Be the Captain of Your Journey

“I’d rather be a failure at something I enjoy
than be a success at something I hate.”
~ George Burns

Recently, I was having lunch with Sheila, a very old friend who has successfully climbed the corporate ladder. I admired her for all that she had accomplished and, honestly, was a little jealous.

During coffee, we started discussing our lives and, to my amazement, Sheila expressed how unhappy she was.  She wished she had taken the same path I did by starting her own business. I sat there staring at her and explained how I admired what she had accomplished and wished I took the same path she did. We both started to laugh!

Of course, as a coach I explained it was never too late to explore other options. I suggested that she start working with a coach. Sheila became very interested in what I had to say and requested I send her the name of a coach with whom she could work.

The important lesson I learned was that we are all human beings with our own unique stories. What a gift we receive when we share ourselves with others.

On the way home, I was thinking how fortunate I am to love what I do, even when I feel frustrated and overwhelmed.  It is amazing how we can think the grass is always greener on someone else’s lawn until we take the time to become aware of what is really happening in our own backyard!

I invite you to complete the exercise below.  Please answer honestly and without any judgment. You will be the only one to evaluate the results.

1. Make a list of all your strengths and special gifts. 
2. Looking back over the years, identify one big accomplishment that changed your life. 
3. What new direction did your life take?
4. Do you feel empowered or unfulfilled?
   1. If you are felling empowered, why do you feel this way?
   2. If you are feeling unfulfilled, journal about steps you can take to improve your situation.  
5. Journal about the vision you see your life taking in 2012.

After completing this exercise, evaluate your answers and journal about the golden nuggets you uncovered.   What are your next steps?

Please let the Love Yourself –It Matters! Community know if you need support in any areas of your business. We are here to support each other. All you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of this post and I will get back to you.  Working together, we will be able to travel down the road of life in a very supportive environment. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

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Creating a Thriving Business

“Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.” 
~ Mark Twain

If we could live our lives backward, imagine how much easier it would be to run a business!  We would all have answers at our finger tips. There would be fewer struggles; and the money would come pouring in.

Unfortunately, life and business have twists and turns and we need to learn from these experiences. For most of us, when we started our businesses everything felt new and exciting; but as time passed, the excitement began to dwindle and frustration set in.

While there is no simple answer, this is a great time to take a personal inventory of your true desires and the path you want to follow.  I’ve approached these crossroads many times and, after taking inventory, found myself moving in new directions. 

For example, I have chosen to change my niche and work with different target markets. When I first started coaching my clientele consisted of women in transition; then people who were retiring. After a few years, my target market changed again, and I worked with individuals who wanted to get off the diet merry-go-round.

Then it changed again, and this time my niche found me. I became a coaches’ coach, and for the last 5 years coaches have been my primary clientele.  My business has flourished and I have never been so creative.  

Now It’s Your Turn!

This simple exercise is designed to help you discover your true business strengths and passion.

• Write your answers to the following questions:
  • What do you love about your business?
  • Describe your ideal client (professionals, teens, young mothers, etc.)
  • List your strengths and skills. 
  • How are you being creative?
  • What support will you need to promote your business?
  • Outline the changes you want or have to implement.
• Read over your answers and highlight details that jump out at you.  Include your ideal client, strengths and skills, along with the support you will need to grow your business, etc.  These items will help you paint a picture of your new direction.
• Close your eyes and picture your business thriving. 
• List the key ingredients for this success.
• Plan your first steps in creating, shifting, or expanding a successful and prosperous business.
• Discuss your findings and plan with the support of a coach, friend or mastermind group.

When your exercise is complete, please share your new business ideas with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community in the comment section below.  Feel free to contact me at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net if you are experiencing difficulty in completing the exercise.

Working together, we will build thriving businesses!

Helen

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Uncovering Your Vision

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.”

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Reading Norman Vincent Peale’s quote made me realize what power we have. The choice is ours—either we can feel disillusioned or powerful and creative. Doesn’t that sound simple and so hard to accomplish?

Is your business taking a vacation during December? Clients are taking time off, and prospecting for new clients is an uphill climb. Here is your golden opportunity to take time for yourself and think about 2012!

We can let our emotions start dictating our lives when we fixate on such thoughts as we are not making much money this month, our business is not growing and we will have to find a new career. Or, on the other hand, we can feel excited about the extra time we have to do the things we want and plan for 2012. The choice is ours.

My choice is to embrace my power and start planning for 2012. This thought alone energizes me.

Steps to take in creating a powerful and rewarding 2012:

• Write yourself a letter describing your dreams and desires for 2012. Include all the aspects of your life—your business, vacations and new opportunities you would like to explore.
• Keep adding to the list for a few days. Our thoughts will keep multiplying when we give ourselves the freedom to be honest and not pass any judgment on our vision.
• When you feel your list is complete, create different categories for your ideas (business, vacations, social events, family and friends).
• Plug the ideas into the different categories. You will be amazed what thoughts surface. Congratulations, you now have your dream list. 
• Choose both a big and a small dream you would like to accomplish. Plan the two steps you will take this week for each dream. Remember, as my mother always said, “Rome was not built in a day.”

Taking time during this quiet time to plan for a powerful and rewarding 2012 is a beautiful gift you are giving yourself. ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Now It’s Your Turn

After completing the above exercise, please share your dreams and action steps with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community. Sharing with each other creates support so miracles can start happening.

Let me tell you a little story. At a networking meeting last week, the facilitator requested that everyone in the room share their vision for 2012. When it was my turn, I shared that my vision was to support a nonprofit organization working with overweight children. Before I left the meeting, three people approached me with the names of specific nonprofit groups and contact information for people who are working with overweight children. By sharing your dream with others, miracles start to happen right away.

Let’s work together and support each other!

Helen

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Trusting the Universe!

“…the moment one definitely commits
oneself,
then Providence moves too.”
~ Goethe

Reading Goethe’s quote brought a smile to my face, realizing all I had to do is commit to an idea and then have faith the Universe will guide me. Isn’t that simple?

The hardest part is to have faith and let the Universe guide me. I find that my desire to control everything gets in the way. What about you? Are you willing to let things go and experience the outcome, or are you driven to get in there and fix things?

Let me tell you a little story. I was thinking about my business and what new steps I could take to increase my passion. Of course, no ideas popped into my mind. After a while I decided to go do something else and forget about the idea. Every so often the thought would pop into my head. But, as before, I drew a blank. During that time, members of the Coaches’ Coaching Circle (Circle) were completing a survey to let the Love Yourself Coaching Team know what other services they would like the Circle to offer. It became apparent they were interested in an educational series.

Realizing this was a great opportunity for the members of the Circle and myself, I knew my next step was to organize the Circle Educational Series. My passion was on fire again. How amazing the Universe guided me, and I did not have to do anything.

Events of the Circle Educational Series are scheduled for the last Wednesday of every month at 1:00 pm ET. During the events, coaches and small business owners receive expert advice from various seasoned leaders in the coaching industry. It’s free to listen in on these calls.

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011,@ 1 pm ET and 10 am PT, you can hear Michelle Schubnel discuss “The 7 Key Ingredients for a Full Coaching Practice of High-Paying Clients.”

All you have to do is register here to receive instructions for joining the call.

It’s Your Turn!

Please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community what experiences you have had with trusting the Universe and having faith things will work out. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Take Care,

Helen

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Can you believe November is already here?

What happened to 2011?

Thinking about the year, I automatically started visualizing the highlights of the year as well as the struggles. The big lesson I learned this year was to stop projecting how things will work out and just enjoy the moments leading up to the event.

This is easier said than done.

Let’s put our heads together and come up with a strategy to spend more time in the moment instead of worrying all the time.

Below are some ideas that work for me:

• Be more aware of what I’m thinking and stop the thought in midair by closing my eyes and saying out loud, “What is happening right now?”
• Tell myself, “I don’t have to worry about anything right now.”
• Put music on, and dance around the room.
• Call a friend, and have a good laugh.
• Go for a cup of coffee, and smile at the first person I meet.

Now it’s your turn! What techniques do you use to stay in the moment instead of projecting your fears on the outcome?
 
Below are the ideas I received from some of the Love Yourself – It Matters! Ezine readers. Thank you everyone for sharing your techniques for creating a peaceful and loving life for yourself.  

Katie Keating

A few thoughts in response to your Ezine.

• Have faith- work on your spirituality.
• Read Dale Carnegies book, How to stop worrying, and start living,
• Volunteer and do a good deed for another in need.

Have a superb day!

~ Katie Keating

Doretha “Dee” Burrell

Things that keep me focused:

• I allow myself to shed a tear from time to time when things seem tough, but no more than 5 minutes.
• When stressed, I go out for a walk, meditate or practice yoga.
• I sit at my computer and email people that I think I would never get responses from- great example- A few days ago I  was having one of those days that my spirit and soul needed a little  uplifting, so I decided to email John Paul Mitchell (owner of Paul Mitchell Hair) to inform him that I had the opportunity to speak at one of his schools in NJ. Well, would you believe I received a response yesterday from him!)
• Believe in myself and what I am doing is going to work.. never quit, never give-up. I read a lot about very successful people and how some of them actually were homeless at one point in their lives and now they are millionaires. I’m not homeless yet, but if things don’t pick up… I might be there: Remember you must be able to laugh at yourself sometimes!

~ Dee

Doretha “Dee” Burrell
http://www.deeburrellinstituteforwomen.com/
http://about.me/deeburrell 

Alvah Parker

I wrote a list once about changing your mood.  Certainly if you are feeling fear it is important to move away from the fear and toward something else.  Perhaps one of the suggestions on the list would work.   You’ll find my list here http://www.asparker.com/ppts1003.html   I wrote it in 2003, but it still makes sense to me.  Feel free to use it if it feels right to you.

My Best,

~ Alvah Parker
Parker Associates
781-598-0388 (voice)
781-593-1734 (fax)
617-240-5353 (cell)
LinkedIn
Twitter

“Everyone has his own specific vocation in life..Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated..Thus everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it. We detect rather than invent our mission in life.”  Victor Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”

Read Road to Success, an ezine and Parker’s Points, a tip list with articles and tips on career or practice building topics. To subscribe go to Alvah’s website and choose the edition for career changers and/or attorneys.

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Hunches Are Miracles in Disguise

“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”
~ Frank Capra

Thank you, Frank Capra, for your quote. I am always having hunches and most of the time just let them evaporate into thin air. From now on when I have a hunch, I will stop and listen.

A hunch is described as a premonition, intuition, instinct or idea. Many of these thoughts are constantly passing through our minds. Instead of letting them float away, we have another option: pay attention to our hunches.

As I am writing this blog post, a thought has popped into my head. What a difference it would make to work with a group of coaches who want to offer their services during this time of year to people who are struggling. 

What comes to mind is helping the unemployed. We could barter our services. That way, we are supporting individuals in their time of need and at the same time giving them an opportunity to give us a gift. When I first started coaching, one of my friends made me roasted vegetables in exchange for my coaching services.

What do you think about this idea? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net.

Here are some of the ways we can find unemployed people who might be interested in our services:

• Ask friends, family members or neighbors if they know of anyone who is unemployed. Request they contact the person to see if this person would like to receive support in finding a job. Once you know the person is interested, give this person a call.
• Put an ad in your local newspaper; in some cases, such an ad may be free. We can work together in making the content inviting.
• Go to a networking event that reaches out to the unemployed. Get to know the attendees, and schedule to have coffee with the people you meet.
• Put a flyer on display on the bulletin boards of local thrift shops or food banks. Another idea is to volunteer your time at the thrift shop or food bank so you can strike up conversations with people in need of coaching services.
• Send an email to various houses of worship in your area, volunteering to present a motivational program for groups serving the unemployed. 
• Let me know your ideas for reaching out to people who are struggling during the holiday season.

Together let’s make a difference. I am anxiously waiting to hear from you. Either leave a comment on this blog or send me an email at helen@loveyourselfcoaching.net with your ideas of how we can put this group together and get started.

Let’s make this year different and give to those in NEED!

Helen

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Small Business Owners Can Experience Happiness at a Moment’s Notice

Happiness is a butterfly

“Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued,
is always just beyond your grasp, but,
which, if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you.”
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Even though we have been in business for years, we are always looking for “Happiness.” Sometimes we are happy and walk around with a smile on our faces and other times it seems like a pie in the sky. 

What truly is “Happiness?” It means different things to each one of us. For me it is a sense of fulfillment, self-confidence, accomplishment, joy…. The list can go on forever.

When you are happy, what feelings surface for you?

Let’s take this a little further and see how we can bring this sense of happiness into our business. We have the ability to experience this feeling whenever we want. That is a big statement!

Let’s see how we can always have this feeling within our grasp. One way as Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests is “to sit down quietly and let the feeling alight upon you.” Easier said than done!

Since no ideas were flowing as to how we can accomplish this special feeling, I turned off the computer and just sat down quietly to see what would happen.

At first sitting quietly was very difficult. As the seconds passed it became a little easier. All of a sudden I felt a sense of peace and fulfillment. As I enjoyed this feeling a thought popped into my head of all the great things that were happening in my business.

What a great experience!

Now it is your turn to sit in a comfortable chair and let the thoughts surface. Please don’t give up to easily as time passes you will feel more relaxed and a sense of contentment will surface.

Please share your experience with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community. Together we can learn from each other and be able to grasp the feeling of “Happiness” at a moment’s notice.

Enjoy!

Helen

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Change Brings Happiness into Our Lives!

Change Your Thinking

“Things don’t change.
You change your way of looking, that’s all.”
~ Carlos Castaneda

When I read Carlos Castaneda’ quote it really struck me.  How we are always looking for our life to change and never take the time to change our thoughts. 

Castaneda suggests change the way you look at things.  EASIER SAID THAN DONE!

Let me tell you a little story… I am working with a client, who we call Fran.  Her business was steadily growing through the years.  One day she woke-up thinking her business was failing.  If things didn’t turn around quickly she was going to be bankrupt in a few months. 

When she called me, Fran was devastated and could not understand what happened.  Last month she did not feel this way, and was implementing new programs.  All of a sudden she was thinking about letting her team members go and maybe looking for a JOB. 

We discussed what was happening and looked at her business growth objectively.  After checking with her Accountant, Fran was surprised to learn that the profits this month were higher than last month.  What changed was her thinking.

Isn’t it amazing how we allow ourselves to cause suffering in our own lives.

Next time things are running smoothly and you want to shake up your life, implement the following steps.  This exercise also helps people who are facing real hardships in their lives.

• STOP take a deep breath and ask yourself the question, “Is what I am thinking right now, really true and nothing will ever change?”  By stepping back and examining the situation we start seeing our challenges from a different perspective and solutions start appearing. 
• Make an agreement with yourself not to think about your challenge for today.  Every time the thought pops into your head tell yourself, I will think about it tomorrow.  Miracles happen all the time so don’t waste your time worrying about something that can change in minutes.  There is an old saying, “Most circumstances we imagine never materialize.”
• Think of a time in your life when you were experiencing difficulties and within a short period of time everything turned around and your life was better than it was before.  This happens all the time and by visualizing what happened will give you strength and hope to continue. 
• Remind yourself constantly, that you are doing the best you can and the Universe is here to guide you.  
• Think happy thoughts at least once every thirty minutes.  By thinking these thoughts you will start changing your philosophy and a smile will appear on your face. 

As Castaneda says, “Things don’t change. You change your way of looking, that’s all.”

Please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community your thoughts about this blog post.  Together we will grow and experience joy in our lives. 

Helen

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Enriching Your Life by Making Small Positive Changes

Give yourself a special gift

“Every small positive change
we make in ourselves
repays us in confidence
in the future.”
~ Alice Walker

As we go through our day, we have a choice either to make changes in our thinking and behaviors or just ignore them.  Sometimes it is easier to just ignore the changes instead of taking a risk. Choosing this road we somehow chip away at our confidence.

Give yourself a special gift and take a risk no matter how small.  It will certainly enrich your confidence.  My favorite step is to send someone an email congratulating them for their accomplishments.  By sending the email we both feel good.   

I was working with Tracy, a client, and she was moving ahead slowly in building her business.  In-between our sessions Tracy would take small risks and experienced very little joy.  Until one day during a session, while discussing the possibility of stepping out of her comfort zone she realized this was a difficult task for her. 

Tracy lived life very cautiously after having experienced very difficult times in her past.  Not only had she failed at two businesses the challenges from that situation robbed her of faith and self-esteem.  Needless to say, her self-confidence was not very strong.

We talked about that being her past and today being a new beginning.  What could she do differently to test the waters?   We brainstormed many ideas and nothing actually felt comfortable.  Her low self-esteem was growing stronger by the moment. 

She decided to think about different ideas during the week and email me her thoughts.  We then started talking about how she loved to run and was working with a group of teenagers.  Instantly, Tracy started to get excited and realized by working with the teenagers she was stepping out of her comfort zone. 

What we both learned from that situation is not to only focus on the risks you are taking in your business and to include your whole life.   

An easy exercise to acknowledge yourself for the risks you are taking on a daily basis. 

• At the end of the day take a few minutes to think about your day and what made you excited.  Example: Called a client who I have not worked with for awhile and found out she was opening a Wellness Center.  Her dream had finally come true.
• Take out your journal and write about the part you played in the situation and how you felt. Read through your writing and highlight your feelings. There is no right or wrong way of doing this exercise, just write what comes to mind.  By expressing your feelings it brings to light what makes you happy or sad.   
• Close your eyes and quietly think about other times you felt the same way.  Thinking about other times in your life enables you to realize how you bring joy to others and yourself.
• Plan to schedule time to take advantage of these fun opportunities again. 

Enjoy!

Share with the Love Yourself – It Matters Community what you learned by completing this exercise.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

Helen

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Acceptance of Who We Are

Life is like a rollercoaster.

“There are two kinds of people:
Those who don’t do what they want to do,
so they write down in a diary about what they haven’t done,
and those who haven’t time to write about it because they’re out doing it.”

~ Richard Flournoy and Lewis R. Foster

Reading this quote brought a smile to my face.  Some days I am the first person they described and other days the second one.  We are all human beings and our actions are dictated largely by our attitude.

Some days I wake up in the morning feeling motivated and other times I want to pull the covers over my head.  Either way I have to get out of bed and take action. Feeling motivated means going with the flow and implementing action steps that will move my business forward.  When feeling overwhelmed, it takes courage to start thinking and moving in another direction.

What is a person to do?  Acknowledge what is going on and support yourself accordingly.

When feeling discouraged it is time for pampering.  We all need a vacation from our daily routines. The important thing to remember is that it’s important to regroup and learn what is happening in our lives.  Instead of fighting our thoughts, feelings and blaming ourselves just go with the flow.  Acceptance improves our attitude and we learn from our experiences.  Have faith. You will start feeling motivated again. 

Below are ways to pamper yourself:

• Cook yourself a healthy and delicious breakfast.  My favorite pancake recipe:
  • ¼ Cup of Cottage Cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 package of oatmeal
  • 6 oz. container of yogurt
  • 1 cup of blueberries

Combine the cottage cheese, egg and oatmeal together and cook on a medium flame.  When pancake is cooked top it with the yogurt and blueberries.  ENJOY!

• Exercise!  It makes you feel alive and good again.
• Pick out clothes that make you feel good.  
• Work for a few hours.  Continue acknowledging yourself.  Example: After writing an article, acknowledge yourself for how easy it is to write and express your ideas.  
• Sit back in a chair and just relax.  Do absolutely nothing!!
• If inclined, take a bubble bath.
• Journal about your magnificence. I know this may be hard.  Just get started and the ideas will flow.  Example of getting started:  Helen, I want to thank you for taking the time to acknowledge how I am feeling.  This has made a big impact I am starting to regain my self-confidence and my day is beginning to change…  
• Give yourself permission to just be you and do whatever you want. 

Enjoy the time!

Life is like a rollercoaster. By keeping a positive attitude, accepting our thoughts and feelings, and pampering ourselves makes the ride worthwhile. 
 
Good Luck!
 
Helen

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What You Believe Creates Miracles

Within you right now is the power

“Within you right now is the power
to do things you never dreamed possible.
This power becomes available to you
just as soon as you can change your beliefs.”
 
~ Maxwell Maltz

What a strong quote!  If you stop and think about the quote it definitely makes sense.  How many times in your life after changing your beliefs do miracles start happening.

For the past six months I have been thinking how hard everything is in my life.  My business has been growing at a slow pace and that nagging thought of being a widow has been getting to me.  I have been living in the victim role for awhile.
 
I attended an iPEC Life Potential Training and my thinking did a 360 degree turn.  I realized I was the creator of my choices.  I could feel sorry for myself or celebrate my life.  At that point, I decided to celebrate my life, my beliefs changed and miracles started happening.
 
Instead of focusing on my business’ growth, I started thinking about how Love Yourself Coaching was providing a service.  Thinking about this new concept, out of the clear blue sky, the phone rang and it was from a client who I worked with a few years ago.  She called to tell me how our coaching sessions changed her life and wanted to start working together again.  This is one example of how Love Yourself Coaching is changing the lives of one person at a time.  This situation strengthened my belief system.
 
Taking the following steps will assist you in changing your beliefs.

• Write down your beliefs about your business.
• Read through them and underline your positive beliefs
• List all your positive thoughts 
• Pick one thought that jumps out at you
• Say the following affirmation each day after your first cup of coffee or tea
  • I choose to believe that (your positive thought) is happening right now.  Example: I choose to belief that my coaching practice is constantly helping small business owners create prosperous businesses while loving themselves.

Now It Is Your Turn

Please share with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community your affirmation.  By letting others know about your belief makes it a reality.  At the same time the Universe will hear it and support you in making it real.

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Need Help from My Friends

If you aspire to the highest place,
it is no disgrace to stop
at the second or even
the third place.
~ CIERO, 106-43 BC
(Roman orator, statesman and essayist)

I can’t believe after all these years we are still receiving the same advice.  In one of Cheryl Richardson’s books she stated, “When planning your exercise program, always plan on a reasonable amount of miles you will walk each day instead of pushing yourself unrealistically.  For example plan on walking 2 miles a day instead of 4 and when you have walked the 4 miles imagine how good you will feel.  On the other hand, if you walked 4 miles it will even feel better.” I paraphrased what Cheryl had stated.
 
I have always taken this advice.  At first it was a challenge to post every day.  As time went on, I realized this was not in my best interest.  Some days I had other commitments and blogging was not an option.  By relaxing and not pushing myself so hard the blog posts improved.  More people sent me comments and my blog started attracting traffic.
 
After a few years, I started cutting back on posting articles and before I knew it days and weeks would go by before I posted an article. I have been in this slump for a long time.  Some thoughts for reversing this slump:

• The first thing in the morning before looking at my emails, at least twice a week, make myself a cup of coffee and write an article for the Love Yourself – It Matters! Blog. 
• I am committing to the Love Yourself – It Matters Community that I will post at least twice a week.  This is very scary!
• Please send me emails after you read my post.  That way I will know people are reading what I write, which makes me feel more committed.
• Striving to be in third place it will give me an opportunity to celebrate. 

Please, please members of this community; I need your support and ideas so that I can move forward. 

Looking forward to hearing from you.
 
Helen

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Secret for Accomplishing Goals

Skyrocket Your Business in 30 Days – While Having Coffee with Helen

What three things do you
want to accomplish this year?
Write them down and place them
on your refrigerator
for inspiration all year long.
~ Anonymous

I was flipping thru inspirational quotes to find the right one for today’s message.  When I came across the quote above, it made me think about what three things I wanted to accomplish in 2011.
 
The last 3 ½ months have flown by quickly.  My biggest accomplishment was writing and having a book published.  This was a longtime dream that after many attempts finally became a reality. The name of the book is Skyrocket Your Business in 30 Days – While Having Coffee with Helen.
 
After celebrating the publication of the book, I kept thinking “What is next?” 
 
With time on my hands, I decided to think about the next three things I wanted to accomplish in the remaining 7 ½ months of 2011.  Below is the exercise that helped me discover my next three goals for 2011.  

1. Close your eyes and ground yourself by taking five deep breaths and releasing them.  When taking the breaths let the warm sunshine fill your body.  While releasing the breaths let go of your negative feelings and thoughts. 
2. Picture yourself just relaxing in your favorite spot.  Mine is sitting under a big tree feeling warm and cozy with a blanket wrapped around me.
3. Think about three things you would like to accomplish by the end of 2011.  They are only ideas and nothing is written in stone.  My ideas were:
   •  Celebrate with family and friends the publication of my book by having a big party and inviting everyone I know.
   • Facilitate a seminar, “Skyrocket Your Business in 30 Days – While Having Coffee with Helen” in different coffee shops.
   • Get ready to move to the NJ Shore area.
4. Let all the thoughts and ideas disappear into the Universe. 
5. At the count of 5 open your eyes and sit quietly for a few minutes.
6. When ready write down all your ideas.
7. Chose which three goals you would like to accomplish by the end of 2011.  The three goals I chose are listed in step 3.

Now it is Your Turn:
 
Complete the exercise above to determine what three things you want to accomplish by the end of 2011.  Once you have determined which goals you would like to accomplish, “Write them down and place them on your refrigerator for inspiration all year long.”  Also, feel free to share your three goals for 2011 in the comment section of this blog.  Let the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community know what three things you would like to accomplish.  We are all here to support each other. 
 
Helen

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Building a Business One Step at a Time

“If you can’t feed a hundred people,
then just feed one.”
~ Mother Teresa

As business owners we want to help as many people as we can.  Who would like to coach 100 one-on-one clients each day and support them in living the life of their dreams?  Sorry to say since we only have 24 hours in a day, that is unrealistic. 
 
As Mother Teresa says, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”  Building a coaching business takes one client at a time. 
 
At first it was very hard to enroll clients so I became creative and bartered my services.  My first client cooked me roasted vegetables and I coached her for 30 minutes.  Then another client hired me and I charged her $60 a month.  As time went on my practice started to grow and gradually I increased my rates.  Today, incorporating many other services into my business, I feel very successful.
 
How successful you feel is the key to your well-being.  It doesn’t matter if you have only one client or 20.  The secret is what you are telling yourself. 
 
You’ll automatically feel successful by shifting your thinking and focusing on the accomplishments your clients are achieving.
 
Below are a few steps you can take to remind yourself of your success:

• After each coaching session with a client write yourself a short note acknowledging your coaching skills.
• Before closing down for the night, read each accomplishment out loud.
• Continue this practice for a week.

Feeling you are providing special gifts to your clients will reinforce your love for coaching and you will feel very successful.
 
Please share your success stories with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community.

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Business Opportunities Come Knocking!

“Opportunity is missed by most people
because it is dressed in overalls
and looks like hard work.”
~ Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison put it so elegantly that we overlook many opportunities because we have to be the action force behind every opportunity.
 
Sometimes it is okay to let the Universe provide instead of constantly running after our dreams.
 
Let me tell you a little story… Sandy (name changed) was running a non-profit organization, constantly networking and applying for grants.  She believed you had to push yourself to the limit before receiving any compensation for your hard work.  So every day she was working 10 to 12 hour days and did not have any type of personal life.
 
Sandy’s outlook on life was dismal because she was working all the time and not enjoying the other aspects of her life.  One day she complained to her sister that she had to work all the time and would never have time to relax and enjoy herself again.
 
Her sister understood exactly what she was saying and suggested she start working with a coach.  Feeling overwhelmed she called me. 
 
We started working together and explored her beliefs.  Sandy strongly felt that hard work was her mission in life. 
 
We started looking at other options.  Eventually, Sandy became aware of opportunities that were just presenting themselves.  She had a very creative and dedicated staff and gave them the freedom to succeed. 
 
Sandy at first was shocked that she did not have to be the driving force behind the non-profit.  Gradually, she gave herself permission to start looking at ways to enjoy her life.  Today she is just a member of the team and enjoys the other aspects of her life.
 
Giving up control and letting other opportunities present themselves is freeing.
 
What aspect of your life is holding you back?
 
Below is an exercise that will enable you to create more freedom in your life.

• Take out your journal and write about the aspect of your life you would like to change.  Example: I have to work 10 to 12 hours a day in order for my business to be successful.
• Reread what you have written.
• Start punching holes through your ideas by continually asking yourself, “What is the truth?” Example:  Idea – my employees might make mistakes and everything will fall apart. 

What is the truth? Others are just as creative and sometimes have better ideas than I do.

• Pick one idea you would like to change.  Example:  I have to stay in the office until 7:00pm in case anyone calls.  
• Chose an action step to change your idea.  Example:  Survey for a week how many calls are received after 5:00pm.  Then decided if you have to change the receptionist hours or just let the voicemail take messages.
• Continue taking action steps to change your thinking.

Remember…Once we become aware of what is happening, decide to take a risk and then action steps, everything slowly changes.  Enjoy the journey!
 
Please partner with the Love Yourself – It Matters! Community by sharing your ideas and challenges.  Together we will make a difference in our businesses and lives.

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