Living the American Dream through Entrepreneurship

Everyone wants to live the American dream right? Get married, have beautiful children, a stable relatively high paying job, a beautiful roomy home with a pool in the backyard, work to the approximate age of 65 and then continue living happily off of a hefty 401K or savings during their retirement. The reality of the situation is that people go to school for 12+ years while only some of those people actually graduate with a diploma(or obtain a GED) and then only some of those are actually financially(or otherwise) able to attend college to, strive in a certain profession. Either way, At about age 20 we all start on something called the 45-year plan. The 45 year plan means that you work from age 20 to age 65 and for every 100 people that reach the age of 65; 1% are wealthy, 4% are financially fit, 5% are still working, 28% are dead and a whopping 62% are financially struggling. Now I'm not saying that just because someone is financially struggling at the age of 65, that they have been since the ago of 20, however, it is a huge possibility that IS the case. Also, can you even imagine that for every 100 people that reach the age of 65, 28% are dead... They didn't actually make it. Some things such as cancer, freak accidents, etc can happen and be part of this 28%, but some people actually die because their job or their line of work is actually killing them. High stress levels lead to lower immune systems which can lead to more health conditions and complications that can actually kill a person. This to me is simply unbelievable. How many people are between the ages of 20 and 65 either with jobs but still having to live paycheck to paycheck or even jobless? 

I'm 21 years old and I was let go from my most recent job as of Monday, July 22, 2013. For a few days after that I continued to put in applications for other jobs and looked into colleges and after that I said... No. I refuse to continue this life, this process, this vicious cycle. Why? Because I was sick of waking up everyday at a time I didn't want to, to go to a place I didn't want to be, to be with people I didn't want to be with, to do work I didn't want to do, to make money that would NEVER be enough...ALL to make someone else happy and successful. Today I proudly and happily stand as an entrepreneur; something I never thought I could be. I own my own Unfranchise Business and I'm an Independent Consultant for another amazing and fun company. I'm busier now than I have ever been since graduating high school in June 2010, but I also don't think I've been happier. I own MY time and it is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I've always aspired to help people and now I get to help people in so many different ways! Just one of my current long-term goals is to help others find themselves and help them get control of their own time, money, health and lives. 
There's something ever so empowering about being an entrepreneur/business owner... You can wake up when you choose to, work with people you love to be with, do work that you're passionate about, make your own hours and schedule, ultimately have the ability to earn an unlimited income and my favorite part is I still get to help people! Did I mention that I can work anywhere I want? I take it back... the fact that I can work anywhere I want, anytime I want are really my favorite parts! It's certainly not easy, but it sure is more than worth it already... Also, Instead of living in the 45 year plan, I'm living in the 2-3 year(or less) plan. I have the ability to earn a residual income so that by the time I'm 65 I can more than happily retire and still have 6-figures coming in per year!

Questions of the day: What would you change about your current life/lifestyle? Would you become an entrepreneur if given the opportunity, training, tools and all the support you could ever need? And lastly, If both the 45 year plan and 2-3 year plans both worked... Which would you choose?

Leave your answers in the comments below!


***Please remember to comment to let me know what you think and let me know what you'd like to see next!
***Don't forget to follow my blog to be notified whenever I post something new so you can stay updated!

Check out my health & fitness blog @ www.healthwithariel.blogspot.com (:

Stay Sassy, Stay Beautiful
xoxo


Photo compliments of www.vinyl-wall-decals.com 
45-Year Plan compliments of Market America

D R E A M B O A R D S

Everyone has a dream... What's YOUR dream? Got it? Good! It's time to make a dream board!

First, ask yourself why you have these goals and make it a point to incorporate that (as well as what you goal is) into your dream board. 

Second, make a list of quotes, pictures, just plain words and anything you can possibly think of to represent your goals.

Next, Find magazine clippings, pictures online, etc and gather them so they're ready to go when you are! You'll also need a poster board and glue, but you can add on any other things you like such as colorful . card stock cut into clouds or other shapes, multi-colored foam letters, stickers.... ANYTHING! Remember that this of YOUR dream board.

Lastly, Use the glue to attach the things you've gathered, bought or clipped onto your poster board. Be as creative as possible or only as creative as you'd like. The sky is really the limit with this one!

Dream boards are really important when setting goals and dreams to accomplish because you keep them in a place where you will see them every single day. You can look at it and feel proud that you've created it and it will help you remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing - which is to get to the ultimate goal of satisfaction and success at reaching and pursuing your dreams further each and everyday. 

My goal is to be more successful and happy than I ever thought possible while helping other people in the process.

I'm also going to share my "why" with you all today! So why exactly is this goal so important to me? Well I want to be an unfranchise business owner, so please tell me one person who does not agree with my reason of why...
I want to be an unfranchise business owner because I wake up everyday when I don't want to, to go to a place I don't want to go, to be with people I don't want to be with, to make money that will never be enough...all to make someone else happy and to make someone else's dreams come true.
Why shouldn't I be making my own dreams come true? Oh, that's right... I should be. Like most people, I never thought this was possible for me. I slacked off in high school because I was truthfully to lazy and I worked full-time from the end of my junior year, on. I didn't take my SAT's and I'm not in college because I cannot afford it right now and have no choice but to work full-time like so many other people I went to school with. Everyone wants a golden ticket to fall right smack into their laps giving them unlimited success and happiness am I right? Unfortunately, there's really no such thing. It's important to remember that anything that sounds like it's too good to be true, usually is. However, there is such a thing as a golden ticket, or a "way out" if you will. This type of golden ticket is given to someone to give them an opportunity to either take the ticket and run with it, or let it pass by waiting for another great thing to pass you by. Ask yourself this - What if you pass up the opportunity of a lifetime and begin waiting for another opportunity to pass you by, but it never does? Now you've wasted weeks, months, years waiting for something you think may be better that never presented itself and you could have had your dream car by now. 
Relatively recently I was graced by the presence of a woman named Natalie. Natalie has given me my  way out and it's time for me to stop complaining, take my chances and RUN LIKE THE WIND! Natalie has become not only a successful unfranchise business owner and my mentor but also my good friend. 

I will end this by saying that you need to make a dream board today. Not tomorrow...today! Make it alone or get some friends together for even more fun & inspiration . You won't reach your goals by putting this off another day because you're just too tired or you want to go to the club tonight with your friends. You can sleep and hang with friends once your goals have been met, and you can help your friends meet their goals in the process. 
Also, if you have multiple goals/dreams then just make two dream boards or incorporate them into one! I personally will have one for my business goals and one for my weight loss goals even though they tie into each other at some points. 

Don't let another golden ticket pass you by because Willy Wonka may never open his factory again... 
;)

xoxo

As always, please be sure to follow this page as well as my health & fitness blog at www.healthwithariel.blogspot.com for more great posts, tips and inspiration!

Abercrombie RANT & my top clothing store picks!

I remember saying in a previous post that I had heard about the head guy of a store like Hollister saying that he only wants cool, attractive people in the stores clothes. He also said that they don't make plus sizes because plus size=fat="un-cool".

 I finally found the picture & quote from the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mr. Michael Jeffries (Google him). 

The fact that he can say that Abercrombie and Fitch doesn't carry over a size 10 because anyone over a size 10 doesn't belong in their clothes, is extremely BALLSY! The picture above him is a real picture of him with the quote he said when asked the question. He also has the audacity to say that Abercrombie & Fitch is "exclusionary". As far as I'm concerned they can be as exclusionary as they want... How many stars and celebrities do you see wearing Abercrombie and Fitch? NONE. Looks like they're pretty exclusionary too. Even if I ever was thin enough to fit into these clothes, I wouldn't ever wear them after hearing this reply. I have much more respect for the companies that cater to ALL sizes and making sure that they provide a pretty decent variety of trendy, stylish and flattering clothing for everyone. 

I've done a little research by looking on different websites of common stores and finding out what companies offer plus sizes, even if they have to be ordered online.

THUMBS UP!

American Eagle: I was super surprised about this one but I have to say a good job to American Eagle for this one! Women's shirts go up to a size XXL and pants/shorts go up to a size 18!

Old Navy: I've known about this for quite some time because quite a few of my clothes actually come from here but they have an exclusive "Women's Plus" section on their website that has sizes ranging from 18-30!

Forever 21: Not really a surprise here, this store has been pretty great straight from the get-go as far as sizes & pricing! Online has a special tab for women's plus with shirts up to a size 3X, pants up to a size 20 & even boots (with a wide calf option) up to size 12!

H&M: Not sure about in-stores, but the online site has an H&M Plus section. Not a huge variety as of the moment, but it passes for me still giving options up to size 24. They have great options for business casual tops as well.

Alloy: A completely new find for me, but looks like it's going to turn into a favorite real soon! Great clothes and great size variety - One shirt I looked at went from a size XS to a size XXXL, WOW!

B&Lu.com: Another new find here - seems to have a decent variety of clothing which happens to be stylish and trendy. They cater to sizes anywhere from 12-30! 

Ashley Stewart: Feel like I'm repeating myself.... But here's another new find! Turns out the closest one to me is almost 2 hours away which is probably why I haven't found it yet, but the online store looks like it has super cute and super sassy clothes for any occasion! They have sizes 12-26 and all of their clothes online are modeled on proper plus size models... Love it!

Lane Bryant & Torrid: Not necessarily catering to all sizes but definitely catering to my bigger ladies out there! Two completely different stores with completely different styles. I happen to absolutely LOVE both stores! The prices are not the greatest but your definitely paying for quality either way here! If you haven't already - you've gotta check these out!

THUMBS DOWN!

Wet Seal has a Jr.Plus section to their website which is said to be available in select stores right now... I just don't feel as though it's a great selection. This one's gonna be a thumbs down for me... Although I did get a pair of killer heels there one time!

Hollister didn't make the cut and is currently right up there with Abercrombie & Fitch in my mind.  Hollister only has up to the following sizes for: Women - Shirts: L ; Bras: 36(D) ; Bottoms: 9!

Men - Shirts: XXL and Pants: 36x34

Clearly I'm more impressed with the Men's sizes here, but it doesn't take away from the fact that girls are given an image that they should be looking like the anorexic runway models... Get f****** real here.....

Urban Outfitters: Just another disappointment when it comes to a variety of sizes...

You will get to your goal weight eventually... But as I always say it WILL NOT happen overnight. So while you're transforming definitely check out some of my thumbs up shops!<3

So I hope you enjoyed this & I truly hope it helps you out some, because I know that aside from shoe shopping, clothes shopping is probably my least favorite thing to do!

Let me know how you liked it and also what your opinions on any of these stores are if you've ever been to them! 

If you have any other stores that you like and I haven't listed... Help a girl out & post it in the comments below(:

As always,

xoxo

Somebody help a B**** out?

GET TO KNOW ME [TAG!] VIDEO(:

Hey guys! I just realized I never formally introduced myself or told you guys anything about who I am! Shame on me... I know!

My name is Ariel Madison and I'm from a relatively small town of Massachusetts(USA) called Southbridge. I'm 21 years old and work full-time in a doctor's office. I love shopping, swimming, bowling, YouTube, music, NCIS, Law & Order, hanging out with friends or family, dancing and well... the list goes on! My favorite colors are pink, purple, yellow and lime green. I've been cutting and coloring my own hair for the past 5 years or so and recently taught myself how to do acrylic and gel nails on myself with cute designs. I love beauty, hair, make-up and fashion and hope to someday soon start a blog about those things too, but right now I need to focus on what's more important to me! I'm the biggest procrastinator you'll ever meet and I swear like a trucker. I've had a rough life so far but each new day I'm starting to see more positives than negatives. I have a huge heart and I'm completely obsessed with Jeeps. BTW - I'm extremely random. ;)

The reason I really decided to post something like this was because I feel like you guys should be able to have a picture in your mind of who's "talking" to you while you're reading my posts. Also, I want you to know that I'm not some skinny mini sitting behind a computer giving advice making it sound a lot easier than it actually is... Nothing irks me more than seeing someone who's never been overweight and has never had a problem with food/weight/health try to tell me what's going to work for me. I don't think so! Haha I'm a real woman with real problems. I currently stand 5 feet and 7 inches tall and weigh 256 pounds. Do I look like it? I think so. Although I have all this knowledge about health and fitness, I've struggled with weight my whole life and I want you to know that I'll be losing weight, changing my lifestyle and living healthy right along side of you. I've already really taken a loving to this new blogging experience... ALL day while I was at work all I could think about was, When can I go home so I can blog? I want to help you and myself in this journey. I can tell you upfront it won't be easy, but I can guarantee you it'll be worth it. Maybe health and fitness will become a career for me when I reach my goal... Maybe I'll write a book based on my blog... Who knows what the future holds! But I do know the future is in MY hands - no one else's. The same goes for you... You're future is in YOUR hands and certainly not the hands of the doctor doing a life changing stomach stapling surgery on you or on a pill that claims to "shed 10 pounds in one week". If you want to lose 10 pounds in one week you better be willing to work damn hard for it! Just know that I'll be here to help and support you the whole way, no matter what life throws at you! I know financial situations aren't easy, I know it's not easy to change your life and I sure as hell know that it's not easy to lose weight! As I said before...our time is now. If you're given the tools, the support and the resources you're left with NO excuses. You're looking for a chance and I'm giving it to you. If you don't take advantage of an opportunity like this because of whatever excuse you're going to come up with then your always going to have an excuse and you're going to have another excuse when your 68 years old on your death bed with heart failure because you decided that "today wasn't a good day". I'm not saying that heart failure and worse things can't happen to people who are healthy but there's certainly much less of a risk. Call me a bitch, call me rude, call me pushy.... I just want to help as many people as I can INCLUDING myself. About 6 years ago I watched my 500 pound grandfather go into the gastric bypass surgery with insulin dependent diabetes and it took him days to walk again after that. Shortly after that surgery my grandfather was maintaining at about 250 pounds with next to no diabetes and no insulin. I was so proud! October 15, 2012 I lost my 68 year old grandfather to heart failure because he didn't care and he waited to long to take action and he put off a valve replacement surgery for years. I don't want you to go through the same. I want you to beat the odds! Hell, I want to beat the odds! The obesity rate in the US(and other parts of the world) is climbing because we're letting companies push their foods on us because they taste so good.. You know what I think will taste good? Pure success and satisfaction knowing that I changed my life for the better and I did it MY way. 

If you have ANY questions feel free to leave them in the comments or if you're not comfortable with that you can e-mail me @ AJMadison10@gmail.com (Put "Healthy" as the subject) and I will get back to you ASAP! (: Let me help you, help me, help you!

As always,

xoxo

Get to know me! (TAG)

Hey guys!(: So in honor of Day 1 of my 30-Days of Blogging Challenge I figured another nice thing would be do to the ever popular "Get to know me" tag that so many people have done on their own blogs as well as in their YouTube videos. Here goes nothing! ;)

1. Are you named after anyone? For those that don't know, my name is Ariel(: I AM actually named after Ariel from the legendary Disney movie, "The Little Mermaid".

2. When was the last time you cried? I honestly can't remember, but if I had to guess I'd say about 3 weeks or so ago?

3. Do you have kids? No, but can't wait to have some someday!

4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself? 

Haha. I like to think so! It'd be pretty bad if I said no...

5. Do you use sarcasm a lot? More than I probably should… But I definitely know when to tone it down and be serious.

6. Will you ever bungee-jump? Something about jumping off a bridge leaving my life in the hands of some type of stretchy rope doesn't really settle well with me. I'd rather go sky diving. lol

7. What’s your favorite cereal? I wish I could remember the name! It's basically a gluten free & organic version of rice krispies. SO good!

8. What’s the first thing you notice about people? I'm an eye person. I will generally notice someone's eyes before anything else. Unless it's a girl wearing some killer heels (:

9. What is your eye colour? Blue. It's like looking into an ocean. And I'm a mermaid so that makes sense to me!

10. Scary movie or happy endings? I love both but there's nothing like a tear-jerking happy ending!

11. Favorite smells? Almond and or coconut scented things. The smell after a good rainfall, dryer sheets/clean linen and the smell of my grandmothers homemade spaghetti sauce simmering for hours around Christmas time… which reminds me that I also love the smell of peppermint.

12. Summer or winter? FALL<3 When it's just the right temperature.. Not too hot and not too cold… t-shirt and jeans or sweatshirt around a nighttime campfire - nothing better!

13. Computer or television? Computer. I love TV, but if there's nothing good on you're kind of shit outta luck =/ On the computer I can watch YouTube videos, blog, do research, facebook… ANYTHING!

14. What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home? The furthest I've probably been from home is Florida? And I live in Massachusetts, so…not that far lol

15. Do you have any special talents? I danced for a long time when I was younger till I got sick - not so good anymore but it's still a passion of mine. I'm good at cooking.. But special talents? Uhhhh… lol Not sure.

16. Where were you born? Massachusetts, USA.. Forever a New Englander no matter where I reside.

17. What are your hobbies? I enjoy watching NCIS & Law & Order, shopping, traveling, visiting new places, hanging out with friends and family, texting, taking pictures, learning new things and I'm really beginning to LOVE blogging even though it's only my 3rd real post (:

18. Do you have any pets? I have a white long-haired Chihuahua named Snowflake and a black long-haired Chihuahua/Pomeranian Mix named Cara (but I call her peanut) (: Loves of my life!

19. Favorite movie? I have a laundry list long of favorite movies but to name a few… Fast & The Furious (all of them), The Hangover, The Heat, Titanic, The Saw series, ANY Adam Sandler movie - my god there's so many I can't even deal….

20. Do you have any siblings? Only child right here.

21. What do you want to be when you grow up? When people ask me this… I always just say that I want to be SUCCESSFUL! In business and personal life I wish for success. Because I haven't truly figured out what I want to be yet(other than a business owner), I just wish to be successful(:

I got these questions off http://lebeautygirl.com/2011/06/get-to-know-me-tag-21-questions.html - The website of a lovely girl named Ysis who does a lot of things Fashion/Beauty related. Check her out!

xoxo

xoxo

Welcome! (:

Hey merms(mermaids/mermen) (:

I would like to take a moment and say that my name is Ariel! I currently have another blog related to heath & fitness and please check that out at www.healthwithariel.blogspot.com! I've been on that one for a little while now and am just now starting this blog as my "everyday life" blog. Everything except health & fitness will be on here! I can do Q&As, beauty, fashion, rants (lol) and more! I have a channel on YouTube which is actually dedicated to both health & fitness as well as my everyday life and you can check that out at http://www.youtube.com/user/x0Ariel! (Don't forget to like, comment & SUBSCRIBE! Please (: ) 
So this is just a quick intro to the blog but there will be much more to come including the get to know me tag that's already on my other page.

Much Love<3
xoxo