Humanity On Purpose

I just got word that the same team that came together to help make me a best-selling author last year, is doing it again in 2010.

If you feel that you’ve got a book in you, but either haven’t started, or don’t know where to start then working with this team will without a doubt get you where you want to be.

I highly recommend Lynne, Kathleen and Christine. They not only helped make a dream of mine become a reality, but they did it within 1 year – AMAZING!

They’re doing a free preview call to introduce you to their next book – the one that you can also be a part of in 2010.

Click here to learn more and join the call about it.

http://tinyurl.com/y8omo4m

Don’t let 2010 end before you become a published author!

1. Not in a niche – Many coaches spend their days trying to be everything for everyone and end up spreading themselves too thin. There are a lot of coaches out there and your job is to make yourself stand out in the crowd. This is difficult to do when you’re offering everything from tax preparation to spiritual guidance. When people are shopping for household items, they want a place where they can find it all; however when they’re shopping for a doctor to help with a skin condition they want a specialist, someone who knows the ins and outs of their specific problem and as a coach, this is where you want to be as well.

2. Too many specialties – Just the opposite of not having a niche, some coaches try to specialize in too many things. They’re Business, Personal, Executive, Spiritual, Financial, etc… coaches. Similar to not being in a niche, this also spreads you too thin and keeps you away from those who could potentially be your best clients by confusing them with your marketing message or website. Try to keep yourself limited to about 3 specialties and no more if possible.

3. Service is seen as a luxury item – As a coach, it’s important to set yourself and your service up to be seen as a necessity, or at the very least something that’s not seen as a luxury item. When economic conditions for people go South, the first place they start cutting their expenses is usually in the ‘Luxury – nice to have, but not needed’ category. It’s best to be seen as a partner and as someone who can help them through these times, rather than as a hindrance to their success.

4. Giving too much away to friends and family – I’ve heard many stories, and experienced this more often than I’d like to admit. As a life coach we position ourselves as people who care about others, and that’s because we truly do. So much so in fact that often we spend extra time, or give away our services to friends and family members who are in need without asking for anything in return. This time while personally fulfilling, can easily turn into a nightmare to get under control once you open the flood-gates. Although it’s wonderful to help everyone who comes to you, it’s important to also keep an eye on what you’re spending your time on to ensure your business remains viable.

5. Too many free sessions – Just as we sometimes give too much away to friends and family, sometimes its genuine clients that are on the receiving end of our generosity as well. I’ve heard of coaches who have spent so much time during a free intro session with a client that the clients find they no longer need a coach. There are also clients who will ask for extra time, call excessively, send email or use any other means of getting additional service. While it’s great to be able to provide this extra level of service, make sure you place some boundaries around your time and ensure they understand your limits. In addition, if you do choose to offer a free intro session, keep it limited to a certain amount of time, with the main purpose not being to solve every issue they’ve ever had, but instead to test the waters and see if they fit your ideal client and whether or not you’ll be the best coach for them.

6. Only charging by the hour – This one was a little hard for me to swallow when I first heard it; however after spending more time with it, I get it! When clients hire you, they’re hiring you for a specific result that they have in mind. For example, when a client hires me they’re generally trying to find their life’s purpose. Once I’ve helped them find it, we can move into integrating it into their lives; however these are two different results. The first being the finding of their life purpose, and the second being living more purposefully. Rather than your client having you on retainer, try flat rate pricing for the results they’re seeking. You’ll find that you can probably charge them more appropriately, sell them on the benefits easier and save yourself the grief of working with them beyond the point of your expertise, or niche. There are times when charging by the hour is appropriate, test it out in a few places and see what you think.

7. Not valuing their service enough – Valuing your service is one thing, but then asking someone to pay for it is quite another when it comes to coaching. Most of us enjoy what we do and because of that we sometimes find it difficult to understand why someone would want to pay us to do it. As a result we often undervalue what we’re giving to our clients and in the process charge bargain basement prices. This can lead to a few problems for you that can be difficult to overcome down the road when you increase your rates. Price your services on-par with those who offer services similar to yours, try it out; if it doesn’t work then adjust it. When quoting rates to your potential client if it feels a little uncomfortable to say it, then you’re probably on track – however if it feels totally wrong, then bring it down a few notches. Just remember there is value in what you’re offering, if there wasn’t they wouldn’t be looking for a coach in the first place.

8. Not understanding or in tune with target audience – Sometimes this is caused as a result of being in the wrong market or niche or by your having too many specialties as mentioned above. Generally speaking, you will most likely find your target audience is someone who either has gone through, or is going through something that you yourself have also experienced and are therefore better equipped to help them. If you’ve crashed a few businesses and then built them back up, perhaps it’s working with struggling entrepreneurs, or those who have recently lost a business. If you find that you’re unable to relate to any of your clients, then you may just be in the wrong market, adjust it and see if things get better. You’ll find when you’re in tune with them, it’s not only easier to help them, but it’s also easier to find them which is the subject of our next mistake.

9. Don’t know how to get new clients or where to find them – This is a biggie, because if you don’t have any clients, then you aren’t going to be in business for long. As I mentioned in the last tip, it’s important to be in tune with your audience and in the right market. If you know the problems they face, then you also know where you might find them. If you work with architects, then perhaps it’s at a professional conference, in a trade journal, or through your local chapter of a national architect organization. Once you’ve found them it’s just a matter of hitting the right nerves with your marketing messages and positioning your services as both very valuable and also a necessary component of their success. Sell them on the benefits, not on the details – start a conversation, find an opportunity to speak to a group, write for a trade publication or online e-zine, – the goal is to get your message out, and most importantly, in front of the right group.

10. Not managing time effectively – The final mistake I’ll cover has to do with how as a coach you manage your own time. Everyone’s reason for becoming a coach varies, specialties vary, and clients will vary, however one thing remains consistent; we all are responsible for managing our own time, and time is our most precious resource. Do your best to schedule things in advance, build in time between clients, and ensure that there’s some ‘you time’, ‘family time’, and ‘fun time’ built into your week as well. Practice what you’re teaching your clients, and spend the time you need in order to keep yourself organized, healthy, mentally sharp and emotionally ready.

These are just a sampling of some of the most common mistakes coaches make. If you’re already a coach, then you probably know of others, and if you’re just getting started, you’ll no doubt create some of your own. Use these as a guide to help you get started or revamp your existing practice and remember, if you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not learning!

How often are you paralyzed by perfection, when the desire to do something perfect keeps you from ever doing it at all? Do you have a book to write? A picture to paint? How about a new career move or great invention on the back burner? For most of us there are at least a few things in our lives that we never take action on. Here are just a few of the excuses we use to justify our position – These may sound familiar to you.

Excuse 1 – I’m waiting for just the right moment.

Excuse 2 – I don’t know enough about it yet to move forward.

Excuse 3 – I can’t think of the right way to say it.

Excuse 4 – It won’t be right anyway so why bother doing it.

How many of these have you used before? Got any other favorites? Even though these excuses sound different, essentially they all boil down to the same symptom, a need for perfection.

So what is the perfection you seek anyway? Is it fair to say that rather than seeking perfection, you’re really just creating an elaborate and seemingly unsurpassable excuse to keep you from moving ahead? We have heard it said countless times that perfection doesn’t exist, yet we still strive for this quality in much of what we do. Are we setting ourselves up on purpose?

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If you’re anything like I have been in the past you no doubt find yourself feeling both unfulfilled and as though you’re lacking something quite often. This can manifest itself as needing the newest technology toy, fastest or largest vehicle on the road, something that someone else has and you want, excess food, or any relationship that isn’t yours…

Generally when we begin to feed these feelings of need by shopping, eating, exercising, or other activities to bring temporary relief to the issue we usually find that within a short period of time, the same urgent need has once again reared its ugly head and is looking for immediate satisfaction. You might bend yet again and take the steps necessary to place a temporary band-aid on this unending desire, however never quite get to the root of what the real need is; true fulfillment.

The first step in breaking free from this common situation is first to identify that you’re in it. If you aren’t able to take a step back from your life and see it from another perspective then identifying it may be a challenge. At times like this close friends and family members may be your window to identifying and pointing out the pattern to you.

The next step is to start looking beyond the material need and attempt to get at the root of what it’s all about. When we are faced with the ‘lack’ or ‘scarcity’ of some type of material or external need, generally there is a larger and more pressing internal need or desire that is underlying the issue. Placing your focus and energy on this internal need not only brings light to the sometimes unnoticed need, but also brings you back in control of what’s really going on and removes the ‘external’ factor from the equation.

The final step after going through the discovery steps above is to begin the process of taking the time to nurture the underlying needs that have been ignored or neglected in the past. This can be as simple as adding a 30 minute exercise routine to your day or as large as a career change, new relationship, or physical move. The key is to take action and ensure that it’s in a purposeful direction for you.

You may have to utilize this process many times in order to flush out multiple areas where you are experiencing the ‘can’t get enough’ feelings you are experiencing. However, by following the steps above you will, without a doubt, find yourself further down the path to living a life with more meaning, satisfaction, joy and peace.

Many people fear the search for purpose primarily because of the possibilites that may arise once they discover what they’re here to do. Most people usually know when they’re in the wrong career and may have known it for years, yet fear the changes that would arise if they had to do something about it.

What some people don’t consider however, is that they can possibly shuffle around some responsibilities in order to make their current job more purposeful for them. In your current job you may just find that there are pieces of it that you enjoy more than others and that you most likely excel at above that of your peers. In the same way many of your co-workers may also excel at tasks in which you struggle.

A growing trend for many startup and more progressive companies is to use a ’strengths based’ or ‘talent based’ approach to job responsibilities. Research has shown that this type of approach can lead to both higher levels of productivity and profit along with an increase in employee job satisfaction and loyalty.

The bottom line is to try and find ways that you can harness your strengths and passions in your current role before considering a move into another job or career. Talk to your current employer and see if you can leverage those talents in other areas before making the decision to jump ship and start over. Who Knows? You may just start a new trend in your workplace that will benefit everyone!

In my last article we discussed how the process of ‘dream seeding’ allows you to plant seeds in the abundant soil of the Universe and reap the benefits of the unbounded knowledge found there.  The idea is for you to place a problem, question or other situation into the Universal Mind and trust that what you need will be on its way immediately to you.

The basis of the technique I utilize both in my practice and personally was derived from the work of Deepak Chopra and other mentors I have studied, however I have modified and added pieces based upon personal experience.  The biggest challenge you will face is to stick with it even during those days or weeks when you feel as though you may not be making any progress. I encourage you to take this as a model to learn from but understand that it’s not the only way. You may even decide to personalize this one, as I have done, and use the pieces that make the most sense for you in your life.

I suggest you start with something small at first and then as you get more practice you can up the ante and increase the complexity and number of questions you’re seeking answers to. It’s generally best to work with just one item at a time as you get started.

I’ll break it into a few simple and easy steps for you here to get you started…

I have found that it’s best to practice dream seeding when you know you will have at least 5-7 hours of continuous uninterrupted sleep, although I have seen results with much less. (New babies can cause the much less sleep I speak of!)

1. Locate a notebook, sketchbook or pad of paper that you will use as your new ‘dream journal’.
2. Come up with one question to a problem or dilemma that you’re currently facing on your journey to a more purposeful life and write it down. (This should be a single question, not a question on top of a question or a barrage of many ideas in one. It can be as simple as, ‘I want to know how I can best be of service to others.’)
3. Once you have your question written down in your dream journal place it on your nightstand or next to your bed on the floor along with a pen or pencil and possibly a book light or flashlight.
4. As you prepare for bed read the single question you have written in your journal aloud several times and try and commit it to memory. (This is why it’s best that your question is kept simple and short.) Your objective is to have this question on your mind right as you drift off to sleep.
5. As you’re lying in bed say something similar to the following; ‘Tonight I would like to know (insert your question). I release this question into the Universe and ask that I remember the answer when I wake up in a way that I can immediately understand.’
6. Go to sleep…..

Okay… believe it or not, that was the easy part, the actual planting of the seed. Now I will give you a few more items that will make this journey a success, and that are equally important in this process.

When you wake up in the morning, even if it’s at 2a.m., write in your journal anything that you can remember about your dreams. Try to capture every detail down to the colors, smells, feelings, images and words. You may find that once you write the main idea, others immediately pop into your head, just keep writing until there’s nothing left that you can remember.

It is extremely important that you do this while in bed and that you don’t jar yourself too much or move to another location if at all possible. Also, use your flashlight rather than turning on the room light (your spouse will also appreciate this!).

Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is that you do this immediately upon waking up before doing anything else, even using the restroom! No matter how strong the mental image is when you wake up, these dreams can disappear back into the unconscious mind before you know it leaving you frustrated and unable to recall any details.

Don’t become upset or feel that you did something wrong if when you wake up you don’t remember anything about the dreams you had that night. Also don’t become angry at yourself or the process if you either forget, or don’t have the complete picture you were expecting. The dreams may not seem complete when you start this process, however as you progress you will learn the best questions to ask to get the more complete picture of what you’re truly seeking.

Finally, I recommend that you don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get it all perfect, just experiment with it and find the way that it works best for you. Your dreams are your playground, enjoy the journey!

Using dreams as a tool to solve problems and seek guidance has been used for centuries by many leaders, mystics, philosophers and teachers throughout the world.  These early teachers saw the value of reaching deep within ones own consciousness in order to tap into the infinite knowledge of the Universal Mind.

Hidden deep within each of our minds lies our unconscious mind or ‘non-local’ self; the ultimate connection to the Universe. By learning to connect to this part of us we are able to tap into a virtually limitless realm of creativity, knowledge and wisdom that break the boundaries we generally experience through conscious thought.

There are multiple states of mind that we can enter into that allow us to reach into this Universal realm. Many people prefer to use meditation, others use prayer, and by far the vast majority of us utilize the most popular method of connection, our dreams, oftentimes without even realizing we’re doing it.

No matter who we are, where we live, or what our life experiences have been we’ve all had dreams at one time or another in our lifetimes. Most of us dream on a daily basis regardless of whether or not we remember it in the morning. Of the dreams that we do remember we either forget them within a few minutes of awakening, or recall bits and pieces of them likely in no particular order or with little to no direct meaning in our lives.

Discovering how to harness the untapped power of our minds and at the same time make use of our sleeping hours has been a question on the minds of many throughout the ages. By learning how to enable this connection at will and on a regular basis in order to reach an enlightened existence, we will no doubt reach higher levels of purposeful, peaceful and powerful living. Dream Seeding, the process I will now describe, allows us to begin this transformation consciously and purposefully.

The process of ‘dream seeding’ allows you to plant seeds in the abundant soil of the Universe and reap the benefits of unbounded knowledge in order to place you on your right path in life. The process I will teach you will help you utilize your dreams on a more regular basis to guide you on your quest of purposeful living. This is something we all have the capability to do, and something that if done consistently and properly, may make the journey a much more enlightening and peaceful experience.

The idea is for you to place your problem, question or situation into the hands of the Universal Mind through your unconscious connection to it. You then tap into the insight, vision, and wisdom of the Universe as you seek help and guidance from your higher or spiritual self. Virtually overnight, issues that have been plaguing you for years along with questions that have had no clear answer are delivered to you via your dreams.

Located within this realm you will also find answers to your questions about your reason for being, or purpose in life. With experience you will learn not only how to tap into this dream state during your sleeping hours, but also while awake.

In the next article I will give you the simple step by step process to get you started successfully ‘dream seeding’ along with a few simple ways to capture what you learn and put it to purposeful use in your life right away.