More on Confidence

(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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!