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Do you get up from bed each morning with dread and anxiety about what faces you at work? • Do you feel like you have to make “through” each day? • Are you completely exhausted by the time you get home each night? • Do you see life as a merry go round over which you have no control? • Do you find yourself wishing you had a clone or more time to get everything you need done? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, its very likely you have a work life in-balance.

You gain many benefits from having a healthy work life balance. It enables you to experience personal satisfaction and professional fulfillment. It also makes you more confident and effective at work. Let’s explore all the benefits you can gain from having a healthy work life balance. Benefits of Work Life Balance in your Personal Life

Over the years, I have observed people who are real friends and people who claim to be friends. As I get older, I truly believe the old saying that you can count your real friends on one hand. So, you may be asking what makes a person a real friend. I have identified my top eight characteristics of what I feel constitutes a true friend, or what I feel I need most in a friendship. In observing your relationships with other people, whether they are family members, people you went to school with, coworkers, or colleagues, how many of them are real friends?

Conducting a good strategic planning session is critical to the success of a solid strategic plan; one that includes specific and measurable goals and objectives, providing a clear direction for the organization. To ensure that the actual planning retreat is as productive as it can be, ground rules should be established and discussed prior to commencement. This article provides a list of 11 ground rules I believe are imperative in managing a successful planning retreat. 1. Present the written agenda or schedule for the day so everyone is aware of the day’s activities.

If you find that you are on your way to burnout or already suffering from burnout symptoms, there are things you can do to work against it. One of the most effective things you can do to fight burnout is to create fulfillment at work. This has a very large effect on you because we spend many hours of our day at our jobs or business. The following list includes suggestions you can implement to find more fulfillment at work.

How motivated are your employees? Are they fully engaged and passionate about their work? In challenging economic times it is natural for most people to lose some level of enthusiasm. When we cut costs and people around us lose jobs and even their homes, our desire to take on the "biggest and baddest" challenge at work can falter. But in these times, the last thing we need is lost productivity and less passion. In fact, what we really need is to raise the bar and get more productivity and creativity from our people. Can you motivate your employees to do more?

Do you realize that first impressions are important? I’d like to tell you that, important or not, you make them and you receive them every single day of your life. Impressions have become habitual and you are no longer conscious of those you get when observing new people in your experience, like the person in the office next to yours. You see them, you form an opinion, and you rapidly forget about them, unless their appearance or their smell or their words impress themselves on you. You’re on auto-pilot when you meet a new co-worker or a new manager. They make an impression.

How do you predict the outcome of a behavior, project, or idea? A few days ago, an executive career-coaching client came to a session with an interesting PowerPoint presentation. It was a proposal to a potential employer. My client hoped the company would gain a better appreciation of his expertise and ability to transfer his skills to their industry sector as well as demonstrate a talent for addressing their specific challenges and opportunities. It was very effective. His outline was based on the SWOT template.

Writing and delivering invitations to customers, potential customers, or colleagues to attend your important business-related occasions requires careful attention: While great opportunities lie therein, if done improperly, it can cause undesired results that it’s wise to avoid.nnWhen you plan a launch, a professional conference, or even an Open Day at the office, naturally you want to make it special; you also know that its success and effectiveness depend on how many of yo

Ernest Hemingway once said “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” How true that is. How many times has someone asked you how you were, but doesn’t take the time to listen to your response? They may cut you off, start talking about themselves, or walk away. If you’re like most people, this behavior probably leaves a sour taste in your mouth. People want to be heard and listened to; they want to feel like someone cares. Be honest with yourself.

When setting goals to get us to where we want to be in life it is so important that we always honor our core values in all we do. WHAT ARE CORE VALUES? Firstly values are the things in life which are most important to you but core values go even deeper still. These are the qualities and characteristics that you hold dear to you. The characteristics and qualities you wish to embody in everything you do e.g. honesty, compassion, integrity, courage, loving, sincerity,caring. Eve

4 Tips Beyond customer service, which all successful business leaders measure, this top producer measures customer delight. You can too, with these 4 tips. Many successful financial advisors measure customer service, with traditional measures such as process time, customer satisfaction, or ...

Have you ever wondered why someone's words don't always match their body language? Observing the way people communicate, both verbally and nonverbally, can help you to assess what they might be feeling at the present moment. It can also help you to get to the heart of the issue, make someone feel more comfortable, or diffuse a potentially explosive situation. This article provides some tips on recognizing and understanding verbal and nonverbal cues, and using this information to improve communication.

Nonprofit organizations are always looking for ways in which to raise money to support their respective operation. The following list provides some traditional methods for generating revenue but it also includes some ideas you may not have previously thought about or considered.

As a real estate agent, it is important to know your value. Your value is determined by what you have to offer the consumer. It is important to remember that consumer perception is consumer reality. Every agent on the path of success must be able to answer the following question from a consumers point of view. (We all need to answer a version of this very basic question and answer it very, very well.) The question is: Why should a consumer work with you instead of another age

Have you ever noticed a trend in the thinking patterns of successful people? Have you ever wondered why it seems like success comes so easily to some people and so difficult for others? It all has to do with your beliefs and self-talk. People that achieve success in a consistent basis have one thing in common. Whether they are successful athletes, executives, business owners, or artists, they all know that they will succeed. They know this before they even attempt to achieve the goal they set out for themselves.

There are six steps to successfully delegating tasks. Most managers and leaders only do one of these steps, while some conduct two of the steps. When the task isn't completed to the manager's satisfaction, all too often the manager comes to his coach or boss complaining that his employees just don't get it, or he can't find employees who are good enough to “get the job done.”

"Are you kidding me - how can I be optimistic? There is nothing to be optimistic about in this economy." With the constant stream of bad economic news it is very easy to get caught up in thinking that nothing positive is happening. We start to believe that there is little that we can do to improve our circumstances; we withdraw, play it safe, feel concern, and fear about our future. We become especially vigilant for further signs that we are at risk. Optimistic leadership is not about seeing the world through rose colored glasses.

Bob Sheppard, the announcer for the New York Yankees, for more than almost six decades, applied three simple principles to his extraordinary delivery. Surely his beautiful baritone made him highly listenable and memorable; however, it was his discipline that made him a lifetime member of the team and a much loved part of the game for spectators. To become a good communicator Bob Sheppard believed you had to abide by three simple, but important, rules—be clear, concise, and correct.

The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. Freedom and slavery are mental states. ~ Mahatma Gandhi How would you define mental freedom? What does it feel like? What would it take to live your life with mental freedom as your foundation? Do you know what it takes to achieve such self-mastery? If you have not defined what mental freedom means to you, how it feels, what it's like to have it as your foundation - if you don't have full self-mastery, you are living a slave's existence. You can change.

The best advice Eric Schmidt, Chairman and CEO of Google, ever got was to hire an executive coach. Initially when board member, John Doerr, suggested this, Schmidt resisted because as an experienced CEO he didn't think he needed a coach. But now he is a big fan of coaching and states in an interview with Fortune Magazine that "everyone needs a coach".

No matter how positive you are, there is probably at least one negative feeling or thought that creeps into your mind on a daily basis. Negative thoughts have many origins. They can develop from not feeling well, experiencing low self-esteem, or doubting one's self. Considering the fact that this happens to everyone, how do some people appear to be more successful at turning negative thoughts into positive ones before the negativity grows and becomes counterproductive? This article provides some tips on squelching negative thoughts before they have a chance to fester and erupt. 1.

By Jodi Nicholson Success starts with desire, perpetuates through a positive attitude and belief, and is achieved by commitment to excellence and perseverance. “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” ~Aristotle

If I could wave a magic wand, and change something about how human beings interact with each other, I would eliminate “gotcha” forever. What is “gotcha”? Before we talk about eliminating “gotcha”, it is important to clarify just what “gotcha” is! “Gotcha” can come in many forms. In the verbal form, we know it more commonly as “I told you so,” but “gotcha” can take on many other forms. “Gotcha” is not only noticing that someone makes an error, but using it against them.

In life, we are all survivors, whether or not we think of ourselves that way. When we experience our first love and break up, our hearts are broken and we don't think that we will ever survive. But somehow we do, and eventually we meet someone new. When we lose our first job, whether we are fired or laid off, we may wonder if anyone will ever hire us again. But we ultimately find another job and, thus, we survive again. Other traumatic events may occur in life that challenge our survival, such as going through a divorce, acquiring a disability, or losing a child, parent, or loved one.

The Importance of Dressing Appropriatelyrn (and you don’t have to be less feminine to do it) rnFirst impressions can be effective OR disastrous, BUT either way they are long lasting. If a woman is dressed inappropriately, regardless if she is an excellent candidate, you can nearly hear a death knell. Even when a woman dresses for success it does not necessarily guarantee a key to the executive’s washroom. Sadly, though not surprisingly, there are different standards for m

Communicating effectively is a key element to success. It involves the elements of transmitting, receiving and understanding the message being directed to others in relationships especially in the workforce. As a senior leader and manager, I welcomed my employees to state the problem. However, when they bring a problem to the staff meeting they must have some possible solutions in mind to resolve the issue. Moaning, groaning and constant complaining will not work. Seeking resolution will bring respect to you from your managers and fellow colleagues.

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, integrity means to have a “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” My Oxford American Dictionary defines it as “honesty, incorruptibility.” From these two simple definitions, it is obvious that one of the highest compliments you can pay an individual is to say that s/he has a high degree of integrity.

I learned the W-A-I-T acronym in my graduate school training. I’ve always posted a small note on my wall, out of the client’s view, as a reminder. The letters stand for “Why Am I Talking?” Why do people talk too much in business situations? - They’re anxious. Maybe the gathering is about a difficult subject or has important leaders present. Most people don’t want to be the center of attention, yet they’re afraid they’ll be ignored or negated. So they talk and talk. This is the anxiety speaking and it often isn’t pretty or welcome.

In my consultations with clients I hear many complaints about the challenge of getting teams to work together well. There is recognition that teamwork offers huge rewards but also frustration with the personal experience of working within teams. One of the ways to improve teamwork is to leverage the power of creativity.

There are certain components of the strategic planning process that should be in place to develop, implement, and effectively monitor a strategic plan. This article provides a brief overview of the steps involved in strategic planning. The first component is preparing for the strategic planning session. Prior to engaging in strategic planning, the organization should conduct a SWOTT analysis.

Are you a master of doing it all, juggling priorities, constant meetings and email overload? When I ask leaders what change they could make to become more effective, one of the most common responses is that they need to delegate more. They recognize the need to delegate most of what comes across their desk but they don't always do it. There is just too much work to go around and as the business can least afford a misstep, we become more hands-on.

Do you smile because you're happy, or does smiling make you happy? In psychology, there is a theory called the "facial feedback hypothesis" which states, according to researchers D.A. Be stein and his colleagues, that involuntary facial movements provide sufficient peripheral information to drive emotional experiences. Psychologists S. F. Davis and J.J. Palladindo explain that feedback from facial expression affects emotional expression and behavior. In simple terms, if you smile, you can actually improve your emotional mood. R.B.

In my last newsletter, “Five Must-Do Practices in Tough Times” I mentioned the importance of a good attitude, protecting business relationships, getting more creative, focusing on results and the importance of effective communication. I would like to continue discussion about leading in tough times as it looks like tough times might be around for a while.

Are you at Risk of Career Burnout? Career burnout or job burnout syndrome is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to demanding, stressful, and pressure filled work situations. Burnout is the cumulative result of persistent stress at work. What Factors Affect Likelihood of Suffering from Career Burnout? There are many reasons why a person can end up suffering from burnout syndrome. These are some of the most common ones. 1) Lack of control.

With all the buzz about personal branding these days, perceptions and definitions vary greatly … and misconceptions abound. Tom Peters’ coined the term "personal branding" in his 1997 article “The Brand Called You” (http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html) at Fast Company, where he said: "You're every bit as much a brand as Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop.

When I was young, there was a girl who was a year younger and a foot taller than me. She bullied me for approximately two years. One day something inside of me snapped; I decided I wasn’t going to take her abuse any longer and stood up to her. Unfortunately, our confrontation ended in a fight, which I won. She never picked on me again. I learned at an early age that if you allow people to bully, harass, or cut you down, then they will do so.

How do you Envision your Life? Do you see yourself: • Being your own boss? • Being the CEO of a company? • Having your own Law Firm? • Living in Europe? • Having a vacation house in the Caribbean? • Working from home? • Being a Judge? • Being able to work from any place in the world? Why do people give up power over their own life? You’d be amazed at how many people don’t really know what they truly want out of life.

How many times have you seen a person and judged them strictly on their appearance? Or, how many times have you turned away or avoided someone simply because of their appearance? If you find yourself making judgments or avoiding people based on their appearance, you are missing out on opportunities to meet some potentially intelligent, interesting, and fascinating people. Below are some thoughts related to the advantages of looking beyond an individual’s outer or physical appearance.

An unconsidered (unexamined) life is not worth living- Socratesr Have you ever gotten into your car or an airplane, without knowing where you are going? Yet, we often do that with our lives; we start a career, relationship, business, etc and then forget to check where we are going, and what we want out of life! No wonder many have a mid life crisis! If we don’t know where we want to be, how we are ever going to get there! As Socrates said “an unconsidered life is not worth l

During difficult economic times, how do leaders deal with the challenge of retaining and motivating their best people ? In an article in the Harvard Business Review online, Kevin Coyne says that many examples of high morale come from situations of great unhappiness and stress. He suggests the ...

In this fast paced world, we are continually challenged to fit more work into the same time frames that we all have. One of the most challenging parts of "fitting it all in" is deciding what is important and what is not. Of all the dilemmas I've experienced in my coaching practice, just about every client has struggled with their time and life management. Their “to -- do" lists have "to -- do" lists. So how do we get it ALL done? My first question is why do we need to get it all done?

Is EVERY member of your team contributing SIGIFICANTLY to your strategic goals? By EVERY member of your team, I mea EVERY member, including front-line talent that you pay by the hour. By significantly, I mean directly to your bottom-line in the form of tens of thousands to millions of dollars in revenue or savings.r

Alte ative Stress Solutions #2 Why I Meditate

When you're upset or depressed, should you analyze your feelings to figure out what's wrong? Or should you just forget about it and move on? New research and theories suggests if you do want to think about your problems, do so from a detached perspective, rather than reliving the experience. This answer is related to a psychological paradox: Processing emotions is supposed to help you facilitate coping, but attempts to understand painful feelings often backfire and perpetuate or strengthen negative moods and emotions.

Whether you are in business for yourself or working for someone else, you need a vision for your professional life. And that vision should incorporate your personal aspirations as well. (We often act as if we are multiple people- one individual lives our work life and another lives our personal life. How about we integrate all of our dreams and aspirations together and treat ourselves as a whole person?) Here’s five reasons you need a vision to fuel your professional and personal life! 1.It provides direction.

What is Coaching?

You may be surprised to learn that, with rare exceptions, your audience is rooting for you. Every time you step up to speak, they want you to succeed. If you’re ever witnessed a comedian bomb or a singer hit a “pitchy” note, you’ll know exactly what I mean. The audience shudders with embarrassment for the performer. They want the person on stage to be entertaining — that’s why they came. The same holds true for a speaker giving a presentation.

Are you looking in a specific place? Expecting something to happen? What energises you.....makes you feel alive? Life is yours. It isn't what happens to someone else, it's what happens and how it happens to you. And, no matter good, bad or indifferent, it's how you process the experience and ...

Consider that every thought you think and every word you say is an affirmation and all of our self-talk or inner dialogue is a stream of affirmations. We are continually affirming subconsciously with our words and thoughts and this flow of affirmations is creating our life experience in every moment. Our beliefs are just learned thought patterns that we have developed since childhood, many of these patterns have worked well for us, but others may now be working against us, they are dysfunctional and may be sabotaging us from achieving what we believe we want.

As companies claw their way out of the doldrums of The Great Recession the time is rapidly approaching to prepare for the next wave of growth. Traditionally, this means ramping up the hiring process, investing in new technology, or a combination of both. As we attempt to catch the upswing out of the trough of the most recent business cycle, many enlightened companies are looking in another direction to increase their productivity and capacity. They’re looking inside of their companies for the resources they’ll need to drive growth in the coming years.

Just like a fingerprint, you have a unique sound. You vocal cords developed during puberty to a certain length and mass which gives you the pitch that you use. The shape and mass of your vocal tract (the back of the throat, the tongue, the lips, etx) is where the sound is configured. You are limited in how much you ...

Collaboration is a process where two or more parties get together to work on common goals. The advantages of collaboration are numerous, and they benefit all parties involved. This article lists what I feel are the major advantages of collaborating with your colleagues. 1. Collaboration is educational. It helps all participants learn about each other’s agencies, mission, programs, services, eligibility criteria, etc. In addition, when you collaborate with your peers, they often know about other resources with which you may not be familiar.

Your ‘why’ is a reason for your life that is so compelling and so passionate that it exudes a devotional power from within, and once discovered, pours out positively into everything you do, moving you closer to your goals, ultimate happiness, joy and fulfillment.

Are you a lemonade kind of person? Is your glass more full than empty? Do you see blue sky through the rain clouds? Did you say sometimes, most of the time, almost never? Look, we know that accentuating the positive is good for us. And there are lots of studies that show those who have a positive outlook have better health, happier relationships, and more success.

by Jodi Nicholson “Money grows on the tree of patience.” ~ Japanese Proverb In your life it may seem that all you seem to do is hurry up and then wait. There are many milestones that you look forward to achieving, however it seems like it can take forever for you to get to them. Why is it that people say that ‘patience is a virtue?’ and often times it’s the last thing that you want to hear when you are longing for something to happen. So, how can you go through life with a good understanding of patience and how you can practice it?

In this age of information overload, the window of opportunity to keep your audience’s attention gets smaller by the tweet. How bad is it? It has been reported that we are bombarded by the equivalent of 174 newspapers of data a day. No doubt about it; we constantly battle a tidal wave of information demanding our attention. The question is, “what can you do to capture the attention of your listeners?” Here are eight ways to “disrupt” the barrage of noise so your message is heard. 1. Tell a story.r

Did you know that the number one desired outcome of communication skills coaching is to increase self-confidence speaking? Whether the situation is to speak to the boss, a roomful of people or a large massive crowd, having the self-confidence to deliver the message in a way that resonates is priority. Leaders know ...

We all see the world through our normal eyes, but we are aware that there is much more that exists that we can only see through microscopes and telescopes. Similarly, we see the world through our normal perspectives, paradigms, and beliefs, but there is much that exists that we may not be aware of. To see these we need the glasses of awareness. Awareness opens our eyes to things that are all around us, to other people and even to ourselves. We can look at things, people and s

When I first started road biking in 2016, I loved the feeling of freedom when the air passed my wet skin and became a natural air conditioner. I also loved to ride downhills at a very fast speed. It was an incredible thrill to let go and fly down those hills. It was truly exhilarating!

Tired of working for somebody else and ready to try your hand being a business owner? Or are you an accidental entrepreneur that has already leapt into business for yourself? Well, You’re not alone! Starting and running your own successful business is one of the most rewarding, exciting and nerve-racking adventures you will set out on. It has its joys and it certainly has its challenges, all of which will push you outside your comfort zone, spur your creative thinking and give you a few more gray hairs!

Today’s economic landscape has been a bit unsteady to say the least. We’ve all heard about it and certainly have seen the effects of it on our bottom line. No matter if you’re a CEO, manager or a one-man-band business owner, today’s economy has sent tremors through us all in different ways. Here are some time tested keys to growth to help you stay focused and moving forward in a positive direction.

Disciplining employees can be time consuming, difficult, and challenging. However, if you want the disciplinary action process to go as smoothly as possible, it is important to develop clear policies and procedures that will result in a strong disciplinary action program. By having a solid program in place, it will help to protect you and your organization.

Wahoo(!) - You got the project! Congratulations are in order, but after the immediate euphoria, reality soon rears it's sometimes ugly head: * Time and cost of your project have been dictated for strategic reasons. * The objectives seem subjective and you are not sure what they truly mean. * The objectives seem subjective and you are not sure what they truly mean.

The Appalachian Trail runs for 2,160 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. It was originally laid out in 1937 by an idealist named Benton MacKaye with the idea of creating a continuously marked trail that would stress land preservation and community. It is estimated that it takes 5 million steps to walk the entire length of the trail. Most thru-hikers walk north, starting in Georgia in spring and finishing in Maine in fall, taking an average of 6 months. Two thousand people attempt to accomplish that goal every year. Fewer than 1 in 4 make it the entire length.

Strategic planning is critical to a nonprofit organization's future direction and survival. As such, it is important to understand what strategic planning is and why it is so important. This article provides a definition of strategic planning and why it is important to nonprofit organizations. Wikipedia defines strategic planning as “an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people.” Strategic planning is the formal consideration of an organization's future course.

Having managed or worked for nonprofits most of my career, I have seen effective and ineffective boards of directors. Good boards of directors are clear about their roles and responsibilities versus those of the Executive Director, and don't overstep their boundaries. I feel that the five most important responsibilities of board members are as follows: 1. Board members are responsible for recruiting, hiring, and evaluating the organization’s Executive Director.

Nonprofit organizations have a myriad of issues they need to deal with on a daily basis, leaving them with little time to focus on branding their mission and organization. However, it is important that they allocate some time and money to branding, as good branding will establish a solid identify, making it easier for clients and stakeholders to recognize and grasp the organization’s mission. In addition, recognition helps organizations to solicit clients, raise funds, and improve collaborative relationships.

Every nonprofit organization should conduct strategic planning on a regular basis, as strategic plans outline what action steps the organization will take in the future to sustain and grow their operation, while adhering to their mission. Many organizations focus attention on conducting the strategic planning session and developing a plan, but don't allocate sufficient time to prepare for the planning retreat. Taking time to adequately prepare for a strategic planning session can help the actual event to run much more smoothly and efficiently, resulting in greater productivity.

"Maturity includes the recognition that no one is going to see anything in us that we don't see in ourselves. Stop waiting for a producer. Produce yourself." ~ Marianne Williamson

People often tell me that they don't know what to say when someone experiences a loss. I explain that often times the person experiencing the loss simply needs to talk. You don't need to say anything; just be there to listen and support the individual. However, most people are still uncomfortable with helping family members, friends, and colleagues cope with loss. This article provides information on understanding loss and tips to be in a better position to help yourself and others work through their own loss. 1. Recognize that we all experience loss and grief at some point in our lives.

A behavior common among very successful people is setting high standards for themselves as well as others. Whether the actions are going to be seen by friends or colleagues, or done strictly in private, doesn’t seem to matter, high achievers place the bar at the top rung for almost anything and everything.

Companies could do a lot more to remove the triggers that bring patterns forward for most people. Stress is subjective. Performance evaluations, for instance, inspire a tremendous amount of dread. Although honest feedback is both healthy and helpful, evaluations are usually structured such that the person being evaluated hears too much criticism or none at all. There are employees who will balk at any consideration that they must improve. They will become underhanded to “kill the messenger”, that is whoever is the bearer of the performance evaluation “bad news”.

My last Competitive Edge Report article “Is the Key Still in Your Ignition?” hit a sweet cord with a number of you and sour note with others. I thought I’d continue the discussion this week by looking back as well as forward.

Collaborative efforts with other agencies are valuable and can have many advantages. However, there are some items you need to consider prior to entering into any type of collaborative relationship. You’ll want to ensure that when you enter into a collaborative relationship, it is a win-win situation for your clients, your organization, other stakeholders, and for your collaborative partner. This article addresses some questions you need to ask and issues you need to consider before establishing a collaborative relationship.

In contemporary psychological terms, “extrovert” is used to describe a individuals whose temperament type or preference directs and receives their energy from exte al sources. In the practical sense, they are action people who plug into others for their juice. They’re not generally drawn to reflection, they are “doers.” Talking things out is an extrovert’s way of understanding, solving problems, reducing stress, sharing, and communicating. I am less likely to say to myself, “what are they really thinking?” when working with an extrovert.

I was walking in the Times Square area the other day when I spotted a person wearing a very graphic tee shirt. It read, “No such thing as off-season.” While I'm sure he was thinking NFL, NBA, or MLB, my wheels turned toward the workplace. I can't tell you how many times people have told me, “Let's wait ‘til after (name the holiday)” or “I can't network now, no one is in their offices.” As a person with a perch that must overlook the offices of thousands of people, I can tell you with certainty — people are at work.

Did you ever read the warning signs of an impending work disaster, okay maybe, disaster is too strong a word, a work difficulty. Then someone shrugs, pats you on the back and tells you to stop catastrophizing? And when what you prophesized comes to pass, when the project failed or the customer went with the competition and you are about to say “I TOLD YOU!!” there is another shrug and a comment about not dwelling in the past.

I’m standing on line at the supermarket behind a mother and her five year old son. Bored, tired, and cranky, the child wants out, as does the mother. The boy starts asking questions and for things. “No!” says the mother. “No” is the answer so many time that she is ahead of her son’s requests. Finally, in frustration she yells, “Don’t even bother asking me because the answer is going to be ‘no.’” We’ve all witnessed this type of scenario and probably are guilty of participation now and again. For some reason the scene stuck with me.

"Worry compounds the futility of being trapped on a dead-end street. Thinking opens new avenues." ~ Cullen Hightower Feeling trapped can leave us vulnerable to more and more dissatisfaction. I believe our lives should be lives of fulfillment and satisfaction, so let's see what we can do to help you move away from feeling trapped? What makes you feel trapped? Parental pressure? A toxic past? An old, fixed mindset? Your relationship? In a job you despise? In a sick body?

Do you have a high performing management team? Could it be better? If your answer is anything less then great,... and yes it could be better. You are not alone. All to often it is easier just to accept that although your team is not functioning optimally, it is perhaps good enough. However the management team is the compass for the entire organization. If at some level a management team is dysfunctional - this dysfunction will spread throughout the organization.

Hopefully, you enjoyed some relaxing downtime with your family and friends during the holidays. For me, it was a welcome break to go to the movies with my daughter-in-law Jill and watch her all-time favorite story, Les Miserables — starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

We often hear people talking about whether someone's glass is half full or half empty, which is really a metaphor for how someone views their life or the world around them. If someone is negative or pessimistic, people might regard them as seeing their glass half empty. When people view their glass as half empty, they are looking at what they don't have instead of what they do. If someone is positive and optimistic, people would say they see their glass as being half full. Half of their glass may be empty, but they choose to look at it as half full.

What is Self-talk? Self-talk is the inner dialogue you have in your mind when you think of doing something, making a decision, or creating change. It is your thoughts making themselves known to you. It is the small voice in the back of your mind that tells you to go for it, to stop thinking about it, or to give up. For a lot of people, self-talk is a strict and punishing inner judge. That judge is unforgiving and relentless. Self-talk can be a repetition of what your parents have said to you in the past, what you’ve have heard others repeat.

Five Reasons Women Make Great Salespeople By: Liz Wendling Why do so many business women spend more time hoping or praying for sales rather than just learning to sell? Because the mere mention of the word sales brings up fear, dread and anxiety in the hearts of many! Countless female business owners dislike selling and don’t realize the importance of honing the skill. When I introduce myself as a sales coach, consultant and trainer, women often say, “I hate selling,” “I’m

So much to do -- so little time to do it all. I can't tell you how many times I have heard exasperated people lament that they just don't know how they will get it all done. That's part of the problem -- if our expectation is that we are supposed to get everything done that is on our to do list, our expectations are just plain unrealistic.

Creating a successful business online requires a lot of effort and time. Even if you don’t have the large marketing budgets you can still create traffic and hits and online action to your web page and here’s how: 1) Create a website that clearly defines what you do and what you offer. Make it very easy for a consumer to know exactly how you can help them or what you can provide. Write using the terminology that your consumers use, use the right keywords and Meta tags within your site.

Intuition is used to describe our thoughts, feelings and preferences that come to our mind, heart and even our gut quickly without much reflection or contemplation. It is inside and internal. Intuition is simply a “knowing” of something to be true or false without any factual evidence, and it has been referred to as our “6th sense” or internal guidance system. Sometimes, it creates a flutter, wave, warmth or vibration inside when ignited. Intuition is an unjustified belief system and it is unique to each of us. We all feel it differently, some more so than others.

We are told that Christmas, for Christians, should be the happiest time of year, an opportunity to be joyful and grateful with family, friends and colleagues. Yet, according to the National Institute of Health, Christmas is the time of year that people experience the highest incidence of depression. Hospitals and police forces report the highest incidences of suicide and attempted suicide. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals report a significant increase in patients complaining about depression.

“He who guards his mouth preserves his life.” - Proverbs 13:3

DRAMATIC CHANGE In the coming years, the workforce will undergo the most dramatic changes it has experienced in more than half a century. Understanding that people costs account for some 65 percent of corporate spending, and that workforce optimization has a direct impact on shareholder as well as a company's bottom line, those looming changes will prove critical to the future success of organizations in every sector of the economy, public and private.

When you think about having a performance evaluation or review, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For many people, however skilled and good they may be at doing their job, the thought of an upcoming performance evaluation creates anxiety. Expecting the worse, people tend to focus on the negative feedback, never hearing the positive feedback.

You’ve wanted to know the secret to meeting management success? Look no further… Here is YOUR answer to getting things DONE at alllll those meetings we attend. All it takes is three little words. Here are the “three little words” that will change your meeting life forever. Who knows, they may even bolster your career! 1. WHO 2. WHAT 3. WHEN Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. This is one of those times. Read on…r

“Where there is no leadership the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”- Proverbs 11:14

As a social work and psychology student, Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs was a theory in which we focused a great deal of time. According to Maslow, there are five levels of needs, ranging from physiological to self-actualization. It is difficult to move from one level to the next without first meeting your needs at the lower level.

Last month we discussed the difference between a "Business" Lifecycle and a "Project Management" lifecycle and working with the theory that every project is a project within another project; the only project we are responsible and accountable for is our assigned piece of the bigger project. This piece/project is now your number one priority. From "Project Management . . .

Did you know that only 7% of our communication comes through speaking? The rest of communication comprehension relies on visual and energetic cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, body language, posture, touch and movement. With this in mind, it’s key to be conscious of what you’re communicating on ALL levels. How you show up in the first minute of meeting someone new, sets the stage for all your future interactions with this person. Good, bad, or otherwise… This takes raising your emotional intelligence through greater self-awareness. Is your body language giving you away?r

In almost every sales training seminar or book on selling ever written, there is inevitably a chapter on “overcoming objections.” They will tell you that these are buying signals or a marker that tells you the customer is really requesting more information. I’m here to tell you that is a farce. Nobody likes to be sold or persuaded. In the business environment of the last few years, their buying decisions carry an incredible amount of risk. One buying mistake and they could be out the door. Change? Risk? In 2012, that’s awfully scary stuff.

Greed is out. Empathy is in. That's how Frans de Waal begins his book, The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons For A Kinder Society. De Waal is a biologist, professor of psychology and director of the Living Link Center at Emory University. In 2007, Time magazine selected him as one of the world's most influential people. The global financial crisis of 2008, together with the election of a new American President representing a vastly different political and social perspective, has produced a "seismic shift in society," argues de Waal.

Struggling with people resisting making the changes you know you need to make in your organization or group? Don't know how to get buy-in from people so that you can change things for the better? Challenged by an undercurrent of resistance to your attempts to move your organization forward? Have you ever tried to change anyone? Everyone knows how difficult it is to change their spouses (ever TRIED it? Not a pretty sight!) Even more, have you ever tried to change something about yourself? Not an easy task, is it?!

When we think of the brain, many of us imagine this elegant, fine tuned machine with electrical currents firing rapidly as our senses take in and process thousands of pieces of information. Not so much.

The Importance Of Accountability ~ Building Your Support System For Success By Jodi Nicholson, CPC MCSC Establishing a strong support system is a vital part of anyone’s success and as a coach, consultant and mentor I encourage you to embrace the quality of accountability. It's wise to partner with a person (known as an accountability partner - AP) or join a mastermind group to keep on track to success.

Watch any skilled speaker on TV - a celebrity, news commentator, or political leader - and chances are, much of their seemingly "effortless" delivery is due to practiced use of a teleprompter. It's also likely that, at some point in your role as a professional communicator, you'll be called on to use a teleprompter, if you haven't already done so. Teleprompters are valuable tools, there's no doubt. But like any technology, their use shouldn't distract you from your primary goal: connecting with your audience.

Traditional business practice was based on the principle of developing a great product or service and then finding customers to buy it. Then came the marketing and promotion so as many people knew about your product or service through advertising, promotion, stores, etc. The same kind of ...

Most nonprofit organizations use volunteers to perform tasks that regular staff members lack the time to do. Also, with an unstable economy, resulting in budget cuts for many organizations, developing and maintaining a volunteer pool is critical to nonprofits. An organized and well executed volunteer program can provide many benefits to the organization, from improving operations to saving money. This article provides eight helpful tips in developing and implementing an exemplary volunteer program. 1.

Can Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan Be Helped - If They Won’t Help Themselvesr In a February interview Sheen claimed he was healthy and ready to go back to work. The claim of every drunk and addict is that he / she is not a drunk or an addict. Secondly, the addict claims a few days in rehab is a lifetime cure . It appears Sheen and Lohan have more lives than a cat and about as much working brain matter.r

“To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” ~ Buddha You are working on a project with a strict deadline, but you just can’t seem to focus. Maybe thoughts about your next big idea, the weekend ahead, or even longstanding family issues start creeping in. Then you begin to worry: how will you finish this project on time?

Click here for the MP3 audio version of this article. Behind every good success there is a story. You may know some of the “BIG” ones, such as, Richard Branson’s approach to success is based on his personal experience with something he thinks can be improved – usually a service or product that didn’t do the job for him. From there he thinks creatively about how to build a better airplane, train, or entertainment company.

What’s the difference betwee Wanting and Having? Let’s make an important distinction. You see, there is a big difference between “Wanting” and “Having” something. Wanting: means lacking or absent. Deficient in some part, thing or aspect. Having: means to possess, to hold, to get, to receive, to experience. You can have one OR the other, but not both at the same time with any particular object of your desire. You either have it or you don’t. So what does this have to do with creating your success?

Question: What had you go into business for yourself? Was it the money? The hours? The flexibility? The freedom of carving your own path? What had you make the leap into being an entrepreneur? As an executive coach, I most often hear from folks just like you, who want to bust out of the corporate grind, be their own boss and do meaningful work that speaks to their passions and expertise. Stepping out of your comfort zone and starting your own gig takes courage, tenacity and loads of perseverance!

Have you ever taken a careful look at the culture of your nonprofit organization? Is the culture positive or negative? Do people enjoy working there, or would they rather be somewhere else? The culture of an organization impacts staff retention, client satisfaction, and the organization's overall effectiveness and success. This article provides seven elements that need to be examined, to help your organization develop and retain a positive, healthy, and thriving culture. 1. Do you respect and trust your staff?

Like the wind and the tides, energy is shifting and moving all of the time. The sun rotates, planets spin, stars are being born and dying as the Universe itself hurls through space at incomprehensible speeds. At a micro level, we’re constantly shifting and changing too. We’re generating new cells every day. Various parts of our body are being created anew as other parts die off and are replaced. You are constantly in a state of shifting and moving to something new. You can’t escape it. So, if change is such a constant in life, then why are we so uncomfortable with it?

The Key to Becoming Unstuck: How to create healthy habits, and achieve great things Have you ever had times when it just felt like you are STUCK! No matter what you do to move forward, you can’t! No matter what we’d like to achieve, we just can’t get to a place of developing better habits. Ever wanted to eat healthier? Exercise more often? How about be more organised? Show more creativity in your job? Or even change your negative attitude into a more positive one? Maybe even

I'm always surprised at how many of my executive career coaching clients are hesitant to contact former colleagues and supervisors when they need advice or information. I call these their “networking hurdles.” It seems particularly true when they’re looking for a job. Why is that? I gave it some thought and here’s what I came up with.

Everyone is trying to manage time. When you hear them talk, you would think it could be manipulated -- stretched or duplicated. It isn’t possible and for those who think they can, it’s more of a game than a solution. Knowing there are but 24 hours in a day, the challenge becomes more about how we plan, schedule, and utilize our minutes than it does with attempting to find more.

Does the use of social media in the workplace benefit organizations and educational institutions and help productivity or hamper productivity?

Congratulations! You’re a new salesperson. You have no contacts, little…if any…industry experience, and the clock is ticking. You’ll have a grace period for awhile while you are being trained, but at the end of the day you’ll have a number to hit. You better start filling that pipeline…and fast. The only problem is that you hate cold calling, whether it be on the phone or in person. You search for alte atives.

Imagine facing a room full of skittish investors and analysts to present your company’s management plan for the next quarter. Talk about high stakes! That was exactly the scenario recently faced by a client’s company. While they brought me in to rehearse with them the day before, in this type of meeting — one that’s likely to be packed with detailed data and statistics — it’s also likely that audience members will be focused on note taking or reviewing handouts rather than keeping their eyes on the presenters.

In the Business section of the New York Times (August 8, 2010 ), the author, Stephanie Rosenbloom, wrote about people who had successfully downsized their lives, sometimes to a level many of us would deem extreme, particularly when it came to possessions. Whether by choice or circumstances, such as lay off or divorce, they own less, work less, and seem to be living happier lives.

Talent shows are back on U.S. television and bigger than ever. One of the newest is The Voice, where vocalists compete for a recording contract and $100,000. What makes this show unique is its innovative “blind audition,” in which judges select contestants based solely on their voice. How would you measure up if your entire presentation was judged solely on your voice? Once you’re comfortable with your content and organization, it’s time to enhance your delivery using these techniques to make the most of your unique voice.

Providing appropriate initial and ongoing training for new staff members is essential, not only in terms of preparing individuals for their new position, but also in retaining them for a longer period of time. Trained staff members are more knowledgeable and possess a diverse array of skills, enabling them to provide quality services that help the organization accomplish its mission. This article provides useful tips for training new staff members. 1. Upon hire, all new staff members should participate in an employee orientation program.

The title of this article assumes you have actually created a business plan at some point. Though truth be told, many small business owners never do. And even in large organizations where strategic plans are an annual tradition, leaders often put them on the shelf once it’s done. Why do we fail to create one or get a divorce when we do? 1.You’re too busy. You once created a business plan… and it was a torturously long and draining process. Let’s start out with a recommended resource for creating a business plan: The One Page Business Plan.

“I want you to discuss your accomplishments in the meeting, but please — no more than four slides.” That was the directive given to my husband last week as he prepared for a company performance review meeting. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When did PowerPoint become our default communication mode? I fear that someday soo I’ll sit down to have a conversation and be expected to launch my slides.

Letting go of the cheese I am asked, “Can companies keep the annual review while they move to a coaching process and culture?” For those of you who have read “Who Moved my Cheese?” you can’t get your new cheese until you let go of your old cheese, so that answer is – no. This is true for many reasons. As part of my research I interviewed managers, directors and execs. Some of the questions I asked were, “What do you get from doing an annual review? Why do you do them? What value do they provide?”

Icebreakers are great. When you get people together to work on things, getting them to know each other will spur on other positive results. I make it a habit to have an icebreaker at just about every volunteer meeting I conduct, whether the group is large or small. After all, these people chose to volunteer, let’s make it fun for them. These ideas also thrive in a working environment; they help people build the relationships that can move an enterprise forward. Believe it or not, adults like to interact, and play.

I recently got an email from the president of a fast growing IT company seeking some marketing counsel on business from me. He asked if I would evaluate the sales letter they have been using to schedule information meetings with contacts they meet at various networking events. The letter I read was the typical “WWD” (what-we-do) type of letter, very lengthy, full of industry jargon and certainly comprehensive with all of his company’s service features.

Prior to developing a job description for board members, take time to determine what you expect from them. Which roles should they adopt and which tasks, projects, and activities do you want them to be responsible for? In addition, consult your by-laws as they will list board member roles and responsibilities specific to your agency. If you have never developed a board member job description, you can borrow and review descriptions from other agencies or search online for sample descriptions.

Have you ever found yourself asking: “How do I work Smarter? Not Harder??? Wishing you had 30 hours in the day to get everything on your to do list done? Wondering how you can grow your business without working 80 hours a week? Or just plain flabbergasted questioning what needs to change so you can work more efficiently and effectively?! When you get the feeling that you’re pushing rocks up hill, spinning your wheels and not reaching your goals, it’s a good time to pause and see what’s working, and more importantly, what’s NOT working to grow your business.

Everything is changing so fast! I hear this comment almost daily. And the reality of it is, -- it's true! The changes that we are experiencing today are significantly more than the changes that our forefathers had to embrace. The world is moving at an extremely fast-pace. And the illuminating thought, or should I say reality, is that today's pace of change is probably the slowest rate of change we will experience ever again.

As a woman, you may have experienced at least once or twice in your life, someone who has tried to make you feel small and unworthy, as if you didn’t belong or were an outsider, just because you were a woman. Does this sound familiar? I know it’s happened to me, and a lot of other women on more than one occasion. You would think in this day and age, we would have moved beyond petty behaviors such as this. Sadly though, if you turn on the news you see it still happening around the world in many ways, shapes and forms.

Alte ative Stress Solution #1 Breathe for Your Life “Stand up straight, suck in your belly, chest out”, these are the instructions most of us have filed away in the folder marked good posture. When we are told to take a deep breath we instinctively contract our bellies back towards our spine. These are the roots of the poor breathing habits we developed in childhood that have marched us staunchly into adulthood.

I often wonder about whether attitude is gratitude, or if gratitude is attitude. Actually, I think it is both. If your attitude is positive, more than likely you are thankful for everything that you have. And, if you are grateful for what you have, that says a great deal about your attitude. In either case, being grateful is positive, and it can have a huge influence on how you approach life and deal with daily issues.

I have recruited potential applicants for a variety of staff positions over the past 20 years. In the nonprofit field, organizations generally have limited budgets. This can result in lower salaries and a high turnover in staff members. If you want to attract qualified individuals whose primary focus is on people and human service oriented work versus a higher salary, I have found there are certain steps supervisors should take prior to beginning their recruitment efforts.

What motivates you? What gets you fired up and your juices flowing? What vision of the future excites you? Being inspired temporarily is easy for many people. However, it is keeping that motivation level up and making changes in life that is more difficult. What is it that changes between getting up in the morning excited to face the day to becoming so tired you can’t wait to go to bed? Somewhere in between the point you started off with your goals and the quitting point, you lost the very thing that was driving your energy level and motivation.

Social networks are a great tool to leverage when you need to find new clients for business but some social networks are much more effective at helping you find new clients than others, take LinkedIn for example. Unlike the odd bunch you find on Facebook usually there to have fun and interact with their friends, LinkedIn is a business-oriented social network people join in order to make business connections and find new opportunities in their fields of endeavor. LinkedIn: One of the best small business resources to discover new business opportunitiesr

One of the things I work on with my clients is Defining Success. It's more than a personal mission statement....it's success as you know it according to your personal ethics, values and integrity, taking into account competencies, talents and strengths and when you see the results it's ...

In an ideal world, people are hired and promoted because of their abilities, competence, attitudes and interpersonal skills--right? Maybe not. Despite how far we've come in the areas of recruiting, selecting and developing people in organizations, there's evidence that we still judge people based on what some would consider superficial criteria.

Alte ative Stress Solutions Seeking Silence: Antidote to Stress It is easy to become stressed. Financial demands, loss of employment, marital riffs, co-worker conflicts, demanding bosses, problems with children, and health issues can all combine to increase your stress levels. As we know, stress takes a terrible toll on our bodies with serious health consequences such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

The other night I was watching an interview of two major players at Google Ventures. Google Ventures is the in-house “radical” venture group of the organization, the people who hunt for new ideas and people with ideas, and then invests time and skills with them with the hope of finding the next big thing.

Live Forgiver Choose Lifer Breathe in Joyr Buy a little less Let go of status quor Worry and stress can go Realign, recalibrate, reassignr Dig deep for your ultimate purpose Saviour desires placed in your heartr Nourish your mind, body and soulr Take time to unplug from noiser Plug into to higher self oftenr Act on meaningful goalsr Love yourself wholer Keep life simpler Exhale painr Let gor Live!

The following tips and strategies are intended to help you grow your business more effortlessly and easily by using the tools that you already have at hand in a more expanded way. To help you spend more time working ON your business instead of being run BY your business. Giving you more time ...

As small business owners and Entrepreneurs you know the constant challenge that comes with having to wear all the hats. It’s no wonder how easy it is to get overwhelmed and overloaded.

Do you get frustrated when you lack the motivation to start a project or activity and put it off so you don't have to tackle it? Do you wonder why your friends or colleagues don't appear to be motivated when you are raring to go? This article explores the origins behind a lack of motivation; getting to the root of the problem; discovering what motivates you and others, personally and professionally; and how to incorporate those items that motivate you into your daily life. 1. It is important to first examine why you may be lacking motivation.

In modern behavioral terms, “introvert” is used to describe individuals who are most comfortable in the inner life of the mind, come across as more reserved, and are less likely to seek numerous or large interactions. They represent approximately half of the population. In the workplace their presence is less obvious and misunderstood, though their ability to actively listen at a very deep level makes them major idea contributors. There’s risk in confusing their self-containment with a lack of ambition.

Does happiness bring you financial success? Well, actually, the evidence suggests it does. There is a growing body of research now that supports the connections among happiness, effectiveness, productivity and success. Sonja Lyubamirsky, a University of Califo ia author of The How of ...

Are you going out as a Zombie for Halloween? As a busy woman, executive or business owner –you’re probably a pretty good plate spinner or whirling dervish, as you get pulled in multiple directions on any given day to fulfill your duties as boss, manager, mom, cat herder, taxi driver, friend, lover, confident, and a whole lot more. It’s exhausting isn’t it? And, if you’re not careful, if the plate spinning goes on too long,

I was sitting wondering the other day, ‘why do people still need executive coaches?’. Working in this field for over 20 years, I’m sometimes surprised that the need for coaching continues to grow. Why I wonder? What’s going on that is requiring more coaches to be in the world than in the past?

Success Leaves Clues ~ Learn From Others Before You By Jodi Nicholson

What Exactly are Goals? Setting goals is the most essential element of getting to where you want to be in life. Goals have been described as a route, system, recipe, or prescription for reaching your ultimate vision. They are the stepping stones which take you closer and closer to where you want to be in life. People who get ahead, accomplish more things, and create more experiences in their life are people who set out goals for themselves.

People who have more luck than others aren’t afraid to ask others for help. While some might think that this is a sign of weakness, it really isn’t. It is a signal of success. Asking people for help in terms of a referral to someone or opening the door for a possible meeting with someone is totally acceptable behavior. Asking others for constructive criticism is another form of requesting help. The same goes for asking for assistance in an area where you are not an expert. People who are successful do this, not regularly, but at the appropriate times.

So many Christian people learn that a career in business means starting in sales – a job that often carries a reputation for manipulation and dirty dealing. Is it possible for a principled, religious person to take a sales job and feel good about it? Is there a moral approach to selling? The answer to that question is “Yes.” A Clean Heart, an attitude of service, and the Golden Rule are key. Yet, even with a high-integrity approach to selling, there’s another problem.

And the Oscar for best coach in a supporting role goes to…… Well, that will never happen. First of all because we are not in the motion picture industry and second of all because generally coaches don’t want to be in the spotlights. Great coaches usually don’t have big ego’s. They shine by enabling others to shine more brightly. By definition coaching is all about the coachee and never about the coach. The ego of a coach and the coachee should never occupy the same room.

Remember the days of marketing your business before social media came onto the scene? I bet you’re thinking it was way less complicated to market a business back then. Well don’t confuse ‘less complicated’ with ‘easier’ because social media makes it easier than ever before to get people talking about your business!

In the nonprofit field, reference is often made to an organization’s core values, mission statement, and vision statement. I have found that there is some confusion regarding the difference between a mission and vision statement, and that some organizations have never identified their core values. This article will help you to understand these three items, and how important they are to your organization's overall operation, funding, and future. The first item to consider is the organization's vision statement. A nonprofit organization is formed for a specific purpose.

All nonprofit organizations market their services and programs in some manner. This can range from e-mailing an electronic newsletter to posting an ad on a highway bulletin board. Whatever marketing strategies nonprofits choose to employ, they must always be conscious of their marketing budget. This article provides 11 possible marketing strategies nonprofits can employ, depending on their budget.

Sometimes, it's feast or famine with business. So to help you stay on top of your game it's important to have your short term goals defined to keep you focused and on track. The more you can focus on the actions you need to take, the more likely you will reach your vision and your goals. Energy is key – you must gain and maintain momentum. Your actions must be immediate and aligned with your core values and passions. Use your ideal day activity to identify a 1-year vision.

Authenticity. You've seen it preached here countless times as a vital component to a home-run presentation. But what if the material you're delivering isn't your own? A colleague recently auditioned to become a certified trainer for a well-known sales guru, delivering customized versions of his popular seminars under a licensing arrangement.

The recession has had a serious psychological impact on many businesses, due to the stress associated with layoffs. We know from various research studies that negative emotions such as fear, anxiety and sadness, which often accompany workplace stress, have a detrimental effect on workers' emotional and mental state, and performance. Executives' and managers' judgments and decisions, particularly regarding relationship issues, can become skewed or unstable under stressful conditions, particularly if the company's focus is a "numbers" emphasis on sales targets. History has shown that b

When you experience life through the tainted glass of negative self beliefs, you create obstacles for yourself on a regular basis. In general, you don’t even realize that you are doing it. Instead, you focus on the difficult time that you are having in reaching your goal or creating the change you want in your life. You tend to see exte al factors as the cause for things being so difficult for you. Yet, not once do you stop to wonder if the difficulty in reaching your goal is self-inflicted.

"Remember the guy who gave up? Neither does anybody else." ~ Anonymous It’s totally human to think that everybody out there is having an easier time of it than we are, that somehow we aren’t measuring up. You might be surprised to learn that they feel the same way you do. It takes having some years of experience to discover this and give yourself a little slack.

I’m sure, you like me have in your daily life management planner a to-do list. Do you not? Well, do you have a to-be list? You know, a list of who you want to be. The type of person you really want to be. The highest version of your self? The unlimited you! Whether it is to be more philanthropic. Patient. Knowledgeable in a certain area. Gain mastery of your thoughts. Friendly. Humorous. Attractive. Resourceful. Loving.r

Christmas is the time of year when we get into a celebratory mood. We bring out our best garments, our best recipes, our sincerest form of love. It's a time when we can say "I love you" through many different channels. Please think about your loved ones during this lovely season as you read this message: If I knew this would be our very last day together, I'd kiss you goodnight and ask God to bless you forever and ever.

Why use Coaching techniques?r

It can be argued that no organization in the National Football League has had more success than the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the “modern era” of professional football, your organization’s accomplishments are measured with one metric – winning the Super Bowl. Nobody’s done that more than the black and gold.

I once was asked to teach a class called "Getting Paid What You're Worth." A lot of people signed up to take the class. They all felt that they were not making the kind of money they deserved to make; most told me they had NEVER done so! They were all women, all bright, articulate, feeling people. And not one of them felt she was earning what she was worth.

By the time you were probably in your third grade, you were asked the questio "What do you want to be when you grow up?" In our society, job titles have come to define who a person is. By defining yourself by what you do rather than by who are you can put yourself in emotional jeopardy. By ...

Living a Healthier Lifer By Dr. Amicitia Maloon-Gibsonr Author-Speaker- Executive Coach

"We teach people how to treat us. " ~ Dr. Phil McGraw, Life Law #8 I believe you and I teach people how to treat us. We do this constantly by the silent signals we send out, and we seldom become aware of it until our discomfort forcefully bring it to our attention. Let's investigate how to get ahead of this aspect of the game and create more comfort for ourselves. Relationships between people is a great place to begin. Choose one relationship in your life with the most discomfort. It might be with your mate. It might be with someone at work. It might be a parent.

My mother once said that “The older you get, the faster time will fly.”How true that is! Perhaps this is why people try to cram as much into their day as possible. However, when you become too busy and forget to set aside adequate time for yourself, it will take its toll on you physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Signs that you should slow down can include, but are not limited to, frustration, anger, a short temper, exhaustion, depression, skin rashes, and illnesses. This article provides five tips on how to create a healthier balance in your life. 1.

Research shows that even with the best products and business practices, you still need strong relationships to succeed in this marketplace. The following is a roadmap to turn personality differences into positive business results. Respect is at the heart of building business relationships. It is the glue that holds together the functioning of teams, partnerships and managing relationships. (Up and down, peer-to-peer, internally and exte ally). Respecting the right to differ is a concept like apple pie and motherhood.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Reinhold Niebuhr. He said “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I think that most people have seen or heard this quote at some point in their lives. It is extremely powerful and life changing once you understand, embrace, and implement it. The purpose of this article is to offer advice on how to implement this philosophy in your life. There are things in life that you can't change no matter how much you might want to or how hard you try.

All attendees of "Project Management . . . by the Numbers" know that every project is a project within another project(!). In other words, every project we manage is a part of another bigger project. So, what is the difference between a business process and a project management process? Let's begin the answer with an example . . . The CEO of the organization believes the project is to bring a new product to market. Let us call the product the Wireless Internet Waffle Iron (WiWi). The CEO knows he/she has a process to get the WiWi though his company.

One of things I love about being a coach is the variety of people and situations that come to my office or call on the phone. In no particular order here are some of the presenting challenges brought to coaching sessions. You will note—I fired no one.

We started our Project Management Lifecycle with Phase One - Concept and Feasibility where we did our homework and we secured agreement with our Project Customer. Next came Phase Two - Organization/Schedule where we created our Work Breakdown Structure and Critical Path Analysis to get all of our stakeholders to buy-in to the upcoming executable tasks.

Business authority is crucial as companies rely on capable leadership to information them through unmatched changes. Hence, companies are spending more focus to authority growth and attaining out for Professional Teaching and Smooth Abilities Training for the top authority. However, there is adequate proof in the information and in latest authority articles that even some of the best and most revered companies are unable to evolve to modify, apply their ideal programs efficie

So many times, people don’t realize how easily they can sabotage their careers, unknowingly, they will do or not do things that hold them back. Here are five cautionary behaviors:

Are you frustrated with the results you’ve been seeing from traditional live networking events? Well, did you know if you run a strong online campaign that will help you convert more prospects who you meet offline? That way, the people you do meet face to face at live networking events have many ways to stay connected with you and to learn more about your area of expertise. Here are 5 key ways to help you double your networking results: 1.) Make sure you’re networking with your target market or referral partners

Some say “Life’s a journey, enjoy the ride”. Others say “The end justifies the means”.rn rnIn the one, the journey is the focus; in the other, it is incidental to the end result.rn rnThose who are high-performance, results oriented, driven people would more likely see the journey or process of getting to their results as a means to an end, a necessary evil, something to tick off the list of requirements to be successful.rn rnThe world needs high performance, Type-A

It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it does. When a potential coaching client contacts me, I often ask two questions, "How did you find me?" and "What made you interested?" Ninety percent of the time, the answer to the first question is "I Googled 'career coach.'" No surprise, I work hard to make it easy for people to find my business and me. It's the second answer that's shocking, "Well you were the only person who called back." What?

For most small business owners and Entrepreneurs sustaining business growth in today’s economy can feel like you’re treading water — which is unnecessarily exhausting when you’re doing those 52 weeks a year. A well thought out marketing plan to attract new customers is important factor to generate business growth. But, all too often Entrepreneurs and small business owners overlook two other strategic initiatives that can also impact your business growth in a powerful way. That would be increasing customer loyalty and motivating employee productivity.

The greatest myth for a leader is to think, “I have arrived”. Organizational landscapes are always changing, bringing along with them new problems and new possibilities. Therefore leaders can’t afford to stop growing in their ability to manage change. Change management is one of the key competencies for leadership success for it navigates people through the maze of changes that arise in any organization’s journey. Sometimes these changes occur intentionally through strategic initiatives and other times they occur as a by-product from the constant shifts that occur in our world.

Too often, especially for entrepreneurs, our lives become complicated and exhausting. There never seems to be enough time in the day for all of the responsibilities on our plates, much less extra for the activities which may improve us or our businesses. We get so caught up in the day-to-day operations of our company we forget the primary duty of a great business leader which is to make decisions and plans to maximize the future’s outlook. Luckily, long-term success is often

Has someone IM’d you recently? I don’t mean someone down the street or in another region, I’m talking about the person sitting next to you. Is every “conversation” you have with your boss on e-mail? Gotten a text condolence note lately? (I did, no kidding, can’t say it was very consoling.) Have one-word answers been elevated from grunting to an acceptable reply? My favorite is the “yup” response to a 20-word question sent from an associate to a higher-ranking executive.

There' s no question that Twitter has become the next big thing in internet social networking. Yet to this day, less than 10% of North American internet users actually "Twitter." But unique visitors the Twitter website has grown over 1300 % in one year. So what exactly is Twitter? Twitter is ...

The start of the New Year is often the perfect time to turn a new page in your life, which is why so many people make New Year's resolutions. Researchers have looked at success rates of peoples' resolutions: the first two weeks usually go along beautifully, but by February, people are backsliding and by the following December, most people are back where they started, often even further behind.

In the 2007 World Health Statistics Report, the World Health Organization identified depression as one of the most significant global public health problems. World wide events such as recession, the effects of climate change, and terrorism events and alerts have increased the general level of anxiety throughout the world. Employers and managers face, on a daily basis, bad news and its psychological impact on employees. How can we prepare people for psychologically stressful events and resilient recovery? Are some people just naturally more resilient and optimistic?

Feel like you’re on a treadmill that will never stop? Too much to do? Too much to get done? Just as with how the overlap between our work and our home lives has become blurred, and technology has connected us to people and tasks around the clock, we could all be working 24/7 and still feel overwhelmed. How can we get it all done? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans are frustrated with their growing to do lists, their constant connectivity, in their seeming inability to get anything accomplished. On top of that, a lot of us try to do everything for everyone else. We care.

No one is perfect, and as long as people work, there will be behavioral errors, and situations that need correcting. There is a lot of room for improvement in the way bosses, coworkers, and friends handle these situations. One of the most popular responses to correcting behavior is to ignore it and hope that it goes away. This doesn't work very often. In my experience, the times that I use that approach, the unaddressed behavior came back twice as severe, and caused more trouble.

You’ve heard people say again and again, “I learned more from my mistakes than my successes.” My reply is “I doubt it.” They’ll spend hours, days, and endless energy trying to correct (or worse defend) a mistake by analyzing and dissecting in post mortem, generally producing a patched up version of the mess they had. If you didn’t like model 101 what are the chances 201 will meet your needs any better? We see it in relationships all the time; people unsuccessfully date or hire the same type, over and over, hoping for something different and better. How often does that work out?

“Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.” ~ Kahlil Gibran I believe that each of us is called to enjoy life fully. I believe that health, wealth, success, happiness and joy are our natural, born-with inheritance.

Many people are asking themselves this question. Whether it is because the industry you know has lost its purpose (CD anyone?), your lifestyle demands your increased presence (twins!), or you are unmotivated, disenchanted, burned-out, under-stimulated, or just can’t face looking at that guy in one more meeting, the thought of making a radical change probably has occurred to you.

Lessons from the Drive Thru Window. The Power of Asking Eli Davidson, M.A. I have an admission to make. I just polished off every molecule of a McDonalds Big N Tasty Meal. (That’s a #6 for you Mickey D’s wanna be’s.) Ahh, I loved each bite of burger and salty, soggy fry. Every mouthful ...

Many small to medium sized companies have become so successful that they have bee "corporatized," a term coined that describes the feeling of professionals working in those companies that makes them feel like "cogs in a wheel." In an article the Harvard Business Review, authors Thomas J. Delong, John J. Gabarro and Robert J. Lees argue that the remedy for the corporatized phenomena is for those companies to institute a program of mentoring.

"I am successful," "I am a wonderful person," "I will find love again," and many other similar phrases that students, the broken-hearted and unfulfilled employees may repeat to themselves over and over again, hoping to change their lives. Self-help books through the ages, from Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking all the way to the latest, The Secret, have encouraged people with low self-esteem to make positive self-statements or affirmations. New research suggests it may do more harm than good to many people. Canadian researcher, Dr.

Research on how the human brain can affect behaviors--called neuroscience, or the popular term, brain science--has yet to be fully appreciated by leaders of organizations. That knowledge could have a significant impact on how leaders are trained and what they do. In the past few decades, scientists have gained new and more accurate scientific views of human behavior, studying the human brain.

In coaching leaders to greater professional success, I often steer discussions to the idea of “Living a Purposeful Life.” As I think about my own approach to that issue, I’m drawn to thinking about my own daughter, Lindsay, and what she might tell me she sees as being my purpose in life. I think she’d say – because she’s been told it often enough – that being her mom was my #1 job in life. That I felt strongly that, once I’d given birth to her, I was going to give mothering all I had – that there would be no priority higher than her upbringing, during the years that that was occurring.

Why doesn’t everyone just get along???? We hear this all the time. Whether it is differing values or conflicts or misunderstandings, some people have a harder time than others just getting along. And even worse, when they aren’t getting along, they’re the ones who expect the other person to change, so that they DO get along! Now, I don’t know about you, but over the years, I have had absolutely no success in getting others to change.

Tough times happen. Even the most talented, successful people have down times, ballplayers have slumps, people who are fundamentally optimistic get discouraged, kids (and adults) have bad, blue days. What's the remedy? Or, what's the coping mechanism that will help us to survive the bad times until the good times roll again? I think it's discipline. I'm always amazed when I suggest to coaching clients that we have a choice about how we react to whatever happens, good and bad.

"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway." ~ Mary C. Crowley Constant worry is a trait that many of us have - but it doesn't have to be that way. When each of us was born, we were given the most magnificent gift and the ability and freedom to use it in any manner that we prefer. This most precious present was given to us gratis and one of the things we are doing silently and invisibly while we learn to walk, talk, read, etc. is to use this fabulous, free gift.

When you have a board of directors, it is always a good idea to have a Board Member Manual. A Manual is a great tool for board members to use when they need quick and easy access to critical information about the organization. It compiles important documents into one binder, so they don't waste time and energy looking for what they need in several files or locations. Most board member manuals include some or all of the following sections:

For what is the state of either prayer or meditation? It is the restraining of the mind to a single act, state, or thought. If we sit down quietly and investigate the contents of our minds, we shall find that even at the best of times the principal characteristics are wandering and distraction. Any one who has had anything to do with children and untrained minds generally knows that fixity of attention is never present, even when there is a large amount of intelligence and good will. ~ Alistair Crowleyr

I recently had the opportunity to spend several hours working with professional horse trainer Dee Janelle and it reminded me of the powerful lessons in leadership and communication horses offer us if we take the time to listen and truly connect. Working with horses is a lifelong journey of self-discovery as we strive to understand the equine mind. It is no wonder that many of the greatest leaders throughout history were as gifted in their connection with horses as they were with people. Alexander the Great, George Washington, Joan of Arc, Robert E.

Our world is so fast paced, and fast food driven, that the main reason for food - enjoyment and nutrition - has fallen to the wayside. I think it's a great idea to return to a slower time, prepare more meals at home, eat with family and friends and make better choices about eating. 1. Begin by being open, curious and kind with yourself and your choices. 2. Recognize that breaking free from the pain of overweight is mainly a desire to find a rhythm, an order, and a natural push for light in your life. 3. Why Do You Overeat? Do you eat to fill emotional voids?

There are 85 million baby boomers and 50 millio Generation X'ers in the U.S. For baby boomers, it's the juggling act between job and family. For Generation X (1965-1980), it means moving in and out of the workforce to accommodate kids and outside interests. Now there's 76 million members of ...

Our perceptions sometimes get us in trouble. We might believe someone is thinking something about a situation, only to realize we were completely off base. Communication is the key to determining what someone is thinking, but absolute communication is not always possible. As business owners, it is our job to remove our perceptions about what our target market needs and determine what it is they really want. This is the secret to attracting new clients in crowds. 2-Way Communication is Key to Business Growth

In times of crisis, people's behaviors and perspectives--both in their personal and work lives--change irrevocably. Those that adapt to the changes have the best chance for success. As a result of the current economic crisis, our economic system will fundamentally change and will not return to the "way it was." Our organizations will need leaders who understand that and provide the kind of leadership necessary for the new era. The August issue of the Harvard Business Review provides an insightful look at managing in the new world.

Trembling hands. Dry mouth. Weak legs. Your mind is racing and so is your heart. Sound familiar? Welcome to the very popular “glossophobia” club, more commonly known as stage fright. If you suffer from speaker’s anxiety, you’re in excellent company. Fear of speaking in public still ranks as one of the top — if not the number one fear — in the western world.

Do you want to generate more profits in 2012? (Yes, who doesn’t?) As small business owners and Entrepreneurs you are acutely aware of keeping your eye on the bottom line. If you want to raise that number of what’s left over at the end of the year there’s 3 ways you can go about it. 1. Generate more clients 2. Raise your fees for your products and services and/or 3. Streamline your business to be leaner, tighter and cheaper. In this article I want to focus on #3 to give you some great ideas to help you achieve a leaner business.

You’ve probably seen the “corporate values” posted on the wall somewhere of the headquarters of an organization, or on their website perhaps. You might actually read them and think to yourself, those are nice. It might even give you a bit of a warm-n-fuzzy feel about the work that company is doing in the world. That’s great for the customers. But what does that actually mean to the employees? How do those values actually translate into what they are doing on any given day, and why should they care??

No matter how much individuals like their jobs, they’re entitled to be paid. Years ago the company my father was an executive with was purchased in a hostile takeover. The new owners were unable to deliver the paychecks on payday. Their response was, “They’ll just have to wait ‘til Monday.” “My people can’t wait until Monday, they have kids to feed!” was my father’s angry response. He then took matters into his own hands. A town meeting of the 50 staff members was called.

"One's real life is often the life that one does not lead." ~ Oscar Wilde Each of us is alive; therefore, each of us is Life Itself and it needs each of us. We are here to discover what we are supposed to express while we are here; which life lessons we are supposed to learn; what our purpose is; what feelings we are supposed to share with our fellow Lifers. Most important of all, we are here to discover what our own passion is. Discovering Your Purpose Within your core, is the purpose you have been most drawn to from the beginning.

We began our "Project Management . . . by the Numbers" Project Management Lifecycle with Phase One - Concept and Feasibility where we secured agreement with our Project Customer on the definition of the project's objectives and a high level time and cost against those objectives. Then we finished our detailed planning of the project with Phase Two - Organization/Schedule where we created our Work Breakdown Structure and Critical Path Analysis to get all stakeholder buy-in to the executable tasks.

Atul Gawande is an accomplished scholar (Mac Arthur Fellow), a staff writer for The New Yorker, and a Harvard professor, in addition to being a well-respected surgeon. He is also an astute observer with a curious mind. In the world of surgery, infection kills more people than the operations. Gawande thought there must be a way to increase survival rates. He stumbled on the effectiveness of the checklist, not a to-do list, but a step-by step form that is brief and effective even under the most critical situations.

Feeling trapped can leave us vulnerable to more and more dissatisfaction. I believe our lives should be lives of fulfillment and satisfaction, so let’s see what we can do to help you move away from feeling trapped? What makes you feel trapped? • Parental pressure? • A toxic past? • An old, fixed mindset? • Your relationship? • In a job you despise? • In a sick body?

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." ~ Zig Ziglar For the CEO, it is always a challenge to motivate his employees and also keep them motivated. Motivated employees are at the forefront to take up new challenges, adapt new ideas and deliver results. A self-motivated employee also contributes by sharing his own innovative ideas and encourages his colleagues to do the same. This article showcases some effective strategies for a CEO to motivate his employees. 1. One-on-one Approach

A client recently asked, “How do I control my urge to give more information than my audience needs?” Great (and very mindful) question! Consider this answer from authors Dan and Chip Heath in Made to Stick. They say that in an effort to be complete, we often feel obligated to share every single thing we know rather than considering just what our listeners need to get the point (called “The Curse of Knowledge” by the authors). When “cursed,” we keep going and going; as a result, little sticks with our now-overwhelmed audience. Sound familiar?

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal. ~ Martin Luther King Can you think back to this week a year ago today when I presented the idea to you for forming a nucleus that will foster peace in the Middle East and grant ours and our following generations the experience that I knew Life intended - Lasting Peace?

In the nonprofit field, salaries are generally low and working with clients who have multiple needs can be challenging. Although this can make employee retention difficult, there are steps you can take to provide a work environment that is supportive and fun, one that individuals look forward to coming to every day, and one in which they want to remain.

There are three mistakes that an organization should avoid in relation to the strategic planning process. This article describes what these three mistakes are and what you should do in order to ensure you will avoid them. The first mistake to avoid in relation to strategic planning is not preparing for the actual strategic planning session. If an organization doesn't adequately prepare for the planning event, it will most likely hinder its ability to develop a meaningful strategic plan.

How well do you build reserves? And we’re not just talking about money, although the concept is the same. Do you have reserves of time, resources and energy? Are you running your life, or is your life running you?

I think there’s a trend … a trend toward avoiding confrontation. All the time. At all costs. No matter what’s at stake. And it’s starting to conce me! It’s not that confrontation is a good thing – too much of it, and life gets very tense. But it’s important that, when the situation warrants it, we be able to confront the person who’s about to make a major mistake, or the person who’s not aware of the impact of what he or she did, or the person who’s pushed you too hard too many times.

There aren’t many people who could say their opponents shed a tear at their funeral; however, that is reportedly what happened at the services for the late Edward Kennedy. As with most current events, I found myself curious for the lesson(s) behind the story. While researching Kennedy’s workplace skills, I chose to read the words of politicians, journalists, and commentators who were clearly not in agreement with most of his views. What did they have to say?

At the end of June 2003, I chose to leave a very secure job in banking to start over as an executive coach. Although I’d been in business for myself prior to joining the bank, it had been almost five years. During my time there, I had the privilege of working with a great team that cared deeply for their clients and believed in the direction we were heading. But it wasn’t enough for me, and I knew it was time to become a full-time executive coach.

D “Dance with Fear. Dance with done. Dance with resistance. Dance with each other. Dance with Art.” I love to Dance! Even when I don’t get it “right”. There is such freedom in dancing to your own funky beat!! Finding the freedom around your fears can be a little more challenging though. Especially when they’re doing their best to keep you small, and are holding you back from achieving your full capacity as a leader. Dancing with your fears though is just that, a dance.

You spent hours polishing your presentation, making sure it was clear, well organized and easy to follow. It even included an inspiring call to action. After delivering it, you thought it was a home run — only your audience didn’t hear much of what you said. In fact, it was as if your audience wasn’t even in the same room. How could that be? What distracted them? The question isn't so much “what” as it is “who” distracted them. And the answer just might be “you.”

Over past decades the issue of diversity has taken a very visible place in the growth and structuring of the workplace population. Whether it was caused by mandates or natural shifts in population, the job sites look quite different. The challenge, as I see it, is not only to continue to push for more diversity in the two major categories — gender and race/ethnicity — but also in less obvious areas such as education, energy, and temperament. It is these less noticeable areas where, I believe, the most opportunity and riches exists.

"As a presenter, how do you make sure you’re ready for the 'big leagues' and poised to make a positive impact in a high-stakes environment?"> This question came from Carolyn, a long-time client, as we were reviewing 100+ speakers at an annual trade show — a marquee event for this leading industry association.

This is the 2nd post in my series to give you the Keys to Unlocking Your Power and Presence as a Woman Leader. What’s needed to create better work-life balance and well-being so you can shine more brightly? Here is step one that you need to know in order to expand your power and presence as a leader:

Have you thrown anyone away recently? Someone who works for you, someone in your family, a friend…someone you’re dating or even married to? Did you need to read this to realise you might have? Relationships can be defined as “a state of connectedness between people”. One ...

Last week, while I was considering subjects for this article, I found myself thinking about a tip my daughter-in-law, Mary, gave me. Since she was trained by the military as a truck mechanic, I take her automotive advice seriously. Then, I had to laugh. I think this is the third Competitive Edge Report I’ve written where I talked about cars. It’s a bit bizarre, since I drive only about 1,000 miles a year and have had the same vehicle for more than a decade. Hmmm.

When people refer to the “good old days”, when life seemed to be slower and less complicated, it is difficult to disagree with them. Today, life is hectic and fast-paced. People work too many hours; are chauffeurs for their children, who are involved in multiple activities; have a hard time leaving their computers, cell phones, and blackberry’s behind; and never seem to have time for themselves. Add to this the state of the economy, the plunge of the housing market, the volatility of the stock market, and other exte al circumstances.

What does it feel like when you really trust someone? There is a sense of calm. Of peace. A Knowing if you will. It’s the feeling you get when you know that someone has your back. Trust is something that is earned. Earned day after day through your consistent behaviors, words, actions and deeds. It gets at the heart of our need as human beings to feel SAFE. Conversely, when lack of trust is present, how does that feel? There is always a question mark in the back of your mind. An uneasy feeling, A lack of safety,

Since the Great Depression, a commonly held perspective on the good life is that we can all look forward to retirement, when we didn't have to work any more. We would be more relaxed and healthier away from the stresses of work. There's a couple of flaws in that argument. For one thing, retirement, like pensions was an invention of the depression, intended to deal with the problem of unemployment. Prior to the depression, and in past ages, the concept of retirement didn't exist. AARP in the U.S.

In leadership, confidence is a must. Being able to lead others requires self-belief and courage. But did you know that a whopping 85 percent of people have low-esteem? This issue affects their personal and professional lives, including their careers, their health, their effectiveness in the job and their salaries. In other words, self-doubt and low self-esteem can keep you from reaching your peak potential, which leaders need to be at every day – showing up and leading strong.

Do you ever wonder why decisions you make foster reactions that you never dreamed of? In a Hay Group research brief entitled "Executive Blind Spots," the results of a large survey concluded that the higher executives rose within an organization; • The more they over-rated themselves compared to how they were rated by others, and; • The wider the gap between how they saw themselves and how their peers, subordinates, and managers viewed them.

Goal Setting 201 So, you’re an achiever in life, right? You think you have pretty good goals. You’re a business owner, corporate executive, entrepreneur or someone who wants to achieve more in life. You’ve been to seminars about setting and achieving your goals and you think you’ve pretty much got it down. Well, I would submit to you that you have heard only the first session of goal setting.

No one has the perfect business strategy for starting a business without encountering a certain number of challenges and outright failures. If you’re new to being an entrepreneur (or have even been one for years) know that there are always going to be challenges that arise, mistakes that you’ll make and areas in which you will even FAIL. YUP, I said it. You might fail. And, if you do, then what? What can you do to handle and rise above you business mistakes and failures? Here are 7 helpful tips to keep you moving forward in your business, even when you feel stuck in a box.

This is the 3rd post in my series to give you the Keys to Unlocking Your Power and Presence as a Woman Leader. What’s needed to create better work-life balance and well-being so you can shine more brightly? Here is the second step you need to know in order to expand your power and presence as a leader: Step 2: Embrace Your Fears to Discover Your Passions.

Own Yourself How is life treating you? Are you creating all that you want to create? Are you fulfilling the dreams you have in your heart? Are you blessing those you want to bless? If you are not able to answer these questions the way you would like to answer them, I have some suggestions for you. Are you Owning Who You Are? After you take inventory of all the skills, talents, abilities, education, life experience and everything you have, are you truly standing up for yourself and owning who you are?

Companies, big, medium, small or startups, have one thing in common – try as hard as they might, they can be, at any point of time, get hit by a crisis. The crisis or problem can strike at any time, in any form – be it product-related, financial, human resource, public relations, legal, market driven or internal.

As a business coach, I am often mistaken for a business "consultant". I am quick to make the distinction of the stark contrasts between the two professions. Before I dive into the differences between the professions, it is important to note that they do have at least one thing in common: both business consultants and business coaches are agents of change. They have been hired to help move an individual, group or company from where they currently are to where they want to be.

6 Powerful Leadership Principles to Bring Out the Best in Your People As a business growth coach I am often asked the question, “What’s your advice on achieving fast business growth?” My one line response, “Never try to do it alone.” Whether you are the CEO or a key manager, the quickest road to fast business growth is through having a team of committed people. Strong development is what will allow you to laser focus on your core areas of competencies and not fall into the trap of wearing too many hats, which will only slow you down.

Conversations with a number of coaching clients have focused on the need to network and develop a networking strategy. While job seekers may not want to “get out there in a big way,” they generally appreciate the role that reconnecting and meeting new people plays in identifying positions and landing the job they want and deserve. When I stress a minimum of 50% (or somewhere around twenty hours) of their job search time needs to be spent networking, clients fall off their chairs but reluctantly do it. The ones who master the skills tend to reap the greatest benefits.

Our world is so fast paced, and fast food driven, that the main reason for food - enjoyment and nutrition - has fallen to the wayside. I think it's a great idea to return to a slower time, prepare more meals at home, eat with family and friends and make better choices about eating. 1. Begin by being open, curious and kind with yourself and your choices. 2. Recognize that breaking free from the pain of overweight is mainly a desire to find a rhythm, an order, and a natural push for light in your life. 3. Why Do You Overeat? Do you eat to fill emotional voids?

The job market in many parts of the United States and the world is shifting for the better. I have a number of clients and colleagues who are voluntarily choosing to make a move, often for more money and a better title. It should put all of us who work with and for others on constant alert. It always amazes me when people say they had “no idea” when a valued employee informs them they are leaving the organization. Here are some tried and true indicators. In the next issue I will discuss some potential rescue remedies.

A new global survey reports that men are happier with wealth, while women find greater happiness in friendships and family, co-workers and their bosses. Yet the survey may not have asked the right questions. The online survey of more than 28,000 people in more than 51 countries by global marketing firm Nielsen, found that women are happier than men in 48 of the 51 countries surveyed in April 2008, and only in Brazil, South Africa and Vietnam were men found to be happier than women.

"Two men looked out of prison bars. One saw mud, the other stars." ~ F. Langbridge All human beings get to define "what success means for me." Our ideas about success unfold over the years. Once we've mastered using eating utensils, how to walk, the subjects taught in schools, relationships, we narrow down the field of desired successes, focusing on fewer ideas. It's the laser focusing that creates the most success.

The concept of positive psychology is growing in the fields of psychology, management studies and organizational behavior. The focus of this trend is the movement away from the focus of psychology on "fixing" or "repairing" problems to building positive qualities and behaviors.

No matter what type of workplace you choose to operate in, you undoubtedly have to manage people. They might be direct reports, clients or customers, interns, freelancers, vendors, colleagues, and of course the often most challenging of all, your boss or business partner. Here are a few tips on how to manage behavior and time while reducing everyone’s stress and avoiding conflict: Article:

In today’s high tech and global economy, mastering your craft isn’t enough to guarantee success. Top female corporate leaders are very good at what they do. But, there is something more that they do to stand out. The intangibles make them shine. It’s their power and presence that radiates from within that gets your attention and compels you to lean in.

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." ~ Thomas Merton Everyone with any degree of sensibleness wants his life to be balanced. The tips for how to achieve this or for the Key Ingredients that make it demonstrable vary from opinion to opinion. I'm going to lay out some ideas for you to see if your life may be in balance. Life is like a mental sandwich: part work part play part serious thinking and part restful enjoyment. Another way to look at it is: All that you do is enjoyabler

Changing a career can be a daunting prospect, especially if you have never done it before. The following steps will probably apply to those of you who are considering more dramatic change – but as a philosophy, these steps can be applied by anyone.

It was a series of challenging events (to say the least) and an unexpected “course correction” in my role as creative director back at the height of the dot com days in Silicon Valley, that left me bewildered, dazed and befuddled as to what was my next career step needed to be. Stressed out to the max, I thought “I can’t do this anymore but what do I do instead?”

ASK COACH DAVE How Not to Achieve Your Goals in 2011 By Dave Ferguson, 12/19/2010 Over the past few months, we’ve talked about how were going to tackle our goals and dreams drastically different in 2011. Now, lets talk about why some people fail to achieve their goals (so it doesn’t happen to you). I have found these 7 common reasons people fail to achieve their goals:

Does Employee Engagement Really Drive Productivity? The subject of employee engagement as a measure of productivity and management strategies to increase engagement have been hot topics since the original Gallup organization research was published.

I have interviewed potential applicants for a variety of staff positions over the past 20 years. In the nonprofit field, I have found there are certain steps supervisors should take when interviewing potential candidates. My top seven items to consider during the interview process, to ensure you identify the most interested and qualified applicants, are as follows: 1. Once the closing date for accepting applications and/or cover letters and resumes has passed, decide who will review all application related materials.

I am fortunate to work as an executive coach with people at many levels, in different stages of their careers, and in a variety of industries. Even though there is significant variety and diversity in my client base, I am often struck how similar their thought processes and experiences are. This is particularly true when it comes to discontent. You’d think everyone would be complaining about wages, or lack of vacation time, the long hours, or the tight spaces in which they work — no.

As a leader of your organization or your team – you set the course, the tone and the motivation levels of the people you’re leading. In order to do this, it requires that you have a level of clarity within yourself. Research shows us that Emotional Intelligence is key predictor of success. Unfortunately, it also shows that the higher leaders rise in the ranks, the lower the EQ they seem to have! Don’t become a statistic. Here are 3 common mistakes made by leaders that you can easily avoid by increasing your Emotional Intelligence.

When was the last time you openly disagreed with someone above you in your company? When was the last time someone openly disagreed with you? Why has it become standard practice for many to act as drones and nod their heads in unison, even at the most senior levels? What has happened to healthy disagreements?

Financial resources play a huge part in how well nonprofits can market their programs and services. Most nonprofits don't have sufficient funds to do everything they would like to, but it is important to use what funds are available to the fullest extent. Thus, nonprofits should attempt to use as many free services and programs as possible. This article provides some ideas that are free or may have a minimal fee attached.

Last month we began discussing the tasks associated with "Project Management . . . by the Numbers" Phase One - Concept and Feasibility: • Project Customer Definition • Functional Team Review • Kick-off Meeting • Communication Plan • Objective Definition This month we will begin where we left off and complete the Phase One tasks with: • Project Definition Document • Project Management Plan • Project Team Time and Cost Estimates +/- 50% • Agreement to Proceed with Project Customer Project Definition Document and/or Project Management Plan

“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.” ~ Mike Murdock

Sales Coaching for Entrepreneurs Coaching sales staff members on consultative selling methods. To establish a strong administrative system based on a “coaching culture” can help build a more successful practice. Coaching staff members on consultative selling methods, then establishing a strong administrative system based on a “coaching culture” can help build a more successful practice. Coaching—from sports to business management—is recognized as one of a managerâ

We hear everywhere that there is only one constant: change. If that is true, why do so many people find it so very difficult? One would think that if it is so common we would all be change agent experts… chameleons if you will; but such is not the case. The majority of humans tend toward ...

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama Compassion is a strong feeling of recognition between ourselves and others. It's saying "Brother, I can feel what you are feeling." To practice compassion is to recognize that we are all in this grand human adventure together, and if you hurt, I hurt. If you celebrate, I celebrate.

Q: I have a team of 11 sales reps who have all been working for me for the past 5-10 yrs. I know I should be holding regular meetings with them, but I’m stuck on what to talk about each week. – Bob Kelly Austin, Texas

“There's nothing like rejection to make you do an inventory of yourself.” ~ James Lee Burke Even if you have created a life that is fully self-sustained and supported through the highest of all ideals, it’s wise to stop occasionally and observe objectively just what’s going on. Our life doesn’t come with any guarantees, but if you want to maximize your accomplishments while you’re still here, I’m presenting you with some ideas to freshen your perspective and possibly tighten up your game. Small tweaks and small steps forward are encouraged.

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.” ~Og Mandino When you walk sedately into your twilight years, you don’t want to carry along any sense of regret. I recommend going there now and asking yourself what you’d love to cherish when you arrive there years from now. And then come back to today with a determination to make sure you accomplish all you want, so that your twilight years or your retirement years are filled with satisfaction and contentment. Here are some ideas to contemplate so that no regret slips into your future.

You must have heard of the phrase, 'It is lonely at the top'. Well, this phrase holds so true for CEOs and other top ranking people of an organization. When you own a business it is highly unlikely that you will share your fears or challenges in front of your employees. And even if you do so, it is unlikely that your employees will provide you with genuine suggestions. This leads to frustration where you desperately search for guidance over your business strategies and decision making process.

The tone and stiff upper lip image the phrase “Keep Calm and Carry On” portrays tells a lot about its origins. It’s 1939 and Hitler’s forces are bombing England day and night. The government prints motivational posters telling the people “Keep Calm and Carry On.” And they did.

Business management Colleges are on the rise with most big companies and industrial giants searching for candidates who have passed out from renowned B-schools. This is more due to the fact that the Indian economy chart shows a consistent rise and is a booming industry. This has given importance and tremendous rise to the Business management courses India, as students from the business class as well as working class are opting for MBA courses. The Business management courses

There is so much glitz and glamour that comes with that power word “success”. It says you’ve made it and from here on life is good. Right? Not so fast. The biggest distraction to success is all the stress and anxiety that sits like a weight in the pit of the stomach. It has to do with the worry that it will all disappear tomorrow, the next day, someday.

This is an excerpt from an essay Michelle contributed to the book, Winning Without Compromising Yourself.

Let's begin todays discussion of how to propagate project success with a quick review of the Four Phases of "Project Management . . . by the Numbers" Project Management Lifecycle; which are: Phase One - Concept and Feasibilityr Phase Two - Organization and Scheduler Phase Three - Execution Phase Four - Review/Audit

Have you ever thought of your alumni relations activities as the preeminent part of your school’s advancement effort? Or do your colleague have an “I-suppose-it’s-important-but-I’m-not-really-sure-what-they-do” mentality about your staff? Far too often, alumni relations is seen as a second-class ...

It’s quite simple to stay busy. For most of us, if we did nothing but respond to our email we could remain occupied all day long. But being busy doesn’t equal being productive.

I had an experience recently that I would like to share with you. While speaking with a friend in a casual conversatio I was asked my opinion. I immediately shifted out of friend mode and put my trusted adviser hat on. I noticed that my listening intensified. I became more present than in the previous 8 or 10 minutes of our chat. My ability to clearly and provide his next best step will undoubtedly avert costly business and personal repercussions. There was a tremendous sense of personal satisfaction in my spirit!

You all know how passionate I am about facilitating change in my life and in the lives of my clients, family and friends. I'd like to share a list with you this week so you can look closely at your own life and find some new ways to improve through changing. 1. Silent Observation. Quietly watch yourself in as objective a manner as you can. Watch your reactions. Watch your thoughts. Watch your activity. Watch how you interact with other people. This is a way of benchmarking yourself at the beginning of any attempts to change.

Executives Women Success & Career Strategist Real Results What do you do when after years with the same company, you walk into the office and a memo is on your desk "blaming" the recession for letting you go! I am so glad you asked - don't panic below are some immediate actions you should take. You've Got Options in between employment gaps. 1. Don't Blame yourself and swallow your pride get help from family and friends that offer help.

1. Research the Company 2. Know your resume 3. Know your online reputation 4. Prepare an interview emergency kit 5. Study job description - identify skills most relevant to job 6. Build rapport 7. Make eye contact 8. Body language 8.1 Showcase your skills with concrete examples 8.2. Be yourself 8.3 Follow up quickly Job interviews can be a mystery and tricky to navigate. But you can find success if you follow the right job interview strategies. The following 8.3 insider tips you can avoid common landmines and ace your next interview. 1.

Do you feel stressed and overwhelmed while juggling business, family and personal wellbeing? Creating work life balance is the art of managing your tasks and resources to create the kind of lifestyle you desire, resulting in greater work satisfaction, loving relationships and increased health and vitality. Here are five simple and effective ways to improve your work life balance. Prioritiser Clearly define your values and what is important. Don’t waste time and energy on task

In the nonprofit field, the development of a new program generally begins with receiving some type of grant award. Of course, nonprofits can develop programs without being awarded a grant, but the money needed to create and implement any type of program will need to come from a philanthropist or through other fundraising efforts and activities.

These days, it seems like we are being pulled in so many different directions. Priorities compete with each other, and it just seems like we can’t get everything done, doesn’t it? What’s worse, it seems like our daily “to do” lists grow much faster than our abilities to check them off. No wonder the world is showing more stress. Sometimes it is helpful to step back, and evaluate all those things we’re doing, to make sure that the important “stuff” is being addressed. OK, so what’s the important “stuff?”r

Last week I shared my one line response to a popular questio I am often asked — “What’s your advice on achieving fast business growth?” “Never try to do it alone” is always my response. If you enjoyed reading about the 3 powerful leadership principles that helped operations manager Beth to bring out the best in her people, here are 3 more powerful leadership principles from my coaching work with Bob. Case Study #2. CEO continues to get pulled into every problem that comes up.

Do you have days when you feel like you’re getting nowhere or sense a project will never end? Worked on initiatives where you were only part of the solution and would never see the finished product? Wonder what happened to that suggestion that received such a positive reception and now seems to have disappeared? Join the crowd. So many of us are not privy to or given access to much of the work and decisions that are made in our workplace. What we also lack is any kind of regular feedback that would motivate, inform, and engage us to carry on.

Today, as competition for resources is fierce, nonprofits have to look beyond traditional fundraising strategies, such as applying for grants and contracts. Although there are a number of ways to raise funds, the purpose of this article is to focus on generating revenue through your organization’s newsletter. If you have a newsletter, but haven’t used it to raise funds, this might be the perfect time to turn it into a revenue generating tool. If you don’t already publish a newsletter, consider developing one.

The energy and vitality of individuals and organizations depends on the quality of the connections among people inside the organization, and between them and their customers and clients. The key to transforming your own work experience and the performance of the people around you is to build and nurture high quality connections. So says Jane Dutton, professor of Business Administration at the University of Michigan and author of the book, Energizing Your Workplace.

The world could be described as the community where the human family lives.rn rnThe question is, how do you live in this world? Who is the you that the world gets to know?rn rnIs it the real you, where how you live on the outside is a reflection of you who are on the inside, where your interaction with your fellow “world” members is based on your willingness to be known as you are, regardless of what they might think about you, or of how what they think of you would make

Bloomberg News reports "the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 9.9 percent in April as thousands of job seekers entered the labor force looking for work." It's true that the old adage 'you only get one chance to make a good first impression' holds true in a normal job market.

"Awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." rn~ Teilhard de Chardin

While visiting a friend recently in Chapel Hill, NC, we attended a lecture on the University of North Carolina campus. When the speaker started presenting, I noticed that the audience — which ranged in age from 6 to well over 60 — was completely enthralled (including me!) from start to end. Intrigued, I decided to take a step back to see exactly how this presenter was creating such a powerful experience for his listeners. To tell you the truth, he wasn’t doing every single thing right — and somehow it didn’t matter.

The elements and field conditions are always a factor in athletic competition. Athletes are often under the mistaken perception that these conditions not only enhance or impair their performance but dictate it. Beliefs such as: green grass, clear skies and no wind “help” your game and rain, mud, extreme heat and cold “hurt” your performance. This is a broad generalization that leads to convenient excuses. You often hear athletes explain away bad performances: our team isn’t b

I hear it all the time from my coaching clients, “I want to get to the next level and in order to do that, I have to take on a leadership role.” “Really? And do you want to be a leader?” “I don’t know, seems like I have to if I want to get ahead.” This is a treacherous and potentially dangerous train of thought; one that could do more harm to a career than good. Why? Because, not everyone is cut out to be a leader intellectually, temperamentally, or with regard to energy and emotional strength.

I was working with an executive coaching client the other day developing a strategy for the next steps in her career. For reasons unclear to me, I thought our discussion was off course. Was I not asking the right questions? Not hearing the underlying comments or insights? Influencing her answers by showing some form of judgment or perspective? All were possible. The challenge was how to get to the meat of the issues. It dawned on me to make the problem visual.

Ever wonder exactly what you say that makes people take action? Ever wonder if there are key phrases and specific words that cause someone to engage with you, follow your advice, thank you for making a difference in their lives? Research into how the brain communicates with itself and with each other is super in vogue these days. And no wonder, that walnut shaped organ in the top of our heads wields a lot of power over what we think, do, and say.

News Flash #1: As the recession recedes, companies will start hiring more employees. News Flash #2: The people you choose to hire will be the single most important factor in the future success of your career. Of all the things you will do at work in the next six months, hiring the right people will be the most important. Now is the best time to find the very best new employees for your company’s future growth. Here are six keys to keep in mind. You are Hiring Behaviors Wh

The only thing that is constant is change - We’ve all heard that saying at one time or another, and are very aware at how resistant we are to change. But an even more interesting question is: How much time do we spend on our reasons for the change, and getting resources to adapt and “power up” for the change. I love reflecting on life, and the lessons that life is teaching me. When I moved house I decided to pull up and replant a beautiful plant from my garden. But the plant

"All the good, fine, noble, and creative acts of humanity were conceived as a spark in a single human consciousness." ~ Peter McWilliamsr

I decided autumn was a great time to clean out the garage. Thought, while I was at it, to get rid of the things that had been replaced or whose time had come. The answer was clear—sell it at my first ever yard sale. Here’s what I learned and how I think we can all apply some of the lessons to other parts of our lives.

For a sports team to be successful it takes more than just a superstar player, a strong roster of talented young backups or even state-of-the art training facilities. While all of those can be important factors, none of it would result in a winning unit without the help of one person: the head coach.