Archive for Strength
Breakin’ the Law
Posted by: | CommentsFor those of you who do better with the written word, here are the two quotes from the audio:
One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. Just remember that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.
- Martin Luther King
King was talking about breaking unjust civil laws. In today’s message I’m talking about “laws” that we are taught or have created in our own lives that keep us from freedom and achieving our dreams. We’ve developed mindsets based on rules, beliefs, expectations, shoulds, obligations culture, conventional wisdom, etc. that we have decided are “law” and therefore means we cannot operate in any other way – that’s how we get stuck going around the same mountain. A “law” is in the way; it’s like a barricade on our path that is often the cause for detours. Celebrate those and follow their energy to create new mindsets that are aligned with who you are and where you are going so you bypass the obstacle and move to the next level.
Like King said, you need to be willing to “accept the penalty of imprisonment” when you do this and risk being called crazy, risk not pleasing people, risk making a mistake, etc. Like Rosa Parks, if you have the courage to stick with it, you’ll not only experience your own victory, you’ll make it possible for others too.
My version of the MLK quote:
One who shifts a longstanding mindset because Spirit, your gut, or your heart tells you that it is unproductive, limiting and untrue even though it was originally given to you or created by you as law and who is willing to accept the consequences of breaking the stronghold of law to create a new mindset in order to fulfill your dream, your purpose and your impact in the world is hitting the mark and is making it possible for others to do the same.
- Ginny Victory
Next time, I’ll give you tips for how to make the shift…for today answer this question: what laws, beliefs, mindsets, shoulds, obligations or expectations are holding you back?
Business Is Very Good
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s your reaction to the article title this month? Business is Very Good
Just notice….your thoughts, your emotions, your body….
Rabbi Daniel Lapin’s book: “Thou Shall Prosper”; Sir Richard Branson’s book: “Business Stripped Bare” and Jeffrey Duzer’s “Why Business Matters to God” show that capitalism and business are good. Next month I’ll write about Lapin/capitalism; this month our focus is business/Duzer-Branson. They say (in their own unique ways) that business exists for three main purposes:
1-To serve. To serve the common good by providing goods and services that enable the community to flourish and by providing meaningful and creative jobs for people
2-To do no harm or in other words pursue sustainable relationships: with the earth and its inhabitants, with other organizations/institutions, with investors, vendors, employees, communities, etc. for the good of all
3- To make a profit. In the context of and for the purpose of the other two.
Business’ reputation has been tarnished over the years by executives and their organizations shooting ONLY for profit at the expense of all else. By the few exceptions noted in the media, business as a whole is now considered bad or wrong and so is capitalism.
It’s no wonder that we struggle as entrepreneurs both wanting to be successful and not wanting to condone or be a part of such an evil. The collective mindset is holding many of you back.
By now you know that tracking progress and celebrating are important to your success, so pull out a piece of paper and give yourself some credit. Go back to each of the three purposes for business and write down:
1-In what ways are you providing goods and services that enable the community to flourish?
In what ways are you providing meaningful and creative jobs for people?
2-What sustainable relationships do you have? (with the earth, other organizations, employees, vendors, etc.)
What’s the blessing of each one?
3-What is your business profit?
Profit is all of your business income less all of your business expenses. I’ll be speaking on financials this fall so check out the schedule below if you don’t know how to answer this question.
You probably thought of things you could be doing too – so go ahead, delegate, extend your reach, sign that contract, make some money….
I want you to know that your business is very good. And encourage…exhort you even to continue to grow your business so that the local, national, or global community benefits from your goods and services; so that your business provides meaningful and creative work for others to do what they love; you and your company create sustainable relationships that not only do no harm, they restore harm already done; and to make a profit, make money and keep lots of it so that you have a sustainable business that helps sustain the earth, our community, your family and your life.
Share thoughts and revelations below.
Powerfully Chosen
Posted by: | CommentsWhat does “powerfully chosen” mean?
Since I believe revelation begins with wisdom, lets look at the word origins of “power” and “chosen” and go from there.
Wow, I am amazed at the many dictionary definitions for power…
What’s yours?
Energy, authority, influence – three words that resonated for me during my morning lookup. The other thing I noticed is that power comes from the Latin meaning “to be able” and all throughout there was a connotation of ownership. Ownership by intrinsic nature, delegation, inspiration, transfer, capacity, ability…
Then I looked up chosen. Two things stood out here: 1- The antonym is “reject” 2- from an origin standpoint, chosen is akin to a Greek word meaning “to enjoy”.
Now…what comes up for you when you put the two words together?
powerfully chosen…..
Would love to hear your thoughts below…
This is what comes up for me:
Fuse/Fuse/Getty Images
Honor the Power Within: For Results!
Posted by: | Comments“My business is a spiritual expression of me, an opportunity for me to unfold.”
~Paula
I love the women I get to work with. You all are on a spiritual journey as varied as your spiritual beliefs. All of you put who you are, relationships, your integrity, God, family, etc. first in the order of priorities. You all have a passion to make your home and the world a better place, to make a lasting and meaningful impact.
And while many of you began your businesses to be free of the worries of money and time and expectation – you are often more bound than before.
As Paula is….or was before she began her coaching.
Paula has been running her business for about 10 years, she’s invested over a million dollars into it, along with her health and while she is well-known, well respected and successful with revenues in the high six figures, she still struggles with illness, profitability, debt and s/low cash flow.
We’ve been working together for a while and needed to regroup: measure progress and ensure we’re clear on goals. So, I sent over a summary of goals that included her overarching goal to reach a million in revenues by December 31, 2011 and a profit margin of 25% by the following year-end.
When we talked it through it became clear that while this is her overarching goal, Paula’s priorities still lie with the intangible goals: her spiritual journey, her authentic expression of herself, being centered and at peace. She said she can’t see the link to the tangible goals yet and it puts too much pressure on her to do so. How about you?
After a series of similar conversations this month, I think that the challenge is to see the bridge between the two. In our western culture we separate things: they are either/or, black/white, right/wrong. In eastern cultures (including Israel) they are comfortable holding two different things at the same time – even able to see the interconnections and layers between and among them, often other options and choices that they create as well.
The intangible and tangible are linked; the spiritual and temporal intricately intertwined; the sacred and strategic interdependent. To succeed, each in our own way, we need both.
As I walked Paula through the CORE Connection diagram (below) a bridge began to form between the intangible and the tangible…and thus an integration of the spiritual and temporal within Paula.
To start, picture Paula’s (or your) goals on the outer edge of the life and business curves.
Then focus on the very center of the diagram to discover your core. Who are you on the inside? What are/is your….values, mission, strengths, needs, interests, motivations, essence?
Then we take a step back and look at the big picture. What do you notice about the diagram? What does it look like?
Often people say that it looks like an eye: among many other things, the eye is a window to the soul – the core of who you are as noted above. And it also symbolizes vision. So once we focus in on your soul print, we then go to the broad view and look at your vision. To set the context of all you do (see last month’s article).
Then we focus again on the inner circle and determine which of the 8 strategies (see the January 2011 newsletter) you need to employ to achieve the vision. Next you take a look at the “rays” that come out from the inner circle – those are the various areas of your life and business. Often you’ll apply who you are (core) through one or more of the 8 strategies in all areas of your personal and professional life. Sometimes, you’ll select just one or a few areas that need attention and action.
In the application of who you are (sacred) through one of the 8 strategies (strategic) you’ll reap both intangible and tangible results ultimately living into your vision.
To help Paula bridge, integrate and prepare for the new goals I used the diagram to help her see her progress and success to date.
On the outer edges of the curves are: increased cash flow, increased business development, able to recognize ideal clients, improved health, energy and focus, decreased fear and anxiety.
Then I went to the inner circle and showed her that she has used the following strategies to implement the soul of who she is in her life and business to bring about these results:
Trust Yourself/Know Your Value: Over the course of time and through various exercises and applications Paula has a much greater acceptance of her own authenticity and inner value. Which has been the impetus for her to follow up on receivables, stay on top of invoicing and renegotiate contracts thus increasing cash flow significantly, garnering new work, and long term clients beginning to see her company as a strategic partner verses an expense.
Mind Your Own Business: our ongoing focus together has been on Paula’s health. From the basics of sleep and nutrition to neuroscience to spiritual practices. This micro focus with the simplest of steps has been a journey and a reward. Paula has been minding her body’s natural need for sleep and for rest between travels and projects; removing toxins from her environment; staying connected with her naturopaths and following supplement and nutritional advice – consistently. When Paula uses the lens of her health as a filter for planning, she finds that she has increased energy, longer term energy, less “noise” in her head, clearer thinking and focus and is more engaged. Those results have given way to increased productivity, a better close rate in presentations, and the desire and ability to be engaged in community.
Be In Community: While Paula has two long standing association relationships, she has sought out new strategic alliances with various sales and business groups to network, share her message, and fill the pipeline. And it’s worked…the pipeline is filling up with some pretty interesting projects and she’s just now starting to see who her ideal client is. This type of client “gets” her and her offerings so there is less work involved, greater ease and a higher close rate. A more natural, organic or spiritual process if you will, that reaps tangible results in higher sales with higher margins.
In pointing out these interconnections between her core, the strategies, the actions she took in her life and business and the resulting tangible benefits, Paula began to acknowledge her progress and believe it’s possible to reach her goal to grow her business to $1million in revenues with 25% profits (after tax and salary) in a healthy, spiritual, ethical, and peaceful way.
It is always going back to your core and honoring the power within that creates and integrates the spiritual and temporal and results in the intangibles and tangibles you need and want.
You’ve been powerfully chosen…make powerful choices.
Propel your Progress Think on These Things
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s the time of year for reflection and yet I’m noticing an interesting pattern with clients: the natural tendency to reflect and a pushing past it to figure out what’s next for 2011.
This push is overriding an important part of life, personal growth and preparation for the new year. I know it doesn’t sound very strategic to stop and reflect, acknowledge progress and accomplishments, give thanks, celebrate. And it is.
As I described in the July newsletter, celebration (thanksgiving, acknowledgment) is an important part of transformation for you, your life and your business. It integrates new growth so that it becomes a natural way of thinking, of being, of living. Celebration, recognition and gratitude also stop the push of the parasympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and kick on the sympathetic nervous system. This is the healthiest place to be on a day-to-day basis – as it is this relaxation response that restores, renews and reenergizes our body, mind, soul and spirit.
Many of you give thanks daily as you converse with others, pray or lay your head down for the night. I will challenge you to go further and carve out sacred space on a regular basis – and especially this time of year – for reflection:
What are your gifts and strengths?
What progress do you notice in you, your life, your business?
What are your accomplishments this year?
For what are you proud of about yourself?
For what are you grateful?
What miracles have you experienced this year?
In what ways will you celebrate? mark the milestones?
Stop now and do this. Invest….you’ll notice ROI in thinking, health, focus, creativity, relationships, effectiveness and ease.
You’ll also notice a natural carryover into your 2011 planning. Ask yourself the same questions as if it were December of next year. When I did this, the most powerful question that shifted my thinking and tweaked my forecasting and planning is the gratitude question: for what do I want to be grateful for in December 2011? My commitment and motivation are very different and already opportunities are popping up that I didn’t expect or couldn’t see before. My response to them has been easy and natural. It’s as if I’m being pulled forward verses pushing.
When you continue your daily gratitude practice and invest in reflection that leads to acknowledgment and celebration you are creating and strengthening new neuropathways in your brain – ones that support your growth, progress and success.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent or praiseworthy – stop – and think on these things.
What’s driving You?
Posted by: | Comments“Can’t you do it on your own?”
“It’s your responsibility.”
Two phrases I heard recently from those near and dear to me as I shared about the growth of my business. The first comment was said by a family member with care and concern in their voice…wanting to ensure that I not get hurt, used, nor overextend financially. The second phrase was said by a close friend, one who has walked through the valleys of life with me; through to the other side to enjoy the light and blessings with me. So I was shocked to hear censure in her voice. Like a mom’s scolding, laced with ‘shoulds’.
Many of you have said things like:
“I can’t afford to hire anyone.”
“I’m not good at dealing with people.”
“If I can’t do it all myself, I’m a failure.”
What other things are you hearing? Thinking? What thoughts come, unbidden when you start to feel overwhelmed, taxed, alone; when you know what needs to be done to grow your business and make an impact? What expectations lurk?
Once we talked it through, both of them began to see that ongoing hiring is fundamental to building a business and gave me their support. Note that these comments surfaced even though they both know I already have contract support….and we wondered where those expectations come from. They must be in the collective consciousness (or subconscious) as support of any kind is one of the biggest issues for women. Many of you…ok, all of you are struggling with support in some area of your life: household, relational, contract, employee, vendor, community….
Some of you have over a million in revenues, many of you are in the mid-high six figures…others are just below $100,000; regardless the issues around support are the same: I must do it myself.
We can hear the inferences in both phrases…aren’t you capable? You’re irresponsible. They question our character, who we are and are therefore powerful drivers in business and personal decision-making.
Let’s look at each phrase literally:
“Can’t you do it yourself?” the answer to this is: ‘yes. I can’. And I know I can. So…therefore the answer affirms that I’m capable (and so are you).
And that means that our character is intact so we are free to use this capacity to discover what we’re best at and find the people who are best suited for everything else.
“It’s your responsibility.” The fact is that’s true. All of the tasks in my business and life are my responsibility. And the same is true for you.
And this means that we are free to choose. It’s no one else’s business, it’s yours. So you get to choose how you want your life and business set up. You get to design the infrastructure that supports you and delegate accordingly.
Many of you are bringing your growth issues to your coaching sessions and working through your versions of these thoughts…to shift your mindset in a way that supports your vision, mission, values and goals and are reaping a harvest of payoff in health, effectiveness, recognition and profits. Post your comments and experiences here on the blog.
and consider…
Who are you listening to?
What thoughts are driving your actions?
What needs to shift?
What new actions will you take?
The Valley is the Door
Posted by: | CommentsNan was stuck in her business, she’d been in the process of recalibrating and reinventing to meet client needs in the new economy and still wasn’t making any progress. She was clear about her personal and professional goals and each coaching call she’d go away with a list of inspired actions only to show up on the next call with nothing or very little accomplished. The one topic we had circled around and not dealt with yet was the real issue: divorcing her business partner. How could she move forward with a new business plan when this partner would be benefitting from her success?
She was hurt, confused and angry and very concerned that any action she would take would be revenge so she was frozen, stuck in the mire, unsure which direction would be the road of integrity and not willing to face the intensity of it.
When I realized what was going on, I walked her through the phases of change (see chart below) so she’d understand the dynamics she was experiencing and could make a decision about what to do next.
The phases of change can be applied to anything in life: a project, an event, something unexpected that happens, a choice you make, a strategic or personal goal, someone else’s choice, processing a regret, etc. And each one will have some variation of the following.
Progress
The initial stage….when you’ve launched a program, gotten pregnant, are building your client base, starting a diet. The actions you take are clear, easy, and you can see the results. You feel good, encouraged and on track: there is progress.
Detour
Detours can happen anytime along the path, but I put them here to show what happens if you don’t embrace them. As you can see from the diagram, the detour drops you into a pothole and you are disoriented, confused, sometimes shocked, even if it was your decision to have a baby, or offer that service. The reality often derails your plans. Because reality is often not what we expect~ especially when a partner you trusted betrays you with unethical decisions and actions. In this stage, your feelings can run from numbness and denial to frustration and anger. Often that surge of anger will propel you up to the next phase…..
Plateau
You’ve climbed out of the detour pit by sheer force of will, have made some progress and are being “strong”. This stage is frustrating and you often rationalize/ruminate: “I’m so stupid for trusting him.” “Why did I choose now to run that program” “Ok, it’ll be ok, just buck up and be positive and move forward” “Just forgive and forget” or bargaining: “I promise I’ll never do xyz again” “If I do abc, maybe that will take care of things” . However, since you didn’t fully face the reality of the detour, or your reaction to it and are forcing the path you thought you should be on, all of those feelings, circumstances, realities you are stuffing or ignoring are pulling you down. No one likes this downward pull. So we resist. Which leads to:
Stuck
Now you feel like you are in bondage, weighed down, unable to see, hear or move. And so disillusioned as you never expected this. We expect to go from progress to victory (as shown on the chart by the dotted line) but that isn’t real life. Most people think the valley is the worst place (hence the avoidance noted above) but this is really the worst place to be: enslaved. This is when people usually call for a coach….which is great as I love to walk people into the…..
Valley
Oh, I can hear the agony now! No one likes this phase and yet it is the most beautiful. The valley is the door to: truth, freedom, forgiveness, clarity, direction, confidence, energy, opportunity, your core…..and so much more!
Of course that is after you’ve dealt with reality: the circumstances, the people and the feelings. You must feel the anger, fear, hurt, confusion, jealously, lust, sadness~ whatever it is. This can be a dark and lonely place for the more intense issues or uncomfortable for the less intense.
Sometimes it’s the unknown that pulls you into the valley. I go through the valley every time I create something new….and I’ve come to embrace the frustration, wrestling and sleepless nights of this phase because I know by experience that the revelation is there. And when it shows up:
Power Burst
This phase is really fun. Though you may experience some residual emotions and may be on shaky colt legs it is really phenomenal to watch the massive productivity that happens here.
Nan saw this first-hand. When she let me walk her into the valley she faced her pain and anger over the injustice of her partner’s actions. The intensity of how she felt scared her, she wasn’t sure she could trust herself with those kind of emotions….and yet when she allowed herself to feel them, express them in healthy ways (e.g. exercise, throwing pillows, crying, journaling [in other words, not hurting herself or anyone else]), and listen for their message……she found the capacity, clarity and confidence to take action.
Untangling the mess in the valley is time consuming yet worth it ~ for the sake of Nan’s (and your) well-being and for the sake of her family and business as you will see in…..
Test, Recalibrate, Celebrate
As I said above, you come out of the valley in a burst of productivity and are often are on shaky colt legs….this stage of the game is for testing. Testing out your new legs. In other words your new ideas, new actions, new solutions, new direction, new tools, new beliefs, new…….
In the testing you will learn what works and what doesn’t, sort through any residuals from the valley and recalibrate accordingly. Continue testing and gathering evidence for these new approaches while celebrating the learnings and accomplishments! On the graph the line to victory is a wavy one. That is due to this process: you will hit plateaus, detours and valleys and you need not get stuck if you understand these dynamics and apply the principles.
I cannot overemphasize this phase enough. You must be willing to test and learn, to gather evidence, face reality and recalibrate AND to celebrate; even incremental success. Celebration is a vital part of progress and the integration that sustains your achievements and transformations over the long term as you make…
Steady Progress
This stage for many of you will appear to be draining, taking too much time and boring.
Not true….as you can see from the placement of this phase on the graph, you are sooooo close to victory. And while it may take a day or 3 years to reach your goals, steady progress, like celebration is an important piece. This is where integration happens and all that you’ve learned becomes second nature, even applying these principles. This allows you to live in the moment, fully and freely with all of the resources you need available to you as you climb to….
Victory
Your vision, your ideal life, your business running itself so you can enjoy your life and your family. You will also have victories along the way….progress, movement to plateau and power burst are the obvious ones and if you look more closely there are victories in detour, stuck and the valley too.
In the end, victory is not a destination, it is a lifestyle. Living a victorious life means embracing all of life. Don’t be afraid of the detours, valleys, the unexpected or the unknown~ surrender~ so that you might live.
Nan did…….surrender that is and she found peace, productivity, creativity and new opportunities on the other side of the door. Her business is slowly building again as she enjoys her family and this newfound freedom.
