What's Draining Your Energy?

Creating and keeping energy is a big issue for me and consequently something I know a few things about. When I began working for myself I realized that one of the reasons that I had been tired most of my adult life is that I had to use enormous amounts of energy to keep up with the regular workplace pace. Gee - and I thought one of my strengths was to be able to work really quickly!

In the latest edition of the audio program Coaching A Go Go, Nancy and I answer a listener's question about energy drains and what to do about them.

Listen in to this 20 minute program and have your pen and paper handy!

Laugh at this Turkey!

Have a delicious, delightful and humorous Thanksgiving!

Here's my Thanksgiving gift to you. Turn your speakers on and get ready to chuckle. Thanksgiving Turkey!

Everyday Gratitude

With Thanksgiving just a few short days away and our December holidays right around the corner, 'tis the season for thankfulness.

Every year for Thanksgiving Carlos, my husband, and I go to our friends' Dale and Nikolai's house. Not only does Dale cook a meal to die for, and Nikolai create a mean cocktail of your choosing, and not only do we spend the day with friends and kids who we love, but each year Dale gathers us for a ritual of expressing our thanks.

When we arrive we are greeted with a bowl of slim pieces of sturdy paper, which have a piece of string or yarn attached and a pen. We are then to write those things that we are thankful for during this last year. Everyone writes - even the smallest of kids, who sometimes need a scribe.

Then we gather in a circle in the backyard, just prior to throwing ourselves at the feast on the table, and read our thanks out loud. Some are funny, some pull at the heart strings, and some, like the kids', are simple and touching and truthful.

Once everyone has spoken we tie our paper thanks on a ficus tree. Dale, Nikolai and their two boys get to enjoy the fluttering gratitude tree all year long.

Gratitude plays a big role for me, and a day does not go by that I don't express my thanks for something in my life. Hear more about what Nancy Marmolejo and I have to say about gratitude at the recent Coaching A Go Go podcast.

What are you thankful for and how can gratitude play a part in your life all year long? Leave a comment and let's hear from you.

Days at the Conference

I just spent the last week in CA at the International Coach Federation conference and visiting my family. It was pure pleasure developing friends and connections and luxuriating in the relationship of those who know me well.

Because I'm here on this Pacific island doing business all by myself, I was stunned at the sheer mass of coaches at the 10th annual ICF conference. There were 1752 of us there and we filled a huge ballroom at lunch. Oh, I belong! I was suprised that this sense of belonging impacted me so heavily, but it makes sense. I do everything over the phone or online and to actually be in the physical presence of others in my profession somehow made it real for me. Very cool!

The other super cool part of the conference was meeting my coach pal Nancy Marmolejo. If you listen to our podcast - Coaching A Go Go, then you know Nancy and I were looking forward to meeting at the ICF. Meeting Nancy was like meeting a best friend and just picking up the conversation where we left off last week. What a joy! Here's our pic - aren't we cute? Nancy is in fact much taller than me and so I made her crouch so I didn't look like a dwarf!


I also was invited to be a guest blogger at The Blog Squad Live, which was great fun! I got to meet several fabulous folks as a result of that. Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, the pink babes behind The Blog Squad put this together and they were both a total delight! They are in the photo at the top of the page.

You just can't underestimte the power of community.

End of Year Coaching Special

We're into November now and 2005 will soon be history. Have you accomplished all that you set out for this year?

If not, or if you are bursting with new ideas that you want to bring to the world, then some coaching may be in order.

I'm having an end of the year special on individual coaching. Check out the details here.

For those of you who want to:

• Take on or finish a big 2005 goal
• Feel the peace of the holiday season, instead of the frenzy
• Begin planning new ideas, projects,or business ventures for 2006
• Clean up and organize
• Get a hold of your time and energy

Finish 2005 with a bang - get a jump start on 2006!

What's Your Story?

I've recently been doing some personal work related to the Law of Attraction - more about that later - and so I sat down and wrote the story of my life as it occurs when I am fully in weath consciousness. Wealth, meaning all that which makes me wealthy - financial, spiritual, family, relationship, health. When I view my life from the perspective of being in total wealth, what is it?

My story began with, 'I'm sitting in my red overstuffed armchair and I just hung up the phone with a fabulous client. I look across my gorgeous and neatly organized hardwood desk out the picture window to the stunning view of mountains, trees and open fields.' The story went on to describe my office, my home, the morning with my husband, the surrounding area, the community we live in, the vehicle I drive, the friends we have, etc. It's a great story! And, now that I have a clear and distinct story, I think about it all the time and hold it in my conscious thoughts.

Yesterday, when I was having lunch with my friend Liza, she asked how I stay out of fear. I had to think a moment, but I realized that by consciously shifting my fear,scarcity or lack thought to my wealth story is how I do that.

What's your story? Sit down in a quiet place with some time to yourself and write it down. If it comes in chunks, that's fine. Make sure you write it in the present tense (no I wills, or I shoulds) and that you are an active player in your story - not just an observer. Review it weekly and hold it in your thoughts daily.

When I told Liza yesterday to write her story, she looked at me and said 'I did that about a year ago, and now that I think about it, that story has all come true.'

How do you know where you're going if you don't create a path? Write your story and sit back and watch it come true.

www.coachbalance.com

Guest Blogger

I'm attending, for the very first time, the International Coach Federation conference, which begins next week. 1500 coaches are registered to attend. I'm beside myself with glee at all the fun and excitement and creativity that will be happening - on my inside and around me!

I was invited to be a guest blogger at The Blog Squad Live, for commentary pre-, during and post-conference. I thought it would be a few little 'ol coaches chatting about stuff, but oooohhhh noooo - I'm with some of the big dogs. Published authors whom I've read, bloggers I subscribe to, coaches I've listened to in teleforums - I'm playing with them. Sure busts my belief that I'm not big enough to play this game.