2019 was supposed to be the year that I would be finally free.

Free of all the enemy's lies, fear, and unhealthy relationships that have hindered me from childhood until 42 years old. I thought I really was on a roll.

From January to June 2019, life was happening as usual, but July 2019 came along and the shift began. What was supposed to be my year of breaking free from bondage instead turned into pushing through.

In grief, it feels like joy, peace, and light will never be things that you will feel again.

I came to realize that time does not really heal all things, the pain just goes from feeling unbearable to manageable. You get to a place where you maybe only cry only 10 hours of the day instead of 18. 

With every special occasion it does not feel like your heart is being ripped out of your chest because there is no one to call to wish Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, or say I Love You -  just because. You can give a half smile without your lip trembling when people ask "How Are You Doing?".

Come August there were more home-goings, diagnoses of terminal illnesses, mental health issues, wayward children....I think you get the point. Nothing prepared me though for how August 26, 2019 would (and still) bring the shift full circle.

My house has become the only place I feel safe. The usual Tovey Blake Bounce Back has not happened.
I initially was so angry - felt like such a failure in both my professional and personal life.

I have been counting down to see January 1, 2020 for some time. If you are reading this, this means -  made it (literally took my hands off the laptop to put both them up in victory). My first thoughts of 2020:

• I AM feeling loved, blessed, bold, hopeful, grateful that I will make a difference in someone's life that is reading this and throughout all of 2020.
• I AM aligning my thoughts to match my desires that I am more than worthy of receiving in my personal and professional life.
• I AM walking into the best year of my life of healing, success, love, safety, trust, and healthy relationships.

​Thank you Jesus for showing your continued mercy and loving me beyond measure. 

Happy New Year and God bless everyone. Let's get it!

​I really cannot believe that we are in the second last month of 2019.

​I hope everyone enjoyed the summer season with family, friends, traveling - really just doing things that you enjoyed and allowed you to #pauseandreset.

Last month in a Tovey Talks first, I decided to do a part 2-part blog series on interview mistakes & recommendations.

Although I wrote this with employees/employer in mind, for my freelancers these same recommendations should be considered when trying to secure that deal with a potential client. Here are the remaining 2. Enjoy!

​Mistake #4
Speaking Negatively About An Employer

​Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
 
Out of all the mistakes & recommendations, I know this one can be the most challenging especially when you sincerely have had nightmare employer and/or employment experiences, but I promise you have nothing to gain professionally or personally by going down the route of negativity.

​Fast Company shared 5 level-headed recommendations on how to bring up a nightmare boss during an interview.
 
1. Be Honest (Within Reason)
When asked about a bad employer, you should be honest, but not go overboard. No one can realistically have the expectation that a potential candidate will only have positive employer experiences and there is nothing wrong with talking about it in an objective, non-emotional way.
 
2. Avoid Giving Unnecessary Information
When you find yourself in a situation where you feel you were overlooked for a promotion, an immediate reaction could be to criticize the successful candidate. Instead of looking bitter and immature, focus on the fact that you are seeking to find a new challenge that may exist elsewhere.
 
3. Turn the Negative Into a Positive
I have a saying “it is only a mistake if you don’t learn from it”. Although at the time it may not’ feel like it, every bad job experience led me to me making the decision in 2015 to start building my own virtual empire. The convenience of building my life around work and not the other way around, has allowed me to be with elderly mother on the other side of Canada, that has limited mobility due to Osteoarthritis. anytime I want. #blessed
 
4. Remember What You Enjoyed
The reasons why I stayed in positions that were not fulfilling and/or with disreputable companies as long as I did was because I genuinely enjoyed my co-workers and the transferable knowledge I was gaining. Although there was many days I did not feel valued, I just focused on developing mutually beneficial working relationships and positively contributing to the work environment. It was this attitude that I have been able to have the opportunity to call on the same references when needed for over 10+ years now.
​
5. Say What You’re Looking for Instead
Rarely are people only looking for the exact same job with a new boss. Instead of saying what you are looking for express what you hope to get out of a new job. For example, mentioning, a desire for more responsibility, a structured schedule, or a better opportunity for advancement. These are all ways to mention negative problems, but show you are looking for solutions.

If you enjoyed this series and want to see more, send me a Facebook post on my page and share with me some other topics you would like to me to do a series on.

I would love the opportunity to fellowship with you.  For a free consultation to discuss your career needs, please book your appointment here.

No one likes failure or rejection, but the reality for most of us is that we have to work hard to get what we or get to where you want to go professionally and personally.

In a Tovey Talks FIRST, this will be a 2-part blog series.

So on that note let us get into the reason I am here: to encourage you to put in the work to get the job you want by highlighting the 4 top interview mistakes & recommendations. So the first two on my list.

When you interview for a job, it is imperative to look professional and polished, no matter what the company. Always do your best to match their corporate culture so you look like you will fit in.

​Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts:

Here are Key clothing items you should have your in your closet for interviews.

• 1-Blazer
• 1-Cardigan
• 1-Blouse (Solid Color or White)
• 1-Pant
• 1-Skirt (knee length)
• 1-Dress
• 1-Pair of Dress Shoes (Dark, 1-2 inch flats)

I hope you have found Part 1: One Chance to Make a First Impression: 4 Top Interview Mistakes & Recommendations useful.

​Please join me next month  as I share the rest of my interview mistakes and recommendations.

In the meantime, I would love the opportunity to fellowship with you. For a free consultation to discuss your career needs, please book your appointment here.

This was not the original post I had planned for this month - and I was contemplating if I should even post anything for this month because it was considered "late". When I thought about it that was the exact reason I needed to post. 

If we all wait until the timing is right to do things, we will watch life pass us by. This is what I have done most of my life, stood still holding a bag of excuses. In the last few weeks I have learned harshly there are no guarantees in life and in business.

I definitely could have done without them, but as with everything I reflect on these lessons, pray and mediate on them listening for God's whisper of comfort and wisdom. So in this season of no guarantees what have I learned:

1. Forgive. The people we love the most will hurt us, accidentally and unfortunately intentionally. We must choose forgiveness instead of letting bitterness and resentment consume us.
   
   
2. Press On. Sometimes the pain can feel crippling, like the tears will not stop flowing. But believe me when I tell you out of the brokenness beauty is to come. Press in to God's promises, but keep pressing on at your OWN pace, as long as you keep moving forward.
   
   
3. Gratitude. If you are reading this, please stop and pause and complete the sentence "I am grateful for...".  I have found myself doing this frequently throughout the day so you I don't get bogged down by the frustrations of my work day and right now my grief.
   
   

I could probably add so much more, but instead I would love to hear from you about what you have learned in your season of no guarantees.

Please share in the comments below or head over to my Facebook page and fellowship with me there.

I am grateful for you taking the time today to read this.

Have a blessed day!

When I started my virtual business (Admin & HR Solutions) in March 2015, I had just left my full-time employer after almost 5 years. Being a young mom I have always worked more than one job.  At the time I had a casual position providing evening administrative support for a multinational courier delivery services company. 

With me starting a new job I no longer wanted to physically leave one job from the next. It was about 2 weeks after I started my new full-time position I woke up one morning thinking about how to supplement my income. Since I graduated from my Northern Alberta Institute of Alberta in (you didn’t think I was going to age myself id you, come on now, lol) I wrote resumes and various career advice for friends & family. I thought this would be a great way to make the additional income I needed and not have to leave my home. I literally started to create a post  on Kiiji, when i heard a voice clear as day say to me saying to me “bigger” - the next thing I knew I was applying for a business license.

Everyone’s story is going to be different, but I am here to tell you that any growth I have had has not been overnight. Building a business (virtual or brick & mortar) requires commitment and patience. Success will not come overnight #realtalk. In this month’s feature of Tovey Talks, I want to share how I have progressively grown my business since its inception in 2015.

1. Know My Why
The reality is children are not like most plants, they need more than water to live, so me being able to provide for my daughter up until the last year or 2 was the main reason why always needed to have more than one stream of income. In  2019, my "why" has expanded and now include:

• Aging parents that live on the other side of Canada.
• No stability and loyalty in the corporate sector.
• To be the “The virtual source of inspiration for individuals and businesses to live and work with purpose, passion, and freedom to serve the community."
  
•  And really the most important of all: It’s the calling that God has put on my heart; this is my Ministry.


2. Business Coach & Battle Buddy (Accountability Partner)
Jeff Rose a Certified Financial Planner, Author, Blogger, and Iraqi Combat Veteran recently shared in order to achieve millionaire status you must have 5 key people your life:

1. Business Coach
2. Mentor
3. Sherpa (pronounced shur·puh)
4. Battle Buddy (or Accountability Partner).
5. Mastermind Group

In my journey so far, I have been blessed to partner with 2 of the key people Mr. Rose identifies: a Business Coach and Battle Buddy (or what I prefer to call Accountability Partner).  The best way I can summarize how each of them support me with their own gifts is:

My Battle Buddy (Accountability Partner) is the person that I am going to share my ALL my ideas (the good and the ones that we both cringe at and sometimes end up on the floor laughing about because they well just suck). My Business Coach is the person that I go to help me “work” that idea (make it a reality).

Together, they both make sure that the actions that I am taking are ALWAYS linked to my “why”. My goal by the end of the year is to add an in-person mentor to my support network.

3. In God’s Timing
As a business owner, no doubt risk is required, but anytime I have ignored that uncomfortable (most of the time nauseating) feeling in my Spirit and decided my timing was best - the outcome has been adverse. 

I have learned that in every decision (personal and professional) that I present it in prayer and wait for God’s timing to confirm if it is something that is really meant for me to pursue.

I am grateful that the outcomes of those lessons, were not irreversible. I call them lessons, not mistakes because I learned from them. As they say, when you know better you do better.

I would love the opportunity to fellowship with you. For a free consultation to discuss your business needs, please book your appointment here. 
 
You can also visit our website www.abovealladmin.ca and review our packages. If you have further questions, fill out our contact form give us a call at 1-844-824-9103.