My first BIKE coaching client

I'm in my third week of coaching my first client (though this one's pro bono) on finding her own BIKE. It's going well. I'm amazed at the ease with with our conversation flows. She's in the Pacific Coast, and I'm here in Arizona, so this is all being done by phone.

But since we've been meeting like this, she's really moving along. And what's even better? She really is coming into her own solutions. No matter how stuck you might feel at any given moment, you really do know your own answers. It's just a matter of learning how to pay attention to your needs, your wants, your desires--and then defining your goals to fit your true self. When your goals match your values, you're going to have an easier time of getting there, because you'll use the systems and processes that work best for you or that you automatically find yourself moving toward. It's that awareness I've been talking about.

It's so important to know how your values play into your vision. When we forget that, or don't even bother to consider that, it becomes so easy to get lost. We might not even know where we're going. We just know to get up and do things. But we're doing it without awareness, or a sense of purpose.

Like makes so much more sense when you live it with purpose.

Your own special brand of BIKE, like mine, will help lead the way, if you let it. That doesn't mean you won't get lost, ever, or take detours. You probably will. That's what those pesky little challenges sometimes do to us. They get in the way, and we get sidetracked. But with BIKE, you'll find your way back to the path that's going to take you forward.

That path can be defined only by you. But I can help. If you'd like to talk to me about that, shoot me an e-mail.

All my best,
Jackie

What's holding you back?

Do you have a goal in mind but keep putting off the steps you need to take to reach it?

Start paying attention to that procrastination. Is it because of:

_the work involved?
_you don't know where to start?
_it's not something you're really passionate about, but you thought you were at one time?
_you want to be in control but someone else is?
_you just don't want to do it anymore?
_you're afraid you'll fail?
_some other excuse?

Re-read that last word: EXCUSE. We tend to use them a lot. If you're hearing yourself making up reasons in your head why you're going to be late to that meeting, why you failed to turn in that assignment on time, why you're not as organized as you'd like to be, you're making up excuses. You're trying to justify behavior that needs to be improved. Ouch!

It doesn't matter why you're going to be late. If you're going to be late to the meeting or miss turning in that assignment on time, just let the waiting party know and leave it at that. Plan better next time. It doesn't even matter why you're not organized. It's not the why that's so important. What matters most is what you're going to do about it now. Now that you've recognized there is a problem, how are you going to eliminate it? More than likely, there's a deeper meaning behind the reasons you're hiding behind. The next time you find yourself making excuses--and you know when it happens; you can hear yourself planning the reasons in your head--just be honest with yourself. Just stop yourself and say, instead, "I'm making up an excuse for not doing what I know I needed to do." Be honest with yourself. That's the first step in being able to eliminate excuses out of your life. That's the first step toward becoming the responsible, mature adult you're meant to be.

I know that may sound harsh, but it's these simple, little excuses that hold us back. They give us the "right" to be late, the "right" to procrastinate, the "right" to hold other people back from doing their jobs or moving their lives forward. Our excuses get in their way, just as much as they get in ours.

Don't worry, though. You're not alone. We've all made excuses at least once in our lifetimes. And sometimes we do it for good reasons (insert yours here). I know I have. But when I'm being honest with myself, then I am made to pay attention to the real reason behind my tardiness, my procrastination, my lack of interest, or whatever the case may be. But if there's something more, I am then free to figure that out. And I realize I don't need the excuse. No one really cares or needs to know. They just need me to get the job done, whatever it is. When I realize that, then that's when I begin to focus on the solution, which might be something as simple as better planning.

So, what's holding you back? Can you make a promise to yourself today to consider the excuses you've been using and decide to let them go? Can you promise yourself that you'll take the steps today to do what it takes to move forward? Can you give yourself that gift?

***

Speaking of moving forward and gifts, we have a new member who has officially joined the July Blogathon I've planned with a few professional speakers. Welcome Suzy Graven to the group, Her blog is called Secrets of the Savvy Woman. If you're curious to know what they are, Suzy might share them with you if you visit her blog.

All my best,
Jackie