How Clear Are You on What You Really, Really Want?

One would think that when a person is asked what they really, really want in work, in life, in a relationship, that the response would be immediate. Surprisingly, or perhaps, not so surprising, the responses are: silence... or "Let me think for a minute," or more sadly, "I really don't take time to think about what I really want, I'm too busy doing."

Silence or "Let me think for a minute"...

These two are interesting responses. They to me indicate that the person is stopped short for several reasons.

1. Genuinely, I need time to give a thoughtful response because it is important to me
2. Actually, I am afraid to express what I really want
   
3. I need to think about a response that will sound interesting and important enough to share and impress you
   
4. I don't trust you and so I'm not willing to share

This third response, "I really don't take time to think about what I really want, I'm too busy doing," indicates several things to me.

1. I'm not worthy of investing thinking time in myself to fully appreciate what I really want
2. I'm not used to stopping all the crazy busyness to think
   
3. I'm clueless to how important understanding what I really want is to me and to anyone involved with me
   

Whatever the reasons or stories we have for not clarifying what we really want, it has become profoundly clearly to me, that this is one of our greatest limiting factors in success in business and joy in life. The more I am clear about what I want, the more likely I am to attract that want (positive or negative into my life).

And so, I am leaving you with this question, "What do you really, really want out of ...?"

Or in the words of Henry David Thoreau....will you "live your life in quiet desperation."

New Year's Resolutions - aka - ACTS(TM)

2010 is coming to a close. Historically, at this time of year people generally start making New Year's resolutions. Popularly New Year's resolutions are regarding losing weight or to stop some other destructive behavior. The tradition is attributed to the ancient Babylonian's - the resolution - returning borrowed farm equipment.

I wonder who was more successful with resolutions, the ancient Babylonians or we in the present day?

There are four ways to make New Year's Resolutions stick.

Step 1 Assess what you would like to change.

At the end of 2009, I reviewed my journal, completed some psychometric evaluations and conducted some informal 360 degree evaluations. The results were astonishing - I needed to work on personal responsibility. (No really, that is not really a surprise, I am notorious for over extending, doing more for others and failing to accomplish my personal objectives and goals. Now, I had a starting point


Step 2 Create a purpose and vision for what you would have identified will help you the most.

I decided to allow myself to expand and innovate. I spent January reviewing my dream inventory (what I would like to accomplish in 2011). My passions came alive in quiet times of reflection and in conversations with close and trusted friends and advisers. I now clearly focused on what I needed to do to ensure personal accountability. and formalized my strategic plan in writing.

Step 3 Transform your life by setting goals and taking action.

I used the wheels of life to help me prioritize my goals physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, financially, socially, financially, and in my career to ensure ta for how I would be more accountable to my purpose with changes This really helped to break my resolution into interesting images for success and growth.Now I could set 1 goal for each area. This simplified the process it was and is easier for me to manage my time.

Step 4 Sustain your progress and success.

In the past, this has been the area where I and most people fail. No pun intended, but now we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions in order to get the results that we desire. I enhanced an approach that I used to monitor my progress weekly, monthly, quarterly and at the end of the year. I changed how I journaled daily to monitor daily when I started something new.

Now you have it, my approach to New Year's Resolutions. This year has proved to be an amazing year in all aspects in my life. I have a very long way to go with personal accountability and I am now in year two for starting ACTS(TM) all over again.

Here's a start for you with ACTS(TM)

What have you Assessed that needs to change in 2011?

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What is the new image, vision or picture that you will create for 2011?

_________________________________________
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What goals will your set and actions will you take in 2011?

_________________________________________
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How will you measure your progress in 2011?

_________________________________________
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Five Keys for The Keeper of Momentum

Entering into a contract, new relationship or role, we often start off with motivation, interest and enthusiasm. As time goes on, however, this level of intensity seems to drop. So how can we become a keeper of momentum?



Purpose. Discovering one's purpose and contribution to the work is the first key to success. "When we know our Why, our How constantly shows up."

Passion. Igniting one's passion for involvement certainly starts a relationship or engagement off on the right foot. Keeping that passion burning after the initial excitement passes is the second key.

Principles. In order to have sustainable success, we must be clear on our fundamental core values. The core values become the foundation that will support all of our actions and thoughts. This key is the midpoint for momentum.

Positive. There is a saying that "people are hired for the ability, they are fired for their attitude." Keeping a positive point of view, appreciating that there is always a better way, a lesson to be learn, a silver lining in each situation is the key that unlocks any obstacle that is thrown our way.

Power. Finally, momentum is maintained even when doors are closed, windows are covered and the lights are turned off, we use the final key of power.

These five keys are available to all, we just need to seek, capture and then put into play.

Thanksgiving a Habit Not Just a Holiday

The great news about Thanksgiving is that it doesn’t have to just the second Monday of every October in Canada or the fourth Thursday of every November in the U.S. Thanksgiving can actually become a habit.

One might ask, “Why make Thanksgiving a habit?”

The reasons are infinite and personal. Appreciating that, I will share with you three of my reasons for creating a habit around thanksgiving.

It’s necessary. For me, taking the time to write or say thank you is a wonderful way to let others know that I was aware of their contribution.

It’s sincere. Saying and showing thank you in a genuine and heartfelt manner. Expressing and acting in gratitude that let’s the person know that it really added value to myself and others.

It’s positive and inclusive. The one person that I have had to become more conscious of thanking was me. Saying and writing a thank you note is something that I do at least once a month. Some months are tougher than others, I’m not always thankful for acting like a jerk or putting my foot in my mouth. Then I may only be writing that I am thankful finding a need to change.

Sound like a good habit to create. Please share with me what might be motivating you to make thanksgiving a habit and not just a holiday.

Be a Little Crazy - THINK DIFFERENT

Here’s to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers.
The ones who see things differently.
While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Appeared on a poster from Apple

Think Different! This slogan was used by Apple from 1997 until 2002. It still is used in some advertising with Apple.

Be a little crazy today and THINK DIFFERENT.

Today, I will think different about...

Instead of being a writer, I am an artist in words..

Instead of being a nurse, I am a health engineer.

Instead of being a consultant, I am a change agent.

Instead of being a teacher, I am a motivator.

Instead of being a student, I am a future leader.

As we actively notice our thoughts, we can appreciate that those thoughts may actually be setting the tone for the day, our live and certainly our success

Instead of being practical, I am a little crazy - No I take that back, today, I intend to be really, really crazy.

How about you? Will you be a little crazy and Think Different. I can't wait to hear the results.

Breakdown, Breakup, Breakthrough

Making change seems insurmountable. Before us often looms wants and needs while having less. Finding ways to think and feel more effectively is becoming harder and harder. Unless we stop ourselves this downward spiral can become devastating. we can feel beaten down and up. Ben Zander says it best in the his wonderful book The Art of Possibilities.

"I am so sorry for you,
you're lives have been so easy.
You can't play great music
unless your heart has been broken."

Understanding that feeling sorry for ourselves gives us very little chance. Becoming a creature that focuses on results and then simple processes has much greater potential for sustainable and successful change.

The company is failing. The career is tanking. The project is stalled. Let's move past the heart break and get to work with a new three step process.

Breakdown: This is the phase where you analyze, outline and brainstorm all that is happening in the situation. Be detailed, leave out none of the essentials. Identify all the thoughts, feelings, actions and results related to what is causing you pain.

Ask: "How can I break down the problem to what is causing all the angst?"

1. Lack of money
2. Lack of friends
3. Lack of time
4. Lack of a plan
5. Lack of goals
6. Lack of clear focus
   
7. Lack of action
8. Lack of accountability
9. Lack of creativity
   

Sound familiar. And this is only a short list. Keep the list going.

Breakup: This is the phase where you take your list, find common themes and prioritize.

Ask: What is the best way to break this list up into practical and realistic elements.

If you actually look at the above list, it can at first be broken up into 3 major categories:

• Resources (Money, friends and time)
  
• Planning (Plan, focus, and goals)
  
• Action (Action, creativity and accountability)
  

Now look at your list and break that list up into no more than 3 or 4 major categories. Keep in mind that we are working towards creating a manageable list.

Breakthrough: Think of this phase as getting your life back, your hope back and ultimately your success back.

Ask: What can I do right now, today, to actually help me to breakthrough at least one barrier that is holding me back?

Resources - Find a mentor - Call a colleague, friend, former boss that you highly respect and ask for help in managing time and money

Planning - Get lots of blank paper, flip charts are great, identify where you want to focus and set goals.

Action - For one goal outline a very specific action plan, be creative and hold yourself accountable.

A simple process - Breakdown, breakup and breakthrough! Now it's your turn. Let me know how it works out.

Health - Interventions to Flourish

The source of the word health comes from old English word haelth or hal. One of my favorite definitions is "a flourishing condition." When families, communities, and organizations flourishing, they are considered healthy.

Interestingly enough, over the course of time, the definition of health has come to mean managing disease. Subsequently, to have financial health, professional health, physical health, mental health, social health, ethical health, social health, or ... health, the focus has over time shifted to disease management. Health, as it was originally intended, back in the 12th century in England was much, much more positive.

What if we changed our focus? What if we approached health in all aspects of our life to help us grow and prosper? These questions I have been pondering a very long time.

It still amazes me (I'm an RN) to know that we spend more time and money using some type of prescription, generally medication as the primary intervention for returning people to health. This same approach is used to return business back to health, only the prescription is a popular or trendy "formula" that has been prescribed and applied. I am not saying that medications and formulas don't work. They certainly do. That being said, they are not the only interventions to help people and business to be healthier. In fact, sometimes they actually can harm if they are not evaluated and modified appropriately.

What if we considered interventions for individual and organization that were more cost effective and has a lot less side effects? Shifting the focus to interventions that help people develop positive attitudes, habits and behaviors is showing startling results. For example, the more we hone our communication effectiveness, the more we can reduce misunderstanding, mis- diagnoses and mistreatment. Improving our strategic thinking will help us achieve a weight, a style, a product or service that can sustain and even help individuals, communities and businesses to flourish. These are just the tip of the "emotional intelligence" iceberg.

The interventions that start with internal focus will help enhance and/or minimize the external interventions. Remember, health is all about developing "flourishing conditions." What interventions will help you to flourish?

Stop Thinking "Dis"

Distracted, disenfranchised, disengaged. All these "dis's" show up because we allow ourselves thoughts to go from what we have to do, to what we are not doing. Then we stop doing. Ultimately, we fail to achieve what we want and need to do.

Does this sound familiar. In one way shape or form, I know that I am working with this everyday. A simple solution to overcome these thoughts. Focus on one challenge at a time.

Our brain is not wired to handle all this overload. In response, our thoughts causes us to concentrate on all we have not done. Subsequently, we fail to notice what we have accomplished - big and small. We fail to notice what simple small steps we can do next to help us out of downward spiral. We fail to note the progress we have made.

Today, rather than allowing all the "dis-connects to affect our success. Let's focus on what we are attracted to, franchised towards, engaged with. Start connecting with goals we can accomplish. Take small action positive action steps. Measure successes not matter how small.

This is a simple system and it works for me every time.

Be Courageous, Be Extraordinary

"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right, you'll probably never do much of anything."

Win Borden

Certain times caution makes a lot of sense. The sad part about caution is we are conditioned to believe that it is better to be cautious rather than courageous. Let's face it, from the time we are small children, once we encouaged to learn to walk, we are encouraged to play it safe.The "do not's" far outweigh the "do's." Be honest, when was the last time you were encouraged to do something risky or different?

How can we turn around the images that hold us back from being courageous and being extraordinary?

Identify what courage means to you. Use your five senses to imagine what courage looks like, feels like, tastes like, sounds like and yes even smells. The wonderful mind can and will hold a powerful image if it becomes powerful enough.

Next, create a tangible, motivating image, complete with positive words, sounds, textures and smells. The more vividly and powerfully the senses are engaged, the greater the chance of success.

As with changing any belief, actively writing goals and action plans will ensure that the change will become a permanent and beneficial habit. One of my goals is to identify at least 3 images that will help me to feel and think how am couageous and extraordinary - the image of the kitten and the lion is a start. Now I have at least 2 more go - at least it's a start.

Today, let's be courageous and be extraordinary!

Adopt Positive Beliefs

"Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."
— William James

In 1896, a lecture was published that was written by William James an American psychologist and philosopher "The Will to Believe." In this lecture, Dr. James "defended the adoption of beliefs as hypothesis and self-fulfilling prophecies even without prior evidence of their truth." (Source: Wikipedia.com) In this lecture, he continues to discuss the merits of accepting "the idea that beliefs is verified if it causes better interaction with the world."

Above, you see a graphic of a stone with the word "Believe" written on it. This stone sits on my desk and is a symbol to me that what I believe affects my world. If, for example, today I believe that I'm working on a valuable project - then guess what - that project suddenly becomes very important and my interest and energy are high. If, on the other hand, I believe that what I am working on is not important, not interesting, not worth my talents, I tend to give less attention and respect to the quality of my work.

When I was first promoted to a senior vice president, the CEO gave a little statue that had a person pointing a finger back at me that said, "I believe in you." What a way to start a new job. She told me in words and in that little figure that she had confidence in me. How do you think I performed? You got it! I was confident, decisive, interested and eager to be a part of that exciting team.

ACTS for Adopting Positive Beliefs:

Assess your current beliefs. Are they taking you closer to or further away from business or life success.

Create a positive image. Establish an affirmation and tangible object or picture that will help you to stay on track.

Transform your negative beliefs to positive ones. Set a daily goal for one month focusing on one very specific area that you would like to change. For example, bad luck seems to be following you and your company. Believe that today you will find one piece of good luck and write it down.

Sustain your positivity. Review at the end of the month the number of successes. You should have at least 28 (that's if you choose February as the month to start). Now you can see how successful you are in the little things. Guess what bigger successes will start showing up.

I'd like to hear how you might adopt more positive beliefs.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The Positive Power of "Go-Giving"

Philosophies come and go and as with anything, these philosophies have positive and negative effects. For example, "only the strong can and will survive" can and often is adopted as a philosophy which then encourages walking over, through and on others to become an acceptable practice. This is not about judgment, rather about discernment.

In this highly competitive world, it has become increasingly easier to be out for ourselves. To put others down, so that we can get further, have more or at times even, just survive. I know because unfortunately, I too have sometimes engaged in this very mindset. Then, someone shares a philosophy that helps put life back into perspective.

I'd like to suggest the book, The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Here's one little nugget from this powerful little parable - "The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself."

We may not be able to be generous in time or money, but we can always be generous in spirit. Consider "Go-Giver" philosophy and please let me know your thoughts.

Live on Your Terms - "Explore. Dream. Discover."

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover. "

Mark Twain

If you feel life is passing you by, it probably is; that's the nature of time. However, the person who is willing to explore, dream and discover will at least have life pass by on their terms.

Questions to ask yourself:

What have I explored (looked into closely; examined carefully; investigated) about

• myself?
• my company?
• my community?
• a new interest?
• how would I handle this challenge?

What have I dreamed ( a condition or achievement that is longed for) about

• myself?
• my company?
• my community?
• a new interest?
• how would I handle this challenge?

What have I discovered (To be the first, or the first of one's group or kind, to find, learn of, or observe) about

• myself?
• my company?
• my community?
• a new interest?
• how would I handle this challenge?

To explore, dream and discover take courage and positive energy and yes will lead to great opportunities to live life on your terms. It's sounds to me a lot better than "being disappointed twenty years from now."

What about you, interested?

Throw the Door Open!

How to make every day a positive and powerful day!

Step 1: Notice the images that you might be visualizing

These two images that popped into my head today.

Step 2: Reflect on what those images mean to you -

The brick wall came first. I don't really like to be limited or "walled in" and so I sensed immediately that I needed to notice what might help me over come that limited feeling and the open door leading into blue sky became wonderfully expansive.

Step 3: Take time to evaluate the results that you would like to achieve today, this week, this month, this quarter, this year. Sometimes the best I can do is look at the hour because the task might be really arduous.

Step 4: Review your strategy and plans. This really opened me up today. The door is thrown wide open and I have limitless opportunities in front of me and that feels really exciting.

Step 5: Take immediate action on one of your goals. In the first few hours of this day, I have already made great progress on an exciting new endeavor.

Powerful images - what about you how will you start the day?

A brick wall or a door thrown wide open!

Define High Expectations - Strategies for Building Positive Personal Power

"Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and expectations."
Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy is an interesting man. Brian tells a story of how he left high school. He walked with his senior class on graduation and did not receiving a diploma - his grades were too low and so were his expectations. He became laborer, tramp and world traveler for a few years and then he returned home to try his had at sales.

Obviously smart, he struggled (for less than a year) and decided to interview all the top sales people he could find. At the end of that first year he was just 25 years old, he attained the top sales status for his company!

His initial expectations of himself were exceedingly low for a variety of reasons. Something changed - his values, beliefs and expectations. After his second year, he became a Vice President. As time passed and his expectations for success became more clearly defined, Tracy created a success system that he wanted to share and the rest is history.

Today Brian Tracy is an international speaker, author, entrepreneur, researcher in the self help arena. For more information go to www.briantracy.com.

Strategies for Building Personal Power - Socrates' Triple Filter Test

One of the greatest tests that I learn came from the wise philosopher Socrates - It's called the Triple Filter Test. Socrates used 3 filters before he engaged in a conversation. This way he ensured that the conversation was meaningful. Now I'd like to review them with you. It's also a great way to start a meeting or a conversation with yourself.

Filter number one - Truth

Is what you are about to say totally truthful?
If it is not - don't say it!

Filter number two - Goodness

Is what you are about to say kind or positive?
If it is not - don't say it!

Filter number three - Useful

Is what you are about to say necessary?
If it is not - don't say it!

These filters from Socrates have saved me countless hours of grief and misunderstanding. We are not only in constant conversation with others but with ourselves as well. Reflecting on this Triple Filter Test even in our internal communication can save countless hours of internal grief and misunderstanding.

Was this Truthful, Good and Useful?

Strategies for Building Positive Personal Power - Be Limitless!

A disclaimer up front -
To Be Limitless does NOT mean to break a law or rule
that is morally or ethically sound.

Now let's discuss 3 tips to help us to Be Limitless:

Tip #1: Realize that we are acting or thinking in a limiting manner. For example,the pat response to resisting change (even when it is desperately needed). "But, we've always done it that way."

If nothing changes, nothing changes."

Anonymous

Tip #2: Appreciate that obstacles are can be bridges not barriers. By changing a mental image from a negative to a positive picture for me.

"People are lonely because they build walls (barriers)
instead of bridges."

Anonymous

Tip #3: Be open to new possibilities. See life as full of opportunities to learn, grow and flourish.

The only way to discover the limits of the possible
is to go beyond them into the impossible."
Arthur C. Clarke

Enjoy the day!

Strategies for Building Personal Power - Find Your Strengths

What are our strengths?

Dr. Donald O. Clifton, a graduate student in the mid 1950's, started to look at the "hyper focus on deficits and disease" and wondered “What would happen if we actually studied what is right with people?” This question stimulated some profound research with Gallup that resulted in the late 1990's created an assessment called Clifton's StrengthsFinders. This instrument has been used by millions of people to discover and develop their talents.

Clifton's studies showed that "people who do have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are SIX times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than THREE times as likely to report having and excellent quality of life in general." (Source: StrengthsFinders 2.0) This research is profoundly impacting levels of engagement personally and professionally around the globe.

The more work I do, the more convinced I am that we needed to create a hyper focus on health, prosperity, hope, contributions and so many more strengths that we all can find in our lives and our world.

Let's spend this day finding our strengths.

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Strategies for Buidling Positive Personal Power - Promoting Health and Wealth

`Creating a system that will help us to live the life of our dreams may at first seem like too much work and yet, in reality the more strategic we become in our thoughts. goals and actions, the more likely we will be to achieve personal and professional success. Over the years, I have almost made a game out of building positive personal power and I would like to share some of those strategies now.

Strategy #1- Identify what is important to YOU. When we identify what is important to us individually, it is much easier to choose a career, a partner, a life style, even an income. Review your dreams and ideas. Share with others, like minded and even those who are not so like minded and really challenge you. I learned a long time ago, my life is my life. I am the author of this particular book. Identifying how important it is to me to help others become full actualized and able to tap into their potential, actually helps me access my own positive personal power.

Strategy #2 - Define a positive personal vision. Establishing a clear and positive vision helps me stay focused and on purpose. My grandmother introduced me to a wonderful book called The Power of Positive Thinking written by Norman Vincent Peale, hence, my company's name of Positive Power Strategies, Inc. Dr. Peale was a man that because he defined his personal vision was able to influence countless individuals around the world.

If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.
Norman Vincent Peale

Strategy #3 - Treat your strengths and talents like muscles. Our strengths and talents, just like any muscle becomes stronger and more pronounce with repetitive exercise. When we slack off, those muscles atrophy and become wasted.

Strategy #4 - Set significant goals and take positive action. I like to treat even the smallest activity as if it were a goal, this mindset helps me to take positive action. When I feel like stopping, I review my daily to-do list (which in reality is short term goals) I am amazed with how much I can accomplish.

Strategy #5 - Seek resources and acknowledge support. No one can do it alone. I have been blessed by wonderful family, friends, mentors, colleagues, clients and acquaintances. I travel extensively and every single day I am continually impressed with how much assistance and service I receive. I now make it a personal goal to notice how a person contributes to making my day better - yes even the person that cuts me off in traffic - I then slow down and pay more attention.

These are just a few strategies that I thought might help you on your journey.

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Promoting Health and Wealth - Day 6 - Moving Out of the Comfort Zone

Yesterday, I mentioned that having a visual prop can help move you out of your comfort zone. Which leads me to the next question - "What songs play in my head, even when there is no music playing?" Now I'm sure that you have thought I have totally lost it, but admit it, don't you sometimes find yourself humming, whistling or even singing out loud in the shower a song that makes you smile.

Well, I have noticed that a certain song will pop up in my mind and actually play all day long. This auditory prop inspires me to keep going when I'd rather just take a break. For example, the last week, the classic Rogers and Hammerstein song, OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, has been playing in my head constantly.

The refrain goes like this...

Oh, What a beautiful mornin’,
Oh, What a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feelin’
Ev’erything’s goin’ my way.

Now I don't think I've heard that song in years but it sure does make me take notice of how wonderful the world and life is. This song is even playing on the rainy day.

Another song that was big in the 1980's was I'm So Excited sung by Donna Summer. Now, that song pops up for me when a new idea, project or change is happening in my life.

Here's the refrain, just in case your wondering...

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it

I'm grateful that I am noticing the songs that make me more positive, more energized and more willing to move me.

What about you, are there any song's playing that move you out of your comfort zone?

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura