Achieve Your Dream Coaching

What makes for a good networker

2008-02-07T23:11:00.000-05:00

You know for my job it is important that I get out there and network. It's a numbers game. The more people I meet the more referrals of clients I will get.
I don't particularly like networking. Don't get me wrong...I love meeting people and am naturally curious about who they are and what they do. I love asking questions and people generally love to tell me all about themselves.

Here is the problem for me. I have been to many networking events where I feel that people are in it just to tell you about who they are and what they do. They have an agenda and when exposed to the not so subtle ones you can feel as though you have been assaulted or at least dismissed if you can not serve that agenda.

These are the folks who are solely concerned for what you can do for them. They will go on and on about what they do. They may casually ask you what it is you do and once you tell them they go back to talking about what it is they do.

Why would I refer someone like this to someone I knew and liked. How could I feel that they would have any true consideration for that person and that it would not be about fulfilling their own agenda.

The people I know who are truly successful at networking are the ones that make sure they know about you. They want to know who you are and want you to know who they are...it's mutual...not one sided.

I suspect those who bring their agenda to these events are often wondering why they don't get more referrals....I think I know.

Protecting Your GPS

2007-12-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

In the last few weeks I have know of a few people who have had their GPS systems stolen from their cars. The thieves simply break the window reach in and pull out the system. In fact this is one of the largest categories of larceny that occurs.

You may think that if you have put the system in your glove compartment or taken it out of the car you are safe. Not so...if they see marks from the suction cups that often attach them the thieves will break in and search for them. Satellite radios are up for grabs as well.

If you have a GPS... don't even bother attaching it, either with Velcro or suction cups. Let it rest beside you on the seat and use it if necessary. That way any thief looking in through the window will not have a clear clue that you even own one.

As for me .... I still use goole maps, mapquest or....call ahead.

Holidays and Stress

2007-12-05T21:47:00.000-05:00

Well we are really in the thick of it. Thanksgiving is long over and the Christmas is bearing down on us. Despite my best efforts I can find myself getting a little overwhelmed with all there is to do and often my clients can feel the same.

Keeping it simple is what is important. Take a look at what you really value and create your holiday around that.

It's more about the people than the presents.

The goal doesn't have to be perfection.

Ease up and let others lend a hand.

Schedule and I do mean schedule a little time for yourself. Kick back and listen to some music. Have a latte or a cup of tea. Jump in the tub for a soak. Make this non negotiable.

A little time set aside for you can ease a lot of stress. No matter how busy you think you are this is really important Instead of writing dozens of cards set aside a little time as the holiday approaches to reach out and have a conversation with those you care about. You will both feel closer.

Don't try to cram everything into a few short days. The feelings that we all try to express in a few short weeks can always be spread over the rest of the year. Be thankful for the little things each day.....it's hard to feel stressed out when you are in a space of gratitude.

Happy Holidays

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

2007-09-05T17:21:00.000-04:00

Wow....the past few months have flown by. I feel like a kid that just finished summer vacation and now it's time to get back to work. In reality though I have been working and working building my coaching business which is my dream. Though I have spent a lot of my time working on my online business the past year or so it was time to focus on some offline activities.

Travel family and community were the prime focus of this summer and I can already see what the rewards have been. Starting a Powerful You! chapter, attending my step sons wedding, connecting with my family, writing for a series of e-books and going for an advanced coaching degree. It has all been pretty exciting and I can see my own dream becoming more real.

I hope your summer was filled with lots of fun and productivity as well. Here's to fall!

My New Website

2007-07-05T14:46:00.000-04:00

I am so happy to announce that I have finally launched my new website Midlife Makeover. For all you midlife women out there it is your turn to shine! What this site will do is help support you as you make the move through midlife and begin carving out a terrific second half of life.

I love input on my work for when you share about what you need, I can get to know you even better. Please visit http://www.mymidlifemakeover.com

And let me know what you think

How Do You Choose Your Dream?

2007-07-01T10:17:00.000-04:00

How do you choose your dream. How do you know it is truly yours and not the dream of someone else? I have found for me I tune in to my gut or stomach as some of you may refer to it. If I am considering anything that I think may be a dream for me I see how I feel...deep inside. If I feel am excited churning that doesn't go away than I begin to pay attention.

If that feeling is still there a few days later and a few weeks later when I think about how to make the dream a reality it is a sure sign that this is something to add to my dream file.

If I share my thoughts about my dream with others and they shoot it down I tune into my gut and see if I still feel the churning....after all this is my dream and if it is a true one there is nothing anyone will say that will turn me away from it.

Last week I had a chance to spend a few days in Paris, France. It was my first time and the trip was way too short. I absolutely loved it and I felt that excited churning the whole time I was there. This is a place I want to have more time to explore.....so has it been added to my dream file? You bet. I can't wait to get back there.
Dreams come in all sizes and we have them for all reasons. Travel has always been one of mine. While everyone else was ready to come home from our travels through Europe, I was in no way ready to end the trip.

Travel is one of my dreams. It may not be the same for others and that is great. For me I am looking forward to my next chance to explore this incredible world we live in.

Networking Mishaps

2007-06-09T21:49:00.000-04:00

In the pursuit of achieving my dream it has been very important to network. When I first started my own business I was a little bit shy and so it was tougher for me to go about networking. I had a bit of the whole social anxiety thing . One on one I have always been pretty good but if you put me in a crowd it is a bit more difficult.

As the years have gone by however I have come to enjoy it, partly because my curiosity about others has overcome my shyness. I also understand that to grow my business I need referrals. In order for people to refer to me they have to actually know a bit about me and understand what it is I do. The coaching industry is still fairly new and people are often trying to figure out just what it is about.

Networking gives me an opportunity to educate others about what I do and networking is a great venue. I am often with people from all walks of life and all different businesses many of them solopreneurs. They are representing them self and their business. With that in mind you would think they would be on their best behavior.

I was at a networking breakfast and sat a table with two women, friends but representing two different businesses that they owned. They ended up behaving in a way that really made me question how much they wanted to succeed. Not only were they outwardly rude to the guest speaker but they were also rude to the waitress serving us.

Just a few short minutes before they were trying to convince us with their words why we should send business their way and with their actions they assured at least in my mind that I would never be able to do that. Honestly I don't even think it occurred to them the real impression they were leaving. But as a business person and a human I would not in good conscience be able to refer to them as I could not count on how they would treat the people I sent their way.

I understand that everyone has a bad day but when it comes to business the impression we leave can go along way to helping our business or hurting it.

Memorial Day

2007-05-27T21:42:00.000-04:00

In honor of Memorial Day I would like to remember not only those who gave their life for our country but also those who put their dreams on hold so that we would always have the freedom to pursue our dreams.

This is not about whether you believe in war or not for that is a deeply personal belief. It is about taking a moment to remember those who do walk their talk, who do face death on a daily basis because they believe it is the right thing to do. For some of these folks that is their dream to be part of something much bigger than themselves. A place to give back and to stand for something huge.

I thank all of you and I also thank my step-son who is currently serving and scheduled to be deployed to Iraq again. To all the families of these brave people in service to our country...my prayers are with you as well.

Good To Be Back

2007-05-09T23:23:00.000-04:00

Sometimes in life we get so busy juggling all the different activities and segments of our lives that it just becomes overwhelming. It's like you have your hands full and someone keeps handing you additional items. You shift things and smile or grimace their pretty close and try to accommodate the additional items.

It doesn't stop there. Once you have adjusted to the new load something else gets added and once again the whole juggling and shifting begins. Eventually though you begin to drop things... you are only human after all.

Once you begin dropping things do you just accept that something had to go or do you mentally berate yourself for not doing better?? How many things can we juggle and still consider we are living a balanced life??

In trying to achieve a new dream sometimes we have to let things go that are not serving us, that are not working. In fact, they may very well be getting in our way.

For me this is a lesson I seem to need to learn over and over. Occasionally I get confused over what are the important things to hold on to and what truly are the things I should be letting go of. The past week has caused me to reconsider my super woman status and just be human again.

No Nonsense Money Advice

2007-04-23T12:05:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to give you two of the best resources I have found for getting some good clear advice on money and investing.

Suze Orman who most women have heard of. Suze is clear to understand, no nonsense and level headed.

So is David Bach. I have always like his Smart Women Finish First.

In order to achieve a dream it is important to have a good grasp on your money. You may or may not not need it in order to get to where you want to go. Living a balanced life and exercising self-care also mean that you are comfortable with your own money and financing.

If you are one of those people like me....help was needed. I want good advice and don't have the time to all the work myself. Suze and David as well as a good financial advisor have great to have in my back pocket.

Women and Money

2007-04-19T16:03:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I would have described myself as a woman who was not comfortable about the subject of money. I wanted more of it in my life and yet I judged myself as being greedy for wanting money...even if I could do a lot of good with it.

That made it difficult for me to ask for a salary that reflected my worth to a company....that made me resentful that the company just couldn't see what I was worth.
In the end that made me feel maybe I wasn't worth all that much...which is not true.

Do you see where I am going with this?

I am by no means the only one who has felt this way. Many, many women I talk to are uncomfortable around the issue of money as a whole as well as their individual finances. They want to be independent but the model many of us viewed as young women was one in which the man managed the money. That has led us to not feeling as comfortable with our capability to take care of ourselves in money matters.

There are thousands of books that give us the tools of how to do the actual managing of money or of course there are great financial planners whose job it is to guide people in making smart money decisions.

If we can't get over our limiting beliefs about money though are we going to be able to make use of these valuable tools or will we continue to shy away from the whole subject?

I really want to know. For me it wasn't until I understood how I was holding myself back in money matters that I was able to step up and take charge of my finances. I had to create a vision and a plan of what I needed for money, what it would mean to me to have it and what I would want to do with it.

This isn't about greed...this is about looking at money for what it is....energy a la quantum physics. It should be able to flow in order to do the most good. It should come in and go out and most of all it should be treated with respect.

Having enough money to take care of ourselves also shows self respect as well as respecting that it is not other peoples responsibility to care for us. We have the ability to do it for our self if we can get out of our own way.

2007-04-04T13:17:00.000-04:00

You may have missed this when I was talking about it before but I just wanted to remind everyone of this incredible collaborative book project called 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life Vol 3
If you ever wanted a book that you could grab and quickly find some relevant information about a variety of ways to help improve your life...this is it. 101 different short articles so you don't have to wade through a huge long book. Oh no.... 5- 10 minutes and you have a quick pick me up to take with you through the day.
There are some bonuses offered when you buy this book that you can immediately download and take advantage of.
So if you haven't had a chance to check it out ..........here's your chance.

Oh and yes I am one of the authors and I own and have gotten great value from the previous volumes...Volumes 1 & 2.

Hope you take a look....the feedback I have received from people that have the book has been extremely positive.

I Refuse to Be a Negative Person

2007-03-30T22:03:00.000-04:00

I spent the week with my mother-in -law down in Florida. Now before you start thinking " I know where this is going" I do love her...most of the time.

God bless her she is almost 89 but you know she is one of the most negative persons I have ever met in my life. After day twoI dreaded coming out of my room in the morning. It took a few minutes of meditating and shoring myself up to enter the kitchen with a big smile on my face.

Have you ever been around people like that...people who after sometime spent with them one of two things has happened? You either feel as though the energy has been sucked out of you or you have jumped right in there with them and everything coming out of your mouth is negative as well.

It is easy to do...the jumping in thing and one of the best ways to avoid it is to begin t minimize your exposure to people who want to see the negative in all things. Unless that is who you want to be.

Sure sometimes we can't avoid it. You can't choose your family for one, but you do have the power of choice over many other people you spend your time with.
I haven't always made the wisest choice but I am discovering that when I surround myself with the glass half full kind of people.....I like it and I have more fun.

I Got Knocked for A Loop

2007-03-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

I was following a mentors suggestion and finding some other places I would like to hang out online. People who want to look at the up side of things. Maybe it is because it seems in the Northeast as though winter has been dragging on and on but I am tired of all the negativity. No it doesn't mean I am a Pollyanna. Everything is not always rosy.

Things can be quite serious and life is full of challenges. But guess what? I am alive. That means I have a chance to keep creating the exact life I want. And for today I have it. Boy it is not perfect but does life always have to be the negative drama?

Can't we ever look for the perfection in the imperfection?

Not if you pay attention to all the talking heads on the media who can take the simplest things and make them a drama par excellence. It makes me crazy.

Thank God for the remote. I can turn them off and stop absorbing the negativity.

Think about it. How often to you bring good news to a conversation? How often to you talk about the positive? Or how often do you acknowledge the accomplishments of yourself and others????

Well I am looking for people who want to support the positive while still recognizing that we do not live in a perfect world as yet. So Here I am searching for these places and I find that while I love sharing on the Internet I don't always like where my stuff ends up.

That's the risk you take when you put yourself out there to a large audience. People can take your thoughts and mesh them with their own. I have found myself in some pretty weird places.
Is that about me or them? Either way it sometimes knocks me for a loop. I trust though that if I keep showing up, people will get the essence of me.

I always gotta believe.

Midlife Safari

2007-03-09T23:09:00.000-05:00

Hey have you ever checked out my other blog Midlife Safari? I started it to share my thoughts and experiences as I moved through midlife. I would love anyone to post some of their own experiences of being a woman in midlife. Hopefully we can all learn from what we share with each other.

When you have a moment I woudl be grateful if you would check it out and share.

Thanks
http://www.Mymidlifesafari.blogspot.com

Improving Our Life

2007-03-04T21:19:00.000-05:00

It's here and I am really honored to be associated with many of the other talented people who took part in this project.

Maureen and the News

2007-03-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

It is not that I don't want to be current on what is happening in the world or irresponsible by trying to ignore it. My biggest gripe is the actual talking heads on the TV and the way they report and sensationalize every little thing happening. I just heard them chatting in their inane way about a tragedy that occurred today in Alabama. A tornado hit and a High School was involved and yet the news reporters stated that the tornado "took aim" at the High School.

Why do we feel that we have to make every little thing in life sinister? Why is that what sells? What we tune into and listen to hanging on each word and shaking our heads at the sad state of affairs.

Wouldn't we be better off trying to create some good news each and everyday? Perhaps we can just turn off these newscasters and try to appreciate what is good on the world. How do we constantly dwell on the negative and yet expect that we will feel good as we go through the day.

Why are there more people now on antidepressants that ever before?

Could it be the constant negative barrage by the media?

In my mind ..yes

Valentine's Day

2007-02-17T22:58:00.000-05:00

Wow I must be changing because this Valentine's Day I did not want a thing...not a card.....not chocolate...not a gift.....nothing. I don't know if is because I am getting older or I don't require anything to prove my husband's love. What a wonderful feeling that is. I know it and it is not receiving confirmation on a set day of the year that makes it so. It is quite a few years of working on a relationship to get to this point and mow that we have made it the fun can begin.

For all of you who happen to love Valentine's Day and look forward to the gifts you get...I am so happy for you. In my personal life I find a freedom of not being tied to one more holiday. We can actually do nice things or special things for each other throughout the year when the mood strikes and not when Hallmark tells us to.

101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life

2007-02-06T23:37:00.000-05:00

That's right 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life ....Today has been launched.
If you follow the link not only will you get the book but some incredible bonuses as well.
http:www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1800882

The Book Is Ready to be Launched

2007-02-05T14:04:00.000-05:00

101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life is ready to be launched. In fact it is official on Feb 6, 2007 Here is some of the information:
* 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life Today! *
Finally, Over 100 of the World's Leading Self Improvement Experts have joined together to give you the complete collection of 101 insider secrets that show you how to instantly and positively improve your life! In this new book, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life Volume 3," experts including Mark Victor Hansen, Ken Blanchard, Les Brown and Byron Katie will give you quick, simple and proven success secrets.

I am excited and honored to be among some phenomenal self-help authors and coaches as one of the contributors to this book.

If you are looking for some easy to digest yet powerful self-help tips check this out tomorrow where I will give you the link to the book and some incredible bonuses.

And as always, I thank you so much for your support.

We Are on Our Way to Achieving Our Dreams

2007-01-23T19:44:00.000-05:00

Achieving dreams is the goal of my coaching practice, this website and this blog. So you now know my dream....being a midlife coach in a big way. I am achieving my dream by plugging away one day at a time and reaching out to one person at a time.

Wouldn't be nice if we could just have a dream, believe in it and it would just magically come true? Wow we would dream big then wouldn't we? Big fat out of this world dreams that would just set the world on fire.

Well guess what I am encouraging you to do just that dream those big out of the world dreams. With consistent effort they will pay off. No they won't "just" come true but if you are willing to do the work I believe nothing is impossible.

The one caveat I would offer is that your dream must be in alignment with who you truly are. When that important piece is in place and if you are willing to put in the work...nothing is insurmountable.

So what now ?? Start dreaming and we'll begin to tackle how to achieve them.

Patience Is a Virtue?

2007-01-16T22:29:00.000-05:00

I wrote just a few days ago about some changes coming to the site. I am very excited about these changes and have been spending most of my free moments working on them. This is great because the work takes on a life of its own. I get full of creative energy. I am positive. I see the end in site and I really like what I see.

So what's the problem? My knowledge of actual programing especially html is pretty much nonexistent.

I create the ideas and how I would like them presented and then hand them over to the people who actually know how to make the changes. And then I take my number in line and wait......and wait.....and wait. I do a little self-talk and tell myself it is okay, it will eventually happen and yet I check the site each day a child like expectation that something will have happened.

So far....nothing.

Well patience is a virtue, though I have not always been one for being virtuous. I am already contracted with the people working on the site or I would have moved on to greener or at least swifter pastures. Sometimes I just sit at the end of the day and cheer myself on with the thought that tomorrow something will happen.

When the practical side of me emerges though I think.....okay, they will eventually make the changes. Painful lesson learned about choosing people who you have to hand work over to.....next time choose more wisely.

Until then though....I am back to practicing being virtuous.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2007-01-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

There are changes about at Achieve Your Dream Coaching and I couldn't be more excited. Our focus is going to be leaning towards all the lovely midlife women transitioning into what I believe can be the best years of our lives.

Do I say that because that is where I am? NO.... I say that because I have spent sometime looking at the past present and future.....maybe because it is the beginning of the new year and I see many reasons to be happy about this transition in life.

Sure some of our issues or concerns may be different but our teenage concerns were different than those as young children. Our college graduate years gave us different things to think about than when we were young marrieds with children. So really why should this be any different?

Well it shouldn't. I will continue to use a coaching approach and encourage you to be the best you can be despite what we each much face.....I think it's going to pretty great.

I look forward to having all of you grow with me and all your input will be much appreciated.

Talk to you soon.....

Off and Running

2007-01-03T23:05:00.000-05:00

My stepson and his girlfriend left for Germany this afternoon and for me that officially signals the end of the holiday season. It was great to have them home and especially great to have Andy (my stepson) out of Iraq.

Life is much different there from what I am used to in the good old USA. My stepson has given me the gift of understanding a little more about the world and about what war time is truly like.

I have never wanted for much in my own life though I am sure that at certain points I felt as though my life was quite a struggle.

In perspective though my life has been crammed full of abundance...I just couldn't always see it. Andy has opened my eyes to a lot regarding that.

As for me I am looking over the last few weeks of family and fun. Regarding the death of a former President and of a dictator who brought death and destruction to many and now getting ready to dig in and get going on what I want to bring to the world.

I will not ever reach the level of a President or thank goodness a dictator but I have the opportunity to leave this world a better place that I entered it and that's what I intend to do.

Happy New Year

2006-12-31T22:20:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all of you who have supported me at Achieve Your Dream Coaching. I can't believe that in about 90 minutes it will be 2007.
2006 was really a turn around year for me. I made the effort to push out of my comfort zone and really stretch myself. The results have been incredible. One of the greatest highlights of this past year has been the opportunity to get to know the subscribers to my newsletter.
You have all been so generous in letting me get to know you and in giving me your input and suggestions.
Achieve Your Dream Coaching is a work in progress just as we all are. I am learning as I go and will always pass on what I learn to others....I love the way that flows. Sharing the knowledge that has been passed onto me with anyone who might benefit from it.
Wherever you may be this special evening I wish you wonderful New Year.
For me I am so content to be in my pajamas hanging out with my husband and daughter.
2007 proves to be even more exciting than 2006 and I could use a little rest before I gear up for all the new things coming down the line.
My best to you all.