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Strengths Finder 2.0 – Part 5: Strategic

February 21, 2011

“The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large.”

This is another great strength that is a true fit for me. I spent the early part of my career as a media director, account executive, and event planner all wrapped up into one in a small ad agency. I loved being strategic. My events were organized and I thought through every detail and “what if.” I always want to be prepared for any scenario.

Even now, I see myself doing that in my personal life. I function best with a plan and a strategy. I offer this to the women I coach – a menu of various strategies to grow their business and guide them through this process learning about themselves in the process.

“Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead into straight resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion.” I don’t want to chase after something that doesn’t work. I give it my time and then take the positive from it and move on always thinking about the bigger picture.

I hope you have enjoyed my 5 Part Series about the book, Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. I highly recommend you getting a copy. It’s a lot of fun to take the test and see what your strengths truly are. I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment and let me know if you have gotten the book. I’d love to hear your results!

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Strengths Finder 2.0 – Part 4: Positivity

February 18, 2011

This was another spot on strength for me. Depending on how you’ve found me or how you know me, you know I’m all about gratitude and positive energy. I created the Gratitude Jewelry Collection over 4 years ago and have since created an online social community called The Gratitude Circle.

I truly believe in the power of positivity. I have learned to create a positive or an opportunity out of any challenge or seemingly negative situation.

“People want to be around you. Their world looks better around you because your enthusiasm is contagious.”

I choose to see the good in things and not focus on lack or negative. It has literally changed my life and brought more abundance to me.

“You celebrate every achievement. You find ways to make everything more exciting and more vital.”

As I coach women in business and help them grow their businesses, my job is to help to lift them up and raise them higher celebrating and honoring all of the achievements they have created with a positive spirit. It’s empowering – making them want to do more, be more, and reach higher than they ever thought possible.

I found this excerpt very interesting – “Don’t pretend that difficulties don’t concern you. Other people need to know that while you find the good in virtually every situation, you are not naïve. Recognize challenges, and communicate the reasons for your optimism. Your positive approach will be most powerful when others realize it is grounded in reality.”

I always say to people that everyone has issues; it’s just all in how we deal with them or perceive them. I’m not unrealistic, I know that I have challenges and unfortunate things happen in my life just like anyone else. I simply choose to look at them differently with a positive spin. It takes away much of the struggle and leads me through the process so much quicker.

Stay tuned for Part 5 – the last installment…

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Strengths Finder 2.0 – Part 3: Maximizer

February 17, 2011

“Excellence, not average, is your measure.”

One of my mentors says that we aren’t born to wake up and feel average and live mediocre. I want to feel my absolute best and do my absolute best. Now, I’m not unrealistic. I know that there will be average (and not so average) days and experiences, but I continuously raise the bar for myself striving.

I do the same with my clients, constantly raising the bar, helping them stretch and grow outside of their comfort zone, which can be tough to do on your own. I am that catalyst.

“Strengths, whether yours or someone else’s fascinate, you.” I was often bewildered by the old interview question, “What are your weaknesses?” Who the heck wants to talk about that? I know what mine are and see some in other people, but who wants to focus on the negative? It just seems silly to me.

Instead, strengths fascinate me and in my opinion, make up for the weakness or lack that we all have somewhere in us. I know where I fall short and try my best there, but focus on those things that I really rock at and make them better.

“You don’t want to spend your life bemoaning what you lack. Rather, you want to capitalize on the gifts with which you are blessed.” Another spot on assessment…Focusing on lack or negativity will only bring more of that to you. I instead focus on the positive, my gifts, and my gratitude.

Stay tuned for installment #4 tomorrow!

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Strengths Finder 2.0 – Part 2: Futuristic

February 16, 2011

“Wouldn’t it be great if… You are the kind of person who loves to peer over the horizon.”

I’m always looking ahead. Always dreaming. Always thinking about and working towards that BIG vision. I don’t feel stuck in the present. I appreciate the past, live in the moment, and always look for what is beyond and how I can make things better and live life to the fullest.

“A better product, a better team, a better life, or a better world – it will always be inspirational to you. You are a dreamer who sees visions of what could be.”

I am always thinking of a different way never ever buying in to this is ‘just the way it is.’ We all have the power to choose. We all have the power to create whatever we want for our future. How we want to feel…how we want to work…how we want to live…how we want to love…and on and on.

In the Ideas for Action section it says, “Choose roles in which you can contribute your ideas about the future. For example, you might excel in entrepreneurial or start-up situations.” I guess that’s why I love working with women in business to help them see the big picture. Helping to connect their heart and passion with that BIG vision bringing them even greater success, happiness and empowerment.

Stay tuned for Part 3 tomorrow!

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Strengths Finder 2.0 – Part 1: Activator

February 15, 2011

I lead a Mastermind Group of amazing and powerful women in business. We recently started a personal and business growth book series. The first book we chose was Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.

I found this book to be very interesting and not like your traditional book. It starts with a code that is sealed at the back of the book. After you get your code, you head online and take the Strengths Finder 2.0 Assessment.

The assessment takes about a half an hour. It’s timed, so you have a limit of the amount of time you can spend on a question. There are 170+ questions. The goal is for you to go with your ‘gut’ and not overanalyze each one. I found some of them easy ‘no brainers’ while others I was more wishy washy on – it was a really interesting exercise.

I thought it would be fun to share with you my strengths as revealed by the assessment over the next few days.

My first strength was Activator. Here are some qualities of the activator. “When do we start? – This is a recurring question in your life. You are impatient for action.” – hmmmm, yep got that right! You believe “only action makes things happen and action leads to performance.”
Spot on again!

“As an activator you believe that action is the best device for learning. You make a decision, you take action, you look at the result, and you learn. You put yourself out there.” I’ve heard a lot of people say to me lately – ‘you’re everywhere and you really put yourself out there.’ Yes I do, because I believe that action is motion – I’m constantly thinking, what’s next? Where will this take me? How can I make this happen?

Check in for Part 2 tomorrow!

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Hello Desire, Bye-Bye Procrastination!

January 18, 2011

As a coach, I know how important it is to invest in myself and my business. I have studied with many of the top mentors. I know, firsthand how important it is to be pushed, stretched, and held accountable.

I have the distinct pleasure of being one of Karen Fagan’s private clients. In my opinion, Karen is THE Empowerment Expert. Today in Karen’s weekly ezine, she shared this great article on how to focus on what you desire in your life and your business and what makes people take action to move forward. Say good-bye to procrastination and lack of focus and Hello to Desire!

Having a laser focus on what one is trying to accomplish is the major force behind what propels some people to take action toward their heart’s desires. It is exhilarating to achieve, to finally arrive at a longed for goal. Let’s be honest, nothing great ever comes from procrastination. It carries the feeling of defeat, and you deserve better than that!

What happens when you think about realizing your heart’s desires? Do you often neglect to put into motion the actions that are sure to take you to the reward of reaching your destination? Perhaps you are easily distracted. Simply ‘forgetting where your focus is’ can actually be the biggest road-block to reaching your goal.

I want to encourage you to focus on what you desire – and stay focused – no matter what happens! You will be amazed by the immediate results of this one simple, but crucial, action. Like many other women I’ve coached, who have discovered the power of acting on their heart’s desire, instead of procrastinating, you’ll wonder why you ever put it off in the first place. To help you begin to do TODAY, what should never be put off until tomorrow, I’ve included the following 5 easy steps!

  1. Connect to Your Desires
    – Most people procrastinate when disconnected from
    what they most desire. It is important to reconnect with your heart desires every day. Take time now to reconnect.  Close your eyes, take a deep breath in, and really connect to what you desire most.  Imagine yourself living out your desires (really create the picture in your mind).  How would you feel and what actions would you take?
  2. Be Focused – If, while taking action toward your desires, you find yourself answering your phone, checking email, wasting a big bunch of hours on face book or online, texting, or doing laundry – it’s time to get focused!  There is a time and place for everything. What I know for sure is that going on facebook and comparing yourself to others is NOT going to manifest your desires. Be focused on one item at a time to increase your success.  Remaining focused allows you to be present in what you are doing.  Set a timer during a task and start to build your endurance for focus.  My sense is that you want to be present in all that you do – whether it is work or play.  By focusing when working, you will be able to fully play when you are playing, because you will not be thinking about what you haven’t done yet.
  3. You Create the Mood – People who procrastinate, often do so because they tell themselves they just don’t feel like doing whatever it is that needs to get done.  This is a sure sign that they are out of alignment with what they desire most.  For example, if you desire to lose weight, but tell yourself you don’t feel like exercising, you are working against yourself.  You will begin to find all the justification needed for not exercising, instead of doing the exact thing that will make you feel good and help you achieve your goal.  We are the creator of our moods. Yes, some days our mood will be better than other days. However, when your mood is the problem, the key is to take full responsibility, change your attitude, and create the mood that will allow you to take positive action, moving you closer to your ultimate desires. Do yourself a big, wonderful favor – stop waiting for the mood and create it today!
  4. This is the right time – Remind yourself that NOW is the right time.  Why? Because, your life is NOW – not later.  Many clients say “they are waiting for the right time to start,” but I have often found the truth to be that some sort of fear is preventing them from moving ahead. If you find yourself waiting for the fear to go away – chances are, you’ll be waiting a long time. Instead, get curious – and real – about what fears you may have. Understanding just why you are procrastinating will empower you, enabling you to put an end to it and get back on track.
  5. Define Your top priorities for the day – I often hear clients say they procrastinate because they don’t know exactly how to start or what to do. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting clear on your top priorities and aligning your energy.  The truth is you have everything you need to get your life done. Take action and be productive, rather than procrastinate.  When I coach clients and help them to reconnect with their heart desires – they can instantly get clarity, define their priorities, and move right out of procrastination.  When you truly align with what you desire you will be amazed at how resourceful you become.

      Big Question – Are you doing what you hate?

      I really encourage you to answer this question, honestly. Many people procrastinate because they are doing something they hate to do.  In a job they don’t like, they create a business model they think they will like – only to find themselves unsuccessful in changing the fact that they hate what they are doing. To waste time in procrastination only makes you feel worse than you desire to feel or deserve to feel. To love what you do – you must do what you love!

      Perhaps cleaning your house is something you absolutely dread. Instead of procrastinating and allowing your energy to be depleted, hire someone to clean house for you. This one decision will considerably free up your energy and allow you to create more love, joy, and money in your life. Perhaps outsourcing isn’t an option for you. If you must do the dreaded job yourself, then reward yourself for a job well done.  Pick a reward that makes you feel absolutely great – and give it to yourself after the task is completed.  It doesn’t have to cost you a thing.

      The key is to spend more time in a feel good place, rather than beating yourself up for not getting things done – and wasting your precious time and energy in procrastination.

      ____________________________________________________________________________________
      Empowerment Expert and Master Certified Coach, Karen Fagan publishes her “Live in Your Brilliance” weekly ezine. If you want special tips to live bold, brilliant and rich in your life and business, you can sign up for a FREE subscription to Live in Your Brilliance at www.karenfagan.com. Want to see more secret tips? see Karen’s blog at Karen http://www.karenfagan.com/blog/

      Filed Under: Mindset, Personal Development

      The Fine Art of Delegation – at Home and at Work

      August 9, 2010

      Do you ever feel frustrated by too much work? Does everyone else involved seem totally unaware of the urgency? Imagine how different your life would be if only you could gain more cooperation in the workplace or at home!

      Learning to delegate tasks effectively to employees, children, or teammates can reduce stress while accomplishing much more in less time. Whether it’s your home or business you want to improve, a few changes can make all the difference in the world!

      For example, when you visit a well-run classroom, you’ll find a teacher who has planned ahead for the day, assigned specific tasks to different children based on strengths, and requests help from the students.

      The teacher doesn’t try to do everything. Rather, the students are given assignments to be office helper, chalkboard washer, group leader, and more. This works best when the tasks are spelled out on a chart with names assigned to the job, but simply requesting help is also effective.

      You can use these same methods in your environment to recruit some much needed help and cooperation.

      People intrinsically want to feel useful, so when delegating tasks, use these ideas:

      1. Plan ahead. You can’t overestimate the power of planning. When you know exactly what you want to accomplish, you can express it clearly to your children or employees. With an end result in view, everyone stays on track.
      • Make a master list of tasks you’d like accomplished, including the different steps needed to complete each task. Assign these steps to different people so each person in the office or family is working together to achieve a goal, and nobody is overburdened.
      1. Match tasks to strengths. Finding the person whose strength matches each need will not only result in the best product, but also more satisfaction in those doing the tasks. Figure out who the writers, organizers, techies, and artistic people are within your group and let their gifts complement their assignments.
      • The same holds true in your family when delegating tasks. Match chores to the child based on age, physical capabilities, and preferences. For example, if you have one child who likes a particular chore, let that chore become your child’s regular job.
      1. Make tasks clear. Take the time to explain each person’s task and the steps needed to finish it. Posting the steps on a dry erase board or chart is an effective visible reminder. If your subordinates or children have clear expectations, you can simply tell them to complete their assigned job.
      • Some children are visual learners. They learn by watching rather than listening to directions. Show your children how to do a task correctly and they’ll learn quickly.
      1. Make Deadlines Reasonable. When you need something done quickly, especially in an office environment, people will naturally become stressed out trying to do the job correctly and quickly. This will inevitably lead to mistakes being made and you’ll need extra time – and possibly extra money – to fix those mistakes.
      • Let your clients know how long is required to complete the job, and only commit to reasonable time frames. If necessary, hire extra people to help rather than overloading your current workers.

      You can keep your home and business running smoothly without frustration or stress. With clear expectations and people functioning in their best capacities, peace and efficiency can be yours! Start getting the results you want today by implementing these tips into your every day routine.

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      The Art of Deep Breathing: A Sanity-Saving Strategy

      August 5, 2010

      I had the pleasure last week of hosting a call about self-care with Dr. Tracey Marks, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist with a special interest in stress and lifestyle management for women. One of the techniques we discussed was deep, relaxing breathing. It has tremendous benefits!

      Have you ever had one of those days where you were so stressed that you felt like you could use some help to save your sanity? If so, you’ll be pleased to discover a strategy you can use to reduce stress and improve your health at the same time! This strategy is easy and convenient, and it’s simply deep breathing.

      What exactly is deep breathing? Deep breathing is a breathing exercise that involves manipulating the breath in ways that bring about certain feelings on an emotional level.

      There are various deep breathing exercises that are designed for:

      • Developing the mind and the body
      • Helping you enter a state of meditation
      • Helping you feel revived and refreshed

      No matter what emotion you’re trying to achieve with your breathing exercises, the beauty is that it doesn’t cost you anything to breathe. But when is it appropriate to do breathing exercises? And how often can they be done?

      When to Do Deep Breathing Exercises

      There are no hard and fast rules stipulating when to do breathing exercises. It really depends on what you’re wishing to achieve by doing them.

      You can use breathing exercises at any time to:

      • Achieve a state of calm
      • Feel alive, invigorated, and ready for your day
      • Reduce stress in tense situations
      • Wind down at the end of the day

      When you wake up in the morning, you may wish to do some brief deep breathing exercises to feel invigorated and ready to go. You can go outside, take a deep breath, and then breathe in through your nose filling your belly, and out through your mouth.

      This breathing exercise can serve as a workout for your abdominal muscles and lungs. It can make you feel quite refreshed at the beginning of your day and provides a similar effect to taking a morning jog.

      When you’re having a rough day at work or dealing with conflict, you can use a few calming deep breaths to help reduce stress. Sit back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Hold it in and then let it out. Repeat the process until you feel relaxed. As you take your breath in you can even visualize the tension or conflict when you are at the top of your breath, then exhale out with the breath and the mental visualization.

      Health Benefits of Breathing Exercises

      If you just need a quick lift, then you’ll only need to spend a short time here and there doing some deep breathing exercises. On the other hand, if you’re looking to have a significant impact on your health and serenity, you can form a routine of several breathing exercises throughout your day.

      Whatever the duration, breathing exercises can bring you many health benefits, including:

      • Reduce your blood pressure
      • Calm your nerves
      • Tighten your core muscles
      • Aid in better digestion
      • Aid in the elimination of waste and toxins
      • Bring you higher levels of energy
      • Increase your awareness of the functions within your body
      • Reduce stress

      Your own results will depend upon the type and frequency of breathing exercises you use.

      Anyone Can Benefit From Breathing Exercises

      Breathing exercises can benefit virtually anyone. The only individuals who should take extreme caution are those with respiratory issues. Always check with your physician before attempting these exercises or any exercises.

      Nevertheless, sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy the relaxing effects that deep breathing can provide. It’s an effective solution to reduce stress, bring you peace, and improve your life.

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      6 Ways to Make Time for YOU in Your Hectic Life

      August 3, 2010

      I hosted two teleseminars recently. One was on the topic of time management and the other was on self-care. As moms, we have a lot to manage no matter what time of the year it is. Our job never seems to end and we are always multi-tasking.

      Do you constantly push yourself? In your drive to get it all done, you may wind up taking on so many projects that life can seem chaotic. In the midst of doing it all, do you remember to take time for yourself?

      Spending time on YOU is critical! It enables you to feel rested, calm, stress-free, and fulfilled. When you’ve had proper rest, you can accomplish more and maintain the stamina to continue.

      On the other hand, if you neglect to make time for yourself, you’re more likely to become depressed, stressed, or unhappy.

      Perhaps you feel that there’s just not enough time for you. Somewhere in the mix, you lost any time you ever had for yourself. However, the good news is that, with some creativity and perseverance, you can recapture some of that critical you-time!

      Consider using these strategies to reap some rejuvenating time for yourself:

      1.  Make an appointment with yourself. Make time for yourself by adding it as a priority in your schedule. As you fill out your planner, include it along with your other important tasks and stick to the appointment!

      2.  Give yourself 15 minutes when you get home. Insist on at least 15 minutes of recoup and rejuvenation time when you get home from work. If you have to lock yourself away from stressors or even family members, than that’s what you must do! This time allows you to properly transition from your work life to your home life.

      • Explain this new technique to your family so that they understand its importance. This way, no one feels like you’re just avoiding them!
      • You can soak in the tub, sit in quiet, meditate, listen to calming and peaceful music or whatever technique resonates with you to clear your mind.

      (Note – this technique also works for stay-at-home moms and work-at-home moms – get your family on board to see where you can fit this time into your schedule).

      3.  Take advantage of your lunch break. Your lunch break is there for you to do what you please. After you eat, make good use of your time by going for a walk, exercising, listening to inspiring music, or even get in a bit of shopping if that’s what relaxes you. Are you a work-at-home mom? Make sure to step away from your desk and give yourself a break to eat your lunch.

      4.  Enjoy a break while the kids nap. Here’s a good tip for stay-at-home moms. Give yourself some much needed “you” time whenever your children sleep. You might be tempted to get as much work done as you can while they’re asleep, but you’ll find you actually get more done if you give yourself a chance to rest and rejuvenate yourself.

      • Explore new ways of accomplishing things like household tasks while your kids are up. For example, turn chores into learning games that you can all participate in.

      5.  Go to sleep earlier. Going to sleep earlier at night will enable you to get up in time to enjoy some morning “me” time. Morning “me” time is my favorite part of the day! It’s so peaceful and quiet – I start the day renewed and refreshed!

      6.  Take a vacation day. Take a vacation day to just relax and do whatever you like. You don’t have to take a trip to take a vacation! Time spent on your favorite hobbies will also rejuvenate you. When you return to work, your renewed energy may surprise you!

      A good way to get started with these strategies is to start with just one. Which one resonates with you? What do you think you could easily implement? As you become accustomed to that one strategy, you can add another, and then another, until one day you’ll find that making time for yourself is easy.

      Once you learn to make time for you, you’ll have more energy and a renewed sense of self!

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      Investing in Yourself

      August 2, 2010

      If you’ve been following me or you know me, you know how important I believe that it is to invest in yourself. The investment you make in yourself doesn’t always have to come by the way of spending money, but it’s the overall commitment you make to developing and valuing yourself.

      Who are you? What’s your story? What is your purpose?

      Now you’re probably saying—Whoa!—those are three very profound and thought provoking questions. Yep, you got it! Did I get your attention?

      Pick one, get a piece of paper and answer it. You will be amazed to see what you find!

      In abundant gratitude for you,

      P.S. Thought you might enjoy a photo that was taken last week with one of my mentors—Fabienne Fredrickson and my mastermind partner, Marian Edvardsen. I am very excited to be investing in myself next month when I study with Fabienne on one of my favorite topics – Mindset! I can’t wait to jump right in.

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