Exercising, It’s NOT for the Birds!

I recently had a chance to talk with my good friend and author, Carol Frank. You may have seen her on Oprah or NBC News giving advice to struggling entrepreneurs.

Her latest book, Do as I Say, Not as I Did: Gaining Wisdom in Business through the Mistakes of Highly Successful People, offers some extremely helpful insight – the kind of information that just may keep you from making mistakes she and others have made, so your learning curve won’t be quite as steep.

I’m all for those kinds of lessons, the kind I learn from others’ painful blunders and not my own.

Fighting, and ultimately surviving, the daily battles of running a successful business can definitely take a toll on a person’s physical and emotional health. So, according to Carol, how does one get through these tough times?

Carol answered with the calm sense of confidence from someone who had obviously weathered some hard storms. (more…)

Are You Willing to Do the Work?

You may talk a good game about how bad you really want to make some positive changes in your life, but are you honestly mentally prepared to do the necessary work to create those desired outcomes?

I recently spoke with my good friend Dr. TC North, a well-known high-performance coach, consultant, and professional speaker, about this very topic. When I asked TC what, in his experience, is required for success in reaching personal goals, he said:

“You want to be more fit? Slimmer? Healthier? If so, the most critical factor is not exercise or nutrition. It’s how much you believe in and are committed to doing what it takes to be successful. Ninety-five percent or more of all people fail at achieving and maintaining a lifestyle change because we have complicated minds. To be successful in achieving a lifestyle change, or any goal, you must align your beliefs, thoughts (both conscious and subconscious), and actions. And you must be fueled by lots of desire. If not, your beliefs and/or fears will sabotage your success.”

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Athletes & Allergies: Increasing Problems

This week I visited with Neil Smith of Allergy Solutions in Boulder, Colorado where Neil explained how serious allergies to food and environmental allergens are becoming increasingly more common in our society. They can manifest in many ways that can be detrimental to an athlete’s health and performance.

There was a lot that I didn’t know!

Neil said, “In the last twenty years, we have seen an epidemic increase in allergies and asthma, including a 400% increase in food allergies and 300% increase in asthma, with a 56% increase in asthma-related deaths” (1)

Neil also commented on some of the great resources available online for those of you who are concerned and want to be a little more proactive. (more…)

Aligning with Your Purpose

Deirdre Dalton Brodeur (a good friend and successful business coach) and I recently had the opportunity to discuss the topic of maximizing one’s true potential.

When I asked Deirdre’s expert advice on how to keep peace, balance, and prosperity in your life when challenged with tough economic times and a demanding, never-ending to-do list, this is what she had to say:

“Throughout all the gloom and doom talk of the economy and taking brisk actions to overcome our financial challenges, it’s easy to forget the matters of the heart. To quote Robert Bolles, ‘Your mission is where the world’s deepest hunger meets your heart’s greatest gladness.’ Stephen Covey echoes this sentiment in his book The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, where he talks about what he calls ‘finding your voice.’ There is great power in doing what you love for a living, and much greater potential for being richly rewarded.”

She went on to say, “When you take stock and remember WHY you chose the career or business you are in, can you tell if your actions are in alignment with what you had originally intended? For example, you might be pushing a sale because money is tight, rather than simply offering to solve the prospect’s problem because your true intention is to help. Buyers really notice the difference and typically choose the passionate person with clear intentions.” (more…)