The Power of Nothing!

Too often we chase down the people we think will get us to the place of fulfilling our dream and we lose sight of the dream.  We let the inactivity of others invest in our own secret desire to give up and give in.  Even if we are 99% invested in the pursuit of our dream and the success of our vision, that 1% can demolish it all – if we allow it. 

We, the community, can sit and blame the higher-ups for what they are not doing.  Our anger is justifiable.  We, the community, can bang on the office doors, send emails, and chant outside the buildings of governing bodies demanding aid and solace, as we should.  There comes a point where we must accept the blame for the nothing that is happening and attribute some of it to our own investment in nothingness.

Every one of us has the same opportunity to be an advocate for a cause.  If the cause you want to fight for is as local as your own household, fight for that cause.  Doing nothing, while blaming others for doing nothing, increases the power of nothing.  Conversely, seeing a need and doing nothing to address that need is inexcusable. You are not allowed to use the inactivity of others as your own excuse for inactivity.  Doing nothing is contagious.  Nothingness breeds and grows and festers leaving a community sick and distraught. Do something!  Make an impact! Understand that everything you do has a rippling effect on the community.  Someone is always watching.  Someone aspires to be like you.  Someone is watching you give up or refuse to give in.  Doing nothing is doing something.

The Power of Nothing!

Tonisha “Ms. Toni” Pinckney ©June 7, 2011

My voice called out to you, begging

Your ears heard the intensity in every vibrating syllable

Yet you did nothing

You looked in my eyes, gave me a smile

And did nothing

I am not the forgotten,

I am the ignored

You saw me in need of empowerment

You saw I was undereducated

Yet you did nothing

I could see the lack of concern in your eyes

I could hear your dismissive words

I asked for nothing

You gave me a firm handshake and a promise to return

You have me a fleeting moment of hope

I chased you down as if you were my last chance

I peeped behind every corner of every dead-end

You continued to hide your talent in the highest places

Places I could not reach without your help

You did nothing

Like everyone before you,

I was left disappointed

The next step was unknown

So, I did nothing

You glanced over giving me a smile

I leapt up and ran to you

You smiled again

Realizing I was not the recipient

I turned and once again did nothing

You, seeing my dismay, did nothing

Two roads of nothingness converging

Productivity wasted

Intelligence set aside

I did nothing

You did nothing

We are the same!

 Remember doing nothing is a decision!

 

Tonisha “Ms. Toni” Pinckney is the Founder and CEO of I AM MORE, LLC. She is a speaker, author, and poet. Ms. Toni is also a forensic accountant, criminologist, and fraud examiner. She is available to speak on a host of topics relating to business and personal growth and relationships. Email: bookings@iammoreonline.com

Ms. Toni’s Book “I AM MORE-the Journey” can be purchased from major online retail outlets such as Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.  DOWNLOAD THE E-BOOK TODAY!

www.TONISHAPINCKNEY.com

saymore@iammoreonline.com 
FB: facebook.com/IAMMORE 
Twitter: @IAMMORE

NJ Gov. Christie Signs Bill Repealing Inmate Early Release Program

Governor Chris Christie signed a bill ending the early release inmate program implemented in January 2011.  The bill was enacted to release inmates, six-months early, who met certain criteria.  Since January, 363 inmates were released and 22 of those inmates were rearrested with 2 being charged for homicide.   That is approximately 6% recidivism rate. The challenge the State faces is whether those re-offenders are just the tip of the preverbal iceberg.

There are questions I would like to raise:

Q1)  What crimes were the offenders arrested for?  Some may say this does not matter, but indeed it does.  In order to fully judge the success or failure of the early release program, we must understand which offenders had a higher rate of re-offending and whether the crimes were violent crimes.

Q2)  Did the economy have any thing to do with the offenses?  Releasing inmates into a society where the unemployment rate for African-Americans is at 16% and the overall jobless rate is approximately 8.5% should be done with the expectation that some would commit crimes.  UNLESS proper re-entry services were in place to facilitate a stable economic, living, and/or family environment.

Q3) Is five months enough time?  The program lasted from January to May 9, 2011.  Ending the program is said to be necessary in order to protect the citizens of New Jersey.

Q4) Is this rate of new offenses or re-offenses comparable to the crime rate in the State? 

Q5)  What is the ethnicity of the inmates released?  What are the ages of the inmates? 

MOST IMPORTANTLY – What is the impact of both decisions on the victims (pre- and post-early release)?

Reading articles and following this on the news, I am not seeing enough information for the public to make an accurate appraisal of whether or not the program was successful.  Yes, I agree that if the inmates were not release the two homicides would not have happened.  I also agree that crime is a problem in New Jersey which should not be addressed lightly nor overlooked.  However, the fairness of the imposition on the law must be called into question.

When a plan is implemented with the expectation of failure…it will more than likely fail.  If a plan is implemented in order to trade safety to increase expendable state income (by no longer paying for the imprisonment of inmates)…the plan would likely fail.  If inmates are release and cast into a struggling society with no support and a stamp saying “convict” on their forehead…they will likely re-offend. 

I am not offering an excuse for those that chose to re-enter a life of crime when given a second chance.  On the contrary, I feel those who wasted the opportunity should serve the full original sentence as well as the additional sentence for the crime they committed.  I am questioning whether or not Gov. Christie, the criminal justice system of New Jersey, and all other “powers that be” within the state gave the inmates the chance they deserved.  Or, was this a political power play with people’s lives? I am sure much thought was given to the initial decision to implement the releases and the decision to repeal.  I question what the logic involved in the thought process.  Release from jail or prison should be done on a case-by-case basis.  A blanket release is asking for trouble.  

Articles to read:

March Press Release on Gov. Christie’s Website

NJ.com Christie signs bill ending early release of inmates

NJ.com Republican Lawmakers ask for repeal

Daily Journey article covering repeal

Tonisha “Ms. Toni” Pinckney, CFE, CFFA, MSCJ (I AM MORE, LLC) is an empowerment speaker, author, forensic accountant, and criminologist. She has a B.S. in Accounting, a M.S. in Criminal Justice, and a post-graduate Certificate in Forensic Criminology. Ms. Toni is passionate about giving steps necessary for success starting with the mantra: “You are no longer a product of your past; you are a facilitator of your future!” She is also passionate about victim rights, juvenile justice, effective restorative justice.  Email her: saymore@iammoreonline.com. Follow her: Twitter @IAMMORE. Website: www.tonishapinckney.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMMORE  www.facebook.com/Revelatus

Are You a Social Networking ‘Jack of All Trades”?

In an effort to establish a name or image, it is possible to cast an unfavorable light on your image and your brand.  Let’s use Facebook pages for this exercise.  Facebook is a great tool for exposing your skill set and brand to those who would ordinarily be outside of your marketing reach.  But, what are you showing them?  Beware of being the “jack of all trades and the master of none”.  Your audience needs to understand exactly who you are and what you are presenting to them. 

Here are a few things to ponder when it comes to your online image:

DO NOT have Facebook pages for ever idea or skill set.  This could confuse your audience.  On lookers could also get the feeling you are desperately seeking attention.  The abundance of unnecessary pages does not add credibility. It instead subtracts from it.

DO combine pages with similar topics, but have few people who ‘like’ them independently.  In this case make sure you tell each page the reason for the consolidation.  Work on building up one page.  You will be better able to supply consistent and useful information.

DO NOT inundate multiple pages with the same information.  If you are distributing the same information to multiple pages then you need to decide on one of two options: (1) consolidate the pages or (2) create credible, noteworthy, unique content for each page.

DO create a page for each business you are branding.  If you have two or more businesses, each having a unique brand and product or service, you should have a separate page for each. People will gravitate to a page for specific reasons.  Giving too much information on a page which cannot be logically (and quickly) linked could lead to a confused audience.

DO NOT leave any of your pages inactive for too long.  If you have a page which is less active, be sure to check in and remind the audience why you exist.  Give them information or motivation. 

DO advertise your social networking links, profiles, and urls on all of your marketing tools, email signatures, and printed materials.

These are but a few I have noticed.  However, I know there are more.  The worst thing to do is to confuse or annoy your audience.  I am not by any means a social media guru.  These are my observations based on personal experience and on conversation with others. Before thinking growth, think quality!

Tonisha “Ms. Toni” Pinckney, CFE, CFFA, MSCJ (I AM MORE, LLC) is an empowerment speaker, author, forensic accountant, and criminologist. She has a B.S. in Accounting, a M.S. in Criminal Justice, and a post-graduate Certificate in Forensic Criminology. Ms. Toni is passionate about giving steps necessary for success starting with the mantra: “You are no longer a product of your past; you are a facilitator of your future!” She is also passionate about victim rights, juvenile justice, effective restorative justice.  Email her: saymore@iammoreonline.com. Follow her: Twitter @IAMMORE. Website: www.tonishapinckney.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMMORE  www.facebook.com/Revelatus

Death of Osama Bin Laden: Justice for 9/11 Families and Survivors

President Barack Obama announced Sunday, May 1, 2011 that Osama Bin Laden was indeed killed by United States forces.  Finally, many families can feel they get justice and closure for the September 11, 2001 attacks.  This is truly “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”!

Tonight the hearts of the American people are overwhelmed with pride and gratitude toward those in the US Armed Forces.  That day in 2001 was never forgotten.  Like many who lost their loved ones to local violent crimes, healing commences when justice is served. Celebrate the troops everyday not just on federally designated days.

As Americans heal, they should not forget the pain that lead to the triumph.  They should not forget how they feel at this moment – SOLIDARITY.  United States leaders should carry this spirit of unity to the voting floor when deciding on Medicare, victim Rights, levels of unemployment, taxation, criminal justice, assistance for the mentally ill and their families, and all the other issues the American people are facing. 

Just as American will never forget the tragedy of 9/11, never forget the US Troops who fight everyday in every way for “freedom, justice, and liberty for all”.  The citizens of the United States must remember their strength and their power.  That same strength and power can be used to help the ailing, impoverished, abandoned, and uneducated right on their own soil. 


Nicole Simpson, author of the forth coming book "09/11/01 A Long Road Toward Recovery", says "The death of Osama Bin Laden is a clear reminder of the continual sacrifice of our military and their families to provide a safe haven for all Americans. Today, as we near the ten year anniversary of that fateful day, survivors across the great country of the United States of American can truly begin to heal as a nation." Herself a survivor, she has proven that her strength is in God and her faith will not waiver.  She will not live in terror, but live in faith!

There is no challenge more important than to utilize their memory as a guide leading them to greater greatness.  President Obama stood before the American people confirming the pride of a great nation.  To follow the lead of the President of the United States, the American people should look forward to a strong future.  Tonisha Pinckney says, “You are no longer a product of your past. You are a facilitator of your future.”  As this door to the past squeaks closed, the American people do not have to carry the burden and title of a nation victimized.  They are survivors!  They are pushing forever forward to facilitate a great future!  May God continue to bless America! American can truly say “I AM MORE!”

Dr. King's Dream: Your Responsibility!

Dreams are the pregnant women from which our visions and later our new realities are birthed.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. eloquently spoke of his dream.  He spoke of the dream he had for his children, for this nation.  Unfortunately, just like Joseph in the Bible, his life met tragedy when Dr. King shared his vision with the world.  He was free to dream.  He dreamed of freedom. Dr. King said, “If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.” His dream was to free the people of this nation (or every color, race, and creed) from the ever expanding prison of hatred. 

Dr. King’s dream not only limited to what he desire for his children and other African-Americans in this country.  He desired the liberation of the groups of White Americans enslaved by bigotry, prejudice, and unhealthy bias.  That desire was armed with the acknowledgement that not all White Americans were working in the spirit of hatred. The pledge of allegiance is recited in every school, sporting, and government event in the US. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” Dr. King dreamt of the day when every American (Black, White, Latino, or other) could put their hand over their heart and not recite a lie.  His dream was that America would one day be comprised of truly UNITED states. As minister, his prayer was for us as a nation to stand together under God, His love, and His laws. Dr. King dreamt that this country would no longer allow issues of prejudice and hatred to divide us, but that we would stand indivisible as a show of strength, progress, and power to the world.  Furthermore, Dr. King had a dream that freedom and justice would truly be for and apply to ALL in equal measure.

Today, we have an African-American (Black) president, President Barack Obama.  Some say Dr. King’s dream was realized. I strongly disagree.  Portions of his dream did become a reality.  The blatant hatred and prejudice no longer exists in the same manner as it pre-King’s assassination.  There must still be a fight.  The struggle still exists.  Today, if fighting to expand our freedoms and squash injustices,we must fight against our own complacency. We must not accept the freedoms granted as the only freedoms available.  As long as black juveniles are incarcerated at a higher rate than children of other races, the dream has not been fully realized.  As long as the economy is forcing the African-American community in to what could be called a socio-economic depression while the overall economy is strengthening, the dream has not been fully realized.  As long as our jails and prisons have more “baby-daddies” than babies on the streets have daddies, the dream has not been fully realized. As long as WE (as African/Black-Americans) continue to blame solely the white man for our plight, the dream has not been realized.

What are we fighting for?  Who are we fighting against?  Some of us voted for President Obama in 2008, but still did not learn the power of a single vote.  The 2010 mid-term elections showed  African-American turn out dropped 3%.  When reviewing articles and shows connected to CNN, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, CBSNews.com, and many others, the 3% drop was significant because in 2008 during the presidential election African American turnout was only 13%.  With 13% we participated in one of the most impactful changes in American History.  With a meager 10% voter turnout in 2010, we diluted that impact.

We as African-Americans will not fully realize Dr. King’s dream until we fully participate in what it will take to make the dream a reality.  We must take responsibility! His dream was not solely about buying power and executive-level job placement.  His dream was about quality of life.  We are in a better place than ever. However, do not become complacent.  Do not think that means we are where we could have been or where we should be. In previous blogs, I outlined some of my experiences with prejudice.  I also stand saying I refuse to let my reason for failure or stagnancy to serve as an excuse to fail or remain stagnant.   

My passions are entwined in the unjust aspects of the juvenile justice system and the lack of real criminal behavior modification within the criminal justice system.  By researching the disparities and eventually penning possible policy change, I consider myself one who is determined to bring us closer to the full realization of Dr. King’s dream.  As a mother of two young sons, I am training my children to live up to their greatest level of greatness, produce and recognize excellence, and obey the law while working to create change. 

What Dr. King wanted for his children was not something which would happen on its own.  Equality is the result of just the right amount of pull and tug – giving and resisting.  Dream your own dream!  It is your dream which may be the key to all of us seeing the full realization of Dr. King’s dream.  Dr. King had a dream.  You need to have a dream.  You need to pass on a legacy so your children can have a dream of their own!

Post your comments or email tpinckney@revelatusconsulting.com

New Year…New Reality!

Saying “I AM MORE” is saying: I will dream. I will know when it’s time to awaken from the dream. I will actively make the dream a reality. I will use my reality to invest in the dreams of another.

“This year will be different!  I am going to [fill in the blank]!”  I believe this is the conversation everyone has with themselves at the start of a new year.  The euphoria of the holidays has taken over, adrenaline is coursing through our veins from the excitement of a new year, some grasp dreams out of the claws of disappointment in the preceding year, and we truly believe all of our dreams will come true THIS year.  THIS year we will lose weight, save money, start a business, dedicate more time to servicing God, write a book, and be better mothers and wives. But, we forget, we felt the exact same way, this time last year.  According to our “resolutions”, we should all be rich, thin, spiritual warriors, with happy marriages and families.  For some that happened. For others something happened, or did not happen. The end of the year should not be a “let down”. 

Dreams are good!  When you are dreaming, you are analyzing (even experiencing) all the wants, desires, and “would be’s” in your life without experiencing the hard work it takes to bring those dreams to life.  Don’t let go of your dreams.  We have a tendency to allow our dreams to fade into the background. Dreams are and dreaming is very important.  Hold on to your dreams. But, there is a time to wake up and act!

This year, I urge you to have one focus, awaken from your dream state.   Be warned staying in one place dreaming means you are not in tune to timing. While you are dreaming, life is moving.  While you are planning, life is moving. While you are looking, you are overlooking the very tools you need to execute the plan and make that dream a reality.  It’s time to wake up!  Don’t worry about “resolutions” which you will break and subsequently disappoint yourself. 

This is a condensed 7-step call to action! (1)Instead write out your dreams/strong desires in detail.  Turn those dreams into written goals.  In order to reach a goal, you must be awake and aware – NO SLEEP WALKING INTO THE NEW YEAR! Stop operating in a dreamed reality.  It is important that you are in touch with where you are NOW.  Many will tell you to “walk it out” or “live as if it has already happened”.  This is good advice if you are in a financial, spiritual, and emotional place to do so.  Unfortunately, a lot of times our dreams are not fulfill because we lack what it takes to live out the dream. (2) So, identify who you need to be in order to be where you need to be! Make sure the reality you are living is actually reality – NO SLEEP WALKING. 

(3) Face the new beginning with vision and insight. A vision takes place while you are fully awake.  It is a spiritual experience in which you see something (are shown something) you would not have seen with your natural eye. Visions are not about seeing, but about seeing into! This year bring yourself closer to God so you can see your life through His eyes.  You need to vision and envision (in-vision) what direction you should go.  Once you have a vision, God will give you insight. You will then be able to see into whatever situation and will be ready for things to happen and unfold before your natural eyes. Again, you can’t see if you’re dreaming!

(4) Pace yourself as you work actively and realistically toward your goals. “[T]he race is not given to the swift.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) You do not need to get there fast, but you do need to reach the goal strong, wise, and ready for the next level.  In order to pace yourself, you need a plan. (5) Once you have turned you dreams into written goal, go back and write a REALISTIC and STRATEGIC plan.  This is not a dream plan.  Take into account your current finances, family members, job security, housing situation, relationship with God, and any other factor which could accelerate or halt change. Create a strategy which is focused on the goal, but fluid enough to withstand life’s inconsistencies. Strategically plan to make this year the foundation for the years to follow.  Live in a reality which feels like a dream not a dream which feels reality. 

Once you are awake, had your vision, have insight, can see the realities of where you are, took time to turn your dreams into goals, realistically and strategically planned, and thought of the future, it’s time to enjoy!  (6) Don’t be so busy work the plan that you forget to enjoy life.  Live life like it is the dream you wanted.  Live a grateful life and embrace abundance. (7) Finally, once you have achieved your greatest reality, invest in the dreams of another.  With these seven steps, you will have a great foundation for living 2011 in the ‘MORE’!

Tonisha M. Pinckney, CFE, CFFA, MSCJ

CEO of I AM MORE, LLC and Revelatus Specialized Accounting & Consulting

Email: tpinckney@revelatusconsulting.com 

FB: facebook.com/Revelatus

Twitter: @IAMMORE