You can do it!

Life Changes Aren't For Sissies

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:33:31 GMT

I was just given a wonderful opportunity to host an Internet radio show for two months. I'm already a guest expert on somebody else's Internet radio show dealing with landing a new job so I'd like to stay out of the career coaching arena, even though I am an expert in the field. Right now I'm thinking about calling the show "Life Changes Aren't for Sissies." I'd want people to share their success stories about how they moved from terror into action and lived to tell about it. Would this be a topic that would be of interest to YOU? If yes, why? If no, why? The target demographics are people interested in spiritual principles, services and products. On a related note, would any of you like to be a guest on the show? I'm looking for known experts in their fields who are informative as well as energizing, entertaining and empowering. I want them to share their personal "rags to riches" stories...what kept them moving forward during their "dark night of the soul?" My intention is to have a show that is of benefit to the many rather than the few; one that motivates people to take steps in the direction of their heart's desire. It's not to publicize my business or yours, although that will be secondary gain. If you aren't comfortable being on the radio, would you be willing to send me a 500 word essay about how you made a difficult life choice? Focus on how you overcame feelings of fear, anxiety. Share tips, techniques, books or anything else that helped you move forward on your life's journey, even though you had no idea where it was taking you. These stories will be used in an upcoming book and you will be given full credit for your story, if it is selected. The deadline for these stories is August 15, 2007. Let's encourage others to do as Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. in her trademarked book suggests, "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!"

Prosperity is only a thought away!

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:23:35 GMT

Prosperity is just a thought away. That sounds simple doesn't it? It would be great if, by saying some magical affirmation, rubbing a crystal, reading a spiritual or religious passage, money, in large denominations and in an unending amount, fell from the heavens. We just needed to stand there with a huge basket and collect all the money we wanted, whenever we wanted it. Ah, if it were that easy. Prosperity, like everything else, starts with our intentions, beliefs and actions. I can intend to manifest large amounts of money and I can do hundreds of affirmations a day, but if believe I am not worthy of prosperity, "money doesn't grow on trees," or "money is the root of all evil," the likelihood of my being or remaining prosperous is almost nil. I can be very stingy, never sharing with others and always afraid I'll lose all my money or that somebody has more than I do. With this frame of mind and the accompanying actions, no matter how much money I have, it will never be enough and I will not feel prosperous. I'll always be worrying about what will happen tomorrow instead of fully enjoying today. I'll be wasting a lot of time worrying instead of enjoying what I have. Worry begets worry and joy begets joy. Your thoughts determine what you experience. Prosperity is more than just the amount of money you have in you wallet, bank account or piggy bank. It's an attitude of gratitude. I might have 10 bucks in the bank and still feel more satisfied with my life than somebody who has billions of dollars in investments. The amount of money doesn't matter. What does matter is if you enjoy and are grateful for whatever you have in this present moment. I ask myself, RIGHT NOW, what is the one thing that I want to do that will give me joy? It will be something tiny. I might want to get a glass of water, call a friend, tend to my flowers or do nothing at all. If I honor those feelings, I nothing is lacking and I feel satisfied. A larger car, house or income won't make me any happier because none of them are related to how I really feel and what I really want -- joy, love, peace and health. Notice, those are things that can't be found in the biggest shopping mall. They are not outside of us; they are within us. Prosperity is about how you feel. Are you calm? Are you having fun? Are you helping others? Are you free of grudges? Are you loved, loving and loveable? If you said "Yes" you are rich in spirit. The amount of money you have doesn't determine if you are prosperous or not; your feelings and thoughts do. And, you have a right to change your mind!

Two powerful words -- Thank You!

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:49:49 GMT

I haven't been blogging for several months because I have been dealing with family and personal health challenges/"learning opportunities." I've been in contact with family members, state agencies, the phone company, social workers, caregivers, and numerous other people. I've been bounced from one person to another and had to wait on hold for what felt like eons but in reality was only minutes. The longer I had to wait the more impatient I became. That's when I had my "light bulb" moment. I realized that most of the people on the other end of the phone or reading my emails, are busy juggling many other job and family responsibilities. They didn't develop their company's automated telephone system or the rules for how and when things need to be done. They have as little control over policies and procedures as I do. They are doing what they were trained to do. I could hear their tension in the tone of their voice or of their email. They often have to multi-task, deal with their own company's internal dynamics and are usually contacted only when there's a problem. They are expected to work magic and to "just smile" and try to handle the situation. They do not feel appreciated at work and many of them are working moms who don't feel appreciated at home. They are often taken for granted and thought of as nameless and faceless "service providers." What I realized is that each one of them wants to be acknowledged and appreciated. They are no different from me. I want to be acknowledged and appreciated for who I am and what I do. Two little words ("thank you") go a very long way. When I'm on the phone with somebody, I acknowledge the stress they may be under at the time as a result of previous callers and tell them how much I appreciate their help. I've sent thank you letters to social workers who were helpful to me and not as helpful to others and got notes of gratitude in return. To get a big "Thank you!!!!" from a harried social worker really brightened my day. All I did was tell her that I appreciated what she'd done for my mom. Based upon her response, I got the sense that she often felt under-appreciated and taken for granted. As part of my "ligh tbulb" moment, I realized that, when I talk to a repair person, the mail carrier, a doctor or a receptionist, I need to put myself in their chair and feel what life must be like for them on a day-to-day basis. Doing this, I immediately make a heart connection with the person and am truly grateful for the service that's being provided. As the "Law of Attraction" says, like attracts life. So, if I expect positive relationships and do my part to be positive and polite, a win/win situation is created. I make it easier for the person to do his or her job with peace, ease and joy and I, in turn, get my situation handled with peace, ease and joy. Whoopee! If I matched curtness with curtness or anger with anger, it would be a lose/lose situation and nobody wants to experience that negative outcome. Negative thoughts and actions just set the "trickle down" theory into motion. The next person either of us comes in contact with will get the carry-over from our negative interaction and that will get repeated until somebody chooses to stop the game and to replace negative thinking and behavior with positive thoughts and actions. As the saying goes, "peace is just a thought away." A "thank you" is very powerful and it costs nothing. It starts a positive chain reaction and often makes somebody's day. It also puts you in control of you part of the situation. You decided to say "thank you" and to see life from the eyes of the other person. If you were them, how would you like to be treated? The next time you're on hold, put yourself in the chair of the person who's going to respond to your request. If you want a positive outcome, choose to focus on the positive. Say "thank you" with sincerity. You can't change rules but you can change how you respond to them and how you treat another human being who wants the same thing you do -- apprecation. The choice is yours.

Powerful Words

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sat, 12 May 2007 09:34:00 GMT

Have you ever had a disagreement with a supplier, customer, friend, co-worker or complete stranger and gotten frustrated because the other person just didn’t “get” what you were trying to say? I know I sure have. I’ve found that certain words shut down communication while others are keys to open communication.

Here are some words that shut down communication.

You’re wrong…

I never said that…

You should…

You must…

You always…

Can’t you…

Shut up…

When you start sentences with these words it’s as if you’re holding up a big red stop light because all positive communication stops and a game of “he said, she said” starts and never really ends. One party is trying to prove they are “right” which means they have to make the other party “wrong” and nobody really likes to be wrong. It’s as if you start the conversation with a closed mind and nothing the other person can say is going to change your mind. Neither party is really satisfied with the results and has to find a way to release the anger that is generated by closed communication. That can take the form of physical or emotional abuse, illness, depression, or addictions to name just a few.

On the other hand, if you want to really have healthy relationships and to feel good about yourself and others, you might consider using open phrases similar to the ones below. They are statements about how you feel or what you want. Nobody can tell you that you don’t want or need something because they are not you. They have not had your life experiences nor seen an event from your exact same point of reference. Both of you filter your interpretation of an event through your own frames of reference.

Sentences that start with “I” or “Would” give the green light to continuing the conversation. You are just giving or asking for information. This takes the emotion out of the statement and allows the other party to stay neutral rather than to jump into a defensive mode. These opening phrases enable you to say exactly what is real for you.

I’ve noticed…

Is it OK with you…

Are you willing…

I have a need to…

I want…

I need…

I’d appreciate…

I’d prefer…

Would you please…

I’m curious…

Would you consider…

Choose your words carefully because they will either bring you closer to another or push them away. If you notice you used a “red light” word and didn’t mean to, an “I’m sorry” goes a very long way.

The muscles for success

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Thu, 10 May 2007 10:31:00 GMT

If I went to a gym and attempted to bench press 300 pounds, I could not do it. Just getting me to step foot into a gym would be a Herculean effort. Yet there are many people who can bench press 300 pounds or more. They are able to do this because they have, through weight training and a “can do attitude”, developed the necessary muscle strength to lift that much weight as well as they confidence to actually do it. The only way to develop the muscle strength for lifting heavy weights, is to set the intention to do so and then start lifting lighter weights, and steadily work up to the desired weight.

The same concept applies to any kind of worthwhile accomplishment. You cannot expect to achieve a big success without first building your own muscles of success. Repeatedly lifting lighter weights will give you the strength to lift heavier weights. Similarly, every challenge you overcome gives you the strength to take on bigger challenges. Before you can be a doctor or lawyer, you must pass tests. Before you can be a certified technician, you must demonstrate your ability to do given tasks. Before you can be a sales person, you must be comfortable talking to people. All the preliminary training of your mental and physical muscles are necessary to prepare you for success. Sorry to burst your bubble but there is no easier way to reach your goals – no fairy dust, magic lamp or magic wand. It’s all up to YOU.

How strong are your muscles of success? Do you train and develop them every day by your willingness to take on tasks that truly challenge you? The strength needed for success in any endeavor is developed by repeatedly and effectively overcoming obstacles. Take on the challenges, and see how much stronger they make you.

Usually when we are told to exercise, we’re told to “go outside or go to the gym and get some exercise.” I want to suggest that today you go within and exercise your mind. Thoughts precede action. Begin to see and to think about yourself as a success; let go of old and overused negative images about yourself and hold on to the concept that you have skills and abilities to be a success. Start small; just observe how many times during an hour you say negative things about yourself either aloud or in you mind. Then as you get stronger as an observer, increase the intensity of your mental workout by replacing each negative thought with something positive. The stronger your “mental muscle”, the more success you’ll experience.

No day is 100% good or 100% bad

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 06 May 2007 09:16:00 GMT

When it rains, it pours. I just got off the phone with the husband of a long-time friend named Paula. She hasn't been answering my emails so I called to see if she retired. She was really looking forward to doing that and then to do all the things she'd put off until she no longer was employed. One of those things was coming to spend some time with me in Arizona.

When I talked to her husband, David, I found out she had a stroke and has the mental capacity of a 1 year old. She was one of the brightest and most creative women I know. I told David to give her a big kiss for me. She just turned 65. What she's experiencing shows the importance of living in the moment since we don't know what the next moment will bring.

I haven't been blogging recently because the last few months have reinforced the importance of living in the moment and appreciating everything. Just let go of anger, grudges, hurt feelings, judgments and anything else that keeps you from experiencing happiness in this very moment.

Things have been even more challenging for me recently. Hard to believe... but it's true. Here are just some of the things that have happened in the last few weeks. They are in no particular order and just meant to show you that no matter what you're experiencing somebody is experiencing even more.

I've had several other opportunities to learn that lesson over the last month or so.

As you may know, I'm recovering from two serious injuries -- both of which left my body in pain and in healing mode. My most recent fall was 2 weeks ago when, while running to get the phone, I tripped and slammed my head, arm and other body parts on a door frame. Trying to break the fall, I've re-injured the arm that's been "talking to me for almost a year." It's difficult for me to sit, stand, walk and do much of anything. Guess God wants me to stay in one place so we stay connected.

Oh, I also broke a tooth and Thursday I had a crown installed. Normally going to the dentist isn't one of my favorite things to do but yesterday it was actually a pleasant respite from everything else I'm dealing with.

I'm proud of myself for dealing with one thing at a time, crying when I felt the need and then looking for the positive gift each event was giving me. There were many.

I haven't worked more than a few hours a week in about a year because of my initial arm injury. I can't drive and need to rest every few hours so my back doesn't go into painful spasms.

Because I am single, self-supporting and my coaching/consulting practice is temporarily on hiatus, I'm in huge financial debt and have a total of $800 to my name. I was able to pay my rent for May but have asked God to provide me with all the funds I need for living expenses and to pay off a huge amount of credit card debt.

The good news is that I'm going to be on an international Internet radio show on May 26 and it's my intention that my appearance generates income. The best news is that I'm not worrying about these things and just doing "belly breathing" to stay in the moment and to stay calm. It's working.

On top of everything else, my mom was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Thursday night when her hip gave way as she was getting up from a chair. She had major surgery and a rod was put into her hip late Saturday evening. About 6 PM Sunday night, I was able to talk with her for the first time. She sounded groggy and she recognized me. She wondered how I knew about the surgery since she lives in California and hadn't told anybody about her fall. Her property manager called my sister, who lives in California, and my sister called me.

When I was finally able to talk with my mom, she said she wanted to eat something so that's a good sign and she wasn't aware if it was 6 in the morning or the evening. That's how she always is when she gets up from a long nap. In actuality, she sounded just the way she always does when I wake her up from one of her naps when I call. I was able to tell her that I love her and that's what I really wanted to do. Now it's a wait and see game.

Now I'm coordinating short-term and long-term care for my mom and this all has to be done over the phone. I've had her moved into the same convalescent facility that her sister is in while she's recovering from a broken leg. They are at opposite sides of the facility (which is a good thing for my mom's sanity) but at least they are near one another.

Unless things radically improve and my mom regains her sight as well as her mobility, my sister and I are going to have to go to LA to close my mother's apartment because we don't think she'll be ever able to return or, if she does, she'll need 24/7 nursing help. We paid her rent though June and then it we'll have a better idea about what the next steps have to be. This possibility is very emotional for my sister and me.

My mom has lived in the same place for over 30 years -- twenty years after my dad's death.

I'm still in healing mode myself and can't drive without pain so two days ago I had neighbors drop my car off for service. $600 later and my car should be great for the drive to LA. I'm going to drive to see mu mom as soon as I can sit for a long period of time because I want to start taking some of my mom's things home with me. Even if she does return home, there is no reason for her to save her bowling ball, golf clubs, World Book Encyclopedia from the 60s or clothes that she hasn't worn in years and will never wear.

My sister, who lives in San Luis Obispo, and I want to start the de cluttering process prior to my mom's death so we don't go into overwhelm when it happens.

Because my mom is diabetic and feisty, we can't predict how much longer she'll be with us but we know these things will need to be done eventually. I want to start doing them before she actually dies -- because it will be easier for me and so she can make her wishes known. Basically, God must think I'm super woman because of all that I'm dealing with and I have no family in Arizona and only three family members in CA.

I've come to the point where I'm on financial aid for my health insurance but can't qualify for SSI until a year after my initial arm injury and then I'll have to go through a battery of tests. I've even done something that was very hard for me -- I told people that I need morale support, prayers, phone calls or cards as well as gifts of money and help doing marketing and cleaning. I am very independent and it's easy for me to offer help to other but difficult to ask for help for myself. I had to swallow my pride and ask for help.

I was so grateful that some of my neighbors brought me food, did errands for me and a former client had 4 dinners sent to my house so I don't have to cook and to make sure I eat balanced meals and the husband of my best friend in Arizona (who died about 18 months ago) brought over some frozen dinners from a cafe that we like that's near my apartment.

I've gotten through tough times before but never had to deal with so much as once. All I can do is to take one day at a time and to look for the positives in ALL situations.

I know there is a positive aspect to all of this and to find it I have to stay focused on what's happening in this moment. I have to let got of worry about the future or recriminations about the past.

I now make sure I say "I love you", stop and smell the roses, stay in contact with friends who live in different parts of the world and appreciate the beauty of every sunrise and sunset. I don't want to waste a precious moment of the limited amount of time we have on the school called planet earth.

By paying attention to the good things that are happening, I am attracting even more good things into my life and I am very grateful for them all. I even have the buckets ready when money starts falling from heaven.

Copyright 2007, Joanne P. Stein. All rights reserved.

Congrats...

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:41:55 GMT

I love to go to my mailbox and get a "real" card. You know -- the old fashion kind that comes in a stamped envelope and has somebody's actual handwritten signature at the bottom, a card that wasn't sent by pressing the enter key on a computer.

I have a habit of saving cards that are especially meaningful for me. Some go into my desk and are filed away for safekeeping. When I need a morale boost or some confidence-building before I try a new task, I open the file and read those cards. Even though I've read them before, it's as if I'm reading them for the first time and they cheer me up.

I've also bought cards for myself, written messages on them as if they were written by a future client, spouse, or departed loved one. Inside each card I write what I'd love to hear that person say to me. Then I sign the card with their name, put it into a stamped, self-addressed envelope and give friends a few of these cards. They have no idea what's in them. Their only instruction is to mail one of the cards whenever they think I might need or want a little pick-me-up or just when the time feels right. I never know who gets which card.

The fun comes when the card appears in my mailbox. I open each one and my mind really "thinks" the card is from somebody other that me. I find the cards to be very touching and I save them in that same file in my desk drawer that contains other motivational messages and/or cards.

Some of the cards I get are placed on bookshelves in my office and they serve as visual reminders of positive things. I thought I'd share one that a friend sent to me after I landed a new client after not being able to work for almost a year as the result of an accident. Just the colorful images on the cover of the card make me smile.

If you want to be successful, all you have to do is to follow the concepts that were on that card.

CHOOSING your own PATH

OPENING UP to new POSSIBILITIES

NEVER SETTLING for less

GIVING of yourself

RISING to the CHALLENGE

AIMING for SUCCESS

Taking RISKS

Staying FOCUSED

So whose day can you brighten by sending a card or a handwritten note? No matter if it's a friend, family member or yourself, giving from your heart starts the "Law of Attraction" in motion and you'll feel great.

© 2007, Joanne (JP) Stein. www.jpstein.org, www.bestcoach4u.com. All rights reserved.

6 Steps to Improve the Quality of Your Life

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:07:13 GMT

The following equation really summarizes what needs to take place if you want to make any lasting changes in your life. It looks easy on paper but there's a lot of work that needs to take place behind the scenes. If you change any part of the equation, you change your life – either for the better or the worse.

Beliefs + Choices (Goals) + Actions + Determination + Persistence – doubts = your reality.

Let's take a look at some parts of the equation from the vantage point of an eagle.

1. Beliefs are the results of events or what we are taught as children. They are not true or false. They need to be looked at to see if they are getting you closer to the life you want or keeping it away from you. You might have been believe "you'll never amount to anything" because that's what your dad always said about you. If you examine that belief, you'll be able to determine if it's true now. You'll be able to list all your accomplishments and you'll be able to consciously let go of that negative belief that does nothing to improve the quality of your life.

2. We always have 2 choices – yes or no. We may have forgotten that fact but it's still true. Awareness (knowing something is possible) gives us the power to make new and better choices. No matter what we decide, we need to accept responsibility for our choices if we don't want to be a perpetual victim. If your mind says yes, check in with your gut to see if it agrees. Our intuition is located within our body, not our mind so when follow your feelings since they don't have an ego attachment to the results.

3. Change starts with the intention to do something differently. Nothing changes until some action is taken. I can set the intention that I'm going to lose 10 pounds but until I decrease my calorie intake and increase my expenditure of energy, the number on the bathroom scale isn't going to budge.

4. Determination (consistently focusing your attention and intention) to achieve or get something you really want. You must really want the change in every cell of your being. If you're not committed to the new result, you won't achieve it. If your spouse wants you to stop smoking but you don't want to quit, no amount of determination will turn you into a non-smoker. YOU have to want the result because it's of value to you.

5. Persistence means keep moving forward towards your objective no matter how long it takes to manifest, what other people say about your idea and it may mean taking baby steps until you're ready to sprint to the finish line. Don't give up because the answer to your prayer may be just minutes away from coming to you.

6. Doubts are the result of lack of trust in God, oneself or both. They can come from outside or inside influences. When launching a new idea, don't share it with people who will throw cold water on your red-hot idea. Find people who will cheer you on when your momentum is lagging a bit. If every inventor listened to and was influenced by any "doubting Thomas's", we wouldn't have made so much progress.

We've just covered the basics of the equation at a high level. To actually apply the equation to improve your life, you might consider hiring a professional success coach to help you look at any limiting beliefs that may be buried inside your brain. A coach would also make sure you take action and, because you want to get your money's worth from the coaching relationship, you'll get faster result working in partnership with a coach than you would on your own. Hiring a coach is your commitment to yourself that you really do want to change and that's the first step in changing having a happier, healthier and more successful life.

Question 5: What inspires or fascinates you?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:35:07 GMT

Have you ever noticed that, when you're doing something that you like, time seems to fly, your mood is sunnier and you get more done in a shorter amount of time?

Wouldn't if be fun if we were always learning something new about ourselves, our world, our hobbies, our friends, etc. The more inspired and fascintated you are, the more passion you experince in your life. It's like watching a movie in color on a huge high-definition screen with surround sound rather than on a tiny black and white set that uses "rabbit ears." When you do what you enjoy, you life has more richness and it's more satisfying. And, only you, can define what inspires or fascinates you. You have all the power.

Once we know what makes us feel alive and joyful, we can make better choices about how we spend our time, money, resources and energy. Our life seems to flow more easily and we feel as if a heavy load has been lifted off us. Ah, doesn't that feel grand?

TODAY’S QUESTIONS

What inspires or fascinates me? How often do I experience those people, places or things?

Question 4: What are your biggest problems and challenges to solve and overcome?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:29:50 GMT

The sooner you solve your biggest problems and/or overcome challenges, the sooner you'll have more free time and energy to do more of the things that you enjoy.

The first step to solve a problem is to acknowledge that there is a problem. EVERYBODY on earth has problems and challenges to master. If you won the lottery, met the love of your life, got the perfect job, car, house or got the latest and greatest new wigget on the market, you would not be free of problems or challenges.

The skills you use to overcome the small challenges are the exact same as the onces you use to overcome larger challenges. I like to think that every time I solve a problem, no matter how big or how small, I'm developing my problem solving muscles. The stronger I get the smaller the problems seem to get. If I avoid facing my problems, they just seem to get bigger, stronger and more terrifying. Word to the wise: Handle issues as soon as you notice them they are much more manageable at that size.

TODAY’S QUESTIONS

What are my biggest problems to solve or challenges to overcome? What am I dong to find a positive outcome?

Question3: What are my greatest talents, skills and abilities?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:01:00 GMT

We do best what we like to do most. Take a few minutes and identify your greatest talents, skills and abilities. They don't have to be worthy of world-wide recognition. Maybe you bake the best cookies, tune-up a car like a pro, sing from you soul or have some other wonderful gift.

When was the last time you used that skill, ability or talent? What's stopping you? How does that make you feel?

I'm looking forward to reading your comments and to helping you find a way to do things that you enjoy more often.

TODAY’S QUESTION

What are my greatest talents, skills and abilities? When, where and how often do I use them?

Question2: What are your 3 most important personal and professional goals?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:00:51 GMT

Each of us has dreams about our future whether we state them aloud or not. We may dream to be a millionaire, the captain of industry, a fantastic parent or a hospice volunteer. We may dreeam of owning our own business, creating a labor saving device or writing the great American novel. These are all wonderful goals but they're so far off in the future that they may seem impossible to achieve. So we don't go into overwheming, let's divide our dreams into smaller parts -- goals.

Each action you take to achieve one of your goals takes you that much closer to living the life of your dreams. Dreams take action to make them real. Wishing won't make them happen; but taking one action followed by another action to acchomplish your goals will ultimately lead you to the life of your dreams. Just remember to enjoy the journey along the way and to keep your eyes on the prize.

As you read today's, take several deep breaths, let the question percolate in your mind and then post your thoughts in the comment section. Answering the question in your head is not as powerful as seeing your thoughts in writing. Taking the time do define your goals also is saying that the goal is "worth your time."

Jotting down your responses will give you added clarity about what you need to do to create “the good life.”

Until we take the time to think about what we want to create in our life, things seem to happen randomly. Once we know what outcome we want, we can make better choices about how we spend our time, money, resources and energy. This is a very empowering feeling.

TODAY’S QUESTION

What are my 3 most important personal and professional goals? What have I done recently to achieve any of these goals?

What are my 3 most important personal and professional goals? What steps am I taking to achieve these goals

Question 1: If you died tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 14:44:24 GMT

Since this site is devoted to hiring, maintaining and creating star performer, for the next 5 days, I’ll post a question to ask yourself about changes you’d like to make in your life so you and your business become more and more successful every day.

As you read each question, take several deep breaths, let the question percolate in your mind and then post them in the comment section. Answering the question in your head is not as powerful as seeing your thoughts in writing.

Jotting down your responses will give you added clarity about what you need to do to create “the good life.”

Your answers will provide me with ideas for new posts as well as info products and teleseminars that I will offer that are in alignment with what you want so you live the life of your dreams.

TODAY’S QUESTION

If you died tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? What would regret not having done?

How to tame a monster...

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:13:08 GMT

Is your in-basket about to tumble over? Do you have messages saved on your computer that are more than 1 year old and, if you actually need to find a specific one, you'd have to waste time plowing through dozens of messages until you located the one you wanted? What a waste of valuable time! In addition, do you have a problem keeping up with the "fresh" information that keeps pouring in, no less trying to tackle piles of old papers and emails that seem have multiplied since the last time you looked! In other words, do you feel like you have to tame the "data monster" before it buries you alive under a mountain of papers, binders, folders, note pads and other "reference" material that probably out of date?

I know your pain and I have a few suggestions that I've tired and they helped. My office was so littered with pieces of paper with ideas scribbled on them and I had every spare surface in my office covered with file folders, articles, magazines and other "mystery" items. Part of this is an occupational hazard associated with being a writer, coach and seminar leader. I had a general idea where I put things but knew the "data monster" could overwhelm me at any time. I seemed as if I needed to put on a hard hat before entering my office.

It felt like I was getting buried under piles of papers and both my in-and out-boxes on my computer were overflowing with messages that contained information about past events and completed projects. Why was I feeding the "data monster" by saving these things? I'd never use them again. Because of all the clutter, every time I went into my office, the feeling of dread rose to the surface and paralyzed me. I was so far behind in my filing that I thought it was useless even to start.

Recently I felt courageous and decided to tame my ever growing "data monster" after I heard the saying that "the only way to eat an elephant was one bite at a time." I realized that getting organized wasn't an all or nothing proposition. If I was consistent and spent 5 minutes a day organizing "something" in my office, I'd make headway. And I did!

Here are some of the things that helped me:

* I spent the time when I was on hold on the phone deleting old email messages and creating electronic folders for those messages I wanted to keep. I can now located need information more quickly.

* If I hadn't read a journal in a month, I threw it out. The likelihood of my getting to old journals was slim to none since new materials constantly pour into my office.

* I spent 5 minutes each day tossing unnecessary scribbled notes that were littering my desk. I often did this while waiting for a conference call to begin. I turned that "dead time" into something useful.

* I became more discerning about which e-zines I subscribed to and immediately unsubscribed from those that didn't provided me with anything more than a full in box and more food for the "data monster." There's so much good information on the web that I could have easily spent hours a day just reading instead of actually doing anything.

* I established a "just in time" mentality. When I needed information I would quickly get it from the web and I gave myself permission to become only a "mini" expert on a topic. I didn't have to read everything that was every written on the subject. I just need to get the information I needed to immediately use.

* I use the delete key more often. If a friend sends me a joke or motivational message, I hit the delete button before reading the message and without guilt! If I read and responded to every joke that's sent to me, I'd start the day in overwhelm and that wouldn't get me off to a good start.

* "When in doubt, through it out" became my mantra.

I have to be diligent or my "data monster" will resurface. However, I know I can quickly tame it once again by focusing 5 minutes a day to getting organized. Phew! That's so much easier than believing I have to do it all at once.

Dear Reader: I'd be interested to learn what helps you to stay organized. Just attach a comment to this blog posting and your ideas will be shared with present and future readers who want to tame their own "data monsters." Thanks for sharing!

Your new life starts now!

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 08:23:20 GMT

Happy birthday! As the saying goes, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" so it’s a day for celebration. You are born anew today. The past is over and the future is yet to come. There is only now.

Your new life starts today. You’ve been put in charge of it. You’ve been given complete control. It is fresh and new, waiting to be broken in. How it turns out is now up to you. Your choices and beliefs create your reality.

Today you have a blank slate. There are no limitations on how you can use this day. And don’t worry, you can’t make a mistake because if you don’t like today you’ll have another “birthday” tomorrow when you can make different choices, if you so desire. No choice is better than another is; it’s just different and leads to different experiences. Experiences are neutral; it’s our judgmental mind that determines if a choice is good or bad. Remember, “looks can be deceiving.” Some of my best days would look horrific from an outsider’s perspective but they were fantastic for me. For example, when I was finally able to feed myself with a minimum of pain after having injured my arm months earlier and been more or less limited to drinking my meals. This was a triumphant day for me but somebody else might have experienced it as a horrible day because they felt pain.

The clock is running now. Your day has already begun. Though it seems today that you have plenty of time, the minutes will pass quickly, so take care not to squander them. Yes, there’s plenty of time, but not enough to waste.

This is your life. It’s not a test or a trial run. It’s the real thing, and it is here. It is a magnificent opportunity, and one which will not wait. This is your birthday. See it. Imagine it. Live it. Enjoy it. Make it great.

What do you want to do differently? Do you want to change the way you respond when you're angry, frustrated, disappointed or upset? Do you want to find more things for which you're grateful? Do you want to find more time to spend curled up with a good book or having heart-to- heart conversations with the important people in your life? Do you want to go back to school or change careers or plant a garden? Decide what you want to accomplish and then "just do it." Take the first step towards reaching the outcome you desire.

Each choice you make determines how you experience today, tomorrow and the future. Expect it to be a wonderful life filled with innumerable days and countless awe-inspiring people, places and events. Act according to that belief and, 365 days later when you reflect back on the year, that's just what you will have experienced. The quality of your life depends upon your choices from moment to moment to moment. Happy birthday dear soul. What do you want to do now?

What does spirituality in the workplace mean?

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:23:59 GMT

The Secret, also known as the Law of Attraction, has many people interested in applying spiritual principles in all areas of their life. Many people confuse religion with spirituality and, therefore believe that spirituality doesn't apply to the workplace. I disagree. Maybe after you read my definition of spirituality, you'll agree with me. But, if you don't, that's OK.

What does spirituality in the workplace mean? For me it means many things. It means:

· viewing what I do at work in a higher context;

· seeing how what I do impacts not only me, but my colleagues, my customers, my company my industry, my community and my environment;

· doing things proactively to make my company a better place for the current employees and the ones that will come on board later;

· taking full responsibility for my actions and my "in-actions" – no excuses , no
finger pointing;

· telling my truth, having integrity and being authentic;

· continuous, life-long learning – whether it's acquiring new skills, increasing my self-knowledge or exploring new ideas;

· communicating from my heart rather than my ego and having others do the same;

· expressing gratitude and appreciation openly and often;

· making conscious choices to do what's morally and ethically right every moment of every day;

· giving honest feedback in such as way as to maintain someone else's self-esteem;

· being open-minded as well as non-judgmental and treating everyone with respect no matter what their job title, their race, their religion, their gender or their income bracket;

· encouraging everyone to creatively solve their problems, and then unleashing their creativity to other arenas of the business and the community;

· and realizing that change is the only constant in life.

In other words, spirituality in the workplace means going beyond just "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you." It's about focusing on the quality of our lives and realizing that we're all interconnected. It's about knowing that you can reach your goals only by serving others as best as you can, and helping others achieve their goals. Successful businesses, and successful relationships in general, are built upon service to others.

Solutions for hiring, retaining and creating star performers!

jp@jpstein.org (JP Stein) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:17:00 GMT

It's a pleasure to welcome you to my new blog!

I'm Joanne Stein, known to my friends as JP, and I love to help people have less stress and more joy in their lives! I do this by helping entrepreneurs hire, retain and create star performers.

This involves coaching business owners on how to determine the qualities they need in their virtual assistant, copywriter or other contractor and to develop questions to determine if a potential contractor will be a good fit.

For some busy doctors, dentists and other professionals, I've actually done the initial screening of job candidates which saved them time, money and aggravation. I also help business owners to identify the stressors in their lives and to develop an action plan to eliminate or at least reduce the impact of those people, conditions or events. In addition, I am like a tack on a chair -- getting entrepreneurs to move beyond ideas into action because without action success is impossible.

I've been a solo-entrepreneur for seven years and I know, first hand, the challenges and joys associated with being a business owner. Prior to starting JPS & Associates, I was an HR Manager for a connector manufacturer and the Director of Training for an electronics distributor. In both situations, I focused on the human side of business. Happy business owners have happy employees which lead to happy customers and repeat business or referrals.

I like focusing at the top with the sole entrepreneur or small business owner and helping them to communicate with confidence, to establish consistent policies, procedures and forms, to identify and achieve quantifiable results and to make sure they have balance in their lives.

In my coming blogs, I'll share tips, techniques and ideas that will help you to manifest your heart's desires. I welcome your comments and questions.

To your success!

JP Stein
Star Performers Coach

"Solutions for hiring, retaining and creating star performers!"