I just returned from a 7 day vacation to meet my new grandson Tyler Nicholas Tooker.  My wife Joan had headed down to North Carolina to be there for the birth (Nichole’s first) and I got away as soon as I could. One of the nicest breaks I can remember.

Instant Attitude Adjustment

Nichole, Joan and Tyler picked me up a the airport and I can say without the least bit of partiality that this is the most beautiful baby  ever born.  Well OK, maybe I’m just a little partial;-)

It was good to hold an infant again. To look at those big eyes looking at me, taking in whatever I said, trying to understand and interact with his environment. Bonding with him for seven days reminded of what is truly important and truly matters. It even seems that he is partial to his “poppy” singing him to sleep. (I cheat, I sing and walk him at the same time - we all have our roles to play.)

I was also reminded of some other things, for example how precious sleep is to the parents of a new born. How much energy and time is expended in the care of new born. How worried a first time parent can be about issues we old parenting “veterans” take in stride. How important a future orientation is.

I’m sure it was always such, that all through human history grandparents have had the same thoughts and emotions. Miss the little guy already!

In any case, I’m back to my routine now, attitude adjusted, hope in the future restored. Think I’ll get some sleep!
BB

BabyTyler

Day 7: Serve others to reinvent yourself.

When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others – your spirit – your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, even more so in the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done for them.

Reinvention is indeed a type of work that is worth the necessary effort. Don’t limit your personal reinvention to the confines of your, or the four corners of your own home. The difference the reinvention makes lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the series and found it useful!

Wishing you a larger life,
BB

- Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892)

Day 6: Honor your strengths.

What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three – if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands?

Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you share what you know with others.

Wishing you a larger life,
BB

Day 4:  Know your passions.

You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you want and ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who have inspired you to become the person you wanted to be.



Day 3: Know your needs.

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Make sure you take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter.

List your top four needs and get them met before it’s too late!

“I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. To cut yourself out of stone.” – Henry Rollins

What are you highest values?  Do you value financial security? Social or personal status? More time with family and friends? Staying in great shape? Spiritual development? Learning?

Make a list of your top 5 to 8 values. This will help you clarify what your trying to accomplish. As you set your goals for 2010 and beyond – check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your top values – you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

Wishing you a larger life,
Coach Bill 

“We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us.” - Dr. Stephen Covey

Are you wandering through life with little direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or write a personal mission statement,  click the v and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

I know that if you’re in a “tight spot” or a “dead end” job this may seem overwhelming. But you need to find out out what it is that you really love to do if you’re going to make progress. Remember we’re creating a new you, a you that will turn things around and you make a big difference.

If you don’t know where to start there’s a number of tools that can help. Franklin Covey has a nifty little free  interactive tool that’s great for values clarification  (when the page opens, click the “Your Values” tab).  One of my favorite tools a SWOT analysis. It can be applied to any number of different situations. By the way,  SWOT stands for:

• Stregths
• Weeknesses
• Opprotunties
• Threats

A SWOT matrix is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats that you face. This helps you focus on your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you. The tool is basically a grid with each word in representing a single square, (further explanation here) you can perform an analysis of your personal situation.

As excellent a tool as  SWOT is , it’s only one tool in the coach’s reinvention tool box. Here’s a link to a listing of 50 free on-line that may help you in finding your purpose.

So finally, as difficult as it may be , you must get clear on your purpose or you’ll find it very difficult to make any real progress in your personal reinvention.  Always remember that it’s real easy to get lost on a trip when you don’t know your destination   That’s it for now, see you on day 2.

BB

“Reinventing the wheel is sometimes the right thing, when the result is the radial tire.” – Jonathan Gilbert

Lately I’ve been working with some folks are in the midst of reinventing themselves. Whether through layoffs, company reorganizations or the kids moving out, they’ve reached  some sort of cross roads while traveling through their personal and/or professional journey.

Why am I the guy to give personal success coaching to these travelers? Well, I guess I’m the right age (54), and as the saying goes -been there and done that! Like most of us Ive had many roles during this life, son, husband, father and now grandfather. Career wise, I have worked in a variety of industries including construction, education, and finance. I have held various positions in these industries, everything from laborer, to classroom teacher, to senior management. Enough about me, back to the folks I coach.

In honor of their journey, Ill be presenting an outline of seven steps you can take to to Reinvent Yourself (hence the 7-Day title). In the interest of full disclosure, (as the attorneys say) you may want or need to spend more than one day working on each step. But hey, its still a great title right?

Wishing you a larger life,
BB

1. Eat breakfast

Start the day off right with a quick morning breakfast. Fruit and yogurt, granola and milk or whole-wheat toast and peanut butter will ensure you start on the right foot.

2. Relax in the morning

Get up a couple minutes early and savour that extra time. Enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise; take a few extra minutes to yourself in the shower; or go for a quick brisk walk around the block to get your heart pumping. There’s nothing worse than starting your day in a rush. A few minutes in the morning can make a world of difference.

3.  Exercise with a friend

Exercise releases endorphins, which can lift your sprit as well as help you maintain a healthy weight. However, sometimes it can be hard to get out of bed and actually hit the gym. Combining your friendly chatter with exercise can make exercise much more fun. Working out with a friend, whether this is a morning stroll, a spin class, an evening run or anything else, can keep you motivated and revved for the rest of the day.

Health professionals recommend 30 minutes of exercise each day. This includes simple changes to your lifestyle like incorporating a walk into your evening activities, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and riding your bike to work once and a while.

4.  Don’t just drink water, enjoy water

Tap water is fine, in most instances, but pure water makes a big difference. It’s important to drink 2 litres of water each day; however, this shouldn’t seem like a chore. Add some ice cubes, cordial and enjoy water through a fun straw to make it more indulgent. Water doesn’t have to be just water.
5.Pop a vitamin a day- it’s amazing what one little pill can do for your health. Multi vitamins can give your body the nourishment it is lacking. We can’t eat perfect balanced and healthy all the time, which is why vitamins were created.

6.  Hide (or throw away) the scale

A scale is the only ingredient you need for a recipe for disaster when it comes to self-improvement. Hide it. Throw it away and don’t think about it. You have more important things to worry about than your weight. If you feel great on the inside, then it will show on the outside, regardless of what that darned scale says.

7. Stop Smoking

Quitting is hard; not quitting is even harder. If you are a smoker, start small and get the help you need. Limiting your cigarette intake is the first step to a healthier you and an improved lifestyle.

9.  Stretch

Stretching can keep your muscles feeling relaxed and also helps to relieve stress.

10. Follow the food guide

The health professionals made the daily food chart for a reason. Try to get 2 servings of fruit, five servings of fruit, dairy and protein each day.

11. Reward yourself (in moderation)

A weekly treat is necessary for all your hard work to remain healthy. Treat yourself to something you love like low fat ice cream or chocolate. On the path to self-improvement, there is always time to stop and eat dessert.

12. Accept the aging process

Many people have trouble coming to terms with their body’s changes as they age. It’s important to understand that aging is a natural process. Learn to love your wrinkles, your grey hair and your less-than-tight skin. George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone and Brad Pitt are all over 40, and they have never looked better!