Greetings! As
you may have noticed, this issue of Living
With Intention has been a bit delayed due to the tragic
and unexpected passing of my hard drive (RIP) and the
ensuing adventure of re-establishing my technological
command center. Incidentally,
I am now a strong proponent of frequent and thorough
computer back-ups. Whew,
doesn’t life always seem to provide an array of “growth
opportunities” for us?
This issue
of Living With
Intention covers a critical topic critical to designing
a wildly fulfilling and remarkably successful life; knowing
and using your unique gifts.
I’ll also overview a success strategy called
Mastermind Groups, which will change your life for the
better in more ways than you can imagine.
And, as usual, you’ll find recommendations for
resources that can help you design the life of your dreams.
The
resource I’m most excited about is the recent release of
Volume Two of my Living
With Intention Audio Program, and the October
publication of my book, also called (big surprise!) Living
With Intention. This
week only save up to 40% on a variety of Living With Intention packages.
Don’t miss out…this
sale ends on Friday, September 16th.
Click here for more details.
As
always, thanks for reading and for encouraging others to
subscribe. And
remember, enjoy the journey.
In this week's issue:
Ideas
for a Wildly Fulfilling Life…
Softball Sagas and Signature Strengths
I am
arguably the world’s worst softball player. Or
certainly in the lowest identifiable percentile of softball
skill level. I’m
one of those players who garners comments from people on the sidelines,
such as “Wow, she must have a lot of other
gifts because softball is definitely not
one of them.”
During my
first game I sustained a pretty severe concussion when the
pitcher slammed the ball into the side of my head.
He was quite certain, I’m sure, that he had
calculated his trajectory correctly, assuming that no adult
woman could run as slowly as I did.
Well, he was wrong and wound up launching a
missile-worthy throw straight into the left side of my
skull. I think
there’s still a dent there.
Maybe that should have been the sign that this just
wasn’t my game. But
I didn’t pay attention.
I kept on lurching, hiccupping, and laughing through
many entertaining attempts to master the game.
It actually
took me two full seasons to score a run.
If I remember correctly, it was the last game
of the second season when I finally made it home for the
first time. My
team’s sole mission for two years was to steward me across
home plate in a triumphant run-scoring parade.
Every game held new possibility and every game left
their hopes dashed. They
coined little mantras to chant me on, stood with baited
breath on the rare event I actually hit the ball, and
offered a heartfelt “maybe next time” after each valiant
attempt.
On the day
I actually scored the run, my teammates were so elated that
every single one of them rushed in from the field to
celebrate with me in a rowdy display of support while the
other team stood dumbfounded at their positions, wondering
what madness had ensued.
I mean, it was just a run, right?
Not the last game of the World Series.
But we were all drunk with joy over my bold triumph
against all odds.
My most
memorable example of my genetic predisposition to softball
ineptitude happened on one of the rare occasions when I
actually hit the ball. Because
I wasn’t accustomed to hitting it, I had to take a second
or two to process that I was supposed to start running to
first. So,
shocked and amazed as I was, I started running.
By some miraculous coincidence, it seems that the
other team didn’t think I would hit the ball either (why
would that be?), so they were also unprepared to act.
When I realized they were fumbling around missing the
renegade ball, it dawned on me that I might, indeed, make it
to first base. Only
I’d have to run faster to do that.
So, I hit
my own little personal turbo charge button and started
sprinting towards first.
The only problem is that my upper
body started running faster
than my lower
body. Perhaps
you know where this is going.
Gravity is such that one cannot sustain one’s upper
body running faster than one’s lower body for very long.
I made this observation at the point that I was at
about a 45 degree angle from the ground.
I thought to myself, “I wonder how long I can keep
this up?” I
then realized that evidently I wouldn’t be able to do it
much longer.
I hit the
ground with the force of a speeding freight train (courtesy
of my rather ineffective but powerful turbo charge), and
proceeded to roll four or five times until I finally came to
rest at the side of the dugout.
Yes, it was the fence that stopped me from careening
any further out of control.
The crowd
was deathly silent, wondering if I had broken any bones,
wounded my psyche for all of eternity, or a combination of
both. Thank
goodness neither case applied and I started laughing until I
nearly turned blue. Well,
actually, I guess I kind of did turn blue because the
combination of the dust storm I churned up in my rolling
wake, combined with my uncontrollable laughing fit, resulted
in an asthma-induced coughing fit for the better part of 20
minutes.
This
incident is the talk of our circle of friends, and when
people say “it couldn’t have been that
bad,” I sheepishly have to affirm that, “yes, it was
that bad. And
unfortunately I have many, many witnesses to attest to
it.”
But I
always follow up that story with the qualification that we’re
not all gifted in the same ways.
Some people (obviously not me), are talented softball
players or sports stars.
Others are good with numbers, cars, gourmet cooking,
or kids. I’m
pretty skilled with words and people.
My unique abilities, or my signature strengths,
involve sharing information and resources that help people
make meaningful changes in their lives.
And because I know what I do best and work to apply
these skills every day, I use my unique gifts both to help
others and to feel fulfilled myself.
Fortunately,
I’m surrounded by people who use their gifts in ways that
support me to use mine, for instance, Nola, my database
wizard who keeps me organized and connected; Kerri my
techno-guru, who publishes my ezine; and Debe, my bookkeeping diva who is turning my financial systems
into a well-oiled machine.
Now, I can do
all of these things—manage databases, ezines, and accounting
records - it’s just that, like softball, it’s not
necessarily pretty when I do it.
It’s far more productive and less stressful when they exercise their gifts
in these areas and allow me
to exercise my gifts with words and people.
When we do that, everyone wins.
And you can
do the same. All
it takes is learning your uniquely brilliance and
applying it every day in every way you
can. Your inner
genius is second nature to you—it’s what you feel you do
best, what yields the best outcomes for you, and what others
notice about your unique abilities.
When you’re working in your area of expertise,
you’ll have nearly unlimited energy, creativity, and
growth opportunities associated with it.
And, you’ll find that both you and others realize
tremendous benefit when you’re using those strengths as
often as possible. So,
how do you do that? Here
are a few suggestions to get you started:
1) Take
the “Signature Strengths Suvey.”
Log on to www.authentichappiness.org
and click on the link to take the “VIA Signature Strengths
Survey” (located in the top left-hand corner of the
website). This
survey takes about 20 minutes and will help you identify
some of your key strengths.
Then, look for ways you can use those strengths each
day in the different areas of your life—work,
relationships, parenting, self-improvement, or other roles.
The more you apply your strengths, the more
successful and fulfilled you’ll feel in all of these
areas.
2) Ask people.
Select at least five people from different
areas of your life (family, friends, work, etc.) and ask
them what they think are your unique gifts—gifts that show
up across ALL areas of your life, not just in professional
settings. When
they respond, simply record their answers and see what
themes emerge for you about your signature strengths. Again, look
for ways to apply those abilities in all areas of your life
on a daily basis.
3)
Use other resources and strategies.
Check out chapter five in my book Living
With Intention (or the corresponding audio program) for
a wide array of other resources for identifying and applying
your unique gifts in meaningful ways. See the resources section for more information.
So it’s
true that we’re not all born to play softball (thankfully,
because if we were I’d be in major trouble).
But we are all born with a set of one-of-a-kind and
gifts and strengths. Once
you hone in on those, you’ll find an unlimited source of
fulfillment and success.
Give it a try and see where your strengths lead you!
Ideas
for A Remarkably Successful Life…
Mastermind
Groups
I’ve been
reading for a couple of years now about a success strategy
called “Mastermind Groups,” and have been intrigued but
until now haven’t had the chance to dive in and try the
technique myself. What
is a Mastermind Group? It’s
a group of 5 or 6 people, preferably representing different
professions, who get together on a regular basis to support
one another in reaching their goals, help problem-solve
challenges, provide information and encouragement, and increase
all member's likelihood of success and
fulfillment in life.
In August,
I had the pleasure of attending Jack Canfield’s
Breakthrough to Success Training in
Las Vegas
(which I highly recommend!) and walked away with my very own
Mastermind Group. My
group, the Las Vegas
Dream Team, is an international contingency of the most
forward-thinking, energetic, kind, and innovative people
I’ve met in recent years.
In the short time we’ve been working together they
have helped me achieve some major goals I had wanted to work
on for a long time.
My team is
currently meeting via teleconference every two weeks and we
also pair up with an “accountability partner” each week
to help us maintain our focus on recent commitments and
weekly goals. It’s
really a group form of coaching, networking, brainstorming,
and accountability that yields outstanding outcomes for
everyone involved.
If you’re
interested in starting your own group, here are a few steps
to take, based on Jack Canfield’s recommendations (see his
book, The
Success Principles, for more detailed information):
-
Assemble a
group of 5-6 people with complementary goals and interests
to yours, including people who have achieved a level of
success in areas where you’d like to succeed;
-
Set a
standing time when you’ll meet;
-
Set a
standing agenda that includes the following elements:
-
Hold an
invocation or call for spiritual guidance or positive energy
for the group
-
Share
what is new and good for people
-
Share
progress made since the last meeting (accountability for
what you committed to last time)
-
Negotiate
for time (identify how much time each group member will get
to ask for and receive feedback, and determine if anyone
needs additional time to work on a particular problem or
opportunity)
-
Allow each
individual his/her allotted time to ask for and receive
brainstorming, feedback, or support
-
Gain a
commitment from each member to “stretch” in the coming
week(s)—work toward a goal, or do something they
wouldn’t be likely to do if they weren’t accountable to
the group
-
Conclude
with an expression of gratitude for the group process or
other things in their life.
The process
is an easy but immensely powerful one.
I’ve been stunned at the value my Mastermind Group
has already added to my life (Thanks, Las Vegas Dream
Team!). I’m
grateful to them and I’m making an emphatic recommendation
to you to try this strategy yourself.
If you’re looking for someone to help you get
started, see my recommendation for Cynthia Hallanger’s
programs under “Women Making a Difference.”
Give this process a try and see what an impact it
will make on your life.
|
Resources That Will Change Your Life
Living With Intention Audio Program and Book—Order by September 16th and save^ up^ to 40%!
There’s an art and a science to living deliberately. Living With Intention comes from exploring your priorities and passions and capitalizing on your skills and gifts. Yet busy lives and competing commitments can make it tough to spend time and energy to reflect on what’s really important to you and what you want to do next.
Living With Intention offers a proven solution to help you make purposeful life choices and find meaning in all you do. Using a unique combination of information, inspiration, and reflection, this audio program will guide you in creating a vision for who you want to be and how you want to design your
life.
Volume One shares three critical foundations for designing a wildly fulfilling and remarkably successful life:
-
Disk One, Powerful
Perspectives, focuses on creating an attitude of possibility and opportunity using simple ways to reframe your thinking and your life.
-
Disk Two, Get Vivid, Get Busy, and Get
Support, details the best strategies for building a vision and complementary goals that ensure your fulfillment and success.
-
Disk Three, Energy, Focus,
Outcomes, highlights practical ways for directing your time, energy, and expertise to achieve outstanding results in everything you do.
-
Disk Four, Worksheets and
Reminders, offers a host of great resources for putting your new-found knowledge into action.
Volume Two continues with three additional fundamentals for creating a life of meaning and
purpose:
-
Disk One, Enduring Happiness, introduces the science of life satisfaction and the top techniques for weaving more joy and contentment into your days and your life.
-
What You Do Best, covers proven approaches for identifying your unique strengths and gifts, along with the best ways to use them to create the life you
want.
-
Disk Two, Disk Three, Balance and
Resilience, explores how to tap into the power of positive stress while minimizing the impact of negative stress in simple but powerful ways.
-
Disk Four, Worksheets and
Reminders, provides another set of resources for helping you translate ideas and information into results.
Living With Intention
Book
The softcover book integrates all of this great information in one easy to read, simple to navigate resource.
ORDER BY SEPTEMBER 16TH AND SAVE^UP^TO 40%!
Premier Package, SAVE 40% & receive FREE shipping on the
book
SALE Price $68.00 (plus shipping)
Includes Audio Volumes One and Two and softcover book
Audio Volume One or Two, SAVE 30%
SALE Price $34.00 each (plus shipping)
Audio Volume One or Two
Book Pre-order*, SAVE 20% (*releases October, 2005)
SALE Price $12.00 (plus shipping)
Four
ways to order:
*Order
Online | here
*Fax: 509.533.1966
*Phone: 509.532.1600
*Mail: 104 S.
Freya Street, Turquoise #226-B,
Spokane, WA 99202
*For fax,
phone, and mail orders, go
here to download a PDF order
form. |
Women Making a Difference...
Ideas
to Help You Thrive
As I
mentioned in the Mastermind Group article above, if you are
a woman and you’re ready to start Masterminding but you
want some assistance getting started, I have the perfect
resource for you. This
fall, a friend and fellow coach, Cynthia Hallanger, is
offering two tailored Mastermind processes for women, one
for women business owners and another focusing on
procrastination. Here
are the details:
Fast
Track, for women who are newly in business. This
12-week program combines the support, brainstorming and
accountability of a traditional mastermind group with core
components of marketing for new solopreneurs. You will be
able to create “elevator speeches,” fine tune your
target markets, develop successful networking strategies,
and create a marketing plan.
This
incredible course is limited to six women.
It will provide focus and motivation for YOUR
business and is especially valuable for solo service
professionals—healing arts, consultants, insurance, etc.
In addition to in-person meetings, we will also hold
teleconferences for your convenience. You will be matched up
with an accountability partner.
Procrastination
Busters. Are you dreading the upcoming holiday
season? What about that BIG de-cluttering project--the
garage, the basement, your office or the spare room? The
techniques and tips you will receive will provide you with a
lifetime of tools. Using a combination of in-person and
teleconference meetings enhanced by weekly activities with
an accountability partner from the group of six,
“Procrastination Busters” is designed for your success.
With relief, you'll move on to what you would REALLY like to
be doing with your life.
To
take advantage of either of these fabulous courses, simply
call Cynthia at 509.838.7570 or e-mail
cynthia@challangercoaching.com for more details.
Best
wishes for a beautiful autumn!
Copyright ©
2005 all rights
reserved.
Published by Deanna Davis,
PhD, co-owner of Applied
Insight. Deanna is a life and business
coach, professional speaker and writer who helps people
design wildly fulfilling and remarkably successful lives -
on their own terms. Deanna is an admitted laughaholic and a
strong proponent of adding chocolate as a key component of
the USDA Food Pyramid. For information about her
professional speaking and coaching services, contact Deanna
at
deanna@appliedinsight.net
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You
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Deanna Davis, PhD, www.appliedinsight.net.
Applied
Insight
104 S. Freya St., Turquoise Flag Building #226-B
Spokane, Washington 99202
|
