Wouldn’t it be great if someone could teach you some real world, tangible strategies to help you renovate your relationship to time?

If so, catch my latest audio recordings from two of my recent teleclasses. Download them for free. The first one is about 45 minutes long the second 30 minutes.

Craving a Balanced Life – Forget Time Management

How to Double Your Effectiveness With Everything You Do

Why am I offering this? I hear the same thing day after day from smart, savvy small business owners – there’s not enough time and you’re often teetering on overwhelm. Enough. There are things you can do – I practice these strategies myself and I want to share them with you. Honestly, it’s not rocket science – but a few common sense things that if you implement into your life you WILL experience a profound change.

A wiser person then me once said the definition of insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results. IF you’d like different results, take different actions.  Invest some of your energy now – take the first step – even if you don’t think you have time.

Listen to the audios and please let me know what you think.

Warmly and supportively,
Helaine

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In addition, there are some common mistakes I bet you make every day without even knowing it that contributes to the problem. If you give me 30 minutes of your time and come to my free Teleclass I’ll teach you five easy to apply actions you can implement right away without it costing you a single cent. You can correct these mistakes and become more effective.

Imagine how different life would feel if you ended each day knowing you could let go of work and focus on the other parts of your life without feeling guilty or exhausted. What dreams, goals or promises are you not able to fulfill because you can’t get it all done?

Here’s what you’ll learn in only 30 minutes:

• How to dislodge the three biggest invisible obstacles to getting stuff done so you can bring in more satisfied customers.

• How to make what already works work even better and bring you even more revenue.

• How to upgrade your personal operating system and overcome the fear that stops you in your tracks

• A revolutionary, proven way to promote and sell your product to your most perfect customer – that will make you feel even better about what you sell.

• The secret savvy business owners use to end the pain of procrastination and improve effectiveness and profits.

This information packed Teleclass is a little taste of my new 12 month small business development program From Passion to Profit starting in October.

Even if you’re not interested in the program, I promise you’ll get 25 minutes of strategies and actions to apply to your own business. After the call I will stay on the line for Q & A.

I hope you can join me Wednesday July 28 at 4 pm eastern time, (3 pm central, 2 pm mountain and 1 pm pacific).

Please register even if you can’t attend the class – I will record the call and make it available to you 24 hours later.

Register here: http://www.pathofpurpose.com/free-30-minute-teleclass/

Looking forward to hearing you on the call!

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Remembering what it’s like to be employed by someone else offers a stark contrast that probably contributed to the decision to start your business or downright pushed you there. Your time and freedom is a highly valued asset.

You knew starting a business would take hard work, and you would put a lot of time in – BUT you were highly motivated and abundantly clear that ultimately, you would have freedom and you would experience your life on your own terms.

There’s nothing wrong with that mindset – freedom is a wonderful reason to be self-employed but guess what? The value of freedom you hold so dear is unbeknown to you creating an illusion that’s getting in your way.

Here’s how it plays out. You resist three dirty words, structure, discipline, and accountability because you think they’re the opposite of freedom! But, here’s a secret all successful business owners know – structure, discipline and accountability ARE the foundational building blocks freedom is built on. Until you stop resisting and make friends with structure, discipline and accountability you’ll never get what you want – freedom.

For some reason many people have an almost allergic reaction to the concepts of structure, discipline and accountability. They feel them to be authoritative, not spontaneous, and dare I say, militaristic. Consequently, resisting these qualities ultimately leads to lack and is one of the root causes of time management problems – which leads to – guess what? Your lack of freedom.

What do you do about this? You take a good look at your relationship with these words and change your thinking. You get help if you need it putting a plan in place so you can overcome the illusion. But, most importantly you remember to the core of why you want to be self-employed in the first place – FREEDOM – and decide to do what ever is necessary to get there.

It’s YOUR life… Imagine the possibilities!

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1. Five Fatal Words

Everyone knows that marketing is really a fancy business term for “putting yourself out there”.  And, true to human nature most people have some degree of resistance to becoming as visible as necessary to achieve success.  Fact – if you want to make more money – you have to build tolerance and capacity for being “out there” publicly.

The other day I was coaching a client who needs to increase her revenue and wants to ramp up quickly.  For homework I asked her to put together a marketing strategy to carry her through the end of the year.  She emailed me back in no time with a well thought out plan that was quite impressive. As I made my way through the details something jumped out at me that was so obvious I couldn’t help but share it.

She based her entire plan on “passive” marketing opportunities and had completely left out any “active” engagement with her potential customers. Let me digress and define passive marketing – these are activities like, media promotion, brochures, email blasts, refining websites, starting a newsletter, offering coupons, etc. essentially all the easy things! Things that are effective and belong in any comprehensive plan but are passive and don’t ask you to engage with the world and “put yourself out there”.

It’s not a coincidence that her plan lacked any “active” activities. What I mean by “active” marketing is: calling prospects, asking for referrals, creating speaking opportunities or introductory classes, showing up at networking events. You know what I mean – all the things you push to the bottom of your “to do” list because you’re afraid to put yourself  “out there”.  She, like most small business owners wish that her product will find its way into the hands of her customers without her having to actually sell it.

Here are five reasons I think people are afraid to prioritize “active” marketing and get themselves “out there”:

Visibility – Most people have learned to be invisible. Think about it. Most of us are trained from an early age to be seen and not heard. Or, we pick up from our culture that it’s conceited to blow out own horn. You’ve got to reconcile these two conflicting intentions if you want to succeed.

Directness – Most people have an almost allergic reaction to being direct and making an offer. We worry about imposing or being viewed as bossy. If you have a solution to your prospects problem, how are they going to know it if you don’t tell them?

Self Confidence – Most people resist expressing themselves and their talents – again, another cultural misinterpretation. Being humble doesn’t mean you have to be silent. If you believe 100% in your product and feel passion for it – talk about it.

Structure – Most people greatly resist being managed in any way. If you went into business for yourself because you value “freedom” – don’t confuse freedom with not needing structure – everything needs some sort of structure to survive.

Money – Most people – believe it or not – have limited thinking when it comes to money. If you haven’t investigated the beliefs you hold about lack – or wealth for that matter – you can be stopped before you even get out of the gate.

So, here’s your homework assignment. Take a fresh look at your marketing plan and see if you have a balance of passive and active ways of promoting your business. Challenge yourself to up the ante on the active side and I would bet you’ll make more money by the end of the year. I’d love to hear what difference this makes – please share your thoughts or results with me!

It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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With a good dose of fear that I’d lose everything I’d built, I stopped, shifted my focus and slowed everything way down. As many of you know, over the past few years, my husband and I built a house, dealt with a major health issue, lost a family member all the while  forging full steam ahead building both of our businesses. I wasn’t aware of it at the time but I was exhausted and empty.

Initially it felt great to pull back, spend time in the garden, read novels, give myself permission to watch Oprah in the afternoon. I tried on the concept of semi-retirement and, frankly I loved it. As the year wore on though,  I began to get restless and itchy. Although I knew there was still more recharging needed and I had little interest in re-engaging with work - I became aware of some darn feeling sneaking up on me that I couldn’t put my finger on. 

Knowing full well the distinction of being versus doing I convinced myself that I simply needed practice “being”. So I spent the winter – being - focused on appreciating my stillness. One cold, snowy afternoon I had a conversation with my coach. I was telling him about my stillness meditation and he asked me if I knew the difference between still and stale. Suddenly I knew what that feeling was I couldn’t put my finger on.

The light bulb went off and following my own coach medicine I knew I had to get myself moving again. But, I also knew that you can’t sustain action without  first being inspired and I was definitely NOT inspired. So I waited. Fortunately, having been on the planet for fifty some odd years, I was comforted knowing that inspiration eventually flows again. It’s like the tides, or the moon cycles – it comes around again.

Then, a few weeks ago winter broke, the air was warm and I noticed a few crocuses starting to poke their heads up toward the blue sky.  It hit me – creativity! I suddenly wanted to write and I did. That led to a flurry of activity which included revamping this website and reengaging with the world again. It’s great to be back, and it’s been wonderful hearing from those of you who have written, welcoming my return. 

It just goes to show you - even when you think inspiration’s gone forever  it never really is. It’s not possible for inspiration to cease to exist. Crocuses always return with the warmth of a new season.
 
It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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“You have one year to live.”

For a good part of my life I have wondered, with a fair degree of anxiety, if someone, someday would utter these terrifying words to me. In my gloomy nightmare it’s been discovered that I have an incurable disease, and my life will soon be over.

Instant grief, fear of pain and suffering, incredible sadness all come rushing into my imagination as I create a scenario in my heart about my own death. Who will love my children the way I do? Will my husband find love again? How many dreams will I never see come true? What happens to me when I die?

When I blend these painful thoughts with our societal values to accomplish and succeed at life at any cost, it’s no wonder I experience stress and fear. I feel the cultural treadmill constantly pushing me forward toward something. How can I die without achieving the right career, the perfect relationship, money, and a mission in life that will define my purpose for being alive?

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t “do” things, have goals and live our dreams to the fullest. What I am wondering about is the other half of the formula; what we in the western world collectively condemn as frivolous and not productive. Being.

To me being-ness is about embracing the present, seeing others and myself in the context of who I am, not what I do. Holding the values of compassion and inclusion. Seeing as much value in dancing, painting or dangling my bare feet in a stream as I do in building a successful coaching practice. In essence, becoming attentive to the vibrancy and texture of every experience in which I find myself.

When I spend energy resisting the inevitable natural outcome of life I rob myself of living. I’m the one proclaiming the end. Every time I leave the present moment and project myself into some glorious or uncertain future or relive my past with regret, I miss the possibility of truly being in my life right here, right now.

When I awoke from my nightmare, I realized why I named my coaching practice “Path of Purpose” and what a path of purpose truly is. It’s the path itself. It’s the process of life unfolding perfectly in every moment.

Said another way, it’s not where the path leads that’s so important. Instead, it’s the path itself that brings us the most joy and fulfillment.

As I continue to clarify the balance of my being and doing, my thoughts and feelings about life take on a whole new quality. My appreciation for life is expanding, and I’m learning to live with greater awareness, gratitude and fullness.

If I were suddenly faced with a life threatening illness, certainly I would be afraid and would not want to depart this life prematurely. That being said, having emerged from my gloomy nightmare, I’ve awakened to the inherent gift of life along the path of purpose. The gift is the path itself.

As long as I remain on the path, I know I’ll arrive at the end of my life without wondering if I have truly lived.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities!

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Within seconds, I heard his wife Meg cheerfully greeting me on the other end of the phone. She began by explaining that she was in the middle of “cleaning gunk from the drain,” but she wanted to know what life coaching was all about. I took a deep breath, preparing to give her my quickest rap, and out of my mouth popped “life coaching is like cleaning the gunk out your drain.”

After the power of that image sunk in, and I wondered if she thought I was crazy, I realized life coaching is exactly like cleaning the gunk from our drains. Life coaching is about clearing the gunk from our lives!

Our lives can be full of debris and gunk that interrupt the effortless flow of a purposeful, passionate and fulfilling life. The gunk accumulates and gradually zaps our energy and creative passion, usually without us even noticing it. Many people learn to tolerate it, and some eventually experience a crisis, an illness, or simply find themselves wondering “is this all there is?” These are the reasons most of my clients come to me.

Here are the top 6 sources of gunk that could be blocking your flow. I invite you to take a minute and consider the following possibilities:

1. Limiting beliefs

Have you ever stopped and listened to what’s going on inside your head? We are so full of shoulds and woulds that we don’t even know what we truly think or feel. No wonder we have difficulty imagining the life we want. The first step in changing our lives is changing our thinking.

2. Draining relationships

Are you happy? Are you loved for exactly who you are and do you love without condition? Everyone deserves emotional fulfillment. Developing balanced partnerships add quality to life.

3. Career dissatisfaction

You open your eyes on a new day…. Are you excited to meet your world and express yourself? We spend a significant part of our time at “work”. Finding your true-life purpose ends the feeling like you are dragging yourself through your life.

4. Scarcity thinking

This is a big one. Do you feel like most of your energy goes into surviving and feeling like there’s never enough time, money, etc.? The universe is abundant and provides for you. There is an unlimited supply! You can shift your perspective and attract what you want in your life.

5. Not getting your basic needs met

Let’s get down to basics. How well do you take care of yourself? This is really important. On an airline flight you are instructed to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. This makes good sense. How can you really serve others if your own needs aren’t met? Deal with your own unmet needs once and for all.

6. The things you’re putting up with

What are you tolerating that continues to drain your energy? Tolerating is different than being flexible. Take a good look at the areas in your life where you feel frustrated. Consider the possibility that what you “put up with” maybe draining the energy that you could be using to live a happier life!

Start clearing the gunk from your drain, and you’ll experience more energy, more passion and a life that flows. You’ll more easily be able to take action and create a satisfying and fulfilling life. If you need some help, consider a plumber (or maybe your own personal coach).

It’s your life . . . Imagine the possibilities!

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For most of my life I can remember asking myself the question, “Who am I and why am I here?” My answer to myself often left me feeling empty and wondering if I would ever know my true life’s purpose.

As a child and young woman, I didn’t have a grand dream or calling that I could remember. I was interested in a lot of different things and wasn’t afraid to explore. My parents, both successful individuals didn’t have glamorous careers or speak of lofty visions of achievement. Growing up with them, I knew I would get married, have a family and find something meaningful in the world that I would hope to find fulfillment in.

I found many gratifying things to do over the course of my life, I was a dancer, practiced as a midwife, owned a few businesses, and worked as a women’s health counselor. Although I appreciated these many opportunities and some of them were quite rewarding none of them ever hit the mark.

Left with a nagging feeling of dissatisfaction, there HAD to be something more to life. I kept looking for that one perfect opportunity, the reason for my being, and the fulfillment of my purpose!  Just like the predictability of the seasons I kept asking myself,  “Who am I and why am I here?” I was convinced that what I DID defined who I was and I discovered I wasn’t alone in this assumption.

If you ask a hundred people how they would define purpose they often respond by saying, purpose is what we are meant to “do” while we’re here on earth; it’s how we make a difference in the world utilizing our gifts and talents.  This conventional perspective relies on the ability to somehow know or stumble across that magic thing that is your destiny to fulfill. No wonder many people go through life wondering what their purpose is and not feeling satisfied.

I began to look at purpose from a new and exciting perspective. Instead of purpose being my “doing-ness” in life, my purpose is my “being-ness”.

Your life purpose is the context or vessel that HOLDS your life suggests Dr. W. Bradford Swift, founder of the Life On Purpose Institute and author of “Traveling the Purpose Path”. Imagine a beautiful jeweled goblet as your life purpose and the glorious wine within it your life. Can you see how your life purpose can shape your whole life as well as give it form and direction?

Your life purpose, that beautiful vessel is a combination of three things: who you are at the very core, your vision for yourself and what you see possible for the world and your values. When I began to answer my own question, “who am I and why am I here” from this perspective a whole new world of fresh possibility opened up for me.

Can you imagine everything you do in your life pouring from this purposeful vessel of your being- ness? Imagine everything you engage in from doing the dishes to leading a board meeting as a direct expression of your life purpose. How would you feel?

Here are some questions to consider helping you begin to clarify YOUR life purpose.

1.  Who are you deep down? What do you love and what makes  your heart sing?

2. When you are engaged in life and you are at your best, who are you being underneath what you are doing?

3.  What is your vision for yourself and what do you see possible?

4.  What are your values, the principals that guide your life?

In these simple yet powerful questions I discovered my being-ness. I now know who I am and why I’m here. I learned that deep sense of fulfillment, which we are all seeking, comes from just being me.

Soon after I clarified my life purpose I had a powerful experience. I was driving down the road on my way to pick up my daughter. I heard that old familiar thought pop up again, “who am I and why am I here?” I immediately became present to the truth and beauty of my life purpose:

“A life on purpose is a life of courage, creative expression, conscious awareness and abundant possibility through authentic being and clear compassionate service and love.”

My heart opened and tears came to my eyes…I realized I never had to ask myself that question again.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities.

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I’ve been thinking about some of my clients who have expressed concerns about being authentic and connecting with people. One client lives in a rural area and is having trouble connecting with like-minded people. She feels isolated and lonely. I have another client who is hesitant to be her authentic self yet longs for a meaningful relationship. It got me thinking, why is it so hard for us to share our humanity?

About 3 years ago I participated in a life-transforming program that challenged my beliefs and thoughts about myself. For two intense yet wonderful weeks I put myself in the hands of trust and began to let go of the limiting stories I had created that kept me from fully experiencing my life and being me.

One of the exercises I was invited to experience was called “May I join you?”  The instructions were as follows: We were to be dropped off in the middle of a food court in a bustling downtown shopping area. We were to purchase our lunch, find a stranger or group of strangers sitting at a table and simply ask, “May I join you?”. If we received an affirmative response we were to sit down, not reveal why and eat our lunch.

Now this might not seem like a big deal to some of you, especially if you are from a non—American culture. But, let me assure you, it was a big deal for me, and most of the other participants. As we rode together to the appointed location there was a flurry of anticipation and nervous energy.

We arrived at our destination; I took a deep breath and headed into the crowd. Picture this: walking around (in circles) with a tray of food scanning the room for someone you have the nerve to approach. I wondered, “Would they think I was crazy? Who looked safe? What if that person thought I was coming on to them? What if the person laughed and said no? Who was I to intrude on someone’s space?”

My heart was racing. My anxiety was nearing the red zone. “Why should this be so difficult? They’re only people just like me”.  I tried to comfort myself.

Again, I looked around the room…

As humans we all have the same basic needs for love, approval, recognition and contact. We all want to be liked. While at the same time we covet our privacy and have a need for our own “separate” space. Deep down we really want to connect. Is it any wonder we sometimes feel alone in a world full of people?

Where is your edge of comfort? Are you willing to reach out and make new connections that could support and add value to your life? What inner dialogue prevents you from taking risks that could lead to new relationships or expanded networks?

Here are some perspectives that could assist you in shifting from fear to willingness:

1. Be yourself. Connect with who you truly are.
2. Stay curious and interested in people. Stay open to new situations.
3. Enter playfully and stay unattached to the outcome. Move from a place of possibility and be delighted at what shows up.
4. Remember, most people have the same insecurities. We’re all on the same side of the fence. Most people welcome connection and would be grateful you made the effort.
5. Remember, the worst that can happen is someone says no.

I finally settled on a person to ask. It was a woman in her mid fifties and dressed in a grocery store uniform. “May I join you?” I asked. She looked up and smiled, then welcomed me to have a seat. We spent the next delightful thirty minutes together talking about our lives, her job, and my children. It was warm and enjoyable. When we were finished with lunch she got up, thanked me and we both went on our way.

As I walked away to rejoin my group my heart was full and I was laughing. I learned a valuable lesson about myself that day and felt a deeper connection to the rest of humanity.

It’s YOUR life…imagine the possibilities!

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As part of my personal journey and commitment to live a fulfilled life I embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage to deepen my self-understanding and to seek answers to questions I was having about my life.  I traveled to Sedona Arizona to connect with the desert and amazing red rock formations.

After visiting a number of powerful sites I felt drawn to a beautiful mountain. Standing in front of this breathtaking prominence, I wanted to get to the top. Now, let me share that I am no mountain climber. I was raised in suburbia. I love nature and hiking and usually stick to the trails.  I was afraid and yet, I knew that I had to face my fear and climb to the top of this formidable rock. It was a rainy February day late in the afternoon when I started my ascent.

When I got to about three quarters of the way up the craggy side of the face I hit my own internal wall. It was a wall of fear; actually, terror. My first impulse was to turn around and retreat back down where I felt safe but something inside me urged me on.

There, alone on the side of this mountain I felt vulnerable to the elements and became acutely aware of the potential physical danger I could have been in.   I knew I had a choice and yet I also knew if I didn’t seize this opportunity I would be disappointed in myself.

I carefully chose my next steps inching my way higher. Through my tears I began to watch my mind as it ran through an endless litany of self-doubt, limitation and my fear of death. I was hard on myself and didn’t want to leave my “comfort zone”. I knew I must.

As I stood there precariously I became aware of how this climb was a metaphor for my life.  I noticed where I resist pushing myself to move past my fears and step into unknown territory. Although I felt successful and accomplished, I thought about how I hold back and don’t completely go for what I want in my life.

I thought about why I was climbing that rock in the first place. I was in search of freedom; I was looking for a higher perspective and to appreciate the view. I wanted to feel the exhilaration of achieving something beyond what was safe and comfortable yet why did it feel like I had to risk my personal safety and face death in order to get to there?

What I learned was; finding the courage to look at and face your fear can be a very empowering act.

What are your fears and how are they preventing you from reaching your dreams? By listing or naming your fears you can bring them into the light thereby reducing their powerful charge. Here are some tips and perspectives for looking at fear and turn it into an opportunity for growth and action:

1. Is your fear to move forward based on what has happened in the past or what could happen in the future? A wise teacher of mine Byron Katie says, “ The worst that can happen to us (now) is a thought”.  Most of what we fear never actually happens. If you really think about it It’s our thoughts about what we experience that causes us the most pain.
2. Negative events can truly become the catalyst for positive change and learning. Try reframing your negative experience into a powerful learning opportunity. See if you can find the “gift” or silver lining in a situation that has been difficult.
3. Watch your inner dialogue. What are you telling yourself? Try keeping a journal for a day on all the fearful or negative thoughts you have. At the end of the day, look at each thought and ask yourself if these thoughts are even true. Then remind yourself of what IS true.
4. Check out the book “Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers. The idea is to turn fear and indecision into confidence and action. You can’t eliminate fear but you can turn it into an ally. Learn the territory of fear. Make friends with it. Teach yourself to breathe deeply and move from victim hood to being the champion of your life.

Getting back to my story, I continued to wind my way up to the top of the mountain. I made it. Through my tears and fear I found a strength deep inside me that taught me a very powerful lesson. As I took my final steps up to the summit the sun broke through the clouds and a hawk flew overhead. I looked out over the gorgeous red rock landscape and for the first time in my life I fully enjoyed the view.

It’s your life…imagine the possibilities!

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