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One Sheet

June 4, 2014 By
Scrap Paper

Photo courtesy of Sebastian.

What could one sheet of paper mean to you?

I was thinking about how many ideas, dreams, goals, and fortunes have begun on a single sheet of paper.  To some it is an inconvenience in our digital world and to others it is a one cent item that just really doesn’t get much thought.  But, what if you used just the one sheet to start a personal movement?

The movement might be personal change, the start of a financial goal, or the next big idea that shapes a culture.  Next time you see a piece of paper right something down.  You never know what it could be the start of.

What was an accomplishment that you achieved that began with a single idea on a piece of paper?

Filed Under: Creativity, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , ,
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The World’s Greatest – Music May

May 28, 2014 By

My final selection for Music May is “The World’s Greatest” by R. Kelley.  The message is clear to me – think of yourself as the greatest.  A lot of people put themselves down or don’t think of themselves at all.  Take the time to think about how you impact those around you in a good way.  Everyone does this for at least one person; most people impact many daily.

Thanks for joining me for Music May 2014!

 

Filed Under: Motivational Tagged With: , ,
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The Climb – Music May

May 21, 2014 By

This is a song that can get you re-motivated when it feels like an obstacle is standing in your way. The opening lyrics speak for themselves. I hope this song can give you some inspiration and insight that we all have to deal with mountains but just think of what you can see when you climb and reach the peak!

I can almost see it.
That dream I’m dreaming, but
There’s a voice inside my head saying
You’ll never reach it
Every step I’m takin’
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shakin’
But I, I gotta keep tryin’
Gotta keep my head held high

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side
It’s the climb

 

Filed Under: Motivational Tagged With: , ,
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Brave – Music May

May 14, 2014 By

Selection two for Music May is “Brave” by Sara Bareilles.  It is a song about what we are all capable of doing with our words. Sometimes we just need to say something to be understood.

What would happen if you say what you want to say and let the words fall out?

Filed Under: Motivational Tagged With: , ,
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Firework – Music May

May 7, 2014 By

The music we listen to is the soundtrack of our lives.  The music on our devices can tell how we are feeling at any given moment.  I have a playlist called “Motivational and Upbeat” that gives me easy access to the music that helps to get me going.  For the month of May I am going to do “Music May” and I will share with you a few songs that generally stay on this playlist.

The first selection:

 

Filed Under: Motivational Tagged With: , ,
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Put Me In Coach

April 30, 2014 By

I love when this song comes on.  It reminds me of going to see the Charleston Wheelers play at Watt Powell Park years ago.  I still remember Wheeler Bob hollering as you walked in the front of the stadium selling the programs.

As I have listened to it through the years I wonder how many people sit on the sidelines waiting for a “coach” to let them start something.  You can be your own coach.  All you need to do is get up and begin.  It doesn’t matter what it is.

“Put me in coach!  I’m ready to play today.”  If you are ready to play go do it!  Develop your action plan and figure out how you are going to put yourself into whatever game you want to play.  A new job, a certification, a workout, whatever. Go get it.

What is a song that gets you moving and motivated?

 

Filed Under: Life Coaching Tagged With: , , ,
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Celebrate You

April 23, 2014 By

This is the song I end my workouts with and I wanted to share it with all of you.  No matter what, remember, celebrate you!

What song is your “theme” song?

 

*Article image courtesy of Alison H.

Filed Under: People Tagged With: , , ,
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Sometimes You Have to Think of the Box

April 16, 2014 By

The Candle ProblemOften times when we are trying to problem solve we are working so hard we don’t see the solution in front of our face. We are told to think outside the box but sometimes you need to look at the box itself. The container may just have the solution you are seeking.

In 1945 “The Candle Problem” was published.  It was created some time before that by psychologist Karl Duncker.  The premise of the problem you can see in the picture to the left.  Participants were given a book of matches, a small candle, and a box of tacks.  They had to find a way with these materials to put the candle on the wall and light it but the candle could not get wax on the surface below it.

Sometimes you just have to think of the box.

The video below is from Dan Pink where he discusses motivation and the candle problem in detail.

 

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , ,
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Start a Movement

April 2, 2014 By

The brief video below is one of my favorites.  Don’t be afraid to be first regardless of how you might be judged.  The person who goes first becomes the leader and a leader can start a movement.

Filed Under: Business, Creativity, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , ,
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Write to Your Current Self

March 26, 2014 By
letter to self

Photo courtesy of Torley.

I am sure you have an idea of what you want to achieve in the next 10 or 15 years.  It may be vague or exact but we all have some place we want to be.  Some want to be married with kids, others want to have a million dollars, and others dream of living on the beach enjoying their retirement.

Whatever it is you want to have or do in the future, write to your current self like you are sending the letter back through time.  Write like you have already achieved the goal and how much you are enjoying it.  Put this letter somewhere that you can find it later and see how accurate your future self was when the time comes along.

What is the one big thing you would like to accomplish in the next decade beyond anything else?

 

Filed Under: Creativity, Goal Setting, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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Wallet Free Wednesday

March 19, 2014 By
Wallet

Photo courtesy of 401KCalculator.

I ran across this concept from a bank some time ago and thought it was great.  All you do each Wednesday is leave your wallet at home when you leave.  The purpose being if you don’t have any cash or cards on you then you can’t buy anything.  This causes you to save money at least one day a week.

Try it out!  Brown bag the lunch and make the coffee at home.  Let me know what you think of it and how much you saved.

Filed Under: Money Saving Tagged With: , , , ,
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We Change

March 12, 2014 By
Leave of Change

Photo courtesy of G.

“Things do not change; we change.” Henry David Thoreau

There really isn’t much more than that to write.  Thoreau pretty much summed it up right there.  We all hope things will change but most things do not change unless we do.

You work at a job where you can stand the boss.  You sit there for years and years thinking “One day they’ll get fired and I can enjoy my job” when all it takes is for you to change and take action.  What is stopping you from looking for work elsewhere?  Once  you find that work you can fire your current boss yourself by leaving.

Don’t wait for things or circumstances around you to change your life for you.  Take action right now to move where you want to be.  Fill out the application, do the research, go for a walk – just do something!

What action(s) can you take right this minute to move towards a goal you have?

 

 

Filed Under: Goal Setting Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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You Get Used to It

March 5, 2014 By
Glasses

Photo Courtesy of Sinchen Lin.

It has been said many times that you become like those who are around you and to choose your friends wisely.  The problem we have as people is that we usually don’t realize that those around us have changed us so much until we have been there a while.  If you want to own a business but you are hanging out with people who enjoy not working you will very likely wake up one morning and realize you haven’t worked on your business for quite some time.

Iyanla Vanzant once said “Your eyes will adjust to the level of deficiency present.”  She was referring to how gradually your eyes change and compensate for each other and that is why it takes so long for you to notice that you need glasses.  Once day you realize that you aren’t seeing quite as well as you once were.  This line was used by her to demonstrate that we do the same thing with the people we hang around with and how we change as people because of it.

This isn’t to say not to be friends with those who are different from you.  Even those who don’t want nearly the same things in life can be great friends and supporters.  Just remember, if you want to be a pilot you need to spend time hanging out with pilots.  They are the ones that can help you soar to your dreams.

 

Filed Under: People Tagged With: , , ,
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The Past Can Hurt and Heal

February 26, 2014 By
Arrow - Move Forward

Photo Courtesy of Antony Mayfield.

It is true.  The past can hurt quite a bit.  The one thing to realize, and it may take some searching, is the hurt served you in some way.  Maybe it got you out of a bad relationship, an addiction, or caused you to start the career path that you are on.

If you find out how your past served you it can also help you heal the emotional pain.

If you did something to harm another reach out to them to to try and attempt to make it better.  Even if the person doesn’t accept you need to know that you tried.  This can free you in so many ways and help ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes again.

Learn from your past but look forward to your future.  Living in the past serves no productive purpose.  Using it to learn from can be your greatest gift.

“The past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it.”  Rafiki – The Lion King

Filed Under: Life Coaching, Relationships Tagged With: , , , ,
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Page of Change

February 19, 2014 By

Notebook PageI always hear people say they want to make a change but they don’t seem to know exactly what they want.  I am sure this has happened to you.  You will feel like something just isn’t right but you do not know what you need, or want, to change.

Take out a piece of paper and a pen.  Take the next three minutes and write out everything you would like to change in your life in the next one or two years.  Don’t let the pen up from the paper.  Just write, write, and write some more for the full three minutes.  Set a timer on your phone if you need to.

Once you have finished circle the things you could change right now.  Either make the change or decide you really don’t need to.  Then do the same thing with the items that can take six months, one year, and two years.  Mark off anything you have now decided you really don’t think needs to change.

At the end of this exersize you should have a bit of more clarity on what things you would like to change in your life.  You can now set goals and work towards the long term changes.

Question:  What kind of things would you like to change in your life?

Filed Under: Life Coaching Tagged With: , , ,