Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Get a Shot - Not a Virus

Winter approaches. Flu viruses are headed your way. GO GET A FLU SHOT NOW! No, a flu shot cannot protect you from every flu virus nor the brand new strains - some of which are killers - but what it can do is reduce the severity or duration of your symptoms if you DO get struck by a flu virus this winter.

If getting a flu shot gives you a fighting chance this winter, get one. With our extensive international contacts, we know that the bird flu isn't the ONLY virus causing folks a great deal of suffering this year (in those parts of the world where flu viruses are still running rampant), and we in the northern hemisphere have the prospect of facing these viruses this winter!

If you're a business owner, it may even be in your best interests to subsidize the cost of flu shots for your employees... if you value their productivity that is!

'nuff said! Go do as you're told!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Friday, November 25, 2005

What Type of Fear is It?

For some people, some experiences, especially new experiences, produce fear in them. Fear of the unknown is not uncommon and explains why so many people prefer to stay where they are rather than explore opportunities.

Let's talk about two different kinds of fear: one is an exciting type of fear, and another is a more negative type of fear.

The exciting type of fear is the sort of fear you feel as you are about to parachute out of an airplane. (If you are reading this and the thought of parachuting terrifies you, substitute this with an experience that you would find fun, yet maybe a little scary, too. Maybe riding a roller-coaster will do it?)

The more negative type of fear is similar to how you feel when, for example, you are headed to your dental appointment for a procedure that worries you - like a root canal! (Funny how so many people can relate to that - so many comparisons are made to root canals!)

So next time you face a new experience, determine what type of fear it is that you are feeling. Decide whether it is justified. (Entering a lion's den at feeding time, with no protection would be a justified fear - watching the lion feed from behind the safety fence would not.)

Know that you CAN handle either type of fear, but it is your RESPONSE that will determine your success. Is yours the exhilarating fear of a parachute jump or a trip to the Dentist? Your goal is to have the exciting fears outnumber the negative fear experiences. When you face a new experience or challenge, a little fear-analysis can go a long way!

BUNGEEEEE!!!!!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

TIME WASTERS!

The last blog got me thinking... it's not always that we don't have enough time in our days to achieve everything... it's more that we don't have enough time in our days to achieve the things we WANT to do! By the time we've done the things we feel obligated to do, sometimes there is no time left over for us. Ever felt that way?

Despair not, dear blog reader! All you need to do is adjust your priorities and reevaluate your expectations. A little bit of reorganization and deleting hidden time-wasting elements from our days can free up more than enough time for the things we WANT to do. Truly!

So, where do you start on this project? Here are some tips...

  1. Have a jolly good clean-out! Get rid of the junk and clutter - whether it be too many ornaments that take hours to dust, or a mountain of paperwork, most of which doesn't have to be kept but you haven't gotten around to sorting through it yet. The idea is to clear your space - it will help you feel better and the energy around you will feel freer.

  2. Do you have a system in place for your important information? Many people are more organized in their office than they are at home! Get a second hand filing cabinet and start filing! Knowing exactly where to find an important document quickly will save you hours of searching and stressing.

  3. Prioritize and schedule your day - but be flexible. Allow for unexpected events, visitors, mishaps, illness or just can't be bothered moments. At the end of the day, any of this unused extra time is all YOURS. If you have to, shut your door and take the phone off the hook so you can work uninterrupted.

  4. Stop putting things off. If a task is so unpalatable that you keep finding excuses not to start it, just DO it! Get it out of the way and you'll feel a whole lot better when you don't have it hanging over you like a dark cloud.

Of course, time management issues may not be the only thing holding you back and messing up your days, but you won't know for sure what your time waster culprits are until you examine your days.

Hey, I have a good idea! Why not hire a coach to help you! You can find one here: http://www.coachinginstruction.com/findacoach.htm

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

DO YOU CONTROL YOUR LIFE OR DOES IT CONTROL YOU?

Do you feel caught in a perpetual tug-o-war between the needs of your family and the demands of your work? If so, you've got a lot of company. Balance has become the Holy Grail in the new world of work.

What is balance? Let's begin by talking about what balance is not. Balance is not about squeezing as much as possible into every second of every day. Balance is not about double booking your schedule or worshipping a ten page "To Do" list. Balance is not about being a slave to email. No, balance is about savoring life. Balance is about listening to your favorite music or eating lunch in the sunshine on a beautiful day. Balance is about making choices that allow you to be YOU in the best way possible.

Achieving balance begins with tossing out time management tools. Realize that time management tools are just that -- tools. Not "laws". They are only effective when used in the right situation. Would you use a tape measure to plug a leaky pipe? Probably not. Too many of us have blindly embraced a generic "one-size-fits-all" time management lifestyle in our quest to squeeze more things into our lives. But do you really want to do MORE things...or do you want to do MORE MEANINGFUL things?

Go for balance by building your life around what is truly important to you.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Friday, November 18, 2005

Avoiding Work From Home Scams and Pitfalls

Work from Home: a veritable cornucopia of self-employment opportunities exists, and for the unwary and unprepared, an equal number of pitfalls exist. There is so much hype about going solo, and there are also get-rich-quick schemes, pyramid schemes, scams, get-paid-to-surf or take surveys etc. to be avoided.

Don't quit your day job without doing your homework. Before considering any drastic moves, realize that it is going to require hard work and commitment. There is no such thing as easy money. Plan properly in the first place. Accept that you are going to make mistakes - nobody is perfect and nobody knows everything there is to know up front. Be prepared to learn from your mistakes and move forward. Don't expect instant results, instant fame, or instant fortune. There is nothing instant about starting your own business.

This means making sure you have money to fall back on during the lean or quiet times and having enough to start up with in the first place. If in doubt, get financial advice first - see a financial planner who can help you get things right from the beginning. Set goals and make sure they are realistic. Keep your focus on your goals and maintain a positive, "can do" attitude. When you have done your research and settled on a business, make sure you know the regulations governing your home based business. Do you need any approvals? A business license? Do you need a special permit to work out of your home? Check with your local authorities. Do you need to inform the IRS of your change in circumstances? Do you need to register your business?

Do some market research - is there a market for your product/service? Will it be profitable for you? What about the competition? How do you plan to stack up against the competition? Can you compete? How are your skill levels and knowledge or work-experience? Do you know enough to start your own business and be successful? Your skills and abilities will also determine what type of business would be most suitable for you. Doing something you love is the ideal, because you are more likely to work harder but still enjoy yourself so it doesn't really seem like work.

Do you really have what it takes to be self-employed? Are you the entrepreneurial type? Do you enjoy risk taking? Does it bother you that you don't know how much money you will have month to month? Do you realize that self-employed people often have a more difficult time trying to arrange bank finance? Remember you will also have to cover your own healthcare costs. And you will be working alone. Some people go stir-crazy just thinking about working alone!

Finally, are you self-motivated? Can you make yourself stay in your home office and work even though the sun is shining and there's a great movie on TV you haven't seen? Remember, you will be your own Boss now and your own employee. Various, independent surveys have found that the skills most lacking in new self-employed businesses involve sales, marketing, financial management, and record keeping (book-keeping). How will you cover these things? Can you afford to pay somebody else to look after these? Do you know enough about these areas to handle them yourself, or are you prepared to learn?

Perhaps the most important assets are self-confidence and ambition. Without these, you may be doomed from the start, but with them, you will be able to overcome your obstacles, climb your mountains, and enjoy the view from the top!

Until next week... have a good one!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Thursday, November 17, 2005

WHERE'S THE FUN IN GROWING UP?

We could be adult about this and present our thoughts and ideas in a logical and mature fashion, but where would be the fun in that? If you want a serious and sensible read to remind you how grown up you are or should be, check out the local library. But if you are here now, let's have FUN.

As "mature" adults, we tend to forget how to have fun. We put rules around it. Why should we have fun? Well, let me ask you, why shouldn't we have fun? When we reach a certain age is having fun illegal? Doing "child-like" things doesn't make us childish or children. How can it? What is the worst that can happen if this winter, you go outside with your children or grandchildren and make snow angels?

We're not suggesting you should start throwing tantrums, but we are saying fun doesn't stop just because you become an adult and take on solemn responsibilities. Why shouldn't CEO's run around in their backyard throwing Frisbees, and why shouldn't adult guests in your car wave to people out the back window, and why shouldn't we all do the things we loved to do when we were kids, if it makes us feel happy and alive inside and puts a smile on our faces? Perhaps we think it is childish? And somehow, that tag, when you're an adult, becomes an insult.

I want you to think about that this week... right now I'm off to a tea-party!

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

When You're Not Good Enough - Part 3 (Final)

When you are feeling "down", this is when you are most likely to remember "down" experiences, which just makes you feel even more down. When you feel down, force yourself to remember happy events and successes - this will influence your brain and help lift your mood and self-esteem.

When you are engaging in self-talk - watch what you say. Most people say things to themselves that they'd never say to somebody else. To a friend we might say, "it's not that bad, don't worry about it." To ourselves, we're likely to say "You great @#*&#! - why can't you do anything right!" If you wouldn't say it to somebody else, don't say it to yourself.

Realize that self-confident people also have bouts of self-doubt... they just don't talk about it or advertise it. By pretending they're not, it helps them overcome it.

Failure isn't permanent unless you decide to let it be. But not everything you do has to work out... nobody is that perfect!

It's good manners to be obliging but it isn't a law. You don't have to please everyone all the time. You have a right to please yourself. If you weren't as important as everyone else on the planet, then you wouldn't be here.

You don't have to change to suit other people. Don't try to be somebody you are not. The whole world doesn't have to like you, and that's okay. For every person who doesn't like you, there is another one who does like you - for who you are.

Use positive affirmations. Start each day by saying them, and end each day saying them before you go to sleep.

Some food for thought...

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." - Henry C. Link

"Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality." - Les Brown

"If you think you're a second-class citizen, you are." - Ted Turner

"Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself." - Anthony Trollope

And if you're reading this blog, you can't be all bad! (smile)

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Friday, November 11, 2005

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Next time you face a problem, try reversing the problem. Say you are hosting a seminar and need to increase sponsorship. Sit down and make a list of all the ways you know how to DECREASE sponsorship. Or say you need to increase productivity in your department... make a list of all the ways you know to DECREASE productivity. The answers to your problems will be found in your lists. You can find problems you may not have been aware of before, and identifying them makes it easier to fix them!

Often, the real problem is masked. When discussing problems, try stating the problem in different ways, and ask for differing viewpoints. Explaining the problem to others out loud helps clarify it. Sometimes exploring what you DON'T want to happen can be just as useful as exploring what you DO want to happen!

Sometimes it is a matter of asking the right questions when we want the answer to problems. Sometimes we need to ask "What if..." questions. This is where your imagination comes in handy. Brainstorm!

Study how others have handled similar problems. Adapt their "answers" to meet your needs, or add their solutions to your list of possible remedies!

Don't settle for the first solution offered. You may find you end up with several possible solutions and one of them will be better than the rest.

Keep notes of your possible solutions - they may come in handy for future brainstorming sessions when discussing new problems.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Thursday, November 10, 2005

The Mexican Fisherman

The investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The Banker complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, only a little while.

The Banker then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The banker then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the banker replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions... Then what?"

The banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

When You're Not Good Enough - Part 2

"I'm too self-conscious"
Think about a time when you were really having a great time and enjoying yourself, or when you achieved something special... I bet you weren't thinking about yourself then... you were too engrossed in the situation or moment. When you start to think about yourself and you feel your esteem slipping, turn your focus to something else - concentrate on the task at hand or whatever you are doing... and if your "self" continues to invade your thoughts, just keep repeating "This is okay, I'm okay", and refocus on something else.

"That was just good luck"
Was it? Or was it something more? When something works out well for you, don't just write it off as 'good luck'... realize that in most cases we create our own 'good luck' situations, so you must have done something to have earned the success. Start to take credit for your successes - pat yourself on the back and say, "Well done, self!"

"I just can't be bothered..."
Why not? If you are so lacking in confidence that it's got to this stage, start doing things you know you are good at - and it can be anything! Doing something you know you are good at, and doing it well because of that, is a surefire way of boosting your self-esteem. Do things you are good at often - keep your self-esteem up and it will make a difference when the times comes for you to do something new or different. Maybe you are good at cooking, or writing, or dancing, or arts... it doesn't have to be something serious.

"I'm too uptight"
Try meditation, exercise, Tai Chi, or relaxation tapes. It's hard to think straight when we're stressed or uptight and anxious. Relaxing helps you to get things back into perspective and think clearly.

"I'm never right"
Really? Never? You'd best contact the Guinness Book of Records then. Make a list of the times when you were right, and remember, nobody is right all the time... in fact, there are people who are wrong many times, but they don't let that stop them or their enthusiasm for life. You are allowed to be wrong... none of us are perfect and nobody is right all the time.

Stay tuned for Part 3 next week...

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Saturday, November 05, 2005

"Get a Life"

When one of my Assistant's daughters was just 6 years old, she said something that reminded us about the simple wisdom of children. One day, having an in-depth discussion about life, spirituality, goals, etc., when my assistant asked her daughter what she thought was the most important thing about being alive, she replied:

"Having a life."

And therein lies a lesson for all of us!

Here is what is not important about being alive...

  1. Have the biggest house on the street
  2. Driving the most expensive car
  3. Owning more shoes than your friends
  4. Earning more money than your rival
  5. Being bigger, better, and more important than everyone else
  6. Wearing designer label clothes
  7. Looking like a Barbie Doll or a skinny model from Vogue

There's more but I'm sure you get the picture.

Now, here is what IS important about being alive...

  1. Having a roof over your head - a place to call home, however humble.
  2. Having transport whether it's public or a run-down old heap that saves you from having to walk long distances in appalling weather!
  3. Having feet upon which to wear shoes and being able to walk on them!
  4. Earning any kind of income that enables you to feed and clothe yourself and your family and living in a country where the Government will help you out if you're really down.
  5. Knowing and feeling the connection and that you are part of everything there is... you are connected to the richest man in your city and the poorest... we are all part of the whole - we all belong here.
  6. Having any kind of clothing on your back and not having to wear rags or beg for loin cloths!

  7. Being healthy and being loved - regardless of what we look like. You know you're really loved when you're poor, you look like the bottom of a shoe, you live in a car and none of that matters to the people loving you! (The plastic-surgically enhanced Barbies and Kens of the world don't have this guarantee... and if you don't have their hang ups, consider yourself very lucky.)

So, be thankful for your feet, your eyes, your nose, your ears, your hands - everything. Then look around this beautiful world and appreciate the trees, the flowers, the sunsets, the birdsong, walks along the beach... take it all in... it's special, it's free and it's what having a life is all about!

Until next week...

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Trust and Commitment

As I contemplated on this theme of self-confidence, two qualities came up that go along with it and they are: Trust and Commitment. Having self-confidence is a reflection of our viewpoint in regards to how much we value ourselves, trust in our inner voices, and stay committed to this agreement we make with ourselves.

In our youth we are taught certain correct behaviors that are acceptable to society. Even though I acknowledge that in many ways this is an important part of maturing, being successful at these behaviors can also encourage us to slip into a performance based behavior rather than being authentic and true to ourselves.

I call this the strategic self - acting in whatever strategy is needed in order to bring about the result one wants. Think about a time when you were using anger to control a situation, pouting to show your unhappiness, alluring to be attractive, or yelling to get something accomplished. These "selves" are not your true self - which comes from working from the heart - they are learned behaviors, strategies so to speak. These are the selves created by the mind and also the ones in which we build our self-esteem around, mainly because they are so familiar to us (habits).

So, how does one shift from the mind to the heart? How does one build their self-confidence based on values, on love? It starts with commitment to focus on who you are rather than on what you do. Think about your gifts and strengths - parts of you that come from the heart. When we judge ourselves by what we do, what we wear, what our income level is, what car we drive, what house we live in, we are putting our trust in mind created, external realities. And does this bring joy?

Sometimes, but it's not long lasting because it's always in the state of change. Our looks change, our income changes, our friends and family come and go and we struggle to find balance. However, when we focus on being grateful for our sense of humor, our ability to forgive, our love for all of nature, whatever, this act of trusting opens our hearts and everything becomes effortless.

What do we get when we commit to focus on "being" rather than on "doing"? I have found I am more relaxed, peaceful, more playful and more confident. In short, I become empowered which gives me the strength to move forward, improve my life and have a constant flow of inner joy. So, be grateful for who you are, trust your heart to guide you and stay committed to make this awareness a top priority moment to moment. The feeling of overall well-being will be worth it.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com/

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

So, You're Not "Good Enough", eh?

Or maybe you are saying you're not pretty enough, handsome enough, smart enough, rich enough...?

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." And truer words were never spoken!

Not discounting those who may have been born with a predisposition to feelings of inadequacy, the majority of people who suffer poor self-esteem are the result of conditioning. Perhaps their parents or teachers were overly critical, and said things like, "You'll never amount to anything!" or "Is that the best you can do?!" or compared them unfavorably to brothers and sisters.

An inferiority complex goes hand in hand with lack of self-confidence and can be the difference between getting a great job or promotion or living a life of mediocrity. Here are some tips for handling and dealing with the different ways low self-esteem affects us and our lives.

"I'm not good enough"

Really? Can you prove that? Is this why you don't go for those great jobs or promotions or any of your dreams? If you aren't "good enough" in terms of skills or education, go and get the skills and education you need for the job or promotion you want. It's never too late - as the growing number of adult education centers bears testimony to.

Try to be realistic... are you really not good enough, or is this just something you've heard and have been repeating to yourself for so long that you can't even remember how it started? Take a look at your track record - list all your achievements, big and small - you'll find your plenty "good enough" after all! (Hey, now I'm a poet!)

You can always be "good enough" at work by simply being and doing the best you can. Arrive on time; don't take "sickies" unless you really are sick; be helpful and cooperative to others; learn your own job so well that you're an expert at it; don't loaf; don't dawdle back to work after lunch; make every effort to get along with your boss and fellow workers - display a cheerful, cooperative disposition. If you are stressed, learn how to handle it - there are books, tapes, websites, and experts who can help you identify and conquer the stress in your life.

If you are already doing these things, then you ARE good enough. If you aren't, you can start now and if you find some habits hard to change, just pretend, and soon you will have developed the newer, successful habit and will no longer have to pretend.

Next week, I'll tell you about some other ways in which we feel not good enough and how to conquer them.

Terri Levine
http://www.coachinstitute.com
http://www.terrilevine.com