Living Out Loud

After seeing the new movie called "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman I thought about my own bucket list -

Well, if you haven't seen it, the premise of the story is about two men who are hospitalized with cancer. They befriend one another during their treatment. One of the men writes what he calls his bucket list after he is told he has terminal cancer. The other man finds the list and after he too has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He adds to the list and offers to take his new friend on a trip to do all the things on the list.

The story is very thought provoking.... I thought about those things on my "Always wanted to do before I die list" and wonder why I have't crossed more off my list. Life goes so quickly and one day in your advanced age you ask "what happened to the years?"

Since my husband died I have found reason to work on my bucket list, I have a sense of urgency about my life now.
How about you? Don't wait for a medical diagnosis that pushes you into doing those things you always wanted, start to do those things on your list now! Choose one or two and year and just "do it" (to coin a Nike phrase) If you have the will, there is always a way!

Posted by Joanne at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Contributed By Ursula Mentjes

2008 is upon us and with that the opportunity to write down all of the goals you would like to intentionally achieve in the New Year! Most people get extremely motivated this time of year, aggressively write down all of their goals, and then wait with anticipation. Soon, though, life kicks in and they forget about all about their "list". At the end of the year, they pull the dusty list out and realize that they only achieved a few goals, or maybe none. Feeling down, they wonder why they even "tried" in the first place.

Sound familiar? Most New Years Resolutions are never achieved. Why? Is it because we're too lazy? No. Is it because we don't care? No. Over the years I have found two simple reasons why people don't achieve their goals and I wanted to share three tips with you to change all of that and live intentionally in 2008!

People don't achieve their goals for two reasons. The first reason is because deep down they don't believe they can achieve it or they don't think they deserve it. Second, they aren't intentional about the goals they choose. Instead, they choose so many goals that they don't put enough energy into the goals they really want to achieve.

3 Tips to Make 2008 Great:

1. Keep it simple! What is your one "Great" goal for 2008 that you want to be sure to achieve? Two others? Then stop. Remember to state your goals in the present tense, as if you have already achieved them. "I lost fifteen pounds by April 15th, 2008!"

2. Break it down! I teach my clients that Clarity = Achievement. Know what you are going to achieve and then break it down into simple, achievable steps.

2. Listen to your self talk. What are you saying to yourself? Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Post mantras in your office, car, etc. "I have achieved all of my goals in 2008!"

The most important thing you can do to achieve your goals in 2008 is to be intentional! Being intentional means that you are present, conscious and you choose the results that you want ahead of time. Remember, all we have is this moment. Right now. What can you do moment by moment to achieve your goal or goals?

Keep it simple, break it down and stay in the moment! You WILL achieve your goal or goals in 2008!

Ursula Mentjes is an International Speaker, Actor and Certified Business Coach who specializes in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help her clients reach their highest potential in their careers and businesses. Specifically, she has helped businesses double and triple their sales revenue in as short as two months. Ursula is passionate about helping individuals and businesses reach their full potential, so in May of 2004 she founded Potential Quest, Inc., a Professional Coaching and consulting firm that specializes in working with entrepreneurs and sales people.
Ursula's first book, Selling with Intention, is now available. Her second book, One Great Goal, will be released this spring. www.potentialquest.com

Posted by Joanne at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Benazir Bhutto (June 21, 1953 – December 27, 2007) was a Pakistani politician who chaired the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a centre-left political party in Pakistan. Bhutto was the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, having twice been Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988–1990; 1993–1996).

Bhutto had declared her intention to return to Pakistan within 2007, which she did, in spite of Musharraf's statements of May 2007 about not allowing her to return ahead of the country's general election, due late 2007 or early 2008. It was speculated that she may have been offered the office of Prime Minister again. Bhutto spent her entire life representing the People’s Party and was assassinated December 27, 2007 at the age of 54.

Posted by Joanne at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I sit and formulate my goals for the New Year I reflect back on what 2007 meant to me and how do I visualize the New Year. If you read my previous newsletters this year I shared with you that I moved across the country and was able to take the summer off to regroup and recharge. I learned to sit and be still, to contemplate life and to breathe. I slowed down which was a feat in itself to accomplish as most busy women know. I reconnected with family and friends I hadn’t spent much time with in years and I listened.

What I heard and observed around me was incredibly eye opening because they were me! Those who were rushing from one job to the next, talking intently about how bad the economy and housing market was, saying there was never enough time to get everything done, wondering how their schedules have become so overbooked, always stating that they needed to start saying no more often, complaining about spouses, children, employers and employees, stating “We should get together sometime” – right, and sometime never came. Whew… exhausting isn’t it? No wonder so many people are sleep deprived, emotionally spent, physically out of shape and unfulfilled.

I’ve learned to have a lot of “me” time and that quitting work at 5:00 is really valuable. I pick up the phone and actually speak to those who I want to connect with, a voice is so much better than an email. I invite people over for dinner frequently, because I enjoy their company and want to stay connected. I never eat fast food, I always sit down and enjoy a meal whether I cook it or someone else does. I keep in contact with those who really are important to me - I now live deliberately, because sometimes there is no time for do overs.

Posted by Joanne at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)