Personal Leadership: Your Strongest Foundation

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Amanda Rohde

Starting in July, the Audacious Self-Care Community will be moving on to our next subtopic for the year, which will be "Boundaries and Bridges: Interacting with Others," and Leadership will be an important part of that segment.

So today, while we're still discussing our personal environments and how they affect us, I want to discuss Personal Leadership, which will be the foundation for leading others in the future.

Like the blue fish in the photo above, you may be starting to see untested leadership qualities in yourself. The fish is just at the point when he suspects that he is willing and able to be more than a couch potato (or "reef potato," in this case).

This is the humble beginning of "Blue's" future as a leader. He needs to have the courage to swim the other way for a long time before the other fish even think of following him. Some say it's lonely at the top. There's one thing for sure...it's lonely on the way to the top!

So, what is a fish (or a human) to do? Well, this is where Personal Leadership comes into the picture. Take a quick assessment of how well you lead yourself.

Do you have a role model, or even a mentor, who is not only a leader of others, but who has his or her own act together? Develop the characteristics in yourself that you'll be expecting in your followers.

A Few Examples...how are your:

~Communication Skills?

~Character Traits?

~Organizational Skills?

~Time Management Skills?

~Personal Finance Management Skills?

~...And of course your Audacious Self-Care Skills?

Just take it one block at a time, like the guy in the photo below. Over time, you'll be amazed at the changes you were able to make! And no matter how you end up using your leadership skills in the future, you'll always value the personal leadership skills you're building upon now.

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Henrik Jonsson

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's

plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." -Jim Rohn

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Silense

'Any comments, experiences, or questions?

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Please join us for these global, complimentary activities via telephone!

Are there any projects you've been putting off in your office, home, or studio?

Call into my teleconference line at 7:00 pm Eastern on Tuesday, June 21st, and we'll tackle our projects together (well, sort of...).

No registration is necessary. We all call in at the tops of the hours 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 pm

Eastern for brief check-in calls about what we we're each declaring as our project of the hour, and/or an update on the previous hour's success!

Between calls, when we're actually doing the projects, you'll feel more focused and accountable, knowing that you'll be reporting back to us!

Here's the number to call: 712-432-3973, PIN Code 7280202

I'm hosting at no charge, and there's no extra charge for using the teleconferencing service. Your only expense will be from your regular long-distance carrier. Questions? Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com.

We'd love to have you on the calls!

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Do you have a burning question? Call my COACHING HOT LINE on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, between 7:00 and 9:00 pm Eastern for a complimentary 20-minute coaching session! Call: 610-385-3766.

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

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***Active member of the TriCounty Community Network at www.tcnetwork.org. ***

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You and Your Environment as Partners

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Kemal Bas

Twenty years ago, clutter in my home and office was still a sizable impediment and irritation for me. Our son, Dave, stilled lived here with us at the time. Whenever Dave would see me trying to clean up, he would quip, "Who's coming to visit?" I'm sad to say that it was often a valid question! Ugh. It pulls my energy down just to think about it.

Fortunately, since then I've learned to work with my environment instead of against it. In this holistic world of ours, our personal environments have an inter-developmental relationship. The task of decluttering our home and office spaces feels very daunting at first. I like to begin with the exposed surfaces that I use the most. This gives me a lift both emotionally and practically.

photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Luis Pedrosa

So, once you've established momentum with this cycle, you climb "mountains"! Be ruthless about things in your environment that you have psychologically outgrown. Donate, recycle, up-cycle, or otherwise dispose of the things in your environment that are not serving your current best interest!

If you have trouble parting with things that you know you need to get out of your environment, here's a tip to try. You'll need a friend or family member to help you, because the trick is to not to touch the items!

Ask the other person to hold up each item so you can decide, hands free, whether you really want to keep the item. Make sure they take all the "no" items with them for proper distribution when they leave. You don't want to take the chance of regressing, which can be very tempting, so ask someone to get it out of your sphere right away!

My Dream House

A mansion with six bedrooms and filled with antiques? No thanks. Actually, I don't have to find my dream house...I just need to finish uncovering it! Michelangelo said that, to make the statue "David," he chipped away all the stone that was not part of "David," and there he was inside! I don't think I could sculpt a statue that way, but I can find my Dream House that way! I'm steadily removing all that does not reflect my husband and I as we are now.

We both run home-based businesses, so right now it's still a bit crowded in our modest home. We also have a little dog, toys and books for our grandson, and several hobbies! All of these are important to us and will definitely stay. But when I finish chipping away everything that is out of place in my Dream House, we'll have plenty of space and great Feng Shui, right here where we've been living for over 30 years!

Best of luck with your masterpiece,

Susan

Click on the comment button below to let us know how it's going. Questions are also welcome!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***

P. S. to those on my snail mail list: I'm discontinuing my paper newsletter, and I'll be communicating mainly on this blog from now on. Many thanks to those of you who, over the years, have told me that it has made a difference for you! May creative4life be useful and inspiring to you as we continue with 2011: The Year of Audacious Self-Care!

***Active Member of the TriCounty Community Network at http://www.tcnetwork.org/.***

And a P.S. for all readers: contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766 if you'd like a tour guide for the adventure of Creative Living!

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Personal Alignment: The Journey to Authenticity

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Daniel Halvorson

The old saying is true...you can't compare apples to oranges. Especially if the oranges hide under the cloaks of apples!

So, as we wrap up our first quarter of Audacious Self-Care, let's take a look at authenticity as our final topic about "The Possible You." Many folks think of showing authenticity as a very risky way to live [as do some oranges, apparently :-) ].

The perceived risk is usually a fear of not being accepted as we are...leaving us feeling vulnerable. But the bigger risk is continuing to hide behind a mask (or an apple skin!) This type of recluse is likely to feel scattered and lonely. After all, how can you develop meaningful relationships when it's difficult to know yourself, let alone letting others get to know you!

The solution sounds simple, but it may take some time change old habits. Here's what we need to do:

Personal Alignment

We are aligned when our thoughts, feelings, values, speech, and actions match.

I like to think that that's why the cookie man below is smiling!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Alasdair Thomson

Before we start our new Audacious Self-Care topic for April, May, and June, I want to share a quote to close out our topic about "The Possible You." It's from a book by David Heller called, "Children on Happiness."

"The secret of happiness is kindness...not just toward other people but being kind to yourself too." ~~Michael Y., at the age of 10

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2011: The Year Audacious Self-Care with Coach Susan

For April, May, and June, our topic is...

Take a Look Around: Your Personal Environment

Photo (c) iStockphotos.com/PeskyMonkey

It took me many years to see that decluttering and organizing in my home and office are actually a form of self-care! The condition of our personal environments affects us in ways that I knew nothing about 20 years ago.

The time and energy it takes to develop better habits in this area are welcome exchanges for the the time and energy it costs us to even be in a messy environment, let alone trying to function in one! The Feng Shui experts are really onto something. Your personal energy is affected by the energy of the space you're in.

Please comment on your experiences with various spaces and their quality, size, color, mood, level of organization, and other characteristics that affect you!

This is the interactive part of The Audacious Self-Care Community! :-)

Please respond now while you are here. Most folks have a lot on their plates and will forget to respond if they put it off.

And speaking of interactions, have you ever thought of the people around as part of your environment? Their moods and energy levels can affect you negatively or positively. Don't get caught up in the negativity that others may be bringing to the space. Be careful about who you spend time with.

If you can't escape an obnoxious co-worker, for example, do what you can to limit contact. You may also want to sit down and have a frank conversation with him or her. They may not realize how negatively they're coming across. Let them know in the most civilized way you can that you will no longer be one of their targets.

Also, do whatever you can to avoid picking up the negative energy of other people. My husband is rarely affected by negative energy. His secret? "I just put up my s*#t shield!" he says. It's a great bit of imagery...in part because of the lightness and humor it brings to your own energy! Humor solves many problems!

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Here's a quick review of what we'll be talking about over the course of The Year of Audacious Self-Care:

First Quarter: "The Possible You"

Second Quarter: "Take a Look Around: Your Personal Environment"

Third Quarter: "Boundaries and Bridges:Your Interactions with Others"

Fourth Quarter: "Audacious Self-Care through Contribution and Stewardship"

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As you can see already, each section builds upon the ones before it, and there will be some overlap. I love this picture below because it represents the interconnections of the topics...after all, we do live in a holistic world!

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Andrew Johnson

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Reminders from my last post....

Upcoming Spring Events, Both LOCAL and GLOBAL!

LOCAL EVENTS

The Healthy Lifestyles EXPO

Friday, April 15, 2011, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Montco West Campus in Pottstown, PA

This event is complimentary, thanks to several sponsors from the community!

'Hope to see you there...stop by my table to say "Hi"!

For more information, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766.

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Stress-Less Evening Friday, April 29, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Douglassville, PA

This is one of my most popular events...at a recession-friendly fee of $25 per person, prepaid, for two hours of pure pampering!

Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766. I'll need your check by Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

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GLOBAL EVENTS

The fee will be waived on an exploratory coaching session for each of the first three people who contact me by Wednesday, May 13, 2011 to set up an appointment! The actual appointment day can be as late as Tuesday, May 10, 2011. Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766. You may be invited, but never pressured, to continue with more sessions at my regular, recession-friendly fees.

Photo (c) iStockphoto.com/Warchi

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Global Spring Cleaning Party Via TeleConference Line

May 3, 2011, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Eastern

We'll be checking in at the top of each hour, 7, 8, and 9, for a few minutes to declare what we're working on how we did in the previous hour. And we celebrate all victories!

Expert Karen Kingston says that Americans are THE worst clutters in the world! She says we put it everywhere...in sheds, basements, attics, closets, garages, spare rooms, and on and on! So I hope that readers from all over world will call into our party and support us here in the US!

And for those of you who live in the southern hemisphere, there is never really a bad time to get rid of things that are clogging up the energy in our homes, studios, and offices. I hope you'll join us!

I'm not charging to host this event (after all it is a party!) Your only expense is whatever your long-distance carrier charges you to place the three short calls to the US. The teleconference service itself is complimentary. Here's the number to call: 712-432-3973, PIN Code 7280202.

No RSVP is required. If you have questions before the party , you can contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com or 610-385-3766. (Hint: If I've totally confused you, look back on my post from March 8, where I've explained it a little differently.) I hope you can make it! This is the only kind of party where I can clean my home during the party instead of before it! :-)

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***All of Susan's creative4life posts are (c) Susan Cleaver.***

***Active member of the TriCounty Community Network in South Eastern PA,

http://www.tcnetwork.org/ ***