Posts Tagged ‘close the gap’

Most people wait until New Year’s to start contemplating the new year and setting resolutions and goals.  But, not the people that I hang out with.  You people are on fire!  It’s barely December and everyone I know is beginning to make some assessment of 2009 and some plans for 2010.  I have a process that I run through at the end of each year and I thought I’d share it with you.  They are my Ten Questions for Spectacular Direction:

1. What did I accomplish this year?
2. What were my biggest disappointments?
3. What did I learn?
4. What 10 things do I do that I love to do?
5. What 10 things do I do that I don’t love to do?  How can I stop doing some of these things?
6. What roles do I play in my life?  For help, look at these areas and determine which roles you play:  career, money, health & fitness, love life, friends & family, personal & spiritual development, environment, and fun& recreation.  I use sassy titles like “Mother of the Year” instead of “Mom” and “God’s Girl” instead of “Confirmation Teacher” and “The Woman of His Dreams” instead of “Wife” and “The Girl Everyone is Talking About” instead of “networker.”  We all play so many roles in our lives.  Consolidate them a little, make about 8 “Title Roles” and list the sub roles underneath them.  For example:  “Mother of the Year” might have sub roles: chef, taxi driver, cheerleader, tutor, housekeeper, coach, personal shopper, librarian, gamer and ATM.  “The Best Coach in SCV” might have roles like “Coach, CTI Ambassador, ICF Board Member, WE Marketing Coordinator, blogger, networker, Get Clients Now facilitator, etc.”
7. What are my goals for each of my top 8 Roles?  Set SMART Goals:  specific, measurable, achievable, resonant, and thrilling (that might be a little different than the SMART goals you are accustomed to – I’ll write more about that another day).
8. What one or two roles are my major focus for next year?  What are my top 10 goals for next year?
9. What’s really most important to me?  What are my top 4 values that will get me the results I want next year?  I call these my “Cornerstones” and I “run” my decisions through them.
10. What support do I need to achieve my goals?  Education, resources, consulting, coaching, a buddy, a support system, etc.

Okay, I know that there are really more than ten questions on that list.  But, it’s worth it and you’re worth it.  It normally takes me about 3 hours to go through the process.  I write down all my answers and produce a lovely little one page summary that I hang on my wall all year, which I also give a sassy name (last year’s was “Sunshine 2009″, this year’s is “Win in 2010″).  As a reward, I normally treat myself to a vision board.  If I’ve done it right, my goals are a little breath taking and I treat myself to a glass of champagne to celebrate the success that I am starring in the face.

I was thrilled to get up this morning and realize that I get an extra hour today due to Daylight Saving Time!  I felt so motivated like I could get so much extra stuff done today.  I started by going grocery shopping before breakfast.  Then I decided to update my website.  I also took a break to workout.  I played a game with the kids this afternoon and created a new facebook fan page.  So, all in all, I spent at least 6 “extra” hours today doing things that I wouldn’t normally do on a Sunday because I perceived that I had “so much extra time”.

It made me realize that I can always make time to do the things that I want to do and that there is plenty of time in the day when I’m looking for it.  It reminded me of the concept of NET Time.  NET stands for “No Extra Time”.  I have this practice of “creating” time by using NET time.  It’s just a fancy kind of multi-tasking with intention.  I listen to motivational or educational CDs in the car, especially in traffic.  I make personal phone calls while doing the dishes or laundry.  It helps me feel more productive and to justify “hanging out” with my girlfriends on the phone and it makes otherwise dull chores something I look forward to.

So, what did you do with your extra hour today?  What would you do if you had an extra hour every day?  Where can you find an extra hour in your day to do just that?

Do you want to take your business, your relationships, your health or any other part of your life to the next level?  Get a coach!  People are always asking me how I get so much done in a day, a week, a month or a year.  People are always asking me why I am so happy and what’s my secret to my success.  Well, here it is, folks… I have a coach!  Here are 10 reasons why you should have one, too:

1. You want more – more time, more money, more fun, more happiness, more success, etc.  Most people come to coaching to get more out of their already amazing lives.
2. You want less – less drama, less c0nflict, less weight, fewer problems, etc.  Coaching is a great forum to explore problems and challenges and to learn more about yourself.  Coaches teach communication tools and personal responsibility.
3. You are stuck. Let’s face it.  We all get stuck sometimes.  Your coach will see where you are stuck, help you to see it and help you get into action while helping you learn more about yourself along the way.
4. You want more choices. Coaching is all about choice and choices.  Your coach will help you see that you always have choices and help you explore your choices so that you can get the results you are after in your life.
5. Accountability. Your coach will hold you accountable to do what you say you are going to do and to keep your commitments.  Your coach will use creative structures to help you succeed, even in areas where you have had challenges in the past.
6. You want more balance in your life. Most people who are successful struggle with life balance.  If one or more areas of your life is suffering from lack of attention, coaching can help you get results.
7. You’re bored. Do you have some habits (like over-eating, drinking, watching TV, etc) that are related to boredom?  Your coach will help you find new ways to get inspired and challenged without getting exhausted and overwhelmed.
8. You want to be more present in your life. Do what you love and love what you do.  Your coach will help you to be more in the experience of your life.  Most of us have built in ways of avoiding certain parts of our life.  Your coach will help you look at those areas and take action rather than living in reaction.
9. You want to find the easy way to do things. Life doesn’t have to be hard.  When things are hard, that is a sign that something’s not quite right.  Your coach will help you find the easy, fun way to reach your goals.
10. You are committed to a life of purpose. A coach can help you discover or clarify what your contribution to humanity is and help you develop an action plan to start making a bigger difference in the world.

I have been working with a life coach for over 5 years.  When I began coaching, I was looking for help balancing business and family and to fill the “what’s missing” in my life.  I have since built and sold a business, traveled to new and exciting places in the world with my husband and kids, built my coaching business, redesigned my life so that I can work from home between playing with my kids, and built an 8000 square foot custom home among other things.  Seriously, get a coach!  There is a coach available for every budget.  I am happy to give you a complimentary sample session or to refer you to an outstanding coach in any price range.

Request a sample session NOW!
661-255-2100 or Carrie@CarrieKish.com

If you haven’t seen this, make some time. This is a great speech that speaks to the work that ALL of us are here to do. If you are short on time, skip the introduction. If you really need the “cliff notes” version, watch the last 15 minutes.

I was called to leadership in the lady’s room today. There was a long line, which isn’t an unusual phenomenon, and there were two stalls that nobody was using. I assumed, like everyone else, that there was something wrong with those stalls. But nobody had looked in them since I had entered. The line continued to move with everyone simply ignoring those stalls. Well, I decided to look. And, you know what? There was absolutely nothing wrong with either one. They were just empty. So, I announced it to the women waiting and we got the line moving.

What else in our lives do we just assume is off limits or unavailable? What else do we simply ignore and do like others are doing? Why don’t we check? Sometimes, it’s because we are lazy. Sometimes, it’s because we’re afraid of what we’ll find. We don’t want to see what we imagine might be there. Sometimes, we are afraid of offending others. We assume that they must have investigated that option already and we don’t want to insult them or embarrass them by suggesting a rather obvious solution. Sometimes, we might be afraid to embarrass ourselves. We don’t want to stand out or to make a scene. And, sometimes, we are afraid of letting go of our current position (like losing our place in line) because we don’t know if we’ll be able to get it back. We want to be able to secure our new position without letting go of the old one first. And the last lesson, for me today, is that necessity is the mother of invention. When you feel some urgency (if you get my meaning), you can get really creative and inventive.

Carrie Kish is a coach and mentor who is incredibly curious about why people do what they do. If you are interested in exploring why you do what you do, request a complimentary sample session at Carrie@CarrieKish.com. For more information, call 661.255.2100.