You already know my feelings about resolutions. . .
Fuhgedaboudit!
At least “fuhgedaboud” the “old” resolutions that do not pertain to your life RIGHT NOW. And “fuhgedaboud” those goals that weigh you down, year after year (see SOAR).
Instead, create intention and purpose around what you want.

Five years ago I worked with my coach to create a “Living Theme.” A theme is a motto or mantra that supports you every single day. It is an intentional focus that empowers you throughout the year. Every day, when you wake up, your theme inspires and motivates you to move forward.

It is about setting an intention based on what you want the year to be about. As an example, here are some themes I created:

• “Be Great” – The year I created this theme, I moved to Maui, bought a house, started my coaching practice and established myself as a professional speaker/trainer. Each step of the way I was thinking of “being GREAT!”

• “Get Involved” – My “Get Involved” year was amazing! I started working with (and getting involved with) community organizations I care about, like the Maui Humane Society and American Cancer Society. I also got more involved professionally by volunteering my time to work with entrepreneurs as a business counselor/coach for the Small Business Administration offices of SCORE and SBDC.

A theme empowers and inspires through purpose and intention all year long!
To start creating YOUR Theme, brainstorm with the following ideas:

1. Think of what you want right now. Brainstorm words and phrases that are relevant and touches you personally.
2. Challenge yourself (refer to SOARing, December blog) – Think of how you want to stretch yourself in the coming year.
3. Think of 3 quotes that speak to you and what you’re about today.

As you brainstorm, your theme might pop out at you or you might have to find a common connection among your ideas. Either way, this will get you started.

Have a wonderfully, intentional Year!

Technorati Tags: intention, theme, resolutions, goals, stay inspired, motivation, challenge, success, purpose, inspiration.

(one Tuesday at 10am Hawaii / 12noon Pacific)

“Get Ready For Life” is my brand of time management or “priority” management.

Managing time is one of the keys to achieving harmony and happiness in our lives. However, getting a handle on the fast moving and intangible notion of time can be “slippery.”

Oftentimes “having more time” also makes “balanced” sense - being able to spend more time with family, having an abundance of time to accomplish business goals, or just having the luxury of taking time out for your Self.

“Get Ready For Life” focuses on what is most important to you - what you value - and prioritizing activities based on these important elements of your life.

It’s not about creating more time, it’s about creating space in your life for what matters.

To be on the call, visit Compass Life Designs and join their free community.
In addition to this call, you will gain access to a “lifestyle community for women.”

Technorati Tags: Compass Life Designs, lifestyle, women, community, time management, prioritizing, life coaching,   balance, work/life

The International Coach Federation Annual Conference will be held in Long Beach, California!

I will be attending the conference and helping my friends at Compass Life and Business Designs at their booth. Would love to meet you, so come and visit me at the Compass booth!

DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, October 31st - Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
Time: 8:00am - 6:00pm (hours vary each day)
Location: Long Beach Convention Center

Hope to see you there!

Technorati Tags: International Coach Federation, Conference, Long Beach, Compass, Exhibitor

(Three Session Teleclass)

Do you find yourself spinning your wheels every day?
Are you losing sight of why you’re in business in the first place?

“Susan and her course helped me to confirm what my true passion in life was. It also helped me to create a strategy that will help me to integrate my passion to my current employment.” Kathy Kanemitsu, Loan Consultant

Align your PASSION and PURPOSE with PROFITABILITY

Discover and clarify your passions and align it with what you do every day. Create a strategy and a business plan that makes sense for who you are and what you want in life.

Make business EASIER and more NATURAL.

You will learn how to:

• Discover your passion and purpose.
• Identify the driving force that motivates and excites you.
• Learn how to deliever more natural and less stressful results.
• Develop a clear vision for your business.
• Create a business plan that evolves with you.

Make Business EASY for Yourself

“[I learned] how to start with my vision and values and go from there. . . Awesome! Susan knows her stuff!” Nancy Robberson, Entreprenuer

DETAILS:
Three Weekly Sessions
CHECK “UPCOMING EVENTS” FOR SCHEDULED CLASSES.

You will get:

• Three interactive teleclass sessions
• Detailed notes and excercises via download
• A complimentary subscription of the monthly Take Action! Newsletter
• Recordings of the teleclasses each week

For More Information, Contact: bizprep@susankimcoaching.com

Technorati Tags: Business Plan, Strategies, Vision, Teleclasses, Goals, Results, Business Development

The extraordinary jacaranda, a wonderfully purple blooming tree, reminds me that thinking differently is important because there is so much more outside of our scope.

When we get out of our comfort zone and think “outside the box,” that is when change and growth start to happen. In order to improve or change our lives, we have to not only think about what we want, but we have to think about how the life we want is DIFFERENT from what our life is like now, . . . . and then fill in that difference!

Being in a rut
Feeling stuck or trapped
Wanting a change
Getting to the next level
Feeling bored
Wanting a challenge
Whatever you want to call it, they all come from that place we call a “comfort zone.”
Oftentimes we get settled in our ways - not only in terms of what we do, but also in our BELIEFS.

If you believe you will stay in a rut - that is where you will stay.
If you believe you can change your life and live how you truly want to - you’ve started to look for that difference - you’re looking for that purple tree!

Please be aware that I’m not saying everyone has to change.
Staying in your comfort zone is okay if it works for you.
However, if it is NOT working for you and you identify with some of the phrases above, it’s time to Take Action! - think outside the box - think differently.

Discovery Tip: Think Differently

• Think of where you are right now and where you feel stuck, bored or trapped.
• What is it exactly? (i.e. no independence, not enough time with family, negativity, etc.)
• Ask yourself honestly, how are you perpetuating this thinking (what you are or are NOT doing)
  It’s helpful here to get an objective point of view from a coach.
• Now, what would take you out of this “comfort zone,” what do you need to do?

Example: You feel stuck at your job.
You feel stuck because the job is boring and you don’t feel like you’re really fullfilling a purpose.
You stay at the job because it is stable job and you know what you’re doing in it.

Think outside your comfort zone:

Know that you can break out of this by simply realizing that there are job opportunities
out there for you. It can be as simple as looking in the classifieds to talking to head hunters.

OR on a deeper level:

Take notice of how you think about your job - is it surrounded by negativity? The attitude
you bring to your job is very powerful - don’t underestimate it.
Changing your attitude just might lift that boredom and feeling of being “stuck.”

“Many stand guard over their ideas because they want to protect their thought systems
as they are, and learning means change.” A Course In Miracle

Technorati Tags: Vision, Strategy, Results, Innovation, Motivation, Challenge, Change, Action

How do you feel as the new year approaches?
Do you feel overwhelmed and tired?
Do you dread the new goals and resolutions that the new year has in store.. . . .
Or are you still struggling to accomplish this year’s goals and resolutions?

As they would say in New York, fuhgehdaboudit!

Throw out those “goals” and “resolutions”. . . especially if they’re weighing you down!

SOAR into the New Year!

Focus on what matters to you and how you want your life to look in the new year. When I say “soar” I mean SOAR! Raise yourself to a higher level. Don’t just coast, fly upward. Get motivated now and stay motivated throughout the year.

How do you to start SOARing?
Stretch - Organize - Act - Rejuvenate

Stretching is important in any sport, but when we’re playing the game of life, it’s critical. As you think of the new year ahead, think about what matters most to you and stretch your thinking.

Challenge yourself to think beyond what you’ve known and expand further into that dream that’s been out of your reach - but take small steps. Just like with your muscles, gradual stretching will show results over time. You will live up to the standards that you set.

Write down how you want to successfully stretch yourself next year with work, family, and life. Then ask yourself - Why is this important to my life now? (Example: Spend more time with family)

Organizing your path prepares you to SOAR with meaning and intent. When there is direction and a map, it’s a lot easier to get to where you’re going. Map out your SOARing path, keeping in mind that it’s important to think of a path that’s right for you. Think of things you will need along the way, ie tools, resources, emergency kit.

With each of the items you want to stretch, organize the “essentials” you will need. (Example, “ To spend more time with family, I need to set some boundaries at work, prioritize my time and be able to say “no.”)

Act TODAY! The game of life doesn’t wait until you’re ready, it doesn’t wait til the first of the year. It’s Game On! You’ve already started the action by spending some time stretching and organizing, but now it’s time to take off and SOAR!

Write down things you can do today and during the next few weeks. (Example, Have dinner with the family every evening, starting tonight.)

Rejuvenation is important toward any progress - it’s the process of refueling and taking care of the “engine.” When stretching it’s important to let your muscles rest. If the muscle is constantly being stretched further and further without being able to stabilize with a rest period, it is like a rubber band that will eventually snap - not good in the middle of SOARing!

Write down ways you can rejuvenate, refuel, take care of your “engine.” (Example - Take a mid-day walk. Soak my feet at the end of the day.)

Discovery Tip: SOAR into the New Year!

The important thing is to concentrate on what matters to you.
Let go of the “goals” and “resolutions” that have been weighing you down.
Stop doing what does NOT work and start doing what DOES work!

Practice one or all of the steps above.
Get SOARing!

Technorati Tags: Stress and Overwhelm, Vision, Reflection, Goals, Strategy, Motivation, Challenge, Action