Downloads

Shop
The Blogshelf

Elsewhere

"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show

"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind

»More Reviews


Buy Perseverance

Archive for the ‘Goals’ Category

Tuesday Treasures: Goals

February 23rd, 2010 | 6 Comments »

“Tuesday Treasures” is a weekly series. It is such a fun uplifting title that I can’t resist using it! I have a few snippets of information and inspiration to share with you today. This week’s focus: GOALS.

Fresh

Treasures

  • Visual Inspiration
    • Goal and Intention Kit by Jess Gonacha Swift
    • Define your business goals through super fun and creative exercises – Right-Brain Business Plan by Jenn Lee
    • The 5 Book by Dan Zadra – The 5 book is your “playbook for life.” It features thought-provoking quotations and real-life examples to serve as both a spark and a road map for what’s exciting in your life. [Be sure to watch the video that accompanies the book on the website!]
    • Free planners are available for download on Productive Flourishing – be sure to check out the rest of the blog, blogger Charlie Gilkey is a productivity genius.
  • Online Inspiration
    • If you ran the world, what would you do? – Well start by joining this amazing experiment, IfWeRanTheWorld
    • Happy New You! – a creative online workshop
    • State your goal! List your goals on 43 Things (and check out the other goals – what’s most popular – really fun!)

Inspiring Words

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

- Frank A. Clark

What are you treasuring this week?

{image: artsyville}

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in: Goals, Inspiration, Treasure Chest

Are Your Comfort Zones Holding You Back?

February 10th, 2010 | 7 Comments »

As creatures of habit, we find great comfort in engaging in a pattern of what feels natural and familiar. At the same time, however, our desires often change; we make new goals, gain new dreams, and develop new passions. But with this desire for change comes reluctance to take the actions needed to move along a new path – to change the status quo – and we may often feel stuck.

We begin to try to perceive our ability to make any kind of change and judge ourselves, typically in subtle ways that can build into a powerful influence over our actions.

We may tell ourselves the following:

“I am overwhelmed and don’t have time.”

“It has to be perfect.”

“I can’t do this.”

“I should….”

“I need to….”

“I will never be able to change.”

Powerful thoughts such as these can cause us immediately to retreat to our comfort zones.

What are comfort zones?

It is natural and normal for human beings to drift toward comfort. Most of us return over and over again to what is familiar or routine, easily falling into comfortable habits that over time can create a sense of complacency and boredom – essentially very little growth of ourselves, better known as entropy or decay. The Bigger Game examines the places where comfort zones can distract from what we want our life to be about. Comfort zones are neither “good” or “bad,” they are just comfort zones; because after all, we are just human. Here is the key question to ask: “Is this comfort zone serving me and/or my Bigger Game or not serving me or my game?” There is no judgment attached to our comfort zones, but the key to a successful Bigger Game is to be aware of our comfort zones – unexamined comfort zones can cost us our own success.

“The Bigger Game” refers to an innovative model based on the belief that we all hunger for a fulfilling life – a life filled with meaning and purpose – for ourselves and for the people around us.

Note: Description of The Bigger Game used with permission from It’s All Made Up, Inc. – www.biggergame.com

Take Action

Comfort zones exist in every area in our lives. The key is to be aware of them and examine which comfort zones may not be serving our current goals. Which comfort zones are preventing you from creating change?

In order to determine the answers to these questions, first, explore your comfort zones. Then, determine the solution to feeling stuck in your routine. Are you willing to move beyond the known into the unknown? Is the change you desire worth the discomfort of leaving what is familiar? No one can answer these questions but you. Most importantly, never underestimate the power of your intuition – what is your gut telling you?

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,
Posted in: Goals

Tuesday Treasures: Oh Ten!

January 5th, 2010 | No Comments »

“Tuesday Treasures” is a new weekly series that I launched in December. It is such a fun uplifting title that I couldn’t resist using it! I have a few treasures to share with you today. I hope they add a little sparkle to your week! This week’s theme: intentions, goals, and resolutions. Happy 2010!

Tulip Festival Mount Vernon

What’s adding a sparkle to your week?

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in: Creativity, Goals, Treasure Chest

How Important is Your Mind-Set?

November 4th, 2009 | 10 Comments »

PowerfulWhat allows some people to eclipse the realm of the possible? Are they really the exceptional ones, or is there more to the equation than mere luck?

Unconventional success redefines what we consider possible—it’s success that has not yet been defined by others. Essentially, this means clearing a path through uncharted territory.

The first step in achieving anything is defining your vision. As a start, begin by asking this powerful question: “What do I want?”

Of course, it’s all too easy to gloss over that kind of question without giving it much thought. But without knowing the answer—your answer—you probably won’t get too far.

Once you have a vision of what you want, the next step you’ll need to take is one that leads you toward finding courage. Courage is associated with bravery and overcoming fear, and in order to discover that courage, we must give ourselves permission to choose a different path, to be unconventional.

We talked about clearing a path, so finding the one you’ll take is entirely up to you; there is no specific path that you must follow. Broadly speaking, the course you chart boils down to your mind-set. In his truly remarkable book, The Pursuit of Perfect, Tal Ben-Shahar discusses why one’s mind-set is so critical with regard to his or her path. I’ve read and studied much of the research Ben-Shahar mentions and agree completely with his discussion on a fixed versus a growth mind-set. Although the notion is identified by two different labels, be sure to remember that individuals change constantly. We may have different mind-sets depending on the situation, but we may also have one that exists along a continuum between “fixed” and “growth.” Here, the golden nugget is that nothing is set in stone!

Very simply put, a fixed mind-set is the belief that our abilities (such as intelligence or personality) don’t change. On the other hand, a growth mind-set is the belief that our abilities do change. [An aside: Considering the paragraph above, what type of mind-set do I appear to have at this point in time?]

For a person with a fixed mind-set, hard work is threatening, it indicates that her abilities are limited and that, by extension, she is, too. After all, if she were gifted and talented, then she wouldn’t need to work. Not wanting to appear deficient, and given her belief that nothing can be done to remedy a deficiency, she constantly feels the pressure to prove to herself and to others how smart, competent, and perfect she already is.

The experience of a person with a growth mind-set is radically different. For her, hard work is not only necessary, it is also fun and exciting; she enjoys the journey because, rather than trying to prove herself constantly, her primary focus is learning, developing, and realizing her potential. In addition to being happier, a person with a growth mind-set is more persistent in her efforts and is therefore more likely to succeed. -Tal Ben-Shahar

Think About It:

Do you feel like you can relate to either or both of these mind-sets?

Deciding to create change in your life is a huge step in itself, but we often underestimate the amount of strength it takes to turn that decision into action. It can be incredibly scary to know what you want even while you fear achieving that outcome. It’s definitely a very unsettling feeling, and if we let it take control of us, then change is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Here, it comes down to your mind-set overpowering your fears and feelings.

Gregory Berns, a leading neuroscientist, says that innovative thinkers (like the creative geniuses who make the impossible possible) are able to create extraordinary change because, “They overcome mental barriers that stop most of us cold.”

Sounds simple, right? Okay, well maybe not simple, but certainly possible.

Now let’s circle back to our focus: How important is your mind-set? If you want to create your own path to success, your mind-set is critically important.

A New Series Focused on the Journey of Unconventional Success

This topic is my passion, and it’s my goal to help you believe in yourself and your ability to create change. To do this, I am beginning a weekly series focused on the journey—the how—of unconventional success. Each week, we’re going to ask questions that reveal information about the “how” versus the final destination. Next week, I’ll launch the series and provide a way for you to ask specific questions.

—
If you would be interested in sitting in the hot seat or know someone who would be interested, please e-mail me: carolynblog (at) me (dot) com

… or connect with me on twitter: @clrsimple2

—

Unconventional Success Mini-Series

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in: Goals

Are the odds in your favor?

September 25th, 2009 | 17 Comments »

The difference between what we do, and what we are capable of doing, would solve most of the world’s problems.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Impossible or Possible?

During a recent conversation, someone (I’ll maintain this person’s anonymity!) told me, “The odds are not in your favor.” I was appalled when I heard the statement, especially because the person was referring to the success of something very important to me. The individual could not understand why the remark upset me as much as it did.

After the conversation, I couldn’t stop thinking about the meaning behind the statement. The other person thought it was simply a pronouncement of fact, and it may well be, but to me, it’s a declaration that lacks any kind of hope and any of the power found in perseverance.

I’ve learned repeatedly from the world of childhood cancer that the odds are often not in your favor; however, the strongest and happiest children and families I have known chose not to focus on those odds. They had nothing to gain by doing so. Instead, they shifted their focus to what was in their favor. Often, that was the beauty of the moment and the unwavering belief that one must never stop living because of a storm. Life doesn’t wait for us.

Life is a journey that can never be defined by odds. We—not others—choose how we live our lives. If we decide to believe in ourselves, then nothing can diminish our potential.

The statement the person made, while hurtful at the time, helped me appreciate yet again the fuel that drives my passion to create a completely unique life journey. The fuel: believing that anything is possible, the excitement to disprove “the odds” and do things that others say can’t be done. The strength I gain from that fuel drives me to expect the unexpected, to know the unknown, and to make possible the impossible. Without this mindset, dreams remain unreachable…and a life without dreams is barren.

The odds will always exist, but we won’t. So take what is in your favor and chase those dreams. As you begin, take this fact away with you: it’s time for YOU to soar!

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , ,
Posted in: Goals, Inspiration, Top Posts

How to Turn “I Can’t” Into “I Can”

September 1st, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Not a Morning Person!So often the only thing stopping us from achieving a goal? Ourselves. We tell ourselves that we can’t do something or that we are not good at something simply because we’re not used to doing it or because we have never tried it.

For instance, for years I’ve been telling everyone—including myself—that I am not a morning person. I don’t even know my name in the morning. I’m a night owl. I don’t function before noon. Mornings are not in my genetic code.

I’ve organized my life around this belief. If I need to do something that requires a lot of creative thought? I schedule it in the afternoon or evening.

Last week, however, I was scheduled to do a series of radio interviews to promote my book Perseverance. Of course, I would have liked to have done the interviews in the afternoon or evening, but I didn’t have a choice. These were drive time shows. Either I did the interviews early in the morning or I lost my opportunity to do them altogether.

I firmly told myself, “I can do this.” I didn’t let myself believe otherwise.

The night before my first interview, the power went out. My alarm didn’t go off. Two minutes before the scheduled interview, I just happened to wake, look at my watch, and see the time. I got out of bed and on the phone. I did the interview on autopilot, and I pulled it off.

Not only could I function in the morning, I could do it without the use of caffeine and even without any preparation. Just think of how much better I could be in the morning if I had time to prepare!

So on the rest of my interview mornings, I did just that. I got out of bed at least 30 minutes before the first interview, so I had time to have breakfast and coffee and review my notes. By the end of the week, I was wondering if there was anything I couldn’t do in the morning.

The experience taught me these lessons about turning “I Can’t” into “I Can.”

Believe in yourself. Don’t give yourself any other option. If other people can do it, so can you.

Find ways to ease yourself into it. For instance, I got up earlier than needed so I could prepare. What can you do to make this unfamiliar experience feel more familiar?

Give yourself a check mark. I created check boxes on a piece of paper. I checked off a box each time I successfully completed a morning interview. Then, before upcoming interviews, I looked at my checked boxes and said to myself, “I did this before, and I can do this again.”

How do you turn the feeling of “I Can’t” into “I Can?”

  • Share/Bookmark

Posted in: Goals, Perseverance, Personal, Productivity, Tips + Techniques

11 Ways to Find Serenity Amidst Chaos

August 10th, 2009 | 27 Comments »

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, no noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all these things and still be calm in your heart.”

- Unknown

SerenityIn our fast-paced, multitasking, day-to-day lives, we often find ourselves adrift in chaos. I have a lot on my plate (plates, really), and I know full well that I’m certainly not the only one!

Within this chaos, finding our inner calm is just as important—actually more so—than completing our next task. It allows us to recharge and breathe just a bit easier. It’s incredible what just five minutes of serenity can do for your energy level and mental state.

Begin this week by using a special power—the ability to find serenity amidst chaos—and watch as the beauty of the week unfolds around you. The following is a brief menu of serenity options from which you can choose. By all means, indulge yourself this week!

1. Breathe. Those seven letters can instantly trigger a calming response. Just close your eyes, take a deep breath, count to three, and release. Repeat as necessary.

2. Rock Out. Take a quick four-minute break from your work to listen to your favorite song. You’ll probably find that it will calm you down, pump you up, or bring back great memories. Regardless of the genre, give yourself a moment to enjoy the music that will transport you to a place of pure happiness.

3. Uni-task. Yes, you read that right. Instead of believing in the mantra of more is better, allow yourself to focus on each task at hand, one at a time. This will allow you to de-clutter the other tasks that are taunting you from the periphery of your mind.

4. Step away. Let me guess, you’re staring at a screen just now, right? The television screen, the computer screen, and even the smartphone screen have become the interfaces with which we interact most often. When you’re piling on the work and begin to feel overwhelmed, take a step away, or simply turn your chair around for a minute or two. When you do, you’ll instantly regain the clarity you need to continue.

5. Stop! Think about…things. Placing yourself on autopilot does little more than cloud your mind. Instead, take a minute to organize your thoughts and tasks. This way, as you embark on that checklist, you’ll have a clearer vision of your day. After all, improved clarity brings about greater focus—so watch as you execute all of your tasks.

6. Take a Fresh Air Break. When you feel that you’re being pulled in every direction or that you’re stuck in a certain project, take a minute to walk outside and breathe in the fresh air. This will help you reconnect briefly with nature (even if you’re in the middle of a hot city). More importantly, it can help you get back to work with a revitalized attitude.

7. Read. If you’re in the middle of working, prompt your brain to switch gears by reading something new and interesting. This is a great way to continue the learning process with a broader scope. If you’re at home and everyday stresses are getting to you, reading can be a great way to relax. The images and emotions your brain conjures up simply by reading words will certainly be a welcome method of restoring yourself.

8. Reconnect. When life’s chaotic journey begins to get too far under your skin, it’s important to take a step back and reconnect with someone you’ve met along the way. We are greater than the sum of our experiences, and these include the relationships and interactions that have propelled us to where we are today. Simply pick up the phone to learn how someone else is doing and what they are up to in their own lives. A reminder of the memories will be an added bonus.

9. Stretch. Flexing those muscles and moving your body around is a great way to relieve some of the tension being built up in your muscles. Stretching helps you to continue marching on and allows you to reject the manifestation of any stress—literally and figuratively.

10. Laugh. It’s the most important of all medicines, and taking a minute to laugh with others or even at yourself will definitely reinvigorate your mind and soul. Adopting a lighthearted approach to the chaos that surrounds you will help you return to a tranquil place.

11. Create a Serenity Trigger. No matter how you deal with those chaotic moments in your life, create a serenity trigger that will help you find a peaceful place whenever the need arises. My serenity trigger is an image of a beautiful flower blooming within a simple mason jar. When I visualize it, it reminds me to take a few minutes away from what I’m doing to find serenity amidst the chaos.

All of these actions represent different ways of approaching the same problem. We feel stressed because of the palpable chaos around us. When we do, then it’s time for us to find our place of serenity and return to it over and over again.

What is your serenity trigger? How do you find serenity amidst chaos?

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: , , ,
Posted in: Goals, Tips + Techniques, Top Posts

What do you want?

August 5th, 2009 | 7 Comments »

Single red tulip in field of yellow tulips. The first step in achieving anything is defining your vision. As a start, begin with this powerful question: “What do I want?”

It’s easy to skip over that kind of question without giving it much thought. But without having knowledge of the answer, well, you probably won’t get too far.

The Key: Focus on “What” not “How”

Begin by acknowledging that it’s okay and actually quite liberating to accept not knowing exactly what you want right now. I don’t think we ever know with certainty what we want in all areas of our lives; after all, life is an evolving process. At the same time, since it is an unfolding journey of personal exploration, it will definitely require a bit of personal effort. At this point, the “how” doesn’t matter since worrying about it only weakens your attitude.

Trust Yourself

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

-Steve Jobs

Do you trust yourself enough to think deeply about your own wants? In fact, it’s critical that you do; otherwise, you can become trapped in feelings of guilt and other forms of rationalization about what you believe you should be doing—rather than what you want to be doing.

Recently, I decided to trust myself. In fact, I needed to make that decision so that I could continue to move forward. At the time, I was stuck and couldn’t understand why; something was holding me back. When I realized what was stunting my growth, I trusted myself enough to take immediate action. I had kept a journal for at least a year and was still writing in it each evening. It held so many sad memories that I could feel them drain the energy from me each time I picked it up. And so last week, I took the journal out and simply threw it away. Although it held so much of my life within its pages, it was just paper. Fortunately, the important moments remain within me. I haven’t looked back or regretted my actions since that day. Instead, tossing that journal out has allowed me to create a fresh beginning: a beautiful start for a new journey.

Find What You Love

It is never too late or too early to explore our lives; indeed, personal learning should never end, especially when it has to do with what you want in life. Of course, what you learn doesn’t necessarily need to be something radical—there are no rules or expectations.

When I began to explore what I wanted, I needed some type of anchor or cue to keep me motivated. For me, it was a little Post-it note on which I’d written, “Make me happy.” I stuck it in the middle of a big inspiration board and began to think more and more about what makes me happy. At the time, it was a very novel question.

In an unforgettable commencement speech, Steve Jobs discussed what he believes to be most important to his personal and quite unconventional success. What’s his secret to success? Finding what he loves.

You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

So be curious and follow your intuition. Let the process unfold naturally; you don’t need to force it along. Explore questions and new ideas, and as you do, trust yourself, believe, and embrace uncertainty. Get out your brushes and paint a life you love.

—

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: ,
Posted in: Goals, Inspiration

« Older Entries

Subscribe to the Blog

Monthly Archives

Categories

Recent Tweets