Lead Me To Succeed

Baby Steps

2010-01-14T12:31:00.005-05:00

The New Year brings a renewed sense of hope and purpose to people's lives which is a very good thing. The problem arises when people create resolutions and goals based on the fact that they have a whole year to complete it.

It can be too big of a picture in keeping track of your goal. It's easy to say, "I'm going to exercise three days a week for 2010" but it's a lot harder to achieve because it is so broad of a goal. The key to staying on track with your goals is so take small steps in working towards them.

I refer to these as taking, "baby steps." If you approach your goal in small increments, it feels much more attainable than looking at the whole year thinking you have to follow a certain routine. It is the same idea used for quitting smoking or drinking. If you take it one day at a time, you have a better chance of sticking to your goal.

While taking leaps may get you there faster, taking baby steps will give you more long-term success.

Happy New Year!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
President / Executive Coach
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.

Patience Really Is A Virtue

2009-08-04T20:54:00.005-04:00

As I am waiting for my software to download on my pc, I realize how impatient I've become. I'm used to going at a fast pace, whether its with work or "leisure". Afterall, even leisure has a limit of time. I imagine I'm like most people running around, trying to accomplish all that I can. Always keeping a watchful eye on the clock since time is always moving.

As I sit here staring at my pc screen wondering why this software is taking so long to download, I realize I need to just take it easy. We are accustomed to getting immediate results these days. Think about it. We have fast food drive-thru's, bank drive-thru's, drycleaning and grocery drive -thru's. We have speed dating, express car washes and express toll lanes. We are spoiled with faster speeds on the computer and internet that continue to improve at lightning pace every year.

So, it is only fitting that we should expect everything to move just as quickly. Our goals in becoming famous, rich, happy, healthy, fit, and in love are expected to happen quickly - since we all have limited time here. It's no wonder we, in our society, have become more and more frustrated and irritable waiting for all of these great things to come to fruition.

People become depressed because they can't seem to make it. They work hard for a short amount of time expecting to "hit the jackpot" and then quickly fade out when they see it isn't "working".

How many of you out there have given up too quickly on something simply because you grew too impatient? Perhaps we can all take a deep breath and realize there is something to be said about "the journey" in getting to our destination. Often, we learn valuable things and meet interesting and beneficial people along the way - important steps to achieving our goal that will not happen if we give up too soon.

Remember to give yourself some time to achieve your goals. It will eventually happen if we just stay on the course and not get so discouraged along the way that we give up too soon. There will be bumps along the way - that's inevitable. The point is to move passed the bumps and stay persistent and above all, patient.

After writing this blog, I can tell you my download still isn't done yet, but that's okay. It gives me more time to think, relax and enjoy the present time.

The Obstacle Course of Life

2009-04-07T14:47:00.006-04:00

Have you ever participated in a real obstacle course where you are faced with challenges that just seem impossible to conquer? I haven't had the pleasure of actually being involved in one but I've seen the courses on TV and it always amazes me how the contestants stay persistent and refuse to give up - even if they screw up a ton of times.

It's a lot like Life where Life is the obstacle course and you are the player. Yet, all too often, the player tends to become their own obstacle by allowing negative self-talk to get in the way of their success.

Our minds are so powerful, we can literally make or break an opportunity simply in how we approach it in our heads. Think of how you approach Life these days. Do you have negative thoughts and messages in that head of yours?

Every time you think or say something negative like, "I hate this" or "I can't do it" or "Why does it have to be so hard?", you are becoming an obstacle in your own path. This negative energy that you produce stays with you and essentially surrounds you like a gray cloud. It hovers over you and causes everything else in your path to be viewed as negative.

Let's face it. We have enough negative things around us. The last thing we need is to produce more of it. Life is challenging enough without us adding to it with our negative perceptions and attitude.

The Take-Away: Listen to what is going on in your own mind. Catch the negative thoughts and re-frame them into positive ones like, "I can do this" or "I can make a difference", etc. By changing this one factor, you will start seeing and feeling a difference in your attitude and most importantly, in your Life.

Positive thoughts to all of you!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Personal & Executive Coach
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.

Growing Pains

2009-03-24T16:13:00.004-04:00

Anyone who has ever planted something and waited for it to grow understands that growth is a slow, methodical process. While water and sunlight are necessary, too much or too little can be deadly. It takes just the right amount at the right time for growth to occur.

Our lives are the same way. In order for us to grow, we need just the right amount of factors at a certain time and under appropriate conditions. The person who is open to change and open to trying new things will create the best condition for growth to occur. Those that remain closed-minded to opportunities will stunt their own growth and progress.

The factors necessary for individual growth include the appropriate balance of time. Too often, people believe if they work 24/7 they will be more successful. This is similar to thinking if you give sunlight to a plant 24/7, it will grow faster. The opposite holds true in either case. Too much of anything is detrimental to your health. It's all about the balance, my friends.

Taking time out to just relax and vegetate increases growth potential IF it is balanced among the other main goals, such as work. We are challenged with this type of thinking whether we are in a "good" economy or a "bad" one. Even if there isn't a lot of work right now, it still is important to balance the goals.

Mental well-being takes priority because it is essential to growing and stabilizing. In these times more than ever, it's important to take time to nurture yourself so that you are 100% focused on your goals. In doing so, you will be more productive in your work and home life.

Keep it positive!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards
Personal & Business Coach
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

The Good Inside The Bad

2009-03-16T16:15:00.012-04:00

Times like these are certainly challenging but if you look really close, you will see the good that is coming out of today's economy. It's a good dose of reality for all of us to see that there is more to life than money.

We're spending more time with family & friends. We are also getting creative in how we spend that time. Going out to dinner was the common way to socialize - but that costs money and money is tight. Now, people are getting together for pot lucks in which everyone brings a dish and the meal is shared. Having Game Night to entertain friends is also making a comeback.

People are tending to their own home, attempting to clean and fix things themselves rather than hire outside help that stresses the pocketbook. People are facing the challenges in taking care of their homes while gaining the satisfaction of doing it themselves.

Sure, money may add to the happiness factor in bringing you stability - but it won't buy you true happiness. True fulfillment comes from within by way of spending quality time with friends and family and making time for you. Allowing time to relax, exercise and develop your mind are all necessary for your mental well-being and fulfillment.

So, the next time you see the market end on a low note, remind yourself that this is temporary. Take advantage of this time to re-focus what is most important to you. Now is the time to change old habits and re-invent your life and how you live!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Executive & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Pay it Forward

2009-01-12T14:59:00.006-05:00

I don't know about you but I'm getting really tired of hearing all the doom and gloom about the economy. I see how it affects everyone around me in their negative attitudes and pessimism about the future. How can it not? It's plastered all over the media and it seem to be the topic of choice when socializing and networking.

Heck, I even see the effects in how people treat one another. Road rage & overall crime rates are on the rise due to the increased frustrations of people. I say, "Enough Already!"

Let's change these effects of our economy by changing our attitudes with one another. Allow that car to get in front of you instead of blocking him out. Let the person who has less items at the check-out line go ahead of you simply because it's a nice thing to do. We have enough negativity going on right now, we don't need to add to it. Instead, if we start spreading nice gestures and helping our fellow neighbors out, we begin changing our world.

Studies have shown that when someone is nice to you - you tend to return the favor with someone else. This is a chain reaction to positive gestures. Imagine what our world would be like if we all just focused on being nice to one another? Studies also show that when someone is nice to you, you tend to have a better outlook on life and those around you.

This is definitely needed right now and we are the ones who can make that difference. I realize we aren't changing the economy necessarily but we are changing attitudes which can go a long way in these tough economic times.

Positive thoughts,

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
President / Executive & Personal Coach

COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
rke@LeadMeToSucceed.com

Bigger Isn't Always Better

2008-11-20T17:11:00.007-05:00

My daughter and I were walking along the beach and saw what looked to be a million little crabs crawling around the sand. Most of them scurried to hide when we approached them, except for one crab in particular. This little guy was housed in a small shell that looked quite average in its color and shape. Yet, he acted as if he wasn't happy with his current "living situation" because he crawled up to a bigger shell that had a beautiful sheen with rich vibrant colors of brown, blue and pink. He crawled up underneath the bigger shell, as if to see if it were occupied. Upon realizing the shell was vacant, the crustacean actually crawled out of his old shell to move into the bigger one. My daughter and I were amazed at seeing this move actually take place. His naked little body looked funny as it moved from one shell to another.

As we sat there watching, the crab crawled around in his new beautiful shell in a clumsy and awkward fashion, as if he weren't used to the newness of it all. It wasn't long, maybe a few minutes or so, before he scurried towards his old shell. We were amazed at what we saw next. The crab actually left the bigger more beautiful shell to return back to his original one. He crawled away from us, seemingly quite pleased with the comfort of his old average shell.

It was a great learning lesson for both me and my daughter. It showed us that bigger isn't always better, even though most of us think it will make us happier. Here, the crab had the opportunity to live in a beautiful big shell but declined the chance because he realized his old shell was more comfortable even if it wasn't flashy and exciting.

We can learn a lot from this story. We don't need the bigger house, toy, car, etc. to make us happy. Rather, we need to appreciate what we do have. It may not be the most beautiful or the most exciting, but that's okay. It doesn't have to be. What matters most is that we enjoy the things we have (our house, our car, our body, our appearance) and we are comfortable in our own skin. Trying to be someone else, other than ourselves, will only lead to frustration.

Happiness is derived from within.

Positive thoughts,
Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Executive & Personal Coach

www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

One Hour, One Day, One Step at a Time

2008-10-06T14:30:00.005-04:00

Life can get pretty overwhelming. It's easy to look at the news and feel panicked. They say "negative feeds negative" when it comes to attracting bad energy. This is exactly what happens when we allow the negativity around us to affect us and leave us panic-stricken.

Don't give it power. If you dismiss the negative thoughts and immediately replace it with something positive, you are taking the first step towards taking control of your energy and your attitude. Think about it, who wants to hang out with someone who has negative mojo? Take it a step further, who will want to buy from or hire someone with negative energy?

It really begins with you and your thoughts which then determine your behavior and finally your results. It's challenging to keep it all in check and remain positive. Take it in small increments of time. By breaking it down this way, it's easier to focus on positive thoughts and proactive behavior. If we look at the week ahead in one large chunk of time, we can easily feel burned out and negative when we associate it with negative events around us. Instead, just focus on the hour ahead of you. What's in your head right now? Is it negative or positive?

Concentrate on thinking positively for the next hour, dismissing any negative thoughts that enter your mind. Feel the difference in your energy level at the end of this hour - you should feel more energetic. Take it to the next hour until the end of the day. Then, repeat it again, day by day until you hit the weekend. By taking these baby steps along the way, you can regain your energy and feel more productive throughout the week.

Positive Thoughts,
Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Coach
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
rke@leadmetosucceed.com

Get Out of Your Head & Move!

2008-08-25T13:32:00.011-04:00

All too often, I see clients who get so caught up in thinking about whether they should do something or not do something, they waste valuable time in the process. Moreover, they tend to think so much that they wind up thinking themselves right out of doing anything at all, leaving them feeling distraught.

This state of inertia can cause us to feel helpless, frustrated and overwhelmed. Don't take me wrong; I'm not saying that we should all act impulsively either. There is a balance between action and stagnation. It is all about how you go about dealing with a situation or problem. It's good to weigh out the pros and cons of taking action, measuring whether the risk is worth the effort. That's where it needs to stop. Once you have thought it out, it's time to move on it.

We tend to get tripped up on making mistakes, failing and getting rejected. Often our fear of these things will stop us in our tracks not knowing what to do. Movement and action are good as long as it is a result of a well thought out plan.

It's time to stop thinking so much and simply put yourself into doing. When you have the right behavior, you will achieve the right results. While thinking is an important part of the equation, it should only be utilized just enough to spur yourself into making decisions and taking appropriate action.

Get out there & live!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
President & Executive Coach
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Finding the Rainbow

2008-07-14T12:34:00.003-04:00

I was out drinking coffee the other day and witnessed the most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen. I found it interesting to see this vibrant colorful burst of energy coming out from a dark dismal scary looking sky. It made me think how in life, it is the same thing. When things look dreary and downright depressing, there is usually something positive or beautiful that comes out of it.

It may not seem like it at the time, but if you wait long enough, you will see the positive effects. Take a moment and look at your past. Recall the negative times, the hardest times you have encountered. It may have been a death of a loved one, or a major loss of a job, etc. You will see, when you look deep enough, that something positive came from that difficult time. Perhaps it was you realizing how precious life really is and therefore, you are more focused on expressing your love to those closest to you. Maybe, it made you stronger knowing that you can survive tough times and giving you more confidence in yourself.

If you can't find the positive outcome of a difficult situation, it may mean that you haven't fully moved through it yet. Sometimes it takes years to be able to look back and see it from a more objective view. In either case, the point is that tough times don't last forever. Even though it may look depressing or intimidating, there is a rainbow in the midst, waiting to appear at anytime. It's important to keep your chin up and stay strong. Tough times do pass, as long as you continue to think positively, work hard and stay persistent.

Keep it positive!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
President / Executive Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Closing The Sale

2008-06-17T22:51:00.005-04:00

1. No one can close a sale unless it has been opened properly. Therefore spend a lot of time building rapport with the prospective client and earning trust.

2. To close a sale you must have first, established a need for your service or product. Spend time asking your client questions about their wants and needs and how they will use your product or service.

3. For someone to purchase your product or service they must understand how it will benefit them. A good sales person only makes a presentation after they know what is important to the client.

4. For clients to really know if they want your product or service they need to try it out for themselves. A great demonstration of the product or service allows the client to experience it and builds excitement about owning it.

5. Premature closing attempts prevent many clients from making the purchase of your product or service. To be effective when closing you must first ascertain whether or not your client likes your product or service and how much do they like it.

The biggest mistake most people make in a sales situation is to think that they have to be a strong closer to be effective. Many people attempt to close a sale long before they should even think of closing and therefore turn off the prospective client and end up hearing "I need to think about it or I'll get back to you". The best closers I've ever seen didn't spend a lot of time closing the sale, all of their time was spent doing everything else that would lead them to that point. Then when they got to the "close" they knew that they had a good chance of earning the business. Always remember "If a sale is opened properly anyone can close it, however if it is not opened properly the best closers in the world cannot close it".

Strong Selling,

Robert Kennedy-Edwards
Sales Trainer
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.
bke@LeadMeToSucceed.com
239-948-8080

The Value of A Customer

2008-06-17T22:25:00.008-04:00

I was waiting in the lobby at the doctor's office with my daughter when a lady arrived to check in at the front desk. The woman behind the desk asked for her name and then immediately stated in a stern loud voice, "You're late!". The patient looked astonished that she would be reprimanded by the receptionist, as if she were a little girl getting yelled at by her mother. I felt bad for the patient, even if she was late, she doesn't deserve to be treated in a degrading way.

Furthermore, I thought to myself, "This receptionist should be treating her with the utmost respect, especially because if it wasn't for this patient, the employee would be out of a job. Okay, if you're late, you may have to wait longer or you may even have to reschedule your appointment. Either way, no one deserves to be treated this way, especially by an employee.

What message does this send to the patients waiting to be seen by their doctors? It sends out messages that say, "you aren't important", "you are a burden to my day", "we don't care about you", "we are doing you a favor by being here". How is that for quality customer service?

We must train our employees to see the big picture. They need to realize the patients, clients and customers are the only reason they have a job. If the business loses customers, the employees are out of a job.

It sounds simple and frankly, it should be. However, employees tend to think in "us and them" terms and believe they are doing right by supporting the owner or boss (or doctor in this case). Yet, they don't realize they need to respectfully work with the customers as if they were on their side. If they can come from this angle, the clients feel acknowledged and respected and problems are easier to work out. Even if the customer is in the wrong, by listening to them and assisting them through the issue, they can often come to a peaceful solution.

Training your staff to deal with challenges objectively instead of subjectively will boost their self confidence in dealing with difficult issues before they become confrontations. Learning how to keep emotions in check will help employees deal with the facts instead of bringing in personal opinions and judgments.

For more information on coping with emotions in the workplace, contact us at 239-948-8080.
http://www.leadmetosucceed.com/

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS / President /COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.

Positive Medicine 3 Times Daily

2008-06-03T14:30:00.003-04:00

If there were medicine you could take for yourself to help you stay in a good mood, would you take it? Okay, let me re-phrase that. We all know there IS medicine out there that can do this...but what if I were to tell you this medicine was legal and free from side effects - would you take it then?

It's quite simple and yet very powerful. What I'm talking about here is positive thoughts put into positive action. Specifically, being nice or saying something nice to someone 3 times a day. It really does work. When you focus your energy towards something positive, you are creating a win-win environment. By doing something good for another person, s/he feels good and you feel good as a result.

It doesn't have to be anything complex or time consuming either. It just takes practice to put the positive thought into action. For example, you are driving to work and are running late. A car next to you wants to get in front of you and normally you wouldn't allow it. After all, you are late and it's not your problem that the car needs to get in your lane.

You decide to be nice and allow the car in front of you. Maybe they thank you, maybe they don't. The point is that you did something good for your fellow person and in turn, you feel good about yourself. This points you in a positive direction for the rest of your day because you did something good. The result is that people are more likely to want to be near you because of your positive attitude and you end up having a great day.

By doing this 3 times daily, you are spreading the focus out for the entire day making it easier for you to remember to do it while spreading out the positive feeling. Some people have found that they can remember better if they track it. Some have it written down on their "to-do" list as a task or goal for the day. Others follow the "coin method" in which they put 3 coins in their left pocket. Each time they do something good for someone else, they move a coin into their right pocket with the goal to have all 3 coins in the right pocket by the end of the day.

Try it out and see what happens. Remember to be genuine in your approach, since it only works with genuine thoughts and actions. I'd love to hear from those out there that try it. Feel free to post your comments on the site or email me with your thoughts.

Positive thoughts to you,
Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
President - Executive Coach
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.

www.LeadMeToSucceed.com
rke@LeadMeToSucceed.com

5 Ways To Turn Off The Sale

2008-05-12T19:31:00.004-04:00

Salespeople trying to sell you something they want to sell versus selling you something you want to buy.
Salespeople that tell you what you can and cannot do or buy.
Salespeople that do not believe that you are interested in buying (or buying today) and therefore do not take you seriously.
Salespeople that pre-judge or pre-qualify you before they find out anything about you.
Salespeople that talk and sell before asking questions and listening, which would have allowed them to find out what it is that you really want or need.

There are a lot of very good salespeople that commit some very common mistakes. The easiest way to prevent making these mistakes is to not only analyze our defeats but to also analyze our victories. We can learn a lot from both transactions of the things we did right along with the things we care not to repeat. One way to evaluate this is to see it through the eyes of the consumer and consider how they felt during the process. The customers that felt that their salesperson listened to their wants and needs is usually presented a solution to the problem that fits, and therefore a sale is made. Listed above is a list of some of the most common “turnoffs” that customer’s state about salespeople. You will see there is a common theme throughout the 5 turn offs that center around listening to the customer. This requires the salesperson to ask a question then remain quiet, allowing the customer to respond. When salespeople spend the time to find out the wants and needs of the customers the sales process becomes a lot easier for both the salesperson and the customer.

“In the world of sports you look for your opponent’s weakness and exploit it however, in the world of selling you look for the prospects weakness so you can strengthen it by selling them your goods or services”.

- Zig Ziglar

Strong Selling,

Robert Kennedy-Edwards - Sales Trainer

www.leadmetosucceed.com
bke@leadmetosucceed.com
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.

6 Ways to Improve Work Productivity

2008-05-12T18:58:00.004-04:00

1) Are you organized?

Do you spend valuable time trying to find files or do you know exactly where everything is? This is important in assessing one's productivity because a lot of time is wasted due to disorganization. This includes piles of unfiled papers, excessive sticky notes, disorganized daily planners and messy desks. Aside from walking into such a mess each morning, your motivation and production quickly take a dive when you can't find what you need in order to complete the task. This frustration quickly mounts into a negative and stressed attitude. By taking the time to organize yourself now, you are saving valuable time for the future.

One also needs to look at the overall environment to make sure it is organized properly. Common files in the computer system should be labeled correctly and filed appropriately so that any staff member can find it. The management of the computer files should be delegated to one specific person so that a consistent organizational method is followed at all times. By giving all documents to this person for filing, you are ensuring that consistent standards are being met, saving valuable time for everyone.

The administrative department plays a crucial role to the overall productivity of the staff. Forms, contracts, etc. should be kept up to date so that the employees are consistently using the correct forms. Filing should be completed daily to assure everything is in its correct place and is current.

2) Are you following an effective routine?

Once you have adopted an effective system - be sure to use it consistently. When it becomes a routine, you save time by focusing on the project versus wasting time focusing on the means to accomplish it. Don't feel you need to reinvent the wheel when adopting routines. When you find a way that works - keep it - and make sure all staff members do the same.

3) Do you have a structured schedule?

Following a somewhat structured schedule is best in order to stay focused on your tasks and goals while also measuring your achievements. By keeping a daily log of these, you are able to review the week's progress and assess how successful you are towards accomplishing your goals. You will also be able to see where you are wasting valuable time if you log everything that you do in a day. By doing this for a week, you will quickly see where your time is challenged. It's quite common to set out wanting to accomplish 5 goals for the day. But at the end of the day, you see only 3 goals accomplished and feel like a failure, wondering what happened with your time. The culprit can be due to other tasks that evolve, taking precedence over your original goals. By logging these "unexpected occurrences", you will have a clearer picture of your time management and will then feel more productive. It's also wise to allocate time for these occurrences if they happen regularly. By scheduling out time on a daily basis to manage the unexpected tasks, you will feel more in control and less reactive.

4) Are your employees working to the best of their abilities?

Many companies make the mistake of delegating tasks to employees who are overqualified for the project. When delegating jobs to employees, it is important to take into account the person's role within the company and their pay scale. It isn't good business sense to be delegating a $10.00 per hour task to a $25.00 per hour employee. Time is a valuable commodity that needs to be treated appropriately in order for you to get the most "bang for your buck". When you organize the employees in this way, you will be better equipped to work at 100% capacity.

5) Do you offer a healthy balance of work and down time?

While I don't recommend structuring your work environment in a hard core style, it does need to be structured enough to achieve maximum productivity. One of the common mistakes in work productivity is in having a workhorse mentality. There is a delicate balance between working to capacity and working to death. The most productive workers are those who are balanced with social, relaxation and work time. When you take the time to eat lunch, socialize with co-workers and accomplish your tasks, you feel a sense of achievement and will be more motivated to work. Employees who work long hours without breaks and/or social time will quickly feel drained and burned out with their work and will be less motivated to tackle projects.

By focusing on the steps above, you will be able to better understand how effective your staff is in managing their time and working at maximum capacity.

Continued Success,

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS President - Executive Coach

www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Living in the Present - Continued

2008-04-30T17:56:00.003-04:00

The last post discussed 2 of the 4 traditional reminders to living in the present moment by Pema Chodron. The last 2 reminders are:

3. Recall that whatever you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result; what comes around, goes around. The law of karma is that we sow the seeds and we reap the fruit. So when you find yourself in a dark place...you can think, "Maybe it's time to get a little golden spade and dig myself out of this place."

4. Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will suffer. Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness.

These reminders can help keep us focused on what is really important in our lives. Too often, we get caught up in the day to day grind, forgetting all about the fundamental meaning of what we are all about. I particluarly like the 3rd reminder because it shows us how we each are responsible for how we react to the people & situations around us - and more importantly, how we have the choice to do something about it. The 4th reminder shows us that happiness is not about what you have and don't have - that it goes much deeper than that. We tend to focus on the bigger house, the bigger salary, the more beautiful body; thinking that if we had these things we would feel happier. I've met the people that have these things, only to find that they are disappointed because they are still left unfulfilled.

Remember to "dig deeper" and go underneath the surface of money, beauty, good and bad. Find out what it really is that makes you feel fulfilled as a human being. Take these reminders to heart - and use them on a daily basis. What are you doing and/or thinking about today that will steer you in the right direction of happiness and fulfillment?

Enjoy the present, for it is truly a gift.

-Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Executive & Personal Coach
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Living in the Present

2008-04-16T10:46:00.003-04:00

I found something in a magazine that is worth repeating in this blog. It is a commentary written by Pema Chodron and it was published in the Shambhala Sun magazine. It discusses the traditional 4 basic reminders to stay in the present moment. I will post the first 2 reminders now. They are:

Maintain an awareness of the preciousness of human life. Beginning to realize how precious life is becomes one of your most powerful tools. It's like gratitude...once you have this feeling of gratitude for your own life and the preciousness of human birth, then it takes you into any realm.
Be aware of the reality that life ends; death comes for everyone. Life is very brief. If you realize that you don't have that many more years to live and if you live your life as if you actually had only a day left, then the sense of impermanence heightens that feeling of preciousness and gratitude.

By focusing on these 2 reminders, you learn to appreciate the value of your life and the lives of others. It puts things in perspective and makes you realize the "problems" and "challenges" we face on a daily basis are small in size in comparison to the bigger picture - our life.

Stay tuned for the next 2 reminders to be published on the blog. Until then, stay focused on the bigger picture and be grateful for the people around you, including yourself.

Positive thoughts to you,
Renee

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Business & Personal Coach
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Running on Empty

2008-03-21T11:27:00.002-04:00

A client of mine stated his frustration with his life as he detailed his day to day routine. It pretty much consists of him working 13-15 hour days, eating lunch (if any) on the run, and then coming home to an empty house in which he eats frozen dinners and works even more on his home computer. He complains that he is bored, burned out and depressed. He owns a business and feels compelled to work countless hours in order to keep it alive and running.

This client is clearly lacking life balance, which is something all of us lack at some point in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day responsibilities while forgetting all of the other things that are needed in living a fulfilled and purposeful life.

The first step in achieving a sense of balance is to focus on one’s perception and idea of productivity. Some variations to this is the “Soccer Mom Syndrome” in which the mom feels compelled to work, take care of the kids and the house, and volunteer at numerous places in order to feel productive. The other variation is the “Workaholic” who feels s/he must work at least 10 hours a day in order to be productive. The bottom line is this: You won’t be good for your kids or your business if you aren’t good to yourself. It is no one’s responsibility but your own to take care of you.

Taking care of you is much like taking care of your car. Regular maintenance is part of the program and you must make the time to recharge your battery through rest, relaxation and social time while filling it up with healthy food and exercise to keep it running properly. If you don’t make time to do this, you will stall out. Continued lack of maintenance will most likely result in more serious problems that can lead to premature illness and death.

In order for this client to change, he must first acknowledge and change his illogical perceptions regarding work productivity. Once this is achieved, he will be able to change his behavior to a more fulfilled way of living.

Get out there and live!

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Executive & Personal Coach
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Perfect Moments

2008-03-02T20:25:00.005-05:00

Is there anything really perfect in this world? Probably not. If we really analyzed the perfect scenario, I'm sure we could find faults to it. It's not that I'm pessimistic; it's just a matter of looking at things realistically.

Yet, I do think there are times that resemble "perfect moments" in life. All of us have them but I'm not sure all of us know we have them. Often times, we are running too fast to notice such things.

To me, a "perfect moment" is a short period of time (it could be a few minutes to an entire day) in which we experience everything coming together to create a perfect moment in time that feels so good, so flawless, that you don't want it to end. These special periods in time are usually minor in scale and nothing outwardly fantastic. I think that is why they are so special, because they aren't planned and they aren't expected. They just occur naturally.

I recall one "perfect moment" in particular when I was on a trip with my husband and daughter. Nothing on that trip was significant or really stands out except for the 30 minutes we sat inside an ice cream parlor. We had a long day of walking around and checking out the town we were visiting. We stumbled upon this really cool 2 story ice cream parlor in Miami and sat down to have ice cream sundaes. Perhaps it was because we were tired that we were all feeling silly and laughing at things that were normally not that funny. Either way, the three of us took turns acting goofy to see who we could get to laugh hardest to the point that we were being slightly obnoxious. Anyway, watching my goofy family making me laugh while eating my ice cream made me stop and realize I was definitely experiencing a “perfect moment”.

Did I mention that in order to experience these wonderful moments in time, you must realize you are in one? When you are feeling happy and grateful for those people and things around you, you are headed for that space in time that you want to keep forever. Knowing we can’t bottle it up and experience it again makes it that much more worthwhile.

Watch for those “perfect moments” in your life so they don’t escape you because they will never repeat themselves.

Renee Kennedy-Edwards, MS
Personal/Executive Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Positive Thoughts

2008-02-24T12:16:00.005-05:00

We are all too quick to recall the negative times and negative things in our lives. Ask me what went wrong this past week and I could easily produce a list for you. That is because we tend to repeat in our minds the things that ticked us off or the things that we did wrong. For some people, I think it is a way for them to analyze the situations and try to make sense of them. For others, I think it is a subconscious way of self-sabotaging themselves by focusing consistently on their faults.

Either way, all of us tend to put too much energy into the negative side of life. If we could just turn our energy towards recalling all the positive things that happened last week, then we might just feel more satisfied and fulfilled.

Research shows that consistently writing in a gratitude journal reduces stress and sad feelings. People who focus on what they are thankful for tend to be happier than those that don't. When we make the time to recall these positive events, we are training our brains to focus on the good things around us, giving us the opportunity to appreciate the people in our lives.

For the coming week, try to remember the things you do right. Relish in your achievements, even if they are a small step towards a major goal. Find what you like in others, versus finding fault in what you don't like. Be grateful for at least 3 things each day and see if you feel differently at the end of the week.

Happy thoughts!

-Renee

Business & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Realistic Expectations

2008-02-13T12:17:00.002-05:00

They say "Happiness is a state of mind" and that it's all in how you perceive life and your situation. I also think that happiness is connected to having realistic expectations. If you expect perfection, you will be frequently disappointed because pure perfection is impossible. Don't get me wrong. I firmly believe in aiming high and doing your best but not to the point of feeling consistent disappointment.

We must look at ourselves and our situation as a constant "work in progress". We are continuously growing and learning - at least we should be. Try to create realistic goals for yourself so that you can achieve them and feel good about them.

Realize you will have disappointments and setbacks. I think this is key in feeling happy. Life is full of challenges and we must be willing to accept them, take them on, and deal with them. Expecting life to be free of negativity, sadness and disappointment is setting yourself up for frustration and failure.

Yesterday, I spent an hour reviewing what to write in my blog and writing it all down through the internet. After feeling content with what I'd written, focusing on the blog's subject of happiness and the acceptance of life's disappointments, I went to save my work and publish it on the site. Can you believe all my work went out the window because the internet connection froze as I was saving it? I was shocked. All the work I had put into it was gone. I frantically hit the "back" button, thinking it had to be in there somewhere. It wasn't. I was ticked. I couldn't even look at my computer to rewrite it. After an hour, once I cooled off, I realized how fitting this was. It was a test. I had a setback and became disgusted and frustrated. Even knowing what I should do, I did the opposite automatically.

I think we are conditioned to react this way out of habit. It takes effort to focus on reacting to situations differently. By realizing bad things happen, we are better able to respond when things go wrong.

Are you living your life realistically?

-Renee
Business & Personal Coach
Coaching 4 Success, Inc.
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Do you have time for Success?

2008-02-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." --Arnold H. Glasow

Arnold's definition of success is simplistic but difficult to achieve when you really think about the variables involved. We may know what's right, we may even know the right way to do it, but how can we be assured it's at the right time?

The general idea here is that it's our behavior that determines our success. If we do the right thing (exercise 4-5 times per week), the right way (a minimum of 30 minutes with the right plan), the right time is NOW.

I think many of us get hung up on the "right" time to start our goals. How many of you have heard or said something like, "When the kids are grown up, we will travel as a couple" or "When our son is in school full-time, I'll get serious about exercise" or "When the business is running smoothly, I'll join that golf league"? The problem with this kind of thinking is that it holds us back from improving the present time.

If you wait until the kids grow up to vacation as a couple, you may not still be married. Making the time to enjoy one another as a couple NOW will strenghthen your current relationship and assist it in growing stronger so that you will still be together when the kids are grown. The same holds true for business owners who are waiting for their business to run better before they allow themselves some time off for fun. In my opinion, there is no right time like the present to begin incorporating our goals into action. It may not make sense to be away from the business 2 days a week to play golf, maybe it's 2 days a month that works best to start. The point is to start it now and not wait.

Think about it, when we make the time to take care of ourselves by having some fun, taking time to exercise, having social time with friends, we are less stressed and we are more productive.

What goals are you putting on hold in order to accomplish them at the "right" time? Are you able to start them now, even if you are only able to take baby steps to get there?

NOW is the time to change your behavior for more successful results!

Continued Success,
Renee
www.LeadMeToSucceed.com

Welcome!

2008-01-26T20:15:00.000-05:00

Thank you for your interest in my newest creation. This blog is intended to motivate, educate and inspire you to live your life more successfully. Please continue to check in weekly to view advice and information on ways to make your life better, more fulfilling and more purposeful.

I am always looking for topics to cover so please let me know what is on your mind and what you would like to see covered in this column.

What is your definition of success? How do you know when you are living successfully?

As you know, success isn't just about making money or having the big house. While money is important to living a less stressed life, it doesn't make you feel more fulfilled all by itself. I think our society is too focused on money and material things. We think if we can drive that certain car, we will feel more confident and more successful. However, when we finally get that car, we are often disappointed because we realize it takes more than the car to make ourselves feel genuinely happy.

I'm interested in hearing from you about this subject. How do you define a successful life?

Check in next week to see more on this subject and others. Thank you for visiting.

Positive thoughts to you,

Renee
Personal & Business Coach / Owner
COACHING 4 SUCCESS, INC. www.LeadMeToSucceed.com