How to Achieve Real, Lasting Change

Achieving real change is no small feat, as most of us know. What do I do first? How do I decide between various options? Where do I get the resources? What if other people object? How do I overcome my doubt? What if I fail?

Having worked as a life coach for over a decade ~ helping people achieve real change in their personal and professional lives ~ I have identified the five key steps that must be taken (and, if put into action, will absolutely work!) to successfully create real and lasting change in your own life.

The entire five step process will be shared with you throughout the coming months. My hope and request is that you use it to intentionally improve any and all aspects of your life that you would like to change: find a better career and be well paid for doing what you love, deepen your relationships or find a relationship that brings you joy, improve your physical health and well-being, laugh more often, make a bigger difference in the world, connect with family and friends, pursue new interests, and genuinely love your life. You deserve nothing less!

Here is the five step process you will learn:

Define the Gap - Learn to identify exactly what you would like to change across all aspects of your life. And don't worry, it will be a fun and easy process, not a grind and definitely not depressing!

Finding Resources - What do you need to help you create the change? Time? Money? Partners? Courage? Discover an abundance of resources when you know how to access them.

Overcoming Obstacles - Every journey has its twists and turns, obstacles and setbacks. Learn the mindset to overcome them all.

The Action/Inspiration Cycle - There is nothing like a little taste of success to make you want more. Learn how to take inspired action and gain sustainable momentum that continually propels you forward toward your goals.

Making Change Last - Discover the secret to lasting change via one of two ways: Passion or Decision. And if you have both, become unstoppable!

Stay tuned, the path to real change is coming your way!

Linda Spevacek is an innovative speaker, author and coach who can help you create prosperity across all aspects of your life. For speaking topics and programs, visit www.ExpertProsperity.com

The fences fear creates. The framework to outwit the devil.

In Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil Mr Hill interviews the Devil.

Many believe that this conversation is an imaginary convention that services a literary vehicle.

I believe the writing transcends the wisdom of one man. That said I am biased and I want to believe.

In the beginning the Devil confesses his power comes from leveraging minds of man.

We also learn that the antidote to this is free thought.

Today we talk about fear.

The Devil: To be sure, I employ tricks and devices to control human thought. My devices are clever ones too.

Mr Hill: Go ahead and describe your clever tricks, Your Majesty.

The Devil: One of my cleverest devices for mind control is fear. 

I plant the seed of fear in the minds of people, and as these seeds germinate and grow, through use,

I control the space they occupy.The six most effective fears are the fear of poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death.

  

Mr Hill: Which of these six fears serves you most often, Your Majesty?

The Devil: The first and the last— poverty and death!

At one time or another during life I tighten my grip on all people through one or both of these.

I plant these fears in the minds of people so deftly that they believe them to be their own creation. I accomplish this end by making people believe I am standing just beyond the entrance gate of the next life, waiting to claim them after death for eternal punishment.

Of course I cannot punish anyone, except in that person's own mind, through some form of fear— but fear of the thing which does not exist is just as

useful to me as fear of that which does exist. All forms of fear

extend the space I occupy in the human mind.

-Napoleon Hill  Outwitting the Devil.

The essence of this conversations is fear can limit us. The fears are not often real.  And imagined fears are just as powerful as real ones.

Poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death are all powerful fears.  

Fear of poverty can prevent from starting a business. 
Fear of criticism will stop people from performing or creating. 
Fear of ill health and old age can prevent you from living life.
Fear of lost of love will allow you stay in a unhappy situation, 
Fear of death will makes us afraid of flying. 

Yet with free thought we can chose to do to the thing we fear and unlock our true potential.  

This is way free thought is the antidote to fear.  

My life has given me a unique perspective on health, happiness, and maximizing life into old age. It is my primary defining purpose to share my knowledge with you. I want you to learn from my mistakes and have a better life.

Please visit EagertobeHealthy.com for Eager to be Healthy a Health and Happiness Podcast. You can also find this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, TuneIn Radio, and your Roku.

If you wish to work with me directly you can also find my contact info at www.michaelegerhealthcoach.com

Please order your copy of Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil below.

Constantly Feel Like Your Running out of time!

Tracking Your Day!

Have you ever started your day with "plenty of time" to accomplish everything you need to only to have one or more of your tasks take more time than you expected it to?
I have experienced this on more than one occasion, it is frustrating, stressful and inconvenient to say the least. It happens because we do not always realize how long a task can truly take to accomplish.
I have found a method to help prevent this from happening too often. It is called "Tracking Your Day" adapted from MindTools.com Activity Log.
*Grab a sheet of paper and a writing utensil, make 1 small column label it "Time", make a second column label it "Activity description, "make a third column label it "Duration" and a final column label it "Value". For each column, draw down the page many rows, this is where your information will be entered.
*Decide on a starting point; as early as you wake up or at the beginning of your work day, which ever best suits where you are having trouble with time management.
*As you start an activity, write the time and the description of that activity, when you stop that activity write how long it took you even if the task is not complete.
*We are going to fill in the 'Value' column later.
*Go through your day tracking your activity time, the activity description and the duration that you worked on your activity (even if it isn't complete), be sure to do this for everything you do, even for an unexpected phone call, a restroom or coffee break, Everything.
*At the end of your day go back and assess the value of each of your activities.
Repeat this process daily for a minimum of two weeks up to a month.
Stay tuned there is more to come this week.
If you find these to be useful tips please share this post on your page.
If you are a parent who is Struggling with scheduling your time effectively, inbox me for a complimentary session to explore your options.
Have a productive, positive and peaceful day.

 

Virginia Ann Griffiths 
We Leap Coaching
we-leap.com
(860) 485-8341
weleapcoaching@gmail.com

MISSING THE BOAT

It is my belief that I am an effective coach, mentor, instructor, because so much of what I teach about customer service and Emotional Intelligence did not come naturally to me. I have had to learn some concepts the hard way, questioning them and grappling with them until they made sense to me.  This has helped me to understand and empathize with clients who have difficulty grasping a point. It keeps me from ever trivializing someone’s lack of understanding. Many managers, professors, customers, mentors, and coworkers have had a part in my training. I’d like to tell you about one coworker, Edythe.

Years ago, when I was strict and inflexible about company policy, Edythe mentored me through her example. She guided me to better behavior, despite my churlish, insufferable attitude. She was senior to me in our workplace and in life, and miles ahead of me in the social graces. We worked in close proximity for a couple of years, until I moved on to other work. As I matured, I continued to appreciate and internalize the concepts Edythe had modeled. And as I recognized her wisdom, I thought of someday sending her a note of thanks.

Many years after we had worked together I was having lunch with a friend in a Simsbury restaurant. There was Edythe, sitting with a woman who was wearing scrubs. I recognized her immediately. When the other woman left the table for a moment, I went over and introduced myself.  I reminded Edythe where we had worked, and expressed my gratitude for the huge impact she had on my professional growth over the years.  

Edythe gave me an uncomprehending smile and looked around nervously for the other woman. It became clear to me that in her current condition she was unable to understand who I was, or why I had approached her. She seemed agitated, so I apologized for bothering her and returned to my table, having forever missed the opportunity to thank her.  That was probably her final lesson for me, which I share with you in Edythe’s honor.

 

Jeannie Newman of JZN Associates

Workshops and Seminars in all facets of Emotional Intelligence Development
Email: Jeannie@JZNAssociates.com

Connect on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jeannienewman/

 

On the Seventh Day, He Rested

Welcome back Fellow Movers and Shakers!  The date is May 16^th, 2015.

Today’s Blog:  “On the Seventh Day, He Rested”

My intent while writing last months blog was to do a continuation on “Taking Market Share; Step 2 – Competitors and their Strengths and Weaknesses”.

Since I have the ability to write what I want (and what I hope you need), I decided to change direction this month. 

I am writing this from a patio chair enjoying the mild temperature, the sunshine, and the trees that surround me.  And in just a few hours I will be playing golf with 3 of my cousins.   We are outside Atlantic City, and will play golf everyday for the next several days, ending each day with a dinner and a likely trip to a casino.  This is our annual golf “classic” as we call it.

If you know me, then you know I am a hard worker, and spend a great deal of time building my business to reach my goals.  I do this because I am dedicated achieving success for my family, my partners, and the business itself. 

So why am I writing from a patio chair?  I know it’s cliché, but to “stop and smell the flowers”. 

What benefit is there to work building a business to achieve success, and have no time to enjoy it?  If you work hard (and you know if you do or not), then make sure that you manage your time in such a way as to allow yourself some freedom for yourself and your family.

My name is Bill Miranda.  I can help you develop World Class Customer Service organizations, Marketing Strategies, and Dynamic Sales Strategies and Tactics. 

E-mail me for more information, and a free telephone consultation.

Next Month:  “Taking Market Share; Step 2 – Competitors and their Strengths/Weaknesses”

Do You Understand?

In Stephen Covey’s landmark book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he addressed “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood.”

People form opinions based on their own experiences. Unless they try to understand the other person's perspective, two people can see the same thing and form completely different viewpoints because their understanding is "autobiographical."

I frequently hear Covey’s quote in meetings.  Some people want to listen and find it difficult.  They are so intent on having their own opinion or idea heard that they scarcely hear what others are talking about.  Consequently people decide prematurely what they believe the other person is saying before others have had a chance to say it.

This form of “deafness” causes duplication, mistakes and loss of trust.  If someone can’t be trusted to acknowledge the other person and hear what they’re saying, then that person will stop trying.  They may pretend to participate, then do nothing, and everything remains the same…..no progress.

“A basic human need is that humans share a universal longing to be known and, being known, to be loved.”  Love may sound strange in a work setting.  Think of it as being accepted and acknowledged.  “When our conversations disregard this core need, our lives can seem like an ongoing, exhausting struggle to influence others to do what we want them to do.”  Susan Scott, Fierce Conversations

 Try this:

·        Ask a question with the intent of wanting to know the answer.

·        Be prepared to be in the moment and nowhere else. Do not scan your emails, check the sports scores or today’s news or play a game on your smart phone. (*We all know what you’re doing when you pull out your smart phone in a meeting!)

·        Listen for content, emotion and intent.  Hearing their words is only the beginning.

·        When a thought jumps into your head, jot it down, and get back to listening.

·        If you miss what they said, it’s okay to ask them to repeat it.

Outcome

People will really talk to you.  They will be more likely to listen, collaborate and cooperate when you do talk.  This can make your workplace more pleasant and more productive.  If you haven’t already, read her book, Fierce Conversations. Whether it’s with an employee, co-worker, boss, client, customer or family member, your relationships will be stronger.  You will have a better chance of getting what you want.  

Do you understand them?

Ann Meacham, president of Leadership Dynamics works with business owners and executives to clear their blind spots so they will know how to succeed in their business. Contact me: ann@leadyourteams.com Sign up for a Free Leadership Strategy Session on my website.

What's Your Birth Story?

How does birth affect your life, business, or community? What do you need to know about the American maternity care system? I love to share what I know about birth!

Would you like to learn how to get your pregnancy, health, physical, and emotional needs met throughout your journey to parenthood? Maybe you’re more interested to hear how your business could improve employee health and save money by supporting evidence-based maternity practices through your benefits packages, wellness programs, and community engagement. Or, you’d like to hear more about the experiences of patients in order to improve the services you offer. If you are in the non-profit sector, I might have some useful insights to share from my experiences leading a national consumer advocacy organization that provides information and support to pregnant women to help them access Mother-Friendly maternity care.  

What other topics might be of interest to you?

How our American maternity care system has the worst outcomes in the industrialized world and we pay twice as much as other countries do for birth-related services? How limiting access to birth control or care for unwanted pregnancies affects the care that women with desired pregnancies receive? How corporate decision-making by non-medical entities like formula manufacturers affects women’s and children’s health, at a cost of billions of healthcare dollars each year, but other industries could change that? Birth as a feminist issue? Birth as a human rights issue? The birth experience as a tool for finding your power and your voice? 

How we give birth in our culture and society touches many different facets of our lives, and I've spent almost two decades exploring the issues surrounding this peak life experience. My learning began before I became a mother. It has continued through the births of three children, and three step-grandchildren. It led me to work as an activist and community organizer around birth issues, and informed my work as a board member and leader of BirthNetwork National. Some of the education was more formal, such as my training to become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. The learning continues to this day as I pursue Masters Degrees in Public Health and Social Work to support my current work as The Birth Lady, creating educational programs to help people navigate our complicated maternity care system.

Some people might say that I am obsessed with birth. I prefer to say that I am highly motivated to help people have safer, healthier, more empowering birth experiences – the kind that create a great start to parenthood, and make women feel they can achieve anything! My experiences giving birth to my children rocked my world, and I want every mother and father to have the opportunity for achieving their full potential on the Hero’s Journey of nurturing new life in this world.

  

Everyone has some kind of birth story to tell. Birth affects every one of us. Our future depends on us getting it right.

  
What’s your birth story? Leave a comment below! 

Michal Klau-Stevens, The Birth Lady, is a maternity consultant and the creator of the Mastering Maternity™ system, a program that helps childbearing women confidently approach pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, early parenting, and navigating the maternity healthcare system.  To receive a FREE mini-guide by email and receive more tools and information on mastering maternity, visit www.TheBirthLady.INFO. Find her on Facebook at The Birth Lady page!