I was that girl.
The one who dreamed impossible dreams, despite the fact that my reality showed me cold hard facts of why it would never happen.

I was that girl.
Who hated to be told that I wasn’t good enough to make “it” happen, but would try over and over again anyway. Despite the fact that my reality showed why nothing would ever happen.

And I was also that girl.
Who failed miserably.
And was surrounded by people who would kick me while I was down.

Some funny things happen while you’re down. And being kicked.

You’re life flashes before you, making you question every decision you made before that very moment. And it is in that second when you realize that you have a choice. To take the red pill. Or the blue.

Choice #1 (THE RED PILL):
I could fight them back physically. And then verbally. Because that’s what you do when people are kicking you. That’s what I was use to. And because, well, hurting people hurt people.

Or

Choice #2 (THE BLUE PILL):
I could fall down seven times. Stand up eight. And in that moment realize that the only true revenge is the SUCCESS of living my very best life.

I spent my whole life being the RED PILL kinda girl. Until I tried the BLUE PILL. And life has been easy ever since.
 

First, some startling facts about me:

 
Starling Fact #1: I’m a teen mom

Startling Fact #2: I graduated high school with a 1.7 gpa

Startling Fact #3: I was a freshman in college for three years straight and my transcript reads…0.0 gpa.

The facts? Well they sucked!
 

Which meant my life choices were slim:

 
Choice #1: Go and get a 9-5 that would pay me $10/hr.
(Note: I quickly realized that I’d rather slit my wrist. The long way. So clearly, this idea was out).

Choice #2: Marry a King Pin.
Because I’m sorta from the hood and when I was young, that was my aspiration. The dope boys were our prince charming. And I wanted nothing more than to be a hustler’s wife.
(Note: I am now painfully aware that a man is not a financial plan. So much for that bright idea)!

Choice #3: Become an entrepreneur.
The thought of becoming an entrepreneur was my AHA! moment. Entrepreneurship is what I was born for. But there were more obstacles. My skill sets were slim.
 

This is what I was good at:

 
Skill Set #1: The fight.
I spent my whole life fighting. Verbally, if you doubted me. And physically, if I felt like you wouldn’t understand me any other way. But I always got my point across. One way. Or the other.

Skill Set #2: The Hustle.
I was raised by them. It’s in my blood. This, I concluded, is what I was great at.

Skill Set #3: The writing.
I learned to master the art of writing in an awesome program called…Anger Management. I was forced to go. Like, “You can’t graduate from high school unless you take anger management,” forced to go. Believe me, I’ve come a looooooong way!

I knew how to fight for what I believed in. I was born to hustle. And my writing was pretty damn good. I had passion, drive, determination and all I needed were the customers to buy what I had to sell. And this is where the inspiration to write and self publish my first book (lovingly titled: Hate Me Bitch!) came from.

I had the burning desire to be an entrepreneur when everyone around me said that it wasn’t possible. Because I didn’t have what it took. And the odds? Well, they were stacked against me.

I saw my first five figure month that year. I was 25 years old. And finally knew what the ultimate revenge was.

It was called: SUCCESS.

So much for needing a degree. Hustle, I learned quickly, is the only skill you’ll ever need!

I found great success in selling my books, but I soon found myself wanting more. A way to make a handsome living AND be able to stay at home with (or get away from) my daughter, whenever I felt like it. Because it’s good to have choices like those!

Online entrepreneurship seemed to be my only answer.

I knew that I wanted to start a business to teach people who are just like me, the same strategies and secrets I used to get what I wanted in life. People who were underestimated. Powerful. Confused. Relentless.

And I wanted to be myself. Unapologetically. Not some stuffy personal development lady who had her panties in a bunch all the time. I wanted to be me and “My Go Harder Gang” would know that this is who I am. Take it. Or leave it.

I quite honestly didn’t think that I could make the amount of money I wanted to make (which was A LOT) by being MYSELF.

Until I met Marie Forleo. And enrolled into her program: Rich, Happy,& Hot Bschool. To date, my online business has grown faster than anything else I’ve ever done in my life!

I could seriously write a book on how GREAT her program is, but I’m not. Click here to check it out for yourself and if you’ve ever wanted to start a business, see if it is worth investing in. It was for me.
 

MY GIFT TO YOU (aka THE BONUS)

 
I don’t recommend many things AT ALL, but this one is a no brainer. I believe in bschool. And Marie.

If you enroll in bschool through my affiliate link, you’ll receive a complimentary full day Get Up + Go Harder Strategy Session with me (value: $1,000).
 

IMPORTANT

 
In order to take advantage of my offer, you have to enroll into bschool through this link before Friday, May 25, 2012.

Do not click on any other link for bschool besides this one. If you do, I won’t get credit and won’t be able to give you your bonus.

Click here to enroll into Rich, Happy, & Hot Bschool by Marie Forleo.
 

I make money doing what I love, teaching my truth, and being myself.

 
I’ve turned my mess into my message and have reached THOUSANDS of people with my message of hope.

I do this work because it was what I was meant to do. And I want the same for you.

I got your back!

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

Xo

Tiph

Nitika Chopra suffered from a debilitating illness and a heart breaking divorce. She was a victim. And made sure that everyone around her knew it.

Fast forward a few years and she is now Editor-In-Chief and Founder of YourBellaLife, an online magazine designed to build a community and empower women to live their best lives, despite any major setbacks.

She has made it her life’s mission to teaching women how to own their power and come out a VICTOR in every circumstance.

In this show, Nitika reveals how to stop getting high on your victim stories, how she created a business centered around love, and what it REALLY takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.
 

WATCH THIS:

Click here to check out her beautiful videos on how to heal and live life on purpose. You can also follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook Fan page.
 

RICH, HAPPY, & HOT B-SCHOOL IS OPEN!

After 1,700 comments and a ton of anticipation, it’s OPEN

My homie, Marie Forleo, just opened the doors to her legendary B-School program and I have to say, it’s pretty awesome! Go here to see the program and enroll now.

Click here for the details.

She’s detailed exactly what you’ll learn- and what you won’t – in this 8 week training to help you leverage your online presence for more sales and more impact.

B-School is one of the most comprehensive programs I’ve seen and she’s got hundreds and hundreds of graduate reviews to prove it works.

I heard from Marie that she doesn’t think she’s offering this program again “live” for a while so if you want to work with her, now is the time.

Check it out before it fills up!

Talk soon -

Tiph

P.S. If you’re wondering if B-School is right for you, scroll down to the bottom of this page, in her classic no BS fashion, she addresses virtually EVERY concern or question you have!

Click here for details

I waited for his finger to pull the trigger.

I waited to watch the bullet exit the barrel in slow motion, hit the target’s face, and leaving the bits and pieces of brain splattered all over mine.

Like pulp fiction. But 3D.

My mind raced forward to my reaction after this shooting would happen. I’ve always been a forward thinker like that.

Would I scream? Probably not.

Go into shock? Nah.

Pee on myself? Nope.

I simply concluded that I would do…nothing. Nothing at all.

Just a few moments before, a gun man (who’ll we’ll call “Gun Guy”) raced out of his car to confront a man who was buying a few books from me (with whom we’ll call the “Victim”).

“Gun Guy” wore one black leather glove on the hand that would pull the trigger. It was ninety-two degrees outside.

This, I concluded, could only mean trouble.

It was summertime. The block was hot. And full of people who had run far away enough to not get hit with a bullet, but close enough to watch the whole thing.

Scared, but nosey.

What a horrible combination.

It was just me, “Gun Guy,” and the “Victim.” In front of my book table. Waiting.

I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t run for cover like the others. I was too scared and nosey to do anything.

What a horrible combination.

I watched as “Gun Guy” quietly told the “Victim” why he was there. With the gun in his face. Ready for war.

While the “Victim” tried to plead his case, the ”Gun Guy” dug deep in his soul for the biggest piece of spit he could find and hauled it straight into the face of the “Victim.”

The monstrous piece of spit dangled on the “Victim’s” lip and held on for dear life. Mimicking his manhood.

Too afraid to wipe it away, the “Victim” looked at me and then held his head down, confirming what I knew all along: that if he made it out of here alive, he couldn’t come back to the hood ever again.

Satisfied with murdering “Victims” pride, the ”Gun Guy” said his final remarks and walked back to his car and drove away.

Ten minutes didn’t go by for things to go back to normal and I was back to selling my books.

My mind darted back to the week before when they found my homeless friend who used to insist on acting as my security, murdered just a few feet away from where I sold my books at.

Though things got crazy around there once and a while, I never considered selling my books anywhere else. This was easy money. I had hit jack pot.

Just when I thought my amusement for the day had ended, “Gun Guy” returned, riding down the street. In slow motion. With the gloved hand hanging out the window. With the gun in hand. Amusing himself. And scaring the shit out of us.

Everyone, including some new customers I had, ran for cover.

He did this imaginary drive by for a while. Six times to be exact. And I had simply had enough.

When I wake up everyday, I have a goal and back then it was to bring home two hundred dollars a day in book sales.

The ”Gun Guy” was messing up my money. The Carolina heat had me melting away. And I was pissed.

As he coasted at a speed of five miles per hour, taunting the crowd again with his intimidation tactics, I politely jogged to the car, cleared my throat and said, “Do you mind? I’m trying to sell books here and you’re scaring the shit out of my customers, so can you find and kill the “Victim” on another day please?”

He laughed.

Pulled his arm back in the car. Took off his glove. Reached in his pocket and handed me five one hundred dollar bills.

“My bad shawty,” was all he said as he drove off.

We never saw him again. That day.

BUT TIPH, WHAT’S THE POINT?

Well, other than the fact that it was funny to relive, the lesson is simple:

Ask for what you want.

History has proved time and time again that people have received opportunities and riches, simply by asking for them, but asking (which is a VERY powerful tool for success) is something that most people are afraid to do.

If you’re a person who avoids asking for what you want (or need) because you don’t want to look like you need the help, don’t want to look stupid, or you don’t want to be…REJECTED I have a couple tips for you.

Tiph Tip #1- Don’t assume that you’re going to get a no. Ask as if you expect a yes.
There were over sixty people, mostly men, standing outside that day and it took me, a one hundred and fifteen pound girl to make the man with the gun go away AND I received a five hundred dollar bonus for my pain and suffering. I took a risk and in that brief second, visualized getting exactly what I wanted. My peace of mind back.

Tiph Tip #2- Don’t give up.
Be persistant. There will be times when you’ll be rejected and it’ll hurt like hell, but never give up. Asking for what you want is really just a numbers game.

Is there something in your life that seems so impossible that you think you need to do more than just ask…think again. Whether you’re looking for a raise, a better relationship, new clients, a job, a vacation, help with the kids, etc. JUST ASK!

TAKE ACTION NOW

This week I want you to ask three questions to the people who have the ability to make it happen. This means if you have a problem with your boyfriend, you’re going to ask the boyfriend for a resolution. Not your friends.

Same for your business. If you want more clients, you’re going to send emails out this week asking your old clients for referrals.

Ask for what you want BOLDLY or spend the rest of your life running in fear.

The choice to live a better life has always been yours.

Choose wisely.

I’D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO WORK WITH ME 1-ON-1

I LOVE working with people one-on-one. I LOVE building their
businesses, showing them the way + watching their AHA! moment the
first time they see their money rolling in!

Teaching small businesses how to build revenue online is a
passion of mine. Whether it’s helping an author/self-publisher
build a literary empire or helping a new entrepreneur create a
completely virtual business from scratch…the fun for me is
helping you build a creative business that you’re TOTALLY
passionate about (+ is TOTALLY profitable too)!

That’s why I’m currently opening up 24 one-on-one GET UP & GO
HARDER sessions with me. I have a lot under my belt at the moment
(a new novel hitting bookstores + iPads in September 2012 + my 30
day self-publishing digital boot camp that starts in June 2012)…so
once these one-on-one spots are gone, THEY’RE GONE!

If you have a gut feeling that I can help you create a business
like mine- a business that earns great income + that feels like a
hobby + you just need a place where someone will call your bluff and
kick your butt LIKE IT’S THEIR JOB- then email me at: tiphani@tiphanimontgomery.com for more info.

I’ll respond right away with all the details about being one of the
24 to work with me one-on-one.

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

Xx

Tiph

I have four tattoos.

All of which I wish I could carve completely off of my body with a very sharp knife.

Because they’re stupid. And I want them gone. Forever.

I was seventeen when I got my first one. It’s a heart with a bullet hole with blood running down it with (wait for it……….)

MY DAUGHTER’S NAME IN THE MIDDLE!

Pitiful. I know.

I won’t mention what the other three are, but do know that they are EQUALLY as stupid and I learned a valuable lesson in this whole experience, which was:

STOP PUTTING DUMB TATTOOS ON YOURSELF, TIPHANI!!!

I know.

You’re thinking…WTH are you talking about, Tiph?!?!?

But I have a point. My lesson to you is……….

Simple. What reckless decision are you going to make TODAY that’ll affect your future, permanently? Is it something you won’t be able to erase…or do over?

I challenge you today to treat each choice you make as if it’s a bullet ridden tattoo with blood running down it in which you’ll have to carry around on your arm for the rest of your life and I guarantee that you’ll make a wise decision:)

Ok, so here’s the thing:

I write for the Huffington Post and my most recent blogs are called-
The Dangers of Being Forever Young: An Ode to Every Child Killed Before Their Time.

How To Get Over Getting Screwed.

Read. Comment. Share.

And i thank you in advance.

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

xx

Tiph

Take a moment and think about how you want to feel in your personal and business life. Today’s video is going to teach you how to get clear on your desired feelings and how to be happy!

Write down your desired feelings and list 3 things that you’ll do this week to feel that way.

P.S. I got this technique from a GREAT digital program for entrepreneurs called, The Spark Kit, by Danielle Laporte.

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

xo

Tiphani

Whenever a New Year pops up (often out of nowhere), do you wonder where the time went? Do you ever wonder why your past is so similar to your right now and why everything seems to be…the same?

Against your will.

Against your sanity.

Against your better judgement.

Have you ever yearned for life to give you a “do over” that you know could never quite be “done over?”

And then the New Year (with all its bullshit resolutions) comes to you in a vision, riding on a white horse with promises to save you from all the mistakes you made in your past.

The past you created.

The past that’s not likely to change unless you change your mindset.

 A mindset you’re most likely in denial about, leaving you in the horrible position of blaming everyone except for yourself for the untimely demise of your dreams.

SO TIPHANI, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I’m all about defying the odds. Doing what “they” said couldn’t be done. Doing what “they” laughed at you for dreaming about. I’m all about doing what everyone else deemed impossible.

So, forget your resolutions.You kinda NEVER stick to them anyway and if you were REALLY serious about changing something important in your life, you’d start TODAY.

Forget waiting for the right time. Because the time to pursue your dreams will NEVER be right and procrastination is only a sign of how unworthy you believe you are.

Forget that lame bs excuse for not having enough money to start your business. Cause you somehow found a way to buy all the other POINTLESS items in Target that you thought you couldn’t afford. And yes…that crap adds up!

All those excuses boil down to the fact that you’re afraid.

It boils down to the fact that fear has wrapped her pretty little fingers around your neck and is squeezing the life out of you, but my question to you is…what are you afraid of?

What is it about your dream that scares you to the point of inaction?

Plenty of people aren’t going to like your stuff (i.e new business venture or change of any kind thats positive). Well, more than half won’t. They will always have something to say about you, but the fact is that you will never reach your level of awesomeness as long as you continue to ride the ‘I Give A Crap What Everyone Thinks Of Me” wave.

Listen, I can sit here and talk until I’m blue in the face, telling you how capable I think you are, how you have everything you need to start right now, or that you’re a genius, but until you believe those things yourself…you will always fail. Miserably.

So my advice to you is: Tell fear to f**k all the way off and show the world what you got…in that order.

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

xo

Tiph

I was in my early twenties and ready to make a MAJOR life move.

One of those monumental decisions that meant the success (or demise) of my future (yes…it was THAT serious). Although it was a big step, I felt confident with my plans even though I was ONLY moving off of faith.

But as sure as I was, I wasn’t sure enough, so I called a few people whose advice I respected and asked them for theirs.

And they gave it to me.

I listened intently as their words of doubt, cynicism, fear, unbelief, and insecurity (mixed with good intentions) seeped under my skin and floated through my mind, making me second guess everything I was once so sure of.

And then “they” said it. All of them. They uttered the words that snapped me back into reality:

“But what will everyone think?”

Those were the words I needed to hear.

Those were the words that reminded me that…

I REALLY DIDN’T CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE THOUGHT! 

In my earlier days I wasn’t a big fan of people because their opinions (no matter how insignificant) ALWAYS seemed to affect me in some way, even stunting my growth.

Because what they thought of me mattered.

More than what I thought of myself.

Do you find yourself questioning every move you make in life, fearing that you’ll get criticized and ridiculed in the event that you fail? Do you hold back on “crazy ideas” and “unrealistic dreams” for fear that you’ll be laughed at for even thinking up something so innovative and big?

The truth is that you’re going to be laughed and pointed at, talked about, and judged by a pack of insecure people anyway.

When I decided to have my daughter and became a teenage mom…they judged me.

When I decided to quit college and pursue my writing career (passing on becoming a nurse or a teacher)…they criticized me.

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where all the hate was coming from and I soon realized that some people were threatened by my potential. They wanted me to get a “real job” so that the success of my dreams turned to reality wouldn’t slap them in the face with the truth:

That their life SUCKED.

That they were doomed to a life of mediocrity.

That they weren’t cool enough to MAKE anything different happen in their own lives (thus being stuck with themselves FOREVER).

So I stopped asking people what they thought and put them in their place if they offered unsolicited advice, because I made the DECISION to just do me, no matter how anyone else felt!

Are you curious about how to REALLY not care about what anyone thinks about you? I have five tips that’ll get you going in the right direction:

#1 Know when you’re right. Release the urge to prove it
Let go of the fantasy of getting approval from your family and/or friends.
Let go of the urge to make them understand your vision because if it’s big enough and worth anything, they won’t understand it anyway. They’re going to talk about you behind your back and on social networking sites, but who cares? If you’re going to let that stop you, just quit while you’re ahead!

#2 Stop asking for everyone’s opinion, especially when they’re as stupid as you
You are the sum total of the people you hang out with, which means that your current crew hasn’t elevated their mind set to where you are. Their thinking is small and not equipped to help you. Their opinion doesn’t matter!

#3 Don’t take anything personally
WHEN (not “if,” cause it’s inevitable) someone says something about you, don’t get mad! What they say IS NOT about you. It’s an inner struggle regarding how they feel about themselves. Never respond to it.
Wish them well and then let them dig their own grave of low self esteem while you GO HARDER in whatever it is that pissed them off enough that they had to take time out of their VERY busy lives to comment on little ol’ you.

#4 Mediocrity is attainable. Strive for unrealistic
To be in the business of not caring, you have to grow thick skin. Why? Because if you haven’t built up your confidence muscle, people’s words and opinions about you will rip you apart. One way to build that muscle is to strive for unrealistic goals. I’m talking about dreams so big that you’ll be outside of your comfort zone and guaranteed to be laughed at. Believe me, the mere fact that you coughed up enough balls to make your life a success will only make them wallow in their own self pity with the fact that they couldn’t grow a pair.

#5 Average people love being average because no one bothers them
Really, need I say anymore?

You can’t care about the opinions of others enough to ask if your dreams are a good idea, because they are.

And they will never think so.

Trust your gut and do what you want to do because your mind is at peace and your heart knows that it’s right!

Because I want you believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

xo.

Tiph

And as always, I’d LOVE to know what you think. Leave a comment below.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” -Jim Rohn

Have you ever found yourself trying to hold on to a friendship that was only meant to be for a season? Is there a nagging feeling that the friend you’re trying to DRAG along into the new vision in YOUR life is meant to be left behind? Friends are the glue that hold everything together, but what if superglue couldn’t even make you stick?

Today is the day that you’re going to get rid of some dead weight in your life.

Yup, that’s right.

Today you’re going to break up with the people in your life that don’t align with your new vision.

You become the friends that you hang out with and the odds are that they’ll suck you into their mediocre lifestyle before you’re able to change them. So start surrounding yourself with positive successful people who uplift, encourage, and applaud you for going after your dreams and obtaining some victories!!!

The fact is, if you’re not growing together, you’re growing apart. Most friendships aren’t meant to last forever and this video is confirmation for what you already know.

That it’s time to let go.

Not sure who you need to cut loose? Make a list of the people your closest to. Put a minus sign next to the negative and toxic people that make you feel bad, drain you, and lead to stress/drama and put a positive sign next to people who are loyal, honest, supportive, make you feel energized and at peace.

Break up with the minuses TODAY! Release yourself from their negative influences.

Because I want you to believe in yourself.
HARDER than you ever thought possible.

xo.

Tiphani + Baby Bear

Psssst!……Leave a comment below + share this video…..xo.