Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Where are Your Priorities?

I stayed away from the New York Times for a whole day while enjoying my first year anniversary. But when the digest came Sunday morning, the day we checked out of our love oasis, I couldn't resist. I peeked.

Sure enough there was an article that fired me up. It was titled Moonshine or the Kids. The link is below.

The article unveiled the ugly choices many poor families make in serving their households and families (or lack of service, I'd argue). The article focuses on families in the Congo but I must shout out from the rooftop that it is far from isolated in that area. We, here in rich America, do a disservice to our families too in choosing moonshine over our kids.

In this well-written article, Nicholas Kristof, features one family that is facing eviction, isn't equip with the most essential safety features to save their children's lives (a mosquito net in this case- think car seat in ours), and has a child that is about to be evicted from school because they can't pay the $2.50 a month tuition. Now, before you go sending them a check WAIT! Continue reading and you'll learn that the head of the household and his wife have cell phones that cost more per month than the debt on their rental home AND the tuition of their children COMBINED. The head of household ALSO spends about $12 a month on liquor. Talk about a catch! (I hope you read the sarcasm here.)

Now before you go spewing off about how people live in other countries, take a hard look at yourself and your neighbors. An equally challenging article to supplement this one could talk about our gross spending on things both frivolous and not THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD AND OUR DEBT SINS.

But before I digress too much.....
I want you to look at your weekly and monthly expenses. Count every penny. Where does your money go? Is that aligned with your goals this year (you do have goals don't you!?)? What do you find yourself saying, "I wish we had money for that." Or, "Too bad we can't afford that." If you are saying it to a scarf you see in a window for $85 fine. But, if you are saying that about your child's summer camp options, STOP YOURSELF and look at your own foolish splurges that benefited NO ONE.

You and I could have a long talk (ok debate) about what a luxury item is versus a necessity. Take a cell phone for instance. Many of you would say NECESSITY! I'd say LUXURY. Especially when you consider that only 10% of you REALLY need it for business sake. AND, the fact that it costs 3 times as much as your landline does. So, just by discarding your landline you rationalize that YOU NEED IT. You really are making me chuckle (on a good day). Mad on any other day. Especially if I hear you crying about what you can't do for your family. Go watch some more TV.

Whew. I told you I was fired up! Life is full of choices people. Make good ones.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23kristof.html

Friday, May 21, 2010

Spend Some Time Reminiscing

I’m about to depart for the weekend to celebrate my 1st year anniversary. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. Part of the nostalgia of being back at the Greenbrier is thinking back to last year. Celebrating such a special day with my closest friends and family meant the world to me. Having the wedding that I had dreamed about for so long is a memory that I hope will never fade. I expect to do a lot of reminiscing this weekend.

I encourage you to spend some time reminiscing about events, activities and people that are/were hallmarks in your life. We shouldn’t spend all of our lives reacting and living in the current moment. The past has a lot to offer us- take advantage.

Happy Memories.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The Year is Almost Half Over: Where Are You?

It's nearly Memorial Day. Summer is almost upon us. Where has your year gone?

Have you been on track with the accomplishments you laid out? Did you even identify things you wanted to accomplish? (I sincerely hope so, especially if you are reading my blog.)

What are you currently working on?

Do you feel confident about the second half of the year? If so, GREAT. If not, WHY NOT?

Some of us live to be in our 90's. Some older. Others are robbed of life very early, in their 20's and 30's. You have no idea where you fall, nor do I. Why not make every year count for something? Make every year the most memorable- the one you want people to remember you for.

Never take for granted that you have another year to do the things you've been putting off. You may have that year. Some do. Some don't. Why let everyone else's demands run you wild year after year? That's certainly not memorable, nor enjoyable.

If you haven't yet.... start living YOUR life today. Declare it your own and lay out a map of what you want it to feel like, include, and exclude.

Happy living.

Friday, May 14, 2010

An Outstanding Example of Leadership... at an IMAX near you

Years ago I read a Harvard Business School article on Ernest Shackleton. I was so inspired by him and his leadership abilities that I kept the article (and I hate clutter so you know that means something). I share it with all of my clients who aspire to be better leaders or embark on running their own business.

As I was discussing the article with a client recently, I recalled the story had made its way to the large screen. Upon doing a little homework I found that it's playing at an IMAX near me, in Pittsburgh. I plan to go as does my client.

If you have not read about Shackleton's adventures I encourage you to do so. A simple Google search will give you all that you need. You may also want to find it playing at an IMAX theater near you. If you want the Harvard Business Review article that I am, simply email me at lspahr@spahrconsulting.com. I'm happy to share it.

If you are in Pittsburgh, you can view it at the Carnegie Science Center through September. http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/calendar/omni_details.php?eventID=1201

We are all leaders in some respect, whether we are good ones or not is the question to ponder.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Three Weeks Left to Sign Up for Champions and Lock in $39 a Month!

For the price of dinner you can invest in yourself, your career and your business. Finally, a flavor of coaching that fits your needs.

What people are saying about Lisa Spahr and her coaching programs…
…In the 6 months that I have been working with Ms. Spahr she has become one of my most valuable professional resources…. She has well exceeded my expectations of a consultant. She provides advice, suggestions, provides options….and allows me to make well thought out decisions. She listens and understands. Only after a few weeks of working with Lisa, I was “blown away” by her interest in my business and the results that she was providing…..


…I worked with a business coach before and the results were not favorable for my business or my view of the coaching process. However, working with Lisa was very different. She has helped me feel more confident in my business and in my decision-making. She brought me out of my comfort zone to highlight areas of growth, development and potential. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have met her and worked with her.


… I worked with Lisa in April and May and in that short of time, with her help and encouragement, I went from 52% to 90% YTD. It was Lisa Spahr who helped me achieve my goals, but most importantly helped me achieve balance with my family and my work, and I thank her for that.

And now through June 1, 2010 (in three weeks) you can sign up for your own 30-minute monthly telephone call with a coach through the Champions Series for only $39 a month.

We'll close membership enrollment from June through the end of September to focus completely on our current Champions and Clients and when we open again, the price goes to $59 per month. But every Champion enrolled before June 1st stays at the $39 per month membership fee for the life of their membership. It's unheard of in coaching circles, but we're doing it!

Visit http://www.spahrconsulting.com/  to learn more and then sign up .... before your time runs out!

Happy growth!

Friday, May 7, 2010

How do poor communication skills manifest in other ways? I say, blinkers.

If you know me, you know that a pet peeve of mine is people not using turn signals when driving. I notice it frequently. Likely 1 in 2 or at best 1 in 3 don’t signal to alert others as to their intentions to turn, change lanes or otherwise move in a fashion other than the straight and narrow.

I would guess that these men, women and teens also are poor communicators in other facets of their lives. They believe that as long as they know where they are going (or think they do) nothing else matters. Everyone else will just figure it out or deal with it. Others matter far less to them than their desire to turn or change lanes at that time. Besides, they may guess, who cares. They rationalize that they didn’t impact anyone other than themselves. Nice. Those mottos will come in handy when you have your first spat with your partner, argument with your boss or try to show you were the good guy/gal in divorce court. Ok, so I’m taking it to extremes. I really hate failures to blink. It’s rude, not at all “team oriented”, and unprofessional- not to mention unsafe and illegal. I hope you picked up the transference of traits from the asphalt to the workplace in that last sentence. Oh, I forgot egotistical.

So, dear fellow drivers, use that signal that came standard on your car, truck, SUV, moped, etc…. show us that you want to be better communicators because you know it will have a positive impact on your life otherwise. And, hey, you may make us all a little safer out there. Bonus.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Visit Me at Costco!

I was all set to blog about failed blinkers and poor communication. But, I have to shout out my excitement for news I just received. My book, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, has been accepted by and is in Costco stores today!  It may be limited distribution, to test the market first, so please look for it and request it through the manager if yours does not have it in stock.

I am so grateful for everyone who has supported this wonderful story over the years. We have a goal of reaching an audience of 1 million by 2012 and I must tell you we are in a great position to do that. We've been in a number of national magazines and now in a nation-wide wholesaler.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Stop by your local Costco today and pick up the book for yourself or as a gift for someone who loves a great story.