After parking my car, I approached the line of at least 75 people and asked one man, “Is this the line for appointments?” The man replied, “Oh no, that’s inside.” I took a deep sigh of relief and continued on through the front door. I immediately saw the “Appointment Line” which had only 2 people ahead of me. This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the value of making an appointment rather than “winging it” in every area of their lives.

People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. Many people do not value their time. If you ever sat down and figured out what your time is worth and more importantly, how fleeting it is, you’d live your life differently.

Recently, a friend asked me a question about something and my initial answer was, “I don’t have time.” After a moment of reflection, I quickly corrected myself. I said, “Wait a minute, what I just told you isn’t true. I have enough time. I have not placed a high value on this and so I haven’t made the time.” You see, you have enough time for what you want to accomplish. You manifest what you think about. I bet at least once today, you’ve thought or told someone you don’t have enough time—right? If you are really honest with yourself (like I had to be that day) it’s not that you don’t have enough time. It’s that you don’t value the action item or activity enough to include it in the time you have.

The reality is if you want:

• a loving relationship with your spouse/partner
• a loving and bonded relationship with your child/children
• a loving relationship with friends and family
• a successful business that meets the goals and expectations you’ve set
• a healthy mind and body

…I invite you to make the decision to schedule an appointment to spend quality time on what you want in your life and stop “winging it.”

When any area of my life is out of sorts, (if I’m really honest with myself) it’s because I haven’t made an appointment to spend the time that’s required to have meaningful moments in those areas. When I turn my attention to any of these areas, I find almost immediate benefit.

My time at the DMV was short and sweet. My appointment was for 11:55 and I walked out the door with my renewal at 12:20. As I made my exit through the glass door, I caught the eye of a man who had been waiting when I arrived. Unfortunately, he hadn’t made much progress toward the front of the line. I gave him a hopeful smile and continued on to my car.

Your life will unfold based on the choices you make. To quote Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2012 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark.

Are you making choices that reflect the independent You?

We are “reminded” on a daily basis about who we “should” be. The covers of various magazines remind us that we should look thin and trim at all times. Our family, friends, and colleagues have their ideas of who we “should” be as well.

There have been times in my life when I wanted to be more of someone else and less of who I was. In my 20′s, I was really into fashion and fitness. I wanted to look and dress like many of the women I saw on the cover of the most popular magazines. In my 30′s, when I would meet a successful person in the business world, I wanted to emulate a lot of who they were being as I had a strong desire to be a successful entrepreneur. In my 40′s, I began to feel the “call” to work with women to help them create their spark and realize their Big ideas, dreams and goals. Today, at 51, I’m still passionate about my work with women along with a sense of curiosity about what lies ahead. I know it’s essential to take what works for me and weave that into who I am at my core–my authentic self.

Unfortunately, there are women and young girls in many parts of the world that do not have any freedom. These women have no access to freedom of speech or independent actions whatsoever. Likewise, there may be a woman on your street or in your office who doesn’t feel she has the opportunity to exercise her independence. Her personal circumstances or “limiting” beliefs may leave her feeling “trapped” and unable to move forward with her dreams and desires.

It’s up to you and me to lead the way. In a few days, our country will celebrate its “independence.” We are fortunate to live in a country where we can say, wear, do, or be whatever we choose.

How about you?

– Are you living into your Big Ideas, dreams and goals?
– Are you taking advantage of the fact that you have the opportunity to be exactly who you are?
– Are you walking and talking your independent thoughts?

As you move into the weekend, I invite you to reflect on who you are being now in your life and who you would like to become. The oak and sycamore trees in the park were planted to grow in a straight line along the street. Once planted, they began to take on their own independent shape and size. They are living into their uniqueness and individual beauty. You are a beautiful, brilliant Smart Woman. You have special gifts to bring to the world. Let your own brand of independence and uniqueness shine through. Take advantage of your “Independence Day” and celebrate who you are because there will never be another You.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your coaching business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report, FREE MP3 and be the first to hear about my exciting new program for coaches and consultants at Creating The Spark.

I’m referring to your current clients—-the people who have said “yes” to working with you and who believe in the service that you are providing. Your current clients typically have connections to people who may need your product or service. They have worked with you personally and can share their experience with others. The key is ensuring that the “experience” your current clients are having with you is a positive one so that they will feel comfortable sending you referrals.

My business is over 90% referral based. Most of the women who come to me are referred by women who have worked with me, either individually or in one of my Women’s Success Circles. These women feel comfortable sending me their friends and colleagues because they know first-hand what the experience is like.

I’m going to share some tips and solutions that I’ve used over the years to build my business into a referral based business. You may read each one and say to yourself, “I already knew that.” The question is “You may know it, but are you practicing it in your business with each and every client you come in contact with?” These are easy, simple steps you can take that will make a huge difference in the growth of your business.

Be on Time – This one simple step can garner you huge rewards in your client’s eyes. Being on time sends a clear message that you value your client. You are respectful of their time. My goal is to always arrive before the client does, get clear and focused so that I am ready to devote my time and energy to their needs. Have I ever been late? You bet (I live in LA where traffic is un-predictable!), however it’s rare.

Be prepared – Ask yourself a question before you meet with your client. For what purpose are they coming to see me? Do I have all of the documents, forms, contracts, and support materials that I need to make this time valuable and productive? With time being such a cherished commodity, it’s key that you come prepared with everything you need to support the client.

Underpromise and Overdeliver – Give your client more than they expect. In addition to everything you’ve agreed to do for the client, go the extra mile! Provide useful resources that can support their business or personal life in some way. If you have a referral or you can make a connection between your client and another person where they can both benefit, make it happen!

Thank YOU! – This is so important, however I find this being the most overlooked step. Make sure to “Thank” your clients for working with you. It’s true you provided a service that helped them but it’s key to thank them for choosing to work with you. After all, they do have options. Send birthday cards, call them occasionally to check-in and see how they are doing.

The Golden Rule – A simple habit to get into. Treat your clients the way you would like to be treated. It really makes a big difference in your working relationship.

If you choose to make these tips and solutions a part of your daily interaction with your clients, you’ll soon find referrals coming your way. When this happens, make sure you take that final step; Show your appreciation for receiving the referral! One of the ways that I appreciate referrals from clients, is by sending them a Thank you card with a gift of some sort attached-maybe a coffee card, etc. Last year, I hosted a “mani-pedi appreciation afternoon” where women came, had their toes and nails done, feet and shoulders massaged, along with champagne, wine, and cheese.

These are simple steps that you can put into practice right away. Take a moment now and choose the ones that you can begin implementing with your next client. You’ll find rave reviews and referrals coming your way!

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff 
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion.

Making a decision to do something new or different in your life can get really uncomfortable. It triggers all of your “stuff” down deep inside. You may start to question everything you do and sometimes you wonder if you should continue with your new Big Idea, Dream, or Goal. After all, you may not be overjoyed with your current life situation, job, or business but at least it’s familiar—right? I remember a time in my life when I felt out of sorts, stuck and trapped, but at the same time I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to make the changes that were needed in order to feel whole, passionate and purposeful.

For example, when I decided to give birth to Smart Women Smart Solutions, there were many reasons why it wasn’t the most “ideal” time to begin something new. For example, I had my son who was a toddler and was pregnant with my daughter. My “stuff” seemed to pop up everywhere and follow me around with all of the reasons why now might not be the “right” time to start a new business. “Who will take care of my son?” “Now isn’t the right time” “What if it doesn’t work?” “What if I fail?” Sound familiar?

I have fears just like everyone else. Confronting your “stuff” is not much fun. It means you have to take a look at what is and decide if you have the courage to change and do what it takes to breakthrough to the next level in your life.

Over the last 2 decades, I’ve had times where I was surviving and times where I was thriving, and I will share with you that in order to “thrive”, sometimes you have to go through that “survive” period. It’s essential that you learn about yourself and see what changes or shifts you need to make in order to realize your Big Ideas, Dreams, and Goals. My grandfather used to say, “Joy, no matter where you go, there you are.” Well said Pops. Sometimes, we get in our own way and practice the art of self-sabotage without really even realizing it.

Here are a few solutions that have helped me with my “stuff” and I believe it can help you too:

1. Look for a “Thinking” Partner – Have someone on your side. Someone who can support you in a positive way when your “stuff” comes up. Having a “thinking” partner will help you to see how to move past your “stuff” and stay on the right course to accomplish your goals.

2. Find Successful Role Models – It’s essential to find people who’ve been successful and continue to be growth-oriented. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make as entrepreneurs is they stay in a vacuum. They try to figure out how to accomplish their dreams on their own. Let successful people show you the way. They have paved a road that will be much easier for you to follow. Attend conferences, join Mastermind groups, or hire a Coach to help you stay the course.

3. Make sure your Desire is Heartfelt – When the desire is there, the how-to will come. No matter how much “stuff” you are dealing with around this change you are making in your life, desire will always win if it’s authentic and truly what you want in life. Get really clear and focused on what you want to happen.

Living a life that allows you to achieve and have what you want and deserve is not always easy but it’s certainly worth the effort. Facing your “stuff” along the way not only helps you, but it helps all of the people who come in contact with you now and in the future. You will become a beacon of light that they can look to for guidance when they confront their “stuff.” Remember, it’s not trespassing if you cross your own boundaries.

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.
*****
© 2011 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at Creating The Spark .

After parking my car, I approached the line of at least 75 people and asked one man, “Is this the line for appointments?”  The man replied, “Oh no, that’s inside.”  I took a deep sigh of relief and continued on through the front door.  I immediately saw the “Appointment Line” which had only 2 people ahead of me.  This got me thinking about how Smart Women understand the value of making an appointment rather than “winging it” in every area of their lives.
 
People don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan.  Many people do not value their time.  If you ever sat down and figured out what your time is worth and more importantly, how fleeting it is, you’d live your life differently.
 
Recently, a friend asked me a question about something and my initial answer was, “I don’t have time.”  After a moment of reflection, I quickly corrected myself.  I said, “Wait a minute, what I just told you isn’t true.  I have enough time.  I have not placed a high value on this and so I haven’t made the time.”  You see, you have enough time for what you want to accomplish.  You manifest what you think about.  I bet at least once today, you’ve thought or told someone you don’t have enough time—right?  If you are really honest with yourself (like I had to be that day) it’s not that you don’t have enough time.  It’s that you don’t value the action item or activity enough to include it in the time you have.
 
The reality is if you want:

*a loving relationship with your spouse/partner
*a loving and bonded relationship with your child/children
*a loving relationship with friends and family
*a successful business that meets the goals and expectations you’ve set
*a healthy mind and body
 
…I invite you to make the decision to schedule an appointment to spend quality time on what you want in your life and stop “winging it.”
 
When any area of my life is out of sorts, (if I’m really honest with myself) it’s because I haven’t made an appointment to spend the time that’s required to have meaningful moments in those areas.  When I turn my attention to any of these areas, I find almost immediate benefit.
 
My time at the DMV was short and sweet.  My appointment was for 11:55 and I walked out the door with my renewal at 12:20.  As I made my exit through the glass door, I caught the eye of a man who had been waiting when I arrived.  Unfortunately, he hadn’t made much progress toward the front of the line.  I gave him a hopeful smile and continued on to my car.  
 
Your life will unfold based on the choices you make.  To quote Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Anything is possible.  Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at http://www.CreatingTheSpark.com.

A mentor once shared with me that 50% of accomplishing any goal is “showing up.”  If you have a strong desire to grow your business, then it’s essential that you do the work that’s involved and that means “showing up” in places where your ideal client and potential referral sources are.  In my work with women entrepreneurs, I offer coaching on how to set up a referral program that’s proven and successful to attract new clients in a very short period of time.  There is work involved and they do have to “show up” by communicating to their referral sources what the program is and all it has to offer.

Jenna’s been playing in this league since February—just about 90 days.  I’m going to share what I like to call “Jenna’s 90-day Program” to take her to the next level of skill in baseball, which can also help you go to the next level of success in your business:

1.  Attitude – This is the most important asset to have when you “show up” in life. People are attracted to those who have a positive attitude.  You are more productive and creative when you have a good attitude.  Jenna has been last in the batting order and sat out innings during the game, however she has maintained a positive attitude.

2.  “Show up” consistently – “Show up” at meetings and conferences where your ideal client is present.  When you find the right fit, join the group, become a member and attend consistently so that people can become familiar with who you are and how your business can help them.  I’m a member of a Mastermind group and a few women’s professional networking associations where I consistently make new contacts and enjoy new business.  By the same token, Jenna has never missed a game or a practice. 

3.  Coaching and Mast reminding – This has been an enormous key to the growth and success of my business.  I continually surround myself with coaches and mentors who’ve already walked the entrepreneurial path that I’m on.  Their guidance and support has enabled me to quickly reach my goals.  Jenna’s league has excellent coaching.  They make it fun and at the same time, teach the players core skills needed to play the game.

Performing and engaging in these three easy, simple tasks for 90 days has taken Jenna to a new level in baseball.  It was evident at last Saturday’s game.  Are you wondering what might happen to your game of entrepreneurship if you started “showing up” with a great attitude, being consistent in your efforts and had some valuable coaching or mentorship?  I invite you to create your own 90-day action plan using these simple tools and see what happens.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at www.ProfitsWithPassion.com.

Entrepreneurship can be fun, exciting, challenging and risky all at the same time—just like any other game we play. There are days when I’m on top of the world because everything is working out just the way I had planned and, there are days when I want to crawl in bed and pull the covers over my head because it feels like every move I make or card I play turns out to be ones that don’t move me forward at all.

Jenna’s game will be graded on several factors; easy for anyone to understand how to play, organized and neat presentation, and of course, turned in on time. If you want your business to get high marks and become successful, there are several questions that you need to ask yourself:

1. Decide what game you’re playing. – What type of business do you have or want to have? Is it something that the marketplace needs? Are there other people doing the same thing or a version of your business that have been successful? Jenna sat down in her room and I put her favorite games all around her—Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Trouble, etc. This exercise helped her to see how other games were put together in terms of pieces, die, cards and rules.

It’s always a good idea to research other people who’ve been successful in your industry. It’s not to copy what they’re doing but to see similarities—what’s working, what’s not working.

2. What’s the object of your game? What product or service are you offering? When your ideal client makes a choice to work with you, what will they receive at the end of your time together? This is critical to your business process. Helping the client understand how they will be better or different after working with you is of high interest to them.
 
3. How do people play your game? In other words, how do they work with you? Is it in person? By phone? Online? Do you offer packages or bundle services together? You have to make the access to your service easy for the client.

4. Make the experience rewarding! People want to enjoy the relationship they develop when working with someone. Price is not always the major factor in why people buy. They want to work with someone who has the expert knowledge they need and who will make the process enjoyable.

Jenna created a game called, “Math Baseball.” It’s a game that she knows a lot about and enjoys playing. The rules she made up for the game are both fun and challenging involving some risk. Sounds a lot like the game we play called “Entrepreneurship.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.profitswithpassion.com.

Being a woman who encourages new ideas and new perspectives, I went to take a bubble bath (a nightly self-care ritual!) and reflect on his question.

In my work with women, the foundation is always around passionate and purposeful living. In order to live a life full of unlimited energy filled with passion and purpose, you will be making big things happen in y our life. You will be connecting with your Big Ideas, dreams and goals. You will seek and find the proper support to help you achieve your goals. This becomes a way of life for women who choose to live without boundaries around what they can and deserve to accomplish.

The challenge for me is that I know only a fraction of women in the world are living the kind of life I just described. It seems unrealistic to many women–not possible, not achievable. I think this is the reason I continue to write so often about this idea. I want to encourage women in every way imaginable that having a life that is overflowing with abundance is possible.

How about you? Is this something you desire? To create a life that is on purpose, both at work and at home, achieving those Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals? I know this is something that I desperately wanted in my life 10 years ago. I was searching for what might be next for me, what my purpose was, who could support me in g oing to the next level in my life. I would wake up most days with those nagging questions and the empty answers: “What do I want to do next?” “Who can I talk to that will be able to help me?” “What might be the next step to move me closer to my dreams and goals?”

Today I am living a high-energy, passionate, purposeful life but it was not by accident. It was through taking the right steps to find out what I truly wanted for myself (not what others might want for me), finding the right support to make it happen, and working with my support system to put a plan together that would result in a successful outcome.

I invite you to grab a pen and some paper, sit down, and ask yourself a very important question:

What do I want?

Not just what you need to get by or what other people think you should want. Initially, you might catch yourself writing something “safe.” “Safe” meaning it might be within your reach but it’s not really what you truly want at your core.

So yes, Greg, I will continue to write about Making your Big Idea , Dreams and Goals Happen. I’m going to write about living a life filled with unlimited energy, passion, and purpose and all the blah, blah, blah. At least until I’m satisfied that more women are waking up to this lifestyle each and every day.

The first day of spring is fast approaching (only 9 days away!).  Now is the time to plant the seeds for what you truly want to happen in your life and in your business.  I’ll be here to support your Big Ideas, Dreams and Goals but first you have to plant the seed.  You have to decide what seeds are best for you……

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****

© 2010 Joy Chudacoff 

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, 2 FREE Reports and FREE MP3 now at  http://www.creatingthespark.com/ .

– “I’m never able to get it all done.”
– “I can’t figure out which “to-do” should be done first.”
– “It only takes 10 minutes.”

One woman entrepreneur is multi-tasking all day long. She felt this was really effective in her quest to “beat the clock.” To quote my client, “it only takes 10 minutes to complete each task.” When we took a look at the “it only takes 10 minutes” tasks and added them up, she was losing over an hour a day on items that could be delegated to someone else. What would you do with an extra hour per day?

We wear many hats and play many roles in our lives. It’s very easy to get caught up in the “to-do” list and the requests of others. In my work with women, my goal is to help them have an 80/20 rule in their lives and businesses. 80% is their “ideal” life that they create and 20% is when “life happens.” You know those days when you get sick, the kids are sick, the car breaks down, etc. For many of you, it’s just the opposite. You’re getting 20% of your time to steer your life the way you’d like and 80% is spent serving others needs and requests. I invite you to think about changing this if you want to live with passion and purpose in your life and business.

I used to be in that 80/20 situation (with 80% being determined by others) until I made a conscious choice to give myself permission to design a life that resembled more of what I wanted on a daily basis. Here’s a few tips and solutions on how you can begin to take better control and win your race against time:

1. What do you want? – This really throws women off base when I ask this question. Why? You believe that your life is not your own. You serve and take care of so many people. How could you possibly have what You really want? Take a look at all the areas of your life – self, spouse/partner, family, work/business, friends and community. How much time would you ideally like to spend in each of these areas? Remember the 80/20 rule.

2. Design Your “Ideal” Day – The women I work with take a blank calendar and begin to play around with the “what-ifs.” They play with different scenarios and come up with what works best for them based on what’s most important.

3. Set up boundaries – It’s essential that you set boundaries around your life. I have a boundary around the 4pm hour during the week. I typically reserve from 4pm on through the evening to be with my family. I also have a boundary around my day between 8:30 and 4pm Monday through Friday. I spend this time serving women and practicing my own self-care.

4. Get some help – A very wise, successful woman once shared with me that “you can do it all but you can’t do it all by yourself.” Well said. This lesson has been one of the most valuable for me along the way. The act of delegation has been a key factor in helping me to have more of what I want in my life and less of what I don’t. Here’s a clue; Make a list of what you’re really good at, enjoy doing and also produces income for you. These are the things that you need to hold on to. Take everything else and delegate it as soon a possible. The first 2 things I delegated in my business were bookkeeping and technology. I don’t enjoy these and it’s not an area of strength for me.

If you are serious about winning your race against time and having more of what you want in your day, I invite you to use these 4 steps I’ve shared with you. I’m going to leave you today with a quote that feels just right at this moment. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” ~Annie Dillard

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2010 Joy Chudacoff
 
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions(tm), a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur.  She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs.  If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at http://www.profitswithpassion.com/.

Today is my 50th birthday! The five decades behind me were all wonderful and as I reflect on each one of them, I can clearly see how each decade blended into the next to bring me to where I am today. I’m very excited about the next 50 years with lots of ideas and plans for living a meaningful and full life. In keeping with my family “tradition,” I’m going to share with you my five “pearls of wisdom” that have been instrumental in my life so far. This is not an easy exercise! Choosing five was a real challenge. We all have beliefs that we carry inside of us. They come from our families, mentors, and life experiences that we have along the way. However, I’m clear now that the five “pearls of wisdom” that you read below are the ones that have shaped my life in the most profound way:

1. Be on Time – Sounds simple doesn’t it? When I was a young girl in my teens, my Dad was forever rallying my sister and me to be on time. (When I was a teenager, the only thing I wanted to do was stay up late and sleep-in the next day!) What I’ve learned is that people who arrive on time (or even a little early) get access to opportunities and decision-makers that late-comers don’t. All (and I mean all) of the successful people I’ve met in my life arrive on time. Thanks Dad.

2. Listen – My favorite line in the movie, “Pulp Fiction” is when Uma Thurman asks John Travolta, “Do you listen or are you always waiting to talk?” Brilliant. Stop for a moment and ask yourself that question. It sounds simple, but have you mastered the skill of “listening?” It is one that I highly recommend that you practice. This one “pearl” alone has made a big difference in the course of my life. My grandfather used to say, “There’s a reason you have two ears and one mouth.” Enough said.

3. Be open to learn from the unexpected – I’ve been to lectures and seminars that have been taught by people who were highly educated and the information was insightful.  However, one of my most influential teachers, who ultimately became my mentor, was a high school drop-out who became a multi-millionaire.

4. Follow your instincts – In my work with women, I refer to this as “follow your internal voice.” As I reflect on the last five decades, every single time I didn’t follow my internal voice, I got myself into hot water—very hot water! Your internal voice is always with you (she’s been with you since the day you were born). She knows you better than anyone else and she will never, ever misguide you.

This “pearl of wisdom” leads me to #5 which is…

5. Practice Solitude – I discovered this “pearl of wisdom” in my 40’s. When I was in my 20’s and 30’s, I was so busy running around living a very fast-paced life, that I never, ever appreciated (or was comfortable with) solitude or silence. When it got quiet, I got moving. As I crossed the threshold into my 40’s, I began to crave solitude. It was like breathing. It was necessary for me to live. This “pearl of wisdom” ties right into #4 – “Follow your instincts”. It wasn’t until I learned to practice solitude that I could “hear” what my internal voice was telling me. She speaks very softly and with all of the roles and responsibilities you have as a woman, it can be a challenge to hear her words of wisdom. It is in those precious moments of silence that I hear and visualize the best next steps for me in my life.

These are my “5 Pearls of Wisdom” and as I reflect on each of them, they come together like a single thread weaving their way through the fabric of my life. It is my hope that if you practice even one of them that you will begin to see positive change in your own life. As a mentor once shared with me, “The slightest shift creates the greatest impact.”

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

*****
© 2009 Joy Chudacoff
 
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