Living your best Life?

What does it mean to live your best life?

I love this question... as it means different things to different people. But, the one common response I hear to that question is that living your best life has much to do with doing what you love, spending time with those you love and feeling that you are contributing in some way.

Living your best life, navigating around life's challenges, staying on track and celebrating success were some of the many topics that I shared on Liz Sterling's "Art of Living Well" radio show.  You can listen to the show here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artoflivingwell/2013/04/30/sterling-spin-with-liz-sterling

To find out more about the book GPS Your Best Life, visit www.gpsyourbestlife.com or

Read more on Amazon:




To live your best life...

1) Get Crystal CLEAR on what you want to do, be and have.
2) Map the plan... record your goals and the necessary actions.
3) Chart your progress.
4) Ask for help.
5) Learn from people who have accomplished what you aspire to do.
6) Celebrate your success and your wins.

Unleash Your Potential

What are the habits of successful people?
How do they demonstrate leadership in life and in business?
What does leadership look like in the coming years?
What are your best lessons in leadership?

These are a few of the many conversations that will be a part of the upcoming tele-summit. I am delighted to be a part of this tele summit alongside 20 other incredible leaders! 

Ready to unleash your full potential?

Starting February 25th and celebrating International Women’s Day (March 8th) and Women’s History month for all of March, Vanessa Halloum will be bringing together over 20 highly successful and power women who will be teaching you how to create the inner power and outer success that YOU deserve.  Register for free at http://www.mcssl.com/app/?af=1517837

I was fortunate to interview Vanessa on my radio show and really enjoyed the conversation about leadership and women in leadership roles, you can listen to our conversations here:

Listen to internet radio with Conversations with Charmaine on Blog Talk Radio

As you step forward in 2013, reflect upon what makes you a powerful leader...how you inspire others to follow... and the type of leadership experience you want to create.

Here are a few tips I learned about leadership along the way:
1) How you show up as a leader really matters.
2) Leadership is not just a title or role, it is a way of being.
3) You do not need the title "leader" on the organizational chart to be a leader at work.
4) Leaders take risks, they know when to lead and when to follow, and they are able to take responsibility when they make a mistake.

Check out Vanessa's book, and my new book (co-authored with Debra Kasowski) if you really want to take leadership to the next level.

    

Courage: is it necessary for teams and business?

Does courage in business make a difference?

I think it does. In fact, courage is an essential skill for leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs and team members. Courage is one of the foundations of:

1) Resolving conflict respectfully and effectively
2) Leading teams through change
3) Taking risks to bring your business or team to new levels of success
4)  Stepping into new skill sets and personal growth

Recently I was a guest on the Fantastic Frank Radio show, talking about my books, including On Toby's Terms, and GPS Your Best Life (co-authored with Debra Kasowski).

Courage when accompanied by sincerity, authenticity and humility is courage at its best. Frank and I talked about acts of courage and how courage can help you look at a potentially challenging or traumatic event through a different perspective. 

Here are a few tips to bringing more courage into your day to day actions, relationships and communication:

1) Be open to new perspectives and ideas instead of being tied to your perspectives only
2) Ask lots of questions, be curious, and recognize that questions invite a deeper dialogue
3) Instead of assumptions, take a step into courage and ask for clarrification
4) Every day challenge yourself to try one new skill or activity (for example, try a new food, listen to music you haven't listened to before, start a conversation with a stranger... basically, take a small stretch out of your comfort zone)
5) Ask yourself the big question.... WITWTTCH- what is the worst thing that could happen by....

When you step into courage, you move through discomfort and sometimes through fear. Practice makes it easier, and, invites others to step in this direction too.

Charmaine on Fantastic Frank Show Nov 15/12
 

Listen to internet radio with FantasticFrank on Blog Talk Radio

Charmaine on Fantastic Frank Show Nov 22/12

Listen to internet radio with FantasticFrank on Blog Talk Radio

To find out more about the books, GPS Your Best Life, On Toby's Terms and Toby the Pet Therapy Dog visit

                              
      

What Excuses Are You Using to Block Your Success?

What Excuses Are You Using to Block Your Success?

Do you ever find yourself offering excuses for not meeting a deadline, not following through on a promise, and failing to give your best effort? You are not the only one. Many people use excuses to avoid responsibility and ownership of their actions thinking that an excuse can remove them from a situation. This is where blaming often comes into comes into play. “It is not my fault.” Or “She made me late for meeting the deadline.” If you cannot meet a deadline, it must be someone else’s responsibility to meet it. But it’s not – you have the control of your own actions. Yes, life may throw you a curve ball but own your words and actions. 

You may be sabotaging your own success based on a fear of what that success may provide you with.  You may be saying to yourself, “Really?” Self-sabotage is directly related to the fear of change and what the unknown may bring. If your intentions are good, why not bask in success?

Perfection and procrastination are the sisters of blocking one’s success. When you are waiting for the perfect timing or working on a project so it is absolutely perfect, you are procrastinating. Procrastination is an avoidance of being judged for not being perfect or “not good enough” or the fear of the unknown – the outcome. Whatever the case may be, there are times when imperfect inspired action is the best. You can adjust you route along the way. After all you are the driver of your life aren’t you?

 

Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski are the authors of GPS Your Best Life- Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style.  Jack Canfield, co-author of The Success Principles and Chicken Soup for the Soul says that “Charmaine and Debra show you how to navigate through life’s inevitable roadblocks and obstacles with ease and grace, so you can reach your desired destination”. To find out how to GPS Your Best Life, visit www.gpsyourbestlife.com

How to Stay Focused in a World of Bright Shiny Objects (BSOs)

How to Stay Focused in a World of Bright Shiny Objects (BSOs)

New opportunities are constantly being presented to us.I know you must have seen them. A flicker here.A flicker there. Some days I may think you have had whiplash due to turning your head and checking out all the new things you can try or learn. The world has some pretty exciting things going on and some people seem to be cruising to the top yet you might be wondering why you are not moving at the speed others people are. Perhaps you are focused on the wrong things.

You want to focus on what you want to happen versus what you do not want to happen. When you create a plan you plan with your best intentions but if you come from a place of scarcity and lack you lose focus on what your end goal may be. You may want to grab onto every opportunity that comes your way instead of looking at what is aligned with your values and plans.

 Create a daily plan that is focused on the tasks you need to complete to get closer to your end result. Imagine if you did 5 action steps Monday to Friday, 5 days a week, you would have completed 25 steps to getting closer to your goal. Without focus maybe you would complete 1-2 things in a week, your dedication and commitment may also waver as you wait for the “next big” thing to come along. The next big thing may be the one project you need to complete. Take some time to complete your incomplete projects or messes so you can focus on your brilliance! That’s where you shine!

Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski are the authors of GPS Your Best Life- Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style.  Jack Canfield, co-author of The Success Principles and Chicken Soup for the Soul says that “Charmaine and Debra show you how to navigate through life’s inevitable roadblocks and obstacles with ease and grace, so you can reach your desired destination”. To find out how to GPS Your Best Life, visit www.gpsyourbestlife.com

Have You Checked Your Rearview Mirror Lately?

Have You Checked Your Rearview Mirror Lately?

You have probably heard the saying that “Hindsight is 20/20”. You always learn from where you have been if you take the time to consciously look at how your day went and where you may have improved. Foresight is worth its weight in gold. If you plan with intention to learn from your mistakes you can improve your relationships, career, family dynamics and even your health. 

 

Where you are right now is all a matter of the daily choices you have made to bring you to where you are right now. In order to change, you need to examine your daily habits and track what you wish to improve. Tracking helps you to identify areas that are working well and even those that are not working so well. You may even notice there are some choices you need to stop making because of the results you are getting. You will continue to get the results you’re getting if your actions do not change. 

Lasting change often occurs with small shifts in behaviors, actions, and even habits. Every choice you make should be followed with, “Is this choice supporting my goal?” If the answer is no, replace the behaviour with something that will support your goal – purposeful actions. When you continue to do this, you will always have actions that support your goals.

Take time to reflect on each day to see identify if there was an area that you may have improved or taken action. Do not spend too much time focusing on the past as you cannot move forward while looking back. Why not learn and more forward so you can celebrate your journey?

Charmaine Hammond and Debra Kasowski are the authors of GPS Your Best Life- Charting Your Destination and Getting There in Style.  Jack Canfield, co-author of The Success Principles and Chicken Soup for the Soul says that “Charmaine and Debra show you how to navigate through life’s inevitable roadblocks and obstacles with ease and grace, so you can reach your desired destination”. To find out how to GPS Your Best Life, visit www.gpsyourbestlife.com