How to make a "New Year's Resolution" a reality!

Only 8 to 12% of us actually are successful with our New Year's Resolutions.  I want to share with you how you can make your 2014 New Year's Resolutions a reality.  We need to keep things simple and enjoy the process. 

There are six simple steps in achieving success with your resolution.

1.  "Change the Name" - Move away from calling your 2014 goal a "resolution".  Make it a name that is unique for you.  The name should help motivate you to move forward with your goal.  You may want to call it your Amazing Adventure, your Cause, your New Life Adventure  .....whatever motivates you.  Creating a "resolution" utilizing the word "resolution" can possibly set you up for failure.  With having not accomplished your "resolutions" in prior years, you may subconsciously associate "resolution" with lack of success.  Make your resolution fun and personalize it! 

2. "Define your Ultimate Purpose" - You need to look deep into the "why" you have set the "resolution" in the first place.  As an example; wanting to lose weight isn't defined enough for you to actually accomplish it.  You will need to seek the reason you are wanting to lose the weight.  Defining the deeper purpose will help increase and define your accountability.  You should also ask yourself, "Does this make sense?"  Is this really a "resolution" you should be seeking?  Make sure it is attainable, isn't going to harm you, is necessary, and helps promote your life fulfillment.  Take some time to develop your "resolution"  and don't rush into it.

3.  "There is always a Cost" - Nothing in life is for free. There is always a cost associated with everything we do.  In business there is a term called "opportunity cost".  Opportunity cost simply means; "What you are willing to give up today for something tomorrow - or - What you are willing to give up tomorrow for something today."  Using the weight loss "resolution", are you willing to give up that donut today for the weight loss tomorrow?  Whatever adventure you decide to take on for the New Year, try to find out what the costs are going to be.  If you understand that there are going to be some sacrifices ahead of time, you will be prepared to handle them as they come.  Go back and remember your ultimate purpose in order help you get through those sacrifices.

4.  "Plan it Out" - Take a few minutes to map out your adventure, your "resolution".  Keep it simple and lay out some milestones.  Don't create a complicated plan, just set some deadlines that help you accomplish small steps as you travel through your "resolution".  Create some celebrations that you can utilize along the way as you reach those milestones.  Understand that you must reinforce your successes and not dwell on your set backs.  Focus on what is working and make adjustments along the way to ensure that you stay on your path to success.

5.  "Be Flexible" - Learn to "Champion Change" and be prepared to alter your original resolution".  Know that you can turn your obstacles into opportunities if you create a mind set that is accepting of change.  Be the change and seek the change.  Feedback is essential in achieving what you are attempting to accomplish.  Seek feedback from those around you and listen to yourself.  What is your body telling you?  How are your emotions?  Make adjustments in order to obtain that "resolution".  What is working today may not work tomorrow.  Lose your stubbornness and be open to altering your plan.

6.  "Try, Try Again" - If it isn't working, don't give up.  You can't just wish it or pray it, you have to create action.  Your action will lead to your success, not your "daydreams."  Don't let December 2014 arrive and you haven't made any progress on your "resolution".  If you are failing, go back and redefine your purpose. Reevaluate your plan and make the changes necessary to reach your "resolution". Your success will be determined by your determination and resolve.  Keep going as you never know when you are going to break through and reach the stars!

Whatever you do, keep it simple.   Try setting a small "resolution" and after you accomplish it, then set another.  Don't just make the start of the "New Year" a time to set life goals, use the entire year to reach those dreams.  Enjoy this one life you have and don't stress over what you don't have or what you want.  Try my "5 Simple Steps to Happier Daily Living" challenge and be thankful each day for what you have.  Happy New Year from me and "Nagano".  We hope your dreams come true.

Please visit the Support page on this blog or my website at www.thetajlgroup.com today if you would like some support reaching your 2014 "Resolution".  Contact me today and take advantage of my web offer "Resolution 2014 Development" for $75  Only $49.99!  Mention this blog when contacting me and receive the full discount!  Happy New Year!

Post Christmas depression or relief? December 26th and beyond.

The hype! The build up!  The event! And.....  it is still only a 24 hour day.  The expectations and excitement of the big event - Christmas - can seem like a let down the day after.  Many go back to work the next day, have the joy of cleaning up, or returning gifts.   Then there is the fact you may have spent hours or even days decorating for this event only to see that you now have to put it away.  Depression or relief?  For this one event of the year many of us put in so much energy that it literally wears us out!  The big question for you is, "What Now?" 

We build up so much energy into the holiday, that we may experience a huge let down.  We changed our rhythm in life and set ourselves on a pace of pure excitement and expectations.  Maybe we had family reunions with members of our family we haven't seen for a long time.  The joy of seeing each other and spending time was so wonderful or overwhelming.  It may have been more than we expected and now that it is over, and we find ourselves feeling empty.  Or...maybe it was such a pain that we find ourselves truly relieved it is over.  What about work and career?  Were you one who worked Christmas Eve and are back the day after Christmas?  Was it a joyful day off or an interruption in your work process?  The morning after as you are having to go back to work can feel quite depressing as you leave and most others you know are still sleeping.  You may be asking, "Why me?"  Or...you might be relieved to be heading back to work.  What about the poor Burger King employees working the drive-up all night Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?  How was their holiday?  To be honest, there are many who do not celebrate the holiday at all.  For those of you who do celebrate, how happy are you that the event has come to an end so that you can get back into your daily routines?  We are all different in our approach to life.  But, "What Now?"  How do you handle the amount of change that has occurred over the past month or so?  Think about this; some radio stations start playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving non-stop through Christmas.  At midnight on the 25th as we move to the 26th, the Christmas music stops.  The next morning as you turn on the radio station, there is no more Christmas music.  You were conditioned to hear this music constantly for over a month and then "bam" it is gone.  What does that do to you? Are you having Christmas music withdrawals?  It often feels as though we are being controlled by the media, the retailers, expectations, and other outside sources.  "What Now?"

You need to take some time to "come down" from the holiday rush.  Take a few moments to reflect on the wonderful times you experienced as you prepared and celebrated the holidays.  Don't focus on the "low" point of the season, but on the "high" points.   You might want to journal those special moments you experienced.  Take time to celebrate that you were able to break up your daily routine for a short time and experience life on a different path.  Do not immediately attempt to get back into your routine.  If you are back at work the next day, find ways to take short breaks and reflect on the restful moments you had during the holiday.   Approach your work day as a "game" and not a chore.  Oh, with the Christmas music midnight shut off, you may want to play Christmas music periodically throughout your day. This may help you with the transition.  Do yourself a favor and take a positive approach to the day.  Utilize my 5 Simple Steps to Happier Daily Living (Be Thankful, Scream "This is going to be the greatest day of my life!", Visualize, Compliment and Breathe - get your full free copy at www.thetajlgroup.com)  You may want to plan out moments during the year that you can bring a little "Christmas" back.  Find fun little ways to surprise those around you and yourself with a little "Christmas magic".  It may help you to create a little plan for next year's celebration now that has you doing things throughout the year.  This could help you make this holiday event a more common piece of your daily living.  You might want to re-read some of the cards you received or re-connect those you were in contact with during the season.  Find what works for you as we all have unique ways of coping with change and "let down".  For those of you who are truly relieved it is over, celebrate!  But wait, "What Now?"  

More stress and expectations?  We have to get ready for another celebration?  New Year's Resolutions?  Now we are being hit with preparing for New Years Eve and New Years Day parties!  We need to get that perfect champagne, the right decorations, find the right party, get the food ready for New Years Day and more.  More expectations, change and excitement! My favorite is when we are lead to believe that we can change with the perfect New Year's Resolution.  There was an article in Forbes.com this past year that stated that only 8% of us are successful with our New Year's resolutions.  In 2007 there was a study done that showed that 88% fail in our New Year's resolutions.  With that being said, what is your New Year's resolution?  What is your "What Now?" if you can't be successful in your New Year's resolutions?  Just relax and believe that you will be successful in what you wish to achieve.  I will write about the movement into the New Year in a few days.  For now, just take a simple approach to the "change"-the New Year.  Set no expectations, wake each day expecting each to be the best ever, and remember that things always work out.  Smile, laugh and just lighten up as we move closer to January 1, 2014.  If you are struggling with the change and transitions, please contact me via my website at www.thetajlgroup.com.  I would love to help you. 

Emotions and Pressures escalate during the holidays? Happy Holidays?

The holidays are to be times of great joy and happiness, but for many they become a time of dread and even despair. Why is it that we find ourselves so stressed out during these times of year?  In the school setting we find an unique situation concerning students.  Many students who have "troubled" lives or experiences, do not like the holidays.  As vacations approach, these students become very agitated and disruptive.  Speaking with these students, I find that they do not want to be "stuck" at home and away from the one place they can find some aspect of peace.  They may not excel in school and even complain, but they actually find school to be a place of stability and support.  There are many students who "dread" summer vacation and actually seek ways to find themselves in summer school. Even some adults would rather work and be busy instead of facing the realities of the holidays.  Ba Humbug!   Why is it that we create so much stress and unhappiness in our lives?  Why do we find ourselves wishing the holidays away?

The simple truth comes down to a few reasons: expectations and worry.  The holidays can bring about past memories that were either wonderful or hurtful.  They swell up in our minds and begin to consume our everyday thoughts.  Test this out.  At work, listen to your co-workers and what they are talking about.  Listen to the radio stations as they talk about the holidays.  What is one of the biggest focal points?  Memories.  There is not an issue with remembering past events, but there is an issue of dwelling and creating expectations for current events.  We want our children to have a certain special moment that we experienced or because something bad happened to us we are doomed to have it happen again.  We need to not focus on the past, but create new and wonderful memories.  We have the opportunity to experience a wonderful holiday season.  Don't have expectations and you won't be disappointed. 

Worry is one of the biggest consumers of our precious commodity of time.  I heard a saying once: "One day of worry equals two days of work."  It's true!  Worry is a process that begins to reduce our self-confidence, bring doubt into our everyday living, and take away our control of our own minds.  You need to maintain a positive outlook and positive things will come to you.  I have written this a hundred times:" Don't worry about the past or the future, but live for today."  What you do today will determine tomorrow and yes you will make mistakes.  We are only human!  Instead of worrying about something, use your "gut" and move toward desired results.  See where it takes you!

My friends.  Enjoy the holidays and see what adventure each day will bring.  You want it to be special and you want to find that special gift, but find yourself taking things as they come and not creating stressful situations.  My dad always told me, "Things always work out."  It is true.  We can't worry about what we can't control, we can only influence what is around us.  Seek what it is you are searching for, but be realistic in your approach.  Smile often and lighten up.  Materialistic things aren't the answer to holiday cheer. 

Happy holidays.  Understand the true meaning to you and the holiday's purpose that you believe to be true.  Keep that purpose in the forefront of your mind and move forward.  Don't seek to impress, but hold true to you and your values.  Enjoy the parties and the gifts.  Give and rejoice in what you have.  Share the true joy you find in the holidays with your loved ones.  Don't set expectations, but believe in what you seek and see what happens.  As I was working with a group of middle school aged kiddos yesterday, we talked about how what we bring into a situation is what we get from it.  If you bring a smile and good cheer into your holidays, you will probably get a smile and good cheer in return.  Don't expect to get something in return for the gifts or care you give, rejoice in the giving.

Happy Holidays and know that 2014 will be a magnificent year if you allow it to be. 

Please visit www.savinglindsaylohanandkristenstewart.com and join the quest in helping all who cross our paths find true joy, peace and happiness in 2014.

"5 SIMPLE STEPS TO HAPPIER DAILY LIVING!" This is a gift!

Do you ever find that your days and weeks seem to get overwhelming?  Are you finding yourself feeling sluggish and underwhelmed?  How would you like to have 5 simple steps to make each day a positive event and full of joy?  The pressures of work, the holidays and life in general can seem daunting at times and we find ourselves in the negative end of the battery of life.  Lets move to the positive end of the battery!

I want to truly help and created this special 5 step process all of us to follow.  The steps are simple and don't take much time at all.  In order to thank you for visiting this blog and to help you find joy in your day, I have a gift for you.  It is a 5 day challenge using 5 Simple Steps that will help you experience increased happiness at work and in life!  It really works.  These steps will help support you in achieving days full of happiness and new positive adventures. 

Please visit my website at www.thetajlgroup.com and click on the "5 Steps to Happier Daily Living" link near the top of the homepage to get your free copy!  Enjoy and have fun with this simple process!

Thank you for being you and have a wonderful holiday Season!

What is the story behind the assumption? If others' perceptions are a reality, how can we change the perception?

Through my various adventures in life, I just wrote on this topic on another blog www.savinglindsaylohanandkristenstewart.com.  Thought I would share excerpts of the other blog and apply it to your career and life.  I love the thought that one's perception of us is their reality.  Do you find this to be true?  Look at your social and work life.  Where do you see those times when others' reality of you was in fact untrue?  Why did this occur?  How is it affecting your career and your life?

Individual's assumptions and our actions create perceptions.  These perceptions then become reality for the individuals who created the assumptions in the first place. You are faced with cameras throughout each day just as celebrities are via the "paparazzi".  The cameras are in the forms of others' eyes and perceptions they are creating for you, thus their realities of you.  Look at your past and see those moments when you were frustrated because someone or some group made untrue realities about you. This can truly affect you emotionally as well as your career and social life.  Our focus becomes so centered on the "untruth" that it takes energy away from our job performance as well as our healthy interactions with others.  We need to be careful that it does not begin to control our lives, but that we control it.  Subconsciously we can begin to believe the untruth and allow it to affect our self-esteem if we fail to act upon the situation. But what can we do?  How do we change the perception?

If one's perception of us is their reality, then how can we change their perception?  First, we need to understand that we did or said something to help create that perception in the first place.  Look for the kernel of truth in one's perception of you or their criticism of you. What is it that you actually did?  Once you begin to realize there is some aspect of the situation that you created, then you begin to gain power in changing another's perception, thus their reality of you.  Second, you have the knowledge of what created that "reality" and now you can influence change.  You become empowered with knowledge and can thus begin to change others' perceptions of you.  Take the knowledge you gained and begin to change your actions and overall reactions to the situation.  Begin to ignore the untrue reality and create a new one.  We spend too much time dwelling on the untruth and fail to use that energy to create the real truth.  Third, find humor in the situation.  You need to understand the comical piece of humanity as it is that we are all just human.  We create so much drama through our ability to gossip, theorize, postulate, "assume", and believe everything we hear as absolute truth.  Laugh about life, open up your own mind and create your own adventures. Don't let others create you.  Use your energy to influence those around you and not use it to dwell on the obstacle thus creating more energy behind the untruth.  Your career and life are counting on you!

We can never truly control the actions or thoughts of those around us, but we can influence them.  Our reactions to those around us gives them the ammunition to either support us or attempt to tear us down.  We need to remember that we are going to make mistakes in how we act, react or in what we say.  These mistakes will occur because there is no such thing as perfection, so we need to learn how to recover from them.  When I wrote my book, "Tennis Everyone! An Empowering Way to Improve Your Interactions with Others", I wanted to deliver to the readers the simplicity of controlling the interactions.  We have the power to help influence and recover from all situations if we understand the how. We need to stop overcomplicating, over "dwelling", complaining, and use our energy to strategize our next move.  Like tennis, our life is a long match made up of games and sets.  We need to realize that we are going to lose some games and even some sets, but that we can win the match if we keep life simple.  Look at the humor in those events that are "untruths" about you, use your "gut" to make the next move, seek knowledge to gain power in the situation, and take your next "shot".  What have you done to create one's perception of you?  What assumptions that have lead to perceptions that have lead to realities of others do you have?  Empower your thinking through gaining knowledge by asking questions, engaging in healthy interactions and thus seeing the whole picture.

Please visit my website at www.thetajlgroup.com to find out how you can get a copy of my book if you so desire!  Have a rockn' day!

Is our life one big interview? How do we get the job of a lifetime?

Look at your life up to this point.  Where are you in life at this moment?  Where you are today is in fact determined by what you have done in the past.  You have worked to get yourself to this point in life through your prior decisions.  Think about your interviews that you have had.  One central question is to tell them a little about yourself.  You end up telling them what you have done, where you have been and why you are interviewing for the position.  Look at your life.  Ask yourself to tell yourself a little about yourself.  You are basically interviewing for the next chapter in your life. 

Our life can be looked at as one big interview process.  We are constantly evaluating ourselves, working through our current situations and seeking answers in order to move forward.  We put ourselves in situations and then make decisions just like we answer situational questions in interviews.  Our life is in actuality one interview after another in hopes of building a better life and along the way a perfect career.  We are working towards something and always looking for that life promotion or opportunity.  Rarely do we see individuals just sitting there and taking what comes at them with no effort at all.  Most are seeking ways to improve their life situation or at the very least maintain it.

Our life interview is with those around us and even within ourselves.  Keeping it simple in life is very important in order to reach those optimum goals that we have.  In my book "Tennis Everyone!  An Empowering Way to Improve Your Interactions with Others," I use the concept of the Simple Set in order to illustrate this point. Our life interactions are constant and we need to simplify this process.  From the book:  "In order to be successful in your interactions through life, you need to keep it simple and understand what you are facing." "We tend to over think life when we are playing in one of our games."  "Keeping it simple is really putting things into perspective." and "We should not worry about what we cannot control and therefore we should not be in our interactions to control others."  Look at your life as an interview process and that you are interviewing for the job of a lifetime.  Searching for that ultimate career, means interviewing who you are and those around you.  Your interactions can help determine your outcomes to successful career and life attainment.

In order to win that ultimate interview in life, we must avoid mind control.  For a screenplay that I wrote concerning multi-level marketing as a base platform,  I researched the concept of mind control and then looked at this concept in our lives.  From my book as well: "Through researching multi-level marketing, I came across the concept of mind control.  This applies to life daily ......" "The easy definition is one of persuasion." "The idea is to take away a person's conviction and replace it with a set of alternative beliefs." and "We are constantly challenged in our interactions with others to follow their beliefs and change ours."  How can you obtain that ultimate career and life?  Know what you are interviewing for.  I remember the basic saying, "If something is too good to be true, then it probably is."  Think about the things in life that have distracted you from your life dream or even from going after that prized job or career.  We often fail to truly research or think through what we hear.  How many times have you been talked out of something?  I remember wanting to be a "water lawyer" and being talked out of it by an attorney and a judge.  Wow! Look at the demand for water.  How busy would I be?  When we go into a job interview, we should be researching the job in every detail.  Is this the right job for me just because others say it is?  Be careful.  In my latest ebook:"Quick Guide to Success" -Interviewing Strategies, I discuss briefly the importance of research.  Daily as you interact with others and even yourself, be careful not to just take things at face value.  Keep control of your mind and find the answers you truly deserve to know and understand.

I write about this often, always ask the question in everything you do in life: "Does this make sense?"  Is what I am doing right now make sense? This is the central question you should ask yourself when in interactions with others or when you are facing life's challenges or making life decisions.  I love conversing with others around the topic of strengths and weaknesses.  We tend to focus on our lack of abilities as weaknesses and immediately give up on a goal or idea.  In my book I discuss the concept of "Having a weakness is not a bad thing, it is a natural thing."  When we interview for a job, we are most likely going to be asked for our strengths and weaknesses.  All we need to do is to identify those things we need to work on and develop them.  In my ebook as well, I discuss how to answer those questions in a way that makes the interviewer(s) see your potential.  When you look at your life, build upon your strengths and utilize them to the fullest while working on ways to improve those things you falter at.  We are not perfect and no one is or ever will be.  Understand that we all have things we need to work on, but do not forget about those things that you are already great at! 

You are an amazing person.  As you live life, know that you are interviewing for a lifetime just like when you interview for a job or career move.  Apply simple interview skills to life and always ask yourself the one essential question, "Does this  make sense?"  When you begin to ask that question and truly evaluate where you are, your life will become a wonderful adventure and you will maintain your own mind.  See where you want to be in life and career, and then accept it when it comes to you.  If you truly answer those questions in life and truly seek the answers, you will begin to realize how wonderful you are and will achieve all that you seek.  Trust me, no trust yourself.  Believe in what you have and build upon what you need.  Please contact me for any other questions you may have or read my book and ebook as they are designed to help you discover your true life understanding.

Analysis of two quotes that will spark your career and life!

This week the analysis of the two quotes presented last week:
"Judge less and live more!"
"I don't believe in failure, only the lack of action."


The two quotes are really quite simply pointing in the same direction.  How much time do you spend focused on what is going on around you instead of your dream, your career, your life?  We tend to judge what is going on around us instead of focusing on what we are seeking.  You have heard it before that if you believe you can achieve anything, you will achieve it.  Well, stop for a second and see what you have achieved.  We need to break down the quotes and see how they in fact reflect the reality of success.

Energy is the key component to everything you do.  It takes energy to think, eat, run, scream, write, use the computer, breath, to do anything.  When we spend our time "judging" others, we are expending energy that could be used to help us achieve our goals.  Why spend energy focusing on what you feel others are doing "wrong", when you can spend your energy focused on doing what is "right"?   Many successful individuals throughout history believed you should not waste the"gray matter" of your brain by memorizing items you could easily find in a book, newspaper, from someone else or in today's environment, the internet.   “Never memorize something that you can look up.”  Albert Einstein.  Why expend great amounts of energy seeking answers when you can quickly look up or just ask?  Why not save that energy to create a solution to what you are working on?   Look at your career.  You work with individuals and of course will most likely become frustrated with them from time to time.  You can't directly control them or their attitude, but you can affect them.  What do I mean by this?  Your actions, attitude and communication can directly affect them and in a sense "control" their future behavior.  If you respond negatively to the individual or "judge" them in this manner, then their response will be a negative response or at least they will continue the behavior that is bothering you.  Change your approach.  Try responding to that behavior with a  supportive approach and a questioning approach and see what happens.  When you "hit the ball back in their court", then they have to play it.

I see this all the time in action.  I had three conversations today with individuals asking, "What Now?" to their individual issues.  In all the cases there was a common theme that dealt with the issue of others' and their actions that were causing distractions in the lives of these three individuals.  In the conversations, I was hearing the "judging" concept being communicated.  There was so much energy being consumed by the complaining, focusing and giving power to the actions and comments made by others, than there was seeking the outcomes they desired.  One definition of "to judge" is to form an opinion.  ( According to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judge : to form an estimate or evaluation of; especially :  to form a negative opinion about <shouldn't judge him because of his accent>   to hold as an opinion :  guess, think <I judge she knew what she was doing> )  Here is a simple truth about us humans, we are quick to form an opinion without looking at all the facts or factors involved.  Why do students in schools act different than each other?  Well, what do they bring with them from home or the environment they live in?  How can we truly "judge" or form an opinion about someone without knowing all the "baggage" they are carrying?  Listen at your place of work to all the complaining and back talk.  I'm sure I have discussed this before.  "Did you see what so and so did?"  It can get overwhelming and begin to consume your use of your time.  You become so involved with the "gossip" and judging, that you fail to complete your tasks and perform to your expected performance. You take work home, you work late, you get stressed and this overflows into the other aspects of your life.  Stop.  Don't spend the time judging, spend the time living and focusing on the positive that life and others have to offer.  Try giving positive feedback when someone who frustrates you does something wonderful instead of reinforcing their negative behavior by judging.

We create failure in our lives as those around us only reinforce it.  We tend to sped so much energy blaming and pointing instead of looking at the piece of truth in someone's criticism of us.  Remember that others' perceptions are their realities.  If they perceive us as this or that, it becomes their reality.  Just as we perceive someone as something and we "judge".   Look at the energy we spend trying to find blame in situations instead of accepting that something failed and we need to fix it.  Our politicians are a great example of this concept.  They are so busy blaming each other for the failures, that they fail to spend energy on fixing the problems.  Look at history and you will see that the problems have stayed the same and only the technology has changed.  If we would learn to truly find the reality of situations and others, we could then solve most of our issues.  We would more easily collaborate and solve issues instead of creating more issues.  Look at meetings.  Meetings can become a huge waste of energy and time.  We have a meeting to discuss an issue.  Then from that meeting we create committees and then more meetings.  From those come more meetings, committees, presentations and them more meetings.  So, we then see failure due to the lack of productive action.  This is just like our careers and lives.  We dream or see this, then we contemplate with ourselves and others, then we doubt our abilities, then we lack trust, and then we accept it as that's the way it is.  Ok, lack of action just produced failure.  I took over a job where there had been six different leaders ahead of me in five years.  I came in with a vision and looked at the data.  I had to look at what was right for the good of the organization and decided I would rather go down in flames doing what was right instead of doing what had been done before.  Guess what, I had five years of leadership in that organization until I decided it was time for me to leave.  Was it easy?  No.  Was it right? I would hope so as performance and results improved.  Was it perfect? No, as nothing ever is.  My friends.  Create action to create success. I work with so many individuals with great ideas, but they fail to act on them.  They don't act because they assume they will lose their job, get reprimanded, fail, or who knows what.  Guess what?  I had failures, successes and even caused some times that I maybe got reprimanded.  Through it all, I made a positive difference.  Begin to take action in your life and career and see the results.  Is there risk?  Yes.  There is risk in everything you do.  When you brush your teeth, you could choke.  Who knows?  Decide to act instead of react and watch success take over your career and life.  

Simplify your career and life.  What to do now?  Set up a process where you review the week ahead.  Create a priority list of what you need to get done each day.  Look at those individuals or situations that are causing you stress.  Instead of judging, look for solutions that you can use during the week.  Maybe you can create some opportunities to help direct them to find answers they are seeking.  What if you took fifteen minutes in the  beginning of the week and had a conversation with that person on what you wanted to accomplish that week?  Could you put in their mind where your focus is and alleviate interruptions?  Just a thought.  Share your thoughts, ideas, expectations and provide a road map of where you are headed and this will illustrate your action and alleviate failures.  Trust me.  Ensure that you know yourself where you are headed and set a positive tone to the journey ahead.  You will begin to observe what is coming and become proactive instead of reactive.  Actions speak louder than words, so show the world your actions and they will respond.  Be positive and expect positive results.  Take some risks and accept the small failures in order to create the huge successes.  Trust me as it works.

Feel free to contact me and share your issues and I will quickly give you a simple solution to try.  That's my challenge!

Two new quotes to ponder!

My two newest quotes that I would like to ponder:

"Judge less and live more!"  Jeffrey Lund 2013
"I don't believe in failure, only the lack of action."  Jeffrey Lund 2013

Okay.  I wrote these based off of a few things that happened this past week.  I am going to write about these quotes and how you can use them to help with your life and career.  How to understand your actions and the results they create.  I met with an individual this week and discussed how today determines tomorrow.

Are you interested in my thoughts?   I am going to publish my thoughts this next week on these two quotes.  Please think about them and make some notes.  Contact me if you wish with some thoughts and I will add to my next post.  Together lets find out how this can help you in your career.  I know how it can, but want you to think it through first.  Enjoy the quotes and I hope they make you think.

What's holding you back from living your passion and your dream career?

In my last entry I wrote about the question of what would you do if you could wake up everyday and do what you wanted or enjoyed.  In this section I want to discuss the answer to what is holding you back.  This seems to be one of the biggest questions I receive about "What Now?"  It can be discouraging when there seems to be an endless process of not enjoying life to the fullest.  How many people do you know who always dream about Friday?  They hate Mondays?  They wish their lives away?  What if they savored each day and enjoyed their life and career to the fullest?  What about you?

What is holding you back?  We can start with the smaller items such as education, skills, experience or a lack of network.  The issue comes in when we need to determine which of these is really the issue that is holding us back from obtaining our ultimate career or lifestyle we seek.  Research is the key to solving these smaller issues.  Take some time right now if you are seeking that ability to wake up everyday with that career you enjoy and find what you believe you lack in obtaining this dream.  Is it education?  Maybe your dream career requires a certificate, so what is it going to take to obtain that piece of paper?  Often times we are convinced through others, advertisements and what have you, that we have to have an education to accomplish anything.  I would like to challenge that notion a little.  If you chose not to obtain that college education or some other level of education, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot obtain your dream life and career.  You may have to work a little harder or be a little more patient, but you can obtain it.  I know several individuals who are happy in life with what they do for a living who have no college education.  These individuals make over six figures and enjoy life.  Now, it may have taken a little longer to get there or maybe some other obstacles, but they made it.  I often instruct individuals on how they can interview and obtain a job without having all the required skills and experience.  Please check our my ebook: "Quick Guide to Success" - Interviewing Strategies.   We tend to sell ourselves short and fail to take the risk.  Everything in life involves a cost or risk of some sort.   Nothing in life is for free as there is always a reaction or cost involved.  So, you lack the entire list of required skills or experience to get that dream career.  Why not just go after it?  Take a chance and see what happens.  If you attempt to get the career and fail, then you learn from the experience and then you must try again.  Just because we fail at something the first time, doesn't mean we will fail the next.  We need to look at these challenges differently.  Gain experience and education by learning from your failures instead of quitting.  Nothing in life comes easy or without a cost.  I keep mentioning cost.  Think of opportunity cost:  "What will you give up today for something tomorrow or what will you give up tomorrow for something today?"  There is a cost in all we do.  I think I had mentioned in another post that what we do today determines our tomorrow.  If you do nothing today, most likely nothing will happen tomorrow to help you reach your dream life and career.  You must take action and accept failure.  How else will you know what education, skills, experience or network you lack?  The term network is crucial to obtaining that opportunity to wake up every day and do what you want and enjoy.  You need to ask, question and seek those who can help you.  What do I mean?  Share what you are out to accomplish and ask for help.  As you share and ask family, friends, business acquaintances, peers, and whomever, they begin to share a network of individuals for you to connect with.  LinkedIn for example is a way for business professionals to connect and build a network of individuals to help them find success.  So, build your own.  Seek out those who are successful in life doing what you want to do.  I had my students find individuals who were successful in areas of interest of my students.  You should have seen some of the responses my students received.  I had a student who wanted to be a dolphin trainer for Sea World.  She wrote to someone associated with Bush Gardens and Sea World.  Her letter was forwarded to someone within the company and she received a lengthy letter outlining what it would take.  It takes college, field work and then a very competitive process to make it as a dolphin trainer at Sea World. My student was given the schools to attend, the courses to take, the individuals to contact, and the process to compete.  She asked and received.  I believe their is a bible verse about asking and you shall receive.  All you need to do is ask.  I love my career helping others in life.  All you need to do is contact me and ask, and we together can find your path to success.  Just ask.  The worst you will hear is no.  Build a network and truly see what you need to do to reach that desired life and career.

Okay.  Now a bigger answer to the your question about what is holding you back.  Money?  Okay.  We can discuss money as a larger issue holding you back.  It seems as though money tends to control our lives.  We get told that we must do this and that and need to have a steady job in order to live life.  We get ourselves caught up in this contract, this material good and thinking that money will solve our problems.  The problem becomes us working for money instead of life fulfillment.  "I will work this job for a few years and then save up to go to school."  Oh right!  Those few years become twenty and that school never happens.  Before you know it, you are strapped down with bills and trapped in the paycheck cycle.  Am I right?  Look back at your life.  Think about where you are today and how you got there.  Hey, I gave up on my dream for many, many years because of a paycheck.  I know.  I know.  Our focus on life becomes money.  We dream about and play the lottery for that big payoff.  We tell ourselves that we can't afford to quit this job or give up that lifestyle.  Sure, we need money in our society to live, but to truly live is to do what we enjoy knowing that the money will come.  It takes a leap of faith to drop money from our thinking and put life success in the front of our heads.  I'm not saying quit your job and do what you want.  I'm saying begin to plan, budget and focus on your dream.  You may have to work that "job" for awhile, but it should only be a means to your dream and not a means to the end of life!  What is the real obstacle holding you back? What makes you think money is the issue or lack of education, skills or experience? 

The true answer lies in one simple word: FEAR.  Fear is what is truly holding us back from obtaining that life and career we truly seek.  Fear of the unknown, failure and even success.  Money really isn't the issue, but the fear of lack of money.  How will I pay my bills? What will I do if I fail?  These are just a few of the questions that probably pass through your thoughts.  We lack trust in our abilities, faith in our resilience and belief in what we can accomplish.  Remember how I said that what we do today determines our tomorrow?  Fear is what dominates our today and keeps our tomorrow from happening!  How do you control fear?  One option is to look at courage.  I think courage means our ability to face the unknown and uncertainty without being overcome by fear or losing sight of our purpose. I looked up a definition of fear as:

Definition of fear (n)

Bing Dictionary

fear

 [ feer ]   

1. feeling of anxiety: an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of danger

2. frightening thought: an idea, thought, or other entity that causes feelings of fear

3. reverence: respect or awe for somebody or something

Synonyms: terror, dread, anxiety, horror, distress, fright, panic, alarm, trepidation, apprehension

 

Thanks Bing Dictionary!  Look at the synonyms!  That's us.  I bet when you think about your dream life and career, you doubt and fill with anxiety.  I bet you do.  The first things that come to mind are "can't" statements. "I can't afford to do this!"  "I can't do this I'm not good enough!" On and on.  Think about all the can't statements in your life.  They were and are derivatives of fear!  Oh, I bet you also had the "what if" question statements! "What if I fail?"  "What will people think about me giving up a job!" "What if I make a mistake?"  Sure.  Tell yourself these things.  They are all from fear.  Think about what you are told by others as well. "You can't do that!"  "What are you thinking?"  "What if you fail? You can't get your job back!"  Just scream back, "I don't want my job back!"  We need to take control of our own thinking and minds.  Plan out your quest for life fulfillment and living that career.  Sure, you can't just quit tomorrow and not expect to have some fear.  Some fear is okay.  If you have ever played competitive sports, I bet you got nervous before a game.  That nervousness can be real helpful as it helps us focus on the task at hand and readies us for the challenge.  It is the same with your life and career moves.  There is going to be some sense of fear as there is always going to be some element of risk.  Learn to control your fear and trust!  Trust in you and overcome that fear with true courage.  Know that you may fail, but that you can get up and try again.  You aren't going to go anywhere in life without taking some sort of risk.  Do you want to live the dream life and career?  Or, are you satisfied living for the paycheck?

Okay.  Now you need to work on your fear and begin your adventure to true life fulfillment.  What do you do?  Well, keep it simple.  Plan and plan some more.  Research the reality of your dream and know that you will not have all you need at the beginning.  Begin to not accept "no" as any part of the answer to your quest.  Know that there will be failures and that one of the best parts of this quest in the journey itself.  Learn from your failures and successes as well as from others.  Seek answers to your questions and develop a network.  You can't get there if you aren't willing to try.  It is going to take action to reach your goal and not just wishing it so.

My challenge to you:  "Challenge me!  Send me your life and career dream.  Ask me what I think your first step is.  Ask me if I think it is a reality!  Come on and take that first step.  I will challenge you to live your life to fullest!"  That's my challenge.  Know that I won't laugh at you or discourage you, but challenge you.  Come on......you afraid to contact me?  You afraid of some accountability?  Contact me at thetajlgroup@gmail com.  What's holding you back?

What would you do if you could wake up everyday and do whatever you wanted?

What would you do?

How often do you wake up and dread heading off to work?  What would you change if you could change something?   Think back to when you were a child.  What was it that you thought you would be when you grew up?  Did you make it?  Most did not seek that path they dreamed about as a child, but found that life took them on a different path.  There are some who wake up everyday enjoying what they do and have even fulfilled their childhood dream.  But, what about you?

I remember giving a guest lecture to a marketing class at the University of Northern Colorado some years ago.  I asked the students what their degrees were going to be.  Since it was an upper level marketing class, most were on track for a marketing degree of some sort.  This class happened to be a market analysis course and I assumed many were going to work in some type of marketing firm or what have you.  I then asked them to think of their hobby.  I observed some puzzled looks on their faces, so I asked them to think of what they enjoyed doing.  It was interesting to see the looks on their faces and reactions to that question.  There was a young woman in the front row and I decided to challenge her. My questions to her were, "What is your degree going to be in?"  Her reply was in the nature of marketing.  I then asked her, "What is your hobby?"  Her immediate response was, "Camping."    I immediately yelled out, "Great.  You are going to work for the marketing firm or directly with the marketing operations for REI."  Her response with a tone of disgust was, "No!"  I decided to ask her why not and she refused to answer.  I explained that she could wake up each work day using her degree and working within the area of her life's interest.  She had no desire to do such a thing.  Her thoughts were around how much money should would make.  My response was that money would not make her happy and that the money will come when we live doing what we love.

So, why are you doing what you are doing in life for a job or career?  Was it the money or was it something else?  I want to save this piece for my next blog, so think about it.  My challenge for you now is to have you think about what you would do if you could wake up and do what you wanted each day for a living.  Now, keep your ideas within reason as some things are illegal and most likely immoral.  Okay. What would it be and why?  Take some time to answer that and visualize what your life would be like.  Would you wake up everyday working in the forest or traveling the comedy circuit?  What would it be?  Look inside yourself and see what it is that would make you truly happy and provide you with satisfaction.  Make sure that you see how it would serve others as well as yourself.

So, your task is to write out what your life would look like if you lived your passion.  Once you have written it out, then you need to look at your skill set and resources that you possess that could help you achieve that passion.  Do you need some more education?  Do you need a mentor?  What skills do you have and what skills do you need to build?  Lay it all out there and see what it looks like.  Once you have all that in place, the next step is to plan out the next 30 days and create some actions that will help you research the reality of what you are seeking.  Now dream it!  Think about it and talk about it with others.  Share your thoughts with your family, friends or whomever you feel would listen.  Most importantly, listen to yourself.  Monitor how your attitude and mood changes when you think about this dream.  Check your pulse as you talk about it and share with others.  What changes do you see in you?  What happens when you go to your current job?  How's your attitude now?  Do you see the potential in what you have or do you see the need for change?  Wow!  Ready to challenge yourself?  Need to throw some ideas out there or find a network to seek more information about what you seek?  Start asking around and truly challenge yourself to find the reality in your life's passion.

Need some help or want some feedback?  Contact me or use the Social Forum on my website to start a discussion.  You never know who might have the answer which helps you take one more step toward living life to the fullest full of joy and happiness.  You have one life to live, so explore the possibility of living your hobby, your passion. 

In my next blog, I am going to ask the question and answer it, "What's holding you back from living your passion?"  Can't wait to share and hear from you. 

Want to increase your interviewing success? Would you like a quick reference for interviewing strategies?

We send the resume', fill out the application, know someone or somehow we get ourselves into a job /career interview.  Here comes the question, "What Now?"  We may find ourselves excited, nervous, wondering and more.  Would you like a tool that provides you a quick reference in order to improve your interview skills?  Want to increase the opportunity to get a second interview or offer?

It seems as though weekly I am discussing job and career adventures with individuals and seeking ways to improve their job / career search.  Recently as I was visiting with an individual, he informed me that he has been attempting to get a job in his field for the past two years.  I asked him why he thought he wasn't successful in his attempts.  He explained that he gets several interviews, but never gets a call back or an offer.  I asked him what he thought the issue was?  He stated that he had no idea and was looking for some support and conducting some mock interviews.  I asked him a few more questions to see if I could get an initial idea of what was going on.  What I found out was that he isn't polished in his interviewing skills and isn't truly being himself. He was selling himself short because he lacked some experience in one area.  In a brief moment I provided him with a few strategies and realized that he is just one of many who are struggling with the interview process.  Having taught career strategies for several years and working with clients presently, I felt it was time to release an Interviewing Strategies ebook.  Do you need a quick reference guide to help you in the interview process?

I was working with an individual via email, text and phone conversations recently.  This woman is amazing and has all the qualities any business would want.  We were discussing all the aspects of the job / career search and discovered how we could help her market herself.  I provided her with a few interviewing strategies and we followed up after an interview she had.  One strategy I offered was how to ask questions that impact the process and help the interviewee interview the interviewer or team.  I had her ask a question that would tell her how to judge the culture and climate of the company.  She was hesitant in asking this question, but followed my advice.  She was amazed to see his reaction and about the short discussion that ensued. I have used this one question myself when I interviewed and was able to get the correct job for me.  Want to know if you can be creative and make decisions on that next job?  Ask the right question.

My life goal is to help all those who cross my path find true joy, peace and happiness in life.  With all the struggles recently with getting and keeping jobs, I really want to help you.  My goal is to teach anyone how to make an impact in life to include that "job interview."  We need to be on top of our game and yet not too anxious when seeking employment or a career change.  I have just released my first "Quick Guide to Success" series ebook entitled - Interviewing Strategies.  This ebook is designed to act as a quick reference for you in order to help you increase your interviewing skills.  I have had many years of experience working with students, clients and friends on how to interview for success.

If you need any support in finding a career or for life in general, please contact me via my website at www.thetajlgroup.com.  Please go to the Resource Center on my website to get your "Quick Guide to Success"-Interviewing Strategies ebook or click on the "add to cart" link on this blog site.  Let me help you.  Please help me start up my Social Forum page on my website as well.  This page is designed for all of us to collaborate on issues that we all share.  Want some interviewing support?  Try it out today!

What do you own that is of the most value to you?

 

What do you own that is of the most value to you?  

Recently I have been receiving inquiries from around the world seeking answers for "life changes". The inquiries weren't about money or material items, but about life. We all are seeking that answer to who we are and what we are.  Do you find yourself waking daily seeking the answer to a different path in life?  Are you questioning your life's value?  You are most likely experiencing some inner dissatisfaction, drive, calling, redefinition of purpose, or just seeking to find You.  Many years ago I came across a quote:

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once

                                            Lillian Dickson

Since that time, I have given away many coins to individuals along with this quote.  We are blessed with this valuable "coin" (life) when we are first brought into this world.  Our coin gains value as we age and face life's challenges and successes.  We learn from mistakes, invest in our health, we gain knowledge, share our life with others, and more. 
 
There is the side of us that tends to threaten our value with destructive thinking, guidance or actions.  I often challenge students and clients with this quote as we discuss issues they are facing in life and in career.  How would you spend each day if you could spend it anyway you wish?  What would you do with your life and career?  We tend to devalue our "coin" (life) because we fail to see our true worth. You have abilities, skills and gifts that could best serve others along with yourself.  You are probably saying, "No kidding."  Well, I challenge you to take a moment and look at the true you.  I bet you look in the mirror daily and see your imperfections. We all become critical of our physical appearance and use make-up, hair products, and more to improve on our physical self.   We may exercise, diet and buy certain brands of clothes believing that we are increasing our worth.  What we are doing is polishing the outward appearance of our "coin".  Our physical health and hygiene is essential to healthy living both physically and mentally.  Our problem is that we tend to spend most of our time looking at our outward selves and not investing in our inner being.

Your "coin" is made up of the physical as well as the emotional or spiritual being.  You do have worth and purpose in life as well as a physical being.  Everyone has value.  We devalue ourselves when we doubt our abilities, compare ourselves to others, and truly not trust in what we were given.  Our "coins" are different and we all carry a different value.  Look at the currency in any country that has a system with coins.  The different value of the coins is determined by the type of materials that are used to create them and the value that is "stamped" on them.  However, I have seen coins with an initial value that is worth very little become more precious than coins of a higher value.  These coins gained value due to experiences and often due to age.  The coins aren't limited in value because of what is "stamped" on them, but limited in the way they are spent.  Some coins of little value end up purchasing items of great value.  Just as coins, we should not limit ourselves to what is "stamped" on our "coin".  We can ultimately change the value without ever changing the initial "cast"/"design" of our coin.  Our value is not limited, but it is how we invest it that limits the potential.  Finding balance of both the physical and emotional or spiritual is essential.  Many coins maintain high value because they are polished and have maintained a solid structure "inside" and "out".

I challenge all you coins out there to look at your self worth.  You are probably asking, "How should I do that?"  Can you create a personal mission statement?  Your challenge is to look inside of yourself and truly listen.  Ask questions around what you would do if you could do anything you wanted in life (within reason).  Once you answer those questions, evaluate the answers.  Are these adding true value to your "coin" or are they just "things" that you want?  How do your answers affect those around you?  Do you add value to others' coins with your answers?  Oh, oh.  I just threw another issue at you and will save it for another time: "How do we add value to  others' coins?"   I want you to write a one sentence mission statement based on what you find in your search of you.  Here is my personal mission statement that helped me establish my life's purpose: "To help all those who cross my path find true Joy, Peace and Happiness in life."

This is what I suggest you do.  I want you to find a coin of any material value.  Take the coin and write on it with a permanent marker the date and sign it.  Carry this coin with you and use it to remind you that you can spend your life anyway you choose.  Please try not to spend the coin, but carry it with you throughout life.  Some of you may want to change coins as you go through life, that is fine as well.  We all change and along with that our "coins" change.  Just remind yourself that you have value and are not limited by your perceptions of you.  Please email me at thetajlgroup@gmail.com or contact me via my website www.thetajlgroup.com and share your stories.  I would love to hear from you and collaborate on increasing our "coin" values.  You Rock, so enjoy this one life you have to the fullest.

Interviewing? Need some strategies? Simple and yet powerful results!

OCTOBER SPECIAL:

20% discount on Interviewing Preparation Services!

In order to celebrate the upcoming release of my “Quick Guide to Success” series, I am offering a special to help those seeking interviewing strategies.  Contact me via my email at thetajlgroup@gmail.com or via my contact page on my website at www.thetajlgroup.com today in order to set up your discounted session.  If you are preparing for an upcoming interview or want to learn some new strategies, let’s work together to help you stand out.  Set up a free initial screening to see if this will help you and then receive 20% discount for consultation services. With several years of career preparation experience,  I have helped many individuals interview successfully and want to help you!  This service is just an email away.

Best wishes on your current career pursuits!

What do I do now? My relationship with my loved one(s) is in turmoil?

Life is a never ending course full of obstacles, surprises and hurdles.  Do we create these in our relationships with others?  It is amazing how we get so caught up in ourselves that we neglect our loved ones.  This happens all too frequently in our relationships even when we believe that we are the experts in love and living.  It catches up to us and we can't even see it coming.  I am reminded of an episode of Cheers involving Dr. Frasier Crane and Lilith.  She admitted to Frasier that she had an affair.  Frasier realizes how he had not worked on the relationship and was caught up in himself and life around him.  He shares his realization only to find that Lilith is moving on.  She decides to live with her colleague with whom she has fallen in love with.  Watch the episode and you will get the idea: Season 11 - The Girl in the Plastic Bubble.

The point is, we all tend to neglect or have the hardest time sharing with the ones we love the most.  We tend to take them for granted or it may be that we tend to get so focused on ourselves that we fail to see those closest to us. Maybe we are looking out ensuring that those we work with, those in need or individuals we come in contact with are communicated with and cared for.  Are we farsighted when we should be nearsighted?  It can get confusing as we truly love those closest to us, but we can't even show them this to be true.  Our line of sight is tainted by the colors around us and distractions in life.  What does one do when they find out that they have hurt or neglected their loved one(s)?  How can we repair what has been done?  What Now?

We have been blessed with those in our lives for a reason.  We tend to forget the true purpose of why we encountered and how these individuals were brought into our lives. As with anything, we tend to forget our initial purpose and begin to get caught up in the flow of life.  We fail to step out of the flow and take moments to reflect on what we truly have and have been blessed with.  Why can't we stop for one moment in order to spend some special moments with those we love?  Can't we see the true gifts we were given?

The problem becomes a lack of balance in life and focus on what is most precious to us.  Only when we are faced with loss of life or those we love most, do we reflect and begin to reinvest in these relationships.  We find time to watch TV, meet up with friends, go and help others in need, join clubs and teams, but we don't use our most precious commodity of time to truly "be" with those we love.  There are so many things that are pulling on us from this world.  How can we truly balance what is most important to us?  How?  That's a deep question and one that is often never answered.  Is there a way to at least make an attempt?

We can find ways to repair and rekindle those relationships and find true joy in them.  It is going to take change and even some sacrifice.  We develop habits through repetitive motion.  Take a look at your life and you will see the habits you have developed through repetitive actions.  Our actions do speaker louder than words.  Our loved ones are watching our actions more than they are listening to our words.  We can say something, but our actions are what truly communicate what we are or are not doing.  We have to take note of what we are doing and begin to take new actions in order to develop lasting relationships.  Can you accept your shortcomings and champion change?  Can you?  The first step to change is to admit the need to change.  You need to understand that one's perception of you is in fact their reality.  If your actions are communicating a lack of care, love and understanding, then it is your loved one's reality that you truly do not care.  Accept the small kernel of truth in their criticism of you.  Listen and be present to their actions and words that are communicating their frustrations.  One of the biggest reasons we don't see the trouble coming is because we aren't truly listening to our loved one's actions and words.  Take a few moments and reflect on the past week, month, year or even longer.  What were the signs that you failed to see?  Were you  farsighted?  Were your heart glasses dirty?

Your relationships may seem to be in perfect health and you may feel like this doesn't pertain to you, but be warned that nothing is perfect.  Take time to truly evaluate your relationship with your loved one(s) and you will find areas to work on.  Don't get too comfortable in any relationship.  It can and it will sneak up on you.  Make time daily to evaluate your relationship and create actions to truly show that you care.  Be thankful for what you have been blessed with and treasure your loved ones more than you treasure the things in life.  You can always get another job, but you can't always get another family.  Find balance and display your true love and care for those who are most special to you.  Use your heart and be nearsighted in your relationships.  Do it now.

Thought of the day: NY Giants - "Easy fix to current slump without changing personnel." How?

I am sure that after the 0-6 start for the NY Football Giants, fans and the organization are questioning the, "What Now?"  The initial reaction any time an individual or organization is struggling, is to begin to blame.  The organization begins to look at the personnel involved and begins to question what to do. The radio hosts and news  outlets are feeding fans with their "blaming" analysis.  The players are questioning the coaches and each other.  It is a "blame game" feeding frenzy out there! The Giants have very good people in place on and off the field.  So, the quick fix might feel like they need personnel changes.  This kind of reaction can create some initial changes, but tends to not be sustainable.   In reality there is a more simplified solution that can help the organization realize the success it has had over recent years.  The problem the team is facing now, is the creation of habit.  They begin to subconsciously accept that they are going to lose and then begin finger pointing, and ultimately losing confidence in themselves and those around them.  The blame game can really mess things up.  I am sure that the blame game is getting a great deal of energy at the moment.  So, what is the simple fix?

The simple fix may not seem simple at all, but in reality it is.  The only recourse at the moment is to quickly empower all within the organization and redefine.  What do they need to re-define?  They need to redefine individual as well as organizational purpose.  The organization needs to listen to everyone involved and simply take input.  The individuals need to feel safe sharing their input as well as not giving "finger" pointing input, but input based on what they can do.  The culture and climate needs an overhaul and re-energizing.  The end result will be increased collaboration, increased job satisfaction and overall the re-vitalization of a winning atmosphere. 

In our individual lives as well we often face the 0-6 feeling within our careers and find ourselves looking at the, "What Now?"   Getting that "winning" feeling is quite simple and you will enjoy life as your career "blossoms" and creates satisfaction in your life and in the lives of those around you.  Contact me and we can discuss the how to get there.

Giants Fans:  believe and find ways to help your team find the simple solution to a winning season.  I believe they can win the rest of their games.  Do you?  I would love to work with the NY Football Giants and take them on a simple journey to a winning season.

What one self attribute can you control that can change your day, interactions, career and life?

Give this one a try.  Wake up tomorrow and scream, "This is going to be the greatest day of my life!"  You may disturb the dog, your loved ones and even awake the ghosts in the house, but what you will be doing is setting your mind on a positive track for the day.  What we establish as we start our day is our frame of mind.  How are we going to interact with others at work and at home?  Will what we bring to the day that influences those around us?   In my book, "Tennis Everyone! An Empowering Way to Improve Your Interactions with Others", I discuss how there is an Attitude Set to our game.  From the book:

Attitude Set

      When we play a game, we bring with us a certain attitude or drive.  Setting your attitude can really make a big difference in any interaction you encounter.  Practicing attitude is essential while remembering to keep it simple and to not overplay it.  I may have covered attitude a little in the Game Play section of this book, but it is so important that we are going to cover it thoroughly.  This piece of you can be the ultimate game changer and influence you as well as the other player.  It is amazing how we can totally influence the game with one simple move. I need you to open up your mind and create an attitude that is willing to listen.  This would be a good time to stop reading for a moment and do the clearing of your mind time.  Like before, after you read this, close your eyes, clear your head and bring in that calming spirit of the mind.  Are you ready?  Game On!

      
       Attitude is often defined as a challenging manner, arrogance or an assertive stance.  Some also define attitude as a personal view about something or a general view of something.  You need to understand that we can define attitude based on who we are...........

Please visit my website at www.thetajlgroup.com and click on the "Member" page.  You can view this entire section of the book as a gift from me.

Attitude is essential to your career and life success.  What you bring to a situation will often help determine the outcome.   Is there always a weapon when a police officer enters a situation?  Sure, the police officer brings a weapon with them.  This situation has now increased the importance as the weapon can now become a point of focus.  What if the person the police officer is serving becomes scared?  Might that person go for the weapon?  What if the tension escalates, might the weapon be used?  If you enter the work day and bring in a sour, tired and defensive attitude, might those around you go after it?  We truly rub off on those around us.  Many individuals see their "career" as a job and dislike going in.  What are they bringing to the team?  Negativity? Dis-trust? Uncertainty?  Observe your work area. How much gossiping is going on?  Who is the one on the team everyone is focused on and why?  Can your attitude help re-focus your team? Yourself?  What Now?  Determine the purpose of your "job" and your team.  What is the team's purpose? Your purpose?  What are the goals?   Take your attitude and focus it in a positive light on the job at hand.  See what happens.  You will begin to find new meaning to what you are doing.  You might even find that this is not the career for you.  Use each day as a catalyst for the future. What you do today will determine the future.  Want a strong, happy and successful career?  Change your attitude and look for the opportunities before you.  You have this one attribute that you can control.  Experiment with it and watch the outcomes.  You might surprise yourself and those around you.

How do we handle change in our careers? Do you see the vibrancy in change?

 

"Look around you and the colors come to life as the trees change for the upcoming winter ahead.  The trees have found a way to celebrate change through a display of brilliant colors.  We are faced with change daily, but do we display an array of colors?  How often do we dwell on the changes, but not on the great adventure that lies ahead?

Championing change is quite a unique concept.  It means to step forward and take on the change that is in front of you.  We need to embrace the change with enthusiasm and learn to turn that possible obstacle into the wonderful opportunity.  As we find ourselves with less and yet expected to do more, we need to work together to find positive solutions.  We can become that vibrant tree of color just by taking a positive approach to what lies ahead. 
As you see the changes around you, find time to look for the positive outcome that you can help create.  We have a choice each and every day.  We can choose a positive attitude or an attitude of negativity.  Let’s wake up every day and declare, “This is going to be the greatest day of my life!” and watch how those things that change around us aren’t so ominous.  Make the choice and choose to live each and every day to the fullest."

You may be asking, "But how do I do that?"  It is a process and not an instant fix.  You can utilize positive affirmations, seek others' opinions and find ways to relieve stress, but it takes you to actually create this positive approach to change.  We actually create outcomes through out thinking as we begin to "act out" what we feel and or envision.  Action is the true catalyst to solving the adverse reaction to change.  You have heard the saying, "No one ever said life was going to be easy."  Well, it's true.  Life isn't easy as it is an adventure.  We need first to determine our approach to life and what the meaning is for us individually.  This process can actually take a lifetime if you do not stop long enough to search You.  Your career is a big part of your life.  But, is it?  There are six pieces of our lives that we balance each and every day.  Career is only one piece of our life, yet it can consume our other pieces to balanced living.  Maybe it is time for a career change or you cannot seem to find that perfect career.  Whatever the case may be, begin to accept change and as the tree prepares for the winter months ahead so should you.  Develop your toolbox and prepare for changes that are occurring in your career and in life.  Challenge change and find ways to move forward.  There are many support systems in place, so find one that best fits you.  Be a champion and live for today because tomorrow is counting on you.  The answer is really quite simple.  Want to know it?