What in the HECK can a Personal Life Coach Do?

I just wanted to spread the word about Life Coaching and what it can do to help just about anyone. No, not every coach is suited for every client but the right coach/client combination is such powerful tool. I hear different variations of the following questions and statements a lot:

• “What can a coach do for me?”
• “I can’t afford to pay a coach!”
• “What does SHE know that I don’t know?”
• “I don’t need a stinkin’ Coach!”

Ok, well I tossed the word “stinkin’” in there (smile) but I do know there are many people who could benefit from the power of coaching but feel they don’t need it.

Well hopefully the following can open some eyes to the magic of this wonderful tool!

Coaching is an effective process used to support individuals in creating something new for themselves. I work side by side with my clients coaching them by providing perspective and support for self-knowledge as they accomplish their business and personal goals.

I help women achieve balance and cultivate the tools necessary for them to evolve into a life filled with happiness and serenity. I believe all women have the tools they need inside to lead a more fulfilling life. I simply guide them along an empowering path that will awaken these tools, focus on their passion and ultimately lead them to a more fulfilled self. If you are ready to find your way to a more balanced you, I will be your guide.

Life coaches are great and act as your personal cheerleader. There are many benefits to having a Personal Life Coach and here are just a few. Coaching is a valuable process for people looking to:

• design life intentions that include both your business and personal goals.
• make meaningful personal changes that reduce stress and simplify your life.
• free up energy and other resources to attract what you want for your life now.
• enhance the quality of your communication and relationships
• work through a career or life transition
• achieve better work/life balance
• gain clarity, focus and direction

Coaching is also for those that are successful and growing entrepreneurs, where everything is going really well, and you would just appreciate a neutral sounding board who will give you straight-up honest feedback and on-going support.

I would like to offer you a gift of a free sample session. There really is nothing like coaching. The best way to learn about it is to experience it for yourself! I would love to introduce you to the world of coaching in an absolutely free, ‘no strings attached’ sample session.  We have many If  affordable coaching packages available for you to choose from.

Ask For & Go For What You Want

Do you think that brand new laptop that you saw at Best Buy will just magically appear in your home, or what about those projects that you know you need to start, do you think they will start themselves? Hey, what about that quiet time that you really need? Do you think your children will magically disappear for a few hours after drawing you a nice hot bubble bath? Heck No!

So, think to yourself. What is on your wish list (this is something I ask all my coaching clients)? Is it starting your own business, have a monthly date night with your significant other, have some quality time to yourself? Also ask yourself, Have I kept this wish list to myself? Please tell me that you are not waiting for your friends, loved ones, coworker or those you network with to read your mind and then hand deliver what you are secretly wishing for.

At times we may keep our mouths closed and not ask for what we want out of fear of rejection or fear of seeming pushy or needy. For most women, just the thought of asking other for help or for a favor is enough to keep their mouths shut and their dreams far a way!

In order to ask for and go after what you want, it is important to get clear about what you want and be able to describe it in detail.. Once you know what you want, be totally willing to ask for it whenever you get the chance. This holds true in your business and personal relationships.

It is important to learn that is okay for someone to say “No”. It is also important to learn that it is ok for any given situation to not turn out the way you hoped it to go. Failure and/or rejections do not have to be the final word, actually it can be the opening for further negotiation. Take time to reflect on what happened. Were you specific about what you wanted? Did you approach the correct person, did you communicate yourself clearly? And most importantly, ‘How can your refine your request for the next time you ask it?

Next, make list of the people who come to mind when you think of what you want. For instance, if you want to start your own Virtual Assistance business, why not search online for forums or websites that specialize in that area. If you find such a forum, acquaint yourself with the members and simply introduce yourself and ask for advice, guidance and help. The only way people can help you is if you let them know that you need help.

You will be amazed at how many people truly enjoy lending a hand to others, and just think, the more you grown and learn, the more hands you can to lend a helping hand to others as well.

Next Steps:

If you need an extra hand getting what you want in life, sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages and I will be happy to assist you.   You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can help you.

5 Ways To Achieve Your Goals

Are you currently looking for ways to achieve your goals? Goals are funny things: although they are generally there to help make our lives better, they can soon become overwhelming and things we come to dread. This is why it’s important to think carefully about the goals you set and the way you go about achieving your goals.

Here are 5 steps to increase your chances of success when it comes to ways to achieve your goals:

1) Make Them Realistic - When you set goals, they have to be realistic. To help make sure that they are, make goals that are actionable and measurable. For example, instead of saying you will lose weight this year, tell yourself that you will lose x pounds by March, by walking to work every single day. This kind of goal is specific enough to achieve, and is the first step in knowing how to achieve your goals.

2) Make A Plan – Once you know what your goals are, in order to achieve your goals, you now need a plan to make them happen. The last point touched on this fact: if you can make a solid plan for a goal then you know it’s a realistic one. This may mean breaking down goals into smaller steps you can take every day or every week. For example, if you want to de-clutter, you might target one area of your home a week. This will help to prevent overwhelm.

3) Set A Deadline - If your goal has no deadline then you’ll just keep putting it off. If you want to know how to achieve your goals, you’re going to have to set a date by which you want to meet all of them. We all know things may eventually change, but setting a date in the first place is the best way to make sure you put in some real effort.

4) Take Action – Although it sounds obvious, a goal will never become a reality unless you take action. So many of us make goals only to forget them a few weeks later. Don’t let this happen to you! Start working on your goals immediately, even if you’re only taking small steps to make them happen you will find that you will only achieve your goals if you constantly take action.

5) Keep Track – Now you’ve started taking action, it’s important to keep track of how you’re doing. Keep yourself accountable by taking an honest look at how you’re doing to meet your broken-down steps, and change the way you do things if you think it’ll help. Realize that everyone does slip up from time to time! But measuring your progress can help you to keep going.

By using any (but hopefully all) of the above listed ways to achieve your goals, you will be sure to achieve the goals that you put ahead of yourself.

If you are ready to achieve your goals, why not  schedule a free 20 minute coaching consultation with certified Personal Life Coach Aurelia Williams and start forming your plan of action today!

Getting Your Projects Started and Completed

Are you always procrastinating on projects because you don’t know where to start? Sometimes figuring out where to start can be the hardest and most intimidating step. For many of us, knowing where to start is a huge barrier to even get started on a project, never mind completing it! Follow along as we show you several easy steps to not only get started but steps to completion as well.

1. Step One: Name It

Every project has a purpose. Sometimes it’s easier to make a plan if you know what you are planning for. Start with a spiral bound notebook and a pencil. At the top of the first page, write the name of your project. If you know the date it needs to be completed by, go ahead and put that date there as an edc- this is merely an estimated date of completion. This at least gives you a target to reach for.

2. Step Two: Break It Down

Now comes the fun part – figuring out the logical order of things. Sometimes it’s easier to work backwards, from completion back to the beginning. If it is easier for you, start at the beginning and work forward to completion. Be aware that thinking you have to start at the beginning and go forward may be one of the reasons for your paralysis in moving forward. To give you an example of working from finish back to start, say your project is painting a room. That is your completed project so that is your final step. Okay, to get to a painted room, you need to put paint on the walls, and possibly ceiling. To put paint on the walls you have to buy the paint. To put paint on the walls and/or ceiling you have to tape off any molding you may have. You also need to put a tarp or covering of some kind on the floor. To get to that point, you may have to purchase the tarp and tape. To get to the point of taping you need to have clean walls. To clean the walls you need whatever cleaner you’ll be using and brushes, wash rags, etc. You get the idea..break it down into steps.

3. Step Three: Make Mini’s Out Of A Major

Once you have broken your project down into the steps necessary to complete it, it’s time to break each step into the steps necessary to complete them. These steps become your mini projects or Mini’s. Each of these may have more steps that they can be broken down. These become micro projects. Break each project down into the smallest possible step wherever it makes sense. In our example above you can consolidate some of your mini’s into a single step, for instance, buying the paint, tarp, tape and cleaning supplies you might need. Then you’ve managed to cross several items off as complete!

4. Step Four: Research

Now that you have broken down your large project into mini and micro projects, it’s time to do some research. This can be pretty basic to begin with, such as `I have what I need to complete’ and `I need more information, tools, help, etc. to complete’. Once this general grouping is complete you can then start your research on those mini and micro projects to see what exactly is needed and where/how to get it.

5. Step Five: Schedule

It helps to know if there is a time line to go along with your project. If you have a deadline to work to for you overall project, then you know better how to schedule your minis and micros to meet the project deadline. This is also a big help when trying to schedule contractors or others whose help you need.

6. Step Six: Get Support

If you don’t really have a deadline to work to, you need to set up accountability with someone, either a family member or a friend or even a co-worker you are friendly with. Being accountable is a great motivator for most of us. We don’t want to disappoint someone whose support we’ve asked for and whose encouragement we count on, so we tend to do what we’ve asked their support for. This isn’t as much for someone to keep tabs on us as it is for us to help ourselves to be accountable.

7. Step Seven: Git `em Done

Now that the main project is broken down into manageable minis and micros, it’s time to get started. Each micro you complete leads to a mini being completed. Each mini you complete gets you closer to completion of the overall project. Some of your minis and micros can be worked simultaneously, some have to be worked sequentially but all lead to completing the project. You know best how to work your minis and micros. If you’ve drilled down deep enough into your steps, many can be completed in just a few minutes. It’s a great feeling to cross off as complete each one of these tasks.

8. Step Eight: Savor The Reward

You can also encourage yourself to continue by sprinkling in a meaningful reward here and there as you complete a certain number of mini’s, or even micros along the way. They don’t have to be big rewards, just meaningful to you. It could be as simple as a 15 minute reading or computer break. It could be a special dessert, or a dinner out to celebrate throughout the project. Rewards work for all of us, not just children. Just remember back to how much you enjoyed those gold stars as a child. Those gold stars, in whatever form they take, still work!

9. Step Nine: Work Future Projects With Ease

Now that you have a project under your belt, you can use these same principles to successfully complete any project that comes your way in the future. All projects work the same way, some may just be more complicated than others. No more procrastinating for you! You’ll be excited to tackle

How to Achieve Your Personal Goals

If you want to know how to achieve your personal goals in life, but you feel overwhelmed about knowing where to start, know this: Reaching goals in life can be achieved if you have a plan.  A very effective way to develop and succeed in your personal goals is to engage a life coach. A life coach can assist with goal setting. Your coach can keep you on track by breaking each goal down to the nitty-gritty and by enforcing accountability. In the meantime, in order to achieve your personal goals:
 
Want it – In order to reach personal goals in life, you have to first really and truly, have a desire to attain it. Without the “want”, there is very little incentive to achieve your personal goals. Personal life goals have to be something you want before you can set out to realize them.
 
Name it – Writing down your goals in as specific a manner as possible is very important, because, if you can’t name it, you can’t do it. Goal setting simply cannot occur without actually writing down goals to attain in a very specific manner. “I want to lose weight” is not a specific goal. However, “I want to lose 50 pounds” is very specific and it makes it easier to follow the next step.
 
Identify the steps  — Once you have a, named and specific, personal goal set your next step is to identify the steps toward achieving your personal goals. Reaching goals in life requires taking very specific steps every day toward your stated goal. Again, this must be specific. “I will eat right” is not specific enough. Instead, state exactly what and how much you will eat each day. State exactly what and how much you will exercise each day. List in writing each step you need to take, in very specific terms.
 
Commit to it – To achieve goals, even ones that you write down, you have to make a commitment to it. When you write your goals down in black and white, including the steps you plan to take to reach them, you increase your chance for success. Make it a contract to yourself by dating it and signing it. When you sign off on the steps you commit to take to reach your goals know that you are making a promise to yourself to do what is on the contract.
 
Visualize success — There are plenty of scientific studies out there that prove that simply visualizing doing something right can increase your skill level.  This is true for sports, and any type of skill you’re trying to develop. Therefore, if you visualize yourself following the steps in your plan to achieve your personal goals, you’ll be more likely to be successful. Make daily visualization of success a habit.
 
Review regularly — Periodically assess your progress and review whether your steps are accurate and realistic measures to take to reach your goals. If you need to adjust your contract, that is perfectly normal and acceptable. Just write the contract again and sign it again when you make adjustments. However, don’t let yourself off the hook by making your goals and plans too easy.  Set your goals high enough so that you are challenged. In fact, your goal should be set high enough that if you realize an 80 percent success rate, you can consider this achieved. 
 
Be accountable – Find someone to whom you can be accountable and share the contract with them. You can pay a life coach, or you can ask a trusted friend to assist you. You must find someone who is willing to call you out if you’re making excuses. Life coaching is an excellent way to get help with achieving life goals if you don’t know anyone to help you properly.
 
Think you can’t do much in 20 minutes? Schedule a free 20 minute coaching consultation with certified Personal Life Coach Aurelia Williams and start forming your plan of action today!

Staying Focused on Achieving Your Dreams

When was the last time you daydreamed? Do you ever allow yourself the time to just sit and think about what you want to achieve in your lifetime?

So often we daydream about winning the lottery and all the things we would do – or buy – with that money. But playing the lottery is a game of chance. The odds of winning are low because of the sheer number of people playing every week and there’s no skill involved. You’re placing your lifelong dreams on the chance that your numbers will be chosen.

Rather than waste money on lottery tickets, why not focus on making small changes so you can achieve your dreams without the help of the lottery. Yes, there’s work involved but you will have a greater sense of accomplishment and pride when you actually reach one of your goals.

First, decide what dream or goal you want to achieve. Is it a big goal, such as a college education, new promotion at work, or a larger house? Only you can decide what goal is right for you and your family. Every single person will have a different dream.

Second, break down those large goals into smaller steps so you don’t get overwhelmed. Think of these small goals as stepping stones leading to your ultimate destination. For example, if you are saving money for college or a mortgage, you might become discouraged if you only see the final amount due. Rather, think about how much you’ll have to earn in one month and put your energy and focus into earning that smaller sum.

Third, write down your dreams or express your desires to your family and friends. It’s one thing to dream big in your head and quite another to have others checking on your progress. Write a simple checklist for yourself and post it near your computer. Create a vision board with photos of what you want to accomplish and hang it where you can be inspired every day. Ask your best friend to check on your progress in a month’s time and work hard so you give her a great progress report.

Lastly, eliminate distractions that take time away from reaching your goals. If earning a certain amount of money each month is a goal, how much are you earning while watching television at night? If you’re trying to lose weight, how much are you losing my surfing Facebook or Twitter in your free time? Put your personal goals first and then schedule some time for the other fun stuff.

Every person deserves to have dreams and goals, no matter how big or how small. Give yourself a gift by putting your goals first and allow yourself the time to achieve that dream, even if you only have limited time each day.

If you need help in learning how to reach your goals in life,  simply sign up for one of our affordable coaching packages.   You can also grab your free 20 minute coaching consultation to find out more about how a life coach can assist you.