it's a beautiful day

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
What a beautiful day

Music fans will quickly recognize these as some of the lyrics of U2's Beautiful Day. I have it on my MP3 (nope, there's someone out there who still hasn't taken the leap to the Ipod world...my MP3 does the trick just fine...) -- anyway, it's on my MP3 and comes up often when I'm out for a bike ride.

Every time I hear it I try to listen to each word and be reminded to stay in the perspective of profound gratitude.

Those who know me well have, no doubt, heard me say, "We all live like kings and queens." By "all" -- I mean my friends, colleagues, clients, prospects, partners and greater community which surrounds me. We do.

I don't personally know anyone who has starved to death or suffered from malnutrition.

I don't know anyone who couldn't feed their children or bring them to the doctor for what ails them.

I don't know anyone who has had to spend a single night of their lives on a cardboard box, with no other choice of where to sleep. (Some crazy people I know actually choose to sleep on the hard ground outside, after carrying a canoe and tent and gear to get there. Suffering attack of biting, blood sucking birds we call mosquitoes. But we all know those people are crazy!)

So, yes, Bono. You are correct: it's a beautiful day. And I'm deeply grateful for it.

just don't do it!

As a twist on Nike's infamous slogan, we all as business owners, sales people, and consciously-living human beings, need to practice the mantra of Just Don't Do It!

We are bombarded on a daily basis -- and with email and social networks (FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.), it's even more frequent than that -- with an overload of demand for our attention.

So try it for a day, Just Don't Do It. For one complete 24 hour period, make the commitment to yourself to not open the emails that are solicitations for your time and money and attention. Don't read the magazine or other advertising solicitation. Don't even turn on the radio in the car! Try for a little silence for a change and see what impact it has on you. See what your mind, body and soul are capable of when no one's barking at your brain!

...you just might like it...and come back for more...

what a rip-off

Sometimes we really rip off our friends and miss out on opportunities to deepen our friendships.

How?

By not being willing to be open. To be vulnerable. To ask for help. With the best of big-hearted, benign intentions, we shut our friends out and don't fully allow them in. What a rip-off.

Last night I got a text from a dear, dear friend at 9:30. She was hurting and wanted to talk. I didn't see the message until 10:30 and was afraid I'd missed my chance. When I texted her back, she responded that she was still up and would love to talk.

We did just that, for only 30 minutes. 30 intimate, meaninful minutes.

I went to bed feeling so valued and loved in that relationship. And I was grateful she reached out and trusted me and gave me the chance to be there for her. I went to bed much richer last night -- in ways far more valuable than money.

So, which type of friend are you? The one who rips off their friends by holding back, and "not wanting to burden people," or the type that gives by authentically coming to the relationship and allowing themselves to be vulnerable and receive when we need it.

I know which type of friend is most valuable to me.

sometimes it feel good to let go of the reigns

It was a simple thing: at 4:30 on Saturday afternoon my husband said, "Let's take the kids and go to a pitch & putt golf course."

I didn't want to go.

I saw his eagerness to go.

So we went.

Lo and behold, we all had a great time! Our 9 year old daughter kept asking each of us how many strokes we had so far, and she quickly learned how to track how many strokes until you're "on" (the green). So she kept checking as it came time to putt, "You got in in how many?" Or, simply, "How many is that for you, Mom?" [We're already convinced she's going to be a sales person...quite a competitive edge, this one has.]

All this, while our 5 year old son screamed at the lack of order and non-rule-following when we tried to skip hole 7, for sake of time. We didn't say anything, we just turned slightly in the course to hold 8 and he started to cry as he screamed, "No, no!! 8 doesn't come after 6!! We're supposed to go THAT way!!" [We're already convinced he's going to be COO or CEO of a large corporation. It's all about organization and systems for that kid.]

For me, it just felt good to let go and let someone else plan and organize. I got to follow. Didn't have to think about CBA, profit margin, business plans, client service or anything else.

Ahh...the simple pleasures in life.

flawed coach over here

Here's what's humbling about the coaching world...

People come to us wanting help in some area of their business (which often also extends into other areas of their lives). And that's why we're here, so they're in the right place.

...but sometimes what they're looking for help with, we (ok, let's be honest and change that to "I", cuz this is a personal experience for me)...so...I am coaching them authentically. Helping them work through to the other side of what it is they need help with. And it's a good thing this takes place over the phone, because there my tail is, firmly hiding between my legs. (Try to ignore the fact that this is a cliche' and, of course, there is no tail [or is there, and this is reeeally weird?!?!].) >>grin<<

I guess I just want to declare a humble moment, as it took me an hour to get out of bed after I awoke. Now, I need some coaching on how to not beat myself up. How to acknowledge I made a choice and it's done. And which options to consider going forward and exactly what I will choose.

There, already feeling better.

Thanks for listening.

I know better...

Shocking news!! I just found out sugar and fat make you gain weight. Smoking is bad for you. And working too much can cause stress. Can you believe it?!

Yes, we can. We ALL know these things.

Then why don’t we do something about it? Why do so many of us still eat too much? Smoke too much. Work too much when we all know it’s bad for us?

Because there’s something inside that’s preventing the change. Am I alone here?!

Of course I’m not.

The same is true in your business: You KNOW you’re supposed to delegate technical work to one of your employees. You KNOW you’re supposed to work ON your business, not be consumed IN it. You KNOW you’re supposed to have systems in place to streamline the work flow in your business, and better leverage your time as a business owner.

Yet you don’t. Plain and simple.

You’re not alone either. In fact, from Tiger Woods to Donald Trump…from Mother Teresa to George Bush…they, you, and I all struggle with getting out of our own way. Sometimes it just takes a friend, confidant or coach to point out our challenges with time management.

So the question is: who’s going to help you do what you know you need to do? Who’s your Sherpa, on the mountain of life?

We all need one.

I'm jumpin' into the blog-pool!!

Like the 3-year-old child who kicks, screams, fights and resists going in for her haircut -- convinced the pain will be beyond tolerance when her golden locks are cut...I resisted blogging.

This week I was told by several people I need to do it. Several professionals whom I respect.

Could they all be wrong?

Is there something valuable to this "professional journaling"? Can I really write? Will people want to read it? Will they understand me? Will they throw rotten tomatoes at me and dunk me in the water?!

Maybe. But I'm doin' it anyway, dang it.

Here's what I know: the work I do is valuable. Clients tell me it's changed their lives. They say they could never have achieved the growth and experienced the progress they have in their businesses without me. All genuine modesty and deferral to all the work they did for themselves aside, I believe it's true. How could I not believe that? It's what I do!!

So, if it's true -- I guess there just might be value in having them see/hear/read the musings inside my head.

Come on in! The door's wide open. But be careful what you ask for -- there's some nuttiness in here, speckled with moments of brilliance, if I may say so.

You be the judge...today's the day of nuttiness, though. Brilliance comes later!