Power of connection
This week I'm going to share something a bit more personal. I've recently lost a classmate I had known for many years, and it has me thinking about the power of connection and friends. I had know this individual since grammar school and was shocked and saddened to learn he was no longer with us. Two of the things I really appreciated about him was how he didn't seem to let anything bother him (even when we were teenagers – pretty unusual!) and how I often heard him offer to lend a helping hand. He was quite handy with building and fixing things, and did this as a career. He would offer to make a long drive and help friends on the weekends when he must have been tired, and perhaps would have preferred to stay home. Actualy though, I believe he really would have preferred to be with and help his friends.
You've probably found that one of the most powerful influencers of how much you enjoy work is how much you enjoy your colleagues and the boss for whom you work. What is it about them that you really enjoy? Their sense of humor? How they add fun? Don't let you take yourself too seriously when you get stressed out? Or perhaps how they stretch your thinking?
I'd like to encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what the people in your life mean to you. It's easy to take that for granted. To enrich your relationships, share with that person one (or more!) of their attributes you really value and why.
Of course sharing in the same way with friends can deepen those relationships too.
Enjoy the connection.
Sincerely,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coaching, connection, friends, influencers, personal journey coaching, relationships, success, tips
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maximize your weekend
Here we are on Friday evening, and have you ever returned to work Monday morning, not feeling quite as rejuvenated as you thought you would?
What activities help you to decompresss after a long week?
What adds meaning and fulfillment?
What are the two things, that if you were to include them in your weekend routine would greatly add to your quality of life and sense of well being?
Some possibilities may include: getting out in nature – perhaps going to the beach or a lake; spending time with friends sharing deeply what's going on in your life; exercise – with the Tour de France as an inspiration, perhaps setting a triathalon goal.
Personally I find that when I include variety and meaningful connections during the weekend, I can start the new week refreshed and energized.
Would love to hear the tips and tricks that work for you.
Tags: career, coaching, fulfillment, meaning, personal journey coaching, restoration, success, tips
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freedom
Having just celebrated Independence Day, I want to give a shout out of appreciation to all of our service people who protect our country and freedom, and their families who likewise make sacrifices on all of our behalves.
With that freedom, we have the opportunity to pursue our dreams and careers while they stand watch, rain, shine, in the heat of the dessert and cold of the winter.
Thank you.
Tags: appreciation, career, coach, freedom, military, personal journey coaching, service people
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Success Tips for second half of year
Here we are already at the end of the second quarter, which is a great time to step back and reflect on the past 6 months, and put some thought into what you’d like to accomplish during the second half of the year.
Areas to consider are:
· Your professional goals. Are you are target with what you will be benchmarked against during your performance review? What can you do to deserve an ‘exceeds’ or ‘far exceeds expectations’?
· What additional structures could bring you closer to your longer term goals? For example having lunch with someone whom you admire in your work place? A former colleague with whom you’d like to stay in touch? Attend one professional event a month/quarter to expand your network?
· Skills. What one or two additional skills would increase your marketability (including inside your current company)? How can you best learn this skill? For example from observing a mentor? Building your leadership skills through volunteering? Subscribing to a trade magazine? Reading books on the subject? Taking classes?
What will make you feel really great/proud/successful when you wrap up 2010?
Now that you have that goal/intention, what strategy(ies) will get you there? What are the steps to each strategy, that when written out will make it easy to follow through?
Mid-year is a great time to draw a line in the sand and not beat yourself up for what you haven’t yet accomplished, rather to reignite your passion and focus on what will bring you the greatest results and personal fulfillment.
To increase the probability of achieving these goals, make a promise to someone that you will achieve them, and identify what you will sacrifice if you don’t. These two steps can work wonders for keeping you motivated!
Which 1-2 strategies will make the difference for you? Are you willing to invest in your future and implement them? Feel free to reach out if coaching would be the impetus to shift from considering the concept to implementation.
Would love to hear if you’d like to share.
To your success,
Gwyneth Anne
Tags: career, coach, goals, personal journey coaching, planning, skills, structures, success, tips
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