new book for the New Year

A few days ago Amazon.com had a great book sale so I ordered a couple of books that I’ve been wanting to read for several months now.

One of them is Today Matters by John Maxwell. The subtitle is: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success. The premise or key point of the book is that all we have is today! We can’t go back and re-live yesterday and we can’t travel through time and determine tomorrow! So, Maxwell writes, “The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda.” (p. 14)

Maxwell argues that if we set the right priorities, make the right decisions, and follow through with discipline TODAY. . . tomorrow will take care of itself!

If you are looking for a great book to kick off the New Year. . . I highly recommend Today Matters! I’m only on page 83 (out of 302) and I’m already sold!

Happy New Year!

ten questions for personal growth in 2010

1. Who should I stop listening to?
2. Who should I start listening to?
3. What do I need to stop tolerating?
4. What do I want people to say about me?
5. What do I most want to change about myself?
6. Who can I use my gifts and abilities to help the most?
7. Who are the most important people in my life?
8. What are my top five goals or priorities for this year?
9. Does my daily schedule reflect what is most important to me?
10. What is God’s plan and purpose for my life?

check out www.YourLifeinFocus.com

I recently launched a new personal development community called Your Life in Focus. This great new online community offers articles, links, videos and podcasts to help you (and me) get your life in focus!

It’s totally free!

Each month will feature a new topic. The topic for May is Personal Finance. The topic for June is Eating Healthy. Upcoming topics will include Time Management, Getting Organized, Exercise and more!

Click here to visit this great new site.

simplify your life

“Simplicity is the key to brilliance.” – Bruce Lee

Let’s face it, life can be complicated! In fact, it can be so complicated that it can be overwhelming at times. Too many choices, too many steps, too much stuff, or too many decisions pave the way to feeling overwhelmed being stressed out. I don’t know about you, but when I feel overwhelmed I want to give up! And I definitely do not like being stressed out.

Simplifying your life has many benefits including peace of mind, clarity of purpose, not feeling rushed, and a sense of personal empowerment.

I’d like to recommend five free ways you can simplify your life and stay motivated.

1. Eliminate excess.
We don’t like to admit it, but most of us have more “stuff” than we can really use. Chances are you’ve got more shoes, TV’s, magazine subscriptions than you really need! Eliminating excess stuff in your life at home or at the office provides a real sense of being organized and it can save you money!

2. Develop a routine (and stick with it)!
Studies have shown that people who develop a life-routine live healthier lives than those who do not. Having a routine for your life is like having a budget for your money. When you budget your money, you plan where and when you will spend it. When you develop a routine for your life, you plan how and with whom you will live it!

3. Focus your life.
Someone once said, “Where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.” Without focus, our lives are pulled in too many directions at once. Simplify your life by focusing on the few things that matter the most and then you will begin to see your life make a real difference!

4. Limit your options.
Starbucks has made a fortune by offering customers a ba-zillion coffee choices to choose from. Hey, I love Starbucks! But sometimes too many options only cause distractions and lead to indecisiveness. Limit your options in order to streamline your decisions and maximize your time!

5. Turn off your technology!
Did you know that many Americans spend as much as 32 hours per week on the internet? That’s in addition to the 16 or more hours they spend each week watching television! Simplify your life (and get healthier and smarter) by turning off your technology! Just imagine what you could do with an extra 48 hours each week!

Looking for more ways to simplify your life?  Life Coaching may be for you!

100 people (not) to listen to

Scott Ginsberg wrote an awesome post about 100 people NOT to listen to!  You’ve got to read it!

Here are the first ten people NOT to listen to. . .

1. Don’t listen to people who … have no idea what the hell they’re talking about.
2. Don’t listen to people who … try to destroy your dreams.
3. Don’t listen to people who … tell you what’s right or wrong.
4. Don’t listen to people who … tell you what to believe.
5. Don’t listen to people who … have nothing else to whine about.
6. Don’t listen to people who … think they know what you need.
7. Don’t listen to people who … say you’re making them look bad.
8. Don’t listen to people who … nastily try to induce insecurity in others.
9. Don’t listen to people who … tell you that you can’t make it in this business.
10. Don’t listen to people who … who’s imagination can’t encompass what it is that you want to do.

Continue reading. . .