Running your business (& your life) doesn’t need to be overwhelming or hard. Amazing results are just 1-2-3 steps away!

As a coach, I have learned what it takes to find joy, create ease and achieve prosperity. I’ve personally taken these three steps and seen the positive impact in my life as well as the clients I serve.

It’s this simple:

1. Gain clarity of purpose and vision and keep it in front of you,
2. Have the right support behind you (and beside you, above you, and in front of you) and,
3. Take focused and inspired action consistently!

You might be asking yourself “how” do I start? It begins with saying “yes” to investing in yourself as you walk the path of change. For this type of transformational journey, partnering with a coach is imperative if you’re really serious about creating amazing results that are lasting and sustainable. This was confirmed for me yesterday when one of my clients shared, “I matter” and “I am worth the investment.” This is the place where you learn to believe in yourself and have the ability to accomplish what’s necessary for steps 1-2-3.

Too often I see people “stop” when it gets difficult. You’ve probably found yourself here as well as you begin to doubt and question; before you know it you find yourself doing the same old thing and expecting different results.

The truth is when it matters you can expect opposition. Don’t take it as a sign to stop but as an opportunity to pause and assess so you know how to proceed based on intention, wisdom and discernment. Partnering with a coach will give you the ability so stay the course. In my opinion, coaching is the “circle of life” as it relates to achieving extraordinary results by following the 1-2-3 steps.

Are you taking action on steps 1-3 above? If not, start today because you matter and the world needs what you have to offer.

So, what’s your next step? What will you commit to to achieve amazing results starting now? Post your comments at the blog and share 1. what you’ll commit to and/or 2. how working with a coach has helped  you achieve amazing results in your life!

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.”–Ayn Rand

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © Olaru Radian

You’ve probably heard the phrase “stop shoulding on yourself.” Intellectually you get that should’s, have to’s and ought to’s just drain your energy and leave you feeling heavy and unfulfilled. Yet regardless of this knowledge you find yourself “shoulding” more often than not.

So what do you do? How do you change the cycle from “should” to “want”?

Let me paint the picture of what’s happening behind the scenes for me. I’ve been in an intense transition season, on a mission to reclaim my “want to’s” as I eliminate the “should’s” in my life. It’s literally impacting every facet of my life, including my work, my relationships with myself and others, and even basic things like how I schedule my time. As I go through this process, I’m amazed at what I’m learning.

I have allowed “should’s” to drive my life…often! Mostly because I didn’t realize that many behaviors and beliefs that drive me aren’t core to who I really am. Through my discovery , I’ve tapped into what’s true for me so I have stopped several things cold turkey, like writing my blog. I haven’t written a post in over a month and half because it wasn’t a “want to”. I found I was writing because I thought I “should” based on others’ opinions, expertise and beliefs so I decided to take a break for awhile to get clear for myself.

So what about you? Where do you need to stop the “should’s” in your life?

I invite you to explore the question as you create awareness around where you are run by “should’s”. Without judgment, decide what you need to do with that “should”.

Here’s a system I use called the “Three D” system that will help you choose:

1. Dump it. If it’s not necessary or life giving do you really need to keep the should?
2. Delegate it. Maybe this is something that you can hire out or you can get help from someone else?
3. Defer it. Take a break from it. See what happens and decide when you want to pick it back up or if you even want to. This is what I did with the blog writing.

As for me, I’m not convinced that I’m ready to re-engage in blogging. I know I wanted to begin with this post as I continue to explore what blogging looks like for me. I am committed to staying connected to community in a way that is life giving and allows me to use my wisdom and inspiration creatively. I want to support a win-win and I’m not quite sure what that looks like, yet.

The key here is to focus not on “should’s” but on what you really want paying special attention to where you come alive. Choose powerfully to do those things that “light you up”, because this is the place  you will be energized, filled up and on purpose as you give to others.

What do you think? Share your thoughts and comments at the blog.

Bottom line: Stop the Should’s! It could be the most life transforming decision you’ll ever make as you free more of authentic self to positively impact the world!

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © musk

In honor of the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend let’s celebrate inspiring women. Who do you want to thank? I’m sure there are many women who have impacted your life for the good so grab a pen and piece of paper and get ready to make your list of incredible women to acknowledge!

As for me, I have had many inspiring women support, encourage and challenge me as a single Mompreneur for over 9+ years, which has been vital to my personal and professional success. I’ve been richly blessed by their willingness to invest in me by providing inspiration, wisdom and insight as I’ve evolved, changed and become more of my truest self.

In particular, I have worked with three phenomenal women as my life and business coaches and I want to honor them today. Cynthia Loy Darst, Teresia LaRocque and Kim Fulcher all have four important characteristics that have contributed to my success—they walk their talk, act as catalysts for change, live alive and on purpose and call forth greatness in others. These are the criteria I look for in those I choose to work with and I am grateful to each of you amazing women for sharing your brilliance and inspiring me to be all I can be as a Mompreneur.

What about you? What women have acted as coaches in your life? What criteria do you look for? And more importantly how will you thank them?

Someone else I want to celebrate is Laurie Hardie, Radio Host of Coffee with the Coaches who is also my friend, colleague and Compass sister. I met Laurie over a year ago and as a fellow single Mom, I am inspired by her life and story that will be published in her upcoming guide for single Mom’s called Did Not See that Coming.

This resource will offer hope and inspiration to single Mom’s and I had the joy of supporting her community with a recent interview. Be sure to listen to the many stories of thriving in spite of life’s challenges as you learn more about Laurie’s book which will help all women committed to overcoming challenges.

I want to honor my own Mom who has been a steadfast anchor of peace and strength in my life. She is a woman devoted to bringing her full self to our family, with a servant’s heart and wisdom that has guided me with grace and love. Thank you Mom for the woman you are and the legacy you are creating.

Today, I also celebrate you! Thank you for using your leadership influence for the good and for impacting others with your unique greatness. Take a moment to receive these truths as you acknowledge your role in changing the world, one woman at a time.

“Possessing information about yourself is not the same as truly knowing yourself. Self transformation is always preceded by self-acceptance. And the self you must accept is the self you actually and truly are–before you start your self-improvement projects.”
David G. Benner, Author of The Gift of Being Yourself

Your success in the world is contingent upon knowing who you are. It is critical to achieving your goals and having the impact you desire.  Building your self-esteem by discovering and knowing yourself allows you to be more confident, open and comfortable with who you really are and this self-knowing leads to self-acceptance allowing you to give more to your families and the world.

So how do you come to know all of who you are?

I recently found an assessment tool that you can use to gain feedback from others about your personal brand identity. It’s a powerful tool called the 360 Degree Reach which you can use free for 15-days.

I imagine you’re wondering if you really want to have others feedback about you. Yes, it’s extremely vulnerable to ask others for input. If you come from the perspective that not everyone is out to get you and in fact they may have good feedback to give you, it can help give you the courage to take this next step.

I was inspired to do this as a result of reading a recent Daily Workplace Inspiration received from Os Hillman. Here’s what he shared:

Someone once said, “Success is when those who know you  the best are those who love you the most.”

Years ago a self-assessment toll was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingram called the Johari Window. The Johari Window helps you realize where you are in your ability to know who you are and for others to know who you are. Real transparency in communication takes place when those we associate with us know who we are after we discover who we really are. See if you can identify what category you might fall among these four:

Transparent Life: The transparent life is the life we should desire. I know who I am and others know me. There is nothing hidden. I have come to know who I am as an individual and basically people get what they see in me.

Bull-In-The-China Shop: This person is blinded to the things that others recognize about him. The solution to becoming a transparent person is to get feedback from those around us about our blind spots in our personality. We must ask for the feedback and be willing to respond to their input.

Aloof/Hidden Secrets: This person lives in a secret world. They don’t allow others to know about themselves. They know themselves but are fearful of letting others know. Those around them do not know them either. What do others really about you? Have you allowed yourself to get close enough to others to share who you really are inside?

Hidden Potential: This is a combination of Bull-In-A-China Shop and Aloof/Hidden Secrets. It is the saddest of all conditions. These people don’t know themselves and others don’t know them either. This means both parties have to invest the energy to communicate and get feedback from one another.

How about you? Why not take a step to find out who you really are in the lives of others. It could change your life.

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © brunoil

Just yesterday I posted to my Facebook wall about the importance of  “taking care of you”. Because of the thoughtful responses and “likes”, I realized that this was a “hot topic” that we all need to be reminded of. It really boils down to this…it’s essential to accept oneself completely.This is the place of self-mastery where you will find true fulfillment and make a significant contribution to the lives of others.

Since it’s a recurring sentiment among all women and I’m working on the website for The Leadership Collaborative this week, I decided to leverage my community and have collaborated with Nacie Carson for this week’s blog post.  Enjoy and please, do something good for yourself today!

“The most terrifying thing is accepting oneself completely.” – Carl Jung

Thanks to St. Valentine (and Hallmark), February is a month full of love, romance, big red hearts, and overly-priced chocolate.  But for me, February is going to be as much about building out the relationship with myself as it is going to be about writing sonnets to my Charles (though I do plan to get a few of those in!).

Why? Because like all relationships, the one we have with ourselves requires constant work and attention.

How many of you have had a friendship or romantic relationship that somehow got to a dull, unconnected place? You know the feeling, like you suddenly have nothing in common with the person anymore or you don’t really know them. Often, we’ll blame it on them – “they’ve changed, they’re different now, they’re going through a phase.” But what we fail to understand is that while those things might be true, they are true for our side of the table as well.  We are constantly evolving, just like everyone around us, although these change tend to happen in small, minute increments making them difficult to realize.

Have you ever gotten to this place with yourself? Where you felt disconnected from your core, or lacking enthusiasm and energy, or just a little Lost?  Chances are, you’re at that place because that relationship with yourself hasn’t grown as you’ve changed.

I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t given my relationship with myself the work or attention it needs to keep me confident, self-assured, or feeling an appropriate appreciation for my potential or personal power. Instead of being aware and honoring the changes I’ve made over the last five years, I feel like I’ve been hyper-critical and always focusing on the faults. In my quest to Live Uncommonly I tore a lot of my core down to get to the bottom of what drove my need to quit the Corporate world, but instead of rebuilding I’ve just dug deeper and deeper in a quest to know myself completely. And while I feel like I know much more about who I am, why I’m motivated to do some things instead of others, and how I operate, I feel like the relationship I have with myself is worse than it was five years ago. Ironically, I look at the person in the mirror and catalogue faults, and then wonder what happened to that super-sparkly person I used to be.

I am still that person. I am still Nacie Carson, and my mission for this month is to take a page from Carl Jung and focus my energies on “accepting myself completely.”

Reprinted with permission by Nacie Carson, writer and founder of The Life Uncommon.

So what about you? Where are you in accepting yourself completely? Take a step today to get to know you and let us know what you learn about your brilliant and beautiful self!

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © Lev Dolgatshjov

If this blog offered you snippets of wisdom that were concise and powerful, what would this mean to you? What do you consider “wisdom” that would add value as you streamline your life and work to achieve greater impact with less effort?

If you’re like me, you receive an overabundance of information daily. When it comes to meaningful blog content, I want to keep you engaged and coming back for more because your life and work are improving and your contribution to others is greater.

To enhance my service to you, I am curious about your impressions of all of the on-line content you read regularly. What is it about these other blogs and newsletters that has you actually read the content and come back for more?

What are some of the elements these writers include in their communication? Is their content thought provoking? Do they provide practical tips? Are they using other mediums like video and audio?

In addition to these specifics how has your life and work changed because of the on-line content you read? Is there anything you don’t like?

I’m on a mission to bring more value to you. It’s part of my strategy toward the launch of The Leadership Collaborative with my new business partner. While we aren’t ready to go live just yet, what I can share is that our company is about developing leaders to help you in “bringing business to life.”

If your business (or work) were brought to life, and life was brought to your business (or work), what content would offer you value and support you on a consistent basis?

I’d be grateful if you would take the time to share your comments with me at the blog. You can also provide your snippets of wisdom by e-mailing me directly.

Thanks for being a part of my team…T.E.A.M. = Together everyone achieves more!

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress Sergej Khackimullin

I appreciate the positive energy and hope that a new year brings. At the same time, it can be overwhelming to navigate the plethora of information about resolutions, goals, strategies and more. The transition from a year end into a new one can be harsh and abrupt adding unnecessary stress if you’re not careful.

So in this first blog post of the year, I’m keeping it simple….

It’s a new year, so instead of resolutions and a long list of to do’s, how about a new word?

Yes, that’s right. Identify just one word that will guide you throughout 2011!

Consider the impact  this one word might have as it engages your heart, connects you to what really matters and guides you in taking purposeful action. Isn’t it time to simplify and bring true and lasting fulfillment, the kind that improves your life and contributes to others in a BIG way?

I want this to be your BEST year ever. You can begin right now when you decide to visit myoneword.org. Make the time to discover your “word” for this new year and let this be your anchor that keeps you centered in your core. If you want additional resources and support, be sure to sign-up for my monthly newsletter.

My word for this year is integration. What’s yours? Post yours at the blog and join as a community so together we can find our sweet spot where we have greater impact with less effort.

Your sweet spot is that place where Frederick Buechner defines as “finding where your great joy and the world’s need intersect and that is most likely where you belong.”

Now’s the time; what are you waiting for?

Picture Source: Book Cover of One Word: Contemporary Writers on the Words They Love or Loathe, Molly McQuade asks the question all writers love to answer: what one word means the most to you, and why?

Go, go, go. Buy, buy, buy. Do, do, do. The messages received during the Christmas season are usually counter to our true desires. I assert that most of us actually prefer the “presence” of someone being fully connected with us over the “presents” we open on Christmas day.

I struggle with “presence” on a daily basis. It takes conscious discipline to train my heart and mind to live from the inside-out rather than allowing everything outside of me to define and drive me.

How about you? Do you feel the tension between your desire for a peaceful and grounded life while  you experience the scattered feeling from the external pressures and demands?

Life is short; this Christmas and New Year how about showing up with a full heart, alert, involved and engaged? This is what it means to be fully present. Just imagine what your experience will be when you connect with others and your to-do list from this place?

So here’s a question to consider: “What keeps you from living in the present?”

Here are three things that might be getting in your way and a solution on how you can bring yourself back to presence during the holidays and beyond:

1. Discontentment—you lose sight of focus and look inward too much focusing on what you don’t have vs. what you actually do have.

Solution—Take a look at all that you have in your life. Be grateful and consider using what you have to help others.

2.  Regret—you focus on the sorrows of life and your challenges to a fault, keeping you stuck in the past or bitter, angry, immobilized or ineffective.

Solution—Embrace forgiveness. Learn from your sorrows and challenges and allow these to help you be filled with grace and compassion for yourself and others.

3. Future fears—you focus on what future challenges which might happen causing you to worry about things you can’t completely control.

Solution—Live with expectation and take a look the choices you make today which can impact your future in a positive way. Overcome future challenges by being engaged in the present right now.

I’m curious what you think? What solution will you try during the holidays to keep you present? Share your comments at the blog at www.shannonbruce.com. If you’d like more wisdom and insight on the topic be sure to read and sign up for our team newsletter.

This Christmas, I wish you true joy, quiet peace and perfect love.  Enjoy the gift of presence.

“Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today?  Today is a gift.  That’s why we call it the present.”
Babatunde Olatunji

Picture Source © photographer Natalya Korolevskaya, www.photoxpress.com

On Monday night, areas of Western Washington State were hit by a major snow storm. In fact, 50,000 people remain without power and some won’t have it restored until Friday. The temperatures remain at or below freezing so this is a significant situation as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday.

With the snow and ice on the roads, I asked my Dad to be my chauffeur because I don’t do well in ice. I remember sliding down the ice on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle years ago and ever since then I have decided this is one area I have no expertise! Hence, the request of my father.

I left my daughter at my parents’ house and my Dad and I headed to mine. Along the way, we saw trees downed due to high winds up to 60 mph, police cars and tow trucks everywhere, flashes of lightning in the sky, cars in ditches and power outages creating an eerie landscape. Amidst the chaos, I was deeply grounded believing that there was something significant about to happen.

We came upon a downed tree and needed to turn around. As we crested a hill on our new route, we found a man who went up over the ditch with his car as he landed against the telephone pole. It had just happened moments earlier so we pulled over to ask if he was OK. He was shaken but with the exception of his damaged car, he was fine. We gave him a ride home and as we left him I could feel emotions stirring within me.

I knew I was experiencing a transformational moment. Something shifted deep within as I connected with my spirit. I realized that all of the work that I’ve been doing to launch The Leadership Collaborative came into crisper focus.

I made connections between my work and the noble cause I am passionate about. I’m still in process with it as I allow the evening adventures to continue to percolate in me.

This is all rather timely as I have been asking myself “Why?” and “For the sake of what?” to get clear on the impact I want to have in the lives of others through my business. Monday night’s adventures are helping me find my true answers which I am committed to gaining. I believe these core truths will help me create a sustainable life and business that will allow me to help the under privileged in a significant way.

All of this has brought me to a place of deep thanksgiving. Since that Monday night, I have acknowledged my gratitude in the following ways:

• being grateful for the gift of basic necessities and praying for those less fortunate,
• honoring this serving moment with my father by talking about it with him and allowing this to create a deeper connection between us,
• being thankful that as an entrepreneur, I have freedom and flexibility in my life to accommodate the unexpected situations that come up.

What about you? What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?

From this experience, I recognize that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It’s a state of being that leads to thanks living, calling forth a shift of perspective that is aligning my thoughts, actions and behaviors to match the core of who I am authentically.

I’m curious what changes this post might inspire in your life? What will thanks living mean to you? I invite you to share your comments at the blog at www.shannonbruce.com.

As you engage with family and friends this Thanksgiving, share your gratitude with them. Let them know what matters and feel the shift within and around you as you express from this place of intimate authenticity. Carry this new perspective of thanks living with you beyond the weekend and watch the world transform.

Saying a prayer of Thanksgiving for the gift of your support and relationship.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

~Irish Blessing

Photo Courtesy of Photoxpress © .shock

How might you answer the question, “What’s guiding your life?”

Are your values, vision and mission guiding you? Or are have to’s, ought to’s and should’s directing your thoughts, emotions and activities?

I recently heard this startling statistic shared by Shawn Byler, owner of Intentional Influence. She said, “20-60% of every work day is spent in an unproductive state. This means that people are distracted by worry, stress or anxiety and feel defeated on a regular basis.“

These are shocking statistics! Yet deep down I know it’s true because at times, I’ve experienced this unproductive state in both my life and work.

How about you? Do you find yourself distracted throughout the day, losing your focus, feeling frustrated and discouraged?

If you find yourself in this situation you are losing valuable and productive time. Most likely it is impacting your health, your work, and your relationships in an adverse way.

So what do you do? You need to become aware of what’s getting in the way of you being intentional.

Here are some simple yet powerful steps to take:

• Notice when you are distracted. Pause and become aware of what is causing you to lose focus.
• Take ten minutes. Write down the activities, thoughts and emotions that are getting in the way. Be an observer of your life and get curious about these distractions, without judgment.
• At the end of the day, review your list of distracting thoughts, emotions and activities. Decide what changes you will make make to bring more focus as you engage in your life and work.
• Implement your changes and keep the process of discovery going to see what else is needed.

What do you think? What distractions are getting in the way of your most authentic and productive life? Share your comments at the blog at www.shannonbruce.com.

Remember, awareness is powerful wisdom that will help you live the life you most desire!

Photo courtesy of Photoxpress © Mirek Hejnicki