Bolder!

Break Out

Last spring, as our economy tanked, my coaching practice soon followed. As budgets tightened,  priorities shifted. I totally understood but over the course of just 4 weeks my practice almost disappeared until one afternoon I found myself with no foreseeable income and wondering what to do next.

I considered going back to corporate work but dismissed the idea almost as soon as it flitted through my brain. I know from experience how hard it is to get out of those golden handcuffs and the culture of Big Business was not one I wanted to support again. The nightly news of lost jobs, vanishing pensions and shattered lives convinced me of that.

I then thought seriously about working at the local coffee shop until the economic storm blew over. I knew I could leave that behind easily enough when my practice got busy again.

But when you KNOW you are doing what you're supposed to be doing (coaching in my case) how do you just stop? I absolutely knew coaching was what I was meant to be up to. I just needed to find someone to coach again.

I had to get my thinking out of that proverbial box and try something completely different.

First I got clear on WHO I wanted to BE - which is a "Support for people building their personal version of a successful life".

Next I visualized finding a way to do this without charging and still earn a living. (My husband, bless his heart, simply said was "Good luck with that.")

Two weeks later I found my answer in the most unexpected place.

With a clear intention (and such a crazy notion) my radar was on high alert looking for a solution. So when an opportunity appeared I didn't dismiss it out of hand as I might have done in the past. Instead I took time to explore it and educate myself. After all, how can you intelligently say no to something if you don't have the facts?

I found exactly what I'd imagined - a way to make a difference using my skills as a coach and mentor as I earned an income that didn't have to come from my clients. Six months later and I still have to pinch myself to believe it.

As the economy recovers, my "normal" coaching practice is picking up again, for which I'm grateful. And now I have a whole new revenue stream in my business which I'm also grateful for. I'm proud of what I'm building and the difference it's making in people's lives.

On top of all that, I find myself living boldly again. I've finally got time for what feeds my spirit. I'm writing, painting and sculpting again. More on that to come.

WHAT I KNOW...

I first had to get clear on how I wanted to Be and then I had to let go of how it should look. If I'd been tied to my old ideas and ways of doing things I might have kept the door closed when opportunity dropped in.

So ask yourself this - "Who do I want to be?"

Then find your way to be that in the world.

A Real Coach

One of the few additional things I said yes to last fall was to serve on the board of IDEAL WAY. I am blown away by what this organization is doing. And their founder, Robert Pio Hajjar is a natural coach. I've shared this YouTube video on my Facebook account but I don't think it can be seen enough. Robert's message goes to the heart of coaching. Whatever you want to do, take action.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it -- Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." 

W.N. Murray

The Snowflake Effect

I was almost surprised this past week to speak with a number of people who have forgotten the importance of little things in a life or who outright dismiss the concept. Almost surprised but not quite because the sad truth is I run into these people all the time. Sometimes I'm even one of them.

Now I'm not advocating stressing over the small stuff but attention needs to be paid. After all, how much does a snowflake weigh? Hardly measurable, right? But get enough of them together and they are a force to be reckoned with.

Our lives are strung together from little moments. So why do we we sit back and wait for the grand gesture, the heroic act or a winning lottery ticket to change the course of our life? I see this everyday in people waiting for their 'big break' or envious of a friend's "overnight success" while all the time they let opportunities melt away in their hands.

If you truly want your life to be different in the future you must start today, right where you are by making those small but important choices. Pile them up and before you know it, the obstacles are buried while you glide along smoothly on the surface, picking up speed!

That was one of my first lessons when I went "offline" last fall to build a new arm of my business. I knew it wasn't going to happen unless I showed up every day and took care of the little stuff.

Pick up the phone.

Learn a new skill.

Get supper on the table.

(The flip side of all this was not being attached to the outcome --which can make for an interesting balancing act. More than once I found myself headfirst in a drift, trying to get back on my feet.)

WHAT I KNOW...

We can waste a lot of time waiting for something big to happen. Or we can start small, with what we can handle right now and make something happen. Once you get into motion, momentum will take over. Kind of like downhill skiing.

What`s one small action you could take today?

Leaping Back In

Okay, okay. I know I disappeared for quite awhile but honestly, there was a good reason for it. Here I was writing and talking about life balance and time management while my own life was spinning faster and faster. In good conscience, I had to step back.I would have felt out of integrity with you to try and carry on.

After all, how could I write about taking time for self, keeping life in balance and all that other important "coach stuff " if I was trying to cram 36 hours of effort into 24. (Less if I wanted to eat and sleep.)

When I looked at what I wanted to accomplish last autumn, I knew I had drop some of the things I was up to but I did it with an eye to returning with some valuable things to share. I knew there would be some exciting and interesting changes during that time and I wasn't disappointed.  

SO - thank you to everyone who wrote or spoke to me to let me know how much you missed hearing from me. I appreciated your concern and apologize for the long silence. Thanks for the patience.

It was a deliberate choice but not an easy one.

One thing I learned is that the world doesn't fall apart when you let a few balls drop, even when you love juggling. I missed the introspection that my writing allows me. I missed hearing from my readers. I missed the discipline and creativity of blogging. The hardest choices are always between the good and the good. If it's between good and bad - no brainer. (Well, maybe not if I have to choose between brussel sprouts and chocolate... but you know what I mean.)

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to drop all but one ball and really pay attention to what was in your hand at that very moment? If you can't remember, maybe it's time. You can't create a bold life living in a distracted state. Success in life requires your presence and your attention.

But for now, I really just want to say "Hi" and let you know I'm back. I've got lots to share about the soul of success, living boldly and the power of paying it forward.

WHAT I KNOW...

Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to create momentum for your big leap forward.