Today marks a milestone day for someone who I have been fascinated with, admired, and enjoyed since I was a little girl.  I remember I couldn't wait to find out who her "Most Fascinating Person of the Year" was, and why.  I love being inspired, and Barbara Walters has always been able to create that in so many ways.  I'll admit, I was teary watching her say thank you. Today, Barbara Walters retires and what a joy it has been to experience her gratitude, wisdom, wonder, and legacy.  Here's a bit of what I heard in her final words on The View;
“How could you be part of a cutting edge news department for 38 years, not that it was all sunshine and valentines.  True, I was the first female co-host of a network news program, but it was also true, that I was a flop.  My co-host didn’t want me and neither did the audience.  I was drowning, I was gasping for air, and then, someone threw me a life preserver called SPECIALS with the biggest stars in news and show business, and I learned how to swim again.  And finally, how proud when I see all the young women who are making and report the news.  If I did anything to help that happen, that’s my legacy.  When all of that is done, I can now take a deep breath and enjoy my view.” 

To see some of the many women she paved the way for, stand in Barbara's honor and acknowledge her was truly moving.  Barbara indeed is a trail blazer, a pioneer, breaking barriers and, showing us what it means to move forward, despite circumstances, controversy, or people telling her she couldn't.  She did it anyway.  She broke the glass ceiling and inspired so many women to go for their dreams along the way.  She reminds me that we never know what's possible, and always believe that truly anything is possible.  Possibility, with clear purpose, vision, persistence, courage, and partnership we not only can but WILL achieve, make a difference, and live fully, embracing change.

It's now time for Barbara to enjoy taking on her "would of, should of, could of" which she shared she often has, hey she is human!  It's time for her to enjoy her view.  I thank you Barbara Walters, thank you for your contribution, gifts, talents, and purpose.  Thank you for your inspiration all along the way. I have no doubt you will truly embrace and enjoy "Your View".

May we all live each day in gratitude and enjoyment of "Our View" and keep contributing to others, because the possibilities are truly endless!

Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, once said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” - oh so true!

I keep a “blessings” journal where I simply list those people and things that I am grateful for in my life. A new practice I have is to carry it in my purse to make notes even when I’m not at home. Sometimes when I think of a person I’d like
thank, I make a note of it, including a nice way to express my gratitude. As I get older, I have become really aware that if I don’t write it down, it will never happen. As the journal gets full, it’s fun to look back and see all of the ways I’ve been blessed. It’s easy to feel gratitude when you see your life in those terms.

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  I thank you, and am grateful for the powerful connections, relationships, the challenges, the giggles, and the opportunities for growth and change this beautiful life creates.
Lots of love and blessings to you and yours.

Lessons from Geese provides an excellent example of the importance of team work, utilizing our resources, and how it can have a profound and powerful effect on any form of personal or business endeavors. When using these five principles in our personal and business life it will help us to foster and encourage a level of passion and energy in ourselves, as well as those who are our friends, associates or team members.

It is essential to remember that teamwork happens inside and outside of business life when it is continually nurtured and encouraged.  And with that, let us check out how the geese handle it, read on……….


"Lessons from Geese"
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an ”uplift" for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.  

Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the "lifting power" of the bird immediately in front.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join in formations with those who are headed where we want to go.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership – with people, as with geese, interdependent with one other.

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging - not something less helpful.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until he or she is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with their own flock.

Lesson: If we have as much sense as the geese, we’ll stand by each other like that.

Lessons from the Geese, was written in 1972 by Dr. Robert McNeish

Honk on!

Happy Friday Everyone!  I love Fridays because it’s an “evaluation day”, or a day to pause, and see where I’ve landed in relationship to my goals, and I encourage my clients to do the same.  I’ve had a blast working with my clients this week, and here’s what I learned in different ways from each of them; “if we don’t go after what we want, we will never have it.  If we don’t ask for what we want, the answer is always no.  If we don’t step forward, we are always in the same place”, PERIOD!  In a nutshell, what I see is COMMITMENT AND OUTRAGEOUS ACTION!  Now, it’s time to celebrate, rejuvenate, enjoy the weekend, and get happy about “the next” outrageous action they’ve declared!  What will you do today to move you forward in your 2014 goals? Ask yourself, “what must I stop doing and what must I start doing”, then as Nike says, “Just DO IT”!  It’s never too late to start, so let it rip!! 

It's true, the first month of 2014 has flown by, reality has set in.  I don't know about you, but it sure has me thinking about where I am in relationship to the goals I set, and that's a good thing!  You see, momentum is always at its highest at the beginning of the year, or a month, in the morning, and we have a choice to keep that momentum going or let it fizzle out.  How many of us have wanted to start "something" so bad, but have let "something else" get in the way?  Come on, we can all raise our hand on that one, so let's own it!  Alright owning it,  and time to move forward.

At some point today, pause for some reflection.....you know you have made progress this month toward those 2014 goals!  Stop and acknowledge what you have completed, and do your very best HAPPY DANCE!!  Take a moment to acknowledge and be in gratitude to those that assisted you.  It's ok to acknowledge yourself too, so go ahead, do it now.

Next step.....we have 28 days in February to fire it up, propel us forward, and make it count!  You are the pilot of your CHOICES, so make them count!  Ask yourself, what resources do I have?  What's my next action step? Schedule it, and then go for it!  Imagine yourself 28 days from now?  It's looking pretty sweet right? 

One of my goals for 2014 is to BLOG more, and I am so excited to be jumping into a Blog Challenge with my friend Dawn Mena of Captivating Copy.  She is AMAZING, and has the best tips and coaching on having blogging be easy and fun.  The challenge starts tomorrow, and I invite you to jump in, check it out here http://eepurl.com/M5hhj

Now let's go make this month count!  More blogs coming up, let's do this!

I love this time of year, the hustle, the bustle, the kindness, the care.  The coming together of family and friends, enjoying spending time together, as that what this to me, the holidays are truly about.  I love the way we become child like and curious, the feeling deep in our belly that truly anything is possible.  I love the acts of kindness to others, the surprise, the love, the sparkle.  My prayer is for peace, love, and joy to you and yours this year.  My prayer is that we each take this out into the world and share kindness and compassion with others, lift up those that are struggling, and be grateful for our blessings.  And that this continues far beyond the holidays.  May you enjoy your blessings, and BE a blessing to others.  Lots of love to YOU!

“Change is a measure of time and, in the autumn, time seems speeded up.  What was, is not and never again will be; what is, is change.” – Edwin Teale

The summer has come and gone and we are now entering a new fall season and I’m sure many of us are looking forward to ending the year finishing what we started earlier.

With back to school and work getting back into full swing, what better time than now to put yourself back into the forefront?  I’ve always looked at September as a great time to get back into gear by revisiting goals. When it comes to goal setting, there are a few ACTIONS I challenge my clients to stick to, in order to help make this unofficial second half of the year even better than the
first. Follow the “THREE Rs” of SUCCESS “Getting REAL” “REASSESSING” and “The time is RIGHT NOW” to make sure we create those completions.

Your Action Steps:
GET REAL -- getting real means staying realistic with your thinking. There’s no better way to discourage yourself than to make a goal that you cannot achieve. AND in getting REAL, reflect on why you wanted that goal in the first place and why it is important to you?  This way you can move to reassessing with clarity.
REASSESS -- let’s think about this as halftime in the big game of the year. What goals did you set in the beginning of the year or earlier in life that haven’t worked for you? Why haven’t they worked? What did work? And, why did they work?  Reassess doesn’t necessarily mean to throw that goal out the window. It means to see what needs to be tweaked so it can be achieved.  Remember that though a challenge is important to growth, we also want to always set ourselves
up for success to stay motivated. 
WRITE IT DOWN, RIGHT NOW -- a goal that is  unwritten is like a lost song that no one will ever hear. It’s important to write things down and place it in a place where you will constantly see it. For some reason, it’s like making a contract with ourselves and works as a constant reminder of what you are trying to achieve. This also helps if you live with others because surprisingly enough, they will also keep you on your toes by asking you about your goals routinely. This serves as a constant reminder to get off your rear and get into gear.

Fall is an excellent time to get back into a routine dedicated to creating that change you want! Let’s go, what’s on your list?  Happy Fall!

I was having coffee with a good friend of mine the other day,  and we were talking about what stops people from really taking on change.  Fear of failure or fear of success
seems like the obvious answers, right? Is it really the fear of failure or success?  Let’s chat about that for a moment.  The conversation with my friend reminded me of the power of our belief system and what responsibility really is, and that with a good look and an action plan, we  can accomplish anything! 

Now strap in people, I’m going to share what I have learned
along the way and it just might make you go hmm! Fear of success is really fear of R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y.  Are we really afraid of success?  I don’t think so!  If you think about it, when we step into change it brings about new responsibilities and that’s when our belief system
starts having a field day with us!  Fear can trigger all sorts of doubts. When we take on something new or something more, or something different, can we handle the
responsibility?  I say YES WE CAN! It is a matter of looking at capabilities, competencies, and commitment. 

Responsibility consists of the ability to respond to what
is happening.  As a coach, I ask my clients to look here when they are stuck. Do they have the capabilities? Are they competent?  If the answer is no, then we explore what is wanted and needed to become more proficient. What resources are available? This leads to action.  We also take a look at commitment, because with a high level of commitment toward what they want, it is amazing how
they will stretch and what they will overcome to make
it happen.  

So, the next time you or someone you know says they have a fear of failure or success – challenge it! Because you deserve success, it’s nothing to be afraid of!  

This has been a long time in the making.  But as the quote says "Sometimes we create change and other times change creates us!" So true.  I am so excited to share what I see as possible. I hope you will visit regularly!