Coaching Moment #178 Cut Your Spending by 30%

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#178 Cut Your Spending by 30%


Keep a daily money log of all money being spent (that includes your morning or afternoon coffee). At the end of the month review expenses. Cut or downgrade some of the costs. Shop around for better prices for other line items. Whether you need to watch your spending or not, this will be a good exercise in analysis and self-control. You’ll thank me for it.

Coaching Moment #177 Get Your House in Order

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#177 Get Your House in Order


Procrastination gets you nowhere. Stop putting off that basement organization project, getting your will updated, and meeting with your financial planner (as well as anything else you’ve been neglecting). “Tomorrow” is not always the right answer.

Coaching Moment #176 Build Your Brain

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#176 Build Your Brain


Memory loss doesn’t have to be a part of the natural aging process. You can build your brain, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline, by learning something new, socializing with people different than yourself and engaging in games and puzzles that require strategy and complex decision making. Don’t leave your brain to the odds. Be proactive… starting today.

Coaching Moment #175 Do, Delegate or Drop

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#175 Do, Delegate or Drop


To Do Lists are easy to make but more challenging to manage and complete. I suggest each item on your list be treated as follows: DO- (1) it NOW or (2) put it in your calendar for a specific time and date to be done; DELEGATE it to someone else; or DROP it- many things we think we have to do go unnoticed and are unnecessary.

Coaching Moment #174 Commit to it for 14 Days!

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#174 Commit to it for 14 Days


What is the one thing you would like to do daily but can’t seem to find the time consistently? Maybe it’s walking the dog or getting your own exercise. Define it and then declare to do it each day for 14 days. This is the 14 day challenge! Do it for the short term and see the difference it makes in your life. Then, you are likely to find the time for it thereafter.

Coaching Moment #173 Personal Mission Statement

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#173 Personal Mission Statement


Do you have a personal mission statement? If not, I encourage you to write one. It should be a statement that drives your life and the way you live it. It should speak to what is important to you. It should include something about your values or philosophies. Once you have it, read it everyday and let it drive your daily actions.

Coaching Moment #172 Your Favorite Part of You

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#172 Your Favorite Part of You


What is your favorite attribute (of you)? Is it your humor? Your strength? So many of us spend time on the things we’d like to improve on that we fail to recognize and celebrate those things that are “just right”. Take time today to celebrate your favorite thing about you- maybe even show it off a little.

Coaching Moment #171 Three Memories

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.


#171 Three Memories


Instead of three wishes, I want you to think of 3 memories of the most joyous times in your life. What are they? Who were they with? What were you doing? And, then I want you to make sure you are living in a way that will easily foster more great memories like that to be formed.

Coaching Moment #170 The Contribution of Your Lifetime

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#170 The Contribution of Your Lifetime


In 50 years, when someone says your name to another, what words will come to their mind? How will people remember you? However you hope to be remembered must be obviously displayed in each of your days. You won’t be remembered for the 2% effort you made. You’ll be remembered for what you did most often. Make sure that is in alignment with how you want to be known.

Coaching Moment #169 The Beauty of Forgiveness

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#169 The Beauty of Forgiveness


Who do you need to forgive? Most of us harbor resentment toward someone, perhaps from long ago. You’ve likely suppressed the feelings and tried to just forget about it. But its there. Forgive them. Write a letter of forgiveness and either send it or destroy it.

Coaching Moment #168 Observe for Benefit

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#168 Observe for Benefit


If you have a skill or attribute you want to improve (or even acquire), observe others who have it. The more time you spend paying attention to it, the better the chance you’ll “own” it soon. Then, practice, practice, practice.

Amazon has Lost it's Mind!

Now I've seen it all.

Automation can be wonderful but there are times it turns clients against us. Growing can be good for a company but too much and in the wrong ways can be harmful for business. Here's a great example.

You've all recognized that Amazon has taken on third party vendors in recent years. That means that when you search and buy from Amazon you may be buying from another vendor that Amazon gives a platform to sell to. This third party vendor will ship to you directly, outside Amazon. Hmmmm. Sounded fine on the surfrace except for when you consider that one of the benefits of Amazon is the free shipping when your order is over a certain dollar amount. Some of the third party vendors do not honor this perk so you had to look closely. And, if you were buying several items, each may be sold by a different vendor thus the shipping charges add up quick.

The other day I wanted to purchase an item that cost $3.60. I wanted 10 of them. So my total was $36.00. Great. I'm okay with paying shipping. But not $160.00+ in shipping charges! Yes, you read that right. My total purchase price came to around $200! Apparently, Amazon wanted me to pay for each item to be shipped separately (they are all the same item mind you, from the same third party vendor). And, to add insult to injury- Amazon does this slimy thing that doesn't always show you the cost of various shipping methods (that may be the third party choice, but Amazon ultimately is in charge of it's site if you ask me). So, it defaulted to 2-day shipping but wouldn't show me the cost associated with that. When I clicked on the more info key it simply told me about the various types of shipping, no costs noted. So, the next screen is the whopper that wanted $200 for $36 worth of product!  Ha. Fat chance Amazon.

You've done lost yourself a client for life. I was turned off already by the third party schenanigans but this is the icing on the cake. My business is going elsewhere. I hope you wise up.

I encourage you to evaluate your automation. Do you clients ever feel the way I have described here? If so, you have to change and change today. Don't let growth and automation turn your business into a snake.

Coaching Moment #167 Difficult Conversations

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#167 Difficult Conversations


A year ago I read this and it impacted me significantly. “A man’s success can be judged by how many uncomfortable conversations he is willing to have.” I pondered this for a while and realized how very true it is. Recall how freeing it is to finally get that tough conversation over and done with. I encourage you to do so this week. If you’ve been dreading the talk- have it. You’ll feel better and likely so with they.

Coaching Moment #166 Renewal

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#166 Renewal  


Spring has sprung. More or less. The season represents growth and replenishment. Let the season inspire you to grow and replenish in the ways you need to. Identify 2 areas that you want to work on over the next three months.

Product Pushers! Don't Become One.

No one likes a bully. And, pushers have a bad reputation for a reason. So, why on earth would you force yoru product or service on someone?

For months I've been finding unsolicited newspapers from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in my lawn or on top of my hedges. I see them littering the lawns of my neighbors as well. I've even heard of it happening in other neighborhoods.

So, every couple days we wander out in the lawn (the front lawn, which we rarely use) to find and pick up unwanted newspapers. Then, we toss them in the recycling bin. What a waste! Literally and figuratively!

Let this be an example of how you can be a pusher and actually create a loathing relationship with a potential client. Don't do it.

As an aside, I expect it will take a new law to get them to stop. I've browsed their website looking for a phone number to call to complain or comment box.... nope, not one to be found. Sure, I can just call their main number.... how helpful do you think they'll be? Maybe I'll take bets on this one. :)

Coaching Moment #165 Weekly Challenge

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#165 Weekly Challenge


What has been your greatest challenge this week? Identify what/who it is and then talk about it with a trusted unbiased source. You shouldn’t handle all of your challenges alone. Great things can come from sharing your challenges with others.

Coaching Tip of the Month: April 2011 Finding Your Today's Beauty

We all want to change some things (house projects underway, those 5 or 10 lbs to lose, more money in the paycheck...). Okay. But, don't let your current suffer for what may or may not come tomorrow. The key to success and happiness is doing the best with what you currently have (or don't have). Focus on what you are/have today and make the best of it.

Rather than wait until you lose the pounds, give yourself an in-home spa treatment (or go get one at your favorite spa); put on your best outfit (or go splurge on one); stand up straight (pretend you have a book on your head like the old movies threatened us with) and go out somewhere. Be your best self today. Show us what you've got.

Rather than wait for that extra cash in your paycheck, take a good look at what you currently have and devise a plan to spend a little in a new way. Treat yourself to a lunch or dinner deal (one that you wouldn't normally), give to your favorite charity (even if it's only a small donation), or finally put some money down on that bigger item you've been eyeing up. Start somewhere. Starting small is better than not starting.

Don't wait for change to be happy. Be happy while changing.

Coaching Moment #164 $1,000 Gift

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#164 $1,000 Gift


Imagine you had $1,000 given to you today. The gift stipulates that you can only spend the money on other people or charities. You cannot spend it on yourself or on things that directly benefit you. Where would you give your money? How would it be distributed among the people or causes that are important to you?

Now, when is the last time you spend time/money with those people or charities? Remember you don’t have to wait for a gift of $1,000 or to make a sizable donation to make a difference.

Coaching Moment #163 Here’s Your Genie!

Coaching Moments used to be exclusively for my coaching clients and Champions members. We've now opened them up to share them with you via this blog. Coaching Moments are shared each Friday and meant to encourage you on your path to greater enjoyment and/or success- whatever you happen to be reaching for. They remind us to think about our paths, our decisions and our priorities. Hopefully they make you think about something and refocus. Enjoy.

#163 Here’s Your Genie!


Imagine I gave you a genie in a bottle. You could make only one wish and the wish would only be true for 24 hours, starting now. What would you wish for? Why did you choose that wish?

Spend a few quiet and uninterrupted minutes thinking about this now. Or, think about it over the next few hours as you go about your routine and come to a decision by end of day. This will raise your awareness of what you want and/or need.

Poor Business Lingo

When someone asks you for something are you the kind of person (1) to do it or (2) do you point out where they can find it or do it themselves? And, which of these people are your employees?

Today I had an encounter with a food industry employee that made me chuckle. I asked her which meal was which (the example could be vegan versus vegetarian or sausage versus ham sandwich, you get the picture). She told me "it is marked". So, if you are a kind, polite, non-confrontational person you now begin the search for "the mark". If you are a tad more assertive you may ask the less-than-stellar employee to still TELL you which is which (perhaps she can't find the mark either!).

Either way, it is important that you teach your employees FIRST by example. SHOW them how to respond to this common question. But also, teach them why their first response (as above) may not be the one desired by you (the boss and paycheck signature). Help them understand desirable responses versus undesirable ones. Do some role play in training. And, you've read me advocate for this before.... send in the mystery shoppers. You need to know what your employees are saying to your customers and how they are responding. I bet your competition knows.