What is Your Formula?

I hear it often. "Lisa, how did you do that?" That question is one of the pivotal keys to my becoming a life coach. I wanted to help others "do that"- whatever that was for them.

People are often disappointed with me when I can't answer them the way they want. They are looking for a course that I took, a book I read, an experience I had- that they can replicate to do the same thing. It just doesn't work that way.

Its like asking a painter how they paint or how they become inspired. Its a really hard question to answer.

Or, asking the engineer to explain how they are doing their work- it would take hours, days and maybe weeks. If they give you the broad answer you might be unhappy- you want more- yet you don't want to spend the 4+ years in education that they did learning their trade.

I often say, "that's just who I am and what I do". That isn't good enough for them. They want more. I understand that.

The truth is it comes naturally for me- because of my formula.

I get paid to give advice. And, I'd like to say that I think my advice is spot on at least 90% of the time. How do I derive at such advice- that is successful? Well, the answer is in my formula. We all have one.

The formula includes my 18 years of formal education, the dozens of various courses I took outside of that; my 23 years work experience (yes, I've been working since the age of 12) for small shops and large corporations; my upbringing and background; my voracious learning, observation and reading; my methodology for decision making and processing; the company I keep; my beliefs; my values; my creativity; ..... you see where this is going. Who I am is how I work. A simple answer doesn't exist to "how I do it".

What's your formula? How do you do what you do?

Are You a Champion?

Spahr Consulting has launched the Champions Series!

For the price of dinner you can invest in yourself and your business- with other Champions! Finally -a flavor of coaching that fits your needs.

The Champions Series and Champions Membership is open to those who are interested in personal and business growth. A Champion is one who invests in him/herself and recognizes the potential for improvement in all areas.

The Champions Series:
- will introduce you to other Champions;
- welcome you to a HOT topic meeting each month; and
- foster you in identifying and achieving your goals in a positive and productive setting.

The Champions Series Meeting will be held Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Topic: Cultivating the Leader in You!

The program takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, however Champions who do not live here or are unable to attend receive an MP3 version for convenient download.

There are more than 295,000 books on leadership at Amazon.com. Wow. Where do you begin?

Are you born a leader or do you learn and practice leadership? What are the top 5 qualities that a leader must possess to be effective? Who determines your effectiveness? This seminar will give you the formula for cultivating the leader in you- in an hour! Beat that!

Join the Champions Series today.
Membership Includes:
Ø Weekly Electronic Coaching Moments
Ø Monthly Champions Meeting
Ø Invitation to 1 Guest Per Month to Champions Meeting for $10
Ø 15-Minute Personal Coaching Each Month (via telephone)
Ø Exclusive Options to Upgrade Coaching in the Future

If you do not have a Membership Application please email Lspahr@spahrconsulting.com and request one or visit www.spahrconsulting.com for more information.

We look forward to working with the Champion in you!

Choosing the Best Life for Yourself: 5 Tips

What are 5 things I can do today to improve my life?

(I'm glad you asked.)

1. Get a library card and go- each week
Read. Read. Read. And, hang out with people who do.

2. Turn off the TV with very few exceptions
Watch what really matters to you- and limit the time you do so to no more than 30 minutes a day.

3. Spend time each day evaluating who you are and where you want to go
Meditate. Give thanks. Reach far. Dare to dream. Inspire others. Find your inspiration.

4. Take pride in what you look and feel like
Fix yourself. Clean yourself up. Stop smoking. Walk daily. Wear only what fits and looks good. Allow your appearance and self care to open doors for you.

5. Choose your associates carefully
We are who we keep. Rid yourself of drama and negative filled people. Choose those you want to spend time with and love. Make sure they contribute to your life in a good way - and you do the same for them.

Live well. Live better.

If you like this blog, join my electronic monthly newsletter- Living Better Newsletter. Each month we have offers for members (membership is free), tips on living better, and other good things for your life. Enjoy.

Thank you for making my blog a part of your week. I blog every Monday and Friday- unless I'm on travel.

Lisa

For 10 Minutes Do What You Want

I'd like you to close your door. Turn off all sounds. And, think.

Think of what you'd do today if you had 10 million in the bank.

What would your day look like?

Really think about this for 10 minutes. How would you live?

Now, ask 4 friends or colleagues the same question- today.

Email me your answers at lspahr@spahrconsulting.com

Bank Tellers Can't Add- A warning to business owners

An unnerving incident occurred this week that highlighted the decisions we make in business- and how those decisions may be adversely effecting our favorite clients.

I was at my trusty bank, where I have several accounts, and the teller asks if she could assist me with anything else (good move). I said, yes, there was a pesky charge on one of my accounts for a service fee I didn't recognize.

Problem 1: The teller could view the service fee line item but it was not a description of the fee itself- she had to go to a list of fees and match up the amount to see what it could possibly be

Problem 2: Together we deduced that it was a service fee for a deposit, some time ago, where I added the slip wrong- and the teller didn't catch it. So, the incorrect amount was posted to my account only to be later remedied by corporate. Aren't tellers supposed to check your deposits? Isn't that one of the primary responsibilities they have?

Activities like this make me question the business leaders at work. The bank is supposed to be my advisor and manager of my money. I pay them to do so. I trust them to do so. So, when they fail to do so- why and how are they charging me? Outrageous! I told the lovely teller that this error has me reevaluating my banking options. I further thought it was underhanded of them not to have a description in the line item for the service fee- why not be 100% transparent?

Businesses this is a lesson for you. Don't allow someone to tell you that you should charge your clients, additionally, for things that should be staples in your business. Be mindful that your best clients are finicky and will walk if they feel undervalued. Be smart about your fee structures. Be honest and fair in how you treat your clients. But, above all else, do your job and do it with the utmost of integrity!

Blinkers are Good Indicators

Part rant. Part lesson.

I am not surprised but still disheartened when I witness bad driving habits. I am angered when those habits border on causing serious injury to someone.

This happens often but is still somewhat humorous to me:
I'm driving along on a 4-lane street. I can tell from my neighbor driver (parallel to me) that they want over, not because their blinker (turn signal) is on, but by the way they are aggressively looking at me and feverishly braking or speeding up (they change their mind and speed every 3 seconds)! I like to think that I am many things to many people. But, a mind reader, sir or madam, I am not! Nor, should I have to read your other signals to know what it is you intend to do. That is in fact, what the great blinker was made for. Use it!

Another day. Another experience.
I was driving somewhere at 6 AM. The only other fool on the road happened to be on my back bumper as though we were in a demolition derby. They were in such a rush I thought they were literally going to run me over. The only person who has a right to drive that way, in my opinion, is someone with emergency lights on their vehicle. Where was he so anxious to go? The gas station. No joke. He pulled into the gas station as I sat at the light. Rather than chance an accident- how about getting up 10 minutes earlier and making the world a little safer? I know I sometimes come up with wild ideas. Just try me.

I think that blinkers are good indicators as to your personality. I believe that people who don't use them believe they are better than everyone else. They think they are better drivers and don't need to use them. They also speed more than those who use their blinkers. The aggression and arrogance seep out in other arenas too. They are in a hurry (yes, their time is more valuable than ours- didn't you know) and they have no problem angering or frightening you to help them move along at a more acceptable pace. (I know, now I sound like I'm 100 years old.)

Do you want to hire these people? Do you want to have them watch your children or coach them? Is one your boss?

I'm a blinker user (full disclosure: 98% of the time). And, I'm proud of it. I'm honest, respectful, cautious and mindful of others, and I don't believe my journey should seriously impact another person. I am NOT in emergency services. I shouldn't drive like I am.

I welcome blinkers in my life. I encourage non-blinkers to anger management and true leadership training. They have a lot of great qualities we can harness once we get them under control.

Thanks for allowing the rant and lesson within. Don't be a non-blinker. Its ugly.

The Nuts to Networking

If you are new to networking, don't worry. It gets easier.

Here are some of the essentials to networking:

1. Identify your business in 60 seconds. This is called your "commercial". You should be able to effectively engage another business owner with what you say. The key is to be (a) interesting and (b) helpful in conveying what you do. You want them to ask you questions about your business. The commercial shouldn't be so vague they don't know what to ask- or worse, they don't want to ask anything. You can talk about a perfect client or a special you are featuring. You can tell a very short story about who would need your services. Have fun with it and try out different commercials or "60 seconds".
2. Identify three great networking events per month to attend (or more). A great networking event will attract other business owners that you want to get to know. They may have a similar client base as you do. If you sell office supplies to large companies you don't want to go to a networking group with all home-based businesses. Do some investigative work so that you make the best use of your time. Some networking groups meet weekly and others meet monthly. The more frequently you meet the more you are likely to get to know each other- which is where business will start to happen. So, don't be afraid to go more often.
3. If the thought of going into a room of people frightens you to death, take a partner. Introduce each other. Be bold. Be friendly. Networking is part of business. Get out there!
4. Each month identify 4 people you want to get to know better. Meet them for coffee and learn about each others businesses.
5. Repeat

Networking is easier for some than it is for others. Don't worry. It gets easier as you do it. And, the rewards to doing it well are endless.

Fight the Blues Anyway You Can

Don't lose sight of what is important. Don't fall off track.

The easiest way to stay focused is to use your time and spend your time remaining positive about yourself and your goals. Don't allow negativity (about the economy, conflict between others, etc...) to alter your plan.

Remind yourself of your goals daily. First thing in the morning, spend a few minutes saying what matters most to you on this day. Reaffirm your dedication to your goals by saying them one by one. Remember how wealthy you are (richness is not measured in dollars but the quality of our fabric- and those we have in our circles).

Ignore the negative stimuli that seems to surround us on a daily basis in the paper, on the television, in the idle chat our our colleagues, etc.... Avoid it.

You can easily be consumed with negativity IF you allow yourself to be. Equally as easy, is blocking that stimuli from consuming you.

You choose.