Kids are Home---New Video as a gift

I love when my kids are home for a lot of reasons.  I love being together as a family, family dinners and even being the topic of their jokes.  No matter how cool you think you are......your kids will always find something to laugh at :)

Fortunately for me, they both love to help me out with my new technology and Lauren helped me with this video for my website.  Thanks Lauren!

Why I ?hate? Tom Brady

Since I live right outside of Indianapolis, it should come as no big surprise that I'm a die hard Colts fan, and especially a huge fan of Peyton Manning.  Therefore, I also must admit that I love to see anyone beat the Patriots and especially do not enjoy Tom Brady.  

That being said, it is obvious that I'm not getting to enjoy much love in that area this year.


Now being a personal coach, and a person who genuinely wants to help and recognize the power and inner spirit of others, I find that 'hate' is actually a really strong word and seems to be out of integrity for me, so it made me stop and think.  Why do I hold such a negative personal feeling toward him, when I don't even really know him?

It struck me that as human beings, we always seem to demonize those that are not aligned with our belief system and I quickly recognized the truth about what I was doing.  In reality, we have always been football fans of our local team.  We were huge Browns fans when we lived in Cleveland during the reign of Bernie Kosar (for those of you old enough to remember and care, you would remember the 1987 game which had 'THE DRIVE' by John Elway of the Broncos which took away the closest chance Cleveland has ever had at a Super Bowl berth).  I ?hated? John Elway then too. 

So, in reality, if I lived in New England, I would actually be a huge fan of Tom Brady as well...........I have to admit.  


The truth of the matter is that he is an excellent quarterback and has an excellent team, and has the Superbowl rings to show for it.

I think we also do this with politics, religion and any other topic that separates us as people.  If others don't have the same belief system, same goal, or same tactics, people tend to make immediate judgments and dismiss others as idiots, evil, and the enemy.  Without sounding preachy---shouldn't we really have a rule of seeking to understand others first?  Isn't that what we would want?  Does it all come down to what we learned in kindergarten which was the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

So----at the risk of ruining your 'winner takes all' feelings around football-----I'm stepping into those golden rule shoes myself.  How can I understand (and dare appreciate?) Tom Brady and the Patriots?  I can respect them for their passion, their athletic ability, their skills and abilities.  I can stop saying that I hate them, but I still don't have to root for them.  Yes, we are all connected as human beings and love to see our team striving to achieve something great.  But it is, after all, only a game. And without good opponents, the winning wouldn't be as sweet. 

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

www.lynnzettler.com

Are you coasting?

So the end of the year is coming up fast and you are either in one of two camps of thought.  The first is that the holidays are a crazy time, no one pays attention to anything or gets any REAL work done, so I might as well coast to 12/31 along with the rest of them.  The second is that the holidays are a time to regroup, plan and get a jump on everyone else so that you hit the ground running January 1 while everyone else is still dealing with the hangovers.  There may be some levels of middle ground in there somewhere as well, but I think you get the idea.

Now I'm not insinuating that there is anything wrong with a little well deserved R&R with family, friends, or even by yourself over the holidays.  We all need more of that!

But if nothing else, take the holiday time to get your house in order.  You know what I mean.  Get ready for 2011 so it is an easier year for you.  Get organized so that you'll find things faster.  Create some new habits that will serve you better and really commit to them because you WANT your life to be easier.  Here are some ideas:

1.  Make some financial goals.  What loan are you going to focus on paying off?  How much are you going to earmark for savings?  Do you need a better record keeping system?  Can you set your bills up for autopay?  Are all of your accounts set up online?  Have you met with a financial planner to make sure you are on track with your long term needs and goals?  What are you waiting for?

2.  What home maintenance projects need to be done and do they need any significant funding?  Do you need to set aside your tax return for it?

3.  Are there any home maintenance projects you can tackle over the holidays?  Does your shower need a fresh caulking? Time to finally fix that leaky faucet?

4.  And you know it.....do you have your records in order for your 2010 tax return?  Have you made all of your donations?  Do you need to make a run to Good Will?  Here's a tip---use www.itsdeductible.com.  It's a great website that allows you to list all of your donations and even gives you suggested value amounts for the items you are donating.

Enjoy your holidays AND be ready for a great start to 2011.

Remember to spend some quality time on you.

www.lynnzettler.com

Today’s Business World

 Today’s Business World is a cornucopia of confusion (I love alliteration!).  We enter the business world bright eyed and eager to please, only to be knocked around and placed firmly back on our hind ends… repeatedly.  What is it that’s holding us back?  What is it that is so different today, than it was for our parents and/ or grandparents?  

1.     The world is MUCH smaller.  I didn’t understand that concept until I had several years under my professional belt.  The world is smaller because of advances in technology.  We can have meetings with clients across the globe via webinar, or conference calls.  Have you utilized Skype yet?  It’s amazing.  We can sit in our home office in Carmel, and discuss budgets and analytics with a client in Hong Kong.

2.       The world moves at a FAR faster pace.  While technology so often works in our favor, it also works against us at times.  Once upon a time, the work week consisted of 9-5 M-F unless you worked in the emergency services as a fire fighter, doctor, nurse, police officer etc.  We don’t have that luxury by and large any longer.  And if we own our own businesses, a forty hour week is a dream that may never be realized until we retire. 

3.       Life has become more complicated.  We are aware of what’s going on even on the other side of the globe.  We have “friends” in Ireland, England, Taiwan, or Japan. We hear of things happening in their newspapers as well as our own.   We have family members facing horrors in the Middle East that we can’t begin to fathom, and honestly don’t want to understand.  We have children being bullied online to the point where they make decisions which impact the lives of other children in a horrible fashion. 

4.  Our expectations of ourselves are greater than any previous generation.  Call it greed, or drive.  Whatever we want to call it, it is what it is.  We want.  We want it all.  We want it now. What can we do to put things into balance?

Are you working in a business that you love?  Not one that is “alright”.  Not a field that “makes good money”.  Do you wake up in the morning and want to go to the office?  If not, why not?  Why are you spending countless years in a profession that doesn’t make your spirit soar? 

When you look at your job, do you feel a sense of loyalty to your company?  If you are self employed this pertains to you as well.  Are you loyal to yourself, your customer base, your business?  Whether you are an executive at a high-rise downtown, or busting your hump as a carpet cleaner from a second hand van, are you loyal to your job?  If not, why are you doing it? 

Do you make time to reflect on what you’ve done during your week, or day?  Do you evaluate where you are, often, to insure that you are in line with what will take you up to your date of retirement? 

When you think of retirement, do you think “I can’t retire….  I can’t afford to” rather than “I can’t retire… I can’t stand the thought of not going into the office”? 

How can you evaluate, with honesty, the issues in today’s business world that bring you fear, apprehension, happiness, and joy?  Is it possible to look at your work situation with a clear/ unbiased mind and make decisions for the betterment of YOU rather than looking at your situation through the glasses of corporate America, or a loyal spouse/ parent?  If we have to do it alone, it may be nearly impossible to look at things without the distorted glasses of life.  If we look at our situations through the filter of a third party, though, why couldn’t we make our business lives happier? 

It’s quite possible that we’re in the correct business, simply not the optimal position.  It’s possible the happiness and joy can be found in your work, but your vision has become skewed for one reason or another.  In times like these, it’s best to look to someone that can lend a hand.  This is the perfect time to look to a Certified Professional Coach for assistance.  I’d love to help you find your happiness.  I’d love to alleviate some or most of the confusion in your business world.  

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

www.lynnzettler.com

Why a personal coach

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.”  I’m not suggesting that any of us are teetering on the brink of insanity, but sometimes it feels as though we are. 

We enter into jobs believing they will make us feel happy and fulfilled, and they become a chore… they become jobs.  We accept positions during our career… stepping stones… to a different plateau, only to look back in five, eight, or ten years to discover we’ve been on the same plateau and feel completely unfulfilled.  We eagerly embrace being a parent to assist in molding a young mind and helping our children aspire to be what they are meant to be, only to look back as they are packing their rooms to go to college and realize that our dreams and ambitions have been placed very much on the back burner… and maybe we feel some regret. 

All of these emotions are normal, possibly expected, but it’s not necessary to live any longer with feelings of “shoulda/coulda” (it’s not a misspelling… it’ll show up in a dictionary one day… you watch and see).  Unfortunately, many people approach the “golden years” of their lives feeling like a tarnished piece of grandma’s fine silverware stashed in a drawer. They look back on their years of raising their children and creating their careers with dismay.  At what point is it too late to make the changes in our lives that we need to make to empower ourselves to be the person we aspired to be in our youth?  It is never too late to make the changes.  In May of 2007, Nola Ochs, a 95 year old lady in Kansas graduated from Ft. Hays State University in Kansas after taking thirty years of classes.  She graduated with a degree in history and went on to obtain a Masters three years later!  It’s never too late to pursue your dreams.  As long as we have the desire to aspire to greatness we’re never too old.  HOW do we move ahead after years of sitting still?  One way is to hire a personal coach. 

There is no reason to sit back and wish your life away.  LifeAction Coaching is a portal to connect you with the old you and I’ll be your partner.  Together we can evaluate your stalled dreams and make a plan to get the train back up and rolling at full speed ahead.  Wishing won’t take you to the summit of Mt. Everest, and going to the same job you’ve detested for the past decade won’t allow you to look back on your life and tell your grandkids about the adventures you experienced on the way to your reality.  A personal coach can help you uncover your passions, find out what brings your soul the most joy, and the reasons why you have stuck with the job you’ve had.  There has to be something keeping you there. We can find out together what that something is, and use it to propel you to the next level in your journey.  

You know where I am. 

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

www.lynnzettler.com

Goal Setting

What is that sound that Charlie Brown makes when something is said, or something happens that he’s not very happy with?  I think it’s something like “aaugh!”.  

How often do we hear someone tell us, “you need to set goals”, or “the only way to achieve what you need to achieve in life is if you have clearly defined goals”.  It seems that every executive workshop or team-building workshop focuses to the point of absurdity on goals and goal setting.  There may very well be a reason for the madness. 

Without goals, how do you a) know where you are currently, and b) know where you want to be in six months, a year, five years etc?  If you’re among the very few, you stroll through life moving ahead at a speed that is relatively admirable and experience a sweet amount of success… and you don’t seem to have to put forth much effort.  Unfortunately, most of us don’t have that luxury.  Most of us either need to write out our goals, or wallow in mediocrity. 

Why do we need to write our goals?  When we write our goals, our subconscious mind is poked.  It’s told to pay attention, something is important.  While running the risk of sounding “new age-y”, our desires are sent out to be worked on while we may not consciously be working on them.  When we take the extra time to write the goal down, we’re telling our mind that what we’ve written is very important to us, and it allows us to keep score in a way. 

Should goals only be written for business?  Sure… if business is the only part of your life that you want to attain more in.  If you desire a happier home life, a more fulfilling spiritual life, a more padded checking account, a more svelte physique… you get the idea… then you absolutely should be writing goals.  Write goals for anything and everything that is important in your life: 

1.      Career:  Where do you want to be and when?  How much money do you want to make annually?  What kind of benefits do you desire? 

2.      Do you dream of attaining a higher degree of formal education? When can you get it done?  What will it cost?  What school do you want to attend? 

3.      Are you happy with your physical health/ physique?  What do you need to do to attain what you desire?  Granted, most of us will never look like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, but we can feel better about what we’ve been given. 

4.      What would make you happier within your family?  Do you want children?  Do you want your children to attend college?  What do you need to do to help in the process? 

5.      What do you do to make yourself feel better about YOU?  Do you want to volunteer?  Do you want to take art classes? 

Ok… so you get the point. We need to write goals… apparently for EVERYTHING in our lives.  Don’t get too riled up… choose what is most important to you.  Where do you need to focus your energies right now until you create the habit of setting goals? It’s not realistic to attack everything head on with fervor… you’ll get frustrated and give up.  Nothing is achieved that way.  Pinpoint one aspect you need to focus on.  Once you form the habits of writing goals for, say, your career, write the goals for your physical health.  Goal setting can be a chore, but if it is, you’re not as likely to keep at it.  Make it into more of a game… make it fun.  Make it something that can be measured which brings me to the meat of goal setting… you got it… SMART. 

Anyone that has ever sat through a training seminar for goal setting, or knows someone that has sat through a seminar knows the acronym SMART.  If you don’t know it, you’ve either been very fortunate or have seriously missed out, depending upon how you look at it.  For everyone that has experience with SMART, this is a review.  The newbies… prepare to be AMAZED! 

·        S:  SPECIFIC.  Set very specific goals.  i.e.  I will attain my MBA by 7/1/2012.  I will learn to dance the Rumba by 1/5/2011 etc.  Don’t leave room for not attaining… be SPECIFIC. 

·        M:  MEASURABLE:  similar to specific, but the goal has to be measurable.  I will lose GOBS of weight by 1/1/2011 just won’t cut it.  I will lose 15 lbs by 1/1/2011 is MUCH better.  The goal has to be MEASURABLE. 

·        A:  ATTAINABLE:  Don’t set yourself up for failure.  If you can never become an Olympic caliper athlete, don’t set yourself up for failure.  If you want to be able to walk the mini marathon in May, and right now, you can walk a mile and a half, sure it may be tough, but your goal is ATTAINABLE. 

·        R:  RELEVANT: Make sure your goals make sense and are relevant to the big picture.  Having a goal of reducing sick time by employees by 5%, may not be relevant if you already enjoy a 98% attendance rate.  Time will be better spent on other things.  Keep things RELEVANT. 

·        T:  TIME SENSITIVE:   Put a deadline on your goals.  “I will lose 15 pounds.”  That’s great, but WHEN will you lose it?  If you have no time frame, you have no motivation.  We only have so many years in our lives… everything is TIME SENSITIVE.

In all honesty, goals aren’t going to bury or carry you if you choose not to set them, but find one athlete, or executive that doesn’t set goals that are SMART.  You’ll be hard pressed to find one.  There is a reason goals are set by top performers. Try setting goals for yourself for a week, and then a month… honest goals.  Follow up and monitor them to see what a difference they can make in your life.  You’ll understand why they are so vital.  

Remember to Spend Some Quality Time on You!

www.lynnzettler.com

Christmas Throw Up

I’m sitting at my computer on a grey, misty Tuesday and behind my back is a living room which looks like ‘Christmas just threw up’, as my daughter would say.  I normally love to decorate for Christmas, but I have to admit that since my kids have gone off to college and into their own lives, the thrill just isn’t there anymore.  So I now take to decorating in stages.  Over the weekend the tree (we broke down and bought our first artificial one this year) went up and Mark took on the outside lights.  In addition, he brought up all the decoration boxes from the basement so that I could take care of the rest of the house.  Yesterday I unpacked them in the living room.  And there it is.

I normally am not a procrastinator.  I like to tackle things, get them done and move on.  But I have noticed recently that some of those big projects get pushed back so I can tackle the quick items (like writing this blog today, rather than preparing for my talk on Saturday or making follow calls to potential clients!).  Maybe it’s because I need to experience what my clients experience so I can relate to them more.  Yes, that’s it!  I like that answer.  It’s much better than “you’re a loser because you are leaving things undone.”

The other thing that I think I’ve learned recently is that it’s also OK to slack off a little sometimes.  My grandmother passed away right before Thanksgiving and it really hit the family hard.  Even though she was nearly 90, and ready to go, I’m not sure those left behind are ever quite ready.  Of course this threw me out of my normal routines for work, business development, video blogs and all of those extremely important things (I’m being sarcastic), and a lot of things were put on hold.  That’s why Christmas threw up in my living room.  I was too busy getting caught up on work to take the time to decorate right now.  If you knew my grandmother (Esther), you’d also know that she’d be apologizing right now for causing all this disruption in my life and all her other grandchildren’s and children’s lives as well.  She was the definition of humility.  But I have to admit that I am thanking her.  Sometimes I need to be forced to take the break that I need, to take the deep breath, to reevaluate my priorities and refocus on what’s really important.  Thanks Esther.  I know you’ll be looking out for me in the future and somehow you’ll find a way to remind me again.  I think I’ll clean up the living room tomorrow.

Remember to Spend Some Quality Time on You!

www.lynnzettler.com

Who Uses a Professional Coach?

The Manning brothers (Peyton and Eli), Serena Williams, the Jonas Brothers, the cheerleading squad at the local high school, the basketball team at IU… all of these folks have used, or are currently using professional coaches.  There are voice coaches, music coaches, athletic coaches, acting coaches ... you get the idea.  Coaches are used in a great number of situations, not just professional athletes and performers.  The word coach is synonymous with trainer, teacher or instructor.  Does that pertain to our professional lives as well?  Absolutely!

Interestingly enough, anyone who owns a business that needs a little momentum or direction can use a coach for perspective and guidance.  Complacency is pretty common in our day-to-day lives.  A little extra “nudge” by a professional coach may be exactly what you need to bring your company from the bottom of the mountain to the middle of the mountain, and ultimately to the peak.   No company is too large or too small to benefit from a professional coach assisting in gaining a new sense of focus to your company’s mission statement and goals. 

Fortune 500 companies have been using Corporate Coaching since the 1980’s.  It’s not uncommon for executives to have professional coaching included as part of their benefits packages.  The companies providing these services often see the benefit as far greater than the cost as it assists in grooming the new executive to fit more into the mold of the company than if she was to simply sit back and take in the culture.  Investing in a professional corporate coach allows companies to build a culture rather than having one thrust or forced upon it because of lack of vision. 

Many teams have benefited from corporate or professional coaching as well.  Just as in sports teams, business teams can obtain clarity of mission, interpersonal skill development, better team communications, clear direction, rapid achievement of goals and expertise in critical conversations using the skills of a certified coach. 

As an individual, we can all use a little punch in the arm now and again, or a new fire lit to get that 'jazz' back in our step.  How often have you looked back on the past five years and shaken your head because you can pinpoint, almost to the minute, where you stumbled?  Stumbling is sometimes required and a necessary learning experience which can still lead to success.  Falling on your face and accepting defeat is unacceptable. 

A coach is the person to reach out, wipe off your knees, redirect your attention and focus on your strengths and attributes, point out how you’ve gotten to where you are and give advice to move you forward at a pace worthy of your efforts. 

A professional coach can assist in areas of our lives that we simply may not realize needs assistance.  Leadership development (for HOME and office), interpersonal skills, or conflict resolution can all be applied to every aspect of our lives, not simply to what we do when we clock in to earn a day’s wages. 

Is professional coaching for everyone?  Absolutely not.  Some folks simply are not coachable.  Some companies and individuals are happy with existing rather than excelling.  Professional coaches are for companies and individuals that have a strong desire to succeed and refuse to settle for good enough.  If this sounds like it may be part of your make up, or your company's…you know where to find me.

Remember to spend some quality time on you.

www.lynnzettler.com

Women facing Empty Next Syndrome

If you are anything like many other women, you are looking at the prospect of being an “empty nester” with a mix of emotions.  FINALLY!  The kids will be out of the house (I’ve heard this is a fairy tale… they never REALLY leave home).    What will I do with their room?  I’ve always wanted that craft/sewing room.  How will I react to the lack of music in the house----to the silence?  What do I do now with my life, or with my career?  Will my job be a career now, instead of just a job that I ran in parallel to motherhood?  These were my questions, but I’m sure you have your own.  One question that has crept up now and again is “What will I do with my time without having to taxi 2.5 kids in 35.7 directions” (it happens, trust me!) There are times now when I think, “I wish I had a kid to take to soccer practice,” (with a tear swelling up in my eye!).

Just like hundreds of other women, you face your pending freedom with a little fear, a little trepidation, a little curiosity, and a brand new outlook on life.  It’s time for you to look at what YOU want to be when you grow up.  At your age, what is it that will bring your life the joy that you want?  Is that even a possibility? How do figure out what you want to do?  You certainly don’t have the same dreams and aspirations that you had as a child… or do you? 

This is where a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) comes into play.  Between running Johnny to Soccer, and then to hockey, and Julie off to ballet, and soccer (of course the soccer teams meet at the same field… at DIFFERENT times), you and your new found CPC (not quite a BFF, but pretty close) can hammer out the details to get you on the path you want to take, not the path that’s tossed in your way. 

1.     Together, we can figure out what you want to do… a “life mission statement” of sorts.  Think things through.  What are the consequences to starting that coffee shop, taking those voice lessons, or pursuing your license to practice law?  How will you feel when you see it as reality?  How will you feel if you never pursue it?  There’s a lot to think about.

2.       What do you do that brings you the most satisfaction?  Together, we can look at exactly what you’ve accomplished, what have been your challenges, and what brings you the most joy.  Is it really ever too late to take acting lessons?  What matters most to you? You and I can sort through all of the information that you’ve been learning for the past 12, 15, 18, 20… years.  Do you need money? Do you prefer an active setting? Do you want to be in a crowd, or sitting silently reading a great book?  We’ll find out!   And it all matters! 

3.       Do you know anyone that does what you are thinking about doing?  Half the battle is networking.  Guess what… I have a GREAT network in place between my 20 year career in a Fortune 50 Company, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; I can certainly guide you to someone to help you look into whether or not you’d like to start your own cosmetics company (LOOK OUT MARY KAY!).

4.       Once you have your list of dreams, your Certified Professional Coach can help you focus in.  It may be intimidating to think of all that the world can offer you… we can face it and sort it out together.

5.       Once you’ve gained your focus, do you need to go back to school?  Do you need to hire a mentor?  Do you need to call the Peace Corps? 

Your greatest obstacle may very well prove to be yourself.  Understand that this is normal.  You’re all right.  Fear makes us stronger if it’s utilized the way that it should be. 

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

www.lynnzettler.com

Ten tips to manage your social media

If you use a computer at all, it is likely that social media has impacted your day-to-day routine in some way.  Want to join in with the rest of the world?  Here are ten tips to help you successfully utilize social media to benefit your personal and professional goals:

1. Know Your Market.  Who are you trying to connect with?  What is the purpose of social networking for you?  Is it to sell a product, share information, or connect with friends?  Different social networks are better than others for certain things.  If you are an entrepreneur, networks like Twitter and Linked In will help you make professional and consumer connections.  If you are looking to connect with old fans or promote a project, Facebook may be the network for you.  

2. Content, Content, Content.  The most important factor in social networking is the kind of content you are sharing.  If your content is interesting and pertinent, your network will share it with their networks, so on and so forth, further widening your social web.  If your content isn't quality, no one is going to care and people will not pay attention.  Be selective and think about what you are sharing before you share it.  

3. Define Your Brand/Image.  This determines what kind of content you are sharing, as well.  Are you selling a product?  Are you trying to be a personality?  Are you representing a business?  Expressing personal issues may not be effective if your goal is to represent a specific company, but may be completely effective if you are starting a personal blog or promoting yourself as your brand.  Try and be specific about the image you would like to create for yourself.

4. Be Consistent.  It is important to share information on a consistent basis, whatever that may be for you.  Perhaps it is daily, weekly, or monthly.  The only way to gain a steady readership is to be consistent and reliable in your efforts!  

5. Use Current Connections to Find New Connections.  If someone you know is utilizing social networking successfully, ask them for help.  Maybe they can feature you on their blog, encourage their followers to follow you, or promote your business for you.  And then you can return the favor.

6. Be Patient. It takes time to build momentum.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Be patient and consistent and your network will grow.  

7. Care. It's important to care about what you are trying to say.  Followers will easily pick up on authenticity (or lack of it).  The more you care about what you are doing, the better your content will be, and the more satisfaction you will receive.  

8. Don't Spam.  No one likes a spammer.  Give value.  If you are sending messages directly to individuals, then research those individuals and engage personally with them.  Send a congratulatory note for a promotion or speaking engagement, note their recent business success, etc.  Be selective about how often you share content and reach out, and what content you decide to repeat.  

9. Don't Get Lazy.  Personal interaction is still very important when it comes to connecting with others.  The internet, the number of followers, the amount of re-blogs or re-tweets...none of it matters as much as the person, business, goal itself.  Don't rely on others to make things happen for you.  

10. Find A Balance. Social networking can be overwhelming, exhausting, and at times, quite the time-suck.  Set aside a certain amount of time per day or week for specific tasks.  This will make it easier to manage, and less likely to take over your life.  Consider hiring outside help, like TweetLikeLink.  They will help you with the focused, targeted social media you need for your company or brand and the cost is minimal.  Many social media management companies exist for that very reason.  They can guide you, help you figure out a system that works best for you so that you are getting the most out of your social networking efforts.  Let them do the legwork for you and spend your time doing what you do best!

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

www.lynnzettler.com

LifeAction Coaching, Inc.

Sometimes you just need a hand up

Deanne didn't realize how life could change on a dime.  With one day's notice she was forced to say good-bye to a job that she'd had for 18 years.  With no degree and limited skills....now what?

Deanne isn't one to sit back and complain, or let herself feel victimized.  She was determined to find a way to succeed, and she started by signing up for computer classes at the local neighborhood center.  She teamed up with Dress for Success and was partnered with a personal coach from A Hand Up Coaching to help her create her new path of success in life and in a career.  Together, she worked with her coach to create job search strategies, personal presentation skills and confidence, and financial plans and budgets in order to reach her short term goals and give her a strong foundation on which to build her future.


Deanne has since landed on her feet with a job in customer service and credits the organizations, and the personal coaching which gave her the 'hand up' that she needed.

This is the typical story of the women that come to A Hand Up Coaching who are in need of a soft ear, an encouraging voice, a guiding light and a strong sense of hope for their futures.  The volunteers of AHUC are dedicated coaches, accredited through the International Coach Federation, who are passionate about helping others succeed.  Now is the time, especially in our churning economy, when the need for 'hand ups' instead of 'hand outs' becomes so apparent.  Won't you help give a hand up to a positive and determined woman such as Deanne today?  Make a donation to AHUC to keep the 'hand ups' going!

Donate now

www.ahuc.org

Balancing Career & Home

Balancing  Career and Home… is there an answer? 

 Every one of us lives a dichotomy of sorts.  You love your family.  They are accustomed to a certain life-style so you have to work, often long tedious hours.  Where do you strike a balance?  What’s the right answer?  Neglect your family in order to provide them with the coolest video games, most up to date fashions, or a home in a good school district?  Neglect your job in order to spend a greater amount of time with your family and risk being overlooked for a promotion that you’ve been hounding for?  It’s not an easy decision.  What’s the answer? 

Not only is there not an easy solution, it’s often one that cannot be answered without a great deal of introspection… and the answers you find may not be those you are hoping to find.  Balance is absolutely necessary.  Without balance, you burn out at work, you neglect your family… ultimately, you finish last and unhappy.  How do you strike a balance?  Is it even called balance?  Or is it just the choices of being the best you can be wherever you are at the moment? How much time do you NEED to dedicate to your job?  Often times, it’s necessary to put in long hours.  Often times we put in long hours because we have poor time management skills… sorry to be so blunt. 

·          How often do you delegate items that can be delegated to someone that isn’t quite as busy as you are?  It’s not always possible, especially if you are running your own business… but even then, are there responsibilities that can be delegated, or are you holding on to them because you are a control freak?  Again, sorry to be so blunt.  Have the dry cleaning delivered; can you afford to hire an assistant?  It may not be possible to hire someone… but maybe it is. Even if they won’t do it exactly as you would do it…..does it really matter that much? 

·         When is the last time you told someone “I’m sorry.  I don’t have time to… “fill in the blank”.  It’s hard to tell people No, especially when they have always been able to count on you to design costumes, pick up cookies for parties, coordinate the catering, etc.  “No” won’t hurt anyone for very long.  Before long, they’ll find the next person that can’t say “no”… and you’ll have banked family time!  

·         Have you ever invested in an egg timer?  How often do you get buried in the details, and completely lose track of time?  A simple, inexpensive timer (there’s an app for it!) will help you keep focused on time.  

·         When is the last time you said to your family “Tuesday is game night.  I will be home at 6pm”.  Hold yourself accountable to your family and them to you.  Set the goal to spend certain time slots together.  A family is much like a business.  You set up business meetings with clients, right?  Why not set up family meetings with your spouse and / or children for a serious game of Uno, or match up on the WII Fit?

 

·         When is the last time you told your children “No… you cannot join… (fill in the blank).  Choose one (or 2) activities that are most important to you.  I need time with you too.”  If you have teenagers, they may very well have a screaming fit, followed by convulsions on the floor at the mere thought of having to carry on a conversation with you, AND spend time with you, but it will pay off in the long run.  

·         When is the last time you and your family sat around the dinner table and discussed the day?  Sometimes it’s simply not possible to eat together daily.  There’s no steadfast rule that says you can’t meet once a week… around the kitchen island… before work/ school… while eating a toaster pastry filled with yummy fruit glaze.  Not the healthiest breakfast, but the time you share is invaluable.  

Sometimes, it seems impossible to keep your family happy and to keep your career happy.  Nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it, and find little tricks around all of your obstacles.   Get creative; you may be amazed at some of the balancing tricks you may find. 

www.lynnzettler.com 

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

Group Coaching Class for January 2011---Strengthening Your Personal Foundation

Back by popular demand:

Strengthening Your Personal Foundation 

Group Coaching Class 

Is your foundation strong, sturdy and capable of weathering a storm, or is your foundation like a house of cards?


Your personal foundation is your structural basis that supports you in living an exceptional life.  Just as a house must be built on a strong foundation to avoid collapsing under stress, so must your life.  A house's foundation is made up of earth, cement, and steel, your personal foundation is also made up of three elements---the What, Who and How.

Start 2011 off right and get your foundation in top shape. 

Contact me to enroll today.

Here's the challenge.  If I can get 10 people signed up for this class, I will give a huge discount off of my coaching fee!

Together, in this class we will get you:

1.  A past that you are fully clear of
2.  A life that is based fully on integrity
3.  Needs that have been identified and fully met
4.  Boundaries that are ample and automatic
5. Standards that bring out your best

6.  An absence of tolerations
7. A choice to come from a positive place
8. A family that nurtures you
9. A community that develops you
10. A life fully oriented around your true values






Classes begin Thursday January 6th, 8-9pm EST and meet every 2 weeks for 8 sessions.

Jan 6, 20/ Feb 3, 17/ Mar 3, 17, 31/ April 14

Contact me to enroll today.

Cost is $325/month

Only $100/month

with 10 clients enrolled

Savings of $900!

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

Contact me to enroll today.

www.lynnzettler.com

PNC Bank---they did something really good

Since my last post was on positive thinking and Mark and I have been dealing with a lot of 'negative' feelings towards a credit score hit (long story) and our recent experience with PNC bank (not an Indy based branch at least), I feel compelled to spread the word of customer service finally winning out.  After a letter to the President of the bank, all is now good and PNC made us happy customers again. (Yay--credit score is back where it should be!)

In any case, we make it a practice to use coaching principles and examine these negative experiences (which have turned positive) and see what we've learned.

1.  We didn't realize how much our credit score really means to us, and how much it costs if you don't have a good one.  Protect yours!

2.  If you are persistent and you know you are right (this doesn't happen all the time of course, but when you KNOW you are right) keep going and go all the way to the top if you need to.

3.  Be patient with people.  They are all doing their job and even though they seem to be getting a little short with you, you can't attract bees without honey.  Being irate never gets you anywhere.

4.  What goes around comes around.  If you keep putting the positive vibes out there with every person you deal with, you will ultimately be rewarded in some way.  Be cordial, polite, calm, level headed and even toned.  You'll get farther.

It all pays off in the end!

www.lynnzettler.com

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

Positive Thinking

Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO):  such a simple concept.  I learned the term in one of my classes while studying for my bachelors’ degree.  Specifically, GIGO refers to inputting invalid data into a computer program.  The computer isn’t at fault… it’s the program.  The programmer made the error somewhere along the way.  Had the programmer written out the pseudo code in more detail, or taken into account the end user of a program, the program may very well run correctly, and not crash on a regular basis.  This pertains to life as well.  The further we get along in life, the more we program our minds.  The more garbage we program into our minds, the more difficult it is to find where the blurp is (that’s a VERY technical term by the way), and reprogram our mind to produce error free results by means of our words and actions. 

Our thoughts are very similar to a computer program.  We program our minds to do a specific job, or behave in a specific manner, typically based on past experiences and learning.  If we focus on the negative, and think things are going to go in a negative direction, they typically do.  We create our own self fulfilling prophecies.  We subconsciously start making decisions which will guide us in one way or another to take a certain action, or speak to someone in a specific manner.

 If we turn the program around, we can teach ourselves to look at our peers in a positive light (it IS possible).  We can learn to look at being overlooked for that promotion as a “character building experience” rather than “the man holding me down… AGAIN”.  What do you need to change in YOUR programming?  How are your negative thoughts affecting your actions? 

As I look back on people I’ve met, the experiences that stand out to me in one way or another, I realize that GIGO is absolutely true in our world.   If we read garbage or listen to garbage, we focus on garbage, and put garbage back out into the world, AFTER focusing on the garbage.  What a smelly situation.

How many times have you caught yourself dreading a situation simply because you had a bad experience in a similar situation?  How many times have you been surprised when things turned out better than expected?  How many times has the situation turned out as bad as you expected?  Was it truly the situation, or was it your perception of how the situation should go, and it simply followed your orders on some level? 

When is the last time you made a concerted effort to fill your mind with literature that has a positive message?  I love to read… so much in fact, I decided to actually write a book entitled  “STOP Talking to Me”.  When is the last time you curled up with a good book of fiction to get lost in the fantasy world of Patricia Cornwell, Dean Koontz, John Saul, or whomever you read when you curl up?  What was the message they were espousing?  I’m willing to wager they had no intention of teaching you to clean up your negative thoughts. 

When is the last time you listened to music that wasn’t a happenin’ groove to get you to get out on the dance floor?  I love music… all kinds of music… but how often do you listen to music with a positive message in it, or just orchestra music to let your mind go where it needs to go? 

When is the last time you complimented somebody? “Your hair looks very nice today.” “That’s a great color on you.” “I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me.” Some kind of compliment with no attachments or agenda.  Try it… it’s wonderful to see the expressions on people’s faces.  You may be the single positive experience in their day so far!

I found the following quote written by Remez Sasson :  “A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds. (http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm).  It’s not uncommon in our society to fall into the pitfalls of worry and negativity.  It’s not a shortfall to admit that we need help trying to get our thoughts in order to help propel us to the next level in our lives:  a new career, a new promotion, a new business, being a better parent or spouse.   With the aid of a professional Life Coach, we can change the Garbage In / Garbage Out to reflect Good In / Good Out. 

www.lynnzettler.com

Remember to spend some quality time on you!

What's your maintenance program?

When did you last change the oil in your car? Had a flush and fill? Have it washed, waxed or got "The Works" at the carwash? Did you add the tire shine treatment to really give it that extra spark?

You may be surprised to know that I take my car maintenance very seriously and that I have previously changed my own oil with my own two hands.  When I bought my first car, I was determined to take full responsibility for everything that had to do with car ownership.  My mother was so impressed she came out and took pictures of me, oil pan, dirty track suit (I think that's what we called them then) and all.  We all know we need a maintenance program to keep our cars running well, because most of us use our cars every day.

Over the weekend I took my LifeAction Coaching booth to the Winslow Wellness Center right outside of Indianapolis for their Halloween Bash, where they offered different facial treatments and procedures, jewelry and handbags, etc.  After seeing the steady stream of women and yes, some men too, it was apparent that their visits were part of a maintenance program too.  Just like those of us that color our hair, or cut it routinely, we all choose different maintenance programs to keep us looking well.

I started thinking about all of the maintenance programs that we have, and how we sometimes slack off on the upkeep.  We tend to take better care of our cars than a lot of things related to our lives.  How about:

Body Maintenance
Health Maintenance
Spiritual Maintenance
Mental Maintenance
Intellectual Maintenance
Financial Maintenance
Career Maintenance
Relationship Maintenance

Think about which one of yours needs a 'lift' now and what do you need to do to get it back in it's best shape?  Let's not wait for the end of the year and the New Year's Resolution.  Let's get started right now and raise the bar on your maintenance programs.

www.lynnzettler.com

Pay it forward: Donate today to A Hand Up Coaching and win a nano!

A Hand Up Coaching

Please Help Us Reach Our Goal of $100K by December 5!

Make a donation, follow us on our Twitter, join our Facebook or LinkedIn page and be entered to win a 16GB

 

nano!

 

A Hand UP Coaching

is a National 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing volunteer Coaching Services to women moving from unfavorable situations and environments to gain greater self-confidence, independence, and economic status. Our volunteers are Coaches who are involved in Accredited International Coach Federation Training Programs and provide the best Coaching available in the world.

Every little bit helps.  No donation is too small.  Thank you.

www.ahuc.org

Donate today!



Calling all coaches, please send this out to your networks and help us reach our goal!

Remember to spend some quality time on you.


www.lynnzettler.com

Ann Taylor, Really?!

I'm an Ann Taylor girl.  I love their clothes, they fit me great, they're resonably priced and I usually hit them once or twice a year for some really great sales.  I can't say how disappointed I am in this advertisement where they felt the need to make the model's body look unrealistically out of proportion.  What's wrong with the picture on the left?  She looks great!

How did we get to the point where we are saying that 'real' people are not good enough, even for modeling our clothes.  It's one thing to have a mannequin, it's quite another to re-model a real person to make them look fake.  Women in particular have been well trained to think that they are not good enough.....better yet......they are never good enough.

This is a common theme that I run into with coaching clients.  People who think they are never good enough run themselves ragged trying to achieve more and more in order to feel some significance.  They typically have trouble saying 'no' to anything, and end up being exhausted all of the time.  They never feel that they can do enough or be enough.

What does enough look like?  The answer is different for everyone, but most likely it is unattainable because the definition is always changing.  As soon as you get to the magic place called 'enough',  you replace it with yet another level of 'enough' to chase.

The truth is that we are all good enough no matter our size, shape, beliefs, religion, sexual orientation, profession, how much we do or any other criteria you want to use.  Just focus on doing the best you can in any moment and you will always be enough.

www.lynnzettler.com

Getting Over My Own Big BUTs

I love giving my presentation on "Eliminating Your Big BUT", and if you haven't seen it before you are missing out on encountering my dancing expertise to 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix A Lot...you know the rap/hip hop song...."I like big butts and I cannot lie..."...etc....OK, you may want to eliminate that visual....

I am frequently asked about my own big BUTS. What were they, and what are they currently?  This is a great question, because I believe that we continuously have big BUTS, even after eliminating one.  There's always another to replace it.  The trick is to get faster at eliminating them!  I thought I'd share a few of mine:

1.  I would leave my job and start my own business, BUT I'm afraid I won't make enough money.

I willingly and enthusiastically left a secure corporate job after 20 years to venture out on my own in the middle of the current recession.  Crazy right?  Believe me, this did not come without months and months of planning, self analysis, coaching and spousal support. It is probably one of the most liberating things I've ever done in my life, and I'm still loving every minute of it.

2.  I want to write a book, BUT I have no idea how to go about it, get it published, or if anyone would want to read it.

About three years ago I just decided to go for it.  I told people I was writing a book to make it more real and to force me to live up to the expectation.  I went to a free writers workshop, read every book I could on the 'how to's' and just put one step in front of the other until it was published this month with an official release in November.

3.  OK, now for a current one that I'm working on....

I would call (fill in the blank with a persons name of significance, like France A. Cordova, the President of Purdue University) BUT what would I say, what would I offer her and would she even talk to me?

For those of you that don't know, France was recently named in the list of 2010 Who's Who in Indiana by one of Indiana's business magazines.  So my first step was to send her a congratulatory, hand written note.  I'll let you know what my next step is as soon as I get over the BUT.

www.lynnzettler.com

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Personal Coach

You’ve reached a crossroads in your life.  You’ve been going to and from a job that has kept the bills paid, allowed you to take vacations with your family, and provided you with a lifestyle that is, by and large, comfortable.  But something’s missing.  You know in the core of your being that there is something more for you out there. 

Maybe you own a decent sized company… you have a contingency of employees… you turn a profit every month.  You’ve had your ups and downs, and now you’re on an upswing.  You know your company has what it takes to take your widgets to the next level.  There is no reason, which you can readily see, that you aren’t providing widgeting as a service to every company that can use it… but something isn’t allowing your team to come together as a cohesive unit. 

What do you do?  You ask around.  You get some advice.  Someone says in a conversation, “While I was at the Head 2 Toe Women’s Expo in September, I saw this table for a personal coach.  She specializes in helping folks and companies excel… AND she got up on stage and danced in front of everyone.  She’s not a coward. Maybe you should call her.” You think to yourself…’A personal coach? What is that? How can they help me?’

Well, let me help… here are some Pros & Cons of hiring a personal coach: 

Cons

1. Cost.  You’ve got a level of comfort, but personal coaching can be expensive, or so you think. 
2. There is NEVER enough time to complete the “to do” list set up at the beginning of the day.  How can you POSSIBLY add one more item? 
3. Fear: you may have to face some things within you that you’ve kept hidden for some time. 
4. What in the world will others think? 
5. Change is uncomfortable, sometimes downright miserable. 

OK, but if you’re at a crossroads in your life, how do you choose the path you need to take?  The path that will make you happiest?  The path that will allow you to make your dreams a reality?  What are the reasons you SHOULD hire a personal coach? 

1. You’ve lost site of what is important to you.  You need help finding those things again. 
2. You may have a great support group around you, but maybe you don’t want to mix business and personal or maybe you aren’t sure they will understand your situation and can offer concrete advice. Maybe you need help to look within and find out what’s holding you back from your potential. Maybe you’re embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. A personal coach can offer you another position, one with knowledge and training, that can understand and identify.
3. Friends are friends; sometimes you need an outside perspective.  When’s the last time your friend told you those jeans really didn’t look good?  C’mon… they don’t want to hurt your feelings.  You know you put on an extra five pounds or so. A third party can be objective, they can tell you what you NEED to hear, not what you WANT to hear.  
4. Certified Personal Coaches have been trained to help you face your fears, ambitions, desires and find common ground to allow you to face each head on.  If you hire one, make sure the have International Coaches Federation credentials. 
5. Certified Personal Coaches are trained to help you tap into what motivates you:  money, recognition, just knowing you’ve done well for someone/something.  We’re all different.  Often, we’ve lost sight of our own motivators.   
6. Life has gotten in the way for all of us.  Obstacles are everywhere.  Sometimes you need a rope to help you across the ravine.  Personal coaching is a support net of sorts. 
7. Not many people can work out towards a specific physical goal without having a personal trainer.  Think of a personal coach as a mental and motivation trainer, a personal trainer for your life and business. 
8. A personal coach can assist you in tapping into the child you left behind when life got serious.  They help you find your joys and how to incorporate them into your job or company. 
9. When you fall and scuff your knee, a personal coach will help you stand up and dust yourself off.  When you cross the finish line, we’ll also be the first one there to cheer you on for finishing your marathon. 
10. With a personal coach, you always have someone on your side…you may not like the hard truth they offer you, but you know you’ll be better off in the long run.

Even after you’ve weighed the good and bad, you may still have some voice holding you back.  That’s normal.  Sometimes it’s just easier to keep doing the same things we’ve always done…getting the same things we’ve always gotten. Are you satisfied with your life and business? Are you ready to do something about it? Do you think your competitors will be the first to hire a personal coach and see their business grow?

www.lynnzettler.com