How can I improve?

I was at a great conference for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and sat in on several fabulous break out sessions. One in particular was by Mary Kay Slowikowski (love the name, by the way). Her session, "Success is 90% Attitude" included this assignment. Go to some of the important people in your life and ask them "How Can I Improve?" "How can I be a better spouse, parent, coach, friend, leader, etc. I love this because it focuses on growth and improvement, rather than focusing on the negative. What better way to impove your life than to get feedback from those important to you?

Here a couple tips:

• Go to people you trust and you feel they will be honest with you.
• Do not go to people who are negative or don't support you.
• If it's uncomfortable to ask in person, send them an email.
• Listen with an open mind and take steps that feel comfortable for you.

Give it a try and see what people have to say. I'd love to hear what this experience is like for you.
Ask the important people in your life....How can I improve?

Keep me posted.

This Is Your Life....Make It What You Want!

Long Recess, Short School

Remember recess? When my daughter started kindergarten 5 years ago, she said it was long school and short recess. She wished it was short school and long recess! My husband considers long bike rides recess. I consider anything beyond 10-15 miles work, while he's just getting warmed up! We all have our personal idea of recess or playtime. Different strokes for different folks.

What if you found work that felt like long recess and short school? Wouldn't that be fabulous? Think how focused you are when you're doing something you love. You want to do well, you want to learn more, you want to improve and work harder. It might be writing, gardening, exercising, coaching, organizing, leading an organization or any number of things, We each have our own version of recess.

What do you do that you get lost in? What activity causes you to lose track of time? Whatever it is, those are the things that you need to have in your life....ideally it'd be great to have that as part of your work.

What if everyone found that ideal job? Think about the creativity and energy that would be tapped into! Think about what could be accomplished! Think of the change that could come into your life and into the world!

Here's my challenge for you.....find the things in your life that brings forth your best self, your strengths, your energy, and your sense of play. Whether it's something in your work or your private life, use that "gift" to make a difference in your life, your community and the lives of those around you.

Short school, long recess.....Playtime! It's a win-win!

This Is Your Life.....Make It What You Want!

Are You a Worrier?

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, It empties today of its strength." unknown

How many of you know someone who identifies themselves as a "worrier." Perhaps you're one of them. It's pretty darned common. Worry does not serve you well. Worry zaps your energy and prevents you from taking care of today because you are so focused on what might happen in the future!! As an addictions counselor we used to call worry an intoxicating emotion. It keeps you out of the present and it keeps you stuck.

It's easy to use all your energy reacting to phantom outcomes of the future...which keeps you from planning for or preventing the actual outcome you might be worried about! Worrying about potential events is a waste of creativity, strength and power. When you catch yourself fretting about possible negative outcomes, stop yourself and think of right now.

Some people love the adrenaline and drama that comes with worry...that's the intoxicating part. It feels good (?) in the moment, but doesn't solve anything. It takes up energy, but in reality you're just spinning your wheels and going nowhere. If you are a worrier and want more strength and power in your life, find ways to stay in the present and use your energy to move forward, not get stuck spinning your wheels.

When you catch yourself fretting about possible negative outcomes, stop yourself and think of today. What can you do right now to address or prepare for possibilities in the future. Take action! Do what you can, then let it go. Save your strength for the real outcome rather than wasting energy on the imagined scenarios. (And think about it, only one outcome is going to actually occur, so why fret over all the outcomes that aren't even going to happen!!!)

This Is Your Life....Make it what you want!