Pivotal Choices Coaching

Small Steps Lead to Pivotal Changes

Many people seem to think that a new year heralds a fresh start.

Not necessarily.

What are you doing now that you’d like to do more of?

It doesn’t take a major change; choosing small, but important steps, lead to pivotal changes.

What is a small step you can take?  Many people would say exercise more. 

If that’s a focus you would like to increase, how much do you exercise now?  How many times a week?  What if you raised that level just one notch for the next month?

Making this pivotal choice starts with your writing it down. 

Small, incremental steps amount to big, pivotal changes.  They’re realistic and easy to maintain.

What’s the small step that you’re willing to take?  And when will you that step? Write it in your calendar.

You can do this! 

Go my website (www.nwcoaching.com) and sign up for my Smart Tips newsletter. You will get the support you need and tips that you can use.  I'll also send you a bonus gift.

Happy New Year and thanks so much for reading my Pivotal Choices Coaching blog in 2007.

If you have a goal that you would like to work toward, contact me.  I look forward to hearing from you in 2008. 

I want 2008 to be a year of productivity and greater life satisfaction for you.

Warmly,

Nancy Whichard
Your Coach for Pivotal Choices and Change
nancy@mentorcoach.com
www.nwcoaching.com

What Is the Most Important Choice You Can Make in Preparing a Presentation?

Unless you’re a natural-born extrovert or super salesperson, what comes to most people’s mind at the thought of giving a presentation is fear.

The clients I have worked with as they prepare for these events feel as if they are going to face a firing squad. 

The most important thing to remember is ….

This isn’t about you!

Of course you have to have expertise in an area and have information that you want to deliver.  You’ve brought all of that to the table. 

You have many anecdotes, factoids, helpful information to share, but all of that information has to be focused on one perspective.  And until you make the choice to shift the focus to your audience, your project will never get off the ground.

Once you make this choice, then you’re ready to get to work.

In my next posting, read about what is the most important thing that you need to know about your audience.

If you are preparing for a presentation, I’d love to hear from you.  What is the challenge you’re facing?

I have something that will be of help.  Go to www.nwcoaching.com and get a free sign-up bonus when you subscribe to my Smart Tips for Writers e-newsletter.

Until next time,
Nancy
www.nwcoaching.com

How to Act like an Extrovert and Put Yourself Out There; or, Business Calls Can Lead to Happiness

Are you paralyzed at the thought of making a call to market your services or to ask something of another person?

How about calling a contact, someone you’ve met at some point? 

Or do you do whatever you can to avoid all marketing calls?

I’m an introvert, and in the past I would rather do about anything than make a call. 

When I was training to be a coach, I was told to make cold calls to market my services.

The trainer told our class that the individual goal for each of us was to get x number (say 5) of “no” responses.

The assignment was just to make the call and had nothing to do with outcome.  That made the process easier. 

Positive Psychologist researcher Chris Peterson tells us that extroverted people are happier than introverted people.

Introverted people should be asked to do extroverted things. 

What this means for you is
     •   If you are asked to make calls, then you should find a way to do that.
     •   Ask the same of yourself.
     •   In a nutshell -- Ask yourself to do extroverted things.

Even if making calls is difficult for you, once you have done this extroverted task of reaching out to others, you will be glad that you did it.

See if this approach works for you:
1.  Take the pressure off—you’re not invested in outcomes.  Tell yourself that your goal is to receive 5 “no” responses to your marketing calls.
2.  Then ask yourself 2 questions
     a. “What does this person need?”
     b. “What do I have to offer that will solve a problem for this person?”
3.  Write a script for yourself.
4.  Tape yourself reading your script.
5. Listen to the tape and jot down key points that you are making; add missing points.
6.  Practice talking (not reading).
7.  Make the first call no matter how nervous you feel.  No dilly-dallying.
8.  Remember that this call will bring you one call closer to your goal of 5 no’s.
If you get a yes, what a gift!  That’s the prize in the Happy Meal box.
9.  Begin every call with a smile on your face.

When you finish, take note of how satisfied you feel.

According to Chris, you’ll be just as satisfied as if you were extroverted. 

How to Explore Career Possibilities Even if You Think a Change Would Cost You Too Much

One of my clients wants to explore career options, but she’s at a loss of where to go next.  Her ideas tend toward what she’s been trained to do and what skills she has.

Tal Ben-Shahar, in his book Happier, says that before we ask “What am I good at?” we should first explore what gives us “meaning and pleasure,” that is, “What do I want to do.”

But my client is afraid to consider what she really wants to do -- dreams can be costly, she thinks.

I asked her to take stock, do some deep thinking, and take a few bold steps.. 

And boldly considering a scary area was my very first request of her:

1.  What is your secret passion, something that is almost too exciting to actually do or do more of?

2.  Without prioritizing or editing, what are other career interests/possibilities/dreams that you’ve thought about?

3.  Interview someone who has succeeded in the area that you’re passionate about.
While it might be difficult to have a face-to-face interview with someone like this, it’s easy to get an email address and shoot off a specific, succinct question.  If you get a response, send another question.

4.  Read a book by someone who has succeeded in the area that interests you and take note of specific, practical advice.

5.  Invest time (and money) in a strengths and needs assessment. 

6.  What have you learned that would refute the fears you had about entering this field?

7.  Tal Ben-Shahar says if “because of external constraints” you can’t change jobs or follow your passion, then “there is still much that a person can do to craft [that work] . . . so that it is experienced more as a calling than as a job.”  How might you re-craft your work so that it gives your more meaning or more joy? 

If you have had experience either in exploring your passion or in re-crafting your work, I’d love to hear from you.  Please share your experiences.

You can contact me through my website at www.nwcoaching.com.

I would also love to send you a copy of my free newsletter.  Sign up for my newsletter at www.nwcoaching.com.

Small Changes Can Add Up to A Big Life

A brilliant, creative client has been working toward a long-term goal.  It’s been challenging for her, but she has kept going.  She thinks of herself as a tortoise, slow and steady.

Being focused on a goal for a long period has had the effect of blinding her to the pleasures that await her.  She has started to forget the possibilities that can be ahead for her.

Recently, she made a change from one fairly staid locality to a lively area, and it has made all the difference.  She refers to her previous area as “mini-van city.” She is quick to say that people who move there and live there have made good choices—for them.  She, however, had forgotten her cosmopolitan side and all of the choices that are available to her because of her strengths and interests.

Interestingly, she had resisted this move, and finally gave in after much prodding from her partner.

This relatively small shift has reawakened her.  She’s still the tortoise, moving toward her goal, but she now sees the good life that’s ahead for her.

Making changes, making mistakes, making small choices can all add up to the life that she had meant to live.