Femmespire Media - blog

We're baaaack! More determined than ever and how YOU can help...

7/9/2020

We’re baaaack! And it feels sooo gooood... I haven’t posted in a while because I’ve been struggling with my own discouragement and comparison issues, using my head to figure out what would be a more "practical" career, caring too much what other people think and believing the lie that this vision is too big to accomplish.
But that is just craziness!
Femmespire Media is the culmination and fulfillment of a life long dream and it’s time to dig in the heals and walk the talk. Now we’re getting back to so many great projects that have been put on the back burner because of overthinking like the magazine, donations to women's shelters, a passion to fight against abuse in all forms, encouragement for those who struggle with mental health issues and producing of just plain great positive media via books, music, film, theatre, etc.
I have always debated the idea of going back to school for counseling or social work because of my deep desire to help people. But with Femmespire Media I am doing just that, and in a format that is most authentic to ME and utilizes my own personal strengths and talents.
If you are in a similar boat then I want to encourage you to let go of your preconceived notions of who you're "supposed" to be or what is "practical" and figure out a way to make what's in your heart a reality. Whatever that is. And if your talents, passions and dreams just HAPPEN to be in writing, event planning & fundraising, or filmmaking then consider getting involved with us at Femmespire Media. Message us at FemmespireMedia@gmail.com for more.
And if you just want to help us from a financial standpoint then that's great too! The DONATE page is finally set up and ready to go. Let's be like the quote from Roy T. Bennett up there and make a difference in the lives of hurting people together.

So Much to Do, So Little Time: Renewing the Vision at Femmespire Media

3/10/2020

"What's so fascinating and frustrating
and great about life
is that you're constantly starting over,
all the time, and I love that."

- actor Billy Crystal

The vision is evolving here at Femmespire Media. We are scrapping some old projects we had been in the process of developing and working on some new ones. New books, new music, new videos, maybe a video game and even an app in the future- who knows?! We can’t wait to reveal all the cool, new, encouraging media we’ve got in the works!
In the meantime, I hope you will be patient with us while we rework the website and are busy producing new inspirational multimedia content. It’s gonna take some time, as all things worthwhile do. But we promise in the end it will be worth it!

Just Do It: 10 Empowering Quotes from TV Producer Shonda Rhimes that Will Help Kick You Out of Your Complacency and Push You Closer to the Life of Your Dreams.

7/18/2019

She’s the creator of Female led, hit, network TV shows “Scandal” and “Grey's Anatomy” and the producer for (one of my personal favorites) “How to Get Away with Murder”. She’s also a published author and the writer of several films. In other words, she’s a successful woman working in the entertainment industry who knows her shit. Just one quick Google search and you can see she is just oozing with inspiration and wisdom.
I was looking for an inspirational quote to share on the Femmespire Media social media pages and could not pick just one. So, here they are, in no particular order. Some of the best, empowering, most inspiring quotes (in my opinion) from the talented, hardworking, Shonda Rhimes.

1.) “I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart. I am talented. I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.”

2.) “You want to be a writer? A writer is someone who writes every day. So, start writing. You don’t have a job? Get one. Any job. Don’t sit at home waiting for the magical opportunity. Who are you? Prince William? No. Get a job. Go to work. Do something until you can do something else.”

3.) “Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone else. And don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.”

4.) “You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.”

5.) “Everyone’s got some greatness in them. You do. The girl over there does. The guy on the left has some. But in order to really mine it, you have to own it. You have to grab hold of it. You have to believe it.”

6.) “Ditch the dream and be a doer.”

7.) “Maybe you know exactly what it is you dream of being, or maybe you’re paralyzed because you have no idea what your passion is. The truth is, it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to know. You just have to keep moving forward. You just have to keep doing something, seizing the next opportunity, staying open to trying something new.”

8.) “A lot of people dream, and while they are busy dreaming, the really interesting, powerful, engaged people are busy doing.”

9.) “The only limit to your success is your own imagination.”

10.) “Dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.”

So, listen to Shonda. You have greatness inside of you. Believe it. If you have a dream in your heart, don’t just dream it. Work hard and go for it. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Don’t worry about what other people think. Don’t limit yourself. Create the life you want. Don’t wait for doors to open for you. Work hard and make it happen for yourself. You CAN live whatever life you long for in your heart. Be a doer, not just a dreamer. And most importantly, be like Shonda and believe in yourself. That no matter how your life may look and feel right now, you are indeed... a Badass.

Guard Your Time (or why I need to start sticking the TV in the closet)

10/28/2018

Life goes by fast and we only have so little time on this earth. A depressing sentiment, I know. But one that’s constantly fluttering through my mind. I’ve always been painfully aware of the many dreams I had in my heart that I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime. But I was also equally aware of how little time and energy I actually had to do it. It caused a great deal of stress, anxiety, and frustration in my life.
Mainly because I’m terrible at guarding my time. I love to sleep in and take naps, binge watch my favorite shows on Netflix, go out and have fun at comedy clubs and Dave and Busters, and cuddle with my boyfriend for hours at a time if he’ll let me. All things that steal massive amounts of time I could be spending on accomplishing my dreams and life goals, things that will last long after I’m gone from this earth.
And I know I’m not alone.
            “So much to do, so little time” has become a mantra of mine. But the reality is I have the same amount of time as anyone else. And if people like Oprah, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates can make time to build their empires and accomplish their goals, so can I. But I bet they don’t let themselves binge watch ANYTHING, except for maybe on long flights to whatever important meeting they have coming up. And even that is questionable.
To be successful in life you must be willing to sacrifice, which will be another post later. But the first is the willingness to sacrifice some time to yourself, being lazy and just having fun in order to free up time to focus and work on the goal at hand. Which is soo hard to do. At least for me.
Now there’s nothing wrong with relaxing in front of the TV or taking a nap to recharge. Sometimes we need it. It’s healthy. But I know for myself, I can do it too much. Which probably has more to do with my lack of self-control and inclination toward procrastination than anything else. But I know I can’t keep doing that if I ever want to have a chance at accomplishing anything worth while in life. And neither should you.
            So I think I should start sticking the TV in the closet. I can’t just turn it off, because I justify having it on for background noise when I’m by myself. But the reality is I’m still half watching and therefore accomplishing half (and usually less than half) of what I could be during that same amount of time.
            I’ve figured out some ways I can still do frivolous things and be productive. By multitasking. Like if I feel like goofing off on my phone for a while, instead of sitting in my recliner doing it, I climb on my elliptical and do it at the same time. The same goes for TV watching. If I want to catch up on my shows then I make myself work out at the same time.
Getting myself to buckle down and write is often a challenge these days. So, I have had to start making myself physically GO somewhere to write, like the library or a park when the weather is nice. No matter how much I’d rather just sit and write in my recliner or in my tiny home office, I know that’s just not always the most productive. I have too many things to distract me at home. And if I want writing and this business to really be a career then I have to treat it like it’s a career. Get up at a reasonable hour, get showered and dressed as if I’m going into the office, and turn my phone and TV off wherever I decide to work so I can actually get things done efficiently. Just like I would if I were working for someone else.
            The biggest challenge with trying to build my own business is I don’t have anyone else to try to please than myself. I don’t have anyone else setting deadlines for me to get projects done or telling me which tasks to focus on first. I have to decide all that and then implement it myself. Keep myself motivated and focused every day. And that is difficult.
            But I know learning to guard my time is one of the most important steps to doing it. Without it, it will be very long journey to creating the life I want. And although I’m a big advocate of taking baby steps and being patient with your progress (as long as you keep moving forward, that’s all that matters) I know I want to do so much more. And I want to help other people believe for and do so much more with their lives as well.
            You’re not alone in your struggle, but you will have to make a decision one day of what kind of life you want to live and the kind of legacy you want to leave behind. And to accomplish that you’ll have to figure out what you might need to cut back on or modify in order to guard your time more effectively. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it. So, learn to guard your time. You only get one life and it goes fast. Make the most of it.

Live a Great Story and Car Poetry...

9/14/2018

Today at Femmespire Media we are focused on designing new inspirational shirt ideas that we will sell online and then donate a portion of the proceeds to a non-profit organization that helps women. In my research to see how many other companies have done a similar design to what we're imagining I came across a great organization called Live a Great Story.
"LIVE A GREAT STORY is a diverse community focused on inspiring each other to craft our own journey and create a meaningful impact. We highlight inspiring stories, foster connection through engaging events, and sell Reminder products that spark inspiration." That's the description they give themselves on their website. They are also collaborating with a group called Car Window Poetry that tries to encourage people by creating and leaving short, uplifting poems on- you guessed it- random people's car windows. They believe that words matter and that small acts of love can make a big difference in people's lives. And we agree!
I couldn't be more excited. I love finding other companies and people who are doing positive, inspiring and life affirming things that help people. That's what we are trying to do through Femmespire Media. If you know of other organizations or people who are doing great, inspiring work you can share it with us by emailing us at FemmespireMedia@gmail.com or Tweet it to us @femmespire media. Happy Friday!

13 Songs From Broadway Musicals That Will Inspire You.

7/25/2018

Broadway musicals. They are a magical experience of song, dance, glittery costumes, lights and energy. They have the ability to lift you up when you’re down, empower you to dream big, reach for the stars, and remind you to never give up. So that’s what this is. A list of the best songs from Broadway musicals that will help kick you out of your complacency and encourage you to pursue the best life possible. It’s time to get inspired.

1. “No More Wasted Time” – If/Then: The Musical

A song reminding you to stop looking back and living in regret. You only get one life, so don’t waste any more of it not living authentically and to the fullest.

2. “Defying Gravity” – Wicked

This song is about pursuing your dreams even when others don’t believe in you. Don’t let anyone try to hold you down. If they do, they were never really for you to begin with. Haters gonna hate. But you can still get great satisfaction out of proving them wrong.

3. “My Shot” – Hamilton

Get on fire, get determined, and most importantly don’t give up. When others try to convince you of all the reasons why you are not good enough, qualified, or capable – you put this song on and get pumped up!

4. “Seize the Day” – The Newsies

A good reminder to seize the opportunity, not be afraid and stand up to your giants in life. You are fully capable, especially when you have friends on your side.

5. “When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock” – School of Rock

Another good one to empower you to keep pursuing your dreams and prove all the naysayers and doubters wrong.

6. “Man Up” – The Book of Mormon

Man up reminds us to own up to our mistakes and take charge of our lives once and for all. No more being complacent and just following the crowd. When we become the hero of our own lives, great things happen.

7. “Another Day” – Rent

“There’s only us. There’s only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road. No other way. No day but today...” Best. Lyric. Ever. So yea, enjoy your life. You only get one.

8. “Let it Go” – Frozen

This song might have gotten annoying from being played everywhere when it first came out, but the message is great. Whenever you’re having a bad day, people are pissing you off and you just want to say F@!K everybody, put this on your playlist and just Let it Go…

9. “Change It” – 9 to 5

This song from the Dolly Parton composed musical, is a reminder to not settle in life. If you’re not happy with how your life is going, get proactive, and do something to change it. You are stronger than you think you are.

10. “Tomorrow” – Annie

Now, who doesn’t brighten up when they hear this song? An oldie but a classic anthem that reminds you your problems are only temporary and to not lose hope. Today might feel like the sky is falling on you, but the sun will come out tomorrow if you don’t give up.

11. “Cross the Line” – Bring it On

OK, I admit, I’ve never actually seen this musical. But I know many of its songs. They will pump you up to never give up and not let your dreams die even when others might be against you and secretly hoping to watch you fall on your ass. This song reminds you to take a chance and to push yourself to reach your fullest potential.

12. “Chip on My Shoulder” – Legally Blonde

This song should inspire you to take your frustrations and misfortune in life, turn them around and use them for good. Let the very things that you thought were holding you back be a catalyst to propel you into the life of your dreams. Use that fire in your heart for something amazing. You will not regret it.

13. “This is the Moment” – Jekyl & Hyde

A slower one than i usually like to share. But the message in this song is great. No matter where you are on your journey, THIS is the moment to decide to let go of the past, pursue your dreams, and create the life you want.

I might add to this list later, but this is a good start for now.

What are some of your favorite, most inspiring and uplifting songs from Broadway musicals? Share them in the comments section.

Steps 1 & 2 to Creating the Life You Want - the shortened blog version from the upcoming book - Part 1

6/26/2018

The first and most important step to creating the life you want is to know who you are. And I mean who you really are, deep inside. Not the version of yourself you hope to one day become, not who you used to be or how your abusive ex made you feel, and not who your mother or best friend or boss or anyone else says you are. Who YOU REALLY ARE. Deep inside. In your heart. That broken, occasionally knocked down, emotionally scarred, weak, and completely unqualified for whatever huge dream you secretly harbor in your heart of hearts version of you. That part you hate about yourself. The parts you love about yourself and wish the world could see. All of it.
But that ugly part that you hope and pray no one will see, and spend your entire life trying to hide, change and improve. That is the part you have to embrace. To find who you truly are, you have to be vulnerable. You have to be honest and real. It might be painful at times, but it will always end up being worth it.

Now the flipside to this, and the next important step to creating the life you want, is to accept who you’re not. This one is probably the hardest for most people. At least it was for me.
I spent my whole life trying to be good at things, to fix what I was weak at, often to the point of literal kicking and screaming in anger and frustration when it wasn’t going how I planned. I wasted so much time comparing myself to other people- my friends, my family members, everyone - I hated myself a bit inside for a very long time.
But I never would have admit that to anyone. It was a soft spot for me.
After all, I grew up in a family I felt like I could never please. Who, especially in my teens and younger years, constantly criticized, insulted, and made me feel worthless and unlovable. It didn’t matter how good I was, or what I did, they would always find that ONE mistake or flaw and focus solely on that. I ultimately developed a people pleasing, fear of rejection, and perfectionism problem, in addition to massive anxiety issues. Which I will cover later.
I learned to never be content with myself or anything I did or didn’t do. I would just dwell and beat myself up over every little thing I did wrong or didn’t do “right”. It was TORTURE. Mental and emotional torture.
I admit I still struggle with this a lot. But I’ve finally learned to accept who I’m not. In fact, I’m at a point now where I embrace it. It’s very liberating.
For instance, in the summer of 2018 I finally left my low paying, high stress job at a printing company and started working as the Social Media Marketing Manager for a non profit in New York. I applied for the position initially thinking it was a general office administrative position where I would also manage their social media accounts. But then came to find out that there was a political element to it. Raising money, political lobbying.. all things I hate.
But you know what, I didn’t lie and say I could do it just to get the job (something I would have done in the past because I couldn’t admit failure) That would have been a nightmare. No. I owned up to my weaknesses and confidently shared my strengths and what I had to offer as a unique individual.
I admitted I was terrible at cold calling and hated the idea of telefundraising, and that I didn’t know squat about politics (although I’m always down to learn) but what I was experienced and passionate about was media and marketing. I’m a content creator, with an overactive creative mind, and a passion for promoting organizations with missions I care about. I told her about my own budding socially conscious multimedia publishing company Femmespire Media, and how all the tactics I use on that could be applied to their company and then some. I was very enthusiastic and confident in this side to say the least. But most importantly, I didn’t shy away from exposing my weaknesses. And it worked out. Now I work a flexible marketing job, creating and promoting meaningful content, for a boss who values my strengths, doesn’t chastise me for my weaknesses, and pays me better than any other job I've ever had. All while I work on finishing this book and build my own media empire.
Will it always be easy? No. Will I be working at this other company forever? Hell no, I plan to someday make a living with my business. But one thing is for certain, I am steps closer to creating the life I want. One that I am satisfied with RIGHT NOW. One that I can be PROUD to call my own. Because now I know who I am and accept who I’m not.
And you can too. It just might take some soul searching, an open mind, and a willingness to let go of the lies you might have been programmed to believe about yourself throughout your life. And I want to help you. But you CAN get there. I have faith in you.

15 Steps to Creating the Life You Want - an excerpt from the upcoming book.

6/16/2018

Regret. It’s one of the biggest killers of people’s joy and contentment. That, and longing for a different life than one already is living. But there’s no magic genie that will grant you wishes and time machines haven’t been invented yet. So we can’t go back in time to do our lives over again. No matter how desperately we might long to sometimes.

So what can we do?

CREATE the life you want. It’s all up to you.

You’re not happy with your life? Change it. You don’t like some quality in yourself? Try to be better. It won't happen over night, but if we're patient we can slowly but surely have a life we are content with if we are willing to do the internal and external work. Baby steps is all it takes.

In the book I’m working on "Create the Life You Want" I’ll be covering what I consider to be the most important steps to finally creating the life you want and living YOUR TRUTH. The 15 steps I’ll be discussing are:

Know Who You Are
Accept Who You’re Not
Define Your Vision
Let Go of the Past
Be Willing to Sacrifice
Stand Firm
Set Small Goals
Set Long Term Goals
Guard Your Time
Let Go of Toxic People or Whatever Else Holds You Back
Don’t Wait/Stop Procrastinating, ( or do at least one thing each day)
Don’t Compromise
Be Adaptable/Flexible
Reevaluate Your Purpose
And most importantly... Don’t ever give up!

This is just a taste of what I'll be writing about in more detail. Follow us here and on our social media pages to read more excerpts from the book as I develop it and for more encouraging media to be shared on this blog. I hope you enjoy.

A Little Inspiration from Ryan Reynolds - part 1

5/25/2018

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but anxiety is also a great fuel.. it’s the anti-complacency pill.” This quote came from Ryan Reynolds, the star of the initially unsuspected, but ultimately mega successful DEADPOOL movies. The sexy man married to the gorgeous Blake Lively. And my (ahem, not so secret anymore) celebrity crush.
        But yes, even this hugely successful, loved by millions man, openly admits to struggling with anxiety and depression. Often choosing to hide behind his literal Deadpool mask and persona in order to keep his cool.
        From a tumultuous family past, to a few movie flops (i.e. The Green Lantern and lest we not forget the dreadful “Just Friends” – although I admit watching this beautiful man dressed up in a fat suit complete with double chin was way more enjoyable than it probably should have been) He has finally hit his stride. Probably the best version of himself professionally, even co-writing and producing the hugely successful movie franchise. Can we say CHA-CHING!
        But the point is that in spite all of this, and maybe even in part because of all of this, he still battles the same issues of anxiety and depression that so many others do. And I want this to encourage those who struggle as well.
        You might be nowhere near having a huge blockbuster movie out or model beautiful wife, but his story should inspire you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not doomed for a life of failure or mediocrity- no matter what toxic person in your past might have told you otherwise. And you can succeed just the way you are. Warts, weaknesses and all. Be determined to use it as a catalyst to try harder to reach your goals- whatever they are. Let it fuel the fire in your heart.
         You might have to dig your heals in a little deeper than others who don’t struggled with the same issues that you do- but at least you’re not stuck doing it in a tight rubber suit like Deadpool or every other superhero in every comic book movie ever made. So, keep pushing through and don’t give up no matter how bad you feel at times. That can be YOUR superpower.

An Inspiring Story from DJ Carly Wilford

5/16/2018

“Know who you are: the bits you like and the bits you don’t. You hear loads of advice from different people, but you might be here to do something completely groundbreaking and if you were to listen to everyone then it might throw you off track…Do what makes you come alive… That’s different for everybody. If there’s an inkling inside of you that there’s a bigger world out there, and there’s something for you to do, then go out and grab it…”

OK, so I totally stole this quote from my Facebook business page, but I don't care, I love it. It's true in every way. Articles like this give me life and I hope it inspires you too. F.Y.I. if you aren't already following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and yes- even Pinterest @femmespiremedia then you are missing out. Seriously, like and follow us @femmespiremedia. You will NOT regret it.
Oh yea, and don't forget to click on the link below to read more about this awesome female DJ"s inspiring story.

www.huckmagazine.com/art-and-culture/music-2/carly-wilford-u-turn-life-dj-gender-equality/?curator=MusicREDEF

Author

Tiffany Grand is an author, songwriter, playwright journalist, director, media producer and entrepreneur. She's a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA and the founder of Femmespire Media. She's passionate about being a positive influence in the world through the arts and media. Follow her here, on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @femmespiremedia, and on her personal website www.tiffanygrandmedia.com

Archives

July 2020
March 2020
July 2019
October 2018
September 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
March 2018
February 2017

Categories