Welcome to Day One of the Artist Challenge!

Artist Challenge Tip #1: Start your day in inspiration.

Be fully aware of how you start your day and who you start your day with! 

Do you start your day in a panic? Jump out of bed, frantically rushing through the door? Do you yell at the kids first thing in the morning, get caught up in the frenzy of rushing them to catch the school bus? Or are you constantly groaning about getting up, and do you start bitching right away about your day? Or do you grab the morning paper and get depressed by all the negativity in the world or listen to the morning news to hear about the murder/shooting the night before?

Not me anymore! I know how essential it is to start your day with inspiration!  I usually get up each day anywhere between 530-7am. While lying in bed I first list five things that I'm grateful for and I have a quick mini conversation with God.

Once out of bed, I never turn on the television, watch the news, listen to the radio, or answer the phone before 10am.  I start my day in inspiration. Usually my day begins with me listening to Hay House radio online as I brush my teeth, shower, make my morning tea and prep for the day.  I always do about 20 minutes of yoga and 10 minutes of meditation. 

I "guard" my time and energy from all forms of negativity so I try not to speak to anyone before 10am, who I feel is going to "dump" on me first thing in the morning or bring me down.  I know my morning times are sacred and I honour my mornings.  Often I try to watch an inspiration video on YouTube to get me inspired. My favourites are Les Brown, John Maxwell and recently a coaching client of mine introduced me to Eric Thomas, who I really love – especially his talk about Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas! Brilliant!

Some mornings I will pick up my very well read copy of You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay, and randomly just open the book and read a few pages of whatever the book may land on and truly believe that whatever I read in these pages is a message from the universe/God to me. 

You may ask how starting my day in inspiration makes me a better artist. Well, if you start your day from a place of inspiration each morning you will be inspired to see the world differently, be different and inspiration will fuel your creativity!  Below are some of the inspirational videos that I watch in the morning and hay house radio!

Today I challenge you to start your day in inspiration! I bet it will change your life! 

In Her Artist Shoes: Actress & CTV Flashpoint's, Oluniké Adeliyi + My Challenge Inspired By Jay-Z

Canadian born actress, Oluniké Adeliyi is a truly talented womyn and actress. With an impressive resume that includes starring in CTV's successful series, Flashpoint; a film role in Saw 3D (2010) and a television appearance on The Listener. Her story proves that success will come if you believe in yourself and work hard to master your craft. I'm so happy to have her as a panelist at my Millionaire Artist Workshop! I know that this womyn is filled with so much valuable advice to share with all of you.

Here are 3 things I learned about Oluniké:

On discovering her passion

I was an actor straight from the womb. I began to pursue it professionally after an encounter with Denzel Washington on the set of "John Q". He took a special interest in me and lectured me daily with fantastic advice on how to approach the industry. He suggested studying theatre in NY and I did it. He suggested fine tuning my skills daily and I continue to do so. He told me to never think about the money and I haven't. The main reason I followed my dreams was for my daughter. She has watched her Mom face obstacles and overcome them. She is now following her dreams, because I showed her it was possible. In turn my daughter became my biggest motivation to continue knocking doors down.

The circle of powerful womyn she looks up to

I look up to Viola Davis. She is looking to pass the torch and I'm working hard for it to be me. She blows my mind the way Cicely Tyson, Ruby Dee, Angela Bassett did and still does. I want in on that circle of talented women. So I'll work my butt off daily living and loving.

Best advice

"Always maintain your grace." Phylicia Rashad gave me that advice personally at theatre school. I had the pleasure of being in her presence. I've never forgotten her words to me and I have been tested many times in this industry and life since then, but my grace is always in tact. My grace is always remembered and re hired :)

Make sure you secure a seat at the workshop - limited spots available! Register here: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca 

And, My Artist Challenge to You All - Are You Ready? 

I do difficult in an hour--impossible in a week! 

The running joke with several of my colleagues is that every one else has 24 hours in a day, and I have 32! Needless to say my favorite Jay Z quote is,  " I do difficult in an hour, impossible in a week!"

People ask me every day how do I get so much work done, how am I able to be so productive in my career, life and personal life? How can I balance writing, producing, acting, coaching, and public speaking plus just every day living! So I'm going to give you a few tips!

On Monday, we will begin the seven day Millionaire Artist challenge!  For seven days I will post one simple tip for you to follow to increase your productivity as an artist. Let me know you are up for the challenge by any means of social media!  I will be giving away five tickets in total through out the week  to people who make a comment on either their facebook page, twitter or my blog, about doing the Millionaire Artist Challenge. Let me know how it's going for you, are you learning anything? Doing things differently? 

Remember to tag me or tweet so I know you're doing it! You never know which day I will pick a winner so it's always good to post your comments pertaining to the challenge! Remember  the Millionaire Artist Challenge starts on Monday! I'm looking forward to giving away some tickets! See you soon! 

And The WINNER is...

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I'm happy to announce that SUNNY DAY is the WINNER of The Millionaire Artist Workshop tickets!!! We'll be intouch with you to discuss details shortly.

For everyone else who entered the contest, thank you for your interest and support! Please take the opportunity to invest in yourself and your artist dreams anyway! Click here to register: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca

Music is supposed to inspire…and Copperwire’s Starbound does that and so much more

Guest blog by Eden Hagos

Gabriel Teodros, Meklit Hadero  and Burntface aka Elias Fullmore are three artists whose careers prove that it is in fact possible to entertain while standing for something more than the superficiality that passes for (mainstream) music nowadays. But it is together, as music trio Copperwire, that they are rewriting the boundaries of music and storytelling.

As a diasporan I find a sense of comfort and belonging in Copperwire’s music that just can’t be matched in the physical world. Their songs touches on themes such as home and belonging that resonate with immigrants like myself, but that also speak to the human experience in general.

As a fundraiser I watched in awe as they kicked off a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund Starbound – a sequel to Earthbound. And when they reached their goal I silently cheered them on, inspired by their success and excited to see the end result.

But it is as an artist that their work inspires me the most - not only to challenge myself to come up with new forms of expression but also to be more creative in my collaborations. Earthbound, which the group describes as a “hip-hop space opera”, transcends the physical and social barriers of nation and genre, and takes us to the outer limits of the universe. The album includes a sci-fi backstory with alter egos which can be found on their website.  

Starbound, which they are currently working on, will forever change the way audiences listen to albums. It will include a comic book, games and various remix apps, all of which will allow the listener to interact with and recreate the songs they’re listening to. They’re even working with NASA to incorporate the sound of real stars into their music!  

While December 21^st, 2012 did not mark the end of the world in the literal, physical way many feared, I can only hope that with Copperwire leading the way, 2013 will be the beginning of a new era – one that thrives on collaboration and revolution.

Through their music and innovation Copperwire is proving that there is still much that can be done in and through music if only we allow ourselves to believe it. By creating new ways of thinking about and listening to an album they have shown that art can be meaningful and entertaining at the same time and that every artist has the ability to make an impact on the world.

As we prepare for the 2^nd Millionaire Artist  Workshop, I hope you will challenge yourself to take your art to the next level. Join us at the workshop and find out how artists such as trey anthony are laying claim to their passion and creating new and exciting opportunities for themselves and others.

In the meantime, I encourage you to check out Copperwire’s work. To start you off here’s one of my favourite songs. Enjoy!

Invest in YOU: Back by Popular Demand, Excited to Announce Details For the Millionaire Artist Workshop!

Psst!!! Hey you! Yes, I'm talking to you!  

Remember your new year's resolution to finally pursue your artistic dreams? To FINALLY take your art more seriously? To FINALLY start getting paid for your creativity? Well this workshop is for you! Back by popular demand! My 2nd Millionaire Artist Workshop! 

Register now, spaces are limited! 

We have a power house line-up of speakers that will definitely get you excited and give you the information to make 2013 YOUR YEAR OF ACTION! 

Register now before we sell out! 

For more information and to register, click here: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca or call 647.771.7086

Lace up your shoes and join Michael Moore for a walk

Get moving this new year! Just start with a simple walk! See what Michael Moore talks about...

"I am now in week 42 of my walks. Each day, 30 minutes, that's it. Thousands of you have joined me since that Sunday night on March 18 when, as a joke, I said I was going for a walk. 

I had read that morning in the paper that there were now more people in the U.S. on anti-depressants than those who go to the movies. I tweeted out that maybe that's the problem -- perhaps if people got out and went to the movies more they might feel better. This unleashed a lively conversation about mood-aletering drugs, the lousy movies these days in theaters, the rip-off prices for 3D films, etc. Finally, someone wrote: "Sometimes I think what I need is just a brisk walk." I tweeted, "Hey, there's an idea! I'm putting my shoes on right now." I went out and came back home after 30 minutes -- and a few hundred of you had amazingly joined me where you live. 


So I went walking the next night, probably out of some sort of obligation because so many had written to say "please let's do it again tonight!" So I did. And the night after that. By the end of the week it was hard to determine how many thousands were now going out with me on these "virtual walks" in hundreds of cities and towns, but it had taken off like a rocket and so we all went walking every night from that point on.
Now it's 250 days later. What a simple, great idea that person had! Some have asked, "Why are we walking?" "What's the cause?" There is no cause other than to go for a walk. We do it just because it feels good. We do it because we can. We do it because it's free and it takes no time. All you need to know is how to put one foot in front of the other (or, for the disabled who've joined in, by any means necessary). It's the perfect slacker/schlub activity.

I am often asked "How much weight have you lost from all this walking?" For a while I didn't understand the question. I mean, why would I want to lose anything? I have enough trouble finding my keys! Then I got it -- skinny people (1/3 of the country) want us, the majority, to be like them. That's so nice of them.

But the truth is, exercise does not work, diets do not work, feeling crummy does not work. Nothing works. My advice: Quit trying to be something you're not, be happy with the life you've been given, and just go for a pleasant walk outside. With me. Wherever you are. Get off the treadmill, stop drinking diet Coke, throw out all the rules. It's all a scam and it conspires to keep you miserable. If it says "low-fat" or "sugar-free" or "just 100 calories!" throw it out. Remember, one of the main tenets of capitalism is to have the consumer filled with fear, insecurity, envy and unhappiness so that we can spend, spend, spend our way out of it and, dammit, just feel better for a little while. But we don't, do we? 

The path to happiness - and deep down, we all know this -- is created by love, and being kind to oneself, sharing a sense of community with others, becoming a participant instead of a spectator, and being in motion. Moving. Moving around all day. Lifting things, even if it's yourself. Going for a walk every day will change your thinking and have a ripple effect. You'll find yourself only eating when you're truly hungry. And if you're not hungry, go clean your room, or have sex, or call a friend on the phone. Without knowing it, you'll starting eating like the French (there is no French word for "fast-food") -- and you will feel better. 


You do not feel better admonishing yourself or beating yourself up or setting up a bunch of unrealistic rules and goals with all the do's and don'ts that are just begging to be broken. You wanna know something? I eat ice cream every friggin' day. I drink a regular Coke every single day. I put butter on things. But I also walk every day. Some days now, I walk twice. And now I've started to do some push-ups and lifting stuff. It's building muscle, and in doing so, has created an extra furnace to burn stuff and create energy. Weird! That, in turn, makes me sleep 7-8 hours a night which is another game-changer. And all the walking and lifting makes me thirsty, so that makes me drink more water -- another huge plus!

I have no idea how much weight I've lost and I don't care. I don't care about that or diets or home gym equipment or rules about what I can or cannot eat or anything other than making sure I go on my walk today. That's it. That's the big secret. It costs nothing. I feel great. I can see my feet! There they are! Hello, feet! Wanna go for a walk? The feet say YES! Ask yours right now. And if you want, join me. But do NOT go on that walk with me if you are doing so to "get fit", "be healthy", or "lose weight". You are fine just the way you are. Only walk outside with me right now because you know it might just feel good, because it's a beautiful day, or someone is joining in with you, the fresh air is invigorating, you have to drive down to the drug store but you realize you can walk there, or simply because it's just nice to be alive for one more day. Walk to walk and nothing else -- and the other stuff will take care of itself."

Will you be joining Michael Moore for daily walks? Does knowing that it's not about losing weight or getting fit make you more likely to keep at it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

PS. Make sure you check back in to the blog on Monday as I will be announcing more details about the workshop. There will be an amazing line-up of panelists that is guaranteed to benefit all you artists. Stay tuned!

Halle Berry, Angela Davis and More Discuss Their 'Journey to the Woman I've Come to Love'

Halle Berry: “i would probably say that i fell in love with myself after my second divorce. i think it was at that time that i realized what i was made of. i realized that i was enough all by myself.”

We've all been there, while some of us still struggle with learning how to love the womyn that we are. There are so many forces in society that tell us who we should be, how we should act and what we should look like. So, finding your footing in this world to proclaim "I love me"  is a battle that takes some time, patience and kindness to yourself.

A new book out by award-winning photojournalist, Mikki Turner, titled Journey to the Woman I've Come to Love details the stories of notable womyn who learned to love themselves. The coffee table book features celebrities such as: Halle Berry, Sanaa Lathan, Angela Davis as well as many who are out of the spotlight such as everyday executives, activists and others who are just as inspiring. The essential premise of the book is initiated with the question that each womyn interviewed was asked, "“At what point did you fall in love with yourself?”

It's great to see a timeless book like this one released. Especially one that highlights the journey of womyn of colour because self acceptance is not a topic widely covered in our communities. It's another one of those topics that is seen as not something that womyn of colour struggle with. We are often portrayed to be these strong womyn who are confident and love our bodies regardless of size. Which isn't always the case - in most cases it's quite the opposite.So many of us are living the struggle of not liking who we are in silence.

I am definitely going to check out this book as I think that it's an essential addition to every womyn's bookshelf.

You can read an interview with the author about the book as well as view a slideshow of a few quotables from these womyn over at The Grio.

Monday Motivation: Claim 2013 as your year! (and a surprise announcement)

2012 Millionaire Artist workshop

How has your first week been so far? Have you been ploughing through your to-do list or has the conviction of your resolutions fizzled and faded?

Hopefully it’s the former and not the latter. But if you have already lost your motivation, that’s okay- because there is no time like the present to start anew and declare a brand new start.

You have a whole year ahead of you – and before you know it, it will be January 1^st, 2014. So, what do you commit to achieving this year and how will you invest in yourself to make this year truly YOUR year?

If one of the things you wanted to achieve this year was to nurture your creative side and turn your passion into your life’s work I have some great news. The Millionaire Artist workshop is back!

This year’s Millionaire Artist workshop will take place February 2, 2013 with a fresh line-up of industry panelists as well as the frank advice and stories from yours truly.

The theme of the workshop will be “New Year, New You” and I’ll be announcing more details shortly including the location and guest panelists.This workshop is just the thing to help you get started with your resolutions AND stick to them. And for those of you who are already working hard to move your art to the next level we’ll have lots of tips for you too.

The last workshop had a great turn out and I received lots of great feedback. Here’s one of the emails I received after the workshop:

I have surrounded myself with complete gratitude since Trey Anthony's Millionaire Artist workshop. It was intimate and lively, yet excitable. The big click for me were the 5 things to do for your career before 8. I walked away from the workshop focused on remaining aware of my lifestyle, from where I am to where I am heading. I took out this day to look at my room, clean it and move around my bed set entirely. Immediately my thoughts were clear of clouds because my room is clear of clutter. - Tenika Francis, entrepreneur

And in keeping with tradition we will be giving away free tickets to the workshop. To enter the contest all you have to do is 1) subscribe to thetruthaccordingtotrey by entering your email address on the side panel and 2) send me an email to let me know you’ve subscribed. If you subscribe by January 16^th you’ll be entered into a draw for a free ticket, winner to be announced next week.

I will also be announcing more details (panelists, venue, etc.) in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned to the blog and The Millionaire Artist Facebook page or follow me on Twitter for more info.

Let’s all vow to make 2013 the year of DOING & BEING exactly who we’ve imagined ourselves to be. Take action today. For more information, to sign up for the Millionaire Artist workshop and to enter the contest email safiab@treyanthonystudios.com.

 

Embrace 'Da Kink: A Womyn's Inspiring Natural Hair Journey to Self-Love

Beauty is embracing EVERY aspect of who we are naturally, no matter how different we may appear - Kayla Enigma

I saw this over at Black Girl Long Hair and had to share with you all. The womyn above, Kayla Enigma, created an incredibly creative and motivational post-it note style video on Youtube detailing her hair journey back to her natural roots. What was most inspiring about her video was not that she is a beautiful womyn or that she achieved an amazing 'fro of curls, but that she documented her journey to discovering exactly who she truly is in the process.

As black womyn we have all been through the same battle, trying countless hairstyles and endlessly searching for solutions to "tame" our hair. From the scalding burn of the hot comb, we begin relaxing our hair as young womyn, to the damage and hair loss. We've been through it and back to feel beautiful, to feel accepted.

I applaud this young lady for her creativity, for confronting her insecurities and for re-defining the word pretty to be something that suites her uniquely on her own terms.

Much love to all you ladies embracing 'da kink in your hair!

Check out the video below and meet me in the comments section to let me know your thoughts.

Happy Friday!

Baby mama drama: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announce they are having a baby

Kanye West has done it again. Earlier this week the rapper, who already has a rep for speaking before he thinks, announced that he and Kim K are expecting a baby in 2013. But of course, he did it in true Kanye fashion – he interrupted his own song to ask the crowd to “make some noise for his baby mama”.

Of course the online world promptly exploded in talk about Kim and Kanye’s baby. The Kardashian family and other celebrities tweeted their congratulations and the twittersvere erupted into a conversation about what will happen if this baby hooks up with Blue Ivy in the future. Blogs and celebrity news sites picked up the story and in the span of only 2 days everyone has heard the news and it seems everyone has an opinion.  

The couple seems genuinely excited and happy so I wish them (and their child) all the best. But I want to know what you think about Kanye’s use of the term baby mama to describe Kim. The words have stuck and are being used in headlines such as “Kim Kardashian: From Divorce drama to baby mama” and “Kim Kardashian goes from Kanye’s ‘Perfect Bitch’ to his ‘Baby Mama’” ( a reference to the song that he wrote about Kim earlier this year).

And of course many people couldn’t help but notice the irony in his describing Kim as his baby mama given that he used the term in his song Gold-digger to describe a woman who uses her kids to get money from her ex. Those lyrics of course have been dug up and are being thrown back in his face now.

Usually when someone refers to their baby mama/daddy it’s someone who they are no longer involved with, where no other term seems appropriate. Kim and Kanye are in a relationship so he definitely could have reworded his announcement. But the term baby mama is a controversial one regardless of who is using it and there has been a lot of discussion about when, if ever, it is appropriate to use it.

Do you have a problem with the term or do you think it makes sense to use it? Would you refer to yourself or the other parent(s) of your child as a baby mama or baby daddy? I’d love to hear what you think so meet me in the comments section and let me know what you think about Kanye’s announcement. If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a clip of the video: