MARY LYN MILLER'S FIRED UP FOR SUCCESS

Are We Having Fun Yet?

2012-01-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

As I did my own visioning for this year and had to come to a startling realization: I haven’t been having as much fun as I could – and I am a FUN girl!

But like most many service provider/entrepreneurs, my priorities have been servicing my clients, attracting new clients, and learning more about expanding my business. I have carefully scheduled in my family, working out, personal development, and those things which will seemingly give me a higher quality of life.

Despite my best efforts, I admit something has been missing. As we look at the different areas of our lives, where is the slot that says “Giggling, spontaneity, joy with no goal, creative expression, silliness, new unexpected experiences, escape, and side-splitting laughter?” THAT’S what’s been missing!!

Here is what I have discovered has blocked me, and my commitment to changing it. (Wow! I’m saying this in public!) Maybe you can join me!

1) I have been thinking I need to schedule “fun” events for “when I have time.”

I expressed that I needed more fun to the attendees of my Vision Workshop last week, and, lo and behold, I received a couple of amazing fun invitations from people I absolutely love! But, at first I could feel myself resisting it. What!! I could feel myself fearing it would interfere with my work commitments; that it might (hear this) take too much time! But joy energizes so won’t it only enhance my work time? If I wait until I have time – well, I won’t have much time. New Commitment: I can schedule work around my opportunities for fun and joy.

2) I think I need to be an adult; sometimes I need to act like a child

Being an adult can be stressful. Children – icons of play and fun – do almost everything in the moment. When they tire of an activity, they stop and go to something new. But, for me, the adult, the suggestion of an unexpected invitation to lunch, a surprise mid-day walk on the beach, or an unplanned stop at the park strikes a chord of overwhelm, rather than the source of re-vitalizing one’s life. I think: “Don’t these people know I have a schedule? I can’t just drop everything!” But, I have been changing this in the past 6 months, and am now finding these surprise adventures some of my most enjoyable times. No one has had a crisis because I went on a walk or shopped for art, but I returned a more energized, passionate entrepreneur.

3) Not everything achieves a goal; pointless activity is good.

As a vision and goals coach, I tend to be activity focused, so I am better at “fun” if it comes with meeting a goal. The doctor says to relax because it’s good for my heart; I attend a fun event where I can also network; and so forth. But, here’s the truth. My adorable husband is the most grounded person in the Universe, and we experience the most laughter and silliness going to Costco or Home Depot. We have always been a somewhat Seinfeld-like couple where our best times are doing absolutely nothing. Yes, we do travel and do some exotic things, but we don't need to. In fact, we seem to gravitate toward large wholesale stores for our best times – we don’t usually buy much – but the walking around the store watching the people and playing with the shopping cart has brought us hours of amusement. We love Palm Desert – and their Wal-Mart! I have learned that most of what I experience as joyful is in the moment, and often entirely pointless….and incredibly rewarding.

My conclusions are that I need to be more spontaneous, say yes more, and be in the flow more. The resulting passion, energy and varied experiences will bond me to the people around me, and actually cause me to be a more effective service provider and business woman.

Well, now that I have confessed, what about you? I’d love to hear about some of your thoughts about fun in your life and what kind of role it plays. I have no workshop on it and no offer here – just my personal thoughts to start of the New Year!!

Love to hear yours.

The Gratitude Game

2011-11-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a good time to be thankful for the good things in our lives. While most of us view ourselves as thankful for our blessings, we determine what we believe to be a "blessing" and what is not. However, some of your greatest blessings may not initially look all that positive in the beginning.

For instance, my experiencing Cancer is what turned my life around and opened the door to a good health consciousness and rewarding life work. Today I always give thanks for the gift of Cancer, but at the time it was fearful and overwhelming. The first thing to understand about gratitude is that it is not a selective process.

The Gratitude Game begins with the premise that genuine thankfulness begins with being grateful for everything - yes, absolutely EVERYTHING in your life. These are the steps to the Game:

1. Make a list of anything you perceive as positive in your life. The people who love you are a good start. Anything good about your work, your relationships, special advantages or support you've received, anything nice someone else has done for you. Just write down everything you can think of that is good about your life. Be truly grateful for it.

2. Next write down everything ordinary that you take for granted: the roof over your head, your sight, your hearing, the ability to chew, your health, the acticities you are able to enjoy and so forth. When you really think about it, there are so many small, inconsequential conditions that conspire to create a good lifestyle. This is a good time to recognize them.

3. Finally, write down any painful, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and events, some of which may feel uncomfortable or difficult right now…and get grateful for them. Why? This is how we learn the lessons of life. No one said it was all going to be easy. But, gratitude opens you up. It helps you release the resistance (oh, why did this have to happen to me?) and embrace your difficult circumstances and allow the most good to come from them. What creates your reality is not what happens to you, but how you RESPOND to what happens to you. Life does have challenges, but there is a positive side for each and every one of them. Be grateful for the gift inside of every heartache even if you can’t see it right now.

4. Give thanks for those blessings that are on the way. Feel them coming. Expect success. Expect the best and be grateful for it.

After completing this little game, how do you feel? Everyone who plays is a winner because I'll tell you a secret, gratitude allows you to receive more; it is the foundation of all abundance. An open, gracious heart is a powerful magnet for good. Opportunity, goodness, money, success and joy flows toward gratitude. Try it and see.

And great good is what I wish all of you because I am so grateful for all of you: everyone who reads my newsletters, participates in my classes and with whom I have the greatest priviledge to coach. You are my blessing far beyond business to me.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving.

MONEY AND FEAR: 4 Principles to Transform Your Fears into Money Producing Behaviors!"

2011-10-12T23:58:00.000-07:00

Can you succeed in uncertain times? Absolutely. In fact, some of the greatest amounts of money have been made in difficult economic times. Uncertainty also presents new possibilties.

Unfortunately, during any time of change, we become vulnerable to our basest fears. Fear produces more fear which produces anxiety, closed doors, and inability to think creatively which is aboslutely crucial. But, with new information and possibilities, a fresh approach, a little discipline, and support, we can produce outcomes that really support our needs.

Listen to the audio for a very new view and a lot of kick it money receiving attitude:

http://bit.ly/pk8MA3 (part I)

http://bit.ly/qJoCAz (part II)

55 and Out of Work

2011-10-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

The “Baby Boomer” generation encompasses almost 80 million people in the United States. It is the largest segment of our population. Demographically they are defined as those people born between 1946 and 1964; that boom of children born of the returning soldiers from World War II. (Those soldiers got really busy when they got home.)

We are one of the most influencial generations in history; a true phenomenon.

Now aged between 47 and 65, these Boomers are also more and more out of work. They are laid off because they are too smart, too experienced and too expensive. They can be replaced with a younger version that costs half as much. Many will never return to a job again.

Some leave because they can’t take it any more. Corporate life can be very competitive, boring and routine. This intelligent generation with high expectations and low tolerance for authority (these are statistical facts, not my opinion) find themselves bored senseless after 20 years in the same job but have extended life expectancy, good health and not nearly enough money to retire.

Of course, I am a “Boomer” myself, and I haven’t had a job in a lot of years. I have had a business.

This is the hope for all Boomers: self-employment! The problem is that many of my Boomer clients are afraid to have their own businesses. Some of you may not have really considered it because you didn’t know where to begin - and you’re used to having a job. But Boomers can actually be well suited to the entrepreneurial style. Boomers tend to appreciate independence, they do mistrust authority, and they are at a time of life when they are highly skilled.

My opinion is that whether or not you return to corporate life, starting a small business is an excellent step because it keeps you in the game; it gives you focus. We are still the most influencial generation in history, and we need to be active and involved in commerce.

Also, a lot of people think “starting a business” is like starting IBM. This is not about empire building; this is a survival technique. It is usually home-based and requires at least a business card. We are in an era that is not focused on "jobs," as much as "projects," “outsourcing," and "part time."

Having a business teaches you about leading, time management, marketing, and presenting - all of which are important in the marketplace today. Also, when you start to look at your work life as comprised of "services you are offering" is more empowering and allows you to think in terms of 2 or 4 "clients" you serve as opposed to serving only one: a boss.

I could write more about this (and probably will) and I am passionate about helping anyone who falls into this category and wants help to make this transition. I happily extend a free coaching session to you. You can write me at mlm@firedupforsuccess.com with a request for a 30 minute phone coaching or sign up at www.firedupforsuccess.com.

Free tele-seminar: The Power of Conscious Creation

2011-06-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

I invite you to join us for an eye-opening 75 minutes for a lively conversation with me and the amazing Mind Trainer and Hypnotherapist, Duncan Tooley for

The Power of Conscious Creation:

3 Steps to More Confidence, Freedom & Success

Tuesday, June 7, 6:30 PDT/9:30 EDT

(can’t make it? Register & get the recording)

* Learn the #1 Reason you may be too busy, too distracted, and too overwhelmed to really achieve your potential success…and it has NOTHING to do with your schedule!
* Understand the Law of Alignment and how you can use it to get everything you want with so much less effort!
* Master your mental control center to overcome your fear and negative beliefs….
* This is a live call where we do take questions and have conversation!

For more information and registration:

Click here

PS: If you can’t make it, be sure to register above to so you get the recording! You can always listen later.

The 90 Day Effect

2011-04-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever watched an infomercial, you’ve probably watched fitness guru, Tony Horton, sell his “P90X” muscle building program: 90 Days to a fantastically built body.

Dr. Oz espouses his “Live Longer, Feel Younger 90 Day Diet Plan.”

Addiction recovery programs focus on “90 meetings in 90 days.”

Even the first days of a new presidency is observed for its “First 100 Days.” Yes, it 100 IS 10 days more than 90, but it is close.

So, what IS this 90 Day marker? Is it more effective than, say 21 days? What about 30 or 60 days? Are they less remarkable?

As the founder of the Fired Up for Success 90 Day Program, I am happy share to my opinion.

It takes 90 days to build a new habit. Yes, you can have awareness almost immediately. You’ve gone to the workshops, or had the coaching session, or gotten cutting edge information, and been incredibly inspired. Ideas flowed. Insights popped.

Then, you went home. Incorporating new insights and ideas into your existing life or business is the hard part. “What am I going to DO with this idea or insight?” That’s trickier. Often we don’t KNOW what to do, and, if we do, we’re apprehensive about doing it. The act of “DOING” often triggers fear and resistance which manifests as perfectionism and procrastination. “Doing” is often a very new habit. It takes some direction to learn how to move past fear and procrastination.

There are some primary tools that help with that, but the real key to success is consistency. Whatever you do over and over is what produces results. The 90 Day marker allows you to have had the time to embrace a new behavior, get used to doing it over and over, and, by 90 days, have it become a new pattern.

It also allows it to work. In 90 days, you CAN see that your life is changing. The neuro-pathways of your brain are actually in place for a new way of being. But, that doesn't happen without repetition. It takes 90 days to experience real results.

We live in a world where we want instant gratification and expect too much too soon. Whatever you want in your life, you have to give it a minimum of 90 days.

The 90 Day program is a terrific format for delivering a wide variety of services, education, coaching and change management. If you want to know more about the magic of the 90 Day Program and how you might incorporate it into your product or service, be sure to join us for our upcoming call next Monday!!

By the way, good marketers already know this secret. I just signed up for Vonage, where they offered me a low introductory rate for….guess what….90 days!! They know I will be thoroughly hooked and have embraced Vonage as my phone company by then.

So, I hope to connect with you some of you soon.

Probably on my Vonage phone.

7 Benefits of Finding your Purpose

2011-03-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

We often talk about finding your purpose as a personal growth exercise or a spiritual quest which may feel somewhat removed from our daily life. While purpose certainly can be spiritual and growth oriented, a strong sense of purpose has infinitely more practical applications which promotes well being in all areas of your life.

As a teacher of life purpose and coach helping clienys create purposeful, passionate careers and businesses, I have seen the remarkable transformation when one find their purpose.

Here are just a few benefits to connecting with your purpose:

1) Self-Esteem
When you truly understand our purpose more fully, you more fully realize what you have to offer. You realize your value, and not only feel better about yourself, but are more equipped to communicate our value to others whether it is in a job interview, self-promotion or marketing a business.

2) Belonging
Purpose helps us to find our place. Once we realize what we are here to do, our sense of competition and insecurity is lessened. We have something to do that is our own. We are unique. It allows us to be more connected to ourselves and to others.

3) Clarity/Direction
Opportunities and information abound in today’s world. Without a clear sense of how and why you operate the way you do, you really can’t really grasp a solid direction. Direction does not come out of learned skills, but more out of passion, joy, a sense of calling and love. The more you know about what this means for you, the more direction you will experience.

4) Passion
Passion and purpose are inextricably linked. Purpose is defined by your passions. It’s the energy and fuel that allows you to fully express your purpose. The outcroppings of passion are laughter and fun which, interestingly, are powerfully transformational. We don’t do it nearly enough, and yet laughter and fun alone can change our lives.

5) Energy
Living with passion and purpose results in a more energetic, fired up way of life. (In case you wondered where my name came from :) Energy is the natural signal of purpose. An energy spike in your life for any reason is a positive indicator that you are headed in the right direction and living in alignment with your purpose.

6) Opportunity/Money
Purpose is a magnet for opportunity and fulfillment. Purpose and its related passion and energy become a powerful attracting force for anything on which it is focused. Despite what we've been taught, hard work is the WORST solution. Seek inspiration and flow. Flow is the key to successful, effortless living and requires letting go, relaxing and allowing. We talk about cash FLOW. Flow rarely happens if you are not grounded in a sense of purpose. We find that people who are purpose/passion powered attract everything they need, as they need it.

7) Fulfillment & Spiritual Connection
Focused purpose and expressed passion is a powerful formula for happiness and fulfillment…which is the purpose for all of our lives. The sense that we are a part of a much larger universe and that all things are orchestrated in our higher good offers a sense of trust, faith and staibility so terribly needed in tough times.

And, there is so much more!

I was thrilled to find out recently that the Beach Cities Health District designated my "Discovering Your Life's Purpose" class one of their "Live Well" classes and the featured class for Emotional Well Being.

If you would like the CD or MP3 of one of my past Life Purpose classes, go to www.firedupforsuccess.com/store

You've Accomplished More Than You Think!

2010-12-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

So, it’s the end of 2010, and you are getting ready to set the stage for big business, career and money goals for the New Year.

But, have you taken the step before that? Have you appreciated all your accomplishments from the past year? Until you fully embrace all the good you have already accomplished, you really can’t go on.

Here’s a basic law: you can only build success on a foundation of success. Unfortunately, we try to “succeed” as the antidotes to what we perceive are last year’s failures. “This year I will be more organized; I will make more money than I did last year; I will be better at spending time with the family, or I will be a better networker. The list goes on.

In other words, I will fix those things I did wrong last year. It doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, and in order to succeed, you’ve got to feel great about yourself.

So, here’s one of my favorite fun exercises called “You’ve Accomplished More Than You Think” and addresses areas we often don’t think about when we’re looking at our business and career goals. See if you don’t feel better afterwards.

Then, set your goals and intentions and see what happens!

Mentally check off any area of accomplishment that has taken place in the past year. Add or delete any words you choose. Make note of anything else that comes to mind.

___Showed up when I didn’t want to.
___Took a risk (No matter what the outcome)
___Heightened my creativity
___Achieved a financial goal
___Spoke up for myself
___Found outlet for my passion
___Expanded a gift or talent
___Did something healthy for my body
___Lived in alignment with my purpose
___Left a job
___Got grateful
___Had a healing with my family
___Forgave someone
___Reached out for help/Gave up doing it alone
___Became more heart-centered/stopped thinking so much
___Helped someone in need
___Tried something new
___Overcame a fear ___Managed my money better
___Faced an addiction
___Worked on releasing the past
___Achieved more balance
___Honored my intuition
___Learned a new skill
___Practiced being quiet
___Showed compassion
___Learned more about relaxing
___Deepened my faith

And other things:

What are the 1-3 areas that are significant for you?

Let me know what came up for you, and I know you did a lot of great things this past year, and that 2011 will only hold more!

5 Secrets to Happy Holidays

2010-12-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

Here are my 5 secrets to the happiest of holidays.

#1) Slow down.
I'm a rush type person, so my speeds are "Quick...Zippy....and Speedy." Slow it down. Keep it simpler. Enjoy whatever is going on, and rest between bouts of parties and visits. The simpler I have made this time of year, the more I have truly enjoyed it. My family does a secret Santa rather than buying tons of gifts for everyone. Even Mom's table is going to be a little simpler this year. It puts the focus on being together.

#2) Be extraordinarily kind.
In the rush of gift buying and mall shopping, sometimes we forget to be kind. This is not always an easy time for people. Take notice and perform a random act of kindness, and your holiday will be brighter.

#3) Take some time alone.
It's so easy to get distracted by the to do list. This is also a great time to stop and smell the candles and listen to the angels sing, and a great time for a heavy dose of gratitude.

#4) Get involved.
Oh, I know this seems counter to what I just said. It's easy to be shallow, surface and not really present this time of year. But, who needs you? If you're alone, who else is alone that you can help? Get involved with the people you care about or need you. Make an effort to really connect.

#5) Let go.
Nothing is gong to happen on schedule. The dog may eat Grannie's gift. The weather won't be what you want. Let it all go. It's part of the holiday experience...and actually what will make it memorable. Laugh about it. Laughter is an amazing spiritual energy. Enjoy it all. Focus on being happy and loving no matter what.

On that note, I can't tell you how important all my friends, clients and subscribers are to me. I thank you and appreciate your involvement. Here's to a wonderful holiday for you and yours!!

The Gratitude Game

2010-11-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a good time to be thankful for the good things in our lives.

While most of us view ourselves as thankful for our blessings, we determine what we believe to be a "blessing" and what is not. However, some of your greatest blessings may not initially look all that positive in the beginning. For instance, my experiencing Cancer is what turned my life around and opened the door to a good health consciousness and rewarding life work. Today I always give thanks for the gift of Cancer, but at the time it was fearful and overwhelming. The first thing to understand about gratitude is that it is not a selective process.

The Gratitude Game begins with the premise that genuine thankfulness begins with being grateful for everything..yes, absolutely EVERYTHING in your life. Yes, your business challenges, your work struggles, maybe even not knowing what might be next. Here are the steps to the Game:

1. Make a list of anything you perceive as positive in your life. The people who love you are a good start. Anything good about your work, your relationships, special advantages or support you've received, anything nice someone else has done for you. Just write down everything you can think of that is good about your life. Be truly grateful for it.

2. Next write down everything ordinary that you take for granted: the roof over your head, your sight, your hearing, the ability to chew, your health, and so forth. When you really think about it, there are so many small, inconsequential conditions that conspire to create a good lifestyle. This is a good time to recognize them.

3. Finally, write down any painful, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and events, some of which may feel uncomfortable or difficult right now…and get grateful for them. Why? Difficulty is how we learn the lessons of life. No one said it was all going to be easy. But, gratitude opens you up. It helps you release the resistance (oh, why did this have to happen to me?) and embrace your difficult circumstances and allow the most good to come from them.

What creates your reality is not what happens to you, but how you RESPOND to what happens to you. Life does have challenges, but there is a positive side for each and every one of them. Be grateful for the gift inside of every heartache even if you can’t see it right now.

4. Give thanks for those blessings that are on the way. Feel them coming. Expect success. Expect the best and be grateful for it.

After completing this little game, how do you feel? Everyone who plays is a winner because I'll tell you a secret, gratitude allows you to receive more; it is the foundation of all abundance. An open, gracious heart is a powerful magnet for good. Money, opportunity, and joy flows toward gratitude. Try it and see. Let me know your results.

How to Control Overwhelm

2010-10-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

“Overwhelm” seems to be more the norm than the unusual today. We’ve grown used to being “overwhelmed” as a way of life, but did you know it can rob you of your motivation, your health, your relationships, your financial stability and your overall well being?

When we are facing a career change or major life transition or thinking about what we’re going to do next, we can feel overwhelmed even when we are doing nothing. The thoughts in our head just take up so much space!

But, you CAN do something about it. It’s not HAPPENING to you. It is the result of certain behaviors and mindsets, and I’m going to talk about some of them over the next few weeks so that you can join me in DECIDING that this is no longer a useful coping mechanism.

Are you ready to do something about it? I am. You CAN change this destructive habit, and in the next weeks we’re going to tackle this together.

So let’s start by discussing the concept of “time.”

Yep, when we’re overwhelmed, we feel a constriction of time. Time is like having a limited amount of space in a drawer, and an infinite amount of things to put it in it. Everyday people around us are constantly making up new things for us to put in our 24 hour drawer. The list is growing and expanding as we speak. (Well, I’m writing.) Yet, there is still only the same amount of space in that drawer.

In fact, our language is often about feeling “jammed up,” “tight,” and, well, “overwhelmed,” because our drawer is overly full.

It’s important to note that mental energy has the power to really fill up the drawer! There’s nothing like a solid negative thought to get your drawer filled to the brim.

The drawer is the same for everyone, by the way. I have the same 24 hours in a day that you do. But, those who are centered, focused, satisfied and fulfilled make different choices than some of us who are rushed and overwhelmed all the time. They choose wisely what they put in their "drawer," and what they leave out of it. And, they make no attempt to do it ALL. They are content with choosing less in their drawer – and enjoying it more.

According to Jeffrey Davidson, a time "attitude" consultant, "the mega-realities of life in America are that there are too many people, too much information and limitless choices. The one thing that isn’t limitless is time - there is only so much a person can accomplish in a day. Those ever growing realities make learning to ’manage’ your time only a short term solution," says Davidson.

So, you can see, that tomorrow, next week, next month next year, the demands on your time are going to be greater. You no sooner get a handle on your current situation then 6 …or 20…. new things show up, and your time management plan is a shambles.

Now let’s go back to the drawer. The quality of your life is determined by what you choose to put in your drawer …and what you leave out every day.

What qualifies as a “choice?” You have made a choice when you say “Yes, I’ll do that.” Or “yes, I’m going to buy into that negative idea.”

So, how do you determine what goes in and what gets left out?

Passion goes in. Dreams, visions, fun, laughter and creativity go in. Anything that captures your imagination and makes your spirit soar goes in. Time with family, Disneyland, nature and self-renewal go in the drawer.

For some amazing reason, passion, joy, balance and play actually increases space in your drawer. That energy creates more energy.
It also keeps the negative thinking quiet as well.

But most of us fill up our 24 Hour Drawer with less than meaningful activity, stressful work, and bland relationships in hopes that somehow, someday there will be "extra" time to pursue something we care more about. It doesn’t work. It only makes you feel more hopeless and helpless…which starts another round of space filling negative thinking.

So, make a note to start to remove energy draining activity, meaningless tasks and anything that doesn’t inspire you…OUT of the drawer. If you are wondering how to determine that, sentences that begin with “I have to, ought to and should” tell you what needs to go out.

These are all things that you are resisting and don’t make you feel good, and will trigger negative thinking which triggers even more overwhelm.

But you may be thinking, “What will I do about my responsibilities?”

In my next article I will talk about exactly that.

But, right now, I suggest you begin to become aware of your drawer. What are you putting in your drawer and what could you leave out?

This is the beginning of releasing overwhelm.

The 3 Phases of Transition

2010-09-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

When I was in the 4th Grade, my teacher explained the process of how a perfectly good caterpillar morphed into this icky looking thing called a cocoon and then eventually evolved into a beautiful butterfly. I learned then that there are 3 simple stages of change and transition that are universal. You may be in one of them right now.

Are you facing a transition? Maybe you are thinking about changing careers or the way you do business. Maybe you want to do something different with your life, but you don’t know what. Perhaps you are retiring or are recently divorced. Have you moved or experienced the loss of someone you love? Here are the 3 phases of typical life transitions that everyone experiences.

Phase 1: They all begin the same way: with an end. Something changes; sometimes something goes wrong. You lose a job, an important client, or even a loved one. It is the END of something, for all new beginnings start with an ending.

Suddenly you no longer identify with the person you have been, but you are nowhere near the person you want to become – and maybe don’t even have any idea who this new person will be.

Phase 2: You are at the edge of one cliff, seeking the other side, but with a sense of emptiness and loss in between. It’s literally the bridge in between. It feels like a void. It is a void. You are grieving.

How do you get through it? Here is my advice:

1) Don’t rush.
This is a time when you need to internalize more than externalize. Take time to be alone. Don’t rush through this stage even though it’s uncomfortable. (Most of us are desperate to get through it which actually prolongs it.) This time is the fertile ground upon which you building your life as a butterfly. Spend some time exploring possible visions of a new future. You will not only feel better, but the energy of the new visions will actually be creating it.

2) Discover more about yourself.
Get clearer about your deeper self. It will pay off handsomely. Find out more about what really inspires, motivates and impassions you. It may be time to make new choices, and you want to base it on fresh information.

3) Get support.
As a Mentoring and Mastermind coach, I believe there is magic in being with others who are also going through transitions. You are not alone. Support eases the pain considerably.

The final stage, Stage 3 of transition, is the butterfly emerging. Remember, we are always renewing ourselves – whether we choose to or not. It’s part of life. But while the “cocoon” part is still icky, there is no doubt you will evolve into a butterfly.

Transition is not a punishment, nor the ending of your life. It is the ending of some part of your life for sure, but that is only because you have a New Beginning coming. We tend not to see that. We handle our endings badly because – well, we see them ONLY as endings.

So, for whatever endings you may be experiencing, remember it is the signal that a New Beginning is coming.

If you want coaching, clarity, self-discovery or support threugh a transition go to www.firedupforsuccess.com or our networking site at www.firedupmastermind.com.

WHICH IS BEST: A GOAL OR A VISION?

2010-08-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

So, you're stuck.

Everyone asks: What's your vision? What are your goals? Wait, which is which? Where do you start?

In my Fired Up Mastermind system, we each create ONE 90 Day Vision and then move forward through the Mastermind teams by making incremental goals in alignment with this Vision.

But, here are some great questions I have been asked, and thought I should address:

Q: Why only ONE vision? I have a lot of things I want to work on.

A: Most of us lack focus. We are assailed by information, e-mails and TO-DO lists of all kinds. It's not that you can't address several areas in your life as they come up, but it’s important you have one simple focus for 90 Days. You can still do other things. But, the one Vision will keep you centered, help you to organize your time better, and feel like you have accomplished more at the end of 90 days.

Q: What’s the difference between a goal and a vision?

A: A vision has a more emotional content. It makes you FEEL something. It embodies nebulous states of being like freedom, success, abundance, respect, balance, etc. Often a vision is just presented to us. Some of you have said things like, “Suddenly I saw what is possible.” Or “I know I want to be a speaker and I can feel myself on stage talking to hundreds of people, but I have no idea how that could happen.” A vision is a piece of your dream.

A goal is the quantifiable measurement of your actions. For instance, for the speaker above, a 90 day vision might be broken down that in 90 days they are starting to do talks. Wow!

Then the goal actions might be to investigate at least 3 programs that service speakers, join Toastmasters, and define a topic. Some of you might be familiar with the “SMART” goals concept that defines good goals as being “SPECIFIC, MEASUREABLE, ACHIEVEABLE, REALISTIC and TIMELY.” These are the earmarks of great goal setting.

Q: Does this mean you think a vision is more important than a goal? Do I need a goal or do I need a vision?

A: We all need BOTH. You need something meaningful, passionate and fulfilling to work toward, and you need the small, quantifiable, simple steps to move toward it. Unfortunately, many of us set goals before we have a strong sense of a passionate vision.

For instance, you might decide your goal is: “I’m going to increase my income by 50%in the next 6 months." Good goal, but is it appropriate for you? Is it really what you want to do? Do you want that much more work? How will that impact your lifestyle? In reality, you may want that money because you believe it will bring you more freedom. The driving vision then is all about freedom. Everything needs to be geared toward creating more freedom for you. The best goals are connected to a vision.

If you want to connect with a more meaningful vision, just discuss below or contact me. Stay fired up!

Mid Life Change: Making a Choice for Job or Business

2010-03-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

"I don't know if I should keep looking for a job or start my own business," is a comment I hear a lot. After a lot of years in career development, I no longer view it as a choice. I believe having some sort of business is a required life skill today, whether or not you have a job or are job hunting. Why?

1) You need to have more than one stream of income.
In this age of uncertainty and sudden layoffs and change, you need a little back up even if you're positioned for a getting another job. "My Mary Kay business was just enough to keep me going with my layoff package; thank Heavens I had it," says Jody, one of my clients. Having a side business gives you a little protection and security. You can't spin your wheels "worrying" about retirement; it will shut you down. But, you can proactively do something about it.

2) You can use your side business to bolster savings and retirement accounts.
Getting a pay cut is commonplace and usually cuts into the very thing you need: your savings and retirement accounts. Your second income can keep those somewhat funded while you are waiting for things to get better or looking around for something new.

3) Developing business skills makes you more marketable.
We are in an era that is not focused on "jobs," as much as "projects," 'outsourcing," and "part time." Having a business teaches you about leading, time management, marketing, and presenting - all of which are important in the marketplace today. Also, starting to look at your work life as a business comprised of "services you are offering" is more empowering and allows you to think in terms of 2 or 3 "clients" you serve as opposed to serving only one: a boss.

4) You can eventually make more money in a business than in a job.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of best selling Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, says that a job is the path to the least amount of money you can ever make in a lifetime. His answer is some kind of leveraged business where you are getting commissions from other people's work.

I'm not suggesting you quit a productive job today, but that you begin by taking a talent, passion or skill and start creating some income! If you're looking for work, do the same thing!

Stuck: 4 Tips to Break the"Stuck" Spell

2010-03-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

Jeez, with the dramatic levels of change going on in the Universe today, many of us are feeling disoriented, uncertain, and exhausted from trying to figure out things that are beyond our ability to figure out. I hear the stories all the time. We don't know what to do about our work, our money, and our future. We feel immobilized as if the Economy Fairy has put us under a spell.

In other words, we feel stuck. Is there any hope to break the spell? While there's no Handsome Prince waiting nearby, here's 4 tips that have worked for clients over my 20 years of coaching:

1) Don't Rush. Understand there is always a space between Endings and New Beginnings. While it feels empty, it's a critical to re-birthing. A caterpillar cocoons before it becomes a butterfly. All things in nature follow the same process. Rather than operating from panic, allow yourself to be still. Most of us have been so over-productive most of our lives that days "doing nothing," is viewed as wasteful. Then we beat ourselves up and try to move faster.But doing nothing is actually the stage when the most creativity is occurring. Creativity and new ideas need oxygen....space...in which to ferment and breathe. Allow that process to take place as it will serve you in the long run.

2) Identify with a Vision. It doesn't have to look anything like your old life...and probably won't. But you do get to choose your Vision. Let go. Get passionate. Get imaginative. A gardener puts seeds in the soil with a vision of what it will look like come Spring. No matter how fallow your life may look now, start planting things you really want to see bloom in your life later on. Go to adult school, take internet classes, blog, and hang out with people you think are really cool even if they can't help you with business.

3) Experiment and Move. Try new stuff. Visit new places, explore different activities. Transition is the ideal time of life to experiment. You'll learn new sides to yourself (which may or may not improve your marketability) and you will become more alive. That aliveness makes you powerfully attractive to all things: other humans, opportunity and money. If you stagnate when you feel stuck, you will only feel more stuck. Physical movement and activity can change your perspective very quickly...and open you to unforeseen opportunities.

4) Get Support. Of course, I am a huge believer in group support, collaboration and masterminding. One hour of masterminding can dramatically alter your outlook because you get someone else's ideas rather than constantly recycling the same limiting beliefs over and over, and wonder why things are not changing.

Try some of these, and let me know how it goes.

From "Fired Up" to Fizzle?

2010-01-18T16:53:00.000-08:00

It's the beginning of a new year - even a new decade! It's exciting. Hope abounds. You might even have plans to eat more vegetables, de-clutter your office, and spend more time with your family.

This year for me is to expand the offerings and opportunties for the members of my Mentoring and Mastermind Network. (http://www.firedupforsuccess.com/.)

Here's the thing: It is estimated that 97% of all New Years Resolutions don't make it past the 3rd week. Wow! How could it go from Fired Up to Fizzle in such a short time?

We produce in our lives that which we are aligned with. Whatever we say, think, feel and do gives clear direction to our brains to create the outcomes. If we say, "This probably won't work," it probably won't. On the other hand, if we become positive, hopeful and optimistic, we will produce a positive result.

Henry Ford made the well known comment: "Whether you believe you can or can't, you're right."

But, in making change, the key is not doing something once or twice. It's about consistency.

It takes about 3-4 weeks of new behavior for the brain to begin to set a new pattern. It often takes months to put together those 3-4 weeks.

That's the value of a support group or mastermind. It's just not easy to embrace of way of being which is contrary to how you've been. Your brain simply isn't wired to do it yet. You're not bad or weak, just not fully programmed. You need to be around others who embrace this kind of a process. We all need for others to hold the vision of what is possible even when we aren't ready to embrace it for ourselves.

"I am just too close to myself to see my potential," said Julie, a nutritionist, to me one day. "I am amazed at what the others see and the ideas they have that I would have never had for myself. The group has really accelerated my progress. I could have never bbeen ableto stay this focused on my own."

Give up trying to do it on your own. Recognize we all need help. Want to go from"Fired Up" to more "Fired Up?" Get a mastermind group!

Overcoming Fear of Success

2009-10-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Are you drowning in invitations to dramatically increase your income, create a bigger plan, or achieve astronomical goals? I recently received an e-mail asking if I was “tired of taking small steps instead of making quantum leaps.” They said that if I was ready to take a quantum leap, I could join a 3 day program, and leap away with them.

I'm not ready, thank you, and the truth is most of us are terrified at a quantum leap. Did you know that the brain is designed so that any new challenge or opportunity – no matter how beneficial – will trigger some degree of fear? The bigger the challenge, the greater the fear. The idea that we can avoid fear in the face of success is pretty much impossible.

Once the fear response gets triggered, we unconsciously make excuses to resist any change and stay where we are. We say things to ourselves like “I’m too busy to deal with changing any behaviors right now,” “I don’t have the time to learn how to do new things,” and my personal favorite, “I don’t have the money to invest in myself today – I’ll do I it later when I have more money.” (Of course, that probably won’t happen until you change some things.)

This is why we find ourselves with big ideas yet resistant to implementation.

When our fear is triggered, we may experience one or more of these success-blocking behaviors: (1) lack of focus, (2) difficulty implementing ideas (3) perfectionism and (4) procrastination.

So, when you find yourself experiencing some of this beahavior, what can you do about it? I can’t tell you how to not be fearful – if you’re on the path to success, you’re going to experience it. (Give up, you’re nervous.). But I can tell you what really works…

Take extremely small steps. Consistently. Over an extended period of time.

It’s magic.

According to one of my former teachers, Dr. Robert Maurer, author of One Small Step Can Change Your Life, and psychological researcher at UCLA, “small, easily achievable goals – such as picking up just one paper clip on a chronically messy desk – let you tiptoe past the amygdala (fear center), keeping it asleep without setting off alarm bells.” He explains that while you take these small steps you are actually reprogramming the new nerve pathways for your desired change so that it happens almost without you realizing it.

Our Fired Up Mastermind Network™ system is built around this very principle so we get to see it in action all the time. We see successes created around amazingly small steps as a matter of course.

Recently Donna in our “Nooner” Mastermind team, has been transitioning from graphic arts into a voice-over career, but she also wanted to leverage her creativity to open another stream of income. “I can’t even imagine what that would be. I used to sew, but I have no idea what I could do with that. It’s overwhelming.”

The step was simple. Visit a fabric store. Let go of what she needed to do with it. Indeed, she went with her sister on an outing and loved it. “There’s something that happened inside of me at that store. I got in touch with my love of sewing. Now the ideas and opportunities are just coming effortlessly. I am so excited.”

Donna’s new ideas that may be up and running far more quickly than she would have ever imagined, but her new ventures did not come from the search for a quantum leap, but rather a focus on the smallest possible step.

If you want real magic to live a life you truly love, start small…….and keep it that way for a long time.

(If you're ready to go really small, try our Fired Up Mastermind Network™.)

Entrepreneurs: Still Doing It Last Year's Way?

2009-08-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

I recently celebrated an anniversary with a friend and I asked if she wanted to go back to a place we had been to before. Surprisingly, she replied emphatically, "Oh, not at all. We've already been there. Let's go someplace that doesn't represent where we've been, but where we're going."

How often, I thought, have I chosen to go back to the same place because I am familiar with it? The process of choosing a new meeting place with my friend became a larger metaphor for life.
What represents the future to you? This is a very different question from “What worked before?” After all, in this new economy, almost nothing works like it did before. We are forced to give up a lot of old ideas and fill in with something very different and new. What is that for you?

A client came to me because her thriving business was connected to real estate and her income had plummeted. We had to step back and go beyond how it was before and create whole new strategy and vision for her business based on her talents and what people need NOW. She had to adjust, let go, and commit to a new path. It was unfamiliar, but turned out to be much more profitable. She got the clarity and support she needed to create an entirely new approach to her life and work. I believe that is what makes the difference.

We cannot do it like we did before on a myriad of levels. What went before is over. It’s not going to “go back.” There isn’t going to be a “do-over.” The real issue is “What are you going to do NOW!” Your clients, bosses and colleagues have new needs; how are you going to use your passion and talents to meet these needs? Therein lay the seed to your success. These are the questions we all need to ask ourselves at various junctures in our life, no matter what the economy.

One of the old ideas is that you can do it on your own. That rugged individualistic ethic came over with the pilgrims who, by the way, did nothing alone. They were entirely a community based society. Community works because you need ideas that are not yours! I know my mind automatically takes me back to "where I've already been." It's trained to do that. Without new input, I only know how to do old things. (That’s one of the many reasons why our Mastermind community (www.firedupforsuccess.com/mastermind.htm) work so well.) Community gives you resources and feedback you would never have on your own.

The formula is this: Your talent and passion + meeting real (or perceived) needs + a strong support system for regular feedback and resources = success. If you want to experience something more promising, more profitable and new, you have to DO something new.

When I thought about what my friend had said, I did some soul searching and then asked for feedback. It made me realize I want to go in the direction of more laughter, fun and freedom, along with some risk and adventure…and maybe some just plain childhood fantasy.
So where did I go with my friend? Disneyland!

What are you doing to let go of the old way of doing things which may actually be hurting you, your career and your business and re-engineer yourself to meet today’s needs? If you want a fresh strategy, read more at www.firedupforsuccess.com/coaching.htm.

5 TIPS TO GET CENTERED

2009-06-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU GOING IN TOO MANY DIRECTIONS?
5 TIPS TO GET CENTERED
by Mary Lyn Miller

I have wonderful, creative, innovative, interesting clients and students.

In my experience you do NOT lack ideas. In fact, the problem seems to be TOO many ideas and possibilities, all leading in somewhat different directions. Then, there’s the dilemma of WHICH idea to pursue – and if you choose one, doesn’t it leave all the other ones out? But, what if the other ones are great ideas too?

So, you ponder and hesitate and months later NONE of the ideas are implemented. Then, there’s that horrible moment when you discover SOMEONE ELSE has taken one of YOUR great ideas and done something very successful with it.

Yes, it HAS happened to me as well. So, if you have ever thought like this, you can see it does not work. Here’s some tips that may help you get up and running.

1) WRITE DOWN ALL OF YOUR IDEAS.

Keep them in a central place: a notebook, bulletin board, I-Phone or computer. This gets everything out of your head so you can clear a space for creativity, and, as you do this, you begin to realize that many of your ideas are just fragments of a larger vision, and that when you look at them over a period of time, a bigger vision may emerge. There are probably connections that are not possible to see while still floating around in your head. Some clients see consistent themes, and a timeline may become more obvious. I have become aware that I have the SAME idea over and over which takes up mental and emotional space, and when I write it down, it simply relieves me of enormous mental gymnastics.

2) IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE – JUST CHOOSE SOMETHING!

We wrestle with choosing the right idea, but here is a shocking fact: there is no one “right idea.” Every idea you have is connected to some inner yearning. Your ideas and dreams are not whole pieces, rather they are connected to each other like an invisible chain. As you begin to move on any part, the rest begin to follow. Like a chain, move one link, and the whole chain begins to move. Just do something and your chain will begin to move.

3) WORK ON ONE IDEA AT A TIME.

Again, when you gain momentum on one link of the chain, it affects the whole chain. But, the key is focus. Whether you’re writing an article (like me right now), or planning an event, or working with a client, or creating a new business plan, do it fully with no distractions. (Well, I am drinking carrot juice.) It’s about being present. Multi-tasking does NOT work (see below) and actually makes us feel perpetually empty and unfulfilled. We find that our Master Mind teams create the environment for our members to take the space and become present to what they REALLY need to focus on so they can do one thing at a time and see where it fits into their larger vision.

4) PRACTICE COMPLETION.

Our lives tend to be filled with starts and stops. We leave things hanging. Practicing completion means you do one thing until there is a natural stopping point. You can then savor the completion and job well done, and move on to the next task. When you multi-task, it usually requires different spheres of your brain, which is not only confusing, but makes you less effective at everything. When you do complete one task, there is no cause to celebrate because there are always others left undone. It’s never over, never completed, never enough. We take those feelings into every part of our lives.

5) GET ACCOUNTABLE.

After 20+ years of coaching, I know accountability is the key to success. It’s not big news. Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and few other major players were in the same Master Mind group decades ago. Carnegie believed it was a critical tool to extraordinary success. I do too.

That’s why I’ve created the Fired Up for Success™ Mastermind Network. You need to be reporting in regularly, and for other people to be tracking your progress. You need to be accountable for taking small, but consistent steps and to celebrate your completions. Not looking bad in front of others is a huge motivator for most of us. As solo entrepreneurs or home based businesses (or aspiring to be) your progress will escalate dramatically when you’re involved with a Master Mind team.

What if you had a variety of teams and times to choose from? What if you had extraordinarily successful and well trained facilitators: authors, coaches, and award winning trainers? What if it was all on the phone so you could be anywhere and participate? That’s what this is about.

If you’ll be in the L.A. area at the end of June, we’d love to have you joins us for our Fired Up for Success Mega Masterminding and Networking Workshop and Luncheon.

It will generate even more ideas –and get you focused! (Just in case YOU’RE going in too many directions!)

Entrepreneurs: Get Focused with a Mastermind

2009-05-03T08:58:00.001-07:00

What’s the #1 challenge most entrepreneurs, coaches and consultants face today?

Focus. As an experienced coach for the past 20 years,
“staying focused” has been the top concern of literally thousands of my clients.

We are constantly distracted. We have responsibilities to our children, friends, spouses, aging parents, and school and on and on – and we aren’t even at work yet.

Once at our business, the “To Do” List is endless. The “Information Age” has become the “Over-Information Age.” Data, ideas and demands stream in from everywhere: the phone, e-mail, text messaging, Facebook and Twitter. As is if that isn’t enough, cell phones make us totally accessible. We can be found anywhere...to give us MORE.

Then add the confusing landscape for entrepreneurs to marketing their services. Should we be active in the community, speaking, writing articles, branding ourselves, fixing our website (oh, wait do I have that yet?), or get a better social networking strategy? How can we get the time to do all this?

Yikes! There seems no escape. What’s the answer?

A Mastermind group becomes critical whether you are a new or experienced entrepreneur. You need to have a place to show up for up for yourself regularly. It’s not just going to happen on your own. As mentioned, there are just too many distractions.

Mastermind groups are not just to build business, but to build our lives. They offer the opportunity to regularly sort through our options, take a balanced look and make proactive, rather than reactive decisions. For a mere 3-4 hours a month, we save ourselves weeks and months of being frustrated, fragmented and stuck. In my groups, members do get stuck, but they rarely remain there. When you take the time for additional input, brainstorming, and support, you will discover your life and business decisions netting you much greater reward and profit in a much shorter period of time.

I don’t know about you, but especially as an entrepreneur, I need structure. I chose not to have to show up for a boss a long time ago, but, in the process I have discovered I don’t always show up for myself.

Want focus? Try a Mastermind group!

Want to to know more about Mastermind groups? www.firedupforsuccess.com/mastermind.htm

Personal Growth & The "O" Word: "Overwhelm."

2009-04-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever said "I'm so overwhelmed!" I used to say it a lot, and I am sure it was utterly justified, however, this is what I have learned about talking about it:

It actually makes it worse.

One day I was talking to a dear friend about the state of my very justifiable overwhelm, and then I OUTLINED in great detail all the many lists of things I had to do. I have to tell you, afterwards, I just felt depressed. It certainly didn't inspire me to get to what I needed to do. I just wanted to go to sleep. Talk about NOT being fired up!

No question overwhelm is a major energy drainer. But I previously viewed feeling overwhelmed as a time management issue (and some of it is) but I was startled, when she said to me, “Oh, please stop giving me the litany.” Litany? “The long list,” she responded. “If you stopped doing that, you’d feel a lot better, and get more done.”

What! How insensitive of her! Then I thought, "I have been teaching for years that what you focus on expands. Whatever you give your attention to invites it in." Hmmm....that means the more energy you give to being overwhelmed, ..well, the more overwhelming everything becomes!

I began to realize this was beyond Time Management - it was Self Management. I had to start by eliminating talking about my frustrations all the time, giving my problems all this energy and attention.

Since every month of my Mastermind Network is devoted to a specific topic, this was this month's subject. One group made a membership vow to eradicate the word “Overwhelm” from their vocabulary! It has proved to be more challenging than they thought.

What can we say instead? Here are some thoughts:
“I have some challenges.”
“I need to prioritize where to take immediate action.”
“I am making choices.”

In other words, shifts from being a victim of “too much to do,” to being pro-active, prioritizing, and making decisions about what works for you. That’s much more empowering!
Of course, this really is a deeper issue. Overwhelm is also a control issue, but that’s for another day.

Let me hear YOUR experiences with the "O" word!!

4 Positive Results of the Economy

2009-03-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

I know you are familiar with all the negative aspects of our economy today. After over 20 years working with clients in transition, I am very familiar with the process, and realize the entire world is in a classic transition process!

Every transition process begins with something going wrong, (as it most certainly has), and the transition piece is where we begin the renewal process. It is scary, exciting, and uncertain – a fair review of our situation today. But, this major shift is offering some interesting positive results and new opportunities:

1) IMPOSED RE-EVALUATION: Certainly as a nation and planet we are re-evaluating everything from our policies and foreign relations to economic structures. Similarly, as individuals, most of us are re-evaluating our choices including core values, work, family and how we have spent our money. For many it’s long overdue. We’re finally forced to finally release jobs that bored us, work that doesn’t fulfill. This is a positive result. One of my clients made a comment awhile ago about her experience as a result of 9/11: “If it weren’t for 9/11, I wouldn’t have lost my job. But it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to re-evaluate my life, make a career change and start my own business. Today I love my life! Without that kind of crisis, I may have gone along in that old life a long, long time, letting it just sap the life out of me.”

2) RENEWED FAITH: The last few months have seen a dramatic increase in church attendance. People are being driven back to their spiritual roots or seeking new outlets. Many of us feel moved connect with a Higher Power. It is said that we are always making the choice between fear and faith, and that whichever one we choose, cancels out the other. Faith and an uplifted heart will outperform just about any business building tactic. Sandy Gooch, founder of “Mrs. Gooch’s” which has since become Whole Foods Market here in Southern California commented that she would have failed if she knew that a mother of small children with no marketing or business background couldn’t build the empire she did. Her faith came first and created her success against all odds. If you’re focused on increasing your energy and relying on higher laws to create your results, you can accomplish anything.

3) RE-CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY: The uncertainty has led to a marked increase in people seeking comfort and community. Job seekers are filling hotel meeting rooms and bars, banding together to help and support one another. Networking is suddenly a vital skill. Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-In are all thriving. People are reconnecting with old college roommates, former schoolmates and lost loves. It’s great! We are all one and there is comfort in being together as never before. In January 2009 I started Fired Up for Success Mastermind Network and it is steadily growing because people not only want to connect, but more than ever need to keep focused and their energy fired up so that they can attract what they need for the next step. This trend of connecting to community is contributing to making the world a better place to live.

4) CREATIVITY AND RE-INVENTION ABOUND: “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” In my book, “The 8 Myths of Making a Living,” I talk about my dad who was a young man in the Depression and saw that period as a time of “opportunity.” He invested heavily in stocks – which were really cheap! The result was he became a wealthy man and taught me that all economies offer opportunity! He taught me to be an “opportunity seeker,” no matter what is going on.

I have clients coming to me saying, “What I did to market myself or make a living a year ago – or 6 months ago –is not longer working! Now what do I do?” Take heart: There is plenty of opportunity; it’s just being re-tooled.

There are more creative ideas than ever. Once you have re-evaluated what you really want, gotten support to keep your spirits “fired up,” and have community, you can create just about anything. That’s the good new for today’s economy!!

Career Strategy: Never Need a Full Time Job Again

2009-03-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

If there ever was a time to begin re-thinking your career and work life it is NOW. No longer is just getting another job going to be a lasting strategy.

Everyone of us is going to need a whole new relationship with our concepts of career, work, and livlihood. No longer can our work be defined by the confines of a job. In fact, it can't be. The "job" as a form of livlihood is becoming a relic. As William Bridges, author and visionary commented,"Looking for jobs is like looking for deck chairs on the Titanic."

If not a job, what then? If you start a business how long will it take for you to make money? What do you do while you're building the business? What if you don't want a business of your own? How could you balance everything? Where are resources and support? Aren't these great questions? Yep, and these are the things we talk about, and that EVERYONE needs to think about today.

No matter what you're doing, it's important to redefine how you think about your work and your life.

It's important to explore your core values and passions. **

You've GOT to find a way to GET EXCITED. That's what is going to propel you. It's hard to do that alone sitting in your living room.

If you're not local, just keep reading this blog, because I'm going to talk about this stuff a lot. Trust me, you won't be able to stop me.

Meanwhile, I want you to think about what would you do with you if you never had a full time job again!

**If you want to quickly understand your natural gifts, talents and passions and turn them into profitable, fufilling strategies, go to my Special Offer for my Jump Start Clarity session at www.firedupforuccess.com/coaching.htm.

Welcome to My Blog - Moving Beyond My Comfort Zone Now!

2009-03-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling you get when you're doing something outside of your comfort zone?

That's me right now. I've never done a blog before. So I want to welcome you to this place where I will share my successes, my fears, and the tools I have employed over the past 20 years for both myself and many, many others facing transition and challenges in their careers, businesses and lives.

I'm all about becoming Fired Up...embracing the energy of success and prosperity. Passion and fire are the most powerful forces in the Universe and are the creative source of all things.
We'll explore where your fire comes from, how to nurture and ignite it, and how to keep the flame from burning out.

Beyond self discovery and positive thinking, there is action. I believe that success requires us all to stretch beyond our comfort zones regularly. My guideline is that you need to be working "about 1 inch outside of the comfort zone." That means taking calculated, consistent small risks.

If you're feeling blocked or stuck, or bored, you're probably not taking enough risk. You're trying to stay safe. That's why one of the tools I believe in is Masterminding. The way we employ it in my coaching is really a combination of group coaching and networking. It helps to keep you focused on working very small and consistently - and to become accountable for those small actions. Whatever ways work for you, set small goals, take them regularly and become accountable to someone.

Oh, by the way, that's how this got done. My dear friend Rita helped me set this up, and then gently sent e-mails and hounded me on Facebook until I did this. My fondest wish for you is that you find a good "hounder"in your life. More later....