Envision Success: How Professionals Achieve More!

What I Learned On The Treadmill This Morning

2012-01-18T22:20:00.001-06:00

Double Bonus! Watching or listening to motivational material while walking or running on the treadmill is such a great way to boost us up. This morning I was watching a DVD series that featured some of the greatest speakers of our time: Les Brown and Jim Rohn. Wow, what a great start to my day! These were my top 3 takeaways during the short half hour of exercise:

1. Most people are so bogged down in negative that they say 7 "No"s before they can say "Yes." This means we should keep asking!

2. You have to be HUNGRY! When we are really hungry, we will stop at nothing to get a bite to eat. It's the same in terms of our goals. The right goal essentially feeds us through achievement. We might have a little stumble or we might hear No several times, but if we are truly hungry for it, we will keep going. That Big Hairy Audacious Goal may have you feeling insatiable, driving you forward, getting better, meeting people, constantly moving forward until you feel satisfied with your level of accomplishment. This is a great thing (as long as you aren't harming others or yourself). Enjoy the ride!

3. Making money is about VALUE.
A. You must bring value to the marketplace. Therefore making money is simple; you want value from others, and they want value from you. Money is merely a marker representing the value being appreciated on both sides of a transaction. If you want to make more money, find ways to add more value that people will appreciate. (Ask them what they want & strive to deliver it!)
B. You must work on your own value. How do YOU add value to others; what do they appreciate about you? Make time for "Get Good" activities. (Now you know why I do my Lessons in Treadmill Time.)

How will you apply your favorite of these concepts today? What impact could this have on your goals this year?

Do I Have To Choose: Make Money or Do Good?

2012-01-08T18:46:00.000-06:00

Are you among the vast majority that believes you can either 'Do Good' -OR- 'Make Money' - in other words, do you believe that truly wealthy people are not truly good people? Even if your intellectual self is arguing this right now, there is a very good chance that down in your core you have fallen prey to this conditioned habit of thought in our society. Yes, some of the very wealthy have prioritized money over people. However, this is NOT the rule and thankfully when we analyze further we can see that the
people we truly admire and respect for being great human beings are also very prosperous, including monetary wealth.

If you have struggled in your relationship with money, resolve to analyze your beliefs then take action to change things this year. What type of relationship did your parents have with money? What things did they say about money? Think of some examples from your own life of really good people who earned a good amount of wealth. Seek to prove to yourself that 'Do Good' AND 'Make Money' do go together. One follows the other, but it only goes one way...illustrated by the mantra "LOVE PEOPLE AND USE MONEY."

You can and should have both when you work to provide excellent service and value to others. Both Karma and rule of Givers Gain imply strongly that we also need to know how to receive graciously. As stated in "The Go-Giver," THE LAW OF COMPENSATION confirms "Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them."

If you have been justifying not making more money because you want to be a good person, stop! It's a bunch of crap, so pick yourself up and start finding ways to Do Good AND Make Money. Get out there and SERVE MORE PEOPLE WELL. Enjoy the process of doing good for others in business; you'll find you can't help but make more money.

Only Winners Set Goals

2012-01-01T19:06:00.000-06:00

Success requires no apologies.
Failure permits no alibis.
~ Napoleon Hill

Aaaah, the promise of a new year, and with it the hopes of greater achievements than years past. I absolutely love this time of year. All the planning and imagining how great things will be when all those accomplishments come to fruition! Oh wait, a dose of reality...most people don't achieve their goals and dreams. Most people don't set goals at all. Most people don't allow themselves the "luxury" of dreams. It's unfortunate that most people don't understand how it all works.
Success comes to those who expect it. Failure comes to those who expect it. When people say they don't want to declare goals or write them down, what they are really saying is they don't have faith in themselves, or in God, or in the universe-- in other words, if they don't make a goal, then they won't have to fail. They don't realize that the simple act of setting the right goal will change everything! Of course, there are tons of things they can do to increase their odds of success, but the MOST important one is setting a goal in the first place.

Just for fun, let's play a little game. When the Genie comes to you and asks for your wishes, what do you tell him? There, that wasn't so hard. You just declared some things you want.

Want to take it to the next level this year? Now use your imagination for 15 minutes and list all the ways that you COULD make these things come true, or at least experience progress from where you are today. Break them down into steps you can actually do.Take action. Celebrate every little success. Keep the goals in your mind. EXPECT SUCCESS! Repeat. Get the Goal Achieving Guide here. Make it a great year!

What Not To Do at the End of the Year

2011-10-31T16:53:00.001-05:00

I've compiled a short list of things NOT to do toward the end of the year, things that most people do - because they are either too tired, ignorant, or unmotivated to make the most of the present and plan appropriately for next year..

Yes, we want to eat, drink, & be merry. We worked hard all year and when nearing the end, it is natural to seek celebration and experience some "I deserve it" attitude. However, this is not the time to let yourself go. You want to
finish the year on a strong note! Even if a person were to take a couple days around Thanksgiving and 2 weeks off in December, there are still 45 days to get stuff done and make a positive impact every day you can this holiday season.

1. Wait until after the holidays to set next year's goals.
Don't you want to kick off the new year with a bang? Sure, most people wait --so why should you try so hard? Consider the analogy of going holiday gift shopping for loved ones. You get in the car, start driving, circle around the city, pick the first place, park, go into the store, and then write your list of things to shop for. Does this get you the gifts? Yes. However, you can bet if you planned ahead, putting thought into what items specific people would like and where to purchase them, you would create a better result.

Yes, it is tempting to put it off, but I urge you not to be like the rest. Block some time in your calendar this year (right now!) to plan for a better next year. To support people who want to get ahead, I am offering 1/2 off "Roadmap Package" of 4 coaching sessions to help strategically plan for a business, a career, or explore a startup. Only $500 when purchased in 2011. More info.

2. Stop networking.
Most people quit networking toward the end of the year, but the ones who do attend are the ones who are serious about business. Attend every networking event that you can between now and the end of the year -because you are truly more likely to make connections that matter. In a similar vein, be sure to get some business conversation in during networking events that feel a little more social than normal; they are still opportunities to make good connections.

3. Slow down your prospecting.
What if your competition is 'crushing it' right now while you are 'asleep at the wheel'? It's not a pleasant thought, is it? Even if your prospects are putting off decisions (see below for counterattack ideas), at least you have reached out. Remember that sometimes it comes down to a contest regarding the number of "touches." Set a prospecting or revenue goal for yourself to stay on track right up through the end of the year and hold yourself to it.

3. Put off business decisions.
It is easy to do. You might feel like it's just one more thing on your plate. Here's the thing: it's unlikely that your decision will change after the 1st of the year. In other words, you already know what you want to do. You may not start using services or products until January, but how nice it would be to have that all figured out already, so you don't have to worry about a bunch of stuff during the first week when you are foggy from vacation. It's also worth considering that you may still benefit from purchases made this year, whether for tax purposes or other reasons. You will probably enjoy your holiday time off more, knowing you've already taken care of it.

5. Eat & drink too much at holiday parties.
My fitness boot camp instructor told us last week that the average weight gain between Nov 1 and Jan 1 is EIGHT POUNDS! Don't become an average statistic. Follow some best practices: during busier times, take better care of yourself. This means continuing your exercise, but maybe in shorter and/or more frequent bouts. Drink plenty of water, partly to help keep up your energy level, plus to counteract any extra caffeine or alcohol you may consume. Go to parties with a strategy: consider holding a sparkling water while you mingle and setting a limit to the amount per event or per week you allow yourself of certain items. Start going to the gym in December, when it's less busy & you can get into your groove with classes, equipment, schedule, or preferred trainer before the New Year's rush.

Some other thoughts about putting things off...
I have a theory about procrastination in our modern society. I believe it is not a personality flaw or weakness, but is more often caused by common tiredness and general overwhelm. You may feel that you simply have too much on your plate and not enough energy to deal with it. I'd like to suggest the following 4 solutions: 1. The CLEAN Program. 2. The Goal Achiever. 3. The Compound Effect + accountability coaching. 4. The coachville Clean Sweep program. I feel so strongly about these making a difference for people, I've just decided to great a special package. Would you like to join me for a full year of getting your business & your life in order, taking care of your health, family, relationships, and finances - having more energy than you thought possible, having a roadmap for your success, and achieving more in one year than most people do in ten? Email me at heather@EnvisionSuccessInc.com.

How Running Made Me A Better Coach

2011-09-23T13:35:00.002-05:00

~a personal story~

I am set to run my first half-marathon in 2 days. I'm a smidge intimidated at the thought of joining the crowd of 'real' runners and full marathoners, but at the same time I feel confident about completing the race. I WILL finish. And in two months
when I travel to visit a friend and complete my second half-marathon, I will finish again. I have zero doubt about my ability to complete these 2 races. Somewhere along my journey to be a more effective coach and a stronger runner, there has been unexpected crossover and I have become better at both.

I often laughingly say that being a business & executive coach is teaching others "Jedi mind tricks" which, by the way, help them far beyond the scope of business. Through frequent discussions with my clients about how to be better human beings, while they see me as a source of information, motivation, accountability, and inspiration, I am gratefully and consistently inspired and motivated too. So it's no surprise that my coaching profession has enhanced my ability to set and achieve personal goals.

Running has been one of those challenges that has plagued me since childhood. I recall being embarrassed every year in grade school, often the second-to-last kid to finish the one mile portion of our annual fitness assessment. I wasn't fat or out of shape or incapable of completing the running portion, I just hated it. I was more academic than athletic, to be sure. Well, actually that's not fully accurate. I won ribbons in younger grades for my sprinting speed, performed at least average in extracurricular gymnastics, was in many dance groups throughout middle school years, and in high school I was on the drill team/pom squad -all of which should have countered my self image of "utterly non-athletic".

About 6 years ago, I joined a fitness boot camp with a friend & coworker and the first time they led us outside for a mile+ run, I was whining and bitching like an embarrassing wreck. I barely survived it. I had been weight-training and doing lots of other cardio activities so was in good physical condition. But running was a different animal and it became my nemesis. When I became a coach, I decided to tackle it. I used several of my mind tricks to try to overcome the physical pain of running and finally I used a DVD/Audio product to re-program my self-image. I came up with mantras to use while running, i.e. short phrases I could silently repeat in time with my breathing cadence. This helped. I ran more with my friend over lunch breaks in hilly downtown and we had to stop so many times for the dreaded "side stitch" cramp, but I kept going and we did a fair number of runs together.

I sounded like a charging rhino, stomping loudly, breathing loudly through nasal allergy symptoms, and felt about as graceful and pretty as all this sounds. But my dear friend continued to encourage me and I signed up for more & more 5K and 10K races, run/walking them and slowly increasing my run-walk ratio. I'll never forget the triumphant feelings that came with certain milestones. Yet, despite my successes and even inspiring and motivating others to run, I still really didn't see myself as a runner. More of a jogger, a struggling jogger who wanted to be a runner.

The irony wasn't lost on me. It did occur to me several times over these past few years that this strongly paralleled the many challenges my clients were facing and if I wanted to change my results, then I was going to have to change my thinking and set a positive expectation. Envision success.

This summer, another friend suggested I join a running club and train for a 1/2 marathon. I found myself spewing every excuse I could muster over our lunch, then got in the car, realized what had just happened and let things simmer for a couple days. I had set some running goals for the year, which was half over...so asked myself what was I going to do about it? I went to the information meeting the following week, promising myself that I could still back out after getting started but that I needed to try it. I thought the main hurdle was a problem with IT band & sciatic nerve that finally has me working with a small army of professionals to correct it. I was worried that running would aggravate it and lengthen the healing process. I realized that it would, but I could still do it smartly -- and that wasn't the real hurdle. It was my mental state about running. After several weeks of following the 3-runs-weekly training plan, increasing mileage every other week, I had a shift.

Suddenly, I didn't hate running, it was actually getting easier, and I actually liked being in a running club. WHOA. Finally, I had started seeing myself as a runner and the benefits came naturally. These past 2 long runs were difficult at 9 and 10 miles, but unlike in the past when I questioned whether I could do it, I just got out there and did it. I ran through the pain, and in rain storms, and I actually embraced these challenges because I knew that it would make me more confident on race day. I realized that moving forward in steps had made me a runner. In other words having a plan, maintaining the weekly discipline to execute on the plan, and being accountable by showing up weekly for the Sat 7am running club runs was exactly what I needed to get it done and change my self-image.

I realized that my friend had provided me the same general structure and process to I had applied to myself and my clients hundreds of times, but with running I didn't make the connection until 3/4 through my race-training experience. Ah-ha and yippee!

My latest catch-phrase is "progress...not perfection." My goal is to finish, but I've already won in so many ways. I'll save the real celebration until after Sunday's race. But now instead of dreading it and doing it just to check it off my list, I look forward to the actual experience.

My running journey thus far has strengthened me mentally (and physically), and acknowledging the contributing factors helps me be better at everything in business and in life, including being a coach who has greater empathy and compassion for her clients (and herself) in the midst of changing results.

Later note: I did it! I am now gearing up for the next one. Woo-Hoo!

3 Reasons Why a Sunny Outlook Brings More Success

2011-08-05T11:56:00.000-05:00

People often make fun of "the power of positive thinking" - or consider people who subscribe synonymous with idiots walking on rainbows with rays of sunshine coming out their
uh-hems, and other thoughts of foo-foo, fluffy thinking that brings out the skeptic in all of us. However, what if the facts support that there really is significant power in a positive attitude? They do.

Now what? First, it's critical to acknowledge that this is not a contest between being cynical and naive. Neither of those will bring you the success you desire; success requires a balanced perspective. Also, just the same as having a negative outlook doesn't make you a bad person, having a positive outlook doesn't mean you are missing important points.

By the way, I do not mean turning into the equivalent of Mary Poppins - just be a happier version of you. Analytical minds fear losing touch with reality, however there is plenty of evidence published that proves a sunny outlook brings more success. Based on my clients' and personal experiences, I've identified 3 reasons why this is true:

1. It changes what you project out to others. For example, especially for people in sales (this means all of us who seek to sell, help, or influence others), the attitude you bring to the conversation directly impacts how the other person responds to you (i.e. whether you are going to make the sale). What you are thinking about directly affects how you are feeling. How you are feeling directly affects how you are acting in any given moment - and acting includes ALL the physical elements of you, your body language, the words you use, as well your conscious movements and actions. Therefore, your thoughts about the sales meeting have more power over the outcome than almost anything else. Wouldn't you rather have a positive expectation than steeling yourself for a blow of "worst case scenario" variety?

Put it to use: Consider the next meeting, conversation, or event you have coming up where you really care about the outcome. Take a few moments to state what you want to happen and think of at least 3 reasons why this could actually happen. Allow yourself to be excited about this imminent success, and for best results, do this just before you talk or meet with others.

2. It changes your awareness of opportunities, consequently you can take advantage of more of them. Similar to when you get a new car and suddenly you see them all over town, and yet you hardly ever saw them before...a different level of awareness allows you to notice things you ignored before. Even better: when you are looking for something with the expectation of finding it, you will encounter more of it.

Put it to use: Consider your top goal and make a statement about what you'd really like to see happen with it. Ask yourself "How Can I?" and then turn the accomplishment into a positive expectation. In other words, have faith and expect that you will achieve your goal and that the right ideas, people, and situations will reveal themselves when needed. Go about your days as normal but with your new-found awareness, and notice what happens in just a few minutes, hours, days, and weeks.

3. You feel good. Or at least you feel better. We've all heard about studies showing that even if you don't feel like it, forcing yourself to smile actually changes your mood by setting off a series of unseen events in the body and within seconds, you are wearing a genuine smile. Forcing a positive attitude or sunny disposition at least once in a while has the same effect: it actually works.

Put it to use: Try it now; picture wearing a sunny outlook/positive attitude like you would a raincoat; you can put it on and take it off any time you like. You can slip it on when you need protection from a 'storm' or on days when you'd like to boost your confidence and performance. Imagine having a little bit of a glow, the hint of a smile, and having peace of mind knowing everything really will be Okay. Most people will appreciate being around you more (and even if a few others are green with envy, that's probably Okay too).

To your consistently enhanced success,
Heather A. Legge

3 Parts to Making Change EASY

2011-06-06T21:24:00.008-05:00

Yes, you read that correctly: "Change" and "Easy" can absolutely go together. Most people would agree that change is hard, changing habits is difficult, changing your conditioning takes focus and discipline plus time you don't want to spend on it. Admittedly, that is true for most people. However, you
are reading this and now you know that change can be easy. By the way, you have already experienced it for yourself at some point in your life, even if you didn't realize it.

Let's walk through the three parts of making change easier:

CLARITY
Without a clear goal in mind, change is considerably harder. Professional athletes would tell you the same thing; you must know your goal. First, identify WHY you want to change, then consider what results you are seeking. When you are internally motivated with a burning desire, change is child's play.
However, if you've decided to change because you think you "should" according to what other people think, change can be very difficult. The key to getting crystal-clear on your goal is to ask yourself (and only yourself): what does 'Success' look and feel like for you and your unique situation? It should also be something defined enough so you know when you've achieved success. Example, "I want more money" is not detailed enough. What will you do with the money? "Pay off debt and buy something nice for my loved ones, and go on a family vacation." OK, now we can acknowledge that THOSE are the goals. The next step may be brainstorming ways to do all three of those things (without winning the lottery), i.e. ways to save money and make money, as well as putting in place a plan to accomplish those 3 goals. Then the fire of desire is built and it just needs stoking from time to time...

ATTITUDE
You know that saying about Inspiration and Perspiration (99% and 1%)? While some work is necessary to make changes, the vast majority of your success depends on your inspiration, or its kissing cousin "Attitude." This is the mental component, that most people neglect without realizing that it is the critical component, of the formula that allows making change easier. What do you do when life hands you lemons? "Make lemonade!" may sound cheesy, but it's a popular saying because it's grounded in truth. The trick in any difficult moment is to gain perspective. When you feel like things are tough and that change is hard, you only need remind yourself that everything is relative. Sure, things can always be better, but things can always be worse too! It is often easier to imagine how things could be worse and to play the "what if" game which slowly but surely leads down the path to things getting worse. On the flip side, you can strengthen your innate imagination and cultivate your attitude skills to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Specifically, practice the positive "what if" game: instead of imagining the worst case scenario, get in the habit of imagining the best-case scenario. ie, "What if all the prospects I've met with this week sign a contract and pay in full? What if I have my best revenue month ever? What if I actually surpass my stretch goal this quarter? What if..." You get the idea. Have some fun with this! It's not all a bunch of bunk; research has proven in many ways that regardless of whether you are creating new pathways in the brain through these exercises, identifying creative solutions, or simply having a good time, the benefits FAR outweigh any negatives. Plus, it takes less time than getting coffee.

As I mentioned earlier, you've already experienced success with this in your life. Think back to a time when you accomplished something that impressed others. It's likely that you took it for granted that you would achieve the goal; you had faith in yourself and the situation, you expected the best, and you went for it with successful results. Pan back a moment, and acknowledge that others tried to achieve that very same goal and found it difficult. Now you understand the power of attitude in achieving your goals.

Techniques: Consider what's on your hot list currently and take a few minutes each day (5 minutes or less needed!) to practice expecting the best. Every time you find yourself assuming the worst, or getting off track from the "expect the best" attitude, just re-focus and try it again. Do this each day until you make the changes necessary to achieve your goal. One of my favorite client exercises to counter doubt is to list 10 pieces of evidence that prove why you are achieving your goal/making positive changes. Extra credit: use these as daily affirmations (post on your mirror, carry a goal card in your wallet, or say them to yourself while driving). Give these a try. Go ahead, I dare you to prove me wrong.

ACTION
Inspiration without action doesn't get you very far. Doing SOMETHING is a requirement to changing habits, circumstances, and results. There are a few important guidelines I will share here to help you make it easier: 1. Do NOT get hung up on how the results are coming to you. As one of my mentors says, "Keep all the doors and windows open because you don't know where it's coming from!" 2. One of the best ways to make change easier is to replace an old habit with a new habit. Don't leave a vacuum where something else undesirable could accidentally get sucked in; make it intentional. For example, say you decide to replace "should" with "could" in your speech, or replace 1 hour of TV daily with a walk or time with a family member. Decide which new habit helps move you in the direction of your goal(s) and which old habit you want to replace. 3. In addition, take action immediately, as soon as you decide to make a change (within 10 minutes, if not within the minute!). Don't let procrastination creep in and ruin your faith and confidence in your ability to make the change successfully. The very moment you make the decision to change, do something that moves you closer to your goal. It can be anything, small or large, such as a phone call, checking something on the internet, signing up for a class, scheduling an appointment or task, or signing a commitment in front of someone you trust, etc...

You will also benefit from setting up a structure/support system to help you succeed. This could be scheduling a daily/frequent reminder in your calender/task program, leaving yourself a voice-mail (such as with an affirmation from step 2) so that you listen to it every day while going through messages, or finding an accountability partner for a weekly 15 min phone call (make sure it's someone you trust completely, or find a professional coach)

There you have it: 3 components to making change easy so that you can achieve your goals more quickly and easily. Enjoy!

Feel free to let me know what you think at heather@EnvisionSuccessInc.com
Yours,
Heather Legge
Envision Success Inc

9 Ways to Stay Motivated

2011-02-09T19:52:00.020-06:00

So you've set your goals or intentions. Now what? From experience, we all know "life gets in the way" and often weeks and months can go by without much progress toward achievements. To change results, there must be a process or system for execution. In other words, you have to

take action. Sometimes the biggest hurdle is staying motivated.

I've identified 3 general ways to stay motivated, with options for each - so that you can harness your drive and WHY power, not rely so much on willpower to get you through.

Daily Focus

One of the most common challenges I hear people cite is a lack of focus. It seems everyone

thinks they are abnormally easily distracted, and many joke they have a touch of attention deficit. I've got news for you- that is average. We are wired for survival, so we are constantly aware and often distracted by things around us. When we see movement, we look. When we are worried, we ruminate, waste energy, and lose sleep. However, you can train yourself to be more focused over time. Many experts suggest a daily meditation practice but frankly while it works wonders, most of us simply won't commit. Therefore, I've identified a few no-brainers to help you achieve daily focus on your goals (benefits are too numerous to list here!):

1. Read your goal daily. Ideally you will also write your goal and reflect upon how great it will be once you've achieved it- but on days when time is tight do this: Wherever it is that you've written down your goal, just take a look at it once daily.

2. Identify 3 small things you can do today that take you step by step closer to achieving your goal. You can do this every morning while brushing your teeth, on the drive into work, or take a few minutes for a "calibration" appointment.

Establish Triggers

Think about how certain smells trigger memories, or certain songs on the radio put you in a mood, good or bad. A trigger is a random reminder about something. You can purposely implement triggers to think about your goal in a positive way. I suggest using regular daily routines, items, patterns so that your triggers occur more frequently, thus reminding you of your goal. (One note of caution: be sure the triggers evoke a positive response and are not stressing you out about getting it done. Also, remember that you choose how you feel about something and can always shift your perspective.)

Some examples:

3. Use a Goal Card placed in your wallet so that you see it every time you open your wallet, or use it as a bookmark for your daily reading, or put it in your car's sun visor or cup holder.

4. Leave yourself a voice-mail message with your Goal Statement (affirmative present tense) so you hear it every time you check messages.

5. Listen to inspiring, motivating audio as you're driving around.

6. Use memo or pop-up reminder functions in your smartphone or on your computer.

7. Set some of your passwords to goal-related word/number combinations so that you think of the goal every time you enter your password.

Accountability Structure

We all know keeping promises to someone else works better than making a promise to yourself- especially if there is no one asking about it or no deadline. To help you achieve your goals by a desired time-frame or to keep your intentions and change habits by a certain date, find a person or persons you trust and set up a basic structure and system for accountability. Talk with them about goals, tasks, commitments, and progress either weekly or biweekly via phone, email, or in person.

8. Identify someone you trust and have good rapport with to be your peak-performance or accountability partner; this includes hiring a professional coach.

9. Join a group that includes a measure of accountability, such as a "MasterMind" group for professional or personal development, bible study, or similar group.

Suggested Action Steps and Resources:

*Take a look at your top goal(s) and identify the most simple way to review it daily (consider the Goal Achieving Guide download here or here)

*Establish positive/affirmative statements in the present tense for each goal (Woo-Hoo! I increased my income 10% and booked that family trip to Sarasota! I can feel the sand between my toes and the sun warming my face!")

*Determine 1 or more triggers that may work for you (consider the Goal Card, download here or here)

*Start thinking about who you can trust to help you stay on track, or find a local coach or group (check out Omaha MasterMind group options here)

Get After It!

~Heather

5 Simple Steps to Achieving Your Goals

2011-01-12T10:57:00.008-06:00

Watch the video summary now.

As I prepared for the coming year, helping my clients prepare their goals and objectives, and working on my own, I realized there is a plethora of resources available to us geared toward goal setting but there was a need for more information about goal ACHIEVING. I set out to create something - some easy worksheets and a few steps - so that anyone could take this document and be a goal achiever. Whether you 'do'
New Year's Resolutions or not, whether you set goals at all, you probably don't realize there are some very simple things you can do to enhance your chances of actually accomplishing what it is you want.

The result is a short (4 page) Goal Achieving Guide that walks you through 5 simple steps to setting and achieving goals that make a difference.

1. Realize your goals need to be YOUR goals. Going through the motions for somebody else or out of obligation will only get you so far.

2. Strengthen your WHY power so that your WILL power matters a lot less.

3. Take all those goals and ideas and tasks and 'incompletes' flying around in your head and download them onto paper – you’ll feel SO much better when you do this, it’s amazing. Then you can take a look at them and make some decisions about what matters, and what doesn’t.

4. Choose 1, 2, or 3 top priority goals for immediate focus. What’s going to have the biggest impact, the biggest payload for you? Now?

5. The final step is about getting it done. Take the right action...so that in a few short weeks or months you experience the benefits of tangible progress and celebrate your success. Page 4 can be used as a weekly printed page to help keep you focused and accountable.

I invite you to check out the guide right now and get started. It’s free. The only thing I ask is that you use it.

Feel free to share your successes and your feedback with me. Really! Email me at Heather@EnvisionSuccessInc.com or phone me sometime at 402.690.4946 if you like. Or check out more at www.EnvisionSuccessInc.com.

Until then, enjoy it. This is about changing your results! I can envision your success. Can you? Now, go get it done.

GOAL ACHIEVING GUIDE

Greater Success Through More Mistakes

2010-11-04T12:56:00.000-05:00

Usually we equate "success" with avoiding mistakes. However, the path to greater success is simple: more mistakes. What? Yes, it seems ironic.

Yet we all have experiences proving this to be true. Consider the times in your life you are most proud of. I'll bet you they were achievement-oriented where you had to overcome some obstacles. You made some mistakes, but you pushed on. You didn't let fear keep you from moving forward. And success tasted sweet.

What Are You Afraid Of?
There is a state of being that I call "burning fuel on the launch pad."
My clients often come to me in this state. They want to blast off and take [it] to the next level, but fear of failure, fear of making mistakes, and sometimes fear of success holds them back. Or-maybe they are not exactly afraid, but more doubtful of their own efforts. Regardless, people often lack the courage or confidence to overcome these obstacles. What's a key difference between successful and unsuccessful people? Successful people "feel the fear and do it anyway." They find ways to build their courage, confidence, and faith. They gain perspective and realize that all people, everywhere, make mistakes.

What sets successful, happy people apart is 1) not avoiding mistakes and 2) controlling their responses to mistakes they make. This is where the term fail-forward comes into play. Everything you may consider a mistake may be merely a learning step designed to get you where you are meant to be. Thomas Edison, considered the greatest inventor of all time by many, did not consider mistakes or failure when inventing the components of the light bulb and referenced learning a lot of ways how not to make a light bulb. He didn't give up; he got it done. He wasn't burning fuel on the launch pad; he launched! And then he course-corrected along the way...

What is a Mistake?
What if finding many ways of not doing something IS the best way to get it done? Why would one assume that regardless of what they are trying to accomplish, there is only one way to get it right? How can that be true, and even if it is, is it possible that the first way is not necessarily the best way? Think of a small child learning to roll over, sit-up, crawl, walk, jump, and run. We don't yell at them for not getting it right the first time, and we don't judge them for all the "mistakes" they are making. We encourage them incessantly and say "Good Job" and "ooh, almost got it" and "try it again!" Yet when we've matured a bit then we suddenly expect never to be in a learning mode ever again...it's ridiculous.

Consider a current goal or project and think about how much you have learned already. Reflect for a few moments on what may happen that could be considered mistakes or learning opportunities. For each one, ask yourself "what's the worst that could happen" and "what's the best that could happen?" OK, now you've essentially done some contingency planning. Are you still willing to move forward with it? When you make the decision to move forward, keep going --and learn as you go.

Perfection Pressures Cause Problems
Sometimes the fear of not getting things "perfect" inhibits action. There is a huge difference between failure and perfection! Picture a target: if the inner circle pinpoint is "perfection" and missing the target altogether is "failure" that means there is a LOT of space that can equal varying degrees of "success." When striving for success, let go of your need to be perfect; otherwise the pressure actually negatively impacts your performance.

Picture what you'd like to happen, and how good it feels to be successful and to be getting better at it the more you try. When initially setting goals you may even consider assigning values for Good, Better, and Best results, similar to the rings in a target.

A Pressure-Impacts-Performance Story: Teri had been working in Sales for about 3 years, striving to meet the goals her managers kept pushing. She was typically in the top group for sales in the department, but she was becoming increasingly disengaged due to pressure to hit numbers and especially when her manager started requiring asking customers to purchase a specific product during every transaction. She struggled with this policy because she didn't feel it was right, and her sales dropped. Her manager pushed her even harder, which upset her, and started looking for a new job elsewhere. She received offers and was feeling really great over the next few months while she waited for the perfect job offer. During this time, she had stopped caring quite so much about meeting goals perfectly, and was having more fun with her work, not getting hung up with anxiety. Voila!, her sales went up dramatically and she won the sales award every month until she got another job. The lesson she learned was that when she relaxed and quit trying to be perfect, her results were even better than she expected.

Small Successes Breed Larger Successes
Another great reason to keep going through minor mishaps is that things build over time. Every time you learn a new way not to do something, you gain knowledge, skills, and sometimes tools that allow you to get better and better at it. When trying something new, you may move from Inexperienced to Novice to Average to Skilled to Expert. Even if you intended to move from Inexperienced to Expert without going through all those confidence-building experiences, you would soon realize that those experiences are precisely what makes an expert. Not only do you learn to use various resources to solve problems and overcome hurdles, you prove to yourself that you can do those types of things.

In addition, every time you have any success it gives a jolt of energy and validates that you are on the right path, and builds your confidence to step our of your comfort zone again. Realize that you have to put yourself out there in order to have successful experiences. In other words, you don't win the prizes without playing the game.

The greatest successes are achieved by those who make the greatest mistakes, so get out there and try it. Decide what it is that you're going after and do it. Once you've launched, you can always course-correct!

Selling With Confidence

2010-10-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

Feel like you want or need more Sales Moxie or Mojo? Do you berate yourself for not asking for the sale, speaking with confidence, or generally being uncomfortable or even afraid in sales situations? There are some easy ways to feel more comfortable and confident when selling.

After all, "sell" is a 4-letter word.
But "sell" is not a bad word! Successful sellers are helpful, influential, and skilled at finding a match with customer needs --rather than manipulative-- so you can quit worrying about changing your personality! You probably just need to rev up your confidence. Yes, there is definitely the idea of too much confidence in sales which can come across as aggressive, "sales-y" or pushy, and this approach is the cause of most buyer's remorse, returns, and canceled contracts. Yet the other side of the spectrum is probably worse because although it makes friends and establishes comfort with prospects and buyers, it is simply not as effective (as the overly confident sales approach) in terms of actual sales. Let's face it, provided you believe in your product or service, you can't truly help people if you don't offer them ownership.

Why do people buy from sharks?
Bottom line: they respect sales confidence. Think about how your own buying experiences validate this. As buyers, we want
to trust that the salesperson knows what they are doing, what they are talking about is based in fact, and we appreciate intelligent answers to our questions. We may hate to be sold, but we also dislike a salesperson who is second-guessing him/herself. Facts must be stated affirmatively without hemming and hawing and umming and oh geez I'm not sure. (It is OK to say, "I'm not fully sure and I would like to get the correct answer for you by [day/time] if that's OK with you." as long as it isn't your answer for several or all of the buyer's questions.)

Respect the buyer by respecting yourself first.
If you don't respect yourself, the buyer/prospect will pick up on it loud and clear, and will feel time is wasting. No one appreciates a doormat. No one appreciates an obnoxious jerk either. Find your own version of the right amount of Friendly Assertiveness, as I like to call it. During the conversation, will you open the door to the sale or let them walk all over you?

Expect the best!
What outcome would you really like to experience from this conversation or transaction? How do you want to feel after the sales meeting? You want the sale. Right. You want to walk away with payment or a contract, or at least a follow-up appointment. OK, get it done. You cannot doubt yourself (they will notice); make it a foregone conclusion but not way obvious. You cannot bowl them over and try to force anything (they will know you don't have their interest in mind). The best free, immediate technique that requires no skill-building and works miracles is this:

Imagine yourself walking to your car after the sales appointment, smiling to yourself, and suppressing the urge to dance a jig and yell, "Woo-Hoo!" in the middle of the parking lot. Fantasize for a few minutes. How does it feel to get that sale? Greaat! Now pretend you are thinking back on what went well...you showed just the right amount of professionalism, knowledge, helpfulness, confidence, and when you asked for the sale they said, "Yes." You did all the right things. Feels wonderful, doesn't it? Now, you are preparing for that meeting, knowing it's going to go well.

Well, what do you need to do?
What is within your control, that when changed, will make a difference? Acting and speaking confidently is definitely something you have control over that makes a significant difference in every sales conversation.

What builds confidence?
The way you are dressed; the way you present yourself will either add confidence or take it away. Preparation also adds confidence; do some homework and be on time with all the necessary tools or props (but don't let too much preparation become a way to avoid sales meetings).

Learn what you can.
Educating yourself on your product/service as well as other aspects of the buying/ownership process that impact the customer will help you add value and be an asset. Not only should this be required learning for anyone in sales, it also builds your confidence so you feel ready to face prospects. This also feeds your need for professional development. (Fun fact: did you know many "very successful" people tithe 10% of their income on professional development?) Regarding educating yourself, be aware that reading, learning, and preparation activities are NOT sales activities. In order to increase sales income, you need to spend time meeting with prospects. Build in some learning consistently on an ongoing basis, but don't let it become a way to avoid what's important.

Go Get 'Em!
Heather

Cultivating a Daily Success Mindset

2010-09-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

What one skill do all successful people, all around the world, and all throughout time, have in common?

Whether they realize it or not, they all are masters at visualizing their success. They routinely envision successful outcomes--and most often expect nothing else. Their words likely match their thoughts, but they may have also mastered the art of not telling everyone how confident they are. If you could tap into the minds of the top tier of successful people, you would find
that their thoughts are predominantly focused around success. Also, the truly successful don't let others sway them from their vision, and each has his or her own personal definition of "success."

Consider the last time you tackled something challenging. Did you focus on the desired outcome, or were you concerned about your performance, or consumed with worry about the possibility of failure?

One of my favorite statements is, "You can't win by playing not to lose." This attitude can be applied to starting a business, finishing your degree, negotiating a big contract, buying that house, or achieving your fitness goals. This isn't just about the bigger stuff either; it also applies to daily events and interactions with others. A successful mindset is a habit worth cultivating - you can apply it to facilitate meetings, navigate traffic, shop for groceries, complete workouts, and spend meaningful time with family & friends.

How to apply it? Practice picturing yourself successful in some or all of the above scenarios. Daydream for a few minutes, and imagine how great it will be when things are going as you hoped. Pick one goal for focus, convince yourself it is possible, envision yourself being successful, and then take some action.

May 'the force' be with you!
Heather Legge

Envision Success Inc

Take Control Over Your To-Do List

2010-09-20T08:07:00.001-05:00

Are you one of the millions with a To-Do list? How about one with WAY more items on the list than humanly possible to get done in a day, or even a month? If so, are you ready for a better way? You've suspected there is a better way...you've probably known for a long time. I've identified some proven techniques that will help you take back control of "the lists" -- so that about a week from now you won't miss your old "system" and you'll be amazed at how much smoother things are going.

Let's talk To-Do list "How-To's." Seems a little ridiculous? Yet - if it's going to help you feel better and get more done, it's worth reading on, right?

Mind Dump
The first thing I recommend is to set a timer, have plenty of paper/pens (or a computer app with unlimited typing space), and
Go! Dump all the "to-do" stuff out of your head onto the paper or word doc, etc. Don't worry about filtering the items on the list at all right now, just get it all out of your head and into something you can work with later. Call it The Project List, or The Dump List, or Possibilities. When the timer goes off you probably won't be done. As you think of more items, just keep adding them to the list. Getting it all out of your memory is incredibly freeing; most people 'like a weight was lifted off' them. Ideally, you'll do this once to get started and then add to the list about weekly. From this working list, you can identify the most important things for your daily To-Dos.

List of Six
When coming up with a daily To-Do List, it's critically important that you realize the power of the list. It may seem crazy, but it's been proven that checking off/accomplishing items on a list gives a person a small burst of energy (satisfaction!), and NOT checking off items on a list unfortunately takes some energy away (guilt?). Knowing this, your mission is to include items on your daily list that WILL be done before your head hits your pillow.

A very successful system is to have only 6 items- the most important things that must be done to be most effective, if you will. Yes, SIX. Not 16 or 60; SIX important things that make a difference or that must be done. Keep in mind that "eat dinner" or "brush teeth" won't be on a To-Do list. However, "exercise" might be on the list for some people, until it's an established habit like brushing teeth. The key to To-Do list happiness is to realize when you add something to the list, you've made a promise to yourself, and breaking a promise to yourself is just as detrimental as breaking a promise to someone else.

Would you agree to do something for a friend and then change your mind willy-nilly? When you see the item pop up on your calendar, would you just say "Oh, I don't feel like doing that right now?" if you had promised someone else? Nope. Right now, or at the end of today, make your list of the 6 OR LESS most important things that need to be done tomorrow (no matter what). Aaaah, how good it feels to have accomplished these things!

Extra Credit
I've found that our society's conditioning makes accepting a list of only 6 things a serious challenge for most people. I urge you to do it anyway, but to set a very small list of Extra Credit items down as a compromise between your old way (that didn't work) and the new way (that works, but you need convincing at this point). In other words, identify the most important 6 things that must be done before your head hits the pillow, and if a few other items creep onto the list, anything over 6 becomes "Extra Credit." Yes, this means you have to prioritize which are most important, and to give yourself the OK that if Extra Credit items don't get done by the end of the day, it's alright. This will help you maintain control.

I WANT to...
My final tip on this mini list for accomplishing more and feeling better about your To-Do List is to take back control of your mindset about the list. You've been conditioned to feel like you have to, and sometimes you get so attached to getting things done that your very identity seems to depend on it. It doesn't have to be like that. Merely changing "I have to" and "I need to" -to- "I want to" and "I will" can set you free. Try it now. Think of 2-3 things that have been weighing on you and say, "I choose to ____." for each of them. It's likely you experience a shift, or you realize it doesn't need to be on the list at all. In the coming days and weeks, every time you catch yourself saying "I have to" replace it with "want," "choose," etc... Congratulations, my friend; you've done it. It's that simple.

Consider which of these resonate with you. Execute on 1 or all 4 of the above for the next week or month and you will definitely feel better and accomplish more. I know, it's hard to believe such simple things can yield such great results. But after all, that's usually the case.

Here's to your success!
Heather

Business Planning

2010-08-27T11:22:00.001-05:00

BUSINESS PLANNING: A Coach's Perspective on the Process

When it comes to business planning, I see a spectrum where on one side are people who love thinking about possibilities, strategizing and analyzing options, often spending hours, days, weeks dreaming about what's to come, planning -- and not implementing. On the other side are people who hate the boring, time-consuming and sometimes paper-work laden process of planning in business and so they procrastinate it indefinitely or participate half-heartedly only when mandatory.

There is a zone in the middle where business people explore possibilities, create a plan, implement the plan, achieve goals, and reap the rewards. How can you participate fully in business planning so you experience these valuable gains without wasting time? It's actually pretty simple.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

From my perspective, the most important facets of business planning are
the same that differentiate goal setting vs goal ACHIEVING.

One of these is exploring and defining one primary goal, clearly articulated, attainable & realistic, yet absolutely a stretch out of the comfort zone. Therefore, the first and most important step in business planning is to determine your ultimate goal (aka the purpose for the business, why does it exist, or what is the mission you are on right now). This is normally not a quick task unless you've spent focus time on it previously. For most people, expending focused thought energy is the hardest kind of work possible. My suggestion is gather the bare minimum amount of materials needed to get this done, find a comfortable place with no distractions (turn your phone OFF), and set a timer for a period of focus time to get your ultimate business goal(s) written down.

ENGAGE OTHERS

The next step for business owners and managers is to engage others on the team, gathering input, learning valuable insight, and gaining buy-in --because planning and implementing in a vacuum doesn't bode well for the success of the business. For solo-preneurs, there may not be others available to bounce ideas off of. I suggest creating a "board of directors," even if just 1-2 others you trust and respect.

BREAK IT DOWN

Once the primary business goal is determined and documented, it's time to break it down into actionable parts. Do this by working backward from the final achievement of the primary goal. Best-practices suggest setting quarterly or monthly milestones which are specific, measurable targets that, when achieved, naturally lead to the primary goal being achieved.

KEY ACTIVITIES

Brainstorm and document key activities that support hitting the targets, including tasks that achieve short- and long-term goals simultaneously. (Note: many of the problems people are dealing with in today's business environment are the direct (and indirect) results of decisions made for short-term gains.)

When considering which activities cause which results, every member of the team should question assumptions and be cautious of "diving down into the weeds" too early. Most people have a habit of auto-filtering that narrows their choices too quickly for truly good decision-making. Stifling this urge during the planning process allows full discussion and exploration of every option before selecting courses of action.

SIMPLICITY

Keep it simple! I recommend a one-page document that outlines the main elements of the business plan. Share it with everyone on the team, and follow-through, holding each other accountable so you can all enjoy the benefits of successful goal achieving.

TRACK & CELEBRATE PROGRESS

For every business, a total reevaluation and/or validation annually is a good idea, as are periodic (monthly or quarterly) check-ups to track progress and celebrate successes. Some people or departments will prefer more detailed plans down to the week or day level. Where this is truly effective, that's fine but be sure to avoid unnecessary/redundant work.

Frankly, there is no substitute for good planning in business. Many people exaggerate the amount of time and effort needed in good planning and consequently procrastinate planning for business growth, especially since it feels like "lower priority" than the day-to-day running of the business. Just a couple years down the road they will likely find themselves stuck, stagnant and frustrated. Remember that there is no such thing as maintaining; we are either growing or dying. Effective business planning ensures business growth.

What You See Is What You Are

2010-07-13T00:44:00.001-05:00

We can look at another person and discern some things about them immediately. In addition, we can look at our own overall picture and acknowledge that it is a mirror reflection of who we are; our state of well-being, physical health, financial health, strength of relationships, and success in business. These are outward reflections of our mindsets, philosophies, and specifically how we think of our self.

Why do the vast majority of people who win the lottery lose it all and find themselves in the same financial status as before their winnings? Why do roughly 99% of people who go on a diet to lose weight gain that weight back?

It's as if we have a default setting, and something may occur to change the setting, but usually we seem to return back to that setting eventually. We do. In a nutshell, it is
a person's image of self that determines their own unique settings; their expectations of their self, their inner picture of what their outer picture is. Phrases like, "I'm the kind of person who..." are very illluminating.

What you see is what you are; i.e. what you expect for yourself is what you create of yourself. Do you have trouble selling yourself in business? Or building a connection with others? Think of those people you have met who make it look easy. They seem to have a natural confidence and uncanny timing; people consider them to be lucky or blessed. They are! They are blessed with a picture of themselves being successful in these situations. They simply expect it to happen.

You are already much better at this than you think. Consider one or two areas of your life or work in which you feel proud of yourself. You may not feel you can talk to others about it, but inside you feel really good about these things- your performance, your expectation of yourself is always positive. "I'm naturally good at ____, or people are always complimenting me on my _________." These are perfect examples of how you are already using this powerful principle for success. Once you realize it, you can work to apply it in other areas of your life or work. What would you like to tackle first?

Technique/Action Steps:
1. Consider something about yourself you would like to change
2. Every time you think about it, have awareness of connecting it to the external (i.e. I am late because of the traffic, or I got a phone call, I'm so busy I forget to check the time, etc...)
3. Acknowledge that you think of yourself this way (i.e., I am a late person, I've been struggling with this for as long as I can remember)
4. Re-write your results by identifying what you would like to be different, in a positive way, in descriptive, powerful words that convey confidence in your ability to achieve (i.e. I'm a just-in-time person; I always have just enough time to be punctual regardless of the situation)
5. Form a picture in your mind of how things will be different, starting now. Visualize the results for just 1-3 minutes, on a daily basis

Getting Started: From Intention to Reality

2010-06-28T17:40:00.003-05:00

So you want to make a change. The "pain" of your current situation has caused you to want something different. You may exclaim, "That's IT! Something needs to change with this. I am going to______."

Congratulations, you just initiated a new goal! Even if it's not new. What counts is that you feel motivated and intend to do something to change your current situation. Yep, it's that simple. You said you wanted to change, but do you really think of it as a goal? Probably not- until you've written it down, talked about it with a few people, maybe posted it on Facebook, or acknowledged it as something you want -it doesn't feel like a "goal." However, realize that you told yourself and anyone in earshot that you have an INTENTION. You can choose to make it a goal (or not). Why did you say it, if you didn't really want to make a change on some level? So now what?

That spark of motivation, no matter how small, can be leveraged to pull you through the first couple of challenges...but to make it all the way you must ensure first that you set the right goal for YOU, for right NOW.

Do You Really Want It?
There are some key differences between goal setting and goal ACHIEVING. The most critical difference is that Goal Achievers have set the right goal: not just any random intention becomes a goal worthy of focus and effort. Do you really want it? When you think about actually achieving your goal, it should scare you a little bit, and excite you a lot. If it's not the right intention-come-goal, then don't worry about it. Think about what you DO want.

From Intention to Goal
What exactly do you want to change? When it comes to goals, the more clear and specific you are, the better. This essentially gives your brain a blueprint so it can get to work. Can you imagine hiring a contractor to build your dream house and not giving them clear instructions? What a disaster!

A Technique
A. Often it's easier to start by identifying what you don't want. *Do it now.* What specific things bother you about the current situation and why? Make something of a list. You don't need to show it to anyone, but at least consider that this a very effective tool for fueling your motivation (plus it's free!).
B. Now review the list of what you don't want. For each item, identify the opposite, and create a short list of things you want to experience once the goal is achieved.
C. Use your notes and thoughts to rough-draft a goal with some specifics (at the very least, you need enough detail to know when you are successful).

From Goal to Reality
Write your goal down. We all know that writing down a goal significantly increases the chances of success, and one of the reasons why is that the process of forming exact words to describe the goal makes it more concrete in the mind (becomes the blueprint for success!). A best-practice in achieving goals is to use a Goal Card. Write the goal on a small card and carry it in your pocket or wallet every day. Every time you come across it, think about how great it will be once you succeed with that goal. This will increase your focus and help you more easily make changes in behavior or decision-making that leads to success.

Want an example? This is the story of a client in real estate (*name changed):

Claire* avoids making follow up calls. She loses another client one day and she believes it is due to lack of timely follow-up and she is frustrated with herself. She vents her anger by banging some stuff around on her desk and beating herself up verbally, then proclaims tomorrow is a new day. She thinks about it some that night, and in the morning she is ready to consider how to change and begins making her list:

1. I forget to follow-up sometimes, I forget to add people/calls to my to-do list or calendar.
2. I sometimes lose business due to my lack of professional follow-up.
3. People are disappointed when I don't call or email like I said I would.
4. I feel uncomfortable making these phone calls, I'm afraid I am bothering people or they think I am pushy. I feel guilty when I don't do it, then it drains me.

She considers the opposite, or desired outcome, for each:
1. I have a good system for tracking follow-up tasks and don't rely on memory.
2. I build trust and credibility by following up in a timely manner, which earns me more business.
3. People are impressed when I call or email exactly when I said I would.
4. I feel comfortable making follow-up calls; I know people enjoy talking with me and I feel good about keeping the commitment and it gives me energy.

Claire takes a break, then comes back to it later to draft her goal statement:
She acknowledges that she likes talking with people and she enjoys helping people through her work. She writes, "I actually enjoy making follow-up calls and have achieved my goal of completing all my follow-ups within 2 business days of all my meetings during the week." She writes it on a small card and puts it in her wallet. She reviews it twice daily that week, once before each follow-up call session. She tries a few different things. It works: her goal statement becomes truth!

Happy Achieving!!
Heather Legge

Communication: Going Beyond Verbal and Non-Verbal

2010-05-18T12:28:00.000-05:00

Most everyone wants to improve their communication skills on some level, generally because we all understand that better communication can provide the key to better relationships, more success in business, more sales/revenue, happier customers, and engaged employees. Most everyone understands that communication is not exactly as simple as 2 cans and some string. Often, we experience challenges communicating with certain types of people. Or, ahem, very specific people; a family member, coworker, former boss, former friend, ex significant other, etc... It doesn't seem as simple as "Message Sent. Message Received." It's not.

Beyond the verbal simplicity of communicating with others, all the various non-verbal actions add layers of complexity to any face-to-face conversation. Yet there is more beyond this. What about all the assumptions that both sides bring to the table, often before they have even met?

The Halo Effect
Have you ever witnessed a parent who looks right past all their child's dastardly behavior and swears up and down their child is the most angelic, perfect kid? Often they are not just saying that; they really believe it. This is the halo effect; when every word and deed of the child is seen as proof they are angelic. The parent in this case, has their mind made up, and they can see only the good in their child's behavior. You've seen this at work too with bosses and their favorites. When a person is tuned into certain behavior and expectations regarding another person, and over time enough things "prove" this to be true, at a certain point almost every single thing they do and say will strengthen the belief that they will always meet these expectations.

The Opposite of a Halo is...
The halo effect also works the other way: when you believe someone will behave badly or fail time and time again, they will seem to consistently you right. Again, we can cite examples of parent/child and boss/employee. You have likely worked with someone or remember a kid in school that everyone thought was weird. Everything they said was weird, their clothes seemed weird, and no one wanted to pick them for Dodgeball or debate team. However, I'd be willing to bet that if the popular kid in class said or did some of those exact same things, people would have reacted very differently.

What about when the tables are turned?
Have you been the recipient of the halo effect, either good or bad? Were you teacher's favorite? Or always getting in trouble for stuff you didn't do? One of my clients about a year ago came to me because she was miserable regarding her work and wanted to consider other career options. Somehow the halo effect had turned her work group against her. NOTE: this person is very sweet, sincerly nice, courteous, intelligent, pretty quiet, kind of good looking, and quite stylish. Unfortunately something started it, probably a very minor misunderstanding and well over some period of time, it seemed that this group could only see shortfalls in this person. She was given a poor performance review, although none of the problems could be substantiated; unfortunately her manager had fallen prey to the halo effect too, in a bad way. She left that company and started doing something else and is much happier now, and has good relationships in her work and personal life. Bottom line: the light cast by the halo effect is very powerful, especially when it becomes a belief held by multiple people in a group. In this case, and in many others, the belief is not the reality... We've all witnessed experienced something similar- in school, at work, in other groups, maybe even at church or community groups.

The Halo Effect on Relationships
To an extent it seems like human nature, and it is. We label, categorize, and stereotype. Consider the influence that these inaccurate assumptions have on communication between people, your own communication, your relationships at work, in your life.

Who have you -maybe- cast the halo effect on where what you see reflected is something other than reality? On some level, just about everybody you know. Think about it...how many people understand YOU, your thoughts, your silly private jokes, your humor, your worries, your quirks? What if they were constantly misinterpreted because people already had their mind made up about you? How many people knows you very, very well?

This isn't about you feeling bad, it's about awareness and realizing what type of expectations you have of other people. Consider your next planned conversation, maybe it's a meeting or social occasion, and the person you'll be talking with. Have you been making some assumptions about them? Are you expecting some behavior or thoughts of them that you can't really be sure about? Try something different this time: right now, think about what potential they have and what could happen, what are they really capable of, if given a real chance.

Now you have some understanding of the power of the halo effect on communication, on relationships, on potentially every conversation and transaction in your daily life and work. Really notice this week when you observe this happening, and consider the how the result might be different if the expectations were different.

ACTION:
Think of one person each in your professional and personal arenas. What if you start expecting the best, realistic outcome from these people?

An Even More Powerful Effect
One final take-away: Have you unknowingly been applying the halo effect to yourself? Good or bad? What expectations do you have of yourself? Do you find that everything you do just proves your case? It's not just about communication, but yes the halo effect definitively has power in your relationships, with others, and with yourself. Acknowledge when based on assumption verus fact...true knowledge is power!

Partners in Business: from the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly –to Great!

2010-05-07T18:51:00.001-05:00

How to profit from and enjoy each other’s personal and professional strengths in business.

Choosing a partner in business is just as important as choosing the right marriage partner, yet many people “fall into bed with” someone in business and "wake up" later wondering what happened. It starts innocently enough, as a fun idea over drinks after-hours, then suddenly it can take on a personality of its own and can overwhelm a friendship or other relationship with all the sticky details of running a business. The stress builds and soon the partners can hardly stand each other, from the varying ways they prioritize business activities, different approaches with clients or employees, and annoying personal habits they bring to the office.

We all know roughly the statistics on marriages that break up citing financial reasons…is it any wonder that most business partnerships end for similar reasons? However, most often financial problems are symptom of relationship problems or partnership “personality” challenges.

Creating Great Partnerships for Great Business:
I. Choose the right partner; this critical step is often flubbed up. Take time for discussions about many aspects of the business, go through what-if scenarios, and expectations.

II. Create the partnership business plan and agreement together before the business really takes off. Both of these are best when kept simple but usable. Hire an attorney familiar with partnership contracts, and actually go through the process of discussing and agreeing. (I believe this step alone could prevent as much as 50% of future partnership dissolution.)

III. Check to see if you have the same dream, as far as what the business provides. Are you assuming early retirement and moving to the Caribbean, when your partner is planning to work in the office daily until they pry his cold, dead fingers from the desk? What about the vision for the business? Maybe one partner is expecting to expand into new markets, while the other feels it ruins the integrity of the business to grow beyond one location. It takes conversation and brainstorming strategically (and sometimes a facilitator or coach) to be on the same page. And agreement; what may seem like a grudging compromise can grow into a solution where both partners are truly happy.

IV. Establish policies, guidelines, or protocols for doing business and handling common activities. What criteria do you use in decision-making? Do half your employees follow one partner’s guidelines, and half the other’s? Do your staff members feel they get caught in the crossfire? Consider how this affects the work environment, the clientele, the bottom line.

Many partnerships go through “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” phases and sadly most that get to this point break up. Some come to another end, hopefully with an arrangement that allows them to resume their former camaraderie without financial strain. Some partners buy the business, others agree to switch to silent/investor-only/limited partnerships and let the more business-talented partner act as business owner, and others form a custom arrangement that allows for win/win.

Then again, some partners (the few, the proud) work out their differences, get their purpose, mission, and goals aligned, and become Great Partnerships, running Great businesses. Yes, it is worth some consideration. After all, you were attracted to the idea of working together once upon a time…

ACTION: Answer the following questions separately, and then discuss together.
*What made the partnership such a great idea back then?
*What are the top 3 things your partner brings to the partnership?
*What do see as the top 3 things you bring to the partnership?
*How can you work together to create more positive business results?

SPECIAL OFFERS
Through the end of June 2010: SWOT Analysis for Business Owners. Up to three partners, same price as one owner. Only $350.

Also great for Partners: “Purpose, Mission, Goals” 3 month coaching program, only $1500. Focus is on where all the time, money, and effort goes, and specifically what long- and short-term results are expected. What results would you like to change first?

Managing Work-Related Stress

2010-04-28T12:44:00.011-05:00

What is a typical work day like for a modern working professional? It’s often described as hectic, or frustrating, or rushed...but also as productive, sometimes as satisfying. However, most people describe their work days in terms of all the elements they do NOT have control over.

Relaxed Control
What does this mean? You may think this is an oxymoron (like 'jumbo shrimp'), but I believe it is a much better way to describe the opposite of stressed than “not stressed.” First, however, let's establish what stress is.

Stress is...a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. Or: physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.

A client of mine "Kathy" is a project leader in a large company. She came to me originally because she felt so unhappy about her work shewanted to talk about career options. However in her case, another job was not the solution and we went to work on some of the very things I’ll share with you here. After a short time of working together, Kathy told me her husband commented about how much happier she was, and the more we talked she realized she didn’t have the Sunday blues any more. Her coworkers did not change, her boss did not change, her work did not change much at all, but she did start working on projects she liked more and using her talents better for herself and for the company. The main difference that caused Kathy’s stress level to dial way back was merely applying these mindsets and using these techniques. They are easy to apply immediately and if you choose, will make a significant difference for you too.

Stress Less?
What's the difference between managing stress and preventing stress? In our work processes, we know all too well the differences between managing and preventing problems, and this is essentially the same approach. Some factors can be addressed to prevent and reduce stress, so like anything else, it’s generally far better to be strategic than to just accept what comes your way.

**Think about your Top 3 Stressors, or your top 3 challenges that cause you stress. Another way to determine what stresses you out is to list out some tolerations, or things that you are putting up with from yourself, your work, your life, or other people. It may help to consider your various environments.

Take Responsibility for the Quality of Your Days
You can have a balanced, happy, productive life by applying some simple, proven concepts. As a business coach I often help my clients focus on ways to WORK BETTER so they can LIVE MORE LIFE. So how do you Work Better (get more done in less time) in order to Live More Life (do what you really want)?

You own your day, no one else can force you to feel a certain way or to do things that you don't want to do. Yes, sometimes it feels like choosing the lesser of two bad options, but it is still a choice. So how do we strive for a more quality experience in work or life, especially on those days when we feel, well, Maxed Out?

If you approach the day with a sense of rushed frustration, saying something like” Today is gonna be rough, I have so much to do, I have to call so-and-so, and I have this meeting, and my boss said she wants to talk later about that project, AH I’d really like to play hooky today but I really can’t. Ugh!” it is guaranteed to be a stressful day. Versus taking an approach of “Today I have a lot going on and I want this to be a really great day! I may just close the deal with so-and-so, and I have an opportunity to speak up in that meeting, and this afternoon I’m going to suggest at least one way I can add more value to the project and I going to ask my boss to support me on this."

Decide What You Want
Believe it or not, knowing what you want ion life and working toward something specific that you want lessens your stress considerably.

One of the best ways to increase your feeling in control is to manage your activities better. See various other posts on Effectiveness & Time Management in this blog. Another great way to be more relaxed and feel more in control is through Mind Games. This is not about playing mind games, but using the power of the mind to beat the stress game. Decide what you want and focus on that.

Positive Expectation
When entering into any situation, project, sales meeting, conversation with your boss or that difficult coworker or client, begin with the end in mind. Once you’ve established a good understanding of your desired outcome, then you want to use your creative mind to turn that Desired Outcome into a Positive Expectation. Any person with an imagination is capable of this, it’s fun, and it produces awesome results. Ok, so a little more how-to:

Consider how you want to feel at the end of the conversation, or the end of your day. Then use words that indicate it has already happened like you want, and is not merely wishful thinking.

**Think about your top three stress challenges right now, and the tolerations in your work and life. What do you want to change? Let’s take that one step further. What is your positive expectation, framed in the affirmative? As an example: Maybe, "I stay late at work too often." becomes "I want to leave work on time." WHY? Then take it to the next level which is far more powerful, such as, saying at the end of a work day, “I feel satisfied with a job well done today and I look forward to cooking dinner with my family.”

Setting your Purpose, Mission, or Goal
Specifically, what are you working toward? Take a look in your calendar(s) and your bank statement(s) --this is where your time and money is going. Consider what you REALLY want in your life and work. What do you want to be known for? What do you want to change over the next few weeks, months, year?

How can you possibly get from A to B if you don’t know what B is? Do you just get in your car and start driving aimlessly? NO, before you get to the end of your street, you know your desired destination. Strangely, most people don’t know what they want. Like most people, I used to spend more time determining where to go for dinner, or making out my shopping list than determining what to accomplish over the next year.

Ponder your purpose, your big picture, i.e. "Why are you here?" Determine the Mission you are on right now, maybe it's your career or a large project regarding your household or community. What are your passions? If you haven't done so already, write down a primary goal, something specific enough so that you know when you succeeded and can celebrate, and something personally meaningful for YOU.

Hints: Saying you want more time or money isn't specific enough– what will you do when you have the time or money? **Write down 2 things you would do more of if you didn’t have to worry about time or money. Also, it's not enough to say, I just want to be happy. You are fully in control of that right now, regardless of your present situation. Happiness is a state of mind that you deserve to feel daily and is not a goal or mission or purpose statement. **Take 5 minutes and answer the following: What helps you create or sustain your own happiness and why?

Relaxed Control in Summary
When you catch yourself saying things like, “He makes me mad!” or “I felt sick about that.” Or “My heart skipped a beat.” Or “I never have enough time!,” acknowledge that it is your response to something or someone--and you made youself feel mad or sick or nervous; stressed.

When striving for a state of relaxed control, you realize fully that your responses are always within your control, even if they seem to be at super-speed in the subconscious, and these directly affect the level of stress you experience...and with practice they will be more and more as intentional responses rather then conditioned reactions.

Your Challenge
Will you commit to ONE of these for 21 days, and see what amazing things happen? Are you ready to experience that Relaxed Control? Imagine how different life will be in less than a month!

What is your new, positive expectation for yourself? What do you have to gain? What do you have to lose?

See also Are You Truly Effective? and Tackling Procrastination

The Unexpected Value of Office Gossip

2010-04-22T17:03:00.002-05:00

This is a personal story about the power of the grapevine in the office...

Once upon a time, I worked for a company that didn’t really value its employees as people or as resources. Surprisingly, the company was quite small so it felt like people truly mattered. The smallness provided an inherent focus on people because we all knew each other --so well since we could overhear pretty much every conversation unless behind closed doors. While it seemed people-centric on the surface, we eventually noticed that none of the policies or procedures or decisions were ever for the employee’s benefit, nor were they even win/win…they were always “for” the bottom line.

Management was crafty about putting a spin on announcements, so that they actually thought we bought their argument about whatever decision made was for the best- for the company and its employees. But it was a sham. People talked all the time about it, in the hallway to the bathroom, in the kitchenette, out in the parking lot after hours. People lamented why they worked there.

I had been working there almost 3 years when a series of policies were changed for the worse, again, and salary adjustments were like a slap in the face. It was disheartening to say the least, and almost 6 months later I prepared to leave the company. I’ll never forget what came next. Management expressed shock and dismay, and concern over what would happen to many things that were my responsibility across the company. Most notably, they just couldn’t imagine why I wanted to leave. They didn’t even fake consideration regarding what was best for me, or offer congratulations on taking a more prestigious job more related to my college degree.

A few days later, my direct manager sat me down to discuss reasons for leaving. I thought it was to evaluate what the company could have done to keep me as a happy, productive, valued employee (as they claimed I was), and determine how best to transition my duties & projects. However, these were not discussed since my manager was far more concerned with what the office memo would say announcing my departure. I was probed and prodded until finally the reason for my leaving was determined (NOT due to the crappy employee policies, a laughable salary, and my lack of will to go on in a company without a real purpose.).

The memo went out the next day announcing I "was going back to school.” Because I understood the power of office gossip and valued it more than these managers, I realized I had but one final duty to perform. I found myself going along with what was expected of me, attempting to tame the destructive nature of the grapevine and putting a positive spin on the announcement, like too sweet icing on a ruined cake. It was hard to keep a straight face when everyone who worked there knew most of the truth, and yet I explained that the firm I was joining offered an education reimbursement program and I wanted to complete graduate school (well yeah, someday).

For me, this was like the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. I did stay in touch with a few people, and discovered that one by one, they all left that company for similar reasons. It turns out the grapevine was never tamed because employees knew they were never getting the truth from management. People spent a whole lot of time talking and philosophizing and assuming and whining about all the topics that management made announcements about. They missed the mark on honesty and forethought.

As Stephen Denning reminds us in Squirrel Inc, "Every organization has a shadow aspect, hidden but alive---pulsing, throbbing, and moving. Once a leader realizes its existence and its role in the organization, its energy can be harnessed to deal with the rumors and bad news that flow through it." The mistake this company made was thinking they could outsmart the grapevine with announcements that fell far short of honesty. I share this story in a spirit of "lessons learned" for all managers, owners, leaders, and employees everywhere dealing with the grapevine in their place of work. Use it well, my friends!

As for me, I moved on. Fortunately I realized it really wasn’t personal, and in fact the problem was that it wasn’t personal enough. Management did not, through word or deed, respect employees as human beings. Now I feel truly thankful for the experience, because I learned the value of water-cooler talk versus the management memo, and it made me a far better manager, leader, and business owner.

Moving Forward Despite the Fear

2010-04-01T12:04:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite phrases is "feel the fear and do it anyway!"
It's inspirational, motivational, & a classic in the making -- but how realistic is it? How many people can live and work by this credo? Consider those who we idolize in our society...many of our greatest heroes and heroines did just that, and we collectively are better off because of them.

So how can we apply it to real life, and experience the benefits of stepping out of our comfort zone on a regular basis? This is NOT just about people we consider larger-than-life, or fables, or even movies (i.e.Yes Man).

I was faced with an assignment from one of my MasterMind groups this week: to use the art of storytelling defined in Stephen Denning's "Squirrel Inc" to tell my own story that illustrates Who I Am and builds trust. As a business coach, I thought a bit about which stories would be most compelling for my clients and other people in my life and work. I had a tough time thinking that anything I have done personally merits the use of formal storytelling - it seemed to place too much importance on my little life. However, I realized that I really DO live my life continuously seeking ways to help others, and realized that like any other person on this planet, I have stories to tell and lessons to share. So here goes:

I was taught to play it safe.
My parents were strict, we moved around all the time, lived at what most considered poverty level, and I distinctly remember being the least popular kid in my elementary school classes. I was painfully shy, and I spent a lot of time being uncomfortable in my own skin.
I was afraid.

We moved a lot 'cause dad was in the military, and sometimes we moved in with grandparents, zig-zagging across the nation and around the world. Life was always shaking things up, and I guess I learned to adapt. All my life I never thought of myself as a brave person; I was merely the responsible oldest child. But always I wanted things to be different, better, I wanted more...

Flash forward some decades, and now people often describe me as very different from how I was then. It started in High School when I reluctantly agreed to do solos in band, and in choir, and in church. I was shaking so much that the audiences could hear it in my performances, but I did it anyway. I guess it never occurred to me to say 'No' to something I wanted.

I started considering other possibilities and I started saying Yes to things. I moved away to college in Texas; I didn't know anyone before I went. I lived with a family in France for a whole summer; I had never even talked to them before I arrived on their doorstep. And the first time I ever rented a car was my 2nd week at a job, I had to drive my new coworkers around a very large and unfamiliar city. But I pulled it off. Every time. Probably no one was the wiser, and people started referring to me as brave and confident.

I've lived a LOT of great life this way, knowing I won't choose an utterly bonehead move, and I won't let myself totally fail, and I won't say 'No' just because I am afraid. Actually, one of my best Yes's was starting my own business to help others determine what they want to be different, to say YES and to step through fear, and then to rise to the challenge.

And that's how I got here, doing this, today.

So- Figure out what it is you desire. And then FEAL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY!!

Dealing With Difficult People

2010-02-25T14:59:00.003-06:00

This is a topic that keeps coming up in professional circles over and over. Why such a hot topic? Is the world filled with horribly rude people, stepping on each others' toes? Well, while there are some horribly rude people out there, but the vast majority of "difficult" people are just like you -and me. People who get things done, people who are in a hurry, people who have trouble hearing or speaking are often seen as difficult. Regular people, me and you, can easily be seen as "difficult" in some situations. Which leads me to the first tip in Dealing With Difficult People:

Consider this about a difficult person:
They might just be having a bad day. See them as a regular person, and look to give them a temporary pass for their behavior. This works wonders for most encounters of the difficult kind.

But what if it's someone you know fairly well and they are a pain all the time? A temporary pass isn't going to cut it...

Realize this one key trait about chronically difficult people:

They are still human beings. Sure, they are rude and put a major cramp in people's days all over the place. How can they be so selfish? Can't they see that they are causing so much trouble? Maybe, but what if they don't realize it, or they have something going on in their life that is much bigger than a little rudeness? In this case, put yourself in their shoes and consider what the causes might be. Even if this doesn't change things, it may help you understand them better. Yes, you may need to use your imagination!

Seek to understand. It is critical to realize that we are not all coming from the same frame of reference. What is tolerated or even revered behavior in some families or cultures could be considered in poor taste or downright unethical in others. When two people are not comparing apples to apples, they will likely never have full understanding. Realize too that people have different "wiring" in their brains; different ways of perceiving and dealing with the world around them, and of interacting with others. No approach is necessarily wrong, they are all just different. Attempt non-judging. If you don't respect them, it's very likely they don't respect you and see your behaviors as equally offensive (although you do not intend this outcome).

Pinpoint the specific areas of difficulty.
When dealing with a person, consider them as a whole person with only a few areas that need work instead of the reverse. a "halo effect" which assumes the worst about all things regarding them. Once you are able to separate the behaviors from the person, you are well on your way to better interactions with them.

Show them how it's done.
You know that saying about not worrying about your neighbors trash cans when your own lawn needs mowing? Focus on making your own improvements regardless of how masterful you may be. Strive for perfection if need be, becoming a better communicator and colleague/family member/friend. Not only does it benefit you, but you can show those "difficult" people how it's done. Remember that the energy you bring to every conversation is being broadcast out through your words, actions, and even your thoughts.

Prepare for interaction.
Take a few minutes before anticipated or scheduled meeting times to consider what you'd really like to see happen. Remind yourself they are a human being, and who knows maybe they are going through some personal tragedy that they don't talk about. Be the best example of a master communicator that you can be. Take the high road and assume positive intent, seek to understand their point of view , and even forgive their trespasses, acknowledging that no one is perfect.

Smile, knowing you are a better person for it.
Communicate With Confidence.

Communicate With Confidence

2010-02-15T10:02:00.001-06:00

Confidence. A priceless trait of master communicators and successful people everywhere...

How much confidence makes for just the right amount? Most people are willing to acknowledge they would like more confidence, especially when communicating in business and relationships. What follows are some concepts and techniques to help you create and exhibit more confidence in your communication:

The Message
What's the point? In order to communicate with confidence, you must first know what outcome you would like from your communication. What response or reaction are you hoping for? Once you've identifed the point, determine the key parts of the message and the best format, whether spoken, written, or otherwise communicated.

The Audience
You must also identify some of the traits of your audience, whether one person or a packed auditorium.  What matters to them? Understand that regardless of your audience, almost everyone feels some degree of attention deficit, overstimulation, and/or overwhelm in our modern time. Concise, clear communication is always best.

An easy technique for holding others' attention is to express a specific number of items to follow and a succinct summary of each, to build on the concept of tell them what you're going to tell them-- because it lets them know exactly how long they have to pay attention. i.e. "There are 2 primary reasons our team should _____; the first is X, and the second is Y." Elaborate through meaningful examples or illustrative stories when appropriate, but be sure to cover the important points clearly.

Say More With Less
Direct communication is underused in our society. Many people fear being rude, but it's important to realize succinct comments don't have to be robotic or terse.  Clear communication is a courtesy worth extending to everyone.

Leverage Your Expertise
Everyone is an expert on something, on some level. Therefore, anyone can strive to comfortable, or even worthy of, addressing a particular topic with others. Even if you don't necessarily feel like an expert, build your case (to yourself if helpful) before you start speaking so that you communicate with a feeling of authority.  Comments that dilute a good point, express self doubt, or are thinking out loud such as "Well, let's think about this" "It's just my opinion" "What do you think?" "I'm not really sure, but..." may result in your audience wondering why they are listening to you, and your message will be lessened significantly. Use words and non verbal communication to make clear that you are intelligent, credible, and a powerful, dynamic person.

Prepare to deliver your message; practice when you can. The more important it is to you that your message be received well, the more preparation can help get the job done. Although it doesn't have to be time-consuming, there is no substitute; and as a bonus, preparation builds your confidence automatically. As an example, even professional speakers prepare and practice when giving a speech. For us Regular Joes, whether you are giving a speech on stage, asking your boss for a promotion, asking a prospect for business, or asking your sweetheart something important, the best way I've discovered to prepare for a successful presentation is to 1) Write everything out exactly, as though you might read from a script, in your own words. 2) Read it out loud several times all the way through, and share it with a trusted advisor if you have one, and practice your timing if needed. 3) Only memorize the main points by making an outline, highlighting, or using note cards, etc.... 3) Dress appropriately for the occasion and in a manner that boosts your confidence, get to the location early, remind yourself that you have prepared well, then picture the audience responding the way you'd like them to. 4) Forget about your detailed script and focus on delivering your message so that the audience benefits.

ACTIONS:
1. Practice clear, concise messaging: craft 2 sentences that say as much as possible in as few words as possible. (Hint: Ernest Hemingway was a master.)
2. Use the technique above for enumerating how many points you have, then quickly summarizing them. Do you notice a difference in your audience's reactions?

Visualize It

2010-01-27T21:32:00.009-06:00

Visualization is a simple, yet powerful technique to achieve what you want.

Many experts agree that the skill of visualization is more important than natural talent for successful athletes. Need I say more? You might fall into the trap of assuming it's too hard or too "foofy" to actually take a few minutes to visualize what you want to happen. And yes, it's human nature to avoid things that require even a little bit of effort.

What if you knew visualization was fool-proof and/or could get you something you wanted? Hmmm...what if you were on a gameshow and in order to win the $100,000 prize you had to prove you could visualize winning the prize on the show. They could stick sensors to your head to measure brain activity and give you 30 seconds to complete the task. Could you do it? Would you hesitate?

It's easy.
The average person easily visualizes what they do NOT want to happen, many times a day. You are familiar with this; it may be a coworker with an offhand comment about "worst-case scenario." This is a great skill, because it is a proven way to influence the future (more on this in another post) -- BUT when considering worst-case scenarios verus best-case scenarios, which do you think yields more desirable results?

What's stopping you?
"Seems too hard." "Not sure how." "I don't know what to picture." Let's cover how-to here. Think about your car and the way the seat feels under you, the feel of the steering wheel, and the sensation of accelerating to pass. Ok, now do NOT picture your house right now. Whatever you do, don't think of the way the door looks, the style of the handle, or your favorite place to sit and watch TV. Congratulations! You just visualized. That's it. Easy.

It's always on, so use it to your advantage.
Now you know that it works either way: when you want to think of something, or when you are just going along with what someone else brought up. Wouldn't you rather think about YOU? OK, start now. Consider what you are working toward. How does it feel in the moment you just realized you achieved the big goal? Where are you, what sensations are you experiencing? Describe it as though you are sharing the story with another person and you want them to get the full effect. Although the first time you do this, it could take a bit of time to determine the details, every time you picture it afterward, it comes faster and more clearly. There you go, you are visualzing your success! In just a few minutes.

ACTIONS:
1. Write down what you want to achieve.
2. Picture yourself achieving it, from your own perspective (as it feels in your own body to experience it).
3. Now, add some color and detail to the story, and write down this updated description.
4. Picture it once a day for the rest of this week, and twice daily every day next week.

Now you see it; now you see it.
Yeah, exactly.

Want some ways to make this easier and more fun? Check out some fantastic Vision Board Software. Download it and create a beautiful custom visual presentation to use on your computers and phones - in just minutes. I have it and I love it!

Are You Setting Goals, Uh-Hem, Properly?

2010-01-14T22:37:00.005-06:00

Are you setting your goals with the idea that you will achieve them?

It may sound like a rhetorical question, yet it is not. Now I understand quite well that there a lot of people out there who prefer not to set goals or think about them. This post is for the rest of you.

It's absolutely flabbergasting how many people I run into daily that aren't setting the right goals, aren't setting goals with the idea they will actually achieve them, and aren't setting goals with the ability to measure their success (or failure)! This might be a lot to digest, so let's break it down:

Are you setting the right goals for YOU? Are you bending under the weight of others' expectations, or worrying about what everyone else thinks of your goals and achievements? Are you fully tuned into your own desires, needs, wants, preferences? In one of my MasterMind groups, we discussed one person's new goal- it was a specific salary goal, but the more he talked about it, the more everyone realized what he really wanted was a specific car, more time with his wife, some more travel, and professional recognition. Think about this as you are getting into the groove of your 2010 goal-achieving. There is more to come on this! Don't want to wait for "How Do You Know You've Set the Right Goals?"? Join the RESULTS forum now.)

Are you setting goals with an expectation that you will achieve them? Are you REALLY expecting to do it, or are you wishing things were different? There is a chasm between the two approaches. When you believe that you WILL perform, that you have the ability to stick with it and find the resources inside and out, even if things get difficult -- then you WILL do it. When you go into something doubting your ability to complete it, why do it at all? There are myriad reasons why people continually set goals and don't give it their all during the "do it" phase. Obviously, it's not about purposely causing a cycle of hope and failure.

Hopes up, hopes dashed, hopes up, hopes dashed again. Do you ever feel like this? How do you break the cycle? Set a goal that REALLY matters to you (see above). Your desire must be strong enough to carry you through the tough days, it must be personally relevant, and you must be emotionally attached to the outcome. This is precisely why burning one's own ships in battle to cut off option of retreat is so effective. This is precisely why when the chips are down, people pull through.

Don't take the easy way...set a stretch goal and GROW for it. Expect to both dislike and enjoy the ride, but fall in love with the expected outcome.

How will you know when you succeed or fail? If you tell me "I want more money," and I reach into my pocket, flick you a nickel, and say "OK, you have more money. Happy?," how will you feel? How much money do you want, by when, and what exactly are you going to do with it? Making a wish doesn't mean it will come true. But there is magic in spelling out all the details. Achieving goals requires specificity. In other words, if I don't set a specific goal, then I don't know when I hit the mark. I don't get to celebrate. This is bad; everyone needs to celebrate their successes!

Use the SMART framework every time you are acknowledging a goal: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. As an example, "I want to earn 20% more income by June 15, 2010 so that I can purchase a new blue truck with light grey leather seats, spend a week in Aruba, and invest another 5% of salary into my retirement funds during this calendar year."

TAKE ACTION:
1. Consider your current goals. Do they matter to you? Do they fire you up? What great things will occur once you've achieved them?
2. Re-evaluate and analyze your goals now. Do they take you out of your comfort zone, and are they attainable at the same time? Find ways to make sure you have some "skin in the game" and watch your performance rise.
3. Do your goals meet the SMART criteria? If not, rewrite them now. This will be difficult at first, but is very liberating because is clears up anxiety and uncertainty very quickly. You should also feel like some clear action items are ready to leap into your planner from this exercise!

Happy New Year! Make this one more personally meaningful than any year prior!

Learn more about Envision Success RESULTS programs.

Coaching and Clogged Toilets?

2009-12-15T11:16:00.006-06:00

I had a personal experience this week in my household, during the same few days I've been giving a lot of thought to a new coaching program debut for 2010 (Now LIVE!). I realized afterward that an interesting analogy formed.

I was dealing with a clogged toilet in my main bathroom.

If you've experienced a clogged toilet, you know that you can’t really ignore it. You can work around it by using a different toilet or other bathrooms for awhile. Ultimately you realize the problem won’t go away by itself, and you say, "Hey I am a perfectly capable person. I can fix this." And maybe you have successfully worked a plunger and triumphed over this kind of thing before, but this time it's different. So after struggling along, getting creative, making a mess, etc...the water is still not flowing. "Ugh, I don’t understand how the plunger doesn't seem to be getting the job done this time (and BTW why do they have a bright yellow handle? Weird.)"

Bottom line: I want it fixed and obviously I need to try another approach. I come to the realization that I have to call in someone with the skills to fix this. It’s embarrassing, I don’t want to admit that somehow little ole me clogged the toilet. However, I want it working again, so I'm going to have to swallow my pride and call in a professional. Let me just say..."WOW!" It was so easy, less expensive than I thought, and they got things flowing again...happy ending!

Well, that was just ridiculous. I am so glad that I was not going to let myself stand by and not fix the problem; I just needed to use my resources! Seriously, I could have continued using another bathroom in the house; although it was a total inconvenience, and what might have happened if I let it go on?

Sure, it's out of the way and a total inconvenience at first, but can you imagine that after awhile it would become a habit and a person soon wouldn't think anything of it. This could on, and on, and on.

The thought of letting it get too far shook me into action and I made the call. They came, they did their job, they were friendly about it, and I realized this is what they do. They fix toilets. There is NOTHING to be ashamed of. It’s something human beings living in our modern age have to deal with sometimes. No big deal. They got things flowing again so quickly it was amazing. I wondered why I didn't call sooner.

Coaching is like this. ALTHOUGH, a big difference is that coaching is not about fixing problems; it’s about breaking down hurdles and working around or through obstacles so that a person is able to grow and develop and achieve far more than they would on their own.

The better analogy here compares a person’s life habits to a household with a toilet out of order. What is at first an inconvenience becomes the norm, and other habits are built up around this new system over time, and pretty soon the person doesn’t even consciously think how much easier daily life would be with their [main bathroom] working again. Coaching helps a person identify the clogs, or tolerations, or hurdles, and partners with the person to determine the best options for them to create a state where things are working well. In addition, from this stronger foundation coaching helps a person to develop and grow further to achieve amazing things in line with their own unique definition of success.

ACTIONS:
Think about what tolerations you are putting up with...
Are there habits that started as workarounds in your life or work, that when addressed, will help you "get things flowing again?"

Here's to your success!
PS- Thanks to plumbers everywhere for the small miracles they perform every day!

Learn More about the newest Envision Success programs for working professionals...achieving more in 2010, with no more excuses. Are you IN?

Tackling Procrastination

2009-11-05T14:49:00.004-06:00

It's Procrastination-Prevention month at Envision Success, Inc.

How much does procrastination get under your skin? If you're like most of my clients, we could spend a few sessions on it. Almost all working professionals suffer from procrastination at least sometimes, and some have a daily habit.

First, let's define it.
For the purposes of this post, procrastination simply means putting something off until another time instead of completing it on the originally intended timetable.

What it does for us and against us.
Although we tend to think of procrastination as negative because it is frequently accompanied by guilt, sometimes it is good to reprioritize things, shifting plans along the way. You need some down time on a regular basis. If you are chronically overscheduled or overcommitted, you are going to notice some procrastination, and you may want to embrace learning how to balance important tasks better.

As a result, most people are experienced procrastinators, and when we look for symptoms we can find them. Sometimes people are inefficient, ineffective, or just plain lazy. Usually, however, procrastination of important tasks happens only because people aren't being clear about what they NEED to get done each day. One simple change can make a world of difference!

What are you going to do about it?
Considering how procrastination affects your energy level, what's the value of changing your habits? I'm not talking about anything complicated or time-consuming here; IT CAN BE VERY SIMPLE. A significant chunk of procrastination comes from not having a task defined specifically enough. The mind cannot "do" when it doesn't understand what needs to be done. As an example, when you have something like "Sales Project" or "Marketing Plan" on your to-do list, you are much more likely to pracrastinate than if you have "Draft sales goals" or "Make list of sales growth ideas" or "brainstorm 15 marketing themes for next year." Do you see the difference? How can you apply it right now?

You own your life, you own how your time is used. Are you going to blunder through your day wasting 'unused minutes' or are you going to value opportunity? Ultimately, procrastination is a choice and when it brings bad feelings, then you need to question why you continue to tolerate it. Look for the root cause. Sheer discipline is NOT usually the answer...consider redesigning processes or elements or your physical environment to help support you to complete the most important tasks. (Ask your coach how.)

Follow-Up Actions:
1- Clear most distractions around you for the next 10 minutes.
Put the phone on silent, shut your door or plug your ears with earphones if necessary, close your email program, and stare into the corner or at the ceiling. Consider what's on your plate: what really HAS to be done versus what is NICE to do. Have a notebook and pen handly for this, and note down whatever comes to mind, but then add a star next to ONLY the most important THREE things you can do TODAY. You can draw another symbol next to other important ones, but pick ONLY 3 for this exercise. For each one, imagine what it would be like when the task is complete. If something pops into your head that seems helpful, write it down and act on it immediately after your 10 minutes is up.

2- Break bigger items on your to-do list into actionable tasks. Use action verbs and make them specific enough so you won't hestitate to consider what needs to be done.

Enjoy your increased productivity!

Contact Info

Effectiveness: Week 11

2009-10-22T10:04:00.009-05:00

Read more about improving certain traits over 13 weeks.

Let's talk about Effectiveness!

What does it mean to be truly effective? (Read related post.)

Yes, it means getting things done, but not just any things. Many people could say over the course of a week that they were productive or efficient, but upon reflection, how effective were they? Did they make progress on the things that truly matter to them? My journey this week is to focus on what really matters.

It's worth noting here, that "progress" doesn't have to be tied to specific measurable goals, although for me personally and professionally that is how I prefer to do things. For many, it's more of an intention - spend more time with the kids, have a date night with my spouse, clean out the garage, enjoy some time to relax and reflect...all these count as "progress" as well as those tasks and goals we normally associate with goal-achieving progress.

Knowing all this, I am focusing on the following areas:

1. Right Things, Right Order: requires a bit of strategic thinking to determine what is the best use of my time today that moves me in the direction of my goals. I frequently caution clients to not select more than 6 things on this "critical" list. This can be difficult when we are used to having a working list of hundreds of tasks we'd like to get done. (How the heck can I pick 6 or less?) These are the important, realistic things I feel I MUST get done before I lay my head on my pillow. The rest of it is regular daily stuff, can actually wait until tomorrow, or doesn't really need to be done at all. I determine the right things, then do them in the right order. All things equal, it's best to start with the most important first. What will have the most positive impact?

Ah, it feels good!

2. 80/20 Rule: there are many interpretations of this rule, and the ones I like best for this week are A) do 80% of an important task, instead of a full 100% and evaluate if this is enough. I like to think of it as a "final draft" - the value of this approach is saving time. Instead of messing around trying to make it 20% better ("perfect"), which always takes longer than I think and is hardly ever a good use of my time, evaluate if it's enough. B) Realize that for business people on average, about 20% of time is spent on key activities that produce 80% of the revenue. I want to determine which key activities these are for my business and hone in.

3. Follow-Through: On those imporant tasks and activities from above, how to ensure good follow-through when busy days spiral out of control? For me, this means being organized and since I am visual, I need things right in front of my face. I reviewed options and downloaded some apps onto my smartphone so that I can enter tasks and display items/progress in plain view on the main screen. Every time I look at my phone's main display, I see them!

One last thought for this week's topic: for me, being truly effective is essential for really enjoying life. It may seem ironic, since many would feel the required focus and tracking to be less than enjoyable, yet I feel that by creating this structure to support me, I can work better and live more life, enjoying my new personal motto, "no unused minutes!"

Are You Truly Effective?

2009-10-19T21:58:00.007-05:00

You get your work done, right? Sure, you could probably work a little harder. but you already put in so many hours. What if you could get more done in less time? How do you know if you are truly effective?

Everyone is busy these days. Every modern working person feels pressure to get things done in less time than is available. And for many, work includes constant deadlines, shifting priorities, and travel, along with a feeling that real progress remains elusive. So how many busy professionals out there are truly effective?

Being personally effective doesn't necessarily mean just working hard, or even getting things done. The "full" version of effectiveness is knowing exactly what to work on and when, and utilizing focus as needed until completion. And--it is also knowing when NOT to work on certain things. So how do you know if you truly effective? And if not, how do you improve?

JUST DO IT?
Know what needs to get done before starting work. What is the most important project or goal you could be working on right now? Consider the bigger picture. Is your current work (or activity) supporting the accomplishment of goals?

MEASURE IT
Set measurable targets. How can you know if you're effective if you can't measure how far you've progressed? Spend a minute or two determining the best way to measure if the work is getting the expected results. It doesn't have to be time- or money-related, as long as it's specific and measurable, it will work.

Track to completion. Hardly anyone enjoys tracking their work. Also, don't add work to your day by keeping detailed logs or spending hours showing off your wizardry in Excel. It can be as simple as pencil and scratch paper; the key is to do what works for you. Small tasks may be "tracked" with a check-mark or cross-out; bigger goals should be broken down into smaller tasks. Spend a little bit of time planning these out, and reap the rewards.

FOCUS
Ah-ha, this is the missing link for so many professionals out there (you know who you are). It doesn't have to be hard to focus on the task at hand. Take some control and work WITH your environment, or tailor your environment to fit your working style. (Stay tuned for post on "Your 9 Environments.") Look around and identify some simple changes that will help you focus.

Realize that you are wired for survival, so when you are constantly looking in the other room, or overhearing comments in the hall, or fidgeting and needing to use the bathroom, you are just being human. If your brain is racing with thoughts of a hundred things you need to get done, that's more likely habit than ADHD, and perhaps some caffeine. Grab a notepad and dump all that stuff out of your head onto paper (or type into the computer). Then focus. Try just 20 minutes at first. Pick the most important thing on your list, turn off the phone, set a timer and GO! You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short time when you set your mind to it.

Frankly, a lot of busy people are not very effective. For all the hard work, hours, and stress put into their work, wouldn't it be better to improve results? It's important to note here that some socializing with coworkers is good, as is taking time out for lunch or physical activity during the work-day. The point is to be effective with actual work time, getting more done in less time so you can enjoy all the rest.

Remember that Effectiveness=Success, and to celebrate your good work!

ACTIONS:
Today, at least once, when interrupted in your work, ask yourself, "Is this the most important thing I could be doing right now? Am I being effective or just busy?"
Over the next week, ask yourself the same question a couple times daily until it's a habit. Make notes as needed. Watch your results improve. Enjoy.

Read a related post here.

Peacefulness: Week 10

2009-10-11T21:04:00.007-05:00

Peace, Tranquility, and Relaxation.
Aaaaaahhhhh.

(Read about the 13 traits)

Yeah, there is some irony that I am writing this on a Sunday at about 9pm and I am committed to getting up at 5am for the gym. But well, since I own my business I also completely own my schedule and I can work whenever I like. And I can relax whenever I like.

My strategy this week is to incorporate some relaxing moments and/or tranquil thoughts daily, as well as try daily meditation Monday through Friday. This is the part where I tell you that I am a bit A-type and most of my life did not know how to truly relax, and clearing my mind is pretty much impossible.

Since becoming a coach, I have learned the power of the mind and have tackled many things I once thought impossible. Therefore, I am giving meditation a real honest-to-goodness shot this time. I have also learned the power of relaxation (even if I still have to set the timer to truly let myself relax- freakish, I know!), and of visualizing events and images for things I would really like to see happen. So I am excited to embrace this right now, plus it fits oh-so-nicely with one of the books I am currently reading: Eat Pray Love, and she is in India at the Ashram...

I still have a bit of a mental hurdle regarding the meditation, but I discovered that there are many forms of meditation and that pretty much everyone struggles initially - so it just takes practice. I also am thoroughly sold on the benefits.

So- here goes: I, Heather Legge, of Envision Success Inc, commit to posting my progress on this little relaxation and meditation journey of mine this week (and to catching up on past posts soon). Stay tuned!

Monday update: I recited several times "Om Namah Shivaya" aka "I honor the divinity that resides within me." It was definitely peaceful. Although I am honestly not feeling the mantra as just saying it, I know there is value in simply concentrating ones thoughts and voice in one direction.

Tuesday update: WOW, a VERY productive last few days. That's the good news. The bad news is that I've been staying up late and getting pretty caught up in " Get Er Done" mode, and I skipped the gym this morning in favor of sleep, didn't eat well, nor did I experience any tranquil thoughts since Monday update above. OK, wait - YET. I will make some time before bed to breathe, think calming thoughts, and do a 20-minute guided relaxation before sleep. Aaaaahhhhh, I feel better already.

Later update: I turned it around over the next few days and was able to embrace Peacefulness more fully. I found myself much more aware of my ability to be more relaxed, peaceful, or tranquil in just about any situation. Next round, I would like to sign up for a meditation class and force a bit more growth in this area.

Rebranding!

2009-10-11T20:35:00.006-05:00

Note: This post is a bit different than my others. Coaches and personal services businesses may really benefit, and all are welcome to read on. I hope you gain some insight or at least validated your current branding strategy and efforts.

Rebranding! Wow, where to start? While branding one's business is complex enough, these days we now need to worry about all the web resources to fully engage our branding targets.

My company, for example, is business coaching and related services. After 3 years I just changed my logo and well, my entire branding strategy and methods. I realized that while I am the business and the business is me, I don't want that to continue infinitely. I am ready to consider growing and having a team of coaches working under the Envision Success brand. And yet, especially over the past year or so, MANY people have suggested that I brand the business as me, under my personal brand. In other words, they thought I should be similar to a realtor with headshot and name recognition, etc... I resisted this for quite a while. But a few months ago I received multiple questions merely upon viewing my business card about whether I bought a franchise. (NO, I did not, this biz is mine.)

Needless to say, that was a defining moment. I sought help from multiple marketing experts and had a logo professionally done (maybe you noticed the change to the blog design?) (thank you to Steve Van Buren, Firespring!) and I engaged myself into the world of social media and the fantastic opportunities on the web.

Just today, I claimed my name via Google; I created a personal profile, and then I even tweeted about it. :-)

Like many, I resisted this approach due to fears about how much time it will take (read: I may disappear into the black hole of web 2.0 for days on end, a worse fate than a weekend marathon of CSI Miami even if I love it!). Ah, but it's productive. OK, it can be. And since I am a business coach after all, I have to practice what I preach and utilize time management techniques to keep myself on track. So far, so good. I spend only a few hours a week thus far and although I have a lot more web presence to build, I am satisfied with the trade off at this stage.

Back to branding of the business. I learned that we service professionals that are also owners/entrepreneurs definitely need to consider whether people are buying the person as much as the business. In my case, they feel they are buying into me, the person but the professional company image is also necessary to lend credibility and helps when working with corporate clients particularly. I've realized I need the critical blend of both, and well frankly I am still learning. Feel free to check out my updated web presence and give me feedback; I appreciate it!

So -- Is it time for you to more intentionally brand yourself or your business? What about your personal brand? Are you sending messages that appeal to your target markets? If you're not sure, ask your clients. Look to your testimonials, and determine what traits appeal to your ideal market. Find ways to emphasize these (match the communication channels to your targets), and rock on!

Spontaneity: Week 9

2009-10-06T11:48:00.002-05:00

"Be More Spontaneous." This is something I had been telling myself for years...
Read about Ben Franklin and the 13 traits.

I admit that I used to be kind of controlling and too "A-type" to enjoy ever really being spontaneous. I would try new things pretty easily and I actually like change, but when it comes to leaping right in on the spur-of-the-moment, I didn't used to be capable. I improved over the past few years, but it's still something I would like to get better at.

It may be surprising that a business coach would want to be more spontaneous. But here's the thing: I am so goal-oriented and always thinking of achieving more, that my tendency is never to do anything without analyzing it first. No doubt this has its place, and may even be considered a strength in some context, but we can't really live without some balance. I acknowledged this and allowed my inner wild-child to lead me into things I wouldn't have considered before.

I realized that spontaneity is still purposeful decision-making, but now it goes a lot faster and I've learned to rely on my gut. So maybe on some level, this is really about strengthening my intuition and embracing what comes as a result. Oh, and that includes releasing anxiety about the decision that was made, or worrying about whatever else I could be doing.

It was perfect timing for me this week because I was traveling. My cousin got married and several of us stayed with family instead of at a hotel. True to my old form, I was a little worried this might mean we were completely at their mercy (yes, I wanted to reconnect with family and spend good times with them, but hey, you know), so I rented a car for some flexibility. However, contrary to my usual approach of scheduling everything down to the hour with some contingency planning for good measure, I did NOT check out all the options before going on the trip.

I checked the weather forecast online, installed a GPS/navigation app on my phone, and decided to be fully spontaneous and roll with whatever happened. It was great! We had fun as a family and everything worked out well. We had some good adventures, as well as some nice time for catching up and relaxation. I couldn't have planned it any better. I learned to go with the flow and have a great time, and I am a richer person for the experience.

Organizing: Week 8

2009-10-01T11:55:00.005-05:00

Organizing is this week's focus.
Read about the 13 weeks.

It's no surprise that Organizing would show up on a list of traits for personal and professional improvement. Most every person I know feels they would like to improve in this area. While there is probably such a thing as being too organized, it's pretty hard to imagine. Thus, I determined that some focus in this area would be of value for me too!

I listed 4 areas I wanted to address this week:

Processes- I looked at daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual processes for getting things done, mostly for my business, but I included some personal too. I am one of these people who can get really wrapped up in the details. If time was unlimited, I would enjoy detailed, complex planning and designing of processes. However, obviously I still have a business to run so I had to reign myself in and stick to what was really needed. It's worth noting here that we all need to work with our environments, finding ways to support our natural tendencies wherever possible, so that we can go with the flow. In other words, good processes should provide a supportive structure that allows greater productivity and creativity, using less energy.

Files- I organized my files, straightening some things up, putting some loose papers into folders, etc... I also organized the file and folder structure on my computer. This was mostly the kind of administrative work that office managers and assistants are so good at that makes offices run more smoothly. I also made some back-up files.

Financial- I not only installed and implemented new accounting software which was great(!), I also took a little time to determine what financial-related processes would work best.

Household- I identified several things I wanted to organize in our home, but beyond the basics, this category will wait for the next round of 13 weeks...

I feel that I accomplished some really good things in support of being more organized this week...now it's just a matter of maintaining it!

Relationships: Week 7

2009-09-22T11:31:00.001-05:00

This week's focus is on strengthening & developing relationships.

Read about other focus areas.

My intention in developing this trait is pretty straight-forward, so frankly it's just a matter of determining which relationships to focus on and doing it!

First for me is my husband; like many other happy marriages, ours is also rife with busy schedules and less time together than we'd like. I committed to doing some nice things for him and for us, spending time as much as possible this week.

Other key relationships include family, friends, and clients. My to-do list could have just hatched out about a million more things to develop each of these relationships---but I resisted this and determined to be more mindful of the value of relationships this week, and to be more fully present when spending time with people I care about.

I succeeded this week- especially in terms of a general improvement in intention, awareness, and actions. The next time I visit this trait, I would like to add sending personal notes and cards to 5 people each day for that week, using SendOutCards.

Communication: Week 6

2009-09-20T18:07:00.006-05:00

Read about other weeks.

I think "Communication" is a no-brainer on the improvement list.

Yet, how many people 1) acknowledge they could use some help and 2) know what to do to improve communication with others?

The principles of communication are simple. Yet so are those of weight loss--- and look how most of us are doing! In the spirit of continuous improvement, I resolved to work on communication this week.

I was in the Ozarks on the lake and deep in late-summer humidity, mostly shopping and eating while my husband was attending a work-related annual conference and I was left to my own devices. I brought plenty of work with me, and ironically during this communication-focused week I experienced very little communication with the "outside world" via technology due to connectivity issues. Yet at the same time, I was interacting person-to-person with people I see only a few times each year. I found myself being much less of a leader and much more observant given this opportunity. I enjoyed soaking in the details about others during conversation and saying less than half of what I considered saying.

Overall, a good way to live.

A note on my progress: once again, I don't think I focused quite enough on this (as much as I wanted to) but I still feel like I benefitted from the experience. I'm noticing a trend. Apparently I expect a lot from myself. Can you relate?

Onto the next week's focus area: Relationships!

Intention: Week 5

2009-09-18T17:18:00.005-05:00

Post 5 of 13 traits. Read more.

Intention, ah...I can't help but think of the phrase, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." For some reason, this has been a staple phrase in my subconscious for many years.

So we can state that intention is not enough; we have to follow it up with action. But how? I am a big proponent for what is called "inspired action." In other words, when you know what you want, you will know what to do. It's when your intentions are not very clear that actions too are muddied.

My expected focus for this week was to visualize desired outcomes (much more) for lots of things: my business, proposals, projects, clients, transactions, and even conversations. ie, What do I want this person I am meeting with to experience today? As much as I teach my clients this technique, I can't claim that I am applying it 100% of the time either, and I was happy to give it some extra attention for a week.

The technique involves thinking about, articulating, and then pretending it's really possible---whatever outcome you'd really like to see. As an example, I asked a client Wednesday what she would really like to happen during an event she was co-hosting and she starting talking about it, and as she was explaining to me during her session, she was defining it for herself. And it was cool!

One reason this works so well is because once you articulate what it is that you want, then you will see opportunities differently, you will make different assumptions, you will use different words and interact differently with others. In short you will make those teeny-tiny decisions differently that you are confronted with a thousand times a day and will create the situation as you'd like it to happen. Long term, this means better results.

So yes, as expected, a lot of awesome stuff happened this week!
I'm back to journaling nightly.

And now for Communcation...

Prospecting: Week 4

2009-09-15T07:43:00.003-05:00

Read more about the 13 weeks here.

The value of prospecting is irrefutable. This is the main reason I selected it as part of my 13 weeks. Prospecting could include a lot of things, but for most people this week's focus would include finding more clients. For me, I noted desired focus areas of networking, leveraging connections, and asking for the business.

Not just Networking.
My intention was not just to do more networking because that is one of my best strength areas. I am naturally drawn to relationship building and feel this is easy for me. However, even as a business owner who knows better, I am not particularly good at capitalizing on those relationships. And frankly I am emotionally torn about this. I know darn well that when done well, it is absolutely the right thing to help more people by asking for the business. And yet, like so many people out there, including most of my clients, I don't feel all that comfortable wearing the "sales" hat. I love coaching! I am in business to coach people to succeed in business. So...well you can see the irony here. When in the right frame of mind I actually enjoy what can be called the sales process, but I tend to avoid it when I think of it as the sales process.

"Sales" really isn't a four-letter word!
We are all sales people in a sense. Perhaps if we think of it as gentle influence, expressing natural curiosity, and sincerely looking to be helpful by meeting needs, then we would never procrastinate or avoid sales activities.

Overall, I scored myself a 2 out of 5. Yes despite my disappointment in not really taking it to the next level, I did manage to hit all three focus areas. Unfortunately, I found myself organizing my business contacts list more than actually talking to people, but I did attend several networking events, and followed up with prospective clients. I also identified several opportunities for additional service offers with past and current clients. Now I just have to continue the follow-through!

How to Focus (No, It's Not Hocus Pocus)

2009-09-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

Pay attention! Focus! How many times did you hear this is a kid (or as an adult, come to think of it)? When the ball is coming at your head or when you have 2 hours until a big deadline...all you need is more focus. Ugh, "just focus." Yeah right, like it's so super easy when your stress level is through the roof. Aaaah, but it can be. Easy, I mean. With practice. Yep, that's the catch. But it's not really a catch as much as a way in, and it is SO worth it!

Focus Defined
Q. Are focus and discipline the same thing, because I just can't seem to get a handle on either of these?
A. No, although the road to learning laser focus probably requires a bit of discipline for most people. Focus is the ability to put thought energy toward something specific. Discipline is the ability to give yourself a command and follow it.

What About This, That, and the Other?
Do you have this challenge too? You just sit down to focus on that project and almost as soon as your butt touches the chair, one or more things you "have to do" pop up. Such as: I have to go to the bathroom, and I should get that email out to the team before I forget, and oh I just remembered I need to call Bill, and omg I should have eaten lunch because I'm starving... First of all, rest assured this is normal in our modern world of work. Almost everyone feels like their focus is scattered pretty much all the time. My personal theory on this is that we are simply used to it, and we now expect it, and the cycle continues. We expect ourselves to be masterful multi-taskers. However, just like a computer processor, the human brain technically handles only one task at a time, even if it is at the speed of light.

How to Increase Your Focus
Determine what type of structures or processes you can use to help you create and maintain focus when needed. As an example of something my clients really benefit from, try using a kitchen timer to keep yourself focused. Determine a specific task to focus on, take a few minutes to clear out the procrastination items (go to the bathroom, refill your water glass, set the phone to silent, etc...) then set the timer for a reasonable period of time and focus ONLY on completing the desired task for that amount of time. This works because essentially you give yourself permission to put the other stuff on hold temporarily. Try it.

What to Focus On?
Another facet of Focus leads us to what exactly you put your focus toward. Which thoughts and actions will ultimately help you be more effective? What are you working toward? If you don't know your desired outcome, start by focusing on that.

As an example, if you have a project due soon, be able to articulate what you want to accomplish. In others words, what would you like the outcome to be? (At a medium-sized contact center, they determined as a team they wanted the clients totally satisfied, the team to feel the project was worthwhile, they worked together well and didn't have to put in as much overtime, and also the profit is in the good range due to improvements in project flow.) Once you have the goal to focus on, being as specific as you can, stretching for improvements with a bit of pragmatism. Then, hold the picture of this accomplishment in your focus while asking simple questions to help you drive it forward from your starting point. What could you do to make it happen? (If you have a team, like in this example, brainstorm with them.) Do NOT filter the ideas until AFTER you have a ton of real possibilities. Then figure out which ones to take action on.

ACTIONS:
1. Consider your ability to focus and whether or not discipline is required. Resolve to make 1 little tiny improvement this week. What will it be?

2. Try using the timer technique today or tomorrow to complete a task you've been putting off. OH, it will feel so good! Which task do you choose?

3. Keep a notepad handy and jot down things that come to mind when you are focusing on something specific. Write it down, then get right back to it, checking the list for actions after "focus time."

Bonus!
To help you focus your imagination and get motivated, I'd like to recommend a product I use personally and recommend to clients to help focus on creating their vision for the future:
http://www.visualizeyourgoals.com/cgi-bin/t.cgi?a=476574

Business Education: Week 3

2009-09-02T22:59:00.005-05:00

Post 4 of 14: Read more here

Wow, this was a really great week! I was so busy sponging up information on continuous improvement in my field, and immersing myself in learning that I didn't even blog about it.

I came up with a tracker in Excel to chart my progress and have been assigning myself daily ratings for how well I've been doing. With 5 being the top score and 0 being no activity in support of the focus trait, every day for Week 3 I scored a '5' - it was incredible!

Without going into nauseating detail about the activities I completed, suffice it to say I have definitely benefitted from these efforts, and have set a goal to have an additional certification and more CEUs completed in the coming months.

Once again, I feel that I'm just getting rolling with this trait and the time has come to switch gears. Arrgh. However, the good far outweighs the bad, and I am so on board with this whole idea that I just influenced another of my MasterMind groups to study this book and to do the 13 traits. We are starting it up in a few weeks. Yay!

Moderation: Week 2

2009-08-23T15:00:00.004-05:00

Post 3 on developing 13 traits (link to more)

Wow, Week 2 came and went pretty quickly! At this point, I am a believer in this "program." I found myself whining just a bit about the extra time committed to making this all work, but frankly it is more than worth it.

I chose "Moderation" because I wanted to increase awareness of my consumption...yes food and drink, but also time spent on certain things, and applying a bit of the 80/20 rule, questioning whether I really needed to do or have certain things.

I realized a couple days in that I mis-named this one since this was meant to be about responsible living more than say, controlling myself at dinner. Therefore I believe I will rename it and clarify what that means for my next round of the 13 traits.

So was it a waste of time? Or a do-over? No.

I exercised my 6 days, I made better choices at mealtimes, I took my recyclable products home with me (and recycled them), and I committed to doing a few other related things and kept the promises made to myself.

Although it wasn't very different from a normal week for me, I definitely had more awareness and therefore considered the consequences of my actions a bit more. While admittedly in very minor ways, I am a better person for having focused on "moderation" this past week.

Any surprises? Kind of. I went a little crazy the day after the week ended, eating and drinking more, rebelling on getting a few things done, and skipping a planned workout. What the heck? Well- this just proves that focusing on it for a period of time DID have an impact.

Note: I have now "normalized" and am excited about my focus for the current week (read the next blog post to find out what it is).

Presentation: Week 1

2009-08-13T20:50:00.005-05:00

2 of 14 posts on developing 13 traits

It's the last evening of the first week of my 13-week "traits" challenge.

7 days polishing up my presentation skills, and I feel like I just barely got the cart rolling. Yet it's time to move on to the next trait. I am updating my tracker in our MasterMind wiki tonight (ask me about this) and although I scored myself well all 7 days making effort to improve upon this trait, I feel a little disconcerted over moving on so quickly (my brow is actually wrinkled up in resistance).

Hold on. What was Ben thinking? One week to tune up my presentation skills?! I don't exactly suck, but I need more than a week (peripheral free time, mind you) to feel like I was able to take it to the next level...

Ah, but let's review my progress.

I crafted a goal card. Priceless!

I reviewed Toastmasters guidelines --which by the way reaffirmed how great that organization is for people desiring to improve speaking/presenting skills. Check it out! This was a useful exercise for sure.

I actually prepared ahead of time for a new 1/2 day workshop I have coming up soon. Very valuable! (I am sure I will feel less anxiety as the countdown continues.)

I also read several chapters from books I've had on the shelf for quite awhile that I had been meaning to get to. OK, I concede some definite value there, not just because I rifled through the books and have a better understanding of my existing resources, but also because the content was helpful.

I listened to some audio files on sales presentation skills. OK, yes I gained some perspective while also validating what I am doing is still the best approach for me (while doing household chores too!), so this was a good use of my time.

Hmmm...then again, I guess that Benjamin Franklin guy had some things right after all.
Week 2, here I come!

Who Are You and What Do You Do?

2009-08-13T19:21:00.008-05:00

Oh, the dreaded cocktail-laced networking event line, "Sooo, what do YOU doooo?"

If it's a couple martinis in during a networking-gone-wild event (don't act all surprised; you know exactly what I'm talking about), I'm likely to deliver a spirited diatribe on why a person should get a little more creative when asking about work. Frankly, I think I'd prefer "Who are you and what do you do?" At least it would make me chuckle! On the other hand, if it's a fairly serious event, I'm tempted to be polite and stick to the basics of elevator-speech-giving/self promotion.

But wait? How many people out there have this networking stuff mastered? Very few. BUT- it could happen just about anywhere, any time. You want to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities for self promotion!

Networking Do's
1. Dress like you mean it. Are you a professional? Okay then. Manage your image appropriately for your industry and your brand (company and personal).

2. Have your business cards on you at all times. No exceptions. (Don't push them on people, but have them handy.)

3. Talk to people. Let's break it down:

How do you start a conversation with others during networking?
What if you are terrified to approach someone you don't know? Get over it. (OK, that's a bit mean...) Look for ways to connect. You already have several things in common with every person in the room: you are all there to meet people, you were invited to the same event, you are in the same city, you are a working professional, etc... Even if all you can muster is, "do you know where I can get a new nametag?" , "how did you hear about this event?" or similar, it's a start! Work up to "Hi, I'm ____ ," stick out your hand and be ready with something positive, tastefully humorous, or a question.

As a coach, I ask questions of others easily - partly because I have a lot of practice. My advice to novices? Try asking the questions you really want to ask or stating something interesting.

What are you curious about and how could you ask it in a way that shows that you care about the answer?
What could you sincerely compliment that person on?
Ask about family, recreation, or goals.

When you get them talking they will almost automatically come around to their work. Then you can ask clarifying questions. It's easy. The key is to really care about the person and their answers. (In case they drone on and on, and you need to keep mingling, have a polite way to break away.)

How do you talk about what you do?
First, you have to know what you do and how to state it concisely and clearly without being bland. If you haven't taken the time to nail this down, start it now. Let it sit and come back to it a couple times, then share with others and tweak it again. This is so worth doing that I cannot even remotely express the importance here. Currently, I personally like the format, "I am a _____; I specialize in ________."

For example:
"I am a business coach. I specialize in coaching women to succeed in business."

People always query for more. Then you can either share a well-crafted blurb about your product or service BENEFITS (not features!), or you can share your passion statement with full-on enthusiasm. That'll get their attention.

Keep the conversation going to make a real connection.
Ask them more questions about their passions, achievements, or current challenges in their work. IF you would like their information for any reason, ask for their business card. Let them ask for yours.

Once you made the choice to be at the event, enjoy every moment that you can. And at the end of the night, even if you didn't connect with some of the types of people you intended to, be optimistic about the connections to come from your newly expanded circle.

One last thing---and I almost hate to add this, but seriously: never judge a book by its cover.
Happy networking!

Sincerely,
Heather A. Legge

13 Should Be a Lucky Number!

2009-08-06T23:40:00.022-05:00

Have you heard of this system that Benjamin Franklin used for self development?
13 weeks of self-improvement...
13 areas of his own choosing - those traits which likely contributed a great deal to his success and the many benefits we enjoy because of it...

I was not familiar with this before a member of one of my MasterMind groups suggested we read a book by Frank Bettger, "How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling."
Bettger revised Franklin's list, modernizing it a bit and tailoring it to his own circumstances and definition of success.

Our group of professionals is now embarking on our own 13 week focus to strengthen those traits that we (individually) feel are the keys to our success.

By the way, the concept includes repeating the process each quarter so that after a year's time you will have spent 4 weeks on each area and experience significant gains - ultimately to be living more successfully.

Here are my 13 (each with a definition/focus relevant to my personal development):

1. Presentation
2. Moderation
3. Business/Continuing Education
4. Prospecting
5. Intention
6. Communication
7. Relationships
8. Organizing
9. Spontaneity
10. Peacefulness
11. Effectiveness
12. Generosity
13. Strategy

I am excited for the progress each of us will make, and the difference we will make because of it!

To your success,
Heather

More on Confidence

2009-07-24T11:09:00.013-05:00

(Part II)
STEP OUT BOLDLY
I did it!
I said I would and I did.

Despite a minor injury, I set my mind to completing the triathlon and striving to beat my time from last year. I achieved my goal; I beat my time! I attribute this to the mental strength I've gained over the past year more than the physical endurance gained. It hasn't been a full week yet, and already I'm planning my improvements for next year's race, and have committed to a running event later this summer.

Frankly, I didn't feel great about my odds for achieving my goal, but I had committed to go through with it anyway and to make the best of it. (Yes, I did envision crossing the finish line with time to spare and feeling AWESOME, and I even took time to appreciate the beauty around me on the race route.) To reiterate from my last post: making a decision and sticking with it creates confidence. Even in the face of fear, doubt, uncertainty, confusion, etc...

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OBSTACLES (EXCUSES)
"But," you say, "I can't do a triathlon." "That's completely different from something like taking risks in business!" Is it? If you're not pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you don't need confidence. You don't need faith either. Nor a host of other states of mind that make life worth living. Setting even tiny goals and accomplishing them gives you confidence. You feel good, and you gain the winning attitude that can drive forward those bigger goals.

During almost every client meeting this week, I've been noticing the value of confidence. Confidence in making the right decision: to change the focus of one's organization, to hire an assistant to lay the foundation for long-term growth despite the strong siren call of the higher profit margin in the short-term, to taking that leap to start up a new business in an unprecedented market. Confidence to be persistent: to not worry about what other people will think, to hire the right person and not go with the first one who seems mostly competent, to stick to your guns in a negotiation when they are giving you (only) 75% of what you want, to keeping promises to yourself and your family. Doing what you said you'd do takes some confidence, but it breeds even more, especially in the face of what seems tough or unfamiliar. (Remember that fear is imagined; all of it!)

" I see only the objective; the obstacles must give way." ~Napoleon

LAUNCH!
Take the first step, then course-correct IF needed. Too much preparation means you never leave home.

Do you know people who talk about great ideas, yet they're a bit like a missile that never gets launched? As John C. Maxwell says, it's "aim, aim, aim, aim....aim........aim." You've got to "Fire!" if you're going to reap the rewards.

USE YOUR STRENGTHS
Everyone has the means to make things happen. Have confidence in yourself as a human being who has unique strengths, insights, resources and talents. (If you don't think you have enough, contact me right now. In just one session I'll teach you to see these things more clearly.) What would you say to a friend or colleague in the same situation? After "What do you want to do?" and "Have you thought about this?" Probably, "Just do it!"

Here's to your success,
Heather

(402) 690-4946
Heather@EnvisionSuccessConsulting.com

Confidence For Any Situation

2009-07-18T16:52:00.008-05:00

It's the eve of a triathlon, and I'm not worried today... I should be. I'm not the type who excels at these things. In fact, people are probably surprised that I participate in fitness events. I'm healthy, but I'm no star athlete.

Last summer was my first tri, and I signed up again this year. At some point I told myself I was going to beat my time by 20% --but then life cruised on and I focused on other goals. I didn't fully commit through action until the past couple of months.

I was a little freaked out about it. I was training pretty hard and it was great (met some awesome milestones!) but then a week ago I started limping. My left foot was hurting a lot and I started to wonder if I could do the triathlon at all. I put my workouts on hold. I allowed myself a few daily thoughts of "This sucks!" "It's not fair!" "Waaaahhh." I went through my days in a minor depressive state...

Then I stood back and wondered if my anxiety about meeting my goal was somehow the root cause of my physical distress. As a business coach, I know darn well that the mind is far more powerful than any circumstances --and I resolved to change my tune.

I made a decision: I will do the race no matter what & if I have to limp across the finish line, then so be it. Then when I looked back at my written goals, I realized I had committed to completing it and to beating my time from last year. And I felt better about it (what? where did the 20% come from??).

The point of this blog? The reason I am taking the time to type it up before I load the car with my gear? Because I realized that ultimately what matters to me is simply keeping my promise to myself. And I want to share this with you-

I'm doing this event because it is in line with my vision of the person I am becoming. This gives me confidence for tomorrow. This feeling of moving one step closer to my goals, my future, my "ideal" self gives me confidence. I'm doing the right thing by acting in support of my decision...no matter how the race goes tomorrow. This habit of sticking to a decision in the face of fear and uncertainty also gave me confidence a few weeks ago just prior to a speaking engagement I didn't feel truly ready for. And it will give you confidence when you need it.

Are we ever totally physically ready for whatever comes our way? I don't think so. Not fully. You just can't address every contingency for every situation. Besides, who wants to live a "worst case scenario" lifestyle? No thanks.

However, we CAN be mentally ready...for anything. I believe one way to experience this is by acknowledging who we are now and who we want to be. Then by making choices that fit with that vision we step boldly in the direction of our dreams. That IS confidence.

Who do you want to be? By the way, I don't mean you should care about what other people think or emulate others' behavior or accomplishments. I mean that when you think about your future self, what traits do you want to have? Who do YOU want to be? Step boldy in the direction of these dreams and goals, and live confidently! Live Out Loud! Act As If!

Establish Relaxed Control in Your Work Day

2009-06-24T13:04:00.007-05:00

What is Relaxed Control?
Relaxed anything sure sounds good. And control over the work day too. But what the heck does relaxed control really mean? And how does a person go about having it?

Relaxed control is a sort-of opposite to how most working people feel these days, at least some of the time: frantic, overwhelmed, reactive, under-the-gun, stressed, anxious, over-stimulated; you get the idea. In fact, you might feel more tense just after reading this (!).

So whoa, let's slow things down. Relaxed control is a way of being that allows thought processes to take place that tap into one's creative genius, allows the body to respond rather than react, and allows for a more consistent flow of energy throughout the day.

Relaxed control is a mindset. It may take a bit of practice, but I assure you that anyone is totally capable of experiencing this on a daily basis in their work, or in any other circumstances.

My Story
I know, because I am living proof. I used to get worked up, tense, sometimes angry or emotional about interruptions, unplanned changes, people being rude, things being unfair, not having enough time to get all my work done, being "graded" on circumstances I couldn't control, etc... You can relate? Wow, small world.

Now I am able to see things from a different perspective and I don't waste energy or experience negative emotions due to things that I cannot control. Instead I place positive intentional focus on the desired outcomes in a variety of circumstances and on my being more effective toward creating all or part of those desired/expected outcomes. And frankly I can say with conviction and no tongue-in-cheekness whatsoever that every day is a good day. I don't have "bad days" in my work any more. I don't have "bad days" at all - not even from last week's ridiculous airline delays that caused me to miss a family rehearsal dinner. It would have been great to be there, but ultimately the purpose of the trip was still fulfilled. So I didn't let it ruin my day or the whole trip. Why would I give that "power" away?

Sure, I may have stressful moments, and yes I am human and I too cannot possibly get everything on my "to-do list" completed within the next few years, but it just doesn't bother me like it used to. I am able to gain perspective at a moment's notice and see what is going well and see my opportunities to go more in the direction I'd like, and then I act. This has resulted in my being much happier and also more effective.

As an example, this could be something as simple as asking "How can I _______?" when confronted with unexpected changes, or letting someone in front of me in traffic and smiling about it, rather than being so occupied with how I am going to get through traffic faster. After all, if I am running late, I am the one who put myself in that situation, and I'll get there when I get there.

Often, I say out loud, " I have more than enough time for everything that is important to me." And it's true. I have never once dropped the ball and suffered terrible consequences for it - I always get things done that really need to be done. I may let things go that don't really matter. Or it might be in the nick of time, but after all, there are generally no points for finishing early. Why put that on yourself?

It's not about a lack of feeling or being blase or naive or even happy-go-lucky because I don't think anyone would describe me in those ways at all. It's more about seeing the bigger picture any time I need to.

How Can You Get There?
Evaluate your expectations. Determine what you really WANT. Focus more on the goal than on the obstacles. Allow yourself to be "good enough" when it makes sense. And relax. The control lies in controlling yourself and your emotions and your own expectations. You'll feel better; you'll get more done; you'll be living proof that relaxed control is a better way to approach work and life.

Enjoy!
More to come on this... Subscribe to updates/new posts!

Goal Achieving Versus Goal Setting

2009-02-05T19:11:00.007-06:00

Did you set New Year's Resolutions or yearly goals for 2009?

Many people did, and yet some have already fallen off track. Yet it's not too late; it's never too late for success! If you're one of the fallen, how can you get back into the groove in terms of making progress toward goals? There are a couple of simple things to do, and many people are just not aware of them, and consequently it's much harder for them to succeed.

By the end of this post you will have the critical tools needed for setting AND achieving your goals. Ready, set, go!

You may be wondering right about now, "what's the difference between goal setting and goal achieving?"

The short answer is: Envision...Focus...Action

Envision
First you need to know what you want. If you are at point "A," do you know where your point "B" is? What do you want to be different? What exactly do you want? Figuring out some details regarding what you want naturally helps you envision the desired outcome. Do some daydreaming and make some notes. Big goals, little goals, it doesn't really matter as long as the idea of accomplishing [it] helps you grow and ultimately makes you happy in some way.

As an example, let's assume Bob wants to increase revenue this year and he knows he can't raise prices, so he wants to serve more customers. He looks at his schedule, he imagines being able to help more people, he envisions the daily differences in his work, and the extra income earned, etc...

Focus
You already have a good start because you had to focus some energy on figuring out what you want. Let's take it a step further... You've heard that writing down your goals is important, right? Do you know why? Do you realize that by writing something down, it is imprinted differently in your mind and therefore it is more likely to "stick" and you will be more likely to succeed. You've heard of SMART goals? When you write your goal in a way that illustrates how it is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and TimeBound, you will have established the details of the goal that will help you succeed, and in addition you will know when you succeeded. Focus also includes reminding yourself consistently what you are working toward.

When Bob first told me he wanted more money, I flipped him a quarter and said, "OK, you have more money; are you happy now?" He laughed and realized he needed to get more specific about how much. After a bit of thinking, Bob's goal statement looked something like this: Increase customer services performed by 30% by the end of 2009.

Action
Goals should push us to grow and expand in some way, and this is done through mental and physical action. Smart business people strategize some before bolting into action, and they do not get bogged down in planning every detail so that the action phase never arrives.

Make a plan, don't obsess about it, do something that takes you a step closer to achievement, and repeat.

Action includes persistence. Therefore yes, it does take some discipline to succeed, but a key part of the action phase is to continue feeding your desire to achieve the goal so that you don't have to rely on tough discipline alone. You can't expect to overcome a variety of obstacles without continuing to focus on the desired outcome and reminding yourself WHY you want [it].

It's the combination of setting an appropriate (SMART) goal, focusing on the desired outcome, and consistent action that makes the difference between goal setters and goal achievers.

Bob has done some brainstorming with me, his coach, to come up with ways to better meet more customers' needs. He has implemented a referral program and a special offer on new and existing ancillary services. He continues to focus with positive expectation on his 30% goal for a couple minutes twice daily, which he noticed helps him stay in a better mood. He is excited to report some new sales the past month and is on track for his goal.

Get On Track Now!
Envision what it will be like to achieve your goal.
Focus for a moment; pretend like it's already happened and feel great about it.
Now act! Do something right now to move you in the direction of the goal.
Enjoy your success!

Sincerely,
Heather A. Legge
Results coaching for business people

It's Going to Be a Good Year!

2009-01-15T00:27:00.010-06:00

A VERY GOOD YEAR.

Why will some businesses thrive this year, while others will close their doors?

Could it be a matter of expectation?

I know, that doesn't appeal to our human nature of making things more complicated than they need to be. Yet there is a simple truth here that I'd like to serve up. Straight up.

A Guessing Game
Every one of us has made guesses, which upon coming true, proved our ability to tell the future. Probably every one of us has made a prophecy, or a "guess" when we were pretty darn sure of the outcome. Sometimes it's a no-brainer; we just know. Other times it's pure braggadocio.

Expectation is the Key
In those moments when we must declare certainty, can we alter a plain guess into a prophecy? Most people tend to do this only when there is an intuitive nudge in one direction or the other, but there is something to be said for making a bold affirmative statement. And what about intentionally creating expectation in the desired direction?

Expect the Best!
Try it! Expect the best possible outcome from the next situation you go into. Want a new client from that networking event, or a new contract from that sales meeting, or a raise from your next performance review? Make a bold affirmative statement, declaring your desired outcome!

Figure out exactly what you want, believe it is possible, then go into it expecting success.

Let's apply this to a whole year's worth of transactions...think of the cumulative effects! When you expect the best you will make decisions differently, you will have a spring in your step, you will look for opportunities rather than succumb to failure, and you will likely have a much better year in 2009 than someone else guessed.

Learn From the Best: Actively Create Your Success

2008-12-01T16:28:00.006-06:00

Are you ready to experience more success? Well sure! But how?

I help people daily determine how to intentionally create their professional and personal success, whether they are business owners, or working professionals within a larger organization. I am always working to help people understand that it doesn't have to be difficult to get what you really want, nor do you have to sacrifice other things you want. It is a matter of making a decision and carrying out some simple, proven steps for creating your own version of success!

My objective here is to share some information, and give you at least one take-away that you can apply immediately that is helpful, and to allow you to make some decisions: Do you want to be ordinary, or do you want to be extraordinary? What is your next step?

What is Success?
Everyone defines success differently, but the most typical comments include a measure of financial freedom. And when we make a point to study the most successful people in our culture, we can see patterns emerge that differentiate them from the masses financially. While we acknowledge that money doesn’t make us happy, it makes us comfortable, gives peace of mind, and allows us to provide greater service to others and also allows us to do a lot more of what we want, when we want.

On that note, let me ask you this: Why do approximately 1% of people have over 95% of the money? It’s NOT due to luck, nor intelligence, nor is it related to formal education. The ones at the very top did not have everything given to them either. These people made a DECISION to actively create their success.

How?
We can look at 3 critical, yet simple things the ones at the top do differently from the rest:

1- Know what you want!
How can you possibly get from A to B if you don’t know what B is? Do you just get in your car and start driving aimlessly? NO, before you get to the end of your street, you know your desired destination. Strangely, most people don’t know what they want. Like most people, I used to spend more time determining where to go for dinner, or making out their Christmas list than determining what to accomplish over the next year. What do you want to be known for? What is your Mission? Or, for the purposes of this article at least, what is your primary goal for the next 6 months? Take action by acknowledging specifically what you want and writing it down.

2- Apply the Art of Thinking!
No, I’m not being facetious here. Most people (the other 99%) assume that they are thinking on a daily basis just because they are using their brain to get through the day. But, that’s not quality thought. Are we really thinking when we are watching TV? (Using brain; not thinking!) What about when we are driving? What about when preparing for a project or a presentation or writing a research paper – that’s a lot harder and we have to think for that, right? Wrong. That’s not it either. What I mean by “thinking” in this case is the ability to expend thought energy which is completely focused toward something specific (yes, even in our widespread, self-professed world of Attention Deficit). Focus. So we apply the Art of Focused Thinking on getting what we really want.

Beyond focusing on what we want, there is another facet to the Art of Thinking that the most successful people have mastered. In terms of success, there are 2 distinct mindsets to understanding how a person is getting their current results (and how to change future results). The 1st mindset says that one’s results are caused by things outside oneself, like government and taxes and weather and Joe down the street did this and Betty did that and he or she makes me angry and the economy sucks and that’s why my business is down, etc... Sound familiar? So what do we do about it? Most people go about trying to change their results by acting on what they see in their circumstances. Then they are frustrated because they aren’t seeing the change in results that they want. This is exactly why just about everyone thinks changing habits is so HARD.

Do you want to set yourself apart from the crowd? Do you want to be unforgettable?

The 2nd mindset is the success-oriented way of thinking,. What that top 1% has completely mastered is this more illuminating view of cause and effect. While others are looking at the circumstances around them as the cause of their results, the most successful people in the world acknowledge that the results they are seeing around them are the Effect. What is the Cause?

MY actions are the cause for MY results!! And it’s not just about taking personal responsibility, it’s much more powerful than that; it’s about thinking in a different way. What I see around me in my daily existence is the result of what I am consistently thinking, saying, and doing. What these top achievers do differently, and what I help my clients with, is creating daily habits of thinking and acting applied to the Cause, and therefore achieving the desired Effects. Have you heard the saying “Doing great things is a simply a matter of doing small things in a great way.”?

Anyone can change their future results by applying the Art of Thinking. It’s not new, it’s not hard, and it’s well within anyone’s reach in terms of having the money (next to nothing need be spent to learn this stuff), and also in terms of time (I’m talking about maybe 10 minutes of focus time a day, more if you have it – but that’s all it really takes to make a HUGE difference and see improved results). More than anything, applying the Art of Thinking is about learning how to focus on what you really want.

3- Maximize your resources!
The very wealthy are very good at leveraging their resources for maximum returns, a good example is establishing multiple sources of income so they are making money while they sleep, while they lead a very comfortable lifestyle, and of course while they are "playing" because many of them don’t “work” at all. They are also very good at continuously looking to maximize their resources in innovative ways that other people do not take advantage of. Look around and start considering how you can maximize your resources.

Applied Knowledge:
I’ll share here two techniques that you can apply immediately, or at least in the next week:

1- In the spirit of applying the Art of Thinking, I’ll suggest that you establish a creative perspective in business. 'Creative' in this case does not mean 'artistic,' it refers to an approach to problem solving that is geared away from the more common competitive mindset. You cannot always be worrying about what your competition is doing; it is far better to blaze a trail than to be a follower. During the very next situation you face in your work that requires some problem-solving, I invite you to take a more creative approach. One easy method is to start asking questions. Don’t allow yourself to automatically say “I can’t” – start asking “How can I?”

2-In terms of Maximizing Your Resources, leverage expert knowledge from other people. No one wins on their own; everyone has a team of people and various resources from which they pull in order to put everything together. Even lone ranger entrepreneurs and sole proprietors need other people to ensure their success. Your customers are an excellent source of expert knowledge. Are you asking your customers what they think? Start asking; there are hundreds of options for approaching your customers and gathering their valuable insight, and in addition to strengthen your relationship with your customers. (If you need a survey or verbal poll, contact me and I can help you put one together.) Another really powerful way to leverage others’ knowledge is to join a group of people in business that understand the same challenges as you are facing but are not direct competitors, that you can rely on for honest feedback, generating ideas, you can focus together to create and implement amazing solutions for the very specific challenges that you are individually and collectively dealing with. The very elite in business have been doing this for some time, and it is my pleasure to bring this concept to you here. Right now I am helping groups of 8 form together to start in January, and each group will focus on helping their own businesses thrive in 2009 by leveraging each other’s strengths, and by pooling their resources together to gain the benefits of a having a professional business coach facilitate their progress. (Contact me for details.)

What's Your Next Step?
Remember I said the ones at the very top made a DECISION to actively create their own success? Do you know what you really want? Are willing to apply the Art of Thinking to get what you really want? And are you maximizing your resources? Talk to your customers and put that expert knowledge to work.

Still not sure what your next step is? Consider joining a group of successful business people and experience something extraordinary over the next few months.

Don’t settle for ordinary. Don’t assume you’re going to have a rough year in 2009. Make a decision now for how you can actively create your success!

Work Better...Live More Life!

2008-09-26T18:37:00.007-05:00

For my fellow working professionals-

Do you...
*Feel stressed or overwhelmed?
*Procrastinate?
*Have more To-Do items than hours in the day?
*Notice life slides by…days turn into weeks, months, and then years?
*Say “When I have more time I’m going to ___.” ?
*Think “SHOULD” and “SOMEDAY” a lot?
*Experience Guilt?

You can live a balanced, happy, prosperous life by applying some simple, proven concepts.

WORK BETTER (get more done in less time) & LIVE MORE LIFE (do what you really want)!

But how, you may ask? When working with my coaching clients, I walk them through several steps in two phases: First we tackle desired outcomes so there is something to work for! :-)

I. WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?

Spend some time really thinking and planning to create your future.
Why do you want more money or time? What will you do with more?
What dreams have you put aside, waiting for "someday?"
What would you like to contribute to? What ideas do you have for making happen?
When are you happiest and/or most relaxed?

II. Then, we look for ways to WORK BETTER ("work smarter, not harder") such as:

1. Set goals - daily List of 6
2. Manage activities - no one manages time, we manage our activities
3. Learn to focus - we do not all have attention-deficit disorder, it is a learned habit
4. Make an impact- choose the right things and do them in the right order

How will you Work Better & Live More Life?

Share your idea, tips, tactics for staying balanced and actively creating your future, and please also share your successes on this blog!