Browse Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD)

Procrastination gets in the way of getting things done when you have ADHD. (Even if you don't have it, procrastination can be a big challenge!) If you implement these 4 keys in your workday, you will be well on your way to getting more done. Plan

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Choosing the right planner for you and your lifestyle is very important, especially if you are busy, overwhelmed by your To Do List and/or have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD). This is true no matter what profession you hold and no matter what your age. By third grade, even elementary school ...

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When you have ADHD, prioritizing your goals can be extremely difficult, yet it is an important skill to develop. Prioritizing your goals allows you to focus on the most important ones. With prioritization you can gain: • focus on what is important • positive feedback when you accomplish necessary tasks • more time when ...

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can be very difficult to manage - especially for adults with ADHD. As the name suggests, this cluster of symptoms is the result of experiencing a traumatic event. A person with PTSD may be easily triggered by a smell, sound, sight or other sensation ...

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I sat on my front porch this morning, journal and pen in hand, enjoying a bit of sunshine and quiet time. As I tuned in to the sensory-rich environment, I wondered again if others experience things as I do. I could hear a long, lonely train whistle in the 'far distance', the sound of the powerful engine and the wheels ...

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Listening well is the most important part of communication. Many misunderstandings and hurt feelings can be prevented by using good listening skills. If you begin to track disagreements or miscommunications in your life, you will probably find that poor listening skills (yours or the other person's) are at the root of ...

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My Mother, My Sisters, MySelf Holiday visits and reunions are often enlightening when ADHD is part of the family, as in, I get to see myself disguised in the person of my mother and sisters. It's always so much easier to see the glaringly obvious traits we deny or minimize in ourselves when other people demonstrate ...

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by Dr. Tali Shenfield, Clinical Psychologist

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by Dr. Tali Shenfield, Clinical Psychologist

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by Dr. Tali Shenfield, Clinical Psychologist Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is widely known, but often misunderstood by the general public. In spite of medical evidence to support the validity of both the physical and psychological changes that occur as a result of PMS, the effects of this syndrome are often dismissed and sometimes even ridiculed.

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The incidence of bipolar disorder has increased quite a bit over the last decade, especially in the case of children and adolescents. Until recently, it was unheard of for children as young as six years old to display symptoms of bipolar disorder. Although some mental health experts state that the diagnosis is used too often, others believe that it is not used enough.

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Just like physical illness, mental illness has many different symptoms. Proper diagnosis requires a qualified professional who will analyze all aspects of the symptoms to determine the most suitable course of treatment. Mental illness requires a thorough investigative process for proper diagnosis. Bipolar and psychotic disorders cannot be self-diagnosed, as many of the symptoms occur in other mental health problems. However, there are some common indicators of psychotic and bipolar Disorder that should prompt a person to seek professional help.

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When an individual suffers from depression, feelings of isolation and a general sense of unworthiness can infiltrate their thoughts, making relationships difficult to manage. Relationships are put to the test and sometimes unravelled when depression takes hold. Depression Wears a Disguise

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Integrated 4 Part Therapy for Autism There seem to be hundreds of therapies for autism on the market today and “on the market” seems to be the reason – money. However, there is no real integration of any of these therapies and little information for the “poor” parents with an autistic child (and “poor” is often correct as autism is a “bankrupting disease”). There are four different basic problems with four different therapies needed to solve them and work towards any cure or improvements.

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Every mother wants and hopes for a healthy baby, but in this more and more polluted world, it’s getting harder and harder. Not that long ago in the history of humans, and up to a few hundred years ago, many women simply lay down, and had a healthy baby. Then, along came midwives to help, as ...

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Explosive Anger Disorder! (EAD). Or, Intermittent Rage Disorder (IRD). Take your pick of labels and/or abbreviations. These are "new" labels in the lexicon of the psychologists and psychiatrists. (You should know that most such labels are made up in order to get paid by insurance companies, ...

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There are many toxic minerals such as mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, copper, and arsenic that can cause very severe damage to the body or brain. To prevent this, there is a sort of "brain blood barrier" that doesn't allow these toxic minerals to pass to the brain unless the liver is ...

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Freud had a lot of great ideas, but the idea that bad toilet training causes mental problems wasn’t one of them. However, Freud and many others since have realized is that stress is a major cause. What causes the stress is a different matter, often overlooked in our “drug ...

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The following may come as a surprise to most people, including most medical doctors. Unsuspected brain allergies are the cause of most mental disease or problems! This fact was illuminated for me by Dr Marshall Mandell in the early 80’s. He appeared on the Phil Donahue show, and had ...

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This article is designed to help you do research finding help and solutions that improve the autism symptoms. You can use this reference page to search further on many and various therapies that have helped others. New products and theories are showing up all the time. There are many different ...

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There’s a new kid on the "mental dis'ease" block. I invented it, and named it “Neuroliminal Training" (NT). It’s simple to use and costs a small fraction of the cost of clinical Neurofeedback (AKA EEG Biofeedback & HEG biofeedback). Neurofeedback has been well proved to be ...

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Everybody with more than 3 brain cells knows (or should) that each generation is less healthy than the one before. What’s happening to us? And, even more important - what can we do about it? The percentage of autistic and ADD/ADHD kids is growing at an alarming rate. And worst of all, ...

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There are now five types of effective recognized professional treatments for ADD, ADHD, and Autism: 1. Drug treatments: (Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Strattera, etc). Most of these drugs contain methylphenidate, the same ingredient as "speed" on the street where it's highly illegal, and ...

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I wrote a 3 page paper for the recent DAN conference in Cherry Hill NJ designed to help parents do the research that is necessary to help their children. Unfortunately, too many turn to their pediatrician or neurologist, finding out after too much money wasted that they know too little to ...

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There’s a new affordable alte ative to dangerous drugs for the ADD-Autism continuum! Unlike drugs, there are NO harmful side effects. Unlike Neurofeedback (AKA EEG Biofeedback, long proved the best therapy), it’s affordable for even low income families. For about 40 years, EEG ...

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Most MD's use blood tests called T3, T4, and T7 to determine thyroid activity in patients. They then compare these blood readings to what is called "normal" ranges, and if the blood tests fall into these ranges, the patient is told they are "normal" or "OK". One of the reasons why three tests ...

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In the past treatment of depression was done by many different types of talk therapy by psychologists. There are over 250 psychotherapy "techniques", and NONE of them have been proven to work any better than any other. But, the fact remains that very few depressed patients were ever "cured" by ...

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In medical school, there is little or no time spent on vitamins, and thousands of hours of instructions spent on pharmaceuticals (drugs). As a result, most MD’s are “educationally handicapped” about vitamins. In the days of “wooden ships and iron men”, the most ...

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The following will come as a surprise to most people, including most medical doctors. Most mental disease is caused by unsuspected brain allergies! This fact was illuminated for me by Dr Marshall Mandell in the early 80’s. He appeared on the Phil Donahue show, and had videos of ...

Published · 2,124 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Only in the past few years have some Neurofeedback (NFB) clinicians worked with autistic children. Success has been rare. Few parents can afford the horrible cost, and few clinicians are willing to take on an autistic child, because of the difficulties involved. 1. How do you attach ...

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Everybody with more than 3 brain cells knows (or should) that each generation is less healthy than the one before. What’s happening to us? And, even more important - what can we do about it? The percentage of autistic and ADD/ADHD kids is growing at an alarming rate. And worst of all, ...

Published · 2,073 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Freud had a lot of great ideas, but the idea that bad toilet training causes mental problems wasn’t one of them. However, Freud and many others since have realized is that stress is a major cause. What causes the stress is a different matter, often overlooked in our “drug ...

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There are two rules for all allergies (including "sensitivities or intolerances"). Rule 1. Any Allergy can cause any symptom or any "disease". Rule 2. There are no other rules. Only a few "guidelines". (Look at wheat, corn, milk, peanuts, soy first.) There is a fairly good list of symptoms/diseases that may be caused by allergy at http://drbate.com/Ref/allergy. html

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You're at home alone, and you suddenly feel a severe pain in the chest. It is now radiating up all the way to your jaw area, and it's going outwards to your left arm. Almost certainly you're having a serious heart attack. You've only got about 10 seconds left. Your heart is stopping, and you'll be losing consciousness unless you do something right now!

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There are lots of prescription drugs that deal with all types of pain, but there aren't as many people that know about two non drug (and safer) pain relievers.

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While depression is mostly caused by an overload of stress, there are also genetic pointers towards it. If you have depression in your family, you may be pre-disposed towards depression with enough stress. You cannot change your genetic factors, but you can definitely lower your stress. Since stress is additive and if "abnormal" stress is present, the person may not be able to handle "normal" or everyday stress of just living and become depressed.

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What is meant by "peer reviewed"? What is so-called blind and double blind testing and how accurate is it? Why do "scientists" refuse to even look at anecdotal evidence?

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To even get into Med schools takes a high above average intelligence. To stay and graduate even at the bottom of the class takes even more. All "doctors" of any kind have to be smarter than average, and the MD should be above the rest. Yet, these highly intelligent people accept what they are taught in Medical school without questioning where and why it's what they are learning. Even worse, they don't question what they are missing. No medical school today teaches the fundamentals of what we are made of, only what drugs allay symptoms in effect.

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Many of you will have heard or seen the horrible mess that Johnson and Johnson is now in. It seems that that lovely little baby we all know on their baby shampoo has been a phony for some time. And J & J has known that for some time. According to Emily Patterson (www.sunflowe aturals.com). There are five different formulas for just that simple baby shampoo. The US, the UK, and Australia get the worst of the cancerous formulas. In the Chinese formula, there is no formaldehyde. In the Japanese formula, no phalates and no 1,4-dioxane. In Denmark, no parabens.

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There are three methods of measuring mineral toxicity without actually taking a biopsy of the liver. Blood Analysis: This measures only what is in the blood at the time of taking the sample. The problem with this is not only that it is limited in time, but blood levels will vary considerably over time, giving very inaccurate measures. Urine Analysis: This measures only what was in the blood a short time ago. If a 24 hour collection is made, then it is more accurate.

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The following may come as a surprise to most people, including most medical doctors. Most mental disease is caused by unsuspected brain allergies and/or allergy stress! This fact was illuminated for me by Dr Marshall Mandell in the early 80's. He appeared on the Phil Donahue show, and had videos of persons with mental problems caused or worsened by allergen testing. He was the first to name such as "brain allergies".

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Just what is depression, and what is the major cause? Depression is a whole bag full of different symptoms. Anxiety and insomnia are both recognized "common" symptoms, but there are many more. Just not happy most of the time is depression. What is the cause of depression. Again, there are many different causes, but the most common one is simply stress. The more stress, the more depression. Lower stress, lower depression.

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Stress is a major cause of all disease, and this stress is stored in the unconscious or subconscious mind. (Either description is the same phenomenon.) Our egos would like to believe that our "conscious" mind is in charge, but that just isn't the case. The unconscious mind really controls much more of us than we would like to admit. And the stress stored there affects us in many ways. If you can lower any of that stress, you can solve various health problems.

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It seems that lately, I've met a lot of people who have schizophrenic relatives or friends. So, I decided since I've had huge success in easily solving this horrible "disease" to repeat that "history here.

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Since 1979, I have been researching and working as an "Orthomolecular Psychologist". I switched from a "Behaviorist" psychologist to this non drug approach to schizophrenia that worked on a "pro bono" patient, and it worked to my surprise. Working in an allergy clinic with a a brilliant scientist for many months part time developing a simple, (but expensive) End Point Titration that worked to not only diagnose various allergies, but to "cure" them as well. I learned that allergy, and allergy stress causes the majority of mental and physical "diseases".

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Unfortunately, few people realize the importance of the gut being in good balance. Add to this the fact that antibiotics kill the bacteria in the gut that is necessary for good digestion, and the yeast/fungus begins to take over leading to the disease Candida. (Antibiotics used by MD's are made from yeast and fungus, so those are not killed, only bacteria, and the balance needed in the gut deteriorates without some attention.) The gut is a major part of the immune system and reactions to allergens are a serious danger to the person.

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How can BPA be toxic in Canada, but safe in the US? More and more studies conclude that BPA is toxic. Canada has declared BPA toxic. Denmark and France have restricted BPA use in numerous products. Learn more about BPA and how you can reduce exposure to this obviously toxic chemical.

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In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At 6 minutes:

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Freud had a lot of great ideas, but the idea that bad toilet training causes mental problems wasn't one of them. However, Freud and many others since, have realized that stress is THE major cause. What causes the stress is a different matter, often overlooked in our "drug fix" world dominated by Big Pharma, the FDA (which is now dominated by Big Pharma as well), and the "educationally handicapped" medical profession in general.

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Very few people are even aware of this "overlooked" vitamin. Do you know much about it? It's critical to good health. Here's a few of the facts that make it so important: 1. About of 80% of the Vitamin K that you need is actually manufactured by the "friendly" (but lethal) bacteria that is in your digestive system (gut). It is now estimated that at least 75% of the US population does NOT have a good working gut.

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Most MD's use blood tests called T3, T4 and T7 to determine thyroid activity in patients. They then compare these blood readings to what is called "normal" ranges and if the blood tests fall into these ranges, the patient is told they are "normal" or "OK". Since everybody is INDIVIDUAL, that doesn't always work.

Published · 1,889 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

All depression (and most other mental problems) is caused simply by a combination of stress and poor nutrition. A downward cycle with the stress requiring more nutrition, and the lack of it causing more depression. There are two "hidden" sources of stress, and one other partially hidden. The two hidden (to most) are allergy stress, and toxic mineral stress. I've discussed these before. Testing for these is difficult and few people know much about themselves in this regard. Allergy stress is the most common, and the most difficult to test for, and even more difficult to solve.

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There are thousands of theories about what the unconscious mind is what it can and cannot do. Some believe that it is the "soul" of the person, and is unique to we humans. It separates us from the "lower" animals on this planet. Others believe further that it makes us unique in the universe, but in my opinion (IMO), that's just our ego. The plain facts are that we live on a minor mud ball in a minor galaxy out of the center of the Universe as we know it.

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Zinc is a very necessary nutritional mineral. It is a vital component used in fighting infections and wounds. It is also heavily involved with the reproductive system, particularly for men. It's involved with the sensory systems of taste and smell. Measuring Zinc Deficiency There are several mineral tests used to measure nutritional and toxic minerals. A blood test measures what is in the blood at the time of drawing the blood. A urine test

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This article is designed to help you do research finding help and solutions to improve autism (and other mental problems.) You can use this reference article to search further on many and various therapies that have helped others. This is a very confusing subject, with lots of "expensive products" and lots of Big Pharma lies and lots of MD's who don't know as much as they should. Too much money is involved, and finding inexpensive "at home" ways to normalize an autistic child or solve other mental symptoms isn't as simple as it should be.

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There seem to be hundreds of therapies for autism on the market today and "on the market" seems to be the reason - money. However, there is no real integration of any of these therapies and little information for the "poor" parents with an autistic child (and "poor" is often correct as autism can be a "bankrupting disease"). There are four different basic problems with four different therapies needed to solve them and work towards any cure or improvements. These are: * Mercury and other heavy metal toxins * Allergies and food sensitivities * Inadequate nutritionr

Published · 2,652 views

There seem to be hundreds of therapies for autism on the market today and "on the market" seems to be the reason - money. However, there is no real integration of any of these therapies and little information for the "poor" parents with an autistic child (and "poor" is often correct as autism can be a "bankrupting disease"). There are four different basic problems with four different therapies needed to solve them and work towards getting rid of or "normalization". These are: * Mercury and other heavy metal toxins * Solving allergies and food sensitivitiesr

Published · 2,738 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

To view a 60 day case study of a serious ADHD boy using Neuroliminal Training, Click here http://www.drbate.com/content/testimonial_adhd_saga.shtmlrnReally surprising - several kids with ADD/ADHD who did NOT speak English have now been successful using Neuroliminal Training in different countries, including Norway, Brazil, and Mexico. In addition, infants who were not speaking were also affected postively. There are now five types of effective recognized professional treatment for ADD, ADHD and Autism used today by different clinicians:

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Being diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as an adult can be such a relief…I know, because I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 32! I was so excited that I called all my family and friends to let them know. Their reaction was, well…less than surprised! It seems I was the absolute last one to learn that I have ADHD.

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Does it surprise you to learn that Howie Mandel has ADHD? He is one of the famous people with ADHD, who have come out recently to spread the word about the disorder.

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Antibiotics are both a blessing and a curse. There is no doubt that they have saved many lives and almost eliminated death from "older" common bacterial infections. However, they have been over prescribed from the beginning and this has caused two very different and very serious problems:

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There seem to be hundreds of therapies for autism on the market today and “on the market” seems to be the reason – money. However, there is no real integration of any of these therapies and little information for the “poor” parents with an autistic child (and “poor” is often correct as autism can be a “bankrupting disease”). There are four different basic problems with four different therapies needed to solve them and work towards any cure or improvements. These are: Mercury and other heavy metal toxins Allergies and food sensitivities Inadequate nutrition

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To view a 60 day case study of a serious ADHD boy using Neuroliminal Training, go to: http://drbate.com/Ref/ADHDsaga.htmlThere are now five types of recognized professional treatment for ADD, ADHD and Autism used today by different clinicians:

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Stress comes in many and varied forms, mostly unsuspected by most of us. We are generally aware of the emotional stress that can be caused by such upsets as losing a close friend or relative, but how many realize that allergies and sensitivities also cause huge and often unrecognized stress upon the immune system. And how many of us realize that all stress is additive?

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One meaning of the term "bracketing" is "to place within." This concept of "placing within" is a helpful strategy that students and adults can use to identify and appropriately deal with distracting thoughts. In stage one, students decide whether their current thoughts are appropriate for the task at hand. If they are not, students can bracket them in stage two. It is very helpful to teach students (and adults) to classify thoughts into three groups:

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Too often children and parents experience dissatisfaction and disillusionment in the educational process. Parents can feel frustrated in their efforts to help their child succeed. How can parents help their child be successful and find joy in learning? Parents can help their children thrive in school, and in life, by having realistic expectations of their children’s abilities and by helping them to develop independent work habits.

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When it "Clicks," all is well in the world of decoding and easy comprehension.

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A mnemonic, (pronounced ni-mon’-ik) is a device used as a memory aid. The F.A.C.T. mnemonic helps students organize and remember important comprehension strategies. The letters in F.A.C.T. stand for effective, research supported strategies that support comprehension: Focus, Ask questions, Connect, and Turn on the visuals. Focus: Comprehension is only as strong as the student's focus while reading. Encourage focus by using your child's imagination and interests.

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Conce ed parents frequently ask how they can help their children become smarter, more successful learners. The surprising news is that research in the area of human emotions provides a blueprint for the kinds of parenting techniques that increase children’s intelligence! Because of the way the brain is wired, emotional states run our lives, whether we like it or not. Emotional states are constantly in flux, and are easily influenced. Learning occurs when brains grow new cells in response to the environment. Emotions such as pleasure and joy encourage brain cell development.

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Children with special needs have experienced more frustration and academic failure than most other children. Yet, some of them become successful college students who graduate with a specialty in a chosen field. Sadly, most do not. Only about 57 percent of students with disabilities graduate from high school, and only about 10 to 15 percent of those graduating attend college. What are some reasons students succeed in college? How can parents help their child be among those who accomplish this challenging undertaking? Parental expectations are a key factorr

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Apply Brain Research – Raise a Successful Student Techniques to share with parents, teachers and caregivers There are about as many nerve cells in the brain as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The unique set of connections between neurons that each of us develops determines how we view the world, shapes our future experiences, and indeed, determines who we are. Successful students have developed rich, connected networks of neurons. Many factors encourage neurons to branch and communicate with each other.

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Max had dreamed of going to college ever since his father told him, “Everyone in our family goes to college.” Max related well to people. They trusted him. He had a head for business. His manner inspired confidence. Max wanted to major in business. But, in order to be admitted to business college, he needed to pass a statistics class. Max began to have problems in math in first grade. His parents sat up with him night after night as he struggled with his homework.

Published · 5,534 views · Rated 4/5 from 4 votes

Personal qualities that support academic success Students who have the following personal qualities are much more likely to thrive in college. You can read more detailed descriptions of the qualities that insure college success here. * Self-awareness and self-acceptance * Proactivity as opposed to reactivity * Perseverance * Skill in setting short and long-range goals * Use of effective support systems * Strong emotional coping strategies Understanding a student’s rights in college

Published · 7,396 views · Rated 4.3/5 from 4 votes

It was a hot, sticky afte oon in Mrs. Hall’s 5th grade classroom. The students were sleepy and Mrs. Hall was convinced they weren’t paying attention. Mrs. Hall knew that listening is an active, conscious process that has a huge impact on learning. She realized there were strategies she could use to wake up the students’ brains, interest and ability to listen. She had them listen to classical music. Classical music by composers such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky encourages the brain to enter a relaxed, focused state which is highly conducive to learning.

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Forgotten computer passwords, belated birthday cards, mismatched shoes – they can make you wonder if your brain has turned to mush. Or maybe you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)! Today’s frenzied world is a breeding ground for ADHD-like behavior, but for 95% of us those tendencies evaporate when life settles down. For the other 5% - more than 11 million adults worldwide - life never settles down. Frenzied is normal. And it drives them (and the people around them) crazy.

Published · 5,538 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Results of a major research study show that adolescent girls with ADHD are more likely to attempt suicide and to inflict injury on themselves than non-ADHD girls of the same age. The study, led by Stephen Hinshaw, PhD and published in the online journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, reports that these tendencies show up more often in girls diagnosed with primarily impulsive type ADHD. The majority of girls are diagnosed with combined type ADHD, which includes impulsivity as well as inattention, so many are at risk.

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Before menopause, "Sylvia" was plagued by severe PMS (now known as PMDD - Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder). She had migraines each month in tandem with her period and her work suffered because she lost focus regularly. After menopause her brain fog worsened. Little did she know that her undiagnosed ADHD was part of the hormonal snafu.

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Individuals with ADHD and ADD often have difficulty with Executive Skills, also called Executive Functions. These are the skills that help us manage and direct our lives.

Published · 6,088 views · Rated 4.3/5 from 4 votes

What Is Educational Therapy? 15 million school age children in the US have learning problems that public and private schools can’t solve. There are 72,000 special education students in LAUSD, alone. Every day these students sit unhappily in class, losing hope of ever realizing their dreams. Students are living in pain and shame. They are not learning to be successful students. Their parents are frustrated in their attempts to find suitable education for their child. They’ve tried working through the public schools. They have hired tutors.

Published · 5,149 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 7 votes

Parents may suspect that their child is gifted, yet be baffled when their smart child has difficulty learning in certain areas. Some intellectually gifted students also have special learning needs such as a learning disability. Gifted students may also have other special educational needs such as auditory processing problems, dyslexia, ADHD or emotional problems. When a highly intelligent child has a learning disability, it is difficult for parents to make sense of the learning and behavior patterns they observe.

Published · 7,977 views · Rated 4.2/5 from 5 votes

Children with special learning needs have experienced more failure and disappointment than other children. Parenting children with special learning needs can be difficult, and calls forth from their parents an extra measure of care in "planting the seeds of greatness." Seeds of "greatness" grow into strong, confident children—skilled learners who make bold choices and expect the best for their lives.

Published · 6,417 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 6 votes

Children who live with failure experience negative feelings such as shame, isolation, and anger. These students need guidance to develop personal skills that support their success. According to research conducted by the Frostig Center in Pasadena, six personal attributes form the core characteristics that contribute to success for special needs students. Successful individuals do not necessarily have all six of these qualities.

Published · 5,974 views · Rated 3.7/5 from 7 votes

Reading is a highly complex, integrated activity that daunts as many as 33 percent of the population. Many children become proficient readers regardless of how they are taught. However, for children who experience difficulty learning to gain meaning from print, reading must be systematically and carefully taught. Mastering the following components of the reading process is essential if students are to become proficient readers. Appreciation and enthusiasm for reading It comes as no surprise that children who are passionate about reading are more skillful readers.

Published · 4,868 views · Rated 4.5/5 from 4 votes

Like many of you, my love for my family motivates me to do what I do. I decided to go to medical school at the age of 39 after doctors made my daughter ill by prescribing psychiatric drugs for her bladder infections. Every day I am grateful for the knowledge I obtained. Though I always believed that it should be a parent’s right to choose if their children were vaccinated or not, I had given vaccines to my own children without a second thought. I did not, however, give them in my medical practice.

Published · 3,971 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

Dietary changes, not drugs, correct this common psychiatric diagnosis In the last 20 years, medical care for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has grown into an industry that tends to treat symptoms and not cure the problem. Children with the disorder are handed a psychiatric label, a drug prescription and a discouraging diagnosis. ADHD symptoms persists into adulthood even with medical treatment. According to statistics supporting the Americans with Disabilities Act, 3 percent to 10 percent of the U.S.

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There are currently 37 symptoms that people with dyslexia and ADD exhibit. In October I worked with an 11 year old and discovered yet one more to add to the list. In a reading program at my learning center, clients are, of course, required to read. Many times they resist when it comes time to ...

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People with ADD very often complain that they have a problem with starting and/ or completing projects. This is often a great source of stress in one’s life, in light of the many projects that just never seem to get done. Some of the reasons Adder’s seem to struggle so much in this area has to ...

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Children that have been diagnosed with ADHD are at a much higher risk of developing non-compliant or negative behaviors than a child that does not have ADHD. The very nature of ADHD implies that the child will have difficulty with self-control, paying attention, listening to instructions at ...

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Children with ADHD (Ages 6-10 years old) Okay!! Your child is in school and either you are frustrated as their parent, your child’s teacher is frustrated, or both! You have most likely seen behavioral problems and your child’s teacher has called you telling you that your child is disrupting ...

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A large number of students with ADHD attending Universities around the country are taking medication to assist them in leveling the playing field and achieving their academic goals. However, there is a growing conce regarding the illegal use of these ADHD medications by students who do not ...

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“If you don’t clean up your room right now, you’re grounded!” Ellen yelled at her daughter, Brittany. Brittany rolled her eyes—again—and stalked off toward her room. This running feud was getting to Ellen. She was at her wits end. She began to dread coming home from work because she knew the bickering and yelling would start as soon as she walked through the door. Ellen knew she had lost her way as a parent, and she even began to feel that Brittany didn’t have the same level of respect and love for her that she used to have.

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Dopamine dosers to your rescue! Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters play a key role in focusing. One of these neurotransmitters is dopamine - the major chemical that regulates focus, motor movements and feelings of pleasure. You can use some clever tricks to capitalize on and "control" the dopamine system in your body. Here are three quick ways to get your brain to "dose you with dopamine" and increase your ability to pay attention and concentrate!

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Do thoughts race around in your mind like a swarm of bees? With all those thoughts sprinting around in your mind, you’d think one of them would claim your attention. But none of them seem to “step into the spotlight”! Increasing the right kind of chemicals in your brain will reduce the “clutter” in your mind If racing or cluttered thoughts is a problem for you, biochemistry has got your back! Taking charge of your brain's neurotransmitters is a great way to improve your attention and concentration - even for boring, mundane or irritating tasks.

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If you are feeling discouraged about not being able to get things done, or find yourself losing time on activities that are "fun" in the moment but don't fulfill any of your life's ambitions, you need to know more about the true nature of the quality called "willpower"! We used to think we were born with a certain amount of willpower and the amount of willpower we had couldn't be changed. But now science is challenging that old assumption. It's time for a new look at what "willpower" really is, and a fresh start on beating procrastination! What is willpower?

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- The Secret to Productive Routines We all have habits and routines - some of them help us achieve our goals and some don't! Setting up productive new routines can be tough, so it makes sense to use the easiest, most efficient process possible! Fortunately, there are certain habits that make taking charge of your time and your tasks easier. Keystone Habits

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Automate your "launch sequence"! Have you ever locked yourself out of your car … or your house? I sure have! I think about all the time I wasted sitting outside my house waiting for my husband to come home to unlock the door or, even worse, sitting on the curb or in a fast food joint a block away from my car waiting for him to come and get me where I was stranded - yuck!!

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On the spectrum of ADHD symptoms, perhaps the least understood is the inability of children and adults to pay attention to the world around them. They “space out” in the middle of conversations or are clueless about the recently revealed details of a new project at work. That “space cadet” inattentive presentation of ADHD can drive friends, partners, spouses, teachers and bosses crazy. They think the ADHD person doesn’t care about the relationship or the job or they may believe the ADHD person is slow witted or even stupid.

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"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand The term "self-efficacy" has always excited me! It means knowing that you can "get the job done" in your life.

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Should I? …Will I be able to? ……What if it all goes wrong!!!? How often do we stop dead in our tracks, crippled by indecision? Yet there is so much wisdom in each of us! Decisions would be so much simpler if we could tap into our abundant, God-given wisdom, don't you think! You might find clarity and self-efficacy through this simple jou aling exercise

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Do you have piles of "stuff" so high you can't find what you need, or sit down to a family dinner at the table because it's covered with piles of papers or - gasp - dirty dishes? Even if clutter is beginning to take over your home, you can bust through the confusion and get your household running more smoothly! I've got 3 tips that will help you do that.

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Did you know that research shows it takes an average of 66 days to establish a new habit? Keep in mind, though, that's just an average - some habits can be developed in as little as 17 days and some require 250 days to get firmly in place!

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Did you read my article last week about getting and staying organized using a powerful, proven process? I hope so. And I hope you've started to put a new habit in place to tame the clutter that is tormenting you! You can read that article here if you missed it! Are you starting to see clarity in your surroundings yet? Even just one surface that was previously hidden from view beginning to come into its own and shine forth is great progress!

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It's all in how you look at it, don't you think! Linda Larson Schlitz is one of my most inspirational friends. You'll see why I admire her so much when I tell you this story! She has ADHD and Hypo-Mania Type II Bi-Polar - and I tell you that because it's important to the whole point of this story! Misplacing or losing things is something Linda accepts as a part of life.

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I hope when you finish this article you'll feel grateful that you read it because it might help you improve your life! Big promise, right!?! Ok, here goes… Most people have heard about practicing gratitude, and maybe even know that research has proven many benefits from making gratitude a habit in your life. Specifically, how is a practice of gratitude related to improving ADHD symptoms?

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Have you ever read the story, The Little Engine That Could? A heavy train needed to be pulled over a tall mountain. The big engines refused to take on the job, but the little engine decided to take on the challenge. Why did the little engine take on such a huge job? In her own words, "I think I can, I think I can."

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When you look around your home, or office, or car…how do you feel inside - Depressed? Anxious? … or Satisfied? Does it seem that getting organized and clearing the clutter is an impossible dream, never to be? Take heart! You can get organized when you take it step by step and focus on a powerful and effective process. Reality check

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Stop Procrastinating - Get Started Now! How do we get started when we have a task we want to - or need to - complete? Well, the hardest part is getting started. Once we actually get started, it's a lot easier to keep going. But oh, my goodness! Getting started can really suck sometimes, can't it!! It's a lot easier to get going when you "set the bar low" and here's what I mean by that. The principle is to set small, very achievable goals, and chain them together, one after the other. Why is "goal chaining" so effective?

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Our natural state is happiness, but how often does that get lost in the reality of modern life? All is not lost - we can take control of our happiness, turn a bad day into a good day, improve our mood, regulate our sleep, and as a by-product, get better time and task management - by turning on our "happy" chemicals!

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Maybe you're reading this because the title "caught your eye"! Actually it wasn't your eye that got caught - it was your Reticular Activating System (or RAS for short). Humans have a sort of "Beat Cop" in their brains - the RAS - a bundle of nerves in the brain stem that controls what you pay attention to.

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One of my clients, a thirteen year old boy, related to me about his prior time at a residential treatment center.

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On average, dealing with distractions and interruptions at work can consume more than two hours out of your whole workday. It’s no different at home. The boundaries between work and life are blurred and technology and our fast-paced lives interfere with our productivity and sense of wellbeing. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the connection between lack of attention and their work/life productivity

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William was one of those kids who breezed through most of public school with his great brain. He had a few academic close calls as a college undergrad, but he always pulled it off in the end. He completed his MBA at the top of his class at an extremely competitive university. Sure, there were a few too many all nighters—and more than one plea to a professor for an extension on a late assignment—but his scores were so high and his in-class discourse so articulate that he graduated with glowing recommendations to a very promising, entry-level job.

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For most teenagers, the mere thought of spending three hours on a Saturday morning answering multiple choice and essay questions is anxiety provoking. Students with AD/HD and/or learning disabilities feel even more anxious: • “With all that pressure, I just can’t think.

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In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all about relationship. These children are within a realm where they feel and respond much differently than others. There has been much focus on trying to eliminate certain behaviors or to evoke particular responses in children which actually become rote and repetitive for them without context. One of the goals in aiding these children should be in helping them find meaning. In order to do this we must be willing to not look at the child as broken, unable to respond, or even unable to communicate.

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In our childhood some of us have heard the expressio "straiten up", "How are holding your body" and other expressions intended to improve one's posture because it is slouchy. Practically making an effort to straiten up is short term and based on force that is why after a few minutes the posture returns to the starting point. There are several methods that work on improving posture. Each one takes a different point of view to bring the body to a better alignment. Yoga works on extending the joints, flexibility and strengthening the body. These elements allow the body to be in its center.

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In aiding children with developmental challenges, we must first realize that this requires a team effort and a strengths based approach. It is necessary to not focus on what the child cannot do but look at what the child can accomplish and build upon this. Parents can enlist the support of professionals but must realize that it is they who are the most important persons in the child's life and that furthering the development of their child is not just the work of professionals but is a collaborative effort from everyone involved with the child.

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In attempting to maintain our overall balance on all levels of our divine expression of spirit we may sometimes wander off the path or get stuck in a place that is not for our highest good. I know this happens to me when I forget to listen to spirit in taking better care of my self. Searching for my inner light and expressing my inner light over the last 40 years has brought me a greater understanding of the interplay of flesh and spirit and balance of the two. Christ taught us to care for our bodies – he taught that we are born in the image and likeness of God.

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Because of the ongoing conce over high cholesterol and heart disease, people are consuming low-cholesterol foods, in addition to, taking cholesterol-suppressive drugs that damage the liver, without realizing that this can automatically cause the body to produce more cholesterol, and there are safe and effective clinical nutrition protocols to balance and maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

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Chapter 1 Introductio A Course in Miracles was brought to Israel by Phyllis Schlemmer, a world renowned trance medium, in 1977. She formed a group of twelve people (including my mother) who practiced the course. Twelve years later the course was translated into Hebrew by Avi Yasur and Ruthi ...

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Sure, everyone is on the go these days—but does your life feel like the Indy Racing League? Do you spend more time in overdrive tha Danica Patrick? Things can get so hectic that many people feel that they have ADD—or at the very least, that they suffer from ADD moments. For example, one driver in the thick of the rat race took off from the gas station with the nozzle still in her tank! Everyone has distracted moments—both amusing and less so—but when a person has a disability such as ADD or ADHD, things take a more serious turn.

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Actions against AD/HD Distractions: How to Ensure a Better Bottom Line for Your Businessr By Geraldine Markel, Ph.D. A primary characteristic of AD/HD is distractibility. Distraction is a significant barrier to achieving efficiency and productive in business. You are diverted from important tasks and performance lags. Too frequently, distraction leads to procrastination, incomplete projects and stress. How much is distraction costing your business in missed opportunities, needless mistakes, late fees, or neglect of management chores or professional commitments?

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This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD). Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a disorder characterized by a difficulty in retaining focus, especially on tasks, for long periods of time and interfering especially with academic, occupational, and social performance.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD or ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. It is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children affecting about 3 to 5% of children globally with symptoms starting before seven years of age. It is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity. ADHD is diagnosed twice as frequently in boys as in girls, though studies suggest this discrepancy may be due to subjective bias.

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Reading the comments at www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/2008/05/16/normal/, made me both sad and angry for all the people who are suffering because of being mislead by well-meaning, but uninformed experts when it comes to hormone balance. What I will share with you has been the result of successfully helping people with dysfunctions of the thyroid, adrenals, sex hormones, etc., since 1981, and in doing so I have learned something everyone needs to know.

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We think about, we dream about and often we worry about what’s going to happen during the holiday season! Sometimes, this is good, sometimes it’s bad. You have to admit; we tend to get really emotionally charged for any holiday or vacation time of the year. After all, a holiday and time off or time spent with family and friends, is something to look forward to.

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Inevitably, business cycles go up and down. When a serious economic downtu does occur, even the highest performers experience doubts and difficulties. Those who work on commission or own small businesses, for example, real estate and insurance agents, financial services providers, and other entrepreneurs, are especially vulnerable. Bleak times notwithstanding, however, some independent professionals survive and thrive. They stay the steady course by keeping the negativity down and the productivity up.

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"The Diagram of the Metabolism and Pathways of the Human Cells was mysteriously left out of medical school text books over 40 years ago," reports Janet Lang, D.C. When you look at this diagram, you see that only nutrients are inside our cells. Nutrients are macro-nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats/oils), micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and water. Do you know what this means? What this means is that only nutrients can heal the body!!

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Have you made a professional blunder? Perhaps you’ve made an insensitive remark, used poor judgment, lacked follow-through, or lost an important document. You’ve cost others time, energy, and perhaps, money. The way in which you deal with professional mishaps contributes to your professional image and to your sense of self.

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Loaded down with holiday packages, Steve braces himself against the bitter wind as he searches the mall parking lot for his car. When he finally reaches his sedan, he sets a large box on the roof and digs into his pocket for the keys. While he loads shopping bags into the back seat, a neighbor calls out a greeting from a few rows over. They wish each other happy holidays, and with snow flurries stinging his eyes, Steve climbs into the car and turns on the heater full blast.

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In memory of 14 year old Matthew Smith; 11 year old Stephanie Hall; and 10 year old Shaina Dunkle and other children who have died from the use of psychotropic drugs for "ADHD". The Eli Lilly company has been marketing a new drug for those who are labeled as ADHD known as Strattera. This drug ...

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What is termed ‘madness’ or ‘mental illness’ is for some the only means for expression of their being lost and confused in a world which has caused them deep hurt and pain. Such is not disease but behavior with metaphorical meaning. There has been received through life mixed messages and ...

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I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying: the fastest way to go nowhere is not to start the trip. Or how about this one: a sure fire way to lose a game is not to play. These sayings have a lot of value, as their truth is absolute. The number one reason a lot of people fail at what they wish to do is: they never start. By now, you’ve probably guessed the number two reason: those who fail often fail to plan. Having a plan for life is like buying a roadmap before you try to drive somewhere on vacation.

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As the results from college admissions tests begin to arrive, many parents will recognize the need for their student to retake the tests and achieve higher scores in order to be accepted at highly ranked universities. However, a typical teenager in the midst of sudden mood changes and general confusion about life might be less than receptive to the idea of preparing for another round of these expensive, time-consuming, but crucial exams. Such household tensions can leave parents at a loss to encourage adolescents to address their weak areas and maximize their strengths.

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Everyone raves about the benefits of networking to market and expand business opportunities. Typically, networking includes activities such as reaching out to other business owners by attending networking meetings or meeting people one-on-one, sharing goals, and creating a sense of camaraderie rather than competition. Unfortunately, the new and perhaps naïve entrepreneur may jump into networking without adequately assessing the real costs and benefits of these potential relationships.

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As a doctor who treats Attention Deficit Disorder, I am often asked about how to handle ADHD children. As the mother of a son with ADHD, I understand how challenging and nerve-wracking it can be for families struggling with the condition. During the course of my personal and clinical experience, I have learned various methods and techniques to calm hyperactive children. The key is consistency. Give these a try and see what works for your child. How To Handle ADHD Children

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Head, tiny feet and hands, resting in the palm. A cry signaling the present and future pain. From birth, there will be no calm. Abandoned by mother, treated with disdain, Tossed to and fro, from place to place. Locked into the system, full of fears, Who will care and look upon my face? Will any come to wipe away my tears? Drugged and repressed, I dare not speak a word, For punishment comes when one does talk. And all I have to say will never be heard. Will any be near me, on my journey, my walk? I am unwanted, a stranger in the world, unknown.r

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Geshe Kelsang Gyatso said that "patience is a mind that is able to accept, fully and happily, whatever occurs." And Shantideva stated, "If something can be remedied why be unhappy about it? And if there is no remedy for it, there is still no point in being unhappy." When people have undergone significant distress and trauma in their lives, it often burdens their minds and leads them to states of anxiety, depression, and despair.

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Massage as a Support Measure for the Terminally Ill

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Dr. Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D., B.C.S.A. is a noted psychotherapist, child/adolescent developmental specialist, and social activist. Dr. Edmunds is the founder of the International Center for Humane Psychiatry, a coalition of mental health professionals, psychiatric survivors and others dedicated to returning compassion and ethics to the field of emotional healing.

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There are powerful forces at work which pull us to and fro and infect us with ideas of who we are, what we should be, and often block us from becoming. These forces arise within our social and familial structures. We are sent repetitive messages and they become deeply engrained. We may have been told we are not attractive or too attractive, not motivated or too achieving, etc. And we enter the social sphere having absorbed these messages. As we do so we begin a painful process of comparisons. There becomes a striving for something or sometimes nothing at all.

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What Does a baby Need??? Parents want the best for their child. In order to do it they read the appropriate books, invest in the best equipment, best food and other appropriate accessories, finding the best activities, and still I encounter so many times lack of knowledge among parents of some of the developmental needs of their baby. These basic needs are required for the proper development of the baby and his/hers ability to develop the Motor (movement), Cognitive, emotional, and social skills he/she will need for the rest of their lives.r

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Learning Disabilities and the Neuro Developmental Functional Approach Therapyr Dr. Gilad Schafman Msc.D. • In this article I am using the term child to refer to children of all ages from infants to aging folks.

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I knew I needed to come up with a better name for this thinking type. It is a habit of mind we tend to take for granted as part of our mental make up and how we do things. But it has a powerful pull on our minds, sort of like a magnet the size of King Cong. I work consciously to identify this issue both in my own life and the lives of my clients. So it was no surprise when an image came to me that I feel best describes it: the image of blood sucking vampires.

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Because of how the ADHD brain functions, people with this condition commonly experience several workplace challenges that can negatively impact their performance. These challenges include: Time/Task Management, Distractibility/Impulsivity; Working Memory; Organization; and Communication/Building Relationships. So the question is: How do these proven brain challenges effect real work accomplishments on the job? In this article we’re gong to talk about: Organization

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Last week I introduced the concept I recently coined called Vampire Thinking. Vampire Thinking is the compulsion we all have to suck the juice right out of our possibilities and opportunities. Instead of acting on a good idea, we excel at finding a slew of reasons we should kill it as soon a possible and move on to continuing our “safe” existence. I’m sure you can relate to this idea because you engage in vampire thinking more frequently then you know. How often do you talk yourself right out of what you really want in order that you may choose for the safe option? And your reasons?

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Because of how the ADHD brain functions, people with this condition commonly experience several workplace challenges that can negatively impact their performance. These challenges include: Time/Task Management, Distractibility/Impulsivity; Working Memory; Organization; and Communication/Building Relationships. So the question is: How do these proven brain challenges effect real work accomplishments on the job? In this article we’re gong to talk about: Working Memoryr Working memory enables one to hold facts in mind while manipulating information.

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Karen is a 23 year old woman who felt extremely uncomfortable around people. She originally contacted ADD Insights for coaching services, because she felt she had nothing to offer. By her own admission, she felt she was unattractive and had nothing interesting to say. Karen did not attend social events when she could avoid them and stayed in the background when she was forced to appear by virtue of appeals from friends or family. She was not making new friends in college and did not date.

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Is ADHD really a legitimate brain condition? Or is it a made-up diagnosis used to explain aberrant behavior? Is the ADHD label an opportunity for some people to slough off responsibilities and get a pass on completing necessary tasks? Does it give people an excuse for their mistakes and their behavior? These are examples of frequently heard comments and questions from people who question the validity of ADHD. They are often heard to say: “Oh, yeah, everyone now-a-days seems to have ADD”.

Published · 2,061 views · Rated 4.7/5 from 3 votes

Because of how the ADHD brain functions, people with this condition commonly experience several workplace challenges that can negatively impact their performance. These challenges include: Time/Task Management, Distractibility/Impulsivity; Working Memory; Organization; and Communication/Building Relationships.

Published · 2,237 views · Rated 4.7/5 from 3 votes

Because of how the ADHD brain functions, people with this condition commonly experience several workplace challenges that can negatively impact their performance. These challenges include: Time/Task Management, Distractibility/Impulsivity; Working Memory; Organization; and Communication/Building Relationships. So the question is: How do these proven brain challenges effect real work accomplishments on the job? In this article we’re going to talk about: TIME/TASK MANAGEMENT

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For many of us trust is not necessarily an easy thing. It can be a big word - loaded with disappointments and few happy memories. We hesitate when we are faced with the desire or need to trust someone and are not comfortable when they trust us. We fear what may happen by making ourselves that vulnerable and then we worry and obsess about it. Many of us feel trust is impossible and in fact we have taken a vow never to trust certain relationships and situations ever again. We can’t imagine allowing that kind of pain to hurt us in the future.

Published · 4,374 views · Rated 3.8/5 from 5 votes

Is gift-giving stressful at your house? Do you try to find things that your child would like, hoping to surprise her, but then learn that it was not what she had in mind at all? Gift giving for children who are inflexible in their thinking can be a disappointing exercise in miscommunication. It takes some careful communication ahead of time to have a happy gift-receiving experience. If you want to surprise you child with a gift, you probably should let go of that. Children on the spectrum simply don’t do well with surprise.

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Many of us have a “black sheep” in the family. Sometimes that person has a mental illness and sometimes not. It might be someone who caused you or your parents great unhappiness in your childhood. At any rate, you know someone fairly close to you who caused havoc in your life. That relative provides a model of what you do not want in your child and a model of what you fear. Yikes! When you have just gone through an angry, out-of-control episode with your child, you might think of Auntie Agnes and fear the worst. You panic. You might over-react.

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Many times a year parents come to me for guidance about dealing with their child’s lying. Usually the situation is that the child has been involved in some activity that she knows her parents disapprove of. It could be sampling the frosting on a birthday cake before the occasion, or talking to strangers on line or downloading songs on iTunes without permission to use the parents’ credit card. Parents are very upset about the problem behavior and about the lie. Often they are somewhat surprised when I recommend that they focus on the behavior the lie was covering up rather than the lie.

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Here’s a scenario I see often in my work. Parents are having difficulty with their child over Problem X (doing homework, getting up in the morning, getting ready for school, or managing time on electronics). Parents join me and the child for a meeting about this, and the parents have been thinking about the problem and have come up with a proposal. Very often these bright and successful parents have really good ideas. They say, “I’ve been thinking about this, and here’s what I want you to do from now on.

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Left unchecked, there are a handful of pretty normal bad habits that can turn into relationship killers. The patterns of communication listed below can start innocently enough. You probably just don’t know any better. And for a while these cycles let out some tension and can be laughed off later. But given enough time, these bad habits can corrode the bond between spouses to the point of disrepair. See if your “harmless” habit made the list, and if so, start working towards a healthier and more respectful union today. 1. Putting Words in Each Other’s Mouthr

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It’s tax time! Are you ready? If your answer is a loud “NO” – you’re not alone. Tax season seems to be one of those universal experiences that makes everyone grumpy and anxious. The whole system seems especially designed to confound ADHDers: first, keep track of every little expense for 365 days, then slog through pages of confusing and redundant paperwork, all to fork over a check of your hard-ea ed money – and don’t forget, you’ll get slapped with penalties if you make a mistake. What a nightmare.

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“I am so ADHD today.” We have all heard that phrase and know what it means. It is shorthand for someone who is feeling absent-minded, and makes a joke of it that his or her brain is in the grip of distraction issues beyond their control. But have you ever said it about yourself, and wondered if it might hold true? Sound Familiar?

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What do you want? This might be one of the most loaded questions in the English language. What is your long-term, big-picture, no-guts-no-glory goal? Not to be morbid, but what is the accomplishment you would be proudest of in your obituary? For adults with ADHD, it’s common for those dreams to fall along the lines of healthier interpersonal relationships, steadier success in the workplace, or a deep and healing sense of self-confidence. These are beautiful goals. These are the sorts of accomplishments that can turn lives around.

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When your ADHD diagnosis arrives, it can be overwhelming. Hopefully most of your feelings about it are positive. In some respects, years or decades of frustration and missteps suddenly make a lot of sense. There is also comfort from the revelation that many of the bad habits and problem behaviors that have hampered your personal life and success at school or work are the result of a different neurological arrangement of brain tissue. It’s just biology.

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Earlier this week I read a summary of a newly published study about the increased prevalence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study was conducted by Kaiser Permanente in Califo ia and covered a time span from 2001 to 2010. It got me thinking about the diagnosis, its prevalence and treatment.

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I got thinking today about how helpful it is for children when their parents and teachers can communicate and collaborate well. I happened to run across two good examples among the families I work with. This is true even if your child does not have learning problems, but it is especially important for children who have ADHD, learning disabilities, or Asperger Syndrome. Here are some ways to go about building a good relationship that invites helpful communication.

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Last week I gave a talk to a group of elementary school parents about ways to decrease nagging their children. The talk packed in the information from three or four parent coaching sessions. It was full of specific suggestions for behaviors for parents to try. I know that this approach works because I have used it on many occasions with all sorts of parents.

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Lately I’ve worked with grade school children who have “misbehaved” in some pretty major ways. We have running away from organized activities, hitting family members, and yelling insulting things at parents, to name a few. These are reasons for parents, teachers, and therapists to put their heads together to figure out what is going on and help these children to behave better.

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In case you haven’t noticed, it’s time to shop for Christmas or Hanukah. If you haven’t noticed, you must be seriously isolated, and I’m conce ed for your wellbeing. Many of us are trying to find a way through the commercial blitz while honoring our own values and budgets. Very likely your children are also influenced by the commercialism, raising the need for parents to educate them about what their family’s values and budget are. Throw in the wish to preserve the magic of believing in Santa Claus, and many parents find themselves in a bind.

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A month from now, you will be powering through your New Year’s Resolutions, well on your way towards achieving feng shui in your living room, or better upper body strength, or all-around inner peace. But for now, take a victory lap in honor of 2012 (whether or not last year’s resolutions all got checked off). Even if the last twelve months chewed you up and spit you out, there is plenty to cheer about. The Vicious Circle of Self-Help

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Now we are into December, and the holiday season is officially underway. How can you help you and your quirky kids focus on the enjoyment and minimize the overwhelm that can come with this time of year? Self Care

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Any parent knows that one of the biggest challenges of being a parent in a two parent family is working with the other parent. You can be in agreement about décor, finances and many other things, but it is likely that parenthood will bring out differences that you were only dimly aware of before. Add to that a challenging or quirky child, and the differences can quickly become polarized so that you feel that one parent is too strict and the other is too lenient. In all likelihood both parents hold part of the solution.

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“What is my role in life? How do I fit in?” These are questions that everyone on earth has given some thought to in their lives. For some, the answers are harder to find than others – especially when some intangible difference separates people into “us” and “them,” making those searching questions present themselves more often. For better or worse, having attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of those categories that makes a person wonder more than once, “What is my place in my community?”r

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A holiday party is less than fun when you’re the one arriving late, or forgetting the gifts, or – worst of all – scrambling in the kitchen and wishing you had never volunteered to play host while hungry guests sit in the living room. As the nights grow frosty and the dreams of sugar plums start to dance through the little ones’ heads, you can either don your cap and slide into your cozy bed with an extra feeling of gratitude – or cranky and miserable from holiday stress. Now is the time to make this holiday season your best holiday season.

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Most AD/HD adults know the feeling of overwhelm. It’s that place we go to when we’ve overextended ourselves, when we’re multi-tasking and having trouble keeping up or when stress gets the better of us, and more. Maybe you recall that old expression, “Stop the world, I want to get off ”. It goes ...

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Have you noticed that, like other ADD adults, you are routinely 5-10 minutes late for work, appointments, and most other scheduled events? It’s not that you intend to be late. You just simply got lost and distracted in time. Let’s face it — ADD Adults generally have a poor concept of time. We ...

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This week I have been reading Welcome to Your Child’s Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College by Sandra Aamodt, Ph.D. and Sam Wang, Ph.D. The authors describe brain development and child development, linking the two in a very instructive way. Along the way, they debunk a number of myths, and they offer research data to support all they describe. While some of the book gets fairly technical in its description brain anatomy and function, it also gives practical examples of ways parents can foster their children’s development.

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It’s not uncommon for some adults with ADD to lead fairly normal lives, everything going well and suddenly find themselves struggling with unfamiliar behaviors such as clutter and disorganization (mental and physical), uncommon tardiness (appointments and personal engagements, paying bills), and ...

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I’ve had the privilege of coaching a very special adult with ADHD (we’ll call him Joe) who has far exceeded the expectations of himself and others. But, if you ask Joe, his path to success is not complete. Today he finds himself in a constant process of self discovery. His coaching began about ...

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It is especially hard these days to maintain a center of equilibrium amid the pressures and stresses of daily life. It’s difficult to escape reading or hearing stories and murky pieces of information that bring us down, making us question the sanity of the world and the viability of our own futures. We long for supportive connections with others, loving communities, and homes where we can escape from the chaos and bad news.

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I recently wrote about the complicated feelings that parents have when their child is diagnosed with a learning disability. While these feelings are all a normal part of coping with a special needs child in your family, they can interfere with your well being and your ability to advocate for your child unless you find ways to support and take care of yourself.

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That’s how we all want to start the school year—with our best feet forward. This morning as I returned from walking my dog, I met a neighbor Mom and her two young children. They were returning from a trial walk to the local elementary school. The older child is starting kindergarten, and they had timed the walk to school. “Thirteen to fifteen minutes, including dilly-dallying.” What good planning, I thought. School doesn’t start here until next Tuesday, but my neighbor was establishing their morning routine now. By the look of it, it had been a pleasant outing.

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We are into the second full week of August, and I have received my first call about a child who is anxious about school starting. The reminders are everywhere. The advertisements are on television for back to school supplies and clothes. Children with learning disabilities and others who are simply anxious are beginning to have difficulty sleeping at night. They might also be more irritable and rigid during the day. How to cope? This is no fun for parents either.

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Yesterday did not turn out as planned. My husband and I offered a ride to church to a sweet, confused friend, and she gratefully accepted. Unfortunately, when we picked her up, she had locked herself out of her house, and her husband had left already. After church her husband was still not home. Long story short, I invited her back to our house where she had lunch and told me stories about growing up in Southern Califo ia. Around five o’clock she and her husband caught up with each other, and I took her home. Both husband and wife were very grateful for my help.

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As a Coach for Attention Deficit Disorder Adults, I am continually struck by the fantastic beliefs that so many of those with ADHD / ADD have about the 'rest of the world' - people who are not ADD. It seems that many people with ADD think that other people carry around a magic internal clock, ...

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You CAN Develop a Time Sensen================================ If you're like most people with ADD, you probably have some kind of challenges around time. You may be late for appointments, or can't meet deadlines, or try to get too much done at once. Strategies to overcome these hurdles should ...

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When to 'Just Do It!' ----------------------------------------------------- Those of us with Attention Deficit Disorder know that our ADD brain-wiring doesn't respond to what we 'should' do. Unless we're really interested in a task, we have a pretty nhard time staying focused on it for any ...

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A few times this summer I have come to think about the challenging job of raising children and how parents share that work and balance it with the demands of paid work. As I noted in an earlier post, I attended a college reunion earlier this summer. Most of my classmates have grown children by this time. A couple of conversations turned to the complications of sharing child rearing. One woman professional remembered that her husband was totally unwilling to leave work when a child got sick at school or day care.

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Conscientious parents can get themselves quite worried when they think like the title here. On the other hand, it is pretty normal to do so. Say your first grader gets very frustrated with her friend when they are planning a pretend scene, and she stomps out of the room, saying mean things and throwing a book. You notice that this has been happening a lot lately. She has a short fuse, gets easily frustrated, and her behavior suffers. If you confront her, and tell her to apologize to her friend, you might have a bigger fight on your hands. You’re even walking on eggshells around her.

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This is the third in a series of articles about entrepreneurs who have AD/HD. Coaching bridges the gap between where you are and where you want to be. An effective coach works with you to transform your vague dreams of entrepreneurial glory into a focused vision that can guide your way. Your ...

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How is ADD Coaching Distinct from Regular Coaching? By David Giwerc, MCC, President/Founder of ADD Coach Academy, www.addca.com In order to discuss the distinction between regular coaching and *ADD Coaching it is important to reference the International Coach Federation, the professional ...

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This is the second in a series of articles about entrepreneurs who have AD/HD. As I mentioned in the first article in this series, it seems that entrepreneurs are more likely than most people to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or AD/HD. Unfortunately, many of these AD/HD ...

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This is the first in a series of articles about entrepreneurs who have AD/HD. The United States is in the midst of an entrepreneurial renaissance. People are literally waking up to the idea that they can work for themselves and make a lot of money doing it. And, while there are as many types ...

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Recently I served as chair of my college reunion. It was a fair amount of work, but I had a hardworking and good natured committee. When the weekend came, I enjoyed coordinating things and had a great time. Then came the surprise. People thanked me. Many people—some I knew and some I did not—made a point of coming to me and thanking me for my work. One person even sent me a lovely thank you note. I was surprised, and really appreciative. It sweetened the whole effort, and made me feel even better about my classmates.

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To live as an asset, we must live fully in the present. Most of us live as if we were half alive. The Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, observes that we walk around more dead-like than alive-like. He says we tend to live in the past where life has already happened or we live in the future where we don’t know what will happen and we ignore being in the moment where all of life happens. So in other words, we are not alive to life.

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I recently read a blog post by a counselor who said that ignoring your children’s misbehavior is not helpful. He said that parents need to interrupt behavior. I think that ignoring can be a very helpful parenting strategy, but it isn’t appropriate for every situation. Clearly if your children are squabbling and one is hurting the other, you should intervene. If your child is destroying property, you’ll intervene. Ignoring is just one strategy in your parental toolbox. Ignore and Attend

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I recently wrote about what we know from research about the negative effects of too much media exposure for children. That leaves families with the question of what to do about it in their own homes. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages parents to avoid having children under two years old watch any television or other video media. At this age children’s brains are developing at a rapid rate, and we know that they learn best from actual interaction with the environment (like blocks and dolls) and with people, like you.

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There are many Colleges and Universities throughout the nation that offer excellent services and support to students with the ADD/ADHD brain type. That means offering personal assistance and mentoring, innovative teaching styles, tips and strategies for better organization and, above all, working with students to set goals for their academic progress. Here are some of the top schools in the nation that offer programs and services for ADD students: Landmark College, Putney, VTr

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I went to a conference over the weekend that was aimed mainly at therapists who treat adults. However, one of the presenters talked about how children learn to understand their own feelings and those of others in the course of interactions as they grow up. I found the talk was really relevant to helping parents teach children about their emotions and about emotional regulation. Many children who have ADHD, Asperger Syndrome or other learning disabilities have difficulty with emotional modulation.

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In my hometown it is officially summer. I know, the season really starts later this week on June 21, but school got out here last Friday. Last night the neighborhood children were out shooting baskets and hooting it up in the evening, a sure sign that they had no homework to do. So, is the living easy? I know that for many working parents it has been a scramble to find the coverage they need for the summer. They are planning their time off around the times that they do not have child care or a camp for their children to go to.

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Top Ten Strategies for Getting Things Done with ADD 1. Commit to one vision. You may have many brilliant ideas and plans, but without implementation, none are worth much. Choose ONE idea to flesh out and commit to. Write it down in detail. Picture exactly where you’d like to be with that ...

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Not long ago I heard an interview on the radio show, Humankind, about what parents can do to help children develop a moral core. The host interviewed Richard Weissbourd, a child and family psychologist on the faculty of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. What is a moral core? Weissbourd believes that a moral core involves being able to take another’s point of view, being able to value that point of view, and being able to manage difficult feelings. He believes that these and related qualities are more important to long term happiness that the much touted self-esteem.

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In the past few weeks there have been more anxious children and adolescents in my office than usual. This is probably just the randomness of the universe. Anxiety is often a feature with children who have ADD, learning disabilities and Asperger Syndrome. The situation has caused me to reflect on how treatable anxiety is. Deep Breathing

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I have found that for many ADHD couples it is hard to see the true warning sings that their relationship may need outside help. When immersed in our own conversation and behavior patterns with each other, it would be unusual for us to be able to see the larger perspective of what is really going on. That is exactly what makes the miscommunications in our relationships so frustrating.

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Is Your Child a Materialist?

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Several times lately I have met with parents who are hurt and angered by the things their children have said in anger. It makes sense that they are hurt. These are parents of “quirky kids” who get set off easily. Once your child is angry, she stops using her pre-frontal cortex to exercise judgment about what she says. Parents report remarks like, “You’re the worst Mom ever.” “I know you hate me.” “Go ahead, kill me now.”

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When a child has a learning disability, ADHD, or Asperger Syndrome it affects the whole family. Parents and children deal with a host of feelings as they find their way to a diagnosis and proper services for their child. At first parents may be frustrated with a child who does not do as well in school as his aptitude would predict. Children with undiagnosed learning disabilities can have confusing academic performances. They might do quite well for elementary school and be utterly overwhelmed in middle school. They might do well in one subject but be stymied in another.

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I thought when I chose this topic that I would dash it off quickly, but I found myself doing some research about what we know about how much children in the US use electronic entertainment and the research on what the effects of this are on children. It turns out that we know a lot. We know that on average the use of electronic entertainment went up almost an hour and twenty minutes a day between 2004 and 2010. We also have good research on what behaviors and habits are associated with higher amounts of TV watching, video game playing, and computer games and social media.

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This is a busy time of year for families. It seems that every activity has an end of the year event, so parents and children are hurrying to recitals, chorus and band concerts, ball games and graduations. Hopefully, these events bring pride, joy and satisfaction. I hope that your child is beaming from the stage, and that you are relishing the moment.

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Summer is the time of ease, of rest and relaxation, of freedom from all those rigid schedules. Hurray! However, if you have a child with learning disabilities or ADHD or other atypical profile, you know that your child needs some structure in order to get along well and be happy. Not knowing what to expect next can increase anxiety and lead to trouble.

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When your child enters school a new institution enters your family. The school influences your family life, your child’s life, and his or her sense of well-being. Often this is a positive influence — new experiences, new friends, pride in learning. However, for most parents there comes a time when you need to schedule a talk with the teacher. Think of this relationship as a collaboration. You need each other. Here are some tips for making that talk as productive as possible.

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Recently I had a meeting with two colleagues who, like me, are both mothers. One was distracted as we started because she had gotten a text from her high school age son that he had left his keys on the bus. How would he get into the apartment? She had an appointment for a haircut after her work, a rare time set aside just for her. By the time we met, she had figured out that he could wait for her in the library nearby, a reasonable option. All the same, she was rattled. It was unnerving that even though he’s in high school, he would lose his keys.

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Lately I have had balance on my mind. I am thinking of the difficult balance between a parent’s desire to protect a child and the child’s normal desire to be more independent. This balance is more tricky when with an atypical child — whether due to ADD, learning disability, or Asperger Syndrome. Now add the child’s normal desire to be more independent in middle school and the significant increase in the complexity of work in middle school, and you have a situation that can become a crisis.

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I find that college planning is on many parents’ minds even before junior year in high school. When parents receive diagnosis of a learning disability, ADHD or Asperger Syndrome, the meaning of doing well in school needs to be redefined. It is no longer, “Just work harder.” Now it means find out how your child learns, and work with the school to make sure he gets what he needs. Often the school and family situation gets very painful before proper services are in place.

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Many parents talk to me with frustration about their children who strew their things throughout the house and then cannot find what they need when they need it. Some of these children have ADHD or a learning disability that we know makes it hard for them to organize stuff. Others are simply immature or undiagnosed. Whatever the case, it is irritating for parents and children alike for parents to constantly remind children to put things away.

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Over the weekend I attended a large family Passover seder with about fifty people in attendance. The seder is a dinner with a liturgy that tells the story of how Moses led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. It got me thinking about the value of community in raising children. Participants ranged in age from late eighties to seven years old. The elders told a little about the family’s origins in Poland and their travel to America, and they reminisced about seders of fifty and sixty years ago.

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Often I meet with parents who are very worried about their children’s achievement, usually in school, but sometimes in sports as well. These are well-meaning parents who want the best for their children. They want them to have the best opportunities, and they want their children to have accomplishments that they can feel proud about.

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Last week I posted about listening to your child and trying to find times that your child is available to talk. Many people commented on the value of just showing up to be available to talk. It’s a challenge to us busy, goal-oriented parents. In fact, last week I meant to write about this week’s topic but I realized that finding time to talk is really most important.

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Some of you may have seen the old Bill Murray movie, “What About Bob.” Murray plays a man who is very dependent on his psychiatrist, played by Richard Dreyfus. Dreyfus encourages his patient to make progress in his life by “baby steps.” He has even written a book by that name. It’s a good spoof on the mental health profession. Dreyfus is making a bundle with simplistic advice, and Bob is ultimately the undoing of his pompous doctor.

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Recently a number of families I work with have been stymied by their children getting stuck. These are children with Asperger Syndrome, nonverbal learning disability, obsessive compulsive disorder, or some combination of those. During the course of a normal day, these kids hit road blocks that trigger outbursts. Often the cause is a change in plans that seemed inconsequential to you. You might say, “On our way home, I’m stopping at the grocery. Want to come in?” Child: “Nooooo.

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This week we all have our minds on the disclosure of sexual abuse of young boys by a coach at Penn State. I have been struck by the emphasis on who did what when rather than conce for the children who were abused. For many of us it raises the frightening prospect that our children or children we know could be sexually abused. I want to spend some time talking about how parents can find out whether a camp, preschool, Sunday School, or club is a safe place for their children. The way I see it there are three lines of defense. Educate Children

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Child psychologists tell parents to listen to their children, and they should. I have learned in my practice and in my life as a parent that it isn’t always clear how to get children to talk when you want to listen. When children get home from school or parents arrive home from work, parent asks, “How was your day?” Answer, “Fine.” “Anything interesting happen?” “Nope.” I can’t say that I know why this happens, but I know that it does. So, when can you talk?

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That’s a silly question, isn’t it? We all know that lying is saying something that is not true and acting as though it is true. Strictly speaking, that is the case. What is a lie that a parent should be conce ed about and what should parents do about it? That is a more difficult question, and I think that all parents face this at one point or another. Kids lie when they fear a bad outcome or when they don’t want you to know that they are messing up because you will be so upset or because they’ll be so embarrassed or all of the above.

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Having a learning disability is exhausting. Whether your child has ADHD, or a Nonverbal Learning Disability, or a Language Based Learning Disability, or Asperger Syndrome does not matter. Learning differently from the way school is taught is hard work.

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How do you get your children’s respect? How do you know that they respect you? Is it that they obey? That’s a big part of it when they are young. When parents of young children come to me for Parent Coaching, they often ask for help with compliance. Their children don’t “listen.” I think that most parents have this problem at one time or another. I know that I did. Parents find themselves telling a child over and over to do the same thing. Often they report, “He doesn’t do it until I yell. I don’t want to yell all the time, but that’s the only way he’ll listen.”

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Recently I went to a workshop on Mindfulness, and its use in psychotherapy. I was quite excited as I listened because I could see its usefulness to parents. First of all, what is mindfulness? When people practice mindfulness, they try to change the quality of their awareness so that they are observing and accepting of themselves. Mark Sorensen, Ph.D., (www.sorensentherapy.com) one of the presenters, teaches his clients to Stop, Observe, Accept, and Refocus. This shortens very nicely to SOAR. That’s a good concept isn’t it?

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Today it is more important than ever to learn good strategies for having meaningful and happy relationships. For couples where one or both of the partners have ADHD, this can prove to be particularly challenging.

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I recently heard that there is a new program being funded that is designed to inspire and teach innovative thinking to students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Since this is where new generations of innovators get their start, I believe this is an idea well worth supporting.If we can reach kids before they enter high school,our chances of getting them on a math and science track are much greater.

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What is the deciding factor for a rapid-fire thinker? Is it education? Is it peer relationships? Is it the right meds? I believe that the tipping point between solid, grounded life success and shaky, scary failure is how you feel about yourself. Self-esteem is the core issue of ADHD and determines whether you will go on and succeed or struggle for the rest of your life.

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Often parents suspect their child may have something going on…possibly ADHD/ADD. Observing problem behaviors at home may be followed up by a phone call from your child’s teacher requesting a conference. It’s important that you don’t ignore these signs that something is going on. An undiagnosed child with ADHD is often misunderstood. He is considered lazy or not smart. Also, many children with ADHD experience peer rejection and poor school performance due to their aggression, impulsiveness, inattention, and social-cognitive deficits.

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Meditation is a great way to calm and focus yourself if you have the ADD brain type. In fact, research has shown that mediation has the power to not only calm you down, but retrain your brain to work better. Meditation is also good for gaining perspective and helping you make better decisions and choices. All of these attributes of meditation are especially suited to help people with the ADD gene acquire better control over their lives.

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The truth about what exactly is ADD can be confusing. There are many interpretations out there each claiming to be the right one. ADD is a disability. ADD is a brain type. ADD is an executive function disorder. So how does one navigate the confusing waters of these competing definitions? How do you decide which claim is the most widely supported and bears up to the scrutiny of research and the medical community?

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Structure gives you the ability to follow a routine and daily agenda; get your bills paid, keep up with your professional tasks at work, manage your relationships, get places on time, know where you put things, etc. A lack of structure causes the opposite result. So there is great importance in having a routine and structure if you have ADHD. In many situations, it can be stated simply as the difference between success and failure. The more numerous the categories and the more frequently you are off track in that category, the larger the effect on your life.

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Then your greatest asset is your rapid fire thinking! With this asset, you are able to come to the best conclusions quickly, effectively, and way ahead of the people who don’t have ADHD. Let other people around you do the organizing, paperwork, and the detail managing. Your job is to create optimum solutions to important problems and trust that you can do that. Creativity! Inventiveness! Quick problem solving!

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To live as an asset, we must live fully in the present. Most of us live as if we were half alive. The Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, observes that we walk around more dead-like than alive-like. He says we tend to live in the past where life has already happened or we live in the future where we don’t know what will happen and we ignore being in the moment where all of life happens. So in other words, we are not alive to life.

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Vampire Thinking Series # 6 So many of us don’t realize how fear drives our everyday world. Fear is often behind our lack of authentically loving relationships, unsatisfying jobs, disappointment in our selves, bad money management, and lackluster lives.

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I am so encouraged by the positive reactio I am receiving to my “Vampire Thinking©” series of articles. Many of you have written to me to share your personal stories about the positive changes you are making as a result of understanding your self-incriminating behaviors. You are becoming committed to ending your self-sabotage once and for all. Many of you want to bring into your life the wonderful opportunities and relationships you have been missing.

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The diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) has skyrocketed 800% in the past three decades. Currently over sixty millio Americans are said to suffer from attention disorders and there are now forty five million prescriptions written for these toxic medications to improve their performance on a daily basis. However, there is no biological test to show this “illness” exists despite a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry that thrives on its existence. Moreover these medications are dangerous in themselves.

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The path to liberation is an ongoing process of moving forward on your path to remove the obstacles to your inner peace and self-knowledge. The obstacles on this journey can be as diverse as your mind can imagine. Yet it is not until you are solidly grounded in your body and the world that real progress can be made and most importantly maintained.

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Mary continually held her breath as she explained how her son Ken grew up in a single-parent home. She became pregnant after being drugged and raped on a blind date. Since kindergarten, Ken had been on a cocktail of drugs. Now eight he had already been on Ritalin, Zoloft, Risperdal, and Strattera. He was now on Adderall. She didn’t want him on medication, however his behavior was so disruptive, over-active, aggressive and uncooperative that it caused his teachers to give him poor evaluations.

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This is the third in a series of articles that focuses on a new concept I recently conceived of called Vampire Thinking©. In a nutshell, Vampire Thinking© is the thinking we do that short circuits our growth when we second guess ourselves and rationalize ourselves out of great opportunities and steps forward in our lives. I am happy that this concept and phrase that describes what seems to be plaguing so many of us – is resonating out there.

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So often these days, we pick up newspapers or tune in to radio or television programs which highlight yet another attack by one religious group against the beliefs of another. One of the primary targets is a group of spiritual and philosophical concepts described as "New Age." For many people ...

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Today we use science, statistical data, patriotism, religion, popularity, wealth, health, and love, as ways to control. We are manipulated by what we may or may not be, have, lose or never get if we do not do, think or verbalize, exactly as we are told to. Hung over our heads are images of ...

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"I just finished reading this book and I have decided that I am ADD." "I saw a TV show about ADHD. I have it and so does my son." "My daughter's teacher says she asks too many questions. Do you think she's hyperactive?" Over the past ten years, we've all heard announcements like these from ...

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Have you ever felt that something was missing in the Reiki system we have today? There has always been some conjecture that the woman who brought Reiki into this country, Mrs. Takata, was not given all the steps. Some people believe that's because she was a woman. In this case, conjecture is ...

Published · 3,170 views · Rated 2/5 from 1 votes

Summertime is supposed to be an easy time, evoking images of happy children with dirt necklaces, of lounging on the front porch with ice tea, of evenings soothed with fireflies and the lullabies of crickets and cicadas. In our society, this is about as close to reality as Brahms is to Ice T. Our ...

Published · 1,866 views · Rated 3/5 from 1 votes

Among the resolutions on a New Year's list, perhaps at the top for any parent could be to feed their children well. Children of all ages need proper sleep, physical activity and nutrition in order to function well--personally within their families, socially among their friends and academically ...

Published · 1,540 views

Mind is one of the most essential modalities of us human beings. To me it is the most fascinating part. The other part of man are essential also, but in my life the mind attracts me the most. I must say mind and Mind, also the Mind with the capital M. And the connection between those ...

Published · 850 views

It's September and students are back in class. When the dismissal bell rings, homework and sports take center stage. Then it's time for family and a solid nighttime routine to ensure the proper amount of rest for students of all ages. Think of the number of hours you need to get a good night's ...

Published · 1,335 views

Up until the mid 1980's, it was widely believed by physicians and psychologists that ADHD was outgrown by the time a child hit adolescence. Surprise! Though many clinicians still hold on to this belief, it is now accepted by many in the medical community that childhood ADHD does indeed ...

Published · 2,091 views

Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to follow her pediatrician's recommendation of placing her young son on medication. His difficult behaviors had escalated in recent years and after trying behavioral strategies and food elimination diets, there simply hadn't been much ...

Published · 1,987 views · Rated 2/5 from 1 votes

Summary Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is a lifelong, genetic disorder. (Barkley 2002) Parents of children who have been diagnosed should be screened for AD/HD. Adults with this disorder often experience difficulties in relationships, on the job and in other life areas. The ...

Published · 1,976 views

AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common mental health disorders seen in childhood. Studies estimate that between 3-7% of all children have AD/HD: approximately 2 million children in the USA alone, or one child in every classroom. The main symptoms seen in this condition are ...

Published · 2,101 views

Is life with ADHD getting you down? You can't lose weight. You have no time to write, paint, live or whatever you want to do? You're tired? You're no good at it anyway? You would like to change if only you could find the time and energy to start. And if I say to you, "You can lose weight. There ...

Published · 8,635 views

Adults with ADD frequently have a diaphanous sense of time. The future is an unknown. The task of the moment no matter how inconsequential takes precedence over the critical appointment in an hour's time, so they are often late. 1. Get an agenda (one only) which works for you. Get ONE agenda ...

Published · 1,627 views

If you are a parent of a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and you have big time problems with homework, explore these seven questions with your child to create the best environment for him or her to succeed. Understanding how your child's brain functions will help you ...

Published · 2,675 views

Up until the mid 1980's, it was widely believed by physicians and psychologists that ADHD was outgrown by the time a child hit adolescence. Surprise! Though many clinicians still hold on to this belief, it is now accepted by many in the medical community that childhood ADHD does indeed ...

Published · 1,411 views

Anger is a paradox. We all, except for saints, feel anger or think angry thoughts some of the time. Anger is a reaction to a perceived injustice or injury; it feels manly and justified. It is so much more satisfying to retaliate than to turn the proverbial other cheek. When that road maniac ...

Published · 3,743 views

What does it mean for a woman to have Attention Deficit with or without hyperactivity (ADHD)? Much public talk around ADHD centers on the hyperactivity part, but the hyperactivity is the lesser of the two problems. Early research focused on the disruptive behavior in school so early statistical ...

Published · 1,831 views

I was 57 when I found a name for what made my life different. I discovered Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) reading "Shadow Syndromes" by Dr. John Ratey. His description of the Inattentive type of ADHD was a revelation. I went "Wow! That's it !" It explained so many things about ...

Published · 1,736 views

Celebrating is a skill that adults with ADD are often short on. They tend to have a negative image of themselves. Their own internal gremlin keeps reminding them of their failures and unrealized dreams and "the others" in the outside world often remind them when they don't live up to ...

Published · 1,249 views

Celebrating is a skill that adults with ADHD are often short on. They tend to have a negative image of themselves. Their own internal gremlin keeps reminding them of their failures and unrealized dreams and "the others" in the outside world often remind them when they don't live up to ...

Published · 1,461 views

Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to follow her pediatrician's recommendation of placing her young son on medication. His difficult behaviors had escalated in recent years and after trying behavioral strategies and food elimination diets, there simply hadn't been much ...

Published · 1,535 views

Recently, a parent came to me, conflicted over whether to follow her pediatrician's recommendation of placing her young son on medication. His difficult behaviors had escalated in recent years and after trying behavioral strategies and food elimination diets, there simply hadn't been much ...

Published · 1,323 views

Imagine.yourself sitting in the middle of the railroad tracks making mud pies. A long loud woo-hoo-oo echoes in the air. You look up to see a huge train engine bearing down on you. Cut ! "What ? Why on earth would I be doing such a silly thing ?" Well, change the scene a bit. You aren't ...

Published · 1,462 views

Social situations may be very difficult for some people with ADHD (Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder). They don't seem to have the type of antenna which picks up the nuances and undertones of social interactions. They often are not aware of how other people are feeling or how they ...

Published · 1,632 views

Do you, like many people today, find life overwhelming? Is getting through one day an exhausting marathon? Your day may include kids to be picked up, birthday presents to buy, bills to be paid, and shirts to be ironed. Are you afraid to open envelopes for fear of seeing the negative bank ...

Published · 2,936 views

Are you one of those who says "Tomorrow, I am going to get organized"? Lots of people have real problems getting started on big projects like cleaning out the basement or organizing piles of paper, but if you have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) you even have a neurological excuse. Some brains ...

Published · 1,726 views

What does it mean for a woman to have Attention Deficit with or without hyperactivity (AD/HD)? Much public talk around Attention Deficit with or without Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) centers on the hyperactivity part, but the hyperactivity is, in fact, the lesser of the two problems. Early ...

Published · 1,626 views

School lunches can be overwhelming and difficult if you are new to the dietary changes that help ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It’s not just about rethinking the standard lunch with GFCF, additive-free, allergen-free food. It’s also about providing a lunch your child will enjoy! You will most likely not have anything available for your child from the school lunch menu. It’s good to make connections with the cafeteria staff and find out what items can be purchased, if any at all. With the poor quality of foods in our schools, this is not necessarily a bad thing!

Published · 1,994 views

Studies have shown that pesticides contribute to ADHD, even at low levels of exposure. The organophosphate chemicals (the pesticides studied) are known to cause damage to the nerve connections in the brain – that’s how they work on the pests they prevent! In fact, the dysfunction of a specific neurotransmitter, acetylcholinesterase, has been implicated in ADHD, which just happens to be the same neurotransmitter that these pesticides disrupt!

Published · 1,683 views

When you have a child with autism or ADHD and you choose to implement dietary changes, the question becomes – do we all do it or just the one child? I’ll discuss this in reference to GFCF (gluten free, dairy – casein free), but it could also be broadened to any dietary changes you wish to make. Depending on your personal situation, you may or may not choose to have a strict GFCF household when you initially convert your special needs child onto this diet. Having personally experienced both sides of this topic, I’d love to share with you some of the pros and cons of each.

Published · 2,011 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

It’s an exciting time of year. Change of seasons, finally settling into school routines and the promise of fun-filled holidays ahead. With Halloween right around the corner, it is the first of many food-oriented holidays and party-filled evenings to come. Are you prepared to handle the masses of treats and sweets freely flowing over the coming days? Here are 4 ways to avoid sugar highs and mood swings with plenty of tips to follow through:

Published · 2,085 views

Being organized and efficient in the kitchen is a must for stress-free maintenance of a special diet for autism, ADHD or food allergies. When things get out of control and chaos takes over, it’s not pleasant to work in the kitchen. You are more likely to avoid it and make a run for the nearest restaurant, fast food drive thru or pre-made processed foods.

Published · 2,411 views

Henry David Thoreau said, “What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters – compared to what lies within us.” But, what if you were unable to express or share that information inside you? Many adults experience that feeling each day. They know how frustrating ...

Published · 1,504 views

“Maybe if you found a doctor who’d put him on medication, he would behave better.” How often have you been told that the only effective way to treat attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) is to medicate your child? We teach our children to say “No” ...

Published · 1,748 views

Did you ever notice how quick we are, as a society, to look for what’s wrong in the daily situations we find ourselves? We have been raised to first look for or plan for the “worst” and that way, if we get anything better we can be “thankful.” Do you really need a reason to be thankful? If ...

Published · 1,505 views

The focus surrounding the education of America’s children has changed dramatically in the last 10-15 years. Gone are the days of focusing on our children’s skills, dreams and creative ways of learning. Now children are taught from early elementary school how to score well on standardized ...

Published · 1,666 views

Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Did you ever watch one of those TV movies that is based on actual events? There is always a disclaimer that says the names have been changed to protect the ...

Published · 1,369 views

It seems you can't turn on your television without being inundated with commercials for new pharmaceutical drugs. The actor spends about 10 seconds touting the benefits of taking one little pill and the last 20 seconds telling you about the severe and sometimes deadly side effects that may ...

Published · 1,500 views

A special diet is critically important for children with autism and ADHD to promote a healthy digestive system and heal the gut. But it is only one part of the puzzle. Exercise is just as important and the following reasons explain how it can help your child:

Published · 2,361 views

As a parent of a special needs child, it is all too easy to get lost in the mix of meltdowns, trips to school because of “incidents,” therapy and doctor sessions, never-ending search for information and ways to help your child, every day home and work requirements, and pure mental or physical exhaustion that comes with the territory. It can seem like you are pulled in a million ways and there is nothing left to enjoy.

Published · 1,894 views · Rated 4/5 from 2 votes

In my last article, I wrote about why it’s important to stay consistent with your child’s diet for Autism or ADHD during the summer months, even though the pressure to conform to school standards is not there. This time, I’d like to talk about the benefits of starting or upgrading your child’s new diet during summer. This truly is the absolute ideal time to work healthy foods into your child’s diet! These are my top reasons why NOW is the time to take action:

Published · 1,704 views

Even as grown adults with never ending responsibilities, being a parent means that we get to relax and slow down life a bit because it’s summer. There is no school schedule or stress and daily struggle over homework or school projects. I feel like it’s a chance for the kids to just be kids and time for me to just be mom – not school enforcer! (This applies to homeschooling parents as well!)

Published · 1,693 views

This morning I was listening to a meditation program that addressed the ‘need’ for hope with everything that is going on in the world at this time. The host quoted Maya Angelo when she said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.” As I attempted to follow the ensuing meditation, my mind kept wondering off. I kept asking myself what ‘hope’ really meant and whether people actually believed that to hope empowered them.r

Published · 939 views

Domestic Small Wind Energy. The idea of having a solar panel situated on your property that will provide your domestic energy supply has become common coin for most householders. However, to compliment this, growing numbers are also looking at small wind energy projects that will not only compliment this system, but is also adapted to different weather conditions required for the functionality of solar. It is limited to those that have an acre of land. It's now possible to install a 5 kilowatt generator for about $27,000 - if you have an area of about an acre.

Published · 1,947 views · Rated 3/5 from 4 votes

If you are thinking about installing a residential solar energy system in your home, you will need to know how much energy you are currently using. Usually, you can obtain this information from the local power company. By using this information as a baseline, you can design your solar energy system in accordance with the needs of your house. Your region's weather will influence energy use, as well as which direction your windows face, the number and placement of your trees, and the kinds of appliances used.

Published · 1,371 views · Rated 3/5 from 1 votes

Financial pressure has now meant that DIY energy is no longer a weekend hobby, or a method used by those living in remote areas to provide energy solutions. The average person is now turning Do-It-Yourself Solar into a growth industry.

Published · 2,433 views

I have often been dismayed when hearing about chilren as young as 6 being given the psychotropic drug Ritalin because they have ADHD. So when I asked a good friend of mine who tutors young kids for a living what this was all about, what she said about this made me even more perplexed as to why such a potent drug is still given out freely to kids just because they have some differculty in learning.

Published · 2,156 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Drug Free Treatment and Prevention of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Published · 1,663 views

I jumped out of a plane. When my daughter turned 21 my husband and I wanted to give her an adventure for her birthday. She’s always wanted to go skydiving so it seemed like the right thing. I have never had any desire to jump out of plane. Skydiving wasn’t even close to being on my bucket list. But then Paul decided that if Sammi was going to go, he would like to jump too. I was sure I’d be happy cheering them on from the ground. I’m not quite sure how or why, but one day I found myself sending this text message to Paul and Sammi. Me: Okay, I’m going to jump with you.r

Published · 945 views

What I love most about coaching my high level clients is how much I learn during our conversations. Of course, I share all sorts of advice, insights and strategy and yet there are many times that I grab my pen and paper and write down something that one of us said during our discussion. Here are seven golden nuggets that came out of recent conversations with my clients.

Published · 938 views

I love people watching. I love guessing what is going through their mind as I watch. There is so much to learn by studying human behavior. It’s easy to apply the lessons to my life and in turn, to my business. I was sitting in an airport lounge. An alarm went off. I looked up. Nobody moved. The agents at the gate continued to go about their business. The other passengers continued to read, talk on their phones and mind their own business.

Published · 1,602 views

I was teaching a class the other day and one of the participants said ... it's like brain hoarding. You've got so many amazing ideas, so many cool things you want to do. So many opportunities you want to take advantage of. You don't want to let them go.

Published · 1,510 views

Internet marketing is far different from the offline business world, and some companies feel that because there is little policing, they can get away with telling you anything. If you buy their promises, woe be to you. You'll end up doing little more than spending your hard-ea ed cash for a sackful of dreams. Want to know the five greatest lies about Internet marketing? Here's what to look out for: 1. You can make a million dollars ove ight. Not true. Internet marketing is many faceted, and it takes time to learn the right way to do things.

Published · 1,472 views

It was Wednesday. Eric came home and told me that he stopped at Carvel on his way home from work. I immediately said, “Wednesday is sundae at Carvel.” (Every Wednesday Carvel runs a special, two sundaes for the price of one) What surprised me is what he said next. He told me that when he stopped at Carvel he was going to get a milkshake but when he walked into the store the woman behind the counter (who knows him) said “Two sundaes coming up,” and he just went with it.

Published · 1,053 views

My daughter, Sammi, goes to Lehigh University (my alma mater) and just pledged a sorority. Sorority recruitment (or rush) at college is a pretty intense experience. Sammi referred to it as a solid week for "girl flirting". At Lehigh rush happens DURING winter break. The freshmen girls go back early to focus on rush without the pressures of having to study too.

Published · 1,765 views

I get ideas for articles from all over the place. This is one of those times that you don’t want to be what sparks the idea. I was heading into New York early this morning. I took the train so I had less control over my schedule and found myself in Penn Station with about 30 minutes to spare. I decided to go to Starbucks to get a cup of tea.

Published · 1,048 views

I met Valerie at the Charlotte Airport. She welcomed me to the “Happy Zone” when I walked into a store to get a bottle of water. I found my drink and went to the register where Valerie waited. She said, “Welcome to the Happy Zone” again, and rang up my purchase with a huge smile on her face. I smiled back and commented that she was clearly in a great mood. Her response was simple and direct. She told me it wouldn’t be the Happy Zone if she wasn’t happy. I was in a fine mood when I walked in. When I walked out, I had a broad smile on my face. I was truly happy.

Published · 1,390 views

One of the most powerful forms of marketing is viral or word-of-mouth marketing. What it means is simple. Make your business or some facet of your business is so extraordinary that people are amazed and more than happy with your product or service. In fact, they're so highly impressed that they tell other people about their experience. This kind of personal recommendation is very powerful because instead of you telling people how awesome your stuff is, through traditional direct marketing methods, now, a third party is spreading the word for you.

Published · 1,410 views

If you're new to Internet marketing, you probably feel overwhelmed. You get message after message from one "guru" or another and you only understand a smidgen of what they're offering. It just doesn't make sense. All you know is that you need to make money, and you want the shortest path to success. Yet, that's not what Internet marketing is about. There really is no short path. You do have to work, you do have to learn, and no...

Published · 1,344 views

Something about ADD that can become a real problem is asking too many questions. We just do it sometimes, and we don't even stop to realize that we sometimes annoy people. But when we do realize it, we still have a tendency to continue asking because we're certain that we don't know enough. Why ...

Published · 3,778 views

So, you've been going through life feeling a bit like an underachiever. Even if you are successful, you may feel as if there's something holding you back, something that you just can't get around to take things to the next level. That's one facet of attention deficit disorder (ADD). Here are ...

Published · 1,977 views

People who have ADD are living in an alien environment. They are zig-zag people living in a straight-line world. But regardless of whether you are ADD or linear, you can still achieve any goals you set. But the way you go about structuring your life has to be a bit different. For example, you ...

Published · 1,703 views

When I hear the label "attention deficit disorder" being applied, I get a little miffed. It makes us ADD people seem like there's something wrong with us. Could it be that we just don't easily fit into a linear world? I mean, because the majority of people on earth are linear thinkers, does that ...

Published · 1,636 views

My sons, Eric and Josh, graduated from middle school last week. I had a conversation with them about moving onto high school. I expected to hear "I'm looking forward to high school," "I'm nervous" and "I hope there isn't that much more homework" but, after all of the complaints I heard this past year, I was surprised that what came out of their mouths was "I'm going to miss South Orange Middle School," and "I really like my teachers."r

Published · 4,632 views · Rated 2.1/5 from 10 votes

I filled a prescription at our local pharmacy three days ago. Today I came home to a message on the answering machine. Joe called from the South Orange Pharmacy. My first thought was there must be something wrong with our insurance card, but as I listened a smile came across my face. He called to thank me for choosing them for our pharmacy needs. Joe is the pharmacist and owner of the store. He left me his phone number in case I had any questions or other needs. No doubt about it… next time I have a prescription I need filled I will go back.

Published · 1,082 views

I love to nurture and take care of people. Since I love to cook and bake one way I get to satisfy this need is to cook and feed them. I hosted a dinner party for twenty recently. I checked in with my guests to see if there were any dietary needs. There were two vegetarians, one person who didn't eat beef and two who avoided gluten. The menu covered all the bases. Everything was gluten free. I decided on a chicken, a beef and a vegetarian dish. The side dishes and appetizers would be gluten free and vegetarian.

Published · 1,111 views

Like many of us I use Facebook to communicate with friends and clients. I use it to follow my daughter’s adventures as she travels in Europe and Israel. And yes, I use it to browse and see what people are up to. It’s amazing how much time you can spend on Facebook, isn’t it? I went on Facebook this morning and saw a post from a friend of mine with a picture of a dress. Her post said something about how her family spent their entire dinner talking about the dress. I didn’t think much of it. Then a minute later I saw another picture of the dress and then more.

Published · 1,007 views

A client emailed me…I am feeling crazy stuck in a comparison cycle today - and I have so much to do. Just wanted to share my mind-tape today in case you have any sage wisdom. When you play the comparison game it seems that you always fall on the short end of the stick. Everyone else’s business is better. Everyone has more clients. Everyone is making more money. Everyone else is doing more than you. Everyone else can do it. Now wait a minute. Is that really true? If you are going to play the comparison game at least play full on.

Published · 1,112 views

I recently participated in a chili cook-off. chili food There were four teams. Each team was given the same ingredients, the same utensils and access to the same serving dishes. We all heard the directions at the same time. The clock started, we had 45 minutes to create our chili and present it to the judges. We got to work. When the timer went off four very distinct dishes were presented to the judges. Each dish had a unique taste. Each chili looked different and was presented differently. How could this be if we all started with exactly the same resources?

Published · 969 views

This is a special request article. A client of mine told me that a colleague reached out to him to do a “quick” project. He priced it on the low end, since it was for a friend and it seemed pretty straightforward. She said yes and he set his team off to work. The result…”She’s been a disaster. Poor communication and deadlines we didn’t agree to. My poor team is ready to cry. We’re getting through it, but it sucks.” So what could he have done differently? What would have made this project work for everyone? For his client, for him, and for his team.

Published · 1,642 views

This is what I posted on Facebook. "It's tempting to say yes to any client who offers to pay you, there are clients that quite simply are not right for you." As the likes and comments racked up I started thinking about that simple statement. I've been on both sides of "wrong client". I've been the wrong client and I've said yes to the wrong client. Both sides are horrible for everyone. Regardless of what type of business you are in, a business owner is in the business of sales. Unless you sell, you don't earn money.

Published · 749 views

Repetitious boredom. According to Greg Harrelson it leads to success. In order to master something you must do it again and again and again. He goes on to say that what differentiates real success is the willingness to stick to it, of being consistent and mastering repetitious boredom. It makes me yawn just thinking about it.

Published · 888 views

The last four coaching calls I’ve been on have focused on one topic. Self care. But wait a minute; I’m a business coach so why do I spend time with my clients talking about self-care? Guess what? Unless you take care of yourself you cannot take care of your business. Entrepreneurs tend to put everything and everyone in front of themselves. When they do that, they risk losing it all. Now before you tell me (or yourself) that you don’t have time for self care, take a look at the following seven areas to keep an eye on. None will take you more than a couple of minutes a day.

Published · 1,413 views

Are you over complicating things? I was at our local Whole Foods Market® for a networking meeting. I drank a cup of tea (I’m not a coffee drinker) as a small group of us talked about our businesses and exchanged ideas. After the meeting we said our goodbyes, I grabbed my empty cup and went to toss my trash. That’s when things got confusing. Was my empty cup plastic since it had a plastic lid on it? I wondered if it was compostable because of the tea bag? Was it co-mingled? All I could think of is that this “should” be so easy and it was so difficult.

Published · 3,159 views

It’s an interesting conundrum. We are told that we must provide amazing customer service if we want to get and hold on to customers, but it’s not always true. Don't believe me? Think about how many hours you spend waiting for customer service for your Inte et or cell phone company. There is always a recording playing telling you how important your call is and that they value your business. I bet you spend hundreds of dollars every month with them. Was it their customer service that won your business? Is their customer service what keeps it? Malls are big business.

Published · 845 views

I help facilitate a Facebook page for a group of entrepreneurs. The page is for day-to-day support. Everyone is encouraged to use the page as a place to ask questions, share celebrations and challenges. I was monitoring the page one day and I saw a post by someone who “admitted” she had been hiding. She shared that things had been hard. She hadn’t been following through on commitments. She said that she had been hiding because it was obvious from all the other posts that everyone else was doing great. Stop judging yourself by what you see on Facebook.

Published · 962 views

Life as a solopreneur…in many ways the work is the easy part. You know what you’re supposed to be doing. You say that you’re working and your community understands why you’re not available. In fact there’s a certain level of “I’m doing the right thing” when you head to work. However…one of the biggest problems I see with my clients is that amidst all of the work, what is left out of the equation is themselves.

Published · 1,828 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

I got a text message from one of my clients telling me that he was leaving his office to mix up the energy and get him going. It's a strategy that we had discussed recently; a strategy to get him focused and helps his creative juices flow. I could say that being an entrepreneur is always wonderful. I could say that the entrepreneurial life is easy because entrepreneurs get to do exactly what they want and don't have a boss to answer to. Yeah, I could say that and if I did I'd be lying. Being an entrepreneur is hard.

Published · 1,109 views

It seems that every time I’m on a sales call I get an objection. Sometimes it’s a conce about the program taking too much time or costing too much. Sometimes they already have taken programs and want to do more with them before moving on or getting more. Maybe they feel that they can’t make the decision at that moment and need to consult with their partner. Bottom line, it’s almost never "Sure that sounds great, sign me up!" As a business owner and, by default, a sales person, it’s frustrating.

Published · 1,072 views

I’m not so sure the saying “a diamond’s a girl’s best friend” is true. Go ahead and read these two stories, then let me know what you think… Diamond Story 1: About five years ago I received a wonderful present from my mother-in-law. A pair of 18 karat gold earrings she inherited from her aunt. The earrings were covered with 44 small but nearly perfect, diamonds. I told you it was a wonderful present! But there was a problem…the earrings were ugly and not something I would ever wear. They were valuable so I put them safely in a drawer and they sat.

Published · 1,065 views

I was sitting in my son’s high school psychology classroom on back to school night. I was listening to the teacher talk about what the kids would be learning. He asked if there were any questions. One of the parents asked, “What’s with the map?” I looked at the wall and realized the map was upside down. The South Pole was up at the top and the North Pole at the bottom. Wow that was a new look.

Published · 1,388 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

When people talk about productivity they often talk about routines or habits. “Professionals” tell us that it takes 21-repetitions of an action to form a habit. This means that after twenty-one repetitions of an activity, it will be engrained into your mind and body so that you do it automatically. Here’s what I wonder, once you have a habit in place, why are good habits so easy to break and bad habits so hard to break?

Published · 1,692 views

My sons, Eric and Josh, graduated from middle school last week. I had a conversation with them about moving onto high school. I expected to hear "I'm looking forward to high school," "I'm nervous" and "I hope there isn't that much more homework" but, after all of the complaints I heard this past year, I was surprised that what came out of their mouths was "I'm going to miss South Orange Middle School," and "I really like my teachers."

Published · 1,402 views

I took a picture out of the hotel window. When I look at it I see about two inches of snow, no big deal. Here’s a little more information. The picture was taken from my hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, the week of January 26th. Atlanta doesn’t see much snow. What to me looks like a dusting of snow, (I mean, you can’t even build a snowman with it) led Georgia to declare a state of emergency. Highways were impassible. There were accidents and abandoned cars everywhere. Schools closed early, and because of the roads, some the kids ended up sleeping at school or on freezing cold school buses.

Published · 1,502 views

People tell me that they want to go into business for freedom and flexibility. It’s easy to embrace the freedom but are you willing to embrace the keys you need to unlock that door? A client of mine shared with me that when he went into business 3-years ago one of his goals was to be able to be home more, to not have to answer to a "boss", to be able to spend time with his daughter and, do what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it.

Published · 913 views

We had so much fun kayaking last week, we decided to go again. It was a bit warmer, the water was clearer and there were a lot more people. We set out on the 8-mile trip down the Delaware River. There are two islands you pass on the left as you go down the river. We stopped at the first island to eat lunch. I think everyone had the same idea and the very small “beach” got very crowded and we quickly left. As we got into our kayaks, I suggested we leave the main branch of the river and instead go around the island. Last week we stayed with everyone else.

Published · 1,217 views

I was speaking with a client. She was excited to be co-presenting with a colleague. She said her colleague was very well connected because, she used to be a producer for a major network television show. My client went on to share wonderful things about her co-presenter, yet had little to share about herself and why anyone would want to hear her speak.

Published · 1,178 views

Imagine you have a toothache and are looking for a dentist. (Stay with me here, this relates directly to your business, how you sell and especially how many prospects buy from you.)

Published · 526 views

I was on a flight headed to Atlanta. I had my laptop out and was doing some work as I passed the time. I glance across the aisle at the woman seated there. She had what seemed to be a pile of dog-eared business cards and scraps of paper in front of her. It looked like she was sorting through it. I watched for five minutes as she pulled Band-Aids out of her pile along with those key fob things you get from grocery stores. She read through notes and seemed to make two piles.

Published · 1,324 views

A client was a couple of minutes late to our call. He immediately apologized and told me he got caught up in a squeeze-in, he was getting himself a cup of coffee. We laughed for a moment and then he got real serious. He said "You know, as I was getting the coffee I kept hearing your voice in my head asking me if what I was doing right now what needed to be done or was it a squeeze-in." On the face of it, he was 2-minutes late to a phone call. Truly not a big deal; however, where else is this happening and what is the result? Let’s back up for a moment.

Published · 864 views

According to the weather app it's 57 degrees and mostly cloudy. I was hoping to sit outside, get some work done and soak in some vitamin D. I looked outside. Not a cloud in the sky and the sun was warm. Obviously the weather app was wrong. Can you guess where I am right now? Outside on the deck! I'm glad I didn't take that expert advice at face value. There is so much expert advice being offered to business owners.

Published · 813 views

Legitimate excuses. no excuses What’s yours? We all have them. A legitimate excuse is the reason you say you can’t do something. I hear a lot of legitimate excuses. I hear them from clients during coaching calls and, boy, do I hear them during sales conversations. Legitimate excuses I hear from clients are: -I can’t speak with potential clients until I have the particulars of a program worked out or a sales page completed.rn -I can’t go to a networking event until I figure out what to say in my elevator pitch.r

Published · 1,104 views

Insanity. According to Albert Einstein it's to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. According to this definition I've marketed, coached, managed email, engaged in social media, worked my plan and so much more in an insane manner. As a business owner it's so easy to fall into the trap of insanity. Here are a few examples of insanity I see every day. You see someone getting amazing results. You want those results so you do exactly what they are doing. When it doesn't work you try again and again.

Published · 887 views

It comes up time and time again. You know you are being taken advantage of. Then suddenly out of your mouth come the words "Sure, I can do that" or "it’s ok, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it." You think you’re being nice. You may think it’s your job, so even if you’re technically not supposed to do it you will. Or you may think you’re helping someone out and that’s always the right thing to do. Guess what… you’re not being nice. You’re being a meanie. You’re being mean to yourself.

Published · 1,198 views

I couldn’t believe it. It must have been a set up. A really bad joke and I was the victim. I was facing down a freight train and I was losing. I was being humiliated. Worse still… it was a public humiliation and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop it. It started innocently enough, even positively. I was asked to be on a panel and share a little about my experience rebranding my business and getting clear on my message. There were two of us. I went first. I shared a little about my experience. I thought I spoke well then passed the mic.

Published · 1,814 views · Rated 2.5/5 from 2 votes

I was at a beautiful, beachside hotel in Miami, the elevator opened; a bellman with six large pieces of luggage was already inside. As I joined him, I commented that someone brought a lot with them. Then he told me, two of the suitcases were empty but they will be full when they leave. Shopping was on someone's agenda. Why do we shop? It can be a necessity. There are things you truly need, that your survival depends on.

Published · 1,196 views

I was at a beautiful, beachside hotel in Miami, the elevator opened; a bellman with six large pieces of luggage was already inside. As I joined him, I commented that someone brought a lot with them. Then he told me, two of the suitcases were empty but they will be full when they leave. Shopping was on someone's agenda. Why do we shop? It can be a necessity. There are things you truly need, that your survival depends on.

Published · 1,120 views

If you're in business you've almost certainly heard "That's a lot of money. I don't know if I can afford that." I bet you'd prefer to hear "I don't care what it costs, fix it!" How do you help someone understand the value of what they are getting by working with you? How do you help them to see that you are worth the fees that you are asking for? How do you make the decision a no brainer even if you are asking for a lot of money? It's by making what you deliver vital to your client. Here's an example.

Published · 991 views

Can you sell something that you don't own or don't have the legal right to? No, of course not. Yet, I see entrepreneurs try to do it every day. Entrepreneurs sell themselves. They sell their vision, their skills, and their products. So what's the problem? Of course they have the right to sell themselves in this way. The question is, do they own it? Do they fully believe in what their product or service does? Do they really believe in themselves? Do they really own the power of what they are selling? Until you own it, nobody can buy it.

Published · 983 views

With all of the "100 days of gratitude" posts I see on Facebook I have to think that many people believe it feels good to acknowledge when things go well. To say thank you when people help you or are nice to you. To express when you feel appreciative of something. So I have to wonder, why is it that when someone says "Thank you," they often get shut down? Think about it. What do you do when someone says thank you to you? Do you say, "Don't worry about it." "It was nothing." "No need to thank me, it was nothing." Or maybe "No problem."

Published · 1,652 views

We did it! It’s finally springtime, my favorite time of year! Here in New Jersey we experience very distinct seasons and during the winter everything dies, or at least it looks like it does. Then spring comes and the earth magically comes back to life. The snow melts, the branches of the trees start getting fat, buds appear and the first flowers begin to break through. It’s time to wake up. Many people use January 1st, the beginning of the calendar year, as a date to spur them into action but I find spring is when my brain really kicks into gear.

Published · 1,817 views

I was speaking with someone who doubled her multiple six-figure business over the past year. She had amazing business coaching, kept her focus on her business and put in a lot of hard work. The coaching and advice she got were exactly on target for her business. I knew that increasing her revenues was extremely important to her so I was excited to hear her answer to my question, “Are you happy?” The phone line was silent for a full minute. She said “I wish I could say yes”. She was tired. She had lost herself in her business.

Published · 1,015 views

A client of mine said, “I feel like a fraud. Like what right do I have to build a business around my needs and my desires? ‘Real businesses’ don’t get to do that. What right do I have to build a business my way and ignore what everyone else is telling me to do?” What do you think?

Published · 1,230 views

Value. What are your services really worth? What do your clients get as a result of buying your products or working with you? The price you place on your products and services is really no more than what you think you are worth.

Published · 1,278 views

Productivity is a multi-billion dollar business so it should be easy to cross things off your to-do list. For the most part the tasks that are on our lists are not difficult, yet it’s as if an invisible force stops you from implementing. We’re full of excuses. Some of the excuses are more “valid” than others. No matter what the excuse is however, at the end of the day you look at your to-do list and wonder what the heck you did all day because you certainly didn’t do anything you were supposed to be doing.

Published · 1,719 views · Rated 3/5 from 2 votes

I said, "Does anyone have any questions for me?" The response, "Yes Carrie I do. Since you've been in business for over ten years will you share the top three things that you believe have led to your success?" It was a question I didn't expect so I thought a moment ... here's the answer I shared. The top three things I did to grow my business.

Published · 2,158 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

I've seen it happen again and again. You wake up in the morning ready to go. You've already decided, "Today's the day." It might be the day that you're going to clear off your to-do list. Maybe you'll spend the day making sales calls. Or maybe it's the day that you're finally going to tackle the new program that you're creating. Whatever it is... "Today's the day." Then...the day is over. You've been busy all day. You have not accomplished what you set out to do. You've been here before; unfortunately it's familiar territory. "Oh well," you think, "I guess I'll do it tomorrow."

Published · 1,980 views

When something comes up four times over the course of two days I know it's serious. Entrepreneurs are lousy at taking care of themselves. * Entrepreneurs routinely work long hours. * Entrepreneurs often beat themselves up for not doing enough or not doing it well enough. * Entrepreneurs have a misguided belief that they are the only person who could possibly do "it" right. * Entrepreneurs feel guilty spending time relaxing when there's so much work to do. * Entrepreneurs spend their day worrying about what they missed or what they "should have" done.

Published · 1,708 views

We've all heard that going to events and networking is very important. Meeting someone in person is generally a much faster and effective way to get to know him or her than through online methods. There are some people who are born networkers. I'm not one of them. I didn't like networking until I found a few strategies that helped me feel more comfortable and make them more fun and yes...rewarding. Here are the top 7 strategies that I use myself, AND of course share with my clients, for enjoying (and getting the most out of) networking events.

Published · 1,615 views

At the beginning of February I committed to a new challenge at my gym... to run (or walk) a total of 144 miles over three months. It amounts to 12 miles a week. It was a big commitment for me. I already spend about four hours a week at the gym in classes that I don't want to give up. To add the additional running, it means another three hours a week.

Published · 1,643 views

I got a hug from the person checking my luggage in for a flight. My bag was 3 pounds overweight. I was given two choices. I could remove a few things or pay $75. I had a few copies of my book right on top. I pulled them out and put them on the counter. The baggage check lady looked at them and asked me how they could help her. I had her open it. She read the strategy on the page she opened to and started to cry. I signed the book and handed it to her. She looked around quickly, walked over the scale, thanked me and gave me a hug.

Published · 1,573 views

I read an article the other day about a teapot that J. C. Penny is selling. Apparently someone thought it looked like Hitler. J. C. Penny dealt with the matter immediately. They apologized and said that any resemblance is completely unintentional. The article went on to discuss other marketing mistakes. ChapStick apparently posted a picture on social media that showed a woman’s backside as she searched behind a couch for her ChapStick. When the public reacted negatively they simply deleted the comments… they apologized days later.

Published · 2,044 views · Rated 2/5 from 1 votes

The theme of last week’s conversations with my clients was…pricing. I was asked, how much should I charge? What do I do with my clients in low level programs; I know they need more, what do I do? I’m new to this, I don’t have enough experience to charge that much. And then the biggest question, how can I possibly charge “that”? I know my service is worth it, but I don’t think I can say that without throwing up.

Published · 1,687 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

Honestly my first thought was "How rude of these people to waste my time."

Published · 1,647 views

It’s officially summertime and vacation season. Business owners often have a tough time traveling on two fronts. First, there is often a sense that they are responsible for so many things that there is no way that they can truly shut down. Then there’s the other side of the coin… the sense of overwhelm and overload when they get back. Sometimes you may be left wondering if your time away was even worth it. By the way, this is not just a summertime or vacation problem, many business owners experience exactly the same issues when they travel for business.

Published · 1,786 views

You know you have to do them. You know that they are the foundation to a profitable business. You don’t have a choice…the dreaded sales call. You may have lists of names of people to follow up with. People you’ve met at networking events. Someone that somebody else suggested you get in touch with, heck even former customers. How do you get yourself to pick up the phone? What do you say? How do you get someone to call you back?

Published · 2,378 views

It's like you're throwing a temper tantrum. You know what you want to do. You know why you want to do it. You know how to do it. It's important. The growth of your business depends on it. But, no matter what you do the three-year old kid inside of you is stomping his or her feet screaming "NO!" "NO! I will not do it!" "NO! Not now! I have more time!" "NO! I don't want to!" "NO! You can't make me do it!" I'm sharing this because this topic came up three times last week and it's serious.

Published · 1,520 views

I was astounded. I raised $1,109. Yes, that's a lot of money and that's not what astounded me. What astounded me was that out of over 8,000 participants I was the 23rd top "fundraising participant". Frankly, I find that embarrassing. Why? Because, I hardly put any effort into raising that money, I didn't think I deserved any special honor.

Published · 1,507 views

Whew...I just made a list of the categories of things we must handle regularly as business owners. Before I started to list them, I was thinking that it would fall into four or five categories. The list grew. I came up with ten areas that entrepreneurs must work on regularly. I've listed them here in the order that they came to mind. I think I just figured out why we are so busy! 1. Unexpected client issues or requests; 2. Manage and answer email; 3. Marketing your business, i.e.: promotion;r

Published · 2,014 views · Rated 5/5 from 1 votes

When I sat down at my computer I was instantly overwhelmed. I opened my email and it was overflowing. I knew there were messages in there that needed my attention. There were emails from current clients, prospective clients, and colleagues looking for information. There were opportunities that I needed to decide whether or not to take advantage of. And that was only some of it. I had a choice. I could either, shut my email and let it wait until later (very tempting!), OR I could set my timer for thirty-seven minutes. I set my timer and here's what I did.

Published · 1,862 views

Have you ever said? • I don't have time to do it right now. • I'm already overwhelmed; I can't add anything else to my plate. • There aren't enough hours in a day. • One of these days... • Maybe tomorrow... These are the words of your dreams waiting to be followed. Not pretty, huh? What happens is that despite your intention to follow your dreams and create the life and business you want, you get sucked into the day-to-day and end up putting your dreams on hold "until tomorrow".

Published · 2,109 views

A client of mine was frustrated. She was talking about the pace of growth in her business. She was telling me that things were shifting, that her message was getting clearer. That she was feeling more confident every day. She also shared with me that her business was still not where she wanted it to be. She did not have as many clients as she wanted. She did not have the reach or audience that she needed. She said to me, "I know it takes time. I know I need to be patient. The problem is that I'm not a patient person."

Published · 1,626 views

I was speaking to a colleague who, like me, is a coach who works with other business owners. We hadn't spoken for about a year. I was happy to catch up with her. When I asked her what was going on, she told me that she was looking for a job in the corporate world. She missed the predictability of a job. She was tired of making decisions and she missed the regular paycheck.

Published · 1,836 views · Rated 3/5 from 1 votes

I was speaking with a client earlier today who related a story to me about a river in Louisiana that was jammed full of logs. Nothing was moving in or out. Many strategies were employed to loosen the jam but nobody was able to clear it. Everyone and everything was stuck. Finally someone came along who was able to clear it and everything started to flow. Business could once again move their goods and people were once again able to get what they needed.

Published · 1,279 views

Time management 101 tells us that we should figure out how long something will take us to do and block out the time to do it. Makes sense on the face of it. What bothers me with this way of thinking is that it puts the project in control of your "time budget" instead of you deciding how you are going to spend your "time budget". I prefer to decide how much time I want to GIVE TO a project based on what I believe the project is worth to me. This is what we do with money, which we can get more of, but we don't do it with our time, which is finite.

Published · 1,345 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

I went for a walk the other day and saw a squirrel gathering aco s for the upcoming winter. I was thinking about how much easier his life would be if only he could go to Target for all of his aco needs. I pictured the sale Target would have in order to attract the squirrels and imagined what would happen. All of the little gray squirrels would show up in droves and rush around Target. They would each be pushing big red shopping carts overflowing with aco s. The squirrels would shop until the shelves were empty and they had filled every available nook and cranny in their trees.

Published · 1,616 views

Guess what, I figured out where a lot of clutter comes from. You might not be happy to hear this but, you may be creating it yourself. This is actually good news, because when you know what causes the clutter you can learn how to stop generating it. I went food shopping this past weekend. ...

Published · 944 views

Springtime is a season of activity and anticipation. During spring, the view outside my window seems to change everyday. It starts when the bare branches of the trees suddenly seem to get fat and then like magic the leaves appear. The birds are busy flying all over the place and building ...

Published · 946 views

My clients tell me of a love/hate relationship with systems. The love part comes because systems make things easier. The results are predictable, you know what you need to do and know where all the things you need to do it are. The hate part comes because there is a belief (which I disagree with) that systems lock you in and don't leave room for creativity. So let me ask you a question...do you really want to be creative with the paperwork, agreements or whatever you use when you bring in a new client in or would you rather just celebrate? Yeah, I thought so.

Published · 1,504 views

I get to the gym often. Yesterday, I took a class called "Cardio Boot Camp". I went in thinking that it was going to be just another class; that I'll get my heart pumping and I'll lift some weights. As soon as the music started I sensed a change, it was a really tough class. Many of the ...

Published · 1,001 views

Like many kids, my son Eric has crooked teeth. About a year ago we started along the orthodontics route and he got a Herbst appliance. In case you're not an orthodontist, a Herbst appliance is designed to do some preliminary moving and adjusting before "real braces". Unlike a retainer it is ...

Published · 922 views

OK, I'll admit it; I love getting rid of things. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in my office and suddenly had the urge to purge. I filled four bags with papers, notes and other things that weren't serving my needs. The reason I love getting rid of things is because of the space I ...

Published · 1,156 views

I know a lot about getting organized and clutter, yet the more I talk about it the more I realize that getting organized and decluttering is not what it's about. n So then what is it about? It is about creating time, space and energy so you can focus your attention on the things that are ...

Published · 832 views

Distractions, it's a topic I've written about before. Some of us are simply more susceptible to distractions but based on what I've been hearing lately and what I've been experiencing myself it's getting worse for everyone. Did you know that one of the best things you can do to increase ...

Published · 1,504 views

Hunger, noise, temperature, surroundings, energy level and overall health. All of these impact how well you function, your productivity and the quality of your work. It doesn't matter what your business plan or marketing strategy is, the one thing that will make or break your bottom line is your productivity. Because of this I spend as much time with my clients talking about these things as I do about their business. Unless these fundamentals are in place and working FOR you and not against you nothing else you do is going to work.

Published · 1,618 views

Everyone talks about clutter these days. A whole industry has sprung up around it. There are TV shows, magazines, books and professionals like me to help you deal with all of the stuff that you have in your homes, offices and cars. Here are 4 tips you can use IMMEDIATELY to help you stop the ...

Published · 926 views

Constructive procrastination, or what I call "I'll Just Do This One Thing First" syndrome, is something I excel at. Even as I type these words my brain is busy searching for something I "need" to do first. According to the dictionary to procrastinate means to postpone or delay needlessly. We ...

Published · 879 views

One of the biggest challenges an entrepreneur faces is that there is no road map for what they want to do because it's their dream that they are following. They don't have a boss telling them what projects to work on and no teacher giving them homework assignments, teaching them what they need to do or showing them the steps they need to take. Entrepreneurs need to dig deep into themselves. First to uncover their dream and then the hard part; they need to get motivated, stay motivated every single day and take risks to make it happen.

Published · 1,639 views

Many people have trouble staying focused on what they are doing. I got this email recently, take a look, does this sound familiar to you? "I know what I have to do but never do it. I get side tracked, then I lose track of time and next thing I know the day is gone and I've done nothing. It ...

Published · 1,441 views

I like to believe that I know what's most important to concentrate on. After all, the reason people hire me as their business coach is to help them get focused, set priorities and keep them motivated and productive, so that their projects get done and their business grows.

Published · 1,788 views

I participated in a duathlon last week. It was a 2-mile run followed by a 10-mile bike ride and finally a 2-mile run. After 64 minutes and 35 seconds I was done. I was sweaty and tired. I got a medal (we all did). I know it was an accomplishment. I trained for it. Now here's the part that's hard to admit...it wasn't that difficult.

Published · 1,574 views

Networking is vital to growing your business. Simply put, unless you go out and meet people nobody will know you exist. If they don't know you exist they can't hire you. You can be the best "networker" out there but unless you follow up with the people you meet you are wasting your time.

Published · 1,363 views

The weather here in NJ has been pretty stormy lately. A couple of hours ago, it was dark outside. Thunder was rumbling. Everything seemed to be in place for a terrific downpour but the storm didn't come, at least not then. All we got were a couple of raindrops that quickly disappeared. Hours later it happened again. The dark sky, the thunder and then, yes, the rain. Lots and lots of rain.

Published · 1,648 views

It’s all over the news, ADHD is everywhere. Kids have it in record numbers, adults have it too. Is ADHD the latest craze? Is ADHD real or is it just an excuse? What is ADHD anyway? ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is commonly referred to as ADHD, ADD, AD/HD or ...

Published · 1,228 views

I was on the treadmill, one mile into my two-mile run. Once I finished, I would get on a bike and ride for ten miles, then back to the treadmill for another two miles. Running doesn't come easy to me. Frankly, neither does biking. I signed up for the duathlon at my gym as a challenge. I needed a goal and the accountability to get me back on the track.

Published · 2,391 views · Rated 5/5 from 3 votes

Procrastination is the result of many things. Oftentimes it's the result of simply not wanting to do something. You know you should or that you're supposed to, but you don't do it. This is what I hear when I talk to my clients about going to networking events. They know it's the right thing to do but ... YUCK!

Published · 1,438 views

A client of mine recently said to me "I have to work on my time management but I never get to it!" Does this sound familiar? Problems with time management seem to lie at the heart of the difficulties faced by many adults with ADHD. Everyone has issues with time management especially when life ...

Published · 971 views

I was out for a walk and saw a bunch of pigeons poking around for food in the grass. All pigeons pretty much look the same to me but this time, one of them caught my eye. It was white. By now I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m writing about pigeons. Well, as I continued walking three thoughts struck me that have everything to do with you and your business.

Published · 1,077 views

I was on the phone with a client and she said, “I have a really stupid question to ask you.” By far the best and fastest way to get to know someone is to talk with them, ideally face to face, so it makes sense that you need to get out from behind your desk, meet people and get to know them. Yet, it’s easy to justify that you need to be at your desk. You need to clean up your inbox, work on your website, work on the new program you’re developing or even work with current clients.

Published · 1,020 views

Wouldn’t it be great if we could do it all? Imagine never having to think about having the time or resources necessary to do a project because you had all the time and resources in the world. Wishful thinking huh? The truth is that you don’t have infinite access to time or resources. There are things that you might like to do that will be left undone. To make sure that what you value the most gets done it’s important not only to set clear goals but to strategically pick the goals that you want to accomplish and create a plan to accomplish them.

Published · 1,691 views · Rated 2/5 from 2 votes

I participated in a "painting party" with seventy business owners. Painting has never been my thing. I don’t see myself as artistic. And creating an image by drawing, painting, sketching or anything else like that makes me uncomfortable. There were rows of tables and easels. Each seat had paint, brushes and an apron. There were three platforms, also with easels for the instructors and a bar. I searched for an excuse. How could I possibly get out of this "party"? I did not think it was going to be fun; in fact, I was certain I was about to expose some serious shortcomings.

Published · 1,104 views · Rated 4/5 from 1 votes

Have you seen the show Hoarders, Buried Alive? Many people are entranced by it. It’s reminds me of when you drive down the road and pass an accident… it’s hard to turn away. I’ve heard people say that they are amazed at how “those people” live. Can’t “they” understand the difference between what’s junk and what’s not? How can “they” save all that stuff? What were “they” thinking as they accumulated all of it? Did “they” really think they would use it? How can “they” live that way? Don’t “they” know when enough’s enough?

Published · 3,864 views · Rated 2/5 from 5 votes

How much do you expose? As a business owner, especially if you’re in the service industry, you sell yourself. Yes, there is a specific result you provide but what sells, or not, is you. People buy your strengths, weaknesses, challenges, faults, the way you think and your quirks. This is what makes you unique. It is what enables you to stand apart from other people who do the same, or similar, thing as you.

Published · 881 views

It drives me crazy when I speak with one of my clients who is all excited after having a great conversation with someone, who can use his or her products, but my client hasn’t asked for the business. Here’s how the conversation goes. My client: I just got off the phone with an amazing person that I know I can help. I finally get how important and valuable what I am doing is. Me: Awesome! When are you starting to work with him? My client: I don’t know. We spent an hour on the phone and they were so excited about everything I shared.

Published · 1,253 views

Why did you start your business? I’m often told by the entrepreneurs I speak with that the reason they went into business was because they felt a need to get their message out to the world. They tell me how much they love the work they do and how important it is to them. They tell me that they know that their work has the potential to have an enormous impact on the people around them.

Published · 1,245 views

My friend called when I was out. My son answered the phone. I got the message when I got home late that evening. It was after ten, too late to call back. Based on my schedule that week, I knew it would be at least two days before I could call her back. Five days later, I was sitting at my desk when my phone rang, she called me again. I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to call her. I apologized for not getting back to her. She said, “Oh I figured you got caught up with something, no problem,” and we started to talk.

Published · 1,203 views

I was discussing sales with a client. She had never made a sales call (her business was brand new). I started to walk her through the specifics of how to manage the conversation when I realized that there were things she had to know BEFORE she spoke to anyone. As we talked, we created the following list of the 15 basic and fundamental rules you must know before you ever pick up the phone. I am sharing them here with you in the hope that they help you as much as they did my client.

Published · 976 views

If you’ve been following all of the gurus, you know that one of the best ways to meet people and get business is by speaking. Frankly, I agree, unless of course you shouldn’t be speaking. Let me tell you what I mean by that. My client Steve knew he needed to be speaking from the stage. He had spent a year working on his “signature talk”. Only he never gave his talk to anyone. He kept hearing, you need to speak, you need to speak and he knew everyone was right. He knew that it was a great strategy to use and yet he was absolutely terrified of public speaking.

Published · 1,046 views

When I set out for my walk today, I had several very specific goals in mind. I wanted to walk for about an hour, cover about 4 miles, and get some inspiration along with fresh air. Based on my goals, I created a plan. I would drive to a large wooded “reservation” near my home. I plotted the path I would take. I would start by walking through the woods toward a paved path, do the loop on that path, and finally circle back along the road to my car.

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I decided to write an article about getting things done and not worrying about perfection and found myself in need of my own advice... I like to think that I subscribe to the idea that "good enough" is good enough. Sure it's important to do a good job and make sure there are no major mistakes or omissions but for the most part get it done and get it out.

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I was at the gym recently and one of my friends turned to me and said, "Carrie, I need you to write about change." She was finding that she was no longer satisfied with the decisions she felt she was being forced to make out of habit and to meet of other people's expectations. It got me thinking about business. The reason I started my business is likely very similar to why you started yours... to create a life that suited my needs.

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My client was telling me about an experience he had with a client of his. My client was second guessing himself. Did he do the right thing even if it made both him and his client uncomfortable? The short answer to his question was, yes. He showed up and did exactly what he was hired to do. The real issue, however, lay in the question I asked him. Why was he second guessing himself?

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There’s always an agenda. One of my clients shared that there is a part of her that worries that when she approaches someone to have a conversation they will be turned off because they know her intention is to “pitch” something to them. Newsflash – Whenever you engage in a conversation with anyone, at any time, about anything, you have an agenda.

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Newsflash: I am a very competitive person. Here’s what happened. I was out for a run at the reservoir near my house. Two laps around is just over 3 miles. I wanted to run two miles and walk and cool down for the last mile. I finished running and then started to walk. There were two women walking in front of me. I always like when someone’s in front of me. It somehow pulls me along. They weren’t far ahead; they were also walking and didn’t seem to be going overly fast. I challenged myself to catch up and pass them.

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I’ve been getting a lot of questions about “pricing” lately so I wanted to share my pricing philosophy, and the system I use, to set prices for my own products and services. Let’s start with my philosophy. Here’s the thing about pricing… it really doesn’t matter what the price of a product or service is. The only thing that matters is your belief in the price and your ability to transfer that belief to a customer.

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I remember a conversation I had with a colleague of mine several years ago. I told him that I was frustrated because I knew that I could help several of the people I had recently spoken to, but none of them decided to work with me. We talked about handling objections in a sales conversation. One of the things he shared with me was that I needed to tell the truth, to call people out if necessary and not hide behind being nice. It was really good advice and it made a dramatic shift in the effectiveness of my sales conversations.

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What’s the best way to capture, and hold someone’s attention? I was out for a walk and noticed the lawn signs that contractors put up when they do work at a house. I started to pay attention to which signs I was attracted to and which did not interest me. I learned a powerful lesson in messaging and how to communicate with the people you interact with as I walked. I saw a lot of signs, I’m going to focus on two signs in particular. They are both local painters.

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The most important thing you do in business is communicate. One of the key times to communicate with people is after you’ve met them but before they become a client. During this the time you create your relationship. You nurture them. They get to know you and hopefully, based on what and how you communicate, they grow to like and trust you. As time goes on you continue to develop and deepen that relationship and when they are ready, they buy from you.

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I don’t often write “how-to” articles but this is something that has come up again and again during coaching calls so I figured it was time to put it out there. The question I am getting is around event sponsorship. What do you need to do when you have a table, or are exhibiting your business, at an event? The good news is that you don’t need much, but you absolutely must have (or do) the following six things.

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I recently saw a documentary about Joan Rivers. Obviously, she was quite the comedienne but what surprised me was how astute a businesswoman she was. She talked about risk. One line that stood out was, "You need to stand out in the rain in order to get hit by lightening."

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We did it! It's finally springtime, my favorite time of year! Here in New Jersey we experience very distinct seasons and during the winter everything dies, or at least it looks like it does. Then spring comes and the earth magically comes back to life. The snow melts, the branches of the trees start getting fat, buds appear and the first flowers begin to break through. It's time to wake up. Many people use January 1st, the beginning of the calendar year, as a date to spur them into action, but I find spring is when my brain really kicks into gear.

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I was at a new restaurant. They handed me a menu. I opened it and the first thing listed was dessert. I knew it was going to be a fabulous meal. My husband laughs at me because I always look at a menu in reverse order. What desserts do they have? What, if anything, am I going to want? Is there more than one dessert that interests me? Am I going to want to share a dessert? I need to know how to pace myself, how much room to save in my “dessert spot” and if I need to get someone on board with me to split a dessert or maybe convince them to have the other dessert I’m interested in.

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This is an article about sales and connecting with your prospects, but first I am going to tell you a story. I had been feeling pretty good overall, but then suddenly, everything was bothering me. My feet were sore, my shoulders were achy and my thumb hurt. None of this was particularly unusual, since these were the things that I generally saw my chiropractor about; what was unusual is that, all of these issues had been a lot better until I found myself tossing and turning all night because I couldn’t get comfortable.

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I often connect two things that on the surface seem to have nothing to do with each other. Do you ever do that? Here’s something that occurred to me while I was out for a walk. Your business is like a dandelion. Let me explain. Dandelions were brought to the United States as a medicinal plant. They seem to have taken to the environment very well (at least here in the Northeast). So much so that they are now looked upon as weeds and, judging by most of the homes in my neighborhood, we do everything in our power to get rid of them.

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What do you need to do first when you open your business? Typical responses include open a business bank account, create a website, get business cards, design a logo and start networking. Yup, you need to put all those pieces in place and none of it will make a difference if you don’t answer the following three questions first. 1. What do you sell? This includes how it’s priced and packaged.

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I was having a conversation with Nancy. During our conversation she revealed that she had been following me for years. She has my first book and it made a huge impact on her life. When she found out that we had a mutual acquaintance, that could introduce us, she was beyond thrilled. To her I was an idol. Someone she admired and followed but was totally out of reach and not someone she dared to talk to.

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I was at a business meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. My friend and I went for a nice walk in the morning and then to the restaurant for breakfast. The server came over and wished us a Happy Friday. She was in a good mood and so were we. We had a delicious meal. Fawn told us a little about working at the Four Seasons, how much she enjoyed her job and about the great people she worked with. As we were getting ready to leave she asked us to let the management know if we enjoyed our meal, and especially the service we had received.

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This isn’t likely to win me a popularity prize, but I’ll say it anyway… appearances matter.

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Trees are magnificent. They root themselves deep in the earth. They grow tall - twenty, thirty, forty, a hundred feet, or even more. And they come from a single seed. An aco caught my eye recently. This aco was usually large and I started thinking. As I picked it up the first thought that came into my head was that everything an oak tree needed to grow 60-feet tall was in my hand. My thoughts went to the business owners that I work with and how they constantly struggle thinking that they need more to be successful when, like the acorn, they already have what they need.

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I’m at the gym most days. I take a variety of classes. On Wednesdays I do my own thing. I either get on a piece of cardio equipment or go for a run. Today I mixed things up. I went for a walk around the neighborhood. It might not seem like there should be much of a difference between going for a walk or a run, but there was. I was still exercising and even though I was walking and not running I was definitely pushing myself. What was different was that I shut off all of the noise.

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There are those that are natural born networkers and there are those that are not. I fall squarely into the “are not” camp. The goal of business networking is to meet, and connect with people so that you can find clients, partners, employees, referrals to people who provide services you need, or referrals to people who need the service you provide. Networking can even simply be about meeting people in the same boat as you to become part of your support system. Networking is vital to growing any business, including mine.

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Procrastination is a problem for people with or without ADHD. The damage doesn't stop with the repercussions of not following through. It is more than failing grades on a report card, loss of promotion, missed opportunities, or getting dismissed from a job. Although the consequences are ...

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ADD/ADHD symptoms can make our life miserable, sabotaging our every effort of success. Even though we are admonished to not be so hard on ourselves, to cut ourselves some slack, and stop beating ourselves up for mistakes . . . Sometimes it's the thing to do. For example, when the inside ...

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Let's face it. Times are tough. Everything seems to be on a price increase except the paycheck. When the economy goes sour and times are tough it creates an open market for negativity. Fear-based motivation is the last thing we need in order to make sound decisions. Yet, it moves in with ...

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The use of positive affirmations is a good practice. As parents, we try to instill in our children that they are perfect, whole, and complete. They can do and become anything by believing in themselves, and holding fast to their dream. Most of us are firm believers in the power of affirmations ...

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If you or someone in your life is affected by ADHD, you are familiar with not following through, putting it off, or letting it slide. Whatever you call it, the bottom line is the same. Assignments, responsibilities, and promises are disregarded. They are put on the back burner and soon ...

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Seven years ago I read that pain will vanish or be reduced with a few minutes of EFT application. I suffered from excrutiating back pain due to an unfortunate accident that damaged my four lower vertebrae, L2 through L5-S1. On a crusade to find alternative pain management, I stumbled across EFT ...

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Do you waste time engaged in trivial activities? Often, we do this unconsciously to avoid doing what needs done. Before we know it, the work day ends with the to do list intact. We rationalize the unfortunate result. After all, we were busy. Perhaps you have the problem of taking on too much ...

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At one time or another, and in one way or another, we have all asked ourselves these questions. "Why am I here? What, if anything, am I supposed to be doing? Is there a purpose I am suppose to fulfill?" Until we arrive at answers to such questions, our life seems to hold little, or no meaning. ...

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Procrastination, a common symptom of ADHD, is a problem that effects many of us. Not only is it a problem in itself, but it creates a multitude of problems. Problems such as missed promotions or raises, difficult relationships, poor grades and performance, and just plain missing out. I have ...

Published · 1,704 views