Make the Decision to Read this Book

Book Review:

10-10-10: 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years; A Life-Transforming Idea

by Suzy Welch, 2009; Simon & Schuster Inc. and Simon and Schuster Audio

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I listened to the unabridged audio version of this intriging book, which is read by the author. Out of her own necessity, Welch has developed a wonderfully clarifying model for making decisions.

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As the title implies, the method involves thinking through the short-range, mid-range, and long-range likely results of the options at hand. Welch's model is also very useful as a low-conflict way of making decisions with others. It's a great way to explain your decisions to others who will be affected by them.

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Below I've pulled together a fictional example to illustrate how this method might be used in everyday living.

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Molly's Quandary

"My kids want a dog. I love dogs, too. But can I take on that extra responsibility as a single mom with three kids?"

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Let's say Molly starts exploring the "Yes" possibility using Welch's 10-10-10 method. She jots down, "Ten Minutes: I'll still feel definite trepidation! The kids will have to contribute more than just 'lip service' about promises to help.

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Ten Months: We'll all be attached to the dog. I'll wonder what took me so long to bring this new source of joy and connection into our lives! I'll still be holding the kids to their specific promises to help. They may resist at times, but by then they'll know that I'm not about to back down on this point.

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Ten Years: I'll feel tremendously rewarded for having taken this risk. We are all learning first-hand about love, responsibility, and cooperation. My decision is made!"

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'Still not sure if this book is worth your time? You can guess what my advice is...apply Welch's 10-10-10 model to decide!

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My best to you,

Susan

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P.S. What?! You haven't had your complimentary coaching session with me yet? :-) Consider this topic....

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"You Are Here": Develop Your Best GPS for Daily Living

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By phone or in person, we'll work on the upgrades you want for your personal GPS !

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Possible areas to explore:

Spirituality

Values

Priorities

Strategies

Goals

Steps

Habits

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up an appointment. Your only obligation is to call in on time and be ready to dig in!

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

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a non-profit local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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Ask "What?" and "Why?"; Forget about "How?"

Greetings, Law of Attraction Fans!

If you want to align yourself with the Law of Attraction ("like attracts like"), it's really important to ask yourself the right questions.

Ask Yourself "What?"

First, get really clear about what it is that you want. Think about it; isn't it next to impossible to help someone get what they want if they aren't even sure themselves? Sometimes as a coach it's my job to help someone figure out what they want. Then we can proceed from there.

Example:

O.K., let's say "Carmen" holds this intention: "To raise a healthy, happy, and productive daughter." Next, she asks herself, "What exactly does this feel like, assuming I'm already there?" This question helps to align her energy with what she wants as well as clarify exactly what the intention means.

Carmen's answers the question this way: "I feel pride, love, and feelings of contribution and accomplishment. I feel my daughter hugging me, and I'm delighted to hear her thanking me for always being there for her. I'm telling her that I wouldn't have it any other way; it's a total joy for me." Do you sense her passion and energy rising?

Now Kick it up a Notch by Asking Yourself "Why?"

Asking why you have set a particular intention pumps up the passion and enthusiasm even more! Then your vibration rises even higher to put you more into alignment with what you want to manifest.

Now Back to Carmen....

Carmen's "Why?": "This intention is my gift to my daughter and part of my contribution to the world, including my future grandchildren and great-grandchildren! I trust that I'll be shown how through intuition and synchronicity."

Suit up and Show up

That's what you do next. You show up. You watch for openings and check with your intuition. And you do this consistently. I would say, "Best of luck to you," but if you follow the advice in this post, you won't need luck. You will make your own.

~Susan

P.S. Give this complimentary coaching session a try....

Respect 101: Teach Others to Treat You Well

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We'll discuss the questions below as they apply to YOU:

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~How do you treat yourself?

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~Do you speak up for yourself clearly, directly, and in a timely manner?

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~Do you stand your ground when being pressured?

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~What vibes are you sending out about how you expect to be treated?

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~What limiting beliefs from the past are hindering you in asking for the respect you deserve?

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a session by phone or in person!

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

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/ .***

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Mike Dooley: "Thoughts Become Things!"

Book Review: Choose Them Wisely: Thoughts Become Things!

by Mike Dooley

copyright 2009; published by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

If you haven't read or listened to this book yet, you're in for a treat! (It's also available as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio, copyright 2009, unbridged. I experienced the audio version.) The book is encouraging, inspiring, and soothing.

Dooley wrote the book from the point of view of the Universe as he understands it, and he speaks to the reader directly and casually. This style and use of a persona allowed him to add gentle humor and convincing but gentle nudges to the brief messages that make up the book.

I'm sure I would enjoy the print version, but the audiobook is great...it's read by the author in a very centered, soothing, and reassuring way. I like to listen to it before I go to sleep at night!

In his "Universe" persona, Dooley reminds us that we are all parts of something grander and larger than we can even imagine. The "Universe" reminds us of our full power and potential!

I'd like to add a bit of inspiration here for you writers and other creatives out there. When Dooley first started doing this type of writing many years ago, he felt very unsure of himself. Can you relate?? Most of us can! Now Dooley has at least 4 books out, he's an inspirational speaker, and he was one of the featured teachers in the movie "The Secret"!

And wait till you see his website at http://www.tut.com/. I think you will love it! There are lots of free, fun goodies there! As with the book, the site is great for Law of Attraction fans who are looking for practical understanding but who don't want and/or need the scientific details. (By the way, scientific support for the Law of Attraction is out there from other sources, for any of you who aren't fans of it...yet!)

Please share your opinions and experiences with the book and/or the site with my other readers and me!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. Shameless Plug! Try a complimentary coaching session with me called...

Start Here; Grow to There!

For those who are embarking on a humongous challenge!

During your phone or in-person session, we'll take a personalized look at three areas where you can take action RIGHT AWAY!

~~We'll get a clear picture of who you'll need to become to best meet the challenge.~~

~~We'll develop a strategy to invite those changes. (Hint: Your challenge will "grow" you!)~~

~~We'll break the challenge down into the steps that will make it easiest for you to tackle, given your strengths and preferences.~~

To set up a time, contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Let's get you moving!

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

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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How is Your Life GPS Working?

Just as a GPS in your car uses a number of satellites to determine where you are on the road, I recommend these "satellites" that are vital in deciding which roads to take in life.

Spirituality
I use this as my first point of reference. Without this, I feel like, as my husband would say, "a loose canoe in a swift stream."

Values
With clarity around my spirituality, I find it much easier to focus in on my most important values...perhaps the top three to five, to help me see where I'm positioned in life.

Priorities
Once I have the first two in place, from there I can set my priorities as they relate to my values.

Strategies
Once I know my priorities, I can develop strategies that will help me make sure that the priorities are addressed.

Goals
At this point, I can develop useful goals easily, because I've looked at the other areas.

Steps
Next, I can use my goals to figure out what steps I need to take on a daily or weekly basis to make sure I'm manifesting my priorities.

Habits
When I take the steps I need to take on a regular basis, I develop new habits that serve me well in accomplishing my goals. These new habits actually make it easier to do the steps than to not to do them!

So how about you?
What keeps you centered and on track? Please leave a comment and let my other readers and me know! Maybe you have a different series of "satellites" that work for you.

If you try my Life GPS, please let us know how it works for you!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. 'Need some assistance in this area? I'm offering...

"You Are Here": Develop Your Best GPS for Daily Living

...a complimentary coaching session (by phone or in person) where we will work on the upgrades you want for your personal GPS!

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up an appointment.

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

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.

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What a Gift...

My long-distance friend and colleague, Droku, passed away one week ago today. He was one of the most amazing people I've ever met.

About 20 years ago, Droku sustained an injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He taught me, by his outstanding example, that not only can I handle anything that comes along, but that I can do so with an accepting, positive attitude. And I can still make a difference.

Droku did not just survive...he thrived, and he helped others do the same. He turned his attention to what he could still do, and away from his limitations.

He took teleclasses from his bed to become a life coach, and soon he became a leader in Coachville's virtual community.

Droku operated his computer by using voice-recognition software. He helped many others through his coaching and teaching. He also shared the results of his research about how we can put our personal environments and technology to work for us. To see an example and Droku's photo, go see his guest blog post at http://blog.thebrain.com/personalbrain-user-droku-inspires-the-best-in-all-of-us/.

Droku's courage, positive attitude, gentle encouragement, and willingness to share made him quite a powerful role model. What a gift to all that knew him! And that gift will continue to ripple out into the future and touch many more lives in a positive way.

Droku, you will be missed by so many, but you've left us an amazing legacy. Goodbye and thank you, my friend.

Love,

Susan

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The "Perfect" Excuse

What causes perfectionism? It's commonly believed that it results from a fear of criticism. This is just the tip of the iceberg, though.

Consider a more insidious source: the fear of moving out of our comfort zones. Perfectionism steals precious time from activities we consciously wish we had the time to do. But because of our unconscious fears, we use that time to:

~Stay stuck.

~Feel busy without accomplishing much of anything.

~Stall until the "perfect, risk-free" opportunity comes along (which is, conveniently, NEVER).

No matter how much we may want to move forward consciously, a frightened or poorly programmed subconscious will block it in an effort to protect us. We can reassure our subconscious minds by:

~Identifying limiting beliefs and replacing them with beliefs that support our expansion.

~Taking baby steps outside our comfort zones so the subconscious feels less threatened.

~Accepting the fear. The only way out of our comfort zones is through the fear. (See the work of Dr. Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.)

Please comment on your adventures outside of your comfort zone!

Thanks,

Susan

P.S. Whether you've taken on a "Plan B" or one has been thrust upon you...contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a complimentary coaching session called...

*** Plan B: Transforming Transition ***

In this session we'll strategize for your smooth transition to "Plan B" with...

The Five R's of Transformation:

1) Regroup

2) Reframe

3) Reserves

4) Resilience

5) Rewards!

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

***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a local human services resource at www.TCNetwork.info.***

Teach Others to Treat You Well

Here Are a Few Questions to Consider....

~How do you treat yourself ? Teach others by modeling care and respect for yourself.

~Assertiveness: Do you speak up for yourself clearly and directly? Do you stand your ground when being pressured?

~What vibes are you sending out? Others pick up on these whether they realize it or not...and whether you realize it or not! if you're conflicted by limiting beliefs about your own worth, that will show up in your interactions with others!

Write out your out-dated and flat-out wrong beliefs about yourself. Then go back and change them to fit the person you are now...or the person you want to become.


Please take a minute to leave a comment so we can all learn from your experience and insight!

Thanks,
Susan

P.S. 'Need more assistance with this? I'm offering...

"Respect 101"

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...a complimentary coaching session where we'll discuss the questions above in more depth as they relate to YOU.

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Contact me at scleaver@dejazzd.com to set up a session by phone or in person!

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P.P.S. for Locals: A hot topic for summer...

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"Keeping Your Cool"

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~~A new workshop for finding answers to anger~~

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009 ~~ 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Douglassville, PA

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Contact me soon at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details, as I'll need your prepayment of $20 by Thursday, July 23, 2009.

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In this workshop you will learn about...

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~Using anger as nature intended~

~What anger is NOT~

~The holistic effects of how you handle your anger~

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'Not local? If there's enough interest, I'll run a teleclass also. Let me know at scleaver@dejazzd.com. Thanks!

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

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***Member of the TriCounty Community Network, a human services resource at http://www.tcnetwork.info/.***

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