What is your mission statement?

Why have a mission statement? I believe we all have a purpose or mission in life. You know in your heart what is most important to you. Most of the time your values and mission are reflected by how you live your life. You may not even realize how you are broadcasting your values. Sometimes, life gets in the way. Making someone else happy or satisfying their needs takes precedence. That is when you get weary. When you lose your spark. When you feel “out of synch.” When you feel out of balance. That is when you are out of balance with your personal mission statement. Knowing when to make someone else happy or yourself happy gives you a guide or map to living consciously and deliberately. If you take the time to think about what your priorities are, you will know what to do next. When the day-to-day clutter of living gets in your way, everything can seem like a priority. The old saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease,” is true. What is competing most for your attention can throw you off your course of what is important to you. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? Today, we're going to help you find the right words to put that mission down on paper. I’m going to pose a series of statements that only you can answer or finish. There are no “right or wrong” answers. Only what is right for you. When you think about a personal mission statement, you need to think about your whole life. For your life to be “in balance,” you have to consider all the elements in your life. Here is a list for you to consider as elements that make up a whole life:

1) Work / Career 2) Family / Friends 3) Spiritual / Religion 4) Health & Wellbeing 5) Fun / Recreation 6) Money / Finances 7) Physical Environment 8) Personal Growth 9) Significant other / Partner / Spouse THE STATEMENTS Complete the following statements as they are true for you today. Not as you think you “should” be. And, not for as you were last year or want to be next year. Truth, for you today.

• Five positive characteristics that define me are …
• For each of the five characteristics, write down an action you take to express those traits.
• My best talents and skills are …
• I use money to …
• My natural talents and gifts are …

These are the elements of your mission statement! Good job! You now have the beginning of a mission statement built on a foundation of your values. You have more clarity into you want to be and to do in your life. You can also start to detect the values and principles upon which your life is based. I encourage you to write and revise your mission statement until you feel it reflects your mission and values. Distill it down to a paragraph or even a sentence, that is meaningful to you. With permission, here are some for you to read. Some will appeal to you. Others won't. You'll see that mission statements come in all shapes and sizes, just like people. They were created for a unique purpose and person. “I want to experience life’s passions with the newness of a child’s love, the sweetness and joy of young love, and the respect and reverence of mature love.”

“My mission is to give, for giving is what I do best and I can learn to do better.”

Mahatma Gandhi captured his mission statement in a short list of active statements. You can create your mission in this style, starting each sentence with "I shall" or "I will." “Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: * “I shall not fear anyone on Earth. * “I shall fear only God. * “I shall not bear ill will toward anyone. * “I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. * “I shall conquer untruth by truth. * “And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.”

“My journey is about helping people. I see people the way they ‘really are’ and help them manifest that life.”

“I want to be the kind of person my dog already thinks I am.”

“I am joy, love and laughter. My mission is spread joy, love and laughter every where I go.” LIFE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS So is your mission statement. Life is a journey. Your mission statement is your map. "Organizing your life around the many roles you play will help you maintain balance and focus on your key relationships rather than focusing on tasks and things." Stephen R Covey

Over the years, your circumstances will change. Your priorities will change. Your goals and dreams will change. That's okay - because change means growth. As you grow, transform, and broaden your horizons, allow yourself the freedom to expand and refine your mission statement. For now, congratulate yourself on a job well done. Tell your friends about your newly stated purpose in life. The next step is learning how to live your mission. Maybe it's easy, but maybe it takes some guidance. I’m here to help. Call me and let's find the path to fulfill your mission.

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

I Got the Job! NOW WHAT?

O.K., I got the job. BUT …

• My cubicle is attached to a swinging door and the constant banging is giving me a headache.
• I only know the boss and no one has introduced themselves.
• On top of that, I have no telephone, no office supplies, my chair is missing a wheel, the computer only works in Linux, and my cubicle is located in the coldest corner of the room.

This is not what I expected. I want to quit. Reality Check This is not what anyone expects, but often it is what we get. We expect a honeymoon period with a new job. Sometimes it only lasts as long as a handshake. We expect our new employer to welcome us and be prepared for us on the first day. The reception a new employee receives varies from company to company depending on who is responsible for welcoming new staff and what is usually done. A good welcome includes a new employee orientation, a “buddy” to take us around the first day and introduce us to others, shows us where the break-room and bathrooms are, and a work-area with the basic supplies. In an ideal situation, the “buddy” will also communicate all the unwritten rules and expectations to you. Clearly, this is not what you got. What happens next is entirely up to you. Your next step will show the world what kind of person you are. What are your options? Quitting If you quit, all the research you did to find a good company will be for naught. The good benefits’ package you discovered at that company will not happen. One day does not make or break a job or a person. So, get a grip. Go Home Sick Going home sick on the first day surely will impress the boss. Yes, you have a headache, but do you really want sickness to be your first impression? It will show the boss that you are a whiner and a quitter. Not a good first impression. You may never recover from this blunder. Even if you never complain again, you will be forever labeled “the complainer.” So, take an analgesic (aspirin/Advil/Tylenol). This is why it is in your briefcase. Make Lemonade Since you can’t get any work done and have some time on your hands, make a list or two. First, list all the repairs needed in your work-area. No one expects you to work with a broken chair or computer or without a telephone. Maybe the boss didn’t know things were broken. Give the benefit of the doubt. When the facilities person arrives to make repairs, sweet-talk them into mitigating the effects of the swinging door, if possible. Remember that seniority usually gets the best cubicle and you are the new kid on the block. Second, list all the reasonable office supplies that you need. If the work-area was vacant prior to your arrival, things probably got pillaged by the people around you. You know how it is: an empty space is fair game for scavenging. Again, give the benefit of the doubt. At the bottom, list the high-end supplies that you need as a wish list. Now, make an appointment to see your boss. When you have your meeting, tell the boss you want to be the best worker you can and to accomplish that you need a few things. Present the repair list with tact and good humor. The boss may be embarrassed about not having checked things out. Someone may have dropped the ball. Don’t blame, don’t complain. Make it easy for people to save face by saying, “everyone is so busy around here.” The boss will appreciate your good attitude and good manners. Now present your supply list. Again, use tact. Don’t complain; say something like, “I know at my old office, the empty desk always got raided for supplies.” When pointing out the high-end items, say that they “would be helpful,” and describe how they’d help your performance. You don’t know what the department’s budget is for these things and you don’t want to look like a prima donna who can’t work with the basics. Now that the hard part is over, ask the boss who the best person would be to be your “buddy.” Explain that you don’t want to monopolize the boss’ time, but on the other hand, you don’t really feel comfortable going around and introducing yourself. You think a “buddy” to ease the way would be a good solution. The boss will probably jump on this idea and even make that first introduction for you. If that doesn’t happen, you are a grown up. Introduce yourself. A Class Act You have shown yourself to be a resourceful self-starter. You were assertive and got things done in a non-confrontational manner. You provided solutions, not problems. You have shown yourself to be someone it would be nice to have in the cubicle next door. This may also get you a better cubicle. Until then, bring a warm sweater to wear. Let me know how you are dealing with a new job. Share your experiences in the comments section. Or, send me an email to eal@EALCoaching.com . I’d love to know what you are doing to stay positive in a new environment. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Reverse Planning

Or, Why do informational interviews? Reverse planning – what does that mean? Perhaps you are more familiar with the term reverse engineering? Either term means you take apart an object or process to see how it works in order to duplicate or enhance the object or process. The practice has been borrowed from older industries and is now frequently used in a variety of settings and industries. Let’s say you want to design a better mousetrap. You put an existing mousetrap in front of you, see how it works, evaluate the parts that make it up and then you reverse the process of building it. As you are taking it apart, you see ways to improve on the design. Then, when you go to rebuild it, you incorporate those changes and voilá – build a better mousetrap! The same is true of planning. You start with your goal. What are all the elements needed to accomplish your goal? How long does it take to learn what you need to learn? Where do you go for learning? Is there more than one path to obtaining the goal? Are there milestones that need to be reached before the goal? You figure out the steps and time needed to complete the goal. Then you assign deadlines for each of those steps. As you are doing your reverse planning, you may find you have a need for some intermediate steps to accomplish and set those goals too. If you have a really BIG goal or a complex goal, reverse planning can be an invaluable aid to getting where you want to go or what you want to accomplish. Career change can be just such a complex goal. This is really the point of informational interviews. You interview people in careers that appeal to you. In the process of interviewing them, they will often share the path they took. They will tell you how long it took to get them there. People will often tell you they took a “hard way,” or the “long way,” and then tell you how to take a short cut or an easier way. Or, they may say how easy it was because of … something. And then go on to tell how to get that something. You can use that information to reverse plan your foray into that career. People are naturally helpful and informational interviews are a great resource for you in your job hunt. When you set up your informational interview ask for ten to fifteen minutes of their time. Tell them you are NOT looking for a job right now. Tell them it is research for your future. BE ACCOMMODATING. They are doing you a favor, so even though you are not a morning person, if that is the time slot they have open – take it, gladly! Here are some questions (10 minutes worth) to ask during an informational interview.

• What education do you need?
• What experience do you need?
• What would be nice to have?
• What is mandatory to have?
• What is the best part of what you do?
• What is the downside to this job?
• What skills do you need?
• What abilities do you need?
• What is your best advice for someone like me?

Then you take the answers home and develop your career plan. What resources do you need to contact? What learning do you need to do? Are there intermediate steps you need to take? You assign deadlines so that your goals can be accomplished. Then, voilá, your new career! I can help you find a career you want to investigate with an informational interview. Getting to that point is the most work. I can help you narrow down your options to chose the best fit for you and who you are. I can help you demonstrate how your skills are unique and marketable. We will create an action plan to get your Dream Job. I can help you sort through your skills, experiences and your dreams to get the right job for you. Don’t wait; contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Intuition

Some simply call it instinct, gut feeling, hunch or vibes, and it often defies reason and logic, but it can be one of your most important tools to point you in the right direction when all else fails. What is Intuition? It is a feeling that something is right or wrong. People frequently report having the feeling in the gut or stomach area. It can be a subtle or distinct feeling. You can have this feeling about people, places, things or situations. The more you exercise or use your intuition, the sharper and more accurate it becomes. I think we have all experienced intuition; we just may not have recognized it or paid attention to it. Emerson called it "the divine impulse." Whatever you call it, we all recognize it as a deep kind of knowing that transcends reason and logic, defies understanding, and yet undeniably points us in the right direction when all else fails. How To Strengthen Your Intuition Muscle Few know how it works, and fewer still know that there are things you can do to activate and accelerate it to work when you need it. For starters, intuition works best off a solid foundation of knowledge. Start with a subject about which you are very knowledgeable. I don’t mean simply having an awareness of facts or book learning. Real knowledge is far more than information; it’s derived from having direct experience with the subject. Intuition is driven by enthusiasm. It is a byproduct of an intense desire to make what you care about even better. What are you passionate about? Intuition requires a clear and organized mind. It is a subtle and fleeting insight that can be easily lost under a mountain of unfinished business, or swept away in the drama of disorder. Is it time to catch up with old matters, finish unfinished business and clear your desk? The more you procrastinate, the greater your loss when it comes to tapping into your intuitive reserves. Finally, intuition is your sixth sense and it’s as physical as your five senses. Your intuition depends on your physical body to relay messages as if it were a radio broadcasting to your mind through your gut feelings. This means that if you are hung over, stressed out, under-exercised, sleep-deprived, overscheduled or preoccupied, chances are you will miss the subtle calling cards of your intuition. You can pick up the intuitive broadcast only if the radio (your body) is working. Intuition also slips into our awareness when our mind has quiet moments. If you rush through each day like a firefighter on a drill, you will feel very little of anything, let alone the subtle vibrations coming from your intuitive channel. To discern the subtle takes time. Slow down; give yourself a break. Some of the greatest inventions and visions were born in a moment of doing nothing. Doing nothing doesn’t mean nothing is being done. On the contrary, giving yourself a little breathing space allows your higher awareness to kick in and offer its input. Freud said, “When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature.” Or, instinct. To activate your intuition, you must calm your other senses as well. Meditate. Take a walk without the iPod or cell phone. Do whatever it takes to eliminate distractions and create a window of intuitive opportunity. Conrad Hilton used to sit quietly until intuition kicked in. Isaac Newton meditated under an apple tree. Find your quiet corner for inspiration. Expect intuition to show up. And it will! Need help? Email me and we can hone your intuition skills. Don’t wait, contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com