Enjoying Blue Skies and Blueberries

What a beautiful morning! We beat the heat with a morning walk with our two dogs. Then my husband and I enjoyed coffee and breakfast on the patio. If I'm not enjoying one of Bruce's famous fruit & vegetable smoothies, I enjoy blueberries on my cereal for breakfast. I was left with only the bag of frozen blueberries, since I finished off the fresh ones one my cereal, but frozen blueberries are great on a hot day.

Blueberries are one of the Superfoods that promote a healthy lifestyle. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables is so much better than taking pills. While genetics always play a part, you can avoid getting some of the common illnesses and diseases at an early age by eating superfoods. Besides being packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, blueberries are anti-inflammatory and lower your risk of cancer and heart disease. I enjoy blueberries fresh, but eat them frozen when they are not in season on cereal, yogurt, whole grain pancakes, ice cream, and in smoothies. If you have any other great ways to eat blueberries, please share. You just can't get enough of the blue!

This website is intended for informational purposes only. For professional personal/ career coaching, call or email Nancy for assistance with consulting, resources, and information to meet your personal needs. See links on the side panel for professional organizations. Copyright LWD © 2005 Nancy Miller

Unspoken Language

Ellie is a new guest at our house. She will be staying for a couple of weeks. Although we've known her since she was a baby, she's never stayed with us before. This is the third morning that she has been adjusting to Pepper and Maggie. Pepper and Maggie have their rules. I'm not even sure what they are. But I can see by the way they respond to an unspoken language I don't understand that they are communicating with each other. Obviously Ellie doesn't understand it either. Yesterday morning Ellie was ready to play. She jumped, ran around, wagged her tail and chased Maggie. Maggie bared her teeth (a language every dog understands) and then Pepper came to her rescue (which was completely unnecessary.) Pepper and Maggie know who's boss. That would be Maggie.

But Ellie being a newbie didn't know her place in the group. Today she held back and watched. A couple of times she tried to join the play with Maggie and Pepper, but got the brush off. She had a confused look on her face as she walked away. Being the third dog, she created a triangle that changed the dynamic. Any two of the dogs could have played together, but the third created chaos in the relationship.

Today Ellie is being more cautious and letting Maggie and Pepper get used to her. They are all getting along. Ellie is watching the unspoken language and learning where she fits and when she can join in. Each dog comes from a different background, and each one represents a mixture of breeds. They are all rescue dogs so we don't know for sure what the mix is, but obvious characteristics exist. Ellie has a purple tongue so she is definitely part Chow. Pepper has the poodle fur, floppy ears, and cocks his head like a Cocker Spaniel. Maggie is said to be part Terrier and seems to have some of the Terrier personality. Maggie and Pepper are small dogs who have learned to play and cooperate with each other. Pepper and Maggie have had several homes, and were unwanted and neglected many times. Ellie was rescued as a puppy and has had a loving home all of her life. Pepper's breed, background, and size influence his temperament. He is overprotective and loyal, but he lacks good social skills. He gets nervous and still worries about being abandoned. He does not easily welcome newcomers.

Have you ever felt like you walked into a group of two or more with your friendly face ready to join the group and wondered why you didn't feel like you fit? Nothing was said. You missed the body language. You just knew something happened. Whether you are at work or in a social setting, people have an unspoken language that can be easily missed. You may be walking into a group who has a very different appearance or background from yourself. There may be members who have been wounded by life and others who want to protect them. Take a lesson from Ellie and bring your positive energy to the group. If you are not welcomed, don't be offended. Step back and wait until they feel more comfortable with you and you can find your place in the group. Building relationships and working in groups is a learned process that takes time. But learning to communicate and build supportive relationships is the most important thing we can learn. The world is changing. It can feel very uncertain. But just as Pepper and Maggie learned after having turmoil in their lives, friendships are the most important assets.

This website is intended for informational purposes only. For professional personal/ career coaching, call or email Nancy for assistance with consulting, resources, and information to meet your personal needs. See links on the side panel for professional organizations. Copyright LWD © 2005 Nancy Miller

Adjust our expectations?

On the second page of the pamphlet inserted in our retirement portfolio, it says that with our declining investments we need to “adjust our expectations” and re-examine our time horizon. Has your retirement resource brochure been that creative in saying that since you are losing money by investing with them, you should keep your money in the account and not expect a return on your investment? Just work longer. It can all sound very disheartening.

But in this new age of enlightenment many of us are finding that we can live better, spend less, and do work that is meaningful. We chased the money to corporations, retirement accounts and home equity. If that’s all there is, then there is reason to feel angry and anxious. But our attitude and the energy we put into our feelings can work for us or against us. As Nicholas Boothman says in his book, “How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less,” you can choose a ‘Really Useless Attitude’ or a ‘Very Useful Attitude.’ Do you want to be angry and anxious in reaction to your current situation, or do you want to approach your challenges feeling resourceful and relaxed?

For some reason, I believe partly genetic, I tend to naturally get tense and anxious when faced with challenges. I continue to take on difficult tasks, learn through experience, and build up my resilience, but my natural reaction is tension. When I read Boothman’s description of a ‘Very Useless Attitude,’ I realized that I was experiencing some useless attitudes and really didn’t need to. Whether the economy is up or down, you are young or old, jobs are scarce or plentiful you can choose to have a ‘Very Useful Attitude. In my experience excellent jobs have always been scarce. It takes planning, strategies, a positive attitude, and determination to do what it takes to get the job you want. You also need to re-evaluate your goals regularly to see if they are REALLY what you want.

Most of us are going through withdrawals, especially if we are trying to spend less money on junk food, eating out, and frufru coffee. We may be experiencing more than a loss of expectation. We may also be experiencing withdrawal from sugar and fat. Not a bad thing! Leaner is usually healthier and more productive. The same is true for your job search and career development. You may be forced to do what you needed to do all along: Focus on your values, vision, and goals. If you know your strengths and values, have a vision for your life and work, and hire a professional to keep you on track, you have nothing to fear. More than ever, you are your business. Take charge!

This website is intended for informational purposes only. For professional personal/ career coaching, call or email Nancy for assistance with consulting, resources, and information to meet your personal needs.
Copyright LWD © 2005 Nancy Miller

5 of 5: What Now? Positive Psychology in Tough Financial Times

5 of 5: What Now? Positive Psychology in Tough Financial Times

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Time of reckoning

Tax time is a time of reckoning..

We finished our personal and business tax filing yesterday. Whew! As I was gathering information for expenditures, income, assets, and liabilities, I realized that it felt like I was reconciling the last year of my life. Many things didn't work out as I had expected. There have been joys and disappointments, but for us it all worked out well at the end of the year. We've had years where April 15th wasn't a day to look forward to. But this year we have been very blessed. We bought a house, my business is going in a new direction, and my husband has set a tentative date for retirement.

So, why was this a year of blessing? Because we actually got a refund? Every year we are blessed in different ways, but I must admit that I am affected by the measures of success around me. I admit it! To measure myself by what I own would be to measure myself on the basis of greed. I remind myself everyday--well actually I often need to be reminded--that success doesn't come from money. I will continue to look for ways to make a difference in the world and those around me this year. Quite a noble goal!

This website is intended for informational purposes only. For professional personal/ career coaching, call or email Nancy for personal/career coaching, consulting, resources, and information to meet your personal needs. See links on the side panel for professional organizations. Copyright CLWD © 2005 Nancy Miller

What did you hear today?

Today I enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning in the community garden. A small group of us gathered around a block of dirt surrounded by walkways and imagined how the garden might look and what we wanted to grow. We took a few minutes to breath the air and notice the sounds around us. The sound of birds stood out in my mind. Someone else heard traffic. I seem to be very tuned in to the sound of birds.

My husband and I take long walks through the greenbelt that runs through part of Elk Grove. As we walk past the trees and small lake, my husband points out birds in the water, in the trees, and along the brush. He knows the birds by the sound of their voices. I have become very aware of the sound of birds. I don't know their names, but I listen to their different calls. I no longer remember the sounds of traffic. Because I pay attention to birds, that is what I remember at the end of the day.

Much of our lives are driven by what we choose to hear and pay attention to. What sounds do you remember at the end of the day? Did your day end with the sights and sounds you wanted to think about and dream about? You can choose what to focus on and remember, and your memories become a part of you.

This website is intended for informational purposes only. For professional personal/ career coaching, call or email Nancy for assistance with consulting, resources, and information to meet your personal needs.

Copyright CLWD © 2005 Nancy Miller

Looking for Band Aids

During difficult times people are often looking for a Band Aid rather than a vitamin. As a personal/career coach I am in the vitamin business, but right now people seem to be looking for Band Aids rather than vitamins to improve their business or employability. As a culture and a people we have over spent and over indulged. Almost everyone who could did to some degree or another. Now we want quick easy fixes for a big problem.

There may not be quick solutions, but there are things we can do. For one thing, take your vitamins. You can plan, prioritize your values, strengthen your relationships, and tighten your belt. This is a great time to find where the needs are, build up your business skills, and be grateful for what you have. I am very grateful for the material comforts that I am blessed with. As a family, we are doing better financially and relationally than we ever have. When friends were buying bigger houses, we began thinking about downsizing. We sold our house, paid all of our debts, and bought a car and investment house with cash. Friends thought we were crazy for selling our house and buying a house out of state. We thought we were crazy for renting an apartment close to work, walking, taking the bus, and paying cash.

I loved living close to town, walking, and feeling like I was in the heart of all that Sacramento has to offer—the good, bad and the ugly. I felt the discomfort and inconvenience of renting an apartment that flooded, leaked, and smelled musty. I gained empathy for people who were less fortunate than I was. After four years of renting, we had the opportunity to buy a house on a short sale. We weren’t just smart or just lucky, but we were able to tighten our belts for a time, and then find ourselves in a position to benefit from the change in the economy. In my experience, when I lost hope in the future, I spent more on immediate pleasures. For some too much optimism without a reality check led to over indulgence.

I love spending time with family, friends, and colleagues. I look for ways to use my counseling, coaching, and entrepreneurial skills to work in the community. I enjoy sharing what I have learned from my own insights, experiences others have shared with me, and trends in careers and entrepreneurship. Send questions, comments, and experiences as we share this journey together.

Valentine's Day

I have sometimes thought that all of these little holidays can seem trite or pretentious if not just another excuse to sell Hallmark cards. But this year a good friend left a Valentines Day card and bag of goodies on my doorstep. It made me feel good to receive such a thoughtful token of kindness from a friend. After enjoying the chocolates, I thought about friends and family who had been on my mind. It seemed like a convenient time to send the cheery red & pink cards to friends I was thankful for who might be in need of a thoughtful act of kindness. When I received emails and cards saying what the card had meant, it made me feel good.

After the little heart holiday had passed, I realized that I had not gotten something for the friend that motivated me to send cards in the first place. I know that my friend would agree that simple acts of kindness are better passed on than returned. Holidays can be a great time to show an "attitude of gratitude" as researcher Martin Seligman describes one of the characteristics of happiness.

It's so easy to say thank you to people who have made a difference in your life by sending an eCard, a card, an email, posting a message to your blog, or just saying thank you.

Your Story

What’s your story? Your story includes your successes, challenges, credentials, and the people who helped you along the way. Your mentors, partners, and heroes helped shape your path, and your family, culture, and environment were a springboard for your career. Whether you feel like you took a bungee jump off of a cliff or a gentle climb through a bed of roses, your environment gave you challenges and opportunities that helped you build the character and resilience for finding where your dreams can lead you.

This month in the LifeWork Planning Guides we will develop a Personal Summary. Your Personal Summary is the first step in your LifeWork Success Plan. Your Personal Summary will give you a good start on your personal/career portfolio or the executive summary for your business plan.

Share your comments. I will review and post them to the blog or send questions or comments directly to me: http://centerforlifeworkdesign.org/Contact.html

Not business as usual

It may not be business as usual this year, but it's a new year with new hope and so much work to be done. It's a great time to start using up things that have been gathering dust in the cupboards and closets. Many of us have been buying in bulk, shopping sales for things we didn't need, and consuming treats as if they were an everyday necessity. 

We hear in the media that some people are having to think about their credit card spending, their $5.00 coffee habit, and cut back on vacations. It may not be a tragedy to put reckless spending on the back burner for a time. It is a good time to make our dollars count. How we spend money is at least as important as how we vote. With small businesses suffering and many going out of business, now is the time to think about how you want to shop and what options you want available to you. 

There are businesses that have unhealthy business practices that can't stand up to an economic downturn, but we may also be losing products and services that we value. Low price is not always the best value, and if we always shop price rather than valuing healthy, well made products, and good customer service, we may lose the best values. 

Where you spend your money also gives you a clue to where the jobs will be. If you shop big box stores then you or a family member may be working at one. If your dream is to own a small business, then you will want to support small businesses in your area. 

Most of us are finding ways to cut back on spending this year. Many of them are positive. Walking or riding a bike instead of driving, playing games with friends and family rather than going out, fixing healthy meals instead of takeout can all be positive changes. For those who have lost both family incomes, their businesses, or their homes, this year can feel like a tragedy. If you have friends, family, credit, and skills, you will have to make tough choices but but you have a support system to work with. Tough times can bring out your resourcefulness, relationship skills, and build personal resilience. There are people who have no one. When jobs are scarce they have nowhere to turn except to the hearts of those who have a clue what it is like to be touched by difficult times. 

For some, this year seems so bad because they had so much wealth and expectation of continuous monetary growth. But the economy goes in cycles and corrects itself every few years. The current crisis is a reminder that we need to take care of our money and as the saying goes, "prepare for a rainy day." As we clean out our closets and use up the old we will be prepared for a sunny spring.

Fall Networking Cafe

Our fall Entrepreneur's Networking Cafe meetings have been diverse and productive. The September meeting had a small turnout, but it was great to meet as always. Whether sharing information, business ideas, or just catching up, the networking meetings are always enjoyable. The downtown coffee shop is a nice environment for meeting, but it wasn't the most convenient location. The November networking meeting had better attendance with entrepreneurs sharing and selling their products and services. The personal setting provided a great opportunity for networking.

In October I moved my home office from Sacramento to Elk Grove with all of the disorganization that goes with a move. I find that even with the best planning, sometimes life events cause me a sense of chaos temporarily. November brought a visit from family with two small children. The fun, the noise, the laughter, and the exercise reminds me that we all experience different joys and challenges to running a business or finding balance with our careers. While the new energy in our home gives birth to chaos and creativity, it also brings challenges to organization and productivity. It gives me the opportunity to put myself in someone else's shoes. So many of us are experiencing changes so quickly we may find it hard to start a business or career planning when we are in the middle of unexpected changes. With all of the transitions we experience by the day or week rather than by the decade as was more common in the past, it is more important than ever to have a "LifeWork Success Plan." 

I developed "LifeWork Planning Guides" to help us feel more confident about the quick decisions we often have to make. Even when life seems a bit crazy and chaotic, knowing your strengths and values helps you stay on track with the things that are important to you. Try the "Introduction to LifeWork Planning Guides" delivered to your email box each month. We will not contact you unless you request it and you can cancel at anytime. You are busy and so are we. No one wants information they don't need, but a brief spam free email can help you stay on track and prepare for the next exciting stage in your life.

September Networking Cafe

The September Entrepreneur's Networking Cafe will be held at:

Butch & Nellies Coffee Shop

Downtown Sacramento

Saturday, September 20th

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Drop by, say hello, and let us know what you are doing. Entrepreneurs benefit from networking with other entrepreneurs, small business, and other professionals. What makes you a professional?  If you are passionate about what you do, you are willing to share your expertise, and continue learning.

The small group networking has been amazing in River Park. We hope to find a few people who are willing to go downtown for some great coffee, tea, and conversation.

Networking really is more than a business card!  But feel free to share cards so we will remember your name & business.

 

Knowing what you want

When I tell people that I am a career counselor, I often hear responses like, "I'm not looking for a job right now."  As a career development professional, I know that there is so much more to a career than just looking for a job, although a results oriented job search is very demanding.  I like calling myself a LifeWork Coach because the name gives people a better sense of what I do. 

In the last couple of weeks I've found my life and family having a major impact on my work.  I am my own boss, so I am usually good to myself although I can be quite demanding, but I have been thinking about people who have jobs with little flexibility.  When unexpected events happen in life, a person's work and lifestyle can be greatly affected.

My mother went to the hospital for a routine back surgery a couple of weeks ago.  Although it was considered major surgery, the operation went well.  On the other hand the patient didn't respond well to all of the medications, anesthesia, and stress of surgery.  Major surgery is harder on people as they get older, but hospitalization and surgery can be stressful for many of us.  In fact, if a person is well and able to take care of themselves, hospitalization can still be stressful.  If you don't feel well, you definitely need family (or a close friend) to help take care of you.

I have heard many times that when a family member goes to the hospital, they need someone there or nearby to help.  It was more true than I realized.  Modern science and medicine have come so far that we are curing cancers, heart disease, and so many diseases that were considered terminal.  With all of the "miracles" of modern medicine, the patient is often forgotten.  There is a real person behind the patient, and family/friends need to make sure the person is taken care of.  But how?  

Most of us are so busy that we have a hard time keeping up with ourselves, our work, and our immediate families.  What happens when we are needed full time or part time to help a family member?  For people who have little flexibility at work the result can be disastrous for the job or the family member.  What can we do?

Planning and preparing for unexpected events will help when a crisis comes up.  The goal of "LifeWork Design" is to know who you are and what you want so that you will be prepared. Knowing what your values are, and evaluating how you want to spend your time and your money are the subject of this month's "LifeWork Planning Guides."  The subject was so important to me in deciding what I would make the time for, and what I could either not do or put off until later.  I decided the math class that I had just signed up for could wait.  I could afford to let my work get behind a little bit, because I knew it could wait, and I could catch up.  It wasn't what I wanted to do at the time, but I knew what was most important to me.  I was ready to make decisions based on my values. 

Taking care of family is a high value for me.  Sometimes there is a high cost to having close relationships, but the cost of neglecting relationships is even higher.  I am thankful that with the help of the family, my mother is doing much better.  I am back to work full time and enjoying every minute of it!

Whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee, finding balance in your life and work can be challenging.   What challenges are you facing in your career?

August Networking Cafe

We were sorry to learn that Javalicious Cafe, our neighborhood coffee shop closed its doors. We will have an Open House Networking Meeting in August.

August 16, 2008
2:30-5:30

Contact Nancy for details. Stay connected to stay resilient in a changing business environment.

August 23rd Entrepreneur's Networking Cafe

Place & possibly time will be changed

More information soon!

Javalicious Café

August 23, 2008
9:00 – 10:00 A.M.

“Show & Tell”
Bring a sample of your product, brochure, etc.

Briefly tell what makes you or your product unique.

Participating Businesses:
Pacific Pointe Insurance Agency
Sandra J. Hertkorn, Medical Billing Systems
Center for LifeWork Design
The Urban Flower
Flowering Leaf Jewelry


Share & Collaborate
Networking is more than a business card!

Contact Nancy: lifeworkcoach@clwd-share.org for more information

Americans House Big Dreams

Is bigger always better?

We've been looking for a home in the California housing market. Prices are down, but it is a crazy complicated time to buy. It's difficult, but possible for the average person to get a good price on a home in this market, but things are never what they seem. Because Americans dream about big homes, and banks lust after big loans, buying a home has taken on a whole new meaning. For most Americans, a home represents so many different things:

• a right
• a showcase
• a possession
• an investment
• an entertainment center
• a place of beauty and refuge
• a place to store all of your stuff
• a welcome place for guests to visit

In many places in the world (and for some Americans), a home is a place to live, share relationships, prepare food, and have a family. Some people feel blessed if they even have a home. But for so many Americans, home is a status symbol and bigger is always better. According to Fast Company Magazine's article on the housing industry and greenhouse emissions, building and maintaining large energy guzzling American homes creates more greenhouse emissions than transportation in this country.

We've been looking for a smaller home to downsize and be more energy efficient. But the temptation to go large is very great, especially if the price is similar. Concerns about where to put all of the stuff, where will family stay when they visit, how to have a sense of privacy and of course, "Where's the family room?" We certainly wouldn't want to live in the living room.

Another important consideration is the appraisal. As an investment, the square footage is the first consideration in appraising a property. Getting the right home at the right time and price can be as lucrative as winning the lottery or at least a game show prize. The temptation to look for the prize creeps its ugly head into many real estate deals in California. Have we lost sight of looking for health and happiness through healthy eating and healthy relationships? I talk about it a lot, and facilitate workshops and presentations on health and happiness, because that's what it takes to keep me on track with my vision and values.

July Networking Cafe

Entrepreneur's Networking Cafe

9:00 - 10:00 AM

July 19, 2008

If you are an entrepreneur
Coach Entrepreneurs
Or think like an entrepreneur

Join us at
Javalicious Cafe
(Carlson Dr. Sacramento)
Delicious coffee and pastries

Practice your brief introduction to your product, service or skills
in a fun friendly environment
(This is not speed networking)

Share & collaborate
Networking is more than a business card!

For more information
Contact Nancy
Center for LifeWork Design
lifeworkcoach@clwd-share.org

Networking

The Entrepreneur’s Networking Café, June 7, was a great success. It was a small informal networking group in contrast to the “Speed Networking” event I attended last evening hosted by the Business Chapter, Sacramento State University Alumni Association. “Speed Networking” is a great exercise and an opportunity to get your business card out to a number of businesses in a short period of time. It is also a good opportunity to practice your “elevator” speech. I met some interesting people and made some contacts.

In the cozy informal setting of Javalicious Café, the June Entrepreneur’s Networking Café had a small group of entrepreneurs discussing "what you do and why you do it." Janet Hignight, Vice President of Pacific Pointe Insurance Agency said their business is all about relationships and helping people understand the insurance business. They will be hosting an insurance education workshop July 24th. Enjoy a fun informational evening. Call for details. The unexpected common interests were amazing! Some of us made an appointment to tour the new Techskills facility, which led to further connections and relationships.

Whether you own your business or work for someone else, understanding what you do and why you do it, will help you periodically re-evaluate your goals, stay motivated and have "an attitude of gratitude" in all of the work you do. We're looking forward to the next Entrepreneur's Networking Cafe July 19th,
9:00 AM, at Javalicious.

Center for Fathers and Families

I recently attended the Center for Fathers and Families, 6th Annual Salute to Fatherhood Banquet at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento. With the goal of strengthening families and building communities, the center has made an impact on youth and parents in the Sacramento area. I was very moved by the success story of a teen who had gone through the AWARE (Adolescents Willing to Act Responsibly Everyday) Life skills for teen males program and graduated from college with a goal of making a difference in his community. I applaud Rick Jennings for all of the work he has done to provide opportunities for youth and families to succeed through the many programs at the Center for Fathers and Families.

Feelings of Gratitude

As I sit in my office on this cool spring morning, I can hear birds, planes, and the chug of my computer so easily grinding thoughts into words. I can sit back and feel the pleasure and comfort of my big office chair. There have been so many mornings where I dashed out without breakfast to take a brisk walk to the bus, then felt hot and tired on the walk home. This morning I pause to enjoy the gratitude of feeling comfort, safety and satisfaction in what I am doing. Not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this kind of pleasure on a daily basis, but I know that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it today if I hadn’t taken a few moments to indulge in feelings of gratitude.