• Attitude,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Overcoming Obstacles

    It’s about the little things…

    When I recently presented to a group of 17 people about how to create your intention and vision for the New Year, I got some feedback that totally blew me away. Not because it was about me or my teaching. 🙂 Their comments about this exercise blew me away because I thought everyone knew these types of concepts. In my presentation, I mainly wanted to get everyone connecting together and answer some questions as a type of assessment for this year. I learned this exercise from my amazing coaches – Debbie Phillips and Rob Berkley, and I have done this process for 12 years. It’s called The Great Start Program. I don’t believe in…

  • Alchemy,  Attitude,  Balance,  Challenges,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Overcoming Obstacles

    “Change is good,” she said…

    Have you ever had something happen that you weren’t expecting and just turned your life upside down? Such as losing a big client, getting injured, getting sick, or maybe something happened to a family member. One thing I know — change is just hard, and actually, I’d dare to say, in all honesty – change just sucks… When things happen, you share it with your close circle of supportive people, right? So when I did, that’s when she said — “Change is good.” And then rattled on why… Well, depending on where you are in the process of acceptance, you may want to hug or throttle that person like I…

  • Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  New Year,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Questions

    This one question could make or break your business…

    As an entrepreneur, I know how hard you work at and on your business. Sometimes it can be grueling and stressful, especially if you do it alone. And even if you have some help, it still can be exhausting and challenging. It’s mainly up to you to create a successful business and make money that will keep it running for many years. This brings me to the one question that could make or break your business… Before I ask you, I want you to think back to when you made the decision to start your business and make a go at being your own boss. What was the impetus that…

  • Attitude,  Challenges,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles

    If only – a personal heartbreaking journey

    My spouse Alice and I listened to Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart audiobook as we drove home from being away in Lake Tahoe for a week. And aside, I love listening to her books because it feels like a more intimate experience. She always adds extra stuff and talks to you like you’re in her kitchen over coffee. And repeats important phrases… (I will be doing a review of this book in the coming weeks.) While listening to her book, it sparked some interesting conversations, one of which was around the phrase “If only.” And another was one my Dad always said I needed to stop my “what ifing” myself… It got…

  • Balance,  Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Procrastination,  Productivity

    Need a boost of productivity? I gotchu :-)

    This might be the dreaded post here, calling you out on your productivity… Oh wait, that doesn’t sound good… apologies… Let’s reframe that – I want to inspire you with some ways you can boost your productivity. 🙂 How productive are you? Do you feel like you’re not getting enough done in your business? Could you use a boost? Or do you feel like you got it covered? It’s now November, and the holidays that are literally banging down your door won’t distract you from finishing up those last few projects, right? 🙂 Well, if you’re anything like me and have Cheryl’s holiday cut-out cookies, blueberry scones, best Thanksgiving stuffing muffins,…

  • Balance,  Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Procrastination,  Productivity

    What’s that beeping noise?

    Have you ever been sleeping soundly, only to be woken up by an errant “beep,” then a few seconds later “beep,” and then a weird voice that you can’t make out screeches at you? By that time, you’re wide awake and jumping out of bed, wiping the sleep from your eyes – looking around, trying to figure out what in the heck is beeping and who’s squawking at you. The big question – when will it happen again? I’m standing in the hallway in my PJs, waiting for it to beep again so I can figure out where it’s coming from. In the meantime, the dogs are freaked out by the…

  • Challenges,  Clients & Customers,  Communication,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Prospects,  Questions

    You are one question away from…

    Not sure you’ve noticed that I’m kind of a geek when it comes to collecting information that I’m interested in. Especially when my curiosity overtakes me after I read a story about what someone did that was pretty fascinating such as Cyril Derreumaux. He traversed the pacific ocean in his kayak to reach Hawaii in 92 days. Or when Marc Andreeson set a record in California when he decided to buy the most expensive house in America for a $177 million compound in Malibu. What’s going through their head when they make these decisions? Or is anything going through their head? Maybe it’s just a deeply rooted feeling or an inner drive…

  • Alchemy,  Attitude,  Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Procrastination,  Productivity

    Taming Your Brain

    A bit of a heady mindset topic for this week. Stick with me on this brief journey into your brain and how we work on trying to change your neural pathways to form some fascinating changes in your work and life… Curious? Ready? Let’s go… For the past 20 years, I’ve been taking classes, studying, reading, and practicing meditation and mindfulness. From what I’ve learned – Here’s an example of how the mind works – You’re speaking with someone, and suddenly, something they said hits you weird, and you start to get mad or upset – some feelings start coming up. Do you stop at the moment and notice the emotion bubbling up?…

  • Alchemy,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Motivation,  Overcoming Obstacles,  Productivity

    Put Your Ass Where Your Soul Wants to be…

    Been doing some soul-searching, reading, and connecting lately… That’s the gift of taking time out for me – and I’d highly encourage it. 🙂 It’s given me a better and even more interesting perspective of where my adventures in business will continue to lead and take me moving forward… No big surprise – it led me to this book – Put Your Ass Where Your HEART Wants to Be by Steven Pressfield. (Thanks to a wonderful new accountability partner.) He also wrote a classic for creatives – The War of Art. A different take on The Art of War by Sun Zhu. And I borrowed part of this for the subject of this blog post and exchanged…

  • Clients & Customers,  Entrepreneurs,  Motivation,  Productivity

    Are you unknowingly sabotaging your business?

    I have an important question for you: Are you unknowingly sabotaging your business by doing this? Before I tell you what “this” is, let me share a story about “the fence guy… “When we moved into our new home in February of this year, we knew the fence was falling down and needed to be replaced. We had a glowing recommendation from a good friend who had this company put in a new fence for him. So we called him up and ended up hiring him. It would take him a while to get us on the list, which was fine. We were not in a hurry. The fence was…

  • Alchemy,  Attitude,  Challenges,  Entrepreneurs,  Goals,  Motivation,  Outcome,  Overcoming Obstacles

    Letting go of this one thing will help transform your business

    When I was just starting my business in 2006, I simply wanted to get my foot in the door somewhere. I needed new clients and was doing everything I could to get them. The biggest source back then was going to live events consistently and always connecting with my mentor and his group of colleagues. (Before the social media craze.) What alluded me was that I was so desperate for clients I could have been more discerning. It was all about the hustle and bringing in money. I had just gotten laid off from my corporate job, and we had a big mortgage, taxes, and a stepson to put through school. I was…

  • Balance,  Coaching,  Motivation,  Productivity

    How to develop your second brain & get more done!

    Back in the fall of 2010, I had the opportunity to meet one of the greats of business and personal development. He’s written over 70 books, created over 300 courses, and is considered a top coach and consultant. His book was one of the first that I read when I started my business – Maximum Achievement (Others – Goals!,The Psychology of Selling, andChange Your Thinking Change Your Life.) I learned so much from him when I started my business. I was working for a client at his live event, and this man was presenting. I was thrilled when my client gave me the opportunity to meet and connect with this person. This man was…

  • Attitude,  Coaching,  Goals,  Motivation

    Throwback to 2012 – living authentically

    This week I’m going to throwback to an earlier post I did in 2012 – 5 Steps to Daring Greatly and Living Authentically, where I talked about my experience of meeting Brene Brown when she was on Katie Couric’s DayTime TV Show that’s since been canceled. On this show, she interviewed Brene Brown on the launch of her then-new book – Daring Greatly. This was right at the start of her trajectory as an author and speaker. It was an amazing experience being in the audience, then meeting and connecting with her backstage (I knew the Supervising Producer for the show.), and having her sign my book. I’m sharing this post again because the message about authentically…

  • Clients & Customers,  Coaching,  Entrepreneurs,  Implementation,  Marketing,  Motivation

    Busting the Magic Bullet Myth

    I don’t usually “bust” anything in these emails, and today is an exception. I’ve had several prospects take me up on my offer of scheduling a complimentary call with me this past few weeks. Honestly, I LOVE doing these calls. My favorite thing about these calls is for that hour. I can practice my listening skills and help someone with a significant challenge and give them at least one or more solutions to guide them to their answer. Another reason I love these calls is that it’s an opportunity to get access to my dream client and find out what makes them tick. Such as – what are they struggling…

  • Goals,  Implementation,  Motivation,  Outcome,  Productivity

    This May Seem Counterintuitive & it Works…

    I’ve read a lot of books on productivity and getting more done. Check out the NOTES section below for some interesting resources that will help. What I decided to do when I moved last week was test my theory about productivity. If I gave the three guys who were moving us pizza, hinted at a good tip for a job well done, and took a break between moving houses, would they be more productive? This might seem counterproductive to you, especially knowing I was paying them by the hour. So it’d make sense to make them push through cuz why would I want to pay for them to take a break for lunch that…