In last months Newsletter, I wrote about the power of intentions.   When you commit to your dream with full intention to make it a reality, and then take the necessary steps to achieve this, you will always get results!

An intention is “a deliberate plan and purpose to succeed.”   What is your intention?

• How is your life working for you?  Have you positioned yourself to be in the “winners seat” of your life?  What steps are you taking to achieve the success that you desire?

It is quite common that as the month of January comes and goes, so do all those great intentions.  They head straight out for “never-never-land” if we did not take deliberate action and commit to a plan.

• Has the dial on your “potential thermostat” been dialed down? Have you slipped into autopilot and have you resorted to comfort?  Are you been caught by the enemy called “average” and compromised your self?  Have you adopted the belief that being and doing just “okay” is good enough?

Well honey… it is time to stop the krap… see the trap… and wake up and smell the coffee!

And… this is not just for “Pete’s sake”… but for the your sake and the sake of your Greater Self!  YOU matter!
When YOU matter, it is absolutely true that mediocrity is not what you want!  You want a game plan that means experiencing life the way that you really want!  Settling may be a familiar pattern but familiarity does not bring you the growth you need.  You’ll be bored and unfulfilled in a matter of no time…. doing what has not worked in the past and you will be totally unsatisfied.

So stop the “none sense”… get your head out of the sand and step out of your comfort zone.   This “quick sand” perspective of complacency will bring you nothing but deep disappointment!

Let’s shift the FOCUS:

Imagine attaining the results you really want in every aspect of your life:

• Having that spark back in your relationship(s) and feeling alive.
• Sharing deep friendship.
• Having the life that you love.
• Seeing the reward of your hard work.
• Waking up to a day full of meaning and purpose.
• Having the positivity that sees and believes in the endless possibilities.

What is the “large” life you dream about?  What is your vision?
If you lost sight of your dream and vision, you can once again bring this into focus.  This all begins by committing to the plan… YOUR plan to succeed!

SO BEGIN AGAIN!

• What is really important to you?
• What areas of your life do you desire more fulfillment?
• Where do you need to refocus and align your priorities?
• How will you go after what you so desperately desire?

When you make this a priority… take action and design the strategic steps to make this your reality… you are setting yourself up for success!   You don’t have to have all the information of what to do and how to start. You just simply have to commit to take action.

“You don’t have to be great to start, you just have to start to be great!”

I have worked with many people who have a deep desire to accomplish their goals yet “when the going gets tough”, they give up.   When “push”  comes to “shove” they choose not to fight back and this is how they sabotage their greatest potential.  This is almost always because they have not made their dream a priority in their lives.  Not committing and making excuses is what will keep you from having the success you desire.

There is only one way to move forward… and that is by moving your limitations out of the way!

Most things that are really valuable in life don’t come easy!  Hasn’t this been your experience?  What is most valuable requires hard work, discipline and a deep commitment to the process.  There is no short cut.

An example of this is my goal to be physically fit.  It is absolutely important that I stay healthy and fit especially as I age.  I have a personal insurance plan that I continually have to invest in— to stay well, be energized and to enjoy life and appreciate the people that I love.  This is so important because I have dealt with serious health issues that have debilitated my life.  I know that your life looks very different when your health is compromised.  My mom has always said,  “If you don’t have your health, you have nothing!”  She is absolutely right.  My health is what I deeply value and when this is compromised, it is costly.

My proactive practice is to discipline myself to workout, stay active, eat right, and to address “the stuff” (if you know what I mean).  This is not always that easy.  There are days when I don’t feel like it especially when I am tired, and when I would much rather be doing other things.

This is the time I must be mindful of my goal and of what is really  important to me.  Remembering my vision, knowing how important this is to me, and having a “commitment plan”, is how I take action!  This is how I achieve the success I desire.

What is your desire?  What do you need to commit to make happen in your personal or profession life to have more of what you want?

• Imagine finding a solution to what keeps you awake at night.
• Imagine setting that benchmark of success you desire and achieving it!
• Imagine seeing your life very different 6 months or one year from now!

It is “all” possible if you begin and have results in mind!

FAITH = Having the courage to take the necessary steps you need to take in your life right now!

Have faith in you and begin!

Are you excited about the New Year that is before you?

Are you saying “Yes” to the opportunities that will come your way?

There is so much to experience… when the past is left in the past… when optimism affects your future… and when you have clear intention to make your life grand!

So here’s the bright forecast for 2012:

• You “get to” make it happen… personally and professionally… with a “bring it on” attitude.
• There are so many opportunities to experience right in front of you.  Seek and you will find!
• It is not the circumstance that makes life happen.  It is you!
• YOU get to make your life what you want it to be!

I don’t know where you are at as 2011 ends… but for me, it is really important to complete things well, and to start the year “new”… with a bang!

This creates the momentum I need to be motivated… optimistic and persistent to go after my dreams and make them my reality.

As I think about completing 2011 well, this means I need to reflect on my “wins” this past year so that I have an empowered perspective.  This perspective is about celebrating what I have accomplished…  and focusing on what I have learned this past year.  This is what inspires me to focus on what is most important… so I can set clear intentions for this coming year.

A fulfilled life starts by having an intention!

Being satisfied and fulfilled… isn’t this your deepest desire?

When you choose to finish strong in 2011… this becomes an intention, which carries over to the NEW Year.  You are setting the stage to succeed!   This is what will help you focus on what really matters, and this is what will bring deep fulfillment in your life!

Simply said… an intention is – a deliberate plan or purpose to succeed.

What “wins” are you celebrating?  What have you learned and accomplished this past year?

Look at the growth that has happened in your life … how have you changed and evolved over the last year?

What do you know now that you didn’t one year ago?  What small steps have you taken to expand your world?

When you are able to celebrate your accomplishments and see your progress, you will look forward to your future with optimism and strength!

• You are then able to anticipate the opportunities that will come… because you are willing, open and ready…
• And you are then able to eagerly step up to the plate and position yourself to succeed!  If you believe you can… you will achieve what you desire!

When you put yourself in the game by stepping up to “bat”… you are taking action and positioning yourself for your opportunity to hit a “home run”.

When you are really ready to play hardball… it is just a matter of time and the “right” opportunity before your dream will become your reality!

•  What you focus on and believe… is what you become. Knowing this is crucial because this is the key to reaching your greatest potential!
• Putting the past in perspective is what grants you power!  This is how you are able to have clarity… and this is how you how you are able to focus and believe in your amazing future.

You are what makes your dream a reality… and believing in your greatest potential is how you will hit “the home run” you most desire!

You create the leverage that you need… by using your past to empower you.

I reflect on my past for one purpose and it is this… it helps me appreciate where I am right now.

It took a lot of discipline, hard work and learning to get to where I am today.  I am so grateful I paid the price to attain this learning!

I use to spend a lot of time wishing that I had a brighter future.  I was often preoccupied with the unfavorable circumstances of life.  I compared my life to others and the “measuring stick” always seemed to fall short.

I had many stories that I believed.  I wasted many valuable hours on worry and doubt… imagining negative outcomes, pining over what I had not accomplished and I wished for so much more.  This left me living a life of regret and longing… and I was unable to comprehend the possibilities!

The painful cost of living a life of regret is that you loose sight of the riches that ARE right in front of you!

Unwilling to live in this deprived state… I knew it was up to me to change this! I wanted positive change and it was time!

A New Year was beginning and I was motivated to make it a year of intention.  My intention for the year was expand my world… think outside of the box… and when opportunity came, to make sure that I was prepared.  I knew that the key to life was… to have a positive mindset.

Clarity was what I needed so I decided that I would choose a theme for the year that empowered me and kept me focused.  I claimed…  “YES I CAN” as my personal motto for the year.

My strategy was to:

• Set goals to challenge myself to grow.
• To take the words “I can’t” out of my vocabulary.
• And… to stay conscious about my intention.

As the year started, I realized that this was not that easy.  It felt like learning a new language… and I was really clumsy at it.  I found that when I said the words “Yes I Can”… I questioned myself.  “YES, I CAN” was not yet my belief… it was merely a concept.

As I persisted, weeks went by and small changes began to happen, as I planted seeds of positivity and inspiration in my heart.  I realized that this was a major effort because… it was unfamiliar to me. The negative wayward patterns definitely were a stronghold in my mind, and the key was… I had to continually stay conscious around my intention.

Competency is learned over a period of time and patience is required. It felt like I was reprograming my thinking… and I actually was.  I was learning how to believe!

 When you apply diligence, consistency and patience to any aspect of your life, positive change comes!

I knew I had to take consistent steps by:

• Having grace to not expect perfection.  I accepted that I was a beginner and mastery would come as I gained experience.
• I had to keep myself motivated and inspired.  I was committed and determined to not give up.  Challenges became the motivator to find a solution.  When you are looking for a solution… you are taking action and action always moves you forward!
• I kept my vision and dream as my focus.  The more I could see it and believe it… I did not waiver.  I knew this was what was most important to me and it was what I so wanted.

Practice, practice, practice… brought results.  This is what changed my reality… and over time, I believe this changed my destiny.

Did the “YES I CAN” theme pay off?  ABSOLUTELY!

It became my philosophy for life… changed my thinking, and changed how I do things.  I attribute this as being the key to my personal success!

The return on my investment was:

•  In business… this was the time in my career where it really started taking off, providing opportunities that I had never imagined.
• As I invested in meaningful relationships… this has brought a world of amazing people that deeply enrich my life.
• AND I have developed a confidence that I have always longed for… as I believe in my authentic path.

NOW… I experience “richness” every day!

Do you want to see change in your personal or professional life?

It all starts with intention and commitment!

Life’s journey is a process and you are right where you should be in this season of time!

Knowing what you want… believing in all that you ARE… and having the confidence to commit and take action…  is how you will make it happen!

INTEND for this to be a new year of great beginnings!

• Commit to your dreams and take action!
• Don’t just settle for ordinary… when you can have extraordinary!
• Invest in YOU… and believe in your greatest potential.

WITH INTENTION…  you will make this a year you will never forget! 

It was a delight to hear him talk as his imagina­tion ran wild.  He was happy and so content.  As he played so amazingly… all on his own… he was a wonder to watch!

He was delighted with the snow… as he chat­tered away like a parrot.  He had so much to say.  What an entertainer he was!

The innocence and preciousness of children is always something that captivates the soul.

Several people were in the room watching. How could you not notice and engage with this sweet child?  Every time you interacted, he would ea­gerly respond… and you never knew what magi­cal words would flow.

Children win people’s hearts.

Yet… not everyone noticed.

When there Is so much love, appreciation, laughter and delight in the air, how can some­thing that is so precious and inviting… hardly even be noticed?

DISTRACTIONS… is the silent robber that lets the beauty of these magical moments pass by.

I was very sad as I noticed a man, who I knew was very close to this young lad, pass by this magical moment simply because he was distracted and not present.

He was busy fiddling with his iphone and syncing his computer.  There were new tunes that needed to be downloaded and text messaging to be sent.  His priority was technology and not the “little” life of this precious human being.

The moment passed… never to be repeated again!

I could not help but wonder if he had stopped for just a short while… what delight he might have experienced!

Too often it is so easy to get wrapped up in “things” that aren’t that important.  We miss out on one of the greatest gifts that life has to offer us… enjoying the magical moments we get to experience with those we love.

How do you stay present and bring the gift of YOU to those you love?

• Notice the little things and stop often.

• Focus on what really matters.

• All those distractions… choose to put them aside, even just for a moment.

• Really see and connect to the people in your life that mean so much to you…. and make YOU the gift you are giving.

“Stay present” with “your presence” and REMEMBER… YOU ARE THE GIFT!

by Jim Asplund and Nikki Blacksmith

Here are some secrets we know about you: To be engaged, you need to identify with the mission and purpose of your company. You’re great at some things and won’t ever be very good at others. If you have the materials and equipment you need to do your job right, you’ll care more about the fate of your organization. You are naturally inclined toward success at some things, and by adding skills, knowledge, and practice, you’ll be much better at them.

To some people, these don’t seem much like secrets. In fact, they might appear so obvious that they go without saying. But you might be surprised at how many people don’t know these things or haven’t given them much thought.

That’s a shame, and it’s all too common. If everyone knew and understood these secrets — which are more properly called elements of employee engagement and strengths — they’d be much more successful at everything they do.

Better and better

Gallup discovered the first secret years ago: Employee engagement boosts organizational performance. Our research has found that work units scoring in the top half on Gallup’s Q¹² employee engagement assessment essentially double their odds of success compared to work units with scores in the bottom half. We’ve also found that improving employee engagement links to improvements in crucial business outcomes (customer ratings, profitability, productivity, and quality) and reductions in others (safety incidents, shrinkage, and absenteeism).

The second secret came from subsequent Gallup research: People who know and use their strengths — and the companies they work for — tend to be better performers. In one study of 65,672 employees, Gallup found that those who received strengths feedback had turnover rates that were 14.9% lower than for employees who received no feedback (controlling for job type and tenure). A study of 530 work units with productivity data found that teams with managers who received strengths feedback showed 12.5% greater productivity post-intervention than teams with managers who received no feedback. And in a study of 469 business units ranging from retail stores to large manufacturing facilities, Gallup found that units with managers who received strengths feedback showed 8.9% greater profitability post-intervention relative to units in which the manager received no feedback.

Gallup knew that companies with engaged employees outperform those with less engaged employees and that employees who use their strengths at work outperform those who don’t. What we didn’t know initially is what happens when companies nurture engagement and strengths simultaneously.

Big boost

To examine the relationship between strengths and engagement, Gallup studied work groups that were using a strengths-based intervention and that had Q¹² assessment engagement metrics. In a study of 896 such business units, Gallup found significant improvement in employee engagement after the units’ managers received strengths feedback — typically a one-hour coaching conversation focused on understanding one’s strengths — relative to work units with managers who didn’t receive strengths coaching. The results were notable because the increase in engagement occurred for employees as well as for their managers, although only the managers received feedback on their strengths. We found a similar pattern in a study of 12,157 employees who received strengths feedback: Their engagement also increased after they received the feedback.

The reality is when you postpone the yearning within your own soul to see your vision become your reality…as you wait for that favorable time to make it happen…there is a constant restlessness within you. This cannot be denied.

LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU DO

I remember as I young adult how I wanted to make a significant impact in people’s lives. I have always been fascinated in human potential…what people believed and how it affected their reality…the keys to success…and I have always believed that seeing began by believing.

I wanted to be a speaker and a motivator for “the so-much-more” in life. I was preoccupied about this constantly. Doing something about it never happened…I was busy getting married, raising kids, trying to have a life and live a life…and I kept putting it off. I finally took some steps towards what I felt I was purposed to do…dabbled in “”the doing” aspect of it, battled the fear, educated and achieved my professional certification in many areas…

Yet it wasn’t until I actually said “I AM…

I AM a coach…a powerful speaker that loves to inspire people…I AM a leader of “change” who does make a difference… that life changed for me!

MY LIFE’S PATH BEGAN WHEN I SAID…“I AM!”

There is something that significantly happens when you believe in what you do, when you are ignited by your passion of why you do what you do, and most of all…when you begin.
You don’t have to be great to start…you are great because you started!
As you begin, wisdom will come when you are open.

I began by simply opening the door…believing that I could live my dream and then by seeing it actually become my reality. I took ownership of my destiny.

GREATNESS IS WITHIN EACH ONE OF US.

You are wired for more…desire so much more…and this relates to your sense of purpose. You are “fearfully and wonderfully created” and it is your deepest desires and yearnings within your own soul that has so much to say about who you are and what you are meant to do.

Can I encourage you to focus on who you ARE…rather than what you aren’t..and to focus on what you DO know…not on what you don’t?

I will promise you that when you tap in to your greatest resource…which is you…you will find you are more amazing than you ever thought. You have all kinds of potential that is waiting to be unleashed.

If you can dream it…you CAN do it!
If you believe it…you WILL see it!
If you have an idea…ACT on it!
If there is a resource…USE it!
If there is abundance…SHARE it!

Life begins with you…believing and committing to making your dreams come true.

When is it time to make it happen?
When you say it’s time and take the necessary steps to make it your reality!

So simply begin and you will do it!
You are destined for greatness because magnificence lies within you!