Be Creating

You may be familiar with the concept of SMART goals.   SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound. But, are you aware that there are three types of goals? Effective individuals and organizations learn to manage emerging problem goals, maintenance goals and stretch goals.      Emerging problem goals establish the ways and means by which you (your organization) will manage unforeseen problems or issues.   Putting in place a structure and a process for dealing with surprise problems allows you to relax and know that whatever comes your way, you are prepared to handle it. They also establish procedures for life’s unexpected opportunities.    Maintenance functions and goals keep you and your business on track.   For example if you have an annual report to complete or you are trying to maintain a good credit rating, ask yourself,   what goals do I need to put into place to preserve my reput...

I recently shared some parenting tips on my blogtalkradio show ( Radio Show ).  I recommended a book for new parents The Wonder Weeks by Frans Plooij ( Wonder Weeks ). This book is especially helpful for new parents during the first 18 months of a child's life.  Below are a few of the tips I shared. The first tip is to go to your inner space and clearly define who you want to be as a parent.  Create a "to-be" list of the parent you want to be.  If you are parenting in partnership together you need to come to consensus about your role as parents.  You also will want to decide if one person believes the other isn't living the agreement how you will manage the situation before it occurs. The second tip was to develop a three level foundation: Establish Bottom Lines - these are the non-negotiables often related to safety with a clear procedure to follow should anyone cross the bottom line. Example- wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle. My Job/Your Job ...

Why does it often take a crisis to bring you face to face with the big questions in life? Who am I? What am I meant to do with my life? What is life really all about? Often when you feel you are in crisis you seek evidence that you are a good person that you are becoming everything you can be. You become more reflective, relying on your stored courage and chipping away your ego to the core of your being, seeking your purpose. You want to make sense of your life. You ask yourself, “what is life really all about and how do I fit in?” When you are in the midst of a crisis, you feel as if you are in a dense fog. You can barely see your own hand in front of your face. You are seeking a way out to a clearer understanding a visible path. You want to feel safe. When you finally surrender, you realize that in the stillness of the fog, with nothing else to distract you, you can hear a small voice inside you. If you pay attention and trust your inner calling, you will be lead ou...

When you find yourself entangled in a situation or a perceived problem your perspective maybe twisted and tangled.  Finding a way to detangle the situation involves the “IT Factor”.   When my long hair tangles and becomes full of snarls, if I yank, tug and pull on it, clumps of healthy hair come out. The process is painful and I lose something I value.  When you struggle with a problem, you often expend a lot of energy and destroy something that was healthy or pay a big price to resolve it.  The trick is to be gentle and move slowly applying the it factor .  At first, you may feel as if you are in it . You are the problem and it is you. You maybe allowing yourself to be physically/emotionally caught up in the situation. To begin to untangle yourself, you need to recognize it !   When you accept and validate that, you are struggling with something you can become clearer. You then can identify  both what the struggle is about and why you are str...

Where do your thoughts come from?  They often appear to arise from nowhere and yet with a bit of exploration you may find that something someone said, something you read, a song you were listening to, a TV show, or your awareness of something around you sparked a thought.  Becoming more aware of what ignites your thinking can allow you to be more selective in what you pay attention to.  How necessary are most of your thoughts?  Much of your thinking may be drawing your attention away from the present moment.  Your thoughts are where you store your desires, fantasies, memories, dreams, shoulds, have tos, and more. They are the home of the past and the future. Learning to quiet your mind and let go of some of your thoughts opens the door to mindfulness.  Ask yourself: ·          Is this thought true? ·          Where did this thought come from? ·    ...

Hanging in the entry to Fairlawn Elementary School in Evansville Indiana is a gilded framed mirror with the quote “Be the change you want to see in the world” painted above it.   Imagine yourself standing in front of this mirror every day thinking about who you want to be. You pause for a moment to be consciously aware that you can make a difference. Looking at your reflection, you recognize that the actions you take are a reflection of the change you want to see in the world.   If you are acting kind, peaceful, smiling, being of service not only will those same actions be reflected back to you in the mirror of life, they will grow and expand to everyone you meet.   If on the other hand you are blaming, shaming, finding fault in others you will experience the same and it will spread out all around you.    This last week I met a young man at Gulliver Primary in Miami Florida just beginning his career in education.   He was full of excitement, energy...

Many of you have asked me about writing a book.   My answer is simple; if you want to write a book just write it.   Books, articles and everything else you do begin as an inspiration within.   Inspiration is a calling of your spirit to move in the direction of fulfillment of your purpose.   When you read a quote, listen to a speaker, see something around you that calls to your inner spirit sit down and begin by vomiting on the page, or creating a mindmap. Yes, I said vomiting.   When I teach business writing for SkillPath one of the two ways to increase your speed in writing is to freewrite.   Freewriting is vomiting on the page, uncontrolled thoughts spewing from your mind onto the page.   This is even easier if first you created a mindmap or cognitive web. A mindmap allows your ideas to flow freely in a right brain fashion onto paper.   Use colors pictures and other graphical symbols to let your thinking come alive.   (An excellent reso...