The Power is in the Pen

"Knowing where you're going is all you need to get there." ~~Frederick (Carl) Frieseke~~

The Power is in the Pen. Well, maybe not the pen, but definitely in writing it down… An interesting thing happened to me early this week. In preparing for the first meeting of my accountability group after summer’s hiatus, I spent some time thinking about my goals between now and the end of this year. I recognized again that goals and tasks are not the same, so I actually spelled out – wrote down – 7 different goals. One business development goal, one public speaking goal, one job seeker social media client goal, etc. I also wrote down a recurring to-do list, things like a daily blog post, daily candidate sourcing; things I need to do every day to help me achieve my goals. Literally within hours, I had a new social media referral from a boutique outplacement firm that seemed to have also taken the summer off. By the next day I also had two referrals / introductions form colleagues to potential new clients, and an inquiry about my LinkedIn Webinar. It felt great!

I was reminded again yesterday about the power of writing it down. One of the participants on my last webinar sent me an email, which I have excerpted below:

Dear Jennifer,

I want to tell you a funny (peculiar, not ha-ha) story about what happened to me after I attended your LinkedIn webinar on 28 July.

On Tuesday, 2 August, my latest newsletter was sent out. With that done, I went back to musing as to how I would implement the to-do list I created while listening to you. Top of the list – how to get recommendations. On Wednesday I received notification that someone had endorsed me.

When I asked this client why he had suddenly written the referral, he responded by saying that he had never written a LinkedIn referral before, but when he got my latest ‘newsletter’, he thought “if I ever write a referral, then it would be for this guy”. And then, he said, he suddenly thought, “Why not now?”. And he did.

So, I put it down to your lessons being in my mind sending out thought patterns to the Universe who then nudged someone to act on it. You have a better explanation?

To which I replied:

I love hearing this stuff! And, I do NOT have a better explanation. I am a huge believer of writing things down, putting thoughts out into the universe, and letting the magic happen! There’s no such thing as coincidence in my book…

My take-a-way… Write it down. Put it out there. Know your intentions. Make them real. By the way… when I was writing down my goals, I also wrote down some affirmations. I even taped them to my wall right next to my computer!

Focus: The Courage to Change

"Focus your energy on greatness." ~~David DeNotaris~~

“The power to change comes from your courage within.” ~~Karen Hinds~~


More from the Women in Business Summit as inspired by Karen Hinds*

Karen, when talking about having the courage to change, shared an interesting perspective. When you’re young, you find that risks are easy to take. Your focus is all on what the benefits are in taking that risk. You think about how good it’s going to feel or how much fun you’re going to have. You don’t think about the consequences. You’re only focused on what you’re going to get; not at all focused on what you might lose…

Then the thing we call sensibility sets in. Call it maturity. Call it “growing up”. We find that we’re only focused on the responsibilities we have, and the consequences we might face if we take that risk. We become almost solely focused on what we might lose. The risk might be the same, but we choose to focus on losing. According to Karen, “It’s all in how you frame it.”

Today, I choose to focus on what I’m going to get. I have the courage to change. I have the will to sustain the change. I have a plan. I’m committed to executing that plan. And, I’m putting that negative focus on ICE! (Reference to yesterday’s post: http://hireeffect.blogspot.com/2011/03/preparation-power-to-change.html)

Affirmations from Karen: I am not going back. I’m moving ahead. Change is good.


*The WIB Summit is organized by Kisha Samuels, the founder of Events of Joy (http://eventsofjoy.com) and you can find more information about WIB here: http://www.wibsummit.com Keynote speaker: Karen Hinds, Founder and CEO of Workplace Success Group, LLC. http://www.workplacesuccess.com

Motivation: Finding Your Balance

“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance." ~~Brian Tracy~~

It makes sense; when you feel balanced, you feel in control. When you lose your balance, you feel out of control. I watched my almost 5 year old on a balance beam last night when I picked him up from daycare. It was cute. He was so proud to be able to walk the beam, arms outstretched, without falling. One of his friends was even able to walk backwards on the beam without as much as a wobble. That balance is hard to find. There are certainly external activities that can help you gain that balance when you feel off center… E.F.T., yoga, meditation, relaxation, affirmations… all things I write about a lot, but sometimes forget to practice. I am looking for balance again. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and a little out of control this week. I discovered yesterday, with the help of my accountability group, that it was really time to regain balance and control. Watching my son on that balance beam helped me see how important that balance really is. I don’t want to fall. I don’t even want to wobble. So today I practice what I preach. E.F.T. (tapping) this morning, music on now, blogging before working to put that balance out to the world, and affirmations coming soon.

What will you practice today to help you find your balance?

Attitude: An Invincible Summer

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” ~Albert Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays~

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” ~Winston Churchill

Affirmations help. Believing what you say is a huge step. I know I can. I know I’m capable. I know it’s possible. I know I will. I’m off to find my summer. Are you coming with me?

Preparation + Taking Responsibility

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” ~~Norman Vincent Peale ~~

I could have worked all weekend. That’s a powerful statement for me, because a week ago, I might have said, “I *should* have worked all weekend.”

I could be entirely stressed out right now… and I’m not. I am prepared to tackle the challenge of fitting a week’s worth of work into two days since I have chosen to go on vacation.

I started to stress last night as I was preparing for my week. I started to feel “overcommitted” and was wondering how I would get it all done. But, I stopped. (Kudos to me!) And, I took a deep breath. And, I remembered that I myself set these deadlines. I myself set the priorities. I not only *can* get it all done, I will get it all done. I am prepared. I am focused and efficient. (Yes, that one is still going strong!) And, I have help! There will be no slacking off. There is no need to stress out. Being overwhelmed doesn’t help the situation. I am motivated to achieve, thanks in part to my awesome new accountability group, and thanks in part to some new acquaintances I made (soon to be friends I am sure!) But even more, thanks to me! I am happy that I remembered to stop and breathe. I am grateful that I took the time last night to prepare for today. And I am proud that I believe that I can and WILL get it done. My thoughts do affect my actions, and I am in control of my thoughts!

Focus

“Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.” ~~Wilfred Peterson~~

The ability to stay focused may very well be the most important ingredient in the recipe for accomplishment. While I believe that all of the tools that I write about are critical to success, staying focused on the tasks at hand (short term) and keeping your eye on the prize (long term) are paramount. And, HARD! There is so much noise out there. And, there’s just so much going on! How many emails did you come in to this morning? How do you manage all of them? If you have separate work and personal email accounts, how tempted are you to check your personal email the second you sit down? And, I know that it’s a challenge for *me* not to get “sucked in” to Twitter or Facebook when I sit down at my computer. Even LinkedIn is in the process of beta testing a tool which will help people weed through the garbage to glean useful and relevant information from their networks. (http://blog.linkedin.com/2010/09/29/linkedin-signal/) But it’s not just the online noise that can sidetrack you. What about your own thoughts? What about the things you said you had to do, and haven’t done yet? What about all of the outside stressors in your life; your household chores, your family commitments, your good news, your bad news, your friends’ news… There is always something, and because of that, it’s imperative that you learn how to stay focused! I am practicing some new tools this year, and hoping to perfect some old ones. Meditation and affirmations are key for me. My mantra right now,” I am focused and efficient. I accomplish my goals.”

What do you do to stay on task?

Focus (and a string of affirmations)

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” ~~Buddha~~

I am focused and efficient! I have what it takes to get what I want. I have the capacity and the knowledge to achieve success as I define it. I achieve my goals and accomplish all I set out to do. I am happy, healthy, wealthy and successful. I give all I can. I am surrounded by love and friendship. I focus on the positive.

What are your thoughts today?

Attitude and an Affirmation

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” ~~Scott Hamilton~~

I may have used this quote before, but think it’s so relevant to my “back to basics” concept from Monday. It really is all in how you look at things, and all in how you choose to react to your circumstances. I talk about this often. I remind myself frequently that it really is up to me how I react to things and it really is up to me to choose to be positive and optimistic. I tell myself (and anyone else who will listen) that staying upbeat, smiling, being kind and helping others really are the best ways to achieve success and happiness. And sometimes I forget. I won’t get a good night’s sleep, or I have a particularly crazy day, or my 4 year old acts like, well, like he’s 4, or…or…or…. And I forget. So, back to basics! Today I remember that I have the ability and the power and the desire to choose a positive attitude. My affirmation today: I choose to be happy, spread joy and exude confidence. I have a great mental attitude.

So, happy Wednesday everyone! Let’s make the most of it!

Goals

“Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.” ~~Author Unknown~~
“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” ~~Diana Scharf Hunt~~

Update from yesterday’s post as promised: While I did wake up briefly, I fell back to sleep pretty quickly, with no anxiety! My affirmation last night (and then again when I woke up a bit too early this morning was, “I am in control of my desk. I am focused, efficient and effective in accomplishing my tasks.”

I got out of bed before my alarm, was ready to go much earlier than usual, and my goal is to have a fantastic day!

Proof enough to try some bedtime affirmations? I hope so! I know I’ll keep them up.

Attitude and Affirmations

“Make it so.” ~~Captain Jean-Luc Picard~~

Famous for this phrase, Captain Picard made it all seem so easy aboard the Enterprise. He exuded confidence. He epitomized the power of positive thinking. We can all use a little of his determination now and then.

Recently I’ve started having mini-anxiety attacks in the middle of the night. I wake up for whatever reason, and then I can’t get back to sleep because I start thinking about all the things I have to do. That’s so unlike the “me” of late, so I took a good look in the mirror this morning… Reality Check: I stopped my bedtime affirmations. I know I’ve written about these before, but to serve as a reminder, my bedtime affirmations are simply the things I repeat to myself over and over in my head until I fall asleep. They are typically things like: “I am diligent, focused, and accomplish great things.” Or, “I am happy, healthy, successful and wise.” You know, the things of Saturday Night Live’s Stuart Smalley fame. Poke fun, if you must, but I’m telling you, it’s the only thing that’s changed. So tonight I return to my “habit”. I will sleep through the night. I will wake up well-rested. I will accomplish my goals. I will make it so.

And, I’ll report back tomorrow.

Motivation (many quotes and a few affirmations)

“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” ~~Sara Teasdale, from "The Philosopher" ~~

It’s sometimes hard to stay motivated when you’ve hit a “plateau” whether it’s about your diet, building your business, or staying on top of your job search, but we know we need to keep going, even when we don’t feel like we’re making progress. It can be even more difficult to stay motivated when we feel like we’ve made a wrong decision, or we start second-guessing our decisions. We can get stuck. I think then, it’s even more important to stay motivated and keep going. As Thomas Edison once said, "I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." I really like that sentiment, and coupled with the knowledge that, "We have a choice every day - to act on yesterday's good intentions or get an early start on tomorrow's regrets," (via Robert Brault), I am committed to not losing steam!

Some affirmations on this topic might be:

I work well with what I am given and make the best of any situation.
I am encouraged by my learning process and know I am on the right track.
I am enjoying my journey.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy your weekend and make the best of your time. And, remember the words of John Lennon, “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”

Preparation + Affirmations

“All things are ready, if our minds be so.” ~~William Shakespeare~~

Some affirmations for today:

I am energized, focused and take action on the tasks that get me closer to my dreams.

The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful.

I do everything necessary to reach my best and improve on what I’ve already accomplished.

"My unique and creative talents and abilities shine through in all that I do."

I am _SO_ ready for this week! What affirmations will help you prepare for what lies ahead?

Preparation

“Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” ~~Peter F. Drucker~~

I am once again amazed (not surprised, just amazed) by the power of the affirmation and the drive that I have when I am mentally prepared for greatness. Preparation for a great day, a great week, and in conjunction, great success comes from within, and help to realize that power within does exist!

Committed to taking advantage of the enthusiasm I gained after networking with an Action Coach late last week, and once again re-energized beyond my norm, I feel ready to conquer even the largest obstacle (my own tendency towards procrastination!) and know that I will be successful! The power of networking, be it with one colleague or a whole accountability group, really helps me mentally prepare for the greatness I know I can achieve.

Planning for this week actually started last Friday. Over the weekend, instead of stressing about what I still hadn’t done, I wrote down things on my “to do” list as they entered my mind. Last night, I organized my desk a bit, downloaded my email from the weekend and deleted the junk, and prioritized my to do list for today. I went to bed last night repeating to myself, “I am healthy, well-rested, energized and focused. I stay on track and successfully accomplish my tasks.”

As I said, I am again amazed by the power of affirmation… My allergies, which were really starting to get the best of me, seem to have cleared quite a bit, and I have gotten more done already this morning than I expected.

I am jazzed, and I love this feeling! So, THANK YOU to my network, my readers, my family, and specifically, my friend and Action Coach. I’ve always said that every great player needs a coach, and I’m so happy that at least in this instance, I took my own advice!

“Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results.” ~Dennis Wholey

Goals (plus some affirmations)

“The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.” ~Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead~~

Nothing can stand in your way unless you let it. Who’s stopping you?

Some affirmations for today:

I have all that I need to achieve my goals.
I get out of my own way and let success happen.

Goals (plus some affirmations)

“The most important thing of all is working on living more consciously, moment to moment and day to day.” ~~Shakti Gawain~~

I was reminded, not once, but four times so far today about the significance of recognizing what is really important in life. Usually when things happen like that, there’s a reason I should write about it, so here goes.

A wise friend of mine has on her Facebook page the following quote, “Someone will always be prettier, smarter, have a bigger house or a better car. Their children will do better in school or their husband will fix more things around the house. So just let it go and love yourself, your life and your circumstances.”

An inspirational colleague of mine reminded me that every cloud really does have a silver lining and you can always find something good in every situation if you look hard enough. (And sadly, she would know!)

Too many people want to point fingers and place blame. Taking accountability for ones own actions is critical as you begin to live more consciously and be more engaged. Living more consciously and being more engaged, in turn will help you love yourself, your life and your circumstances, and find that silver lining.

My affirmations for today:

I am accountable for my actions. I do not make excuses for my behavior. I actively see the gifts in my life. I live consciously, in the present, and achieve my goals.

Preparation + Confidence Affirmations

“Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.” ~~Richard Kline~~

When you believe in yourself, and you are confident in your ability to do something well, you are very likely to succeed. In the midst of things beyond my control, it’s really hard to hold on to that. As a believer in things happening for a reason, I am really trying to find the lesson that I apparently need to learn in the face of NOTHING going according to plan right now. Meanwhile, I will maintain my composure and protect my self-confidence.

I am reliant, self-confident, determined and successful.
I will remain confident and unaffected by the chaos around me.

Attitude and an Affirmation

“What you think means more than anything else in your life. More than what you earn, more than where you live, more than your social position, and more than what anyone else may think about you." ~~George Matthew Adams~~

“I think, therefore I am” - Descartes - from Discourse on Method

What I think matters. What I think determines what I do. What I think drives how I react, respond, and move forward. What I think helps shape how I live, and helps create my reality.

An affirmation for today “I am energized, focused, and effective.”

What do YOU think?

Friday: Motivation + Affirmations

“Lots of things that couldn't be done have been done.” ~Charles Auston Bates

Today, some affirmations:

I accomplish my goals.
I have razor-sharp focus.
I am productive now.
I am motivated and encouraged.
I am inspired by the kindness of others.
I am worthy of success.

Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your motivation to accomplish something great!