Your Values Compass Points you True North
On January 20th, 2010, by · Comments
Imagine that you have a navigational device that guides your choices and gives you insight as to which direction to take in your life and business. What would it be worth if you could experience inner peace, ease and joy on a consistent basis, and that your life and business were thriving with greater impact and less effort? Oh, how I want this for you!!!!
A compass points true north and helps you “stay the course” as you navigate your way outdoors. The same is true of a values compass which helps you discover your own internal “true north”. This values compass becomes your barometer for making heart-centered decisions, actions and choices that increase your fulfillment and positively impact the world around you.
How do you know if you’re honoring your values and following your internal compass? Think about a time in your life when you were alive, energized and your life seemed to flow with minimal effort. In this scenario, you likely have a key value that is being honored. Now think about a situation where you were irritated, angry and struggling. Chances are you have a core value that was not being considered.
Your values are the voice of your heart and give you insight into how you are wired and what matters deeply to you. If you aren’t clear about your values, you are missing a vital piece of information that will help you overcome obstacles, discover who you are and take action toward your inspired life vision.
I challenge you to make time to discover (and rediscover) your values by listening to my interview with Marcia Brixey on the topic of Transformational Goal Setting. This audio recording is a 2 for the price of 1 so to speak, because you’ll learn your values AND how to use your them to set meaningful heart-centered goals. Be sure to download the handout because this is vital to the learning.
Your values are fundamental and foundational to aligning your life with who you are created to be, and this is not a one-time activity. One of the participants in my training class last week said, “even though I’m coaching with you and have been through The Destiny Project journey, I am taking away that my values are evolving and changing as I grow and learn. I need to pay attention to this daily.”
Oh how true this is! I am so passionate about this message on values that I am boldly asking you to share this post, my blog and our team newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues and invite them to sign-up. As Ghandi said it so eloquently, “Be the change you wish to see in this world.”
A journey to a 1,000 miles begins with a single step; what’s your next step?
Live from your Inspiration
On January 13th, 2010, by · Comments
Years ago someone told me that motivation only lasts for 72 hours. It comes from outside of you and is an external driver which doesn’t last, requiring you have to look for more of it. Inspiration comes from within and keeps you energized and moving. It’s passion on fire and the stirring in your soul which awakens your heart, stimulates your thinking and propels you to action.
So what does it mean to live from your inspiration?
Think about this in the context of your business or career. Let’s say you are working with someone who we’ll name “Ann”. As you motivate Ann with your enthusiasm, insight and wisdom, she takes action and gets results. You’re excited because she’s having an impact and seems to really understand what’s needed going forward, so you redirect your attention elsewhere. About a week later, you realize Ann didn’t follow-up with you like you’d asked and it’s awfully quiet on her end.
It’s not that Ann doesn’t want to achieve her goals; what’s actually going on here is that the motivation from you ended after 72 hours, and Ann wasn’t able to sustain the momentum without your input and influence. The truth is Ann does have what it takes, she wants to be successful and she needs inspiration, not motivation.
Just like you, Ann must be really clear on her values and what’s important to her, because there’s not enough “you” to go around to keep her and everyone else in your realm of influence motivated. Quite frankly it’s draining and exhausting, and will cause your life to become imbalanced.
What Ann needs is an emotional connection so her actions are connected to her heart, calling forth her internal inspiration. This will give her the inner drive to stay engaged in her business and getting greater impact with less effort because she’s acting from the inside core of who she is, also known as her “sweet spot”. This aliveness will keep her spark going even during the challenging times, which means that you no longer have to be the catalyst to keep Ann moving. Your role has now shifted to keeping her connected to her inspiration which will bring more aliveness and balance to the relationship between the two of you. It’s actually a win-win all the way around!
To help you live from your inspiration here are some key steps that will help you inspire others to do the same:
- Uncover your unique values, which are woven into the fabric of your being and flow out of your heart. These will point to what internally inspires you.
- Discover your deeper why. Underneath the surface, there is a something much greater that connects you to your inspiration. Ask questions like, “what’s really important?”, “what else?”, and “why?” to allow your inspiration to percolate to the surface.
- Focus what’s going on within you. When you engage in an activity, what’s happening inside? Where you do you notice an awakening and stirring in your heart and soul? This will reveal what inspires you.
As you connect with and live from your inspiration, you can begin to do this with others. After all, inspire means to “breathe life into dreams”.
What inspires you? How might you inspire others? Share your comments at the blog and let’s inspire one another!
Direct Selling Education Foundation partners with Money Wi$e Women Educational Services
On January 11th, 2010, by · CommentsThe Direct Selling Education Foundation is now sponsoring the 2010 Money Wi$e Women Get Smart Teleseminar Series. All calls are now FREE!
Tune in January 12th from 5:30-6:30pm Pacific when Marcia Brixey Interviews Shannon Bruce about:
“The 5 Keys to Unlocking Passion, Purpose and Prosperity:A Transformational Approach to Goal Setting “
Click Here to Register and you can listen live or download to listen to at your leisure.
Please share the Get Smart Series with others — through email, blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
For more about this exciting partnership between Money Wi$e Women Get Smart and the Direct Selling Education Foundation read the full press release.
What’s your Story for 2010? Goals from the Inside-Out
On January 6th, 2010, by · Comments
I’ve been spending my time this new year preparing for three talks I’m doing over the next week. It won’t be a surprise that the theme for all of these conversations is about setting meaningful and purposeful goals for 2010.
Over the past several years, I’ve realized that traditional goal setting doesn’t work. These goals set from the head are hollow and lack the inspiration to stay committed.
It’s really about setting goals from the heart and the core of who you are. Without an emotional connection, your goals are just good ideas that are externally driven by have to’s, ought to’s and should’s. They look great on paper but leave you feeling unfulfilled when achieved, or worst yet, beating yourself up because you didn’t do anything to accomplish them.
Goals must be connected to your values which is about what truly matters to you. Beyond that, your goals need a “doing” element and also a “being” aspect that flows out of who you are authentically. After all, you’re not a “human doing”, you’re a “human being”!
So where do you start?
- Take a new approach to goal setting. Make a choice to set your goals based on your values. To learn more about this transformational way of setting goals, join me when Marcia Brixey interviews me on Tuesday, 1/12/10 for the FREE Money Wise Get Smart Conference call.
- Reflect on what you really believe, desire and want. Check out my friend Michael Warden’s blog as you ponder his provocative question, “If someone examined your daily routine for one week, what would they say you truly believed about life?” This will actually give you insight into your core values.
- Create the story you want to make in 2010. Develop your goals from this powerful, heart connected place. Be sure to read Donald Miller’s Blog “Living a Good Story, An Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions”.
- Attend one of my upcoming training conversations on the topic. Learn more about this new approach to setting powerful and purpose goals this year.
If you want to know if you’re chasing after the right goals, sign up for our monthly newsletter and receive your free report on the topic.
So what will your story be for 2010? I’d love to hear so share your thoughts at the blog.
Here’s to the amazing story of your life this year!
Celebrate and Acknowledge 2009
On December 30th, 2009, by · Comments
I recently had the chance to pause and celebrate my past year and was amazed at all that has happened in 2009. There have been huge milestones like the launch of the new website, blogging and the venture into social media. However, when I looked beyond the obvious I was pleasantly surprised that my year was sprinkled with several small and consistent wins that have made this year a huge success for me, based on what I define as being successful.
So here’s the bottom line. You must make time to celebrate and acknowledge your wins for 2009! Why? Without knowing where you’ve been and what you’ve accomplished, both inside and out, who knows where you’ll end up in 2010. Also, be sure to review your year based on your personal definition of success, not what someone else would consider it to be.
There is a passage from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll which cleverly illustrates why it’s important to know where you are headed in life, especially in this ever changing world we live:
“Cheshire Puss,” she began rather timidly, as she did not know at all whether it would like the name. However, it only grinned a little wider. “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.
“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.
“So long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the cat, “if you only walk long enough, because if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
So in the coming days, block your time and take 60-minutes to Acknowledge 2009, using this tool as your guide. Set your course onto the path that will lead you to what you want to create for 2010! And, if you’re ready to overcome your limitations, discover who you are, and take action toward your inspired life vision, it’s time to schedule your 15-minute complimentary information call to see if partnering with one of our coaches is your next step in the new year!
As your new year blossoms, may the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities, your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be happy with love! Happy New Year!
