Here's How Shamelessness Crosses the Line

Okay, you all know what I'm talking about. Charlie Sheen. Paris Hilton. That family member who thinks he's funny, but every time you see him, you want to walk in the other direction and get impressionable people out of his line of sight. Yes, people can take being shameless too far. It's folks like these who give being shameless a bad name.

For some reason, the dictionary uses both "bold" and "unprincipled" as synonyms for "shameless". Since when is being bold the same as being unprincipled?

Image via Wikipedia

Lady Gaga performing on the Fame Ball tour

It is possible to be bold while maintaining your principles. While we're on the subject of celebrities, take a look at Lady Gaga. Here is a woman who had a troubled past, yet cleaned up her act to make the use of her greatest assets: musical talent and creativity. She studied performers of the past before creating the persona that has captured the attention of a generation. She took the "bold" side of shamelessness to revolutionize pop music in the same way that Madonna and Cher did the same for their generations and Dolly Parton and Ray Charles did for their genres.

"Nuns ran my school, so I was suppressing this part of myself for a long time. It wasn't until later that I realised my true passion was music, art and performance." Lady Gaga

Don't confuse unprincipled, thoughtless, brash, abrasive actions by people disconnected from real life as the norm for shamelessness. Stick to your values, be authentic in every action, and boldly face each day with intent and power. Teach your children the difference between stepping up and stepping out of line. That way, you can be shameless without being confused about the positive impact you're making on the world.

How can you be Shameless in a bold, positive way?

Living a Shameless life that is rooted in authenticity and power takes self awareness and an openness to learning who you truly are. If you're ready to overcome intimidation, silence the excuses, and cease freezing up in the face of fear, call (206-782-4040) or Skype (tracy.corley) me for a No B.S. 30-minute initial consult.  

Be done with yer whining. Let the Shamelessness begin!

Shameless diversity starts with you

I haven’t been posting to the Shameless You! Blog often. I recently had a conversation which brought me back to my group of Shameless advocates.

In a discussion about diversity in the workplace, a group of business professionals and I were exploring diversity in leadership. The topic happened on what to do when people don’t take you seriously because of race, gender, beliefs, or other non-mainstream factors. Many people related their personal experiences. A few of the minorities felt that the whites in their business engagements do not take them seriously.

I have found that in my case, it’s minorities who usually don’t take me seriously. I don’t fit the profile of what it means to be a black American woman. I have unconventional tastes and my attempt to “talk black” sounds forced at best.

I shared this with the group. One of the professionals commented that I would be taken more seriously by the black community if I learned some Ebonics. According to him, I enunciate my words too clearly.

I call this hypocrisy, or even reverse racism. I had just been told that diversity is imperative, as long as the diverse people in the group align with the stereotypes associated with their ethnicity, religion, or gender.

Is it diversity if all the people of one ethnicity in the room speak the same way and listen to the same music?

Reflecting people’s speech patterns and finding common ground makes for stronger relationships. But people know when you’re not being authentic. To change who you are is not being Shameless. It says to people that “I am ashamed of who I am and am going to cover it up by adopting your style and deny what feels right to me.”

It is important to be you. Never compromise your integrity by pretending to be someone you’re not. It comes off as false and no one will take you seriously, whether you’re a minority or not.

Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his life so that the individuals and institutions in our great country would judge each of us by the content of our character, not the color of our skin. If you are asked to change the content of your character to conform to the stereotypes associated with the color of your skin (or any other distinguishing characteristic over which you have no control), ask yourself if you’re surrounded by the types of people who value you and take you seriously.

I hope that each of us will take the time to get to know the content of a person’s character in order to determine if his words and actions align and should be taken seriously. Skin color can only offer a clue. But if that person does not fit with the stereotypes, recognize and celebrate those differences, and acknowledge that you have encountered true diversity.

Be you. Be Shameless.

Here's how a Shameless You eliminates confusion about your worth

I notice that more and more folks are struggling with the recession and are feeling more down than usual. They think that because they aren't able to find jobs and their financial resources have been depleted, their ability to contribute to their communities has been diminished. They also feel that their thoughts and opinions aren't as valuable as they would be if they still had a job and more money in the bank.

I remind these people that net worth does not equal self worth. A Shameless You recognizes that current circumstances do not define your long term value. Just like financial markets, our lives go through cycles. Though it might be tough to keep your chin up during tough times, a Shameless You remembers that her skills, talents, knowledge, and character do not fluctuate with the balance in her bank account.

Even when finances are fluctuating, as Shameless You is consistent in her values, preferences, and life mission. Be Shameless, keep your head up and refuse to let your self worth falter when your net worth stalls.

“Shameless You!” launches ShamelessForGood.com for development at home and abroad

PRESS RELEASE: "Shameless You!” announced that it will be donating a portion of its product sales to aid relief efforts in Haiti. For each workbook and audio CD sold, “Shameless You!” will donate funds to the American Red Cross.

The program is currently available on purchases through the Shameless for Good web site at www.ShamelessForGood.com. For each workbook or audio CD sold, the company will donate $2 to the American Red Cross. If a buyer chooses to purchase both items together, the company will donate $5.

“Connecting people to what they need most is what ‘Shameless You!’ is all about,” says program designer, author, and public speaker Tracy Corley. “We want to ensure that we are putting programs in place that promote giving and community development. Our goal is to reach $5,000 in donations this month.”

The “Shameless You!” program aids economic development in the United States by providing a career development strategy for the unemployed and underemployed workforce. The program assists workers and business owners in setting a personal strategy and using that strategy to promote their skills and strengths in the workplace and in the marketplace.

The benefit to Haiti runs through February 1, 2010. The “Shameless for Good” program will be an ongoing giving program for investment in local and global communities. Future proceeds from products and services will benefit other national and international personal and community development programs.

Rebuild at Home and in Haiti with Shameless You!

The current situation both at home and in Haiti demands that I do something. As I see what's happening in the current job market and with the tremendous suffering in Haiti, I realize that it's tough to have confidence when you don't have the basic tools needed for survival.

To help our unemployed and underemployed thrive at home, and to help the people of Haiti, I am donating a portion of all Shameless You! product sales to the American Red Cross.

For each order of our popular Shameless Self Promotion Audio CD and Workbook combination, we will send $5 to the American Red Cross. If you order the products separately, we will donate $2 for each Workbook or Audio CD purchase.

And shipping on all three options is free.

Just place your order by 2/1/2010, and you can:

• Toot your own horn with confidence and integrity.
• Overcome intimidation in your personal and professional life.
• Craft an elevator pitch so that employers and clients get it.
  
• Rebuild your career with actionable tools.
  
• Help the people of Haiti get the resources they need to rebuild their lives.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to rebuild both at home and abroad.

Order now at http://store.shamelessyou.com.