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."

Bearings, Key and Alternator

Paying attention to the signs and messages that show up in life and business can save tons of time, money, and energy. In the past several weeks, a team of 4 experienced car issues, which helped them avoid work and life issues that would have been so much worse.

It started with the newest and youngest member of the team having a "bearings" problem. Now, the definition of bearings is "the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies ." Guess what? The bearings had to be changed. Often times, people choose a path that quite honestly is not the best. However, because they are on it and in it, they keep forging forward regardless of the consequences. Feelings of frustration, lack of motivation, overwhelmed and certainly tremendous dissatisfaction with self and others happen. When reviewing their current situation, the newest member of the team spent time evaluating their current direction and eliminated one time consuming job that was taking them completely off course. This change affected their thoughts and actions immediately enhancing the quality of their work and life.

The most senior member , the history and teacher"of the team had a key problem. It just would turn in the ignition. Now, the definition of key, "something crucial or central to the issue or problem." The key had to be repaired. This person at the same time started to experience some heart problems. The key, like the heart, is core to our performance and success. This team player had lost some of their purpose due to a major personal life change and was starting to act as if they were no longer needed. This couldn't have been further than the truth. Fortunately, the team pulled together to help this senior member see that they were absolutely essential to their success. As a team, they focused on validating purpose and contributions of each team player. Immediately, the sage of the group started to make some respectful health changes in diet and exercise that actually helped them to be relieved of some very distressing symptoms.

The last two team members experienced an alternator problem. Now, one definition of the alternator is to "charge the battery and to power an electric system when its engine is running. ..." A battery is a source of power for any engine and needs constant charging. How interesting that their alternators needed to be replaced. With the charge there was no power. The charger and the source, also two critical team players had been trying to pick up and take over rather than serve as support. They too had to pull back and go on a retreat, a vacation, so that they could recharge and re-gain power.

Fortunately, the team payed attention to the "car problems" before their life problems became too serious. They regained their bearings, found the key to their purpose and recharged their power in work and life.

The Power of Reasoning

Cogito ergo sum
"I think therefore I am"
Descartes

Thinking is the number one way to success. In this day of speed and quick response, we are starting to circumvent "thinking through" our ideas, plans, conversations... Often, we launch into a relationship, a project, a job, a life, rather than engaging thoughtful consideration and then we have to live with the consequences.

Researchers at Georgia Tech categorize thinking into reasoning and problem solving.

I'd like to discuss reasoning today and save problem solving for another time. Reason is comprised of three ways that people draw conclusions - deductive, inductive or abductive.

Deductive reasoning - using a logical sequence process, from cause to effect. (This can be faulty if the "logic" is based on shaky or erroneous information).

Inductive reasoning - using general information to draw a conclusion about a situation because we don't have all the relevant facts. (Going with our gut instincts can be very useful)

Abductive reasoning - evaluating the fact and action(s) that followed (this may be problematic because the fact or information may have been wrong in the first place)

The more we evaluate our methods of reasoning the more effective our thoughts become. Some questions we might ask to ensure that we tap into the power of reasoning are:

How logical are our conclusions?

From our past experience, what general information can be applied to this situation?

How accurate are the facts in this situation?

When we take the time to think about how we reason through a decision we have made, we generally come up with better, if not optimal decisions. This saves up time, money, relationship and ultimately leads to lasting personal and professional success.

"Those who have finished by making others think with them have usually been those who began by daring to think for themselves."
Colton

Focus, Faith, and Fervor

When embarking on a new endeavor or relationship, we often fail to appreciate what it will take to ensure success. In fact, quite honestly, I had not nearly often enough considered the long term effects of those quick, easy and sometimes even thoughtless decisions I have made in jobs, relationships, and life in general. Then it struck me that there are three essentials that can and will ensure the degree of our success. Focus - Faith - Fervor

Focus is the starting point

"What you choose to focus your mind on is critical because you will become what you think about most of the time..." Noel Peebles

Finding the focus, that central theme or purpose for our actions and existence, sets the stage for a healthier, more productive and definitely more satisfied existence.

Some Focus Finding Questions:

• What impacts me?

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• What interests me?

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• What inspires me?

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Faith is the second point.

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." Mahatma Gandhi

Finding our faith, that unshakable belief that we have the strength, resourcefulness and talent to live and work in a manner that always, always contributes. This is the midpoint for fulfillment and satisfaction.

Some Faith Finding Questions:

• How do I totally support myself in my focus?

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• How do I tap into that universal source of strength that holds me unshakable to my focus?

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• Who can help to restore my faith in my focus?

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Fervor is the is the third essential component.

Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.

Vincent van Gogh

Some Fervor Finding Questions:

• How do I get motivated?

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• How do I get back on track once derailed from my focus?

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• What would ignite that candle of passion when there is no fuel left?

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It's within our power to change lives, companies, communities and the world with focus, faith and fervor.

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.

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!

How to become the Extraordinary CEO of Your Biggest Company – LIFE – 7 Days to Mastery

Everyone is in very important business, all the time, at any age. regardless of our age, our work status (self employed, employee (from executive to staff positions), student, home, or retired – we are all involved with very big business - our LIFE.

Day 1- Introduction to Self

Before we jump into the mastery phase of our life – we need to get to know ourselves. We need to go beyond knowing our strengths and talents and fully connect with our interests and motivators.

One of my favorite quotes is by, E.E. Cummings,

“We all sit around in a ring and suppose, while the secret sits in the center and knows.”

We sit in the center of our life, and , so, we can discover and know what is our secret to being the extraordinary CEO of our biggest business – LIFE.
There are numerous diagnostics and tests to help us learn more about ourselves. The most economical and most reliable ti going to the source – ourselves. The biggest invests, pen and paper. (can be the handy traditional black and white composition book or notebook paper and 3 ring binder , pens and tape.

Now blank lined paper can be daunting, believe me I know – I look at blank pages every day and yet magically at the end of each day pages are filled with words, pictures, drawings, post-it notes, scribbled on napkins, cards and notes from other people, and any thing else that you can name, I find it can be something worth capturing and keeping. It has taken years, even decades and I am still finding that I love working on the greatest mystery – me and how I can become the most extraordinary CEO in my life.

So, are you willing to start?

Tomorrow, Day 2 – Create Your Focus and Attributes

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.

The Influential Leader

"A leader is best when people barely know he exists,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say: We did it ourselves."

Lao-Tzu

The most lasting and sustainable type of leadership comes from a position of influence. The Free Dictionary by Farlex defines influences as "A power affecting a person, thing or course of events, especially one that operates without any direction or apparent effort."

You aren't the leader because you're the President, CEO, Captain of the team. You may hold the title because you inherited it or one day you were promoted into it. You are the true leader because you have earned it and people will follow you no matter what challenges or obstacles may crop up.

The influential leaders is the one, that from their very core, believes and acts as if it more important to take the right course of action and always make the "politically correct" choice. This leader puts their own self interest and position aside because they are aware of their teams talents, strengths and interests. They give their team the power to make decision and mistakes, to take the risks and experience success and failure. Always accountable, this leader will take the blame, but not the credit.

As an influential leaders, being willing to walk the talk, do the right thing, listen to our heart and the hearts of the team leads to extraordinary results. To know that lifting people up is more important than tearing them down. That with courage, conviction and belief in others we can step aside and let the best do their best.

When lead by influence, rather than control, the company or team will make the profits, hit the targets, win the games and create new paths. Everyone gains as talents and assets are optimized. And, in the end, enjoys the moments when the team says, "We did it ourselves."

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 - Be Unconquerable

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

In 1875, while lying in a hospital bed after having his leg amputated below the knee, 25-year old William Ernest Henley wrote this poem. Invictus is Latin for unconquerable.

I read this poem as a young child and immediately chose the last stanza as a mantra.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Years later, I matted and framed the poem to hang on the wall in my home and office. I realize now, it carried me through many, many challenging times.

A few years again, I had the honor of hearing Invictus read aloud by Maya Angelou - needless to say I mouthed every word with her, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I recently watched the movie, produced and directed by Clint Eastwood. There was a subtle message that Nelson Mandela was conveying to Francois Pienaar (captain of the South African Rugby team). That message was conveyed in many, many ways before he shared the poem he too had memorized. Learn to live and lead with an unconquerable soul.

Today, let's be unconquerable!

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Strategies for Building Personal Power - Assess Your Expectations

"In life, you often don't get what you want. But,... here's what you do get - You get what you expect."

From the Go-Give A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
by Bob Burg & John David Mann

I've read the The Go-Give numerous times and taken away many, many pearls of wisdom from that little book, but, I don't think I really ever appreciated the lines from the above quote. We whine, complain, even cry because we don't get what we want, not realizing that the reality is we expected not to get what we wanted anyway.

I met with a very dear friend yesterday. We hadn't seen each other for more than a year and spent time catching up. After many years of self employment, she had to give up what she thought she wanted and went back to a "real" j0b, which is what she and everyone around her expected that she would do. She said something that really struck a cord, I've always believe it to be true myself. She said, "I'm not really going back. You can never go back. I'm actually going forward."

What a marvelous point of view and expectation. She shared with me how much she realized her experiences and talents actually helped her to be much more observant and insightful to her new work environment. She started part time and within a matter of months has already been invited to be a supervisor. She expects to move forward. Guess what - she's is getting exactly what she is expecting.

All the best in health and wealth,

Laura

Strategies for Building Personal Power - Assess Talents

Assessing talents, both personally and professionally is a great way to start the week. Besides, personal reflection, which is still one of my personal favorites, there are many tools and instruments that can help you to discover your talents and strengths. One instrument that I find to be particularly useful is DISC Index.

The DISC Index, designed and trademark protected by the company Innermetrix, is based on Dr. William Marstan's foundational work in behavioral science. The DISC Index, according to research done by Innermetrix, is one of the most used behavioral instruments in the world.

Several key areas that the DISC Index is used both personally and professionally to understand their talents and tendencies and well as those opportunities to grow and change are:

• Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Communication
• Goal Achievement
• Role Building
• Job Selection
  
• Performance Managment

Certification is required to administer this particular behavioral instrument. And as with any diagnostic, the value is not in just taking an assessment but also working with an experienced interpreter helps to clarify and promote focus. In personally and professionally over the years, I have personally found the DISC Index to be right on target. The secondary benefit for continued study of my own Index has helped me to understand others as well.

I have a new appreciation that even with the talents I possess there is sometimes a need to reign in and re-evaluate. Fortunately,when I follow my ACTS strategy, I am more focused on what I want and need to support, modify or change.

As a clinician and nurse, working with assessments is essential to complete understanding of our inner talents. Finding the right instruments and resources takes work, but in my opinion, is really worth the effort

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 & Wealth - The Power of Beliefs

As I continue to travel and learn, it is becoming more clear how much beliefs and opinions shape our world. Reflecting back over the past year, many events and experiences have happened and relationships have changed, fortunately for the better.

One particular conversation caused a wonderful satori (instant awakening.) I was seeking some insight on what was working for or against me personally and professionally and so I asked a very dear friend what she thought was one of my strengths might be.

Her response, "Your ability to work with people." She went on to explain that I worked with her, not at her or for her. Very empowering, not enabling. That day my belief in myself and how I related to others totally crytalized.

In the past, I had thought that I was fixing people and making their lives easier. I was not really clear on my beliefs. Now I realize that our belief in our self, in what we can control, in what we hope to accomplish is the most powerful tool we have in our tool kit. Working with people to discover the power of their beliefs is proving to be amazing. Thank you again dear friend.

All the best,

Laura