I have struggled for a while with whether or not to write a summary of this classic literary essay for fear of not doing it justice. However, my desire to introduce this writing to as many people as possible motivated me to proceed. This booklet, a seminal piece on the power of thought, is a mere 22 pages, yet it is so dense and packed with wisdom that it could have easily filled 500 pages had the author desired. James Allen was a British philosopher and writer as well as a pioneer of the self-help movement in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This work "As a Man Thinketh" is likely based on the Biblical verse Proverbs 23:7 which states: "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Everything seems to go faster these days, leaving people feeling overworked and overloaded. And this is the time of year that we often feel especially busy...that there's too much to do...overwhelmed! Well, never fear. My friends at Resource Associates Corp. have some tips on how to survive being overwhelmed.

Having a coach is like having your own personal navigator for your life's journey.

The coach helps you chart your course and reach your destination. Imagine having someone in your corner who is totally committed to your success. Someone who always encourages the powerful part of you, who sees how big you can be, and constantly holds up that big image for you even when you can't hold it up for yourself.

Imagine a relationship that places the total focus on you. A relationship with someone who helps you clarify your dreams, aspirations, passions, and values. Someone who helps you celebrate your victories and learn from your setbacks as you press on toward achieving your goals together.

Consider the benefits of having regular conversations with a skilled, trained professional who really listens to you and not just your words but to your emotions, your energy, and even the spaces between your words.

Every successful individual or organization has a plan. You need to know where you are today and what you want to accomplish in the future. However, just knowing what you want to accomplish is only the first component of a successful equation. The balance of a successful life is achieved by developing the specific plan and action steps necessary to accomplish that plan.

Sound easy? Maybe yes, maybe no. If it was that easy you probably would have done it already. Does it take time and effort? You bet. But as the subtitle to this picture states: Trying is not failing. Failing is not trying. Similarly, it's better to have a bad plan than no plan at all.

If you want things such as:

• more focus
• to make better decisions
• fewer distractions and a better use of your time
• less stress
• better relationships
• improved effectiveness
• and more success in general, both personally and professionally...

then consider taking the time to work with me to create a clear blueprint for yourself and your future.

It's helpful to have someone on your side to help you move forward ... someone with lots of experience, someone with sensitivity to your situation, someone who will listen to your unique needs, give you lots of individual attention, help you answer your important questions and guide you along a path to the next level of success. 

I see people all the time who are too busy to plan their life and lack the focus to work on what is most important for their future. Often, before they realize it, they have veered astray and aren't sure how to get things back on track. So whether you have never created a plan before for yourself or your organization, or need to refresh and update the one you have, let's talk.

Are you ready to accomplish far more than you ever believed possible? Do you want to learn more or perhaps you are ready to get started?

Either way, call or email me. I'm excited to speak with you!

Have you ever found yourself with the proverbial “foot in your mouth” because of something you said?  We all do that sometimes, and often in situations where we then feel foolish or embarrassed.  Here are some great ways to filter your thoughts before they come out of your mouth… and to consider what you are going to say before you say it.

A classic! What more can you say? The quintessential "working handbook on human relations," I can't count how many times I have read or skimmed "How to Win Friends." Yet every time that I do, I learn something new and incredibly impactful to me, my personal life, and to my business.

Originally published in 1936, Dale Carnegie's examples are laced with references and stories relevant to his day and to his recent history, gleaning lessons from Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Civil War generals, English kings, John D. Rockefeller, and many others.

Stress is always a popular topic of discussion with my coaching clients. Regardless of the economic environment, conditions at home or at the office...no one is immune to it. To help me address the topic of stress this month, I turned to my friend and colleague Tammy Kohl who is President of Resource Associates Corporation. Here is her view on the subject.

Understanding stress and the ability to manage stress is important. However, the broader question is, "What can we do to reduce stress or even eliminate it altogether?"

ONE THREE-LETTER WORD YOU MAY WANT TO RETHINK.

In honor of the New Year and new intentions, let's talk about a word we probably all use frequently. It's a very powerful word, but not in the way you might think. It's the word TRY. How often do we use that word in the context of something we are doing, a goal we are setting, an objective we are reaching for?  It's hard to even write that last sentence without using "try," as in "something we are trying to do" or "an objective we are trying to achieve."

Are you really where you want and need to be in your career and your life?

It's time for you to assess how 2010 has gone and how to make 2011 (and beyond) as successful as possible.

Actually, any time is a great time to evaluate where you are versus your goals, but the end of one year and the start of the next is a natural time for many.

The author's subtitle to his book is "A Surprising Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way" and his stated goal is to help you enjoy yourself more each day. The premise is that we all have a "vile, vicious, villainous, insufferably bully lurking in the shadows of your very own mind: your gremlin." And, depending on your level of self-awareness, you likely already have some sense of your gremlin, which has influenced you since your birth.