Some people seem to have more momentum in life than others, don’t they? Their business is growing, their children are angels, and they seem to have amazing relationships. Especially if you watch social media posts! Do they have some sort of secret that the rest of the world doesn’t know about?

Well, one thing I’ve noticed is that the people who understand certain principles of life tend to be more successful. And, one of those principles is the law of rhythm. The law of rhythm in its simplest form says that there are natural highs and natural lows and you are either going into a high or a low at any one time.

We see this in nature. The 4 seasons. The farming cycle. Day and night.

We can also apply this principle to our thought life. And this is what really successful people do. They know that there will be natural ups and downs and what to do when you experience those. For example, if you are feeling ill or injured- you might be in a low. When in a low, it’s...

A mentor of mine once said, “Your character communicates to people in the room before you ever enter the room.” Who you ARE makes a difference!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to do a training for professional development and been told not to enter into the touchy-feely personal development area. Because personal development isn’t ‘important’ in the workplace. Nay nay!

Who you are determines your success!

Your character communicates three things:

• Consistency- can people count on you to BE the same person day in and day out? Or do you changer your personality and habits like someone who changes their clothes? Do your people wonder which boss will show up to work- the kind and caring boss, or the mean and angry one?
• Potential- who you ARE communicates whether the person and/or the work has potential for growth. For example, many of my coaching clients come to me to make a transition in their life (new job or start a business)...

“Leaders listen.” Simon Sinek

When I started as a school administrator, I hate to say it, but I rarely listened – truly listened- to anyone. I was so caught up in my own world of deadlines, metrics, and demands to notice someone else’s need. Over the years, with lots of training and experience, I’ve gradually learned how to connect with others more effectively. I also learned that when you connect will you get the results you’re looking for- almost as if it’s not any work at all!

I’ve learned a few tips about WHAT to listen to that I’d like to share with you:

• WORDS: listen to the kinds of words they use for clues about how they experience their world. For example, do they say, “I see now..” or “I noticed…”, if so, they may be a visual learner. If they say, “I was walking the other day and….” Or “I moved across the room…” they may be a kinesthetic learner. This...

“Great teams have great depth.” John C. Maxwell

How’s your bench doing? If you’re developing a sports team, you know bench players are crucial to your success. The same is true for any team. There are 5 truths you need to know about bench players:

• They are tomorrow’s stars- if they’re trained well now, you have more success later
• They multiply the starter’s performance- use them as much as possible in practice situations and the team will win
• There are more people on the bench than there are starters/leaders- not all bench players will turn into starters; you need to know how to identify and develop the right bench players
• A well-placed bench player is more effective than a great starter- a bench player with only one or two great skills can add huge value to your team, especially in clutch situations
• A strong bench equals more options- you can develop plans with greater flexibility, especially in times of challenge or struggle

What’s...

“Great teams have great depth.” John C. Maxwell

Leaders tend to focus on their top performers, their starter players. And for good reason! It’s important to focus 80% of your time on the top 20% of performers to maximize your team’s results.

You see this often in larger companies and businesses. They conduct training on increasing performance and larger leadership ideas with their top people and their leadership team, while the bench players of the team get training on compliance issues.

But what if one of your top performers leaves the team? Do you have a plan to replace them?

If you don’t focus on your bench players and develop them, you could find yourself hurting.

Here are a few thoughts to consider…

• Who steps up in times of need and fills in during short term projects?
• Who stays after and goes over and above their job duties?
• Who seems the most curious about what happens in and with the team?
• Who volunteers to do extra work and/or learn...

Are you stuck in analysis paralysis? Unsure what to do because you don’t know HOW to do something?

Emerson said, “You must not wait until you have proof- you must act as if it is there and it will come through. DO THE THING and you will have the power.” (emphasis added)

Whether you’re trying to grow a speaking business, get that new job, teach an online course, or a baby learning to walk, the same principles apply. You have to start, fail, continue, and learn the HOW as you go. There’s no other way.

Just ask yourself, “What’s the next best step?” Start doing that and you’ll be amazed at your progress!

You know what to do – trust yourself!

Join us for the Self-Image Mastery course! 

“Always think of what you have to do as easy and it will become so.” Emile Coue

A coach of mine asked me this question, “What if it didn’t have to be difficult?”

That one questions totally changed my world!

• What if writing a dissertation didn’t have to be difficult?
• What if building an online business didn’t have to be difficult?
• What if parenting teenagers didn’t have to be difficult?
• What if having difficult conversations didn’t have to be difficult?

You see, I’ve found that whenever I ask that question it takes out the feelings and emotions that often get in my way. It helps me forward. In a way it completely discounts the hurdles and helps your brain see a clear path. It definitely opens up your brain to more possibilities and choices.

One question has massive power!

So what if you could have access to 10 questions that might do the same? Would you sit and listen for those 10 questions? Would you find the gold in your...

What you sow, you will reap. You don’t plant a corn seed and get spinach! The same is true for leadership.

What you plant inside your people will grow into maturity.

I coached a young and inexperienced leader several years ago; she was younger than everyone on her team. She believed that no one would listen to her because of her age and lack of experience. That belief drove her behavior. She showed up to meetings and didn’t talk. She let people make their own schedules even though it didn’t benefit the team. She never said anything about the problem behaviors she saw.

I think you can imagine the results!

She slowly realized the seeds she planted in her team by looking at those results (i.e. her crop). She had to take a long look at herself, her beliefs, how she wanted to show up. As we worked with her, she began planting better seeds (words of encouragement, facilitating discussions, approaching problems).

The more she sowed good seed, the better crop she got, and...

"Every human being is hypnotized by ideas he has uncritically accepted from others or ideas he has repeated to himself or convinced himself are true." Maltz

“EVERY” means me. You, Your team. Your family members, Every.

I’ve had many conversations with leaders this week about their frustrations with the people they are leading. It all boils down to this quote. We are all hypnotized, meaning we don’t know what we don’t know. And your people are no different!

What do you do if someone you’re influencing isn’t aware of something- they’ve been hypnotized by past or present beliefs?

• Check yourself and see if there’s something you may no be aware of first,
• Recognize that if it’s an awareness issue, you probably won’t be able to change their mind,
• Save your breath! Nobody likes free advice, especially an unaware person, and
• Limit your exposure to their negative attitude as much as possible.

Look, I know this is difficult- I...

"When the will and the imagination are in conflict, the imagination invariably wins every day," Emile Coue

There are lots of ‘coaches’ our there today that yell and tell. They tote the use of will power and force through ‘hard work’ and ‘discipline’ and ‘sacrifice’. They yell, “Follow my system no matter how hard it is!”

But the research and science don’t prove that to be true. When you experience resistance, you get more of the thing you’re resisting. Worry is a great example.

If you try not to worry, you just worry about worrying!

What if you could change the ‘HAVE TO’ that your ‘coach’ yells at you about into a “WANT TO’ that you never have to force again? Acceptance, excitement, imagination, and motivation all yield more power to get you your results than working 100 hours a week and following someone else’s ‘system’.

Stop using will power and start using...