Coaching Moment #185 Step Out of the Zone… the Comfort Zone

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.

This Coaching Moment speaks to me now as I watch my daughter take her first steps.

#185 Step Out of the Zone… the Comfort Zone

We learn and grow when we step away from our norms. Take a class or read a book on a topic unknown to you. If you normally work on things independently, join a group for a team task. If you are wildly social, take a weekend retreat in solitude. Challenge yourself to do things differently at least once per week.

Coaching Moment #184 Perspective… Get Some

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.

#184 Perspective… Get Some

We often fail to see other’s perspective (full perspective) in a situation. We see our own. And it’s from this vantage point that we make all decisions and assumptions. I challenge you to choose three situations over the next week whereby you actively seek the other perspective. If you are a business owner, become the customer and see how they experience it. If you are an employer, look at something from the employee perspective. You get the picture… well, I hope you will.

Coaching Moment #183 Good Ole’ Ben…

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.

#183 Good Ole’ Ben…

Did you know that Ben Franklin began each day by asking himself, “What good shall I do this day?” He also spent a great deal of time creating a list of virtues that he felt made people effective- and then scored himself on them. He lived with purpose. And, he was brave enough to hold himself accountable- each day. Let’s all find our Ben.

Be Careful What You Wish For!

This sweet little bird thought that being inside the bird feeder would be the greatest thing in the world! Then she actually got in. Likely enjoyed a buffet lunch and then... uh oh... "I can't seem to get out of here! Help!"

We rescued the bird but I can't say the same for you. So, be careful what you are wishing for. You just might get it. And, then what? Will it be the end-all to your problems or will it create more and perhaps bigger ones?

Think carefully about what really matters in your life. Make a wise decision not just one that feels good for the moment.

Coaching Moment #182 Two Best Friends in Success

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.

#182 Two Best Friends in Success

One is named action and the other persistence. Most people never act on their thoughts or concepts. Even less act and then persist.   You don’t have to have the best idea to be successful. You just have to do something about it and then repeat. 

Coaching Moment #181 How's Your Relationship

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.

#181 How’s Your Relationship…

…with yourself?  Are you honoring your commitments to yourself? Have you created and made progress toward your annual goals? If not, who do you expect to serve you better… than you? Be your own best advocate. Rally for yourself this year and imagine the possibilities.

Coaching Moment #180 Are You Making Progress?

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.

#180 Are You Making Progress?

Another year is more than ½ over. What have you done this year that you are most proud of? Are you accomplishing your goals (both personal and professional)? If you’ve abandoned your goals, now is the time to rewrite them and sent a new course for the remainder of the year. You CAN do it. 

Coaching Moment #179 Freedom or Independence… Pick One

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.

#179 Freedom or Independence… Pick One

Today pick either Freedom or Independence and think about what it means to you. What 3 freedoms do you most appreciate in your life? Or, what does Independence mean for you- and how do you live independently each day? Tomorrow, choose the other one to ponder. Remember that life is full of personal choices; the key is to exercise them.

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.