Archive for Uncategorized
The Question to Ask is “What?” rather than “How?”
Posted by: | CommentsAre you crystal clear on what will bring vitality to your life and keep your business sustainable? Consider this question and then explore “Where do I spend my time?” Take a moment to write your answers.
As you look your responses, step back and make observations without judgment. Are you focused on a list of action steps that support you in “how” to take action? Are your answers and actions supporting you in creating “what” you want? In other words, are you focusing on “what” really matters and are your actions getting you where you want to go?
I met with local business leaders this week to share ideas around the “hot” topic of The Fortune is in the Follow-up. These are energetic and committed people passionate about serving their clients; it was so much fun to be in their presence! At the start of the meeting I asked what outcome they desired from my talk. Ultimately, the question being asked of this group which, I assert is a recurring one for all business owners, is “how?” Questions like:
- How do I balance my time between doing the work and following-up?
- How do I making meaningful connections that produce results?
- How do I keep in touch with the people I meet?
These are important and relevant questions; I imagine you can relate to these. However, I assert that “we” as business owners are focusing our attention on the wrong question. “How” sets you up to look for answers outside of you which can take you away from what you want and what matters to you.
The questions I want to us to be asking are based on “what”. For example:
- What is important to me?
- What information is available that will support me in having the impact I desire?
- What impact do I want to make at home, with clients and in the marketplace?
- What’s the best way for me to forward?
- What investment in relationships, coaching and/or training are necessary for me?
Shifting your attention to the “what” questions draws you inward to find your internal compass that is true and right for you. Here you tap into your core wisdom that provides clarity around your answers for “how?” Specifically, your “what” answers become the filter to run everything through as you decide “how” to move forward in meaningful and purposeful action.
What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear your comments about this so be sure to post them at the blog.
I also have an invitation for you if you want an opportunity to connect to your core to access more of your “what”. Join me for a FREE and complimentary Discover your Compass Group Coaching Session on the theme “The Power of Choice”. As I prepare to become a Compass Certified Coach I’m offering two options, one on this Thursday, 5/19 at 10:30a Pacific and another on Monday, 5/23 at 1:45p Pacific.
Perhaps now is the perfect time for you to refresh and renew from the inside-out. Find out the “what” that will lead you to the “how” that’s true for you.
Do you know who you are?
Posted by: | Comments
“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
A New Year, A New Word
Posted by: | Comments
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?
The Gift of Reflection – Increase your Impact and Improve your Results in 2011
Posted by: | Comments
Christmas is over yet there is still one present remaining if you are willing to open it. It’s the gift of reflection time spent during this last week of the year.
There is a slight “catch” with this gift. Someone isn’t going to come to you and hand you extra hours in your day for this reflection. This is one of those presents that you must decide you will get for yourself. Even once you choose this gift, you must be intentional and disciplined to make use of it.
You might be wondering why it’s so import to experience this gift. For me, this time has become non-negotiable and I guard it with intention because:
- Reflecting back on your year helps you identify your successes and wins achieved during the year. You can celebrate your accomplishments and own the many ways you’ve grown and become more of your true and authentic self.
- You clear out unnecessary thoughts, paperwork and possessions you no longer need for the coming year. This frees you up to move into the new year without hindrance.
- You identify what you want for your life and work in the coming year and can make intentional plans with action steps to get you there. This helps you begin your new year in action, being proactive toward what you want to create for 2011. This results in a thriving and fulfilling life rather than reacting to life and just surviving.
I imagine that many of you reading this blog probably still have kids at home who are on break. You’ve probably checked out from reading this post because you see this reflection time as a luxury rather than a necessity. I challenge you to take on a different perspective consider these questions:
- What if you deciding to make this time for yourself is the way you model healthy self-care to your kids?
- How might the future of your children be different if you choose to celebrate your year and plan intentionally for the one ahead?
As you choose to open the gift of reflection this week, use this celebration tool to guide you through the process. This is my free gift to you and for those of you that need a little extra encouragement, I’m going to sweeten the deal. The first 4 of you who send me an e-mail with your answers to the questions will receive a FREE 15-minute laser coaching session from me. To be considered you need to e-mail me by Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 and it’s first come, first served.
As we wind down the year, I want to celebrate each of you by thanking you for being a part of my blog community. It’s been a privilege and joy to support you with wisdom, resources and encouragement this past year and I look forward to partnering with you in 2011.
Here’s to celebrating 2010 for the sake of an extraordinary and abundant new year!
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”
Hal Borland
Fears and Faith – Stepping into the Unknown
Posted by: | Comments
Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise. It wasn’t a question of “if” you would receive anything; instead the question you pondered was actually “what?”
Imagine that you held this same perspective around the “unknown”? What if you took that step out of your comfort zone and instead of fearing the unknown outcome, you had faith that there was a gift awaiting you on the other side. Just as birthdays combine assurance and anticipation so does faith!
In my early morning Facebook posting yesterday, a dialogue on the topic of faith began. Here’s how it went:
Shannon – “Faith is learning to be OK with the unknown. It’s learning to embrace the “I don’t know” and seeing this as the open door to the many possibilities that are beyond what you could ever hope for or imagine.”
Friend #1 – “Living in the unknown also increases your faith…it’s all divine. 
”
Friend #2 – “I’m intrigued and interested in learning how to be more faithful in this regard… The “unknown” frightens me and freezes my ability to act freely.”
Can you relate to Friend #2? I know I can, along with every one of my past, present and future clients!
We all have fears and the truth is these never go away completely. On the other hand, you can turn your fears into excitement when you choose to be courageous and act in spite of them. In doing so, your faith grows because you find the gifts that are available as you step into the unknown. This changes your fears to faith as you let your anticipation for these unknown surprises give you courage along the way.
Here’s what Robert G. Allen suggests around fears and faith as you step into the unknown:
Hold up your hand and assign one letter to each finger:
FEARS = Failure, Embarrassment, Abandonment, Rejection and Success.
How do you over come your fears?
With FAITH.
FAITH = Freedom, Abundance, Inspiration, Triumph, and Happiness.
As you read this post, what’s being stirred in you? What fear will you overcome and what’s the action step of faith that you’ll take today, either in your life or your business?
Living courageously is exhilarating and scary at the same time, and it’s not meant to be done alone! Find a mentor, hire a professional coach, or get an accountability partner.
As a first step, I’d like to challenge you to share your fears and your courageous moves of faith with this community of blog readers. Let’s use this blog as a form of accountability for that one step into the unknown where your surprise gift awaits.
So I’ll start….I’m on a mission to grow my community of newsletter and blog readers and yet I haven’t directly asked for your help. Today I’m moving beyond my fear of embarrassment and rejection and asking you to send this post to 5 of your friends as you invite them to sign up for our blog and newsletter. Why you might ask? I’m looking for 500 new women and Mompreneurs to join our lists as we expand our network and impact with courageous women who are ready to overcome obstacles to discover who they are, as they boldly take action to live their inspired life vision.
Thank you for referring your friends, family and colleagues. Here’s to living courageously, overcoming fears and growing in faith!
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”—Eleanor Roosevelt
