I’ll be happy when I get married, have kids, lose 20 pounds
Are you waiting, waiting, waiting for your life to begin? Waiting to be happy when some magical set of circumstances occur and the planets align? I’ll be happy when I buy a house, renovate the kitchen, get new furniture for the living room. I’ll be happy when I get my business off the ground, have […]
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80% of people think they have a book in them
A study by a publishing services firm found 80% of Americans think they have a book in them. Of course, far fewer than 80% actually write a book. Many, many think about writing a book, talk about writing a book…but don’t actually do much—if any—writing. So there’s a disconnect between the Big Goal of writing […]
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Here’s my question: How can you make it easier?
“There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.” —Warren Buffet There does seem to be a tendency in people (me included!) to make things much more difficult than they have to be. Do you find yourself saying any of these or something similar? I’m overwhelmed. There’s so much […]
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Are you being heroic?
A number of my clients have recently struggled with asking for help. The unnecessary hero One is changing careers and has trouble leveraging her current network to facilitate the transition. The issue is not whether she has a strong network or whether they would be willing to offer assistance. No, the issue is her near-refusal […]
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Have you ever set a DUMB goal?
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals—those that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Some say goals crafted within the parameters of SMART make us play it too safe and keep us coloring inside the lines. Welcome to DUMB goals That’s where DUMB goals come into play. There are different interpretations for what constitutes a […]
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A big question for just three little words: Who are you?
Who are you? It’s a big question for just three little words. What’s your inclination for answering? Is it to state your vital statistics—name, age, marital status, occupation, education level, whether you have kids, etc? Or is it to answer with a question in return: What do you mean, who am I? I’ve found most […]
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Should you pursue your passion or be practical?
How do you choose between pursuing your passion and doing what is practical? Many of my clients initially come to coaching believing they’re at the crossroads of passion and practicality—and that they have to choose one versus the other. Here’s a snippet of what I’ve been hearing: The economy makes it impractical to even think […]
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Are you missing an opportunity to be restored?
A friend called in a state of overwhelm. She’d finally decided to tackle the clutter that filled her home, but was struggling to find a strategy that felt doable. Organized clutter is still clutter. Her first inclination was to organize. Most of us have been down that road where we organize our clutter instead of […]
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Are you the leader of your life?
The other day someone said to me, You’ve got it all figured out. While I appreciated the generosity of the thought, I was uncomfortable at the same time. My anti-guru warning light went on. I most certainly don’t have it all figured out. I don’t have all the answers. No one does. In fact, a […]
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Where are you in the five stages of change?
Many of my clients come to coaching to make a change. Switch careers, stop overspending, improve their health, start a business, live more outside their comfort zone, write a book, stop living for someday, simplify and downsize, stop overworking, find more joy… the list of possible change is endless. One of the first things I […]
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What are you discarding this time of year?
Today is an Indian summer kind of day. While walking downtown, I think about why autumn is my favorite time of year over the other seasons. I think it’s the falling away that always seems to happen to me this time of year. Just like the trees shedding their leaves, these are the months I’m […]
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Are you missing what’s right in front of you?
The other day I was working with a client and we discovered an error in her revenue projections that sent her reeling. She’d looked at the same spreadsheets dozens of times, but suddenly the glaring miscalculation was recognized. Have you had a similar experience? Where you suddenly see something with fresh eyes and can’t believe […]
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Is a little healthy comparison OK?
Everyone says, “Don’t compare yourself to others.” Some say it’s a waste of time and energy—something about keeping up with the Joneses. Or bad for your self-esteem and confidence. Some say avoid comparison because while the grass over there may look greener, it may just be a nice green facade. But, I think it’s OK […]
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Would you try to change a tire on a moving car?
Would you try to change a tire on a moving car? Probably not, right? It makes sense to slow down, pull over, take stock, and then make the necessary repairs. The same can be applied to the importance of stopping to assess your life—where you are, where you’re going, and where you need to make […]
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It’s easy to see what we want to see
I was in the UP of Michigan recently. While driving near the Seney National Wildlife Refuge that sprawls for some 95,000 acres, I saw two moose: a large bull moose with antlers and a smaller female cow. We’d been on the lookout for moose during the entire trip, so it was exciting to finally see […]
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