured the minds and hearts of people everywhere. Whether it's for health reasons, for ethical reasons, or just a change from the ordinary, adopting a plant-based lifestyle is certainly a popular trend right now. But for those who truly see the amazing benefits it is definitely not just a trend. They recognize the tremendous impact it can have on one not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Because of this many have made the decision to embark on the journey; they are in it for the long haul! Perhaps you also have made a conscientious decision to do the same. But are you ready? What does going plant-based really mean? In essence a plant-based diet involves centering your meal choices around plants, plant centric as it were. What do we mean by plants? That would include vegetables, fruits, legumes (i.e. lentils, beans, chickpeas, peas), tubers (i.e. potatoes, yams), root vegetables (i.e. carrots, beets), nuts, and seeds. Particularly, you should strive to have at least half your plate consist of vegetables especially green veggies like kale, collards. or broccoli. Now here at PREAM Nutrition, we emphasize a no meat, no eggs, no dairy diet. In other words, nothing with a mother as Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn would say. Because of this some would label that veganism and it's true sometimes the terms could be interchangeable. We will address that in a later blog, but suffice to say a plant-based diet may allow for meat, processed foods, fried foods , etc... However, if your goal is optimal health as you travel on this journey, you will definitely want to consider avoiding meat altogether as well as processed foods, and what some would term vegan junk foods (do you hear me Doritos and Oreo cookies?) Other obvious factors in this journey are your goals. Are you trying to lose weight? Do you want to prevent or perhaps reverse certain health conditions? Is your aim to lower your carbon footprint? Whatever your goals are, they should be clearly stated so you can keep them in focus as you pursue this plant-based adventure. Having support along the way is paramount to success as well and PREAM Nutrition is here to travel with you, support you, and guide you along the way! So are you ready for this plant-based journey? Take it one step at a time, one day at a time, brace yourself for the inevitable challenges along the way, and you can be sure of reaching your destination and finding success!

Good morning to all! In my last post I shared one of the key components to success from Rene Faulcon, the principal of the Nfluence Group. That first tip was the need for CONTINUOUS LEARNING and education. And not just general learning or knowledge, but practical and relevant learning that has a direct correlation to one's stated goals and objectives. Very valuable! But let's discuss his second key component - BEING OBSERVANT. "Being observant is key" Rene says. "That means observing the state, growth, progress of individuals you model your life after. It also means monitoring the industries, competitors and trends which are of strategic significance to your business objectives. Know whether the service/product you offer is viable, trending, waning, etc..." Excellent advice! Sometimes we can become so wholly focused on our own business, our own goals, and our own situation that we become blind to what's happening around us. Though it is important to give the proper attention and focus to what we're doing to help OUR business grow, by not observing what's going on around us, we could find ourselves missing out on valuable resources and help. We could find ourselves lagging behind or even becoming irrelevant. We could even end up being in. the "wrong lane" as it were, headed in the wrong direction. So being observant is a part of the foundation that has enabled Rene and Nfluence find success. Perhaps it will help you too as you seek to find success the right way! We will discuss two other important parts of that foundation in upcoming posts.

Nfluence Group is the brainchild of Rene and Rochelle Faulcon. They specialize in digital marketing, providing all the tools you need to catapult your business to greater heights and grow your sales and online presence. This includes website design, reputation management, graphic design, social media management, and SEO. Nfluence definitely is intent on helping businesses find success, but what are their keys to success? I talked to Rene Faulcon, principal of Nfluence Group and he shared some wonderful tips for success - Success the Nfluence Way. I will share a few points today and refer to other fascinating tidbits in future posts. Rene's "tips for success revolve around continuous learning, being observant, adaptable and decisive " Let's focus on that first key - continuous learning! What does that entail and how can it lead to success? Rene mentions that "this means that you are willing to read, watch videos, and take in a webinar, analyze your mistakes. Make sure what you are learning has a direct correlation to your stated goals and objectives. Don't waste your time ingesting every webinar, video, content forever. You will have an idea when you are done, when the messages begin to repeat, you can visualize the action steps on your own and you are able to internalize and differentiate between the best known execution strategies you are studying" Excellent advice! There is no doubt that one of the most important things you can do to achieve success in your chosen endeavor is consistent and purposeful professional development and self-enrichment. Continuous learning and education is a hallmark of those who are successful. We will examine other elements to what makes Nfluence successful in future posts. In the meantime, please check them out at www.nfluencegroup.com.

I LOVE basketball! And there's no doubt I will have future blog posts center on my passion for the sport. One of my favorite quotes comes from one of the greatest basketball minds that ever lived - the legendary UCLA coach, John Wooden. John Wooden has many sayings and quotes that I appreciate, but one in particular really resonates because it highlights the focus of my blog - SUCCESS! What is the definition of true success according to John Wooden? "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable." That is a fascinating quote! Why? Because you are learning what real success is from someone who was realistically more "successful' from a secular standpoint than most people could ever dream. And it had nothing to do with money, power. or fame. John Wooden was not successful because he won ten, yes TEN, NCAA basketball championships. He was not successful because he was national coach of the year numerous times. He was not successful because he has an award named after him. John Wooden was successful because of his high moral character, tremendous work ethic, and sincere desire to help others which enabled him to achieve his noteworthy accomplishments. He would be the first to tell you that those accolades, as great as they were, did not define what true success was for him. The feeling of accomplishment, doing your absolute best regardless of outcome, and the peace of mind gained was what was most important. So do not focus on the material, the financial, the fame, the glory...Pursue the things that really matter. Build strong character based on hard work ethic, being a good friend, displaying loyalty, showing a cooperative spirit, and exhibiting enthusiasm. Then you will have true success, success the John Wooden way.

In one's journey to success, an important aspect of this odyssey is professional development and personal growth. There are many layers to that as one would imagine, and over time we will discuss many. But one specific area I want to focus on briefly is public speaking. Most of us know that public speaking is one of man's greatest fears. Just the thought of it paralyzes individuals. Others may not truly appreciate the importance of it especially in the modern technology/internet age. But the reality is, developing solid public speaking and presentation skills is necessary if one wants to grow professionally and even advance in their career. It can also help you personally flourish and build admirable qualities. Is public speaking that valuable? Consider and reflect on just a few points. Just about everyone will have to engage in public speaking at some point. Understanding this and taking the opportunity to develop, improve, and practice this skill will give you advantage over others especially on the job but even when it comes to social situations. It will allow you to share your thoughts and passions with the world (or at least your friends and family). Everyone has something valuable to say or a story to tell that will benefit someone. If you are not effective at public speaking or general communication, how will you be able to do that? When it comes to your career specifically, public speaking is a verified career booster. Think about it, all other things being equal, if you prove yourself willing and able to take on speaking engagements, make presentations, engage clients, who do you think current or prospective employers will focus on and eventually promote or hire? Studies have shown public speaking and oral communication skills are one of the top relevant skills that can ensure secular success. One of the most essential qualities any of us can have in striving to succeed in any area of life is self-confidence! Learning how to effectively speak in public will build that confidence and enable you to overcome any fear or apprehension. Self-confidence is powerful and grows each time you are able to use your voice in a pur poseful way. T hese are just a few examples of just why public speaking is so important. Whether you are just learning to appreciate the value of this skill or have mastered the "art", continue to take the time to develop this vital component of professional and personal growth. It will serve you and those you talk to well!

Many of us have sayings, quotes, or words of wisdom that we adhere to, and they become a part of us, something we look to periodically to keep us focused, on task, and committed to our goals. As a youth I developed for myself the 4 D's of Success. It was nothing new or revolutionary, but just four qualities I viewed as absolutely necessary to achieve success in any area of life. Those four qualities are - DESIRE, DISCIPLINE, DEDICATION, and DETERMINATION Desire: A strong wishing or longing for; a craving for something that brings satisfaction or enrichment. Wanting something so bad that nothing within reason will get in your way. Feelings that impel you to the attainment of something that is within one's reach. Discipline: Training that is expected to produce moral or mental improvement. Controlling one's conduct to achieve a goal and improve one's self. Generally will involve self-control, a sharp focus on an end result, and perhaps denying one's self of certain pleasures. Dedication: A sense of strong, unwavering commitment. Being wholly devoted to a purpose and working toward that purpose with earnestness. Seriousness highlighted by fact that many times one is setting themselves apart for religious purposes. Determination: Strong resolve, being resolute or firm in one's purpose or pursuit. Involves having a "nothing can stop me" attitude and a fixed intention. Manifesting these traits has truly benefited me over the years in all phases off my life. I had to have a strong desire to succeed. I had to discipline myself to put in the work. I needed to dedicate myself to the cause as it were, sacrificing other interests to become successful. And I had to have a firm determination to do my best and be the best. There are so many wonderful qualities that will help you grow professionally and personally. Cultivating these four will help you on your journey to success!