That One Big Break!

Are you wondering whether or not you should look into a crystal ball or shake some dice in Vegas? Are you comparing yourself to others and thinking why can't I have what they have? Are you sitting on your porch swing waiting for someone to come to your door step to tell you it is your time to be a star? If you said yes to any of these, you might want to splash some cold water on your face to refresh yourself.

Your lucky break does not have to come from shaking a pair of dice or learning about your future. The reason you do not have what someone else has is because what was achieved was meant for them in their way and not yours. However, if you admire what another has, you should be inspired to know that you can aspire to have great things in your life too. Little do you know, this overnight success you have been comparing yourself to has been a work in progress for some time now. Their consistent efforts and persistent attitude helped them get to where they are today. Learn from them. Study them. Get to know them as a person. Ask them about how they got started. You might be surprised. Your new connection could also lead you to others you must meet. As the saying goes, you shouldn't wait for success to come to you, "you need to swim out to meet it."

Create your big break! Increase Your Odds of Success...

1. Tell everyone you know about your dreams, ambitions, and goals.

2. Ask them if they know someone you should meet in their network and request a virtual introduction. There are on average about 250 people in each person's network.

3. Connect with the person you were introduced to with a 15 minute phone call. Remember people do business with people they know, like, and trust. Be real.

4. Be specific. People naturally want to help people but they cannot help you if you do not ask or if you do not know what to ask for.

5. Think about how you can help others by connecting them with your network or circle of influence.

Make big plans for yourself by setting goals and breaking them down into manageable pieces. They are the "breaks" that make the difference. Take action with each piece. Each action helps you take another action step. Before you know if, your goal will be attained.
What "big break" have you been waiting for? What is it that you can do today to help someone with their "big break"?

“Cherish the journey; the destination is where it all comes together.”

– Debra Kasowski

Track Your Way

Every successful person followed a path. Each path may vary in length and smoothness. Some paths may be hilly, some may have a slight bend in the road, and some may even be straight. The beauty of each path is that even if two people are heading to the same destination, their path will vary in lessons learned and length of time to get there. Yet they both can get to the same destination and succeed.

One of our family goals is to be more active than we currently are. I decided to get each of us a pedometer. We are going to keep track of all the steps we take in one day and set our own personal goals. We will strive to reach our personal bests. The kids were quite excited. "How cool! Look at how many steps I  have!" as they ran in one spot or dash up and down the stairs. Instant althletes!

Tracking your way to success can be exhilarating!  Watching your progress creates momentum and awareness of the efforts required to reach your goals. Set a goal. Have a clear intention of what you want your end result to look like. Break your goal into smaller steps - daily, weekly, and monthly. At the end of each day, review the steps you have taken and track your progress by writing down what you have accomplished. Celebrate your victories! Plan your next day and realign or tweak any changes you need to. How can you improve if you do not reflect on what you do? Each day is a fresh start to great things!

If your goal is to declutter a room, stay in the room until you finish it. Do not beat yourself up if you have completed 90% of the room and you still have 10% left at the end of the day. Marvel at the beauty of what you have accomplished. Just think - it is way better than it was and there is so little left to complete that you will get it done quickly the next day and move on. Aah! Feels great doesn't it. Feel the weight off your shoulders as you can now relax in your decluttered room, closet, or garage. It is welcoming and now you look forward to spending time in that space.

Success comes in all shapes and sizes. What are you trying to accomplish? Track your way and you will see what makes you the success you are! Now I have to go so I can get my steps in!

The Perfect Spiral

Yesterday, I was passing the football back and forth with my son. For a 7 year old, he has some muscle in that little arm. He threw some great spirals. I, on the other hand, did not throw the perfect spiral. Jordan started to laugh and said, " Come on Mom! I know you have some juice in there." I was flabbergasted. I asked him how he learned to throw so well. He said, "Dad taught me. Look, Step, and Throw." Lessons from my 7 year old, "See Mom, you can do it!"

When you want to try something new or improve in an area, do you LOOK for resources and people to help you? You want to talk to people who have already done what you want to do. Their wisdom is priceless. Read books in the area you want to grow in. If it is not one of your strength, consider hiring an expert.

Once you are armed with some knowledge and lessons from others life experiences, it is your turn. Do not wait for the perfect moment as you will just procrastinate and nothing will come to be. Instead, STEP into it! As you attempt to go after what you want, you create momentum. You can adjust along the way!

THROW is where the action comes in. Release you ideas and talents out into the world. You are the only one who can deliver it your way. Think about your favorite places to shop or eat out. Why do you go there? Is it because the way they make you feel or their way of doing things that makes it so great? People come to you because of the way you do things. Throw yourself into what you love and get your perfect spiral!

Make it your own TOUCHDOWN! It's GOOD!

Stepping Out of Comfort into Glory

On vacation a couple weeks ago, I watched a movie called "Morning Glory" with Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams. The morning show was at risk of being cut from prime time viewing and to be replaced with game shows and soap operas. The new executive producer was at risk of losing her job when she realized it was time to do something different. All of the people were doing the same thing that they had been doing for years. Not only did she have to step out of her comfort zone, she had to get others to do the same in order to save the show. Roller coaster rides, jumping out of planes, and even getting sprayed by a skunk were just a few of the adventures that started to make the rating rise. Stepping out into Glory!

How are you increasing your ratings in life and business? Are you stepping out of you comfort zone and trying new things? I am not saying you need to jump out of a plane or ride a rollercoaster. Just try something you really want to do. Try something new - be innovative. The "something" may be something you get nervous or excited about, like you did when you were a child. Fresh ideas awaken the world! Weigh the risks and take action! The thrill after you do will be amazing and just think of all the opportunities that may follow.

Action takers are unique and they are the ones who stand out from the crowd. Why? Because they are go-getters! Go-Getters are those people who not only set goals; they make plans to get things done. Are you the person people come to because of your ratings? Do you get things done? What are doing today to step out of your comfort and into glory?

Never Too Late

Adding Sunshine to Blue Monday

The radio stations in Edmonton have been broadcasting that today is "Blue Monday". The third Monday of January is deemed to be the most depressing day of the year.  I believe it works out to be January 24. Apparently, psychologist Cliff Arnall came up with a formula:

Weather plus (+) Debt minus (-) Salary 

Times (x) time since Christmas to time to fail in fulfilling New Year's Resolutions

Divide (/) by Motivation to Take Action

This is also the time of year in which many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder may include irritability, moodiness, weight gain, decreased energy, increase in anxiety and despair, fatigue, and avoidance of social situations. For some people, this disorder can be debilitating and for the rest referred to as the "winter blues". Do not despair. There are many things you can to add some sunshine to your world on "Blue Monday".

Change Your Environment. You cannot change the weather but you can change your environment. Apply a new coat of paint to your office walls, hang new pictures, add a plant, or move the furniture around. Make your environment more inviting. Start spring cleaning early. Put a spring picture on your computer as a screen saver.

Chunk Down Your Debts. Create a debt reduction plan. Call your credit card company and ask for a reduction on your interest rate. The same process may be used with your internet, telephone, and television providers when reducing some of your charges. I do not guarantee these solutions for you but I know from personal experience they do work. Use what you have in your pantry for food staples, plan your meals, buy groceries with a list, and cook your own style of gourmet meal...pull out the fancy china for you. Why? You are worth it.

Increase Your Salary. Get a second job or spend less. Use your skills and talents to help you generate income doing things like typing/proofreading, walking a dog, babysitting, even snow shovelling (if you have snow).

Make Your Resolutions Stick. Write down your goals. Create action steps to achieve them. Make sure they are realistic. Ask for help or delegate to get things done. Resolutions stick when you are focussed. Let others know what you want to achieve so they can remind you of your commitment to yourself. Perhaps you can remind them of theirs.

Motivation. Surround yourself with like minded individuals. If weight loss is your goal, join a group who wants to lose weight or hire a personal trainer to help you with your goal. Keep a diary of your food intake and activity. Track your progress.Celebrate your milestones. Create your own exercise playlist of songs which pump you up and make you feel energized and alive.

Take action. Most importantly, take action steps toward your goals. Keep the momentum going. You want sustainability not an overnight set up and take down. Your determination and perserverance with carry you through any obstacles in your way. Many experts say it takes 21 days to break or make a new habit, I challenge you to go for 30 days instead and create a fire in your belly to succeed and persist because you really want what you are focus on.

Finally, add sunshine to your life with laughter and surrounding yourself with family and friends. Go for a walk. Go to an art gallery or a movie. Make a snow angel or have a snowball fight. Sing in the shower. Recite your dreams aloud. Tell a joke. Smile with your eyes.

For this is one day, which will not repeat itself, so live it up!

"Nothing is worth more than this day." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tomorrow is a new day - Tuesday!

Achieve Goals Without Trying

I was walking briskly by the magazine rack at the gym and one of the headlines on a magazine caught my eye. The title read, "Lose weight without trying." I began to wonder how was that done. A magic pill, the cure all for cellulite. Perhaps, positive thinking will melt away the pounds of Christmas sweets and baking. I am afraid not. I did not open the magazine to read the article but it got me thinking. Can you achieve your goals without trying too?

Goal setting is an exercise of your mind. You must get clear on what it is you want so you can start moving toward achieving it. Keeping track of your goals in your mind is not very effective. You must write them down, hence the phrase, "Think it and ink it." By doing this, you make your goals more tangible and real. You also bring your goals to a greater awareness; they are not something you tuck in the back of your mind and only retrieve when the time feels right. If you want something bad enough, the time should be right now. If not, when?

Goals have parameters that need to be considered when writing them out. You need to be specific with what it is you wish to achieve. Maybe you do want to lose weight. If so, much? Once you are sure on what it is you want to achieve, what will demonstrate to you that you have achieved it? For weight loss, it could be the scale, how you feel in your clothes, or the measurements you read as you use a tape measure on different circumferences of your body.

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." - Napoleon Hill

You need to be able to measure your results. In what time frame do you wish to achieve your goal? Now with that being said, goal setting is specific to individuals. Your goal is set and completed by you, no one else can achieve your goal for you as it is your vision for vision for yourself. You have to be invested in yourself. Are the goals you have set achieveable and realistic for you and the time frame you set to accomplish ? Setting a goal to lose 20 pounds in one week is not realistic nor healthy for you. Do you see what I mean? How does someone achieve a goal without trying?

A person needs to take action steps to create a momentum toward achieving their goals. Goal setting is the "magic pill" of achievement. Consistent action and cultivation of healthy goal setting or habits will take a lot further than "without trying". As Dr. Phil would say, "How is that working for you?"

Are You Ready to Get Your Head in the Game?

Sharing: One of the Greatest Lessons Learned from Kindergarten

If you knew your friend needed your help to achieve one of their goals, wouldn't you want to help them out? Do you think they would do the same for you? Have you told them what you need?

We were taught to share with others. It important to share your goals with others. When others are aware of your goals, they are better able to support and encourage you and you are better able to support and encourage them as well. Find an accountability partner or friend to remind you why you chose your goals in the first place and what the end result will look and feel like when times get weak. It is during those times that you need to look fear in the face and remind yourself you can achieve so many things if you believe in yourself, your talents, and your abilities. People want to help people succeed. They share in the triumph and glory when you reach your goal.

Remember no one can support you or help you achieve what you want if you don't share!