Too Much on Your Plate?

Have you ever felt like you've got too much on your proverbial plate? Do you ever feel over-committed, overwhelmed, over-worked or overloaded?

Yeah, me too.

Like many entrepreneurs, and especially entrepreneur moms, I tend to take on a lot. I sometimes bite off more than I can chew. My eyes are bigger than my stomach. I have too much on my plate. 

And with so much going on, it's often hard to digest the experience, process it smoothly, avoid heartburn that comes with the stress of overdoing it.

Get where I'm going with this?

With all those food metaphors, I came up with an idea. A portion control business strategy.

Do you need to clean up your plate? Make healthier choices? Watch this 2 minute video for some ideas on how you can have better business portion control. 

Weigh in below (and that wasn't meant to be part of the metaphor-but it is now) and tell me how you might exert a little portion control for your business health.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  She also offers training and coaching programs to develop tech-savvy leaders in health care. To learn more, visit  www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com where you can sign up to receive a free tool to optimize your strengths. 

Living a Double Life

I’m in transition: re-evaluating, evolving, exploring and reinventing a long career exclusively involved with helping people learn and better themselves. I started teaching piano when I was 15 and from there never stopped tutoring, mentoring, coaching, treating, educating, inspiring, motivating, connecting and supporting others. It's just what I do. It's what I've always done as a teacher, tutor, mentor, coach, psychologist, supervisor, trainer, speaker and leader.

Over the last five years building my coaching practice, I've continued to work as a training director and consultant on national research projects to develop and test effective treatments for people with addictions, something I've been doing in one way or another since 1990.

When I received my coach certification through the College of Executive Coaching, I imagined a 1-2 year transition out of research and into a full time coaching practice.

It hasn't worked out exactly how I imagined.

In fact, I've been living a double life.

Locally, I am known in the business community: the owner of Optimal Development Coaching, a vice chair on the board of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, Instructor for Women’s Economic Ventures Self Employment Training class, a master mind facilitator, speaker and workshop leader with a focus on strengths. I belong to a number of organizations supporting the arts, education and the empowerment of women and girls. I'm a Girl Scout leader and active volunteer in my area.

But to my colleagues in the mental health community I've been a part of for so many years, I'm known as a master trainer, conference and webinar presenter, published author, psychologist, clinical and research supervisor, grant reviewer, curriculum developer, workgroup leader and instructor of clinical psychology at Columbia University.

See what I mean by a double life?

So now I'm bringing it all together with a variety of different projects, all of which still involve training, educating and coaching. I’m working on national initiatives to educate treatment providers about telehealth, i.e., the use of technology to improve treatment outcomes. This is cutting edge, research-based work that has relevance for changes in our health system as we implement the Affordable Care Act. My goal is to develop tech-savvy leaders in health care.

I will continue to offer workshops and facilitate retreats and team building events focused on developing collaborative, strengths-based, emotionally intelligent people and organizations. I'm excited to collaborate with Susan Ross at the Good Vibe Studio, an amazing work, music and meeting space in Thousand Oaks, CA, a great option to tap into creativity at a personal or professional development event.

Susan and I are also students and zealots of the master mind, each coming at it from different, yet complementary perspectives. For the last few months, we've been running a master mind group at the Studio. What a joy it is to watch these business owners benefit from the collective genius the mastermind brings to brainstorm, problem-solve and create and reach their goals - even the audacious ones!

We meet the third Wednesday of the month, with a 3rd Monday group forming. It's perfect for small business owners who are looking to finish the year strong with a plan to hit the ground running in 2014. Through the end of 2013, a 3-month block of sessions, which includes the monthly mastermind as well as personalized follow-up and feedback, is $149. I'm happy to send more details.

I'm working on two books for 2014 publication. The Optimal Development Leadership System  will bring together work on strengths, emotional intelligence, team building and other important facets of being an effective leader. It's a collection of research-based best practices in effective leadership. 

The ABCs of the Master Mind is a collaboration with my dear friend and colleague Cheri Ruskus as a result of co-hosting Victory Circles Radio Hour on the first Wednesday of each month. We always develop an acronym to help listeners understand the different mindset principles that Napoleon Hill drafted in Think and Grow Rich.

As my path continues to evolve and shift, as I reinvent myself, I'm sure I’ll be updating you again soon.

Do you ever feel like you're living a double life? What's your recent reinvention? Any guidance for me on my journey? Questions about my changing path? I'd love to hear from you.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  She also offers training and coaching programs to develop tech-savvy leaders in health care. To learn more, visit  www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com where you can sign up to receive a free tool to optimize your strengths. 

What Will You Do in the Next 100 Days?

Yes, there are just 100 days left in 2013.

Hard to believe, right?

Aside from your holiday shopping (yes, I said it!!), what do you want to accomplish before the year ends?

Here are a few things you can do to make the most out of the remaining days and weeks of 2013:

1. Review your goals from the beginning of the year. I'm sure you've been doing this all along, but in case you haven't been, pull out out that business plan, goal-setting activity or vision board you did at the beginning of the year, and see how far you've come! What goals have you met? Which ones have you exceeded? And what do you still want to accomplish before we say goodbye to 2013?

2. Choose carefully. If you still have a number of goals yuo have yet to achieve, be selective about what you want to get done in the next 3+ months. Definitely make your goals SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Thrilling.

Yes, thrilling. While you've probably seen the T in SMART goals referred to as Timely, and that's important, I believe that's covered in Measurable (e.g., I'll send one newsletter weekly).

Making your goals thrilling, that is exciting, to you will make it more likely that you'll achieve them. See if you can add some sizzle to your goals by making them focused on your strengths as well as your vision and long-range goals.

3. Make a plan. Take out your calendar and start filling in the blanks. How will you meet those goals and get to the finish line? Do you want to revise your business plan before the end of the year? Maybe tackle one section every week. 

Do you want to establish a better exercise routine before the new year? Mark off time to get moving 3 or more times a week.

4. Make a commitment. It's one thing to make a plan, but committing to it publicly and telling others about it gives you a much greater chance of getting it done.

So what do you want to accomplish in the next 100 days?

Share your ideas in the comments!

Ready, set, GO!!

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  She also offers training and coaching programs to develop tech-savvy leaders in health care. To learn more, visit  www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com where you can sign up to receive a free tool to optimize your strengths. 

Try Walking with Colleagues to Build Relationships and Think Outside the Box

What do Steve Jobs, Aristotle, Harry Truman and Sigmund Freud have in common? They all had meetings while they walked.

This idea is getting a lot of attention as people are focused more on their physical health and may feel long work hours prevent them from getting that 30 minutes or more of doctor recommended exercise every day.

In a recent TED talk, entrepreneur Nilofer Merchant discussed her use of walk and talk meetings. "Fresh air brings fresh thinking," she said, and points out the health problem with the way we work these days: "Sitting has become the smoking of our generation." And if you need more evidence that sitting is evil, check out this infographic.

Ouch! That makes me want to stand up and take a walk!  You can watch her full TED talk (less than 4 minutes) below.

Of course another benefit of walking is that it raises your heart rate, so more oxygen reaches your brain. This can lead to having more energy, more focus and improved engagement in the task at hand.

You can also take a walk to grow your business. Nancy Chaconas, Legal Shield Associate and outdoor enthusiast, spearheaded a networking group at our local Chamber of Commerce: Netwalking. Professionals meet at a local park once a month (3rd Friday), take a walk and learn more about each other's businesses.

Meeting in a more casual environment allows you to get to know people in a more relaxed setting and often at a deeper level than takes place at your standard mixer.

Interested in other ways you can improve your thinking? Listen to a recent radio show I did with Victory Circle's founder Cheri Ruskus on the master mind principle of Accurate Thinking. We talk about the impact that movement and environment can have on your thinking.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/victory-circles/2013/08/14/forward-thinking

Have you ever had a walking meeting? Do you find physical exercise affects the way you think? Share your experiences below.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, trainer and executive coach who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  Enter your email address above for more great, strengths-based resources to become a stronger leader.

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

Given my training as a psychologist, I’ve spent a good part of my career attending to the emotional states and wellness of others.  As I transitioned into coaching, I was immediately drawn to the concept of emotional intelligence and its impact on business success.  As I reflect on my own professional success and that of my clients, I come back to the importance of strong relationships in business development.  EI is a powerful concept and tool in developing relationships that lead to business success.

When psychologist Daniel Goleman published the breakthrough book, Emotional Intelligence, he presented compelling evidence that Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a better predictor of success that IQ, creating a tremendous buzz in the corporate world.  When matched for cognitive intelligence (e.g., IQ) and job-related skills, people with higher EI outperform those with lower EI.  High EQ (emotional intelligence quotient) is associated with increased profitability, productivity, sales, morale, cooperation and employee retention.

What is EI and why is it important in being a good leader? 

Goleman defines EI as “the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others; for motivating ourselves; for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.”

In a teleseminar I led for a group of experts in leadership development, I asked them to describe the ideal boss.  The following characteristics emerged:  integrity, leads from head and heart; self-aware; they look at you while they listen; fully engaged when in a conversation; empathic; great mentors; lead by example; good communicator; visionary.  The majority of these qualities are elements of emotionally intelligent leadership – “resonant” leaders connect with and try to take the perspective of others, are supportive, understanding and have a clear vision.

You can basically think of EI as having four components: two relating to self (personal competence) and two relating to others (social competence).

1. Self awareness.  The core principle of EI, this includes emotional self-awareness, accurate self-assessment and self-confidence.  Leaders who are aware of their internal responses and are self-confident are in a better position to understand others.  Do you know your triggers and predispositions?  The more self-aware you become, the better leader you can be.
2. Self management. The next principle in the personal competencies of EI includes self-regulation and motivation. Emotional control, adaptability, initiative and conscientiousness are qualities included here.  Good leaders pause, reflect then choose ways to act in a controlled, thoughtful way.
3. Social awareness.  Moving into the realm of understanding others, good leaders are empathic and have an emotional understanding of and concern for their team.  They can hear the feelings behind what someone says.  On a macro level, this includes awareness of the emotional landscape and culture of an organization.  Leaders with high social awareness tend to use active listening skills and can find commonalities across people and situations.  They put themselves in the other person’s shoes.
4. Relationship management.  Here’s where the rubber meets the road in a leader’s ability to influence, inspire and develop others.  Those strong in relationship management build collaborative, effective teams, know how to deal with conflict and give constructive feedback.

So what’s your EQ?  Do any of these areas resonate as being a particular strength or needing some additional work?  To take a quiz to learn more about your EQ and receive additional EI resources, email me - gmiele@optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com- and put EQ in the subject line.

As usual, we can learn from Eleanor Roosevelt, an emotionally intelligent leader who said:

“To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart.”

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach, author, speaker and trainer who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  To learn more and receive a free tool to optimize your strengths, sign up to receive our free newsletter at  www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com.

Are You a Servant Leader?

I recently asked readers to share how they volunteer in their communities, and now I'm sharing their stories with you. I love the passion that people have for their causes. I truly believe that as leaders we need to serve others.  There’s a whole movement related to Servant Leadership, a term coined by Robert Greenleaf in his 1970 essay. 

Are you familiar with the concept? From the web site: "Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world."

A leader needs to be focused on the big picture, the bottom line and the greater good. She's someone who is a good and empathic listener who takes a genuine interest in the people on her team. He is a caring individual who considers positive outcomes that go beyond profit margins and invested in experiences that create purpose and meaning on a bigger scale. 

Here are a few of the ways people are serving their communities:

“I have been a volunteer fitness instructor twice a week for a Women's Ministry at a local church for over 20 years. I love it! :-)”

Rosanne MacDonald, C.Ht.,  www.hypnovitality.com

“I learned about volunteering first from my parents and then from The Foundation of a corporation I worked for. My consulting business contributes at least 5% of total revenue per year in financial support distributed amongst several not-for-profits we've selected, and I donate at least 10% of my professional time (=200+ hours per year) to various organizations I support. I enjoy it and the organizations appreciate it. I recommend setting up a similar program, within the capabilities of the business enterprise, to any business owner interested in giving back.”

Gene Mancini, Environmental Scientist

“Although I haven't been able to spend time actually being with and volunteering for this group, I have a goal to do it soon.  In the mean time I have been raising money to help fund the program.  Achilles International's mission is to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics in order to promote personal achievement, enhance self-esteem and lower barriers to living a fulfilling life.  My goal is to be a guide for runners and triathletes who are blind or disabled, and hopefully be a key player in bringing a chapter to Ventura County.   http://www.achillesinternational.org”

Dani Bansen, Runwithdani.com

 “I volunteer with www.WhatCanWe.org, an amazing organization dedicated to helping offset veterinary costs for licensed animal rescues. We are seeking volunteers of all ages and will pair them with mentors who are community and business leaders. Learn more at our website. (And of course, Gloria Miele, with Scouts!)”

Bonnie Quintanilla, Corridor Communications

“[I volunteer] with my church, Crossroads. They do community outreach with the homeless in Oxnard, seniors here in Camarillo, and much more.”

Mary Gillette, Sewbella Memory Quilts

 “I mentor several people continuously, mostly positive psychology students or coaches, write reviews for others, and showcase their work, give to the poor, help out professional organizations, hug everyone I can, and I practice ‘pay it forward’.  As Positive Psychologist Dr. Chris Peterson said, ‘Other People Matter.’”

Judy Krings, www.coachingpositivity.com

"Women’s Economic Ventures!"

Lisa Braithwaite, Public Speaking Coach, www.coachlisab.com (and recent recipient of WEV’’s 2013 Volunteer of the Year award)

Don't you love it?

Some of my favorite volunteer opportunities are with organizations that support the arts, education and the empowerment of women and girls, including Girl Scouts, AAUW, CAPE Charter School and the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce.

What's your favorite way to serve others? What part of the world are you trying to make a better place? I'd love to hear about it below!

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She helps entrepreneurs and other business leaders develop the mind set and the skill set to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Strengths-Based Goal-Setting Tool.  You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Breaking Even: The First Step to Profitability

Have you ever calculated the break even point for a product-based business?  A few years ago, I would have glazed over at the thought.  Luckily, I’ve received some excellent training from Laurie Taylor, creator of  Destination Greatness, an online business development program that has become a critical component of the Victory Circles Acceleration Coaching Program.   Of course teaching business planning for Women's Economic Ventures has been quite helpful as well.  

I am so pleased to have a greater understanding of the tools and resources to help others become more profitable by setting a plan.  Of course, you first need to break even to move on to make a profit, so here’s a brief overview.

Basically, breaking even is when the Costs of running your business are equal to the Revenues you generate.  This is why it’s essential to know how much money it takes to run your business every month on the expense side of your Profit Plan (you may call it a budget, but we like to think of it as a plan to make your business more profitable).  Then, you can make adjustments in price and volume to move beyond breaking even to profitability.

Your costs can be separated into two categories:   Fixed Costs and Variable Costs.  Fixed costs are the expenses like rent, insurance, professional development, memberships, marketing, office supplies, phone, internet and utilities.  These costs do not vary based on the services or products you’re providing.  If you are strictly a service-based business, these may represent your total expenses.  In that case, you can calculate your breakeven point by dividing your hourly rate into your expenses.  Use the numbers below as an example to calculate the breakeven point for a month:

Fixed costs = $2,000/month

 Hourly rate- $50/hr

 $2,000/$50 = 40 hours

So, you need to work 40 hours in a month in order to break even.  Good to know and easy to calculate, right?  In order to make a profit, you need to bill more hours or charge higher fees.

 If you have a product-based business, or if you’re selling products related to your service business, you will have fixed costs as well as variable costs directly related to production.  For example, if you have a jewelry business, your variable costs are your supplies (e.g., silver, beads, gemstones, clasps), labor (e.g., part-time help at craft fair), packaging and any other costs related to making your product.  These costs vary directly with the products that you make.

The equation now gets a little more complex.  To calculate the number of units you need to sell to break even, divide Fixed Costs by your Unit Profit Margin (Sales Price – Cost per unit).

Fixed costs = $1,000/month

 Sales price = $30

 Cost per unit = $17

 1000/13 = 77 units

So, you need to sell 77 bracelets in order to break even.  Again, to make a profit, you’ll need to sell more bracelets or shop vendors for better deals on supplies or charge a little more for each item.  You get the drift (If you’re really into this number thing, email me [gmiele@optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com] for more information on how to calculate the break even dollar amount for a product-based business, too lengthy for the current post).

Now that you know how to break even, use your imagination to start making plans to be more profitable by increasing your prices and/or your sales, decreasing your expenses or coming up with a new product line that can generate more revenue.  These are the areas where your entrepreneurial imagination combined with good business sense can really propel your business forward.

Need to focus more on the financial aspects of your business?  We've got workshops in the next week designed to do just that.  Visit www.victorycircles.com/unlockingthepower for more information.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach, author, speaker and trainer who uses a strengths-based approach to help individuals, groups and organizations achieve their goals and realize their greatest success.  She is also a Victory Circles facilitator.   To learn more and receive a free tool to optimize your strengths, visit her website and sign up for weekly business building tips and resources at  www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com.

My Travel Adventure and a New Appreciation of Honoring Time

Tempus fugit - literally, time flees, but colloquially understood as time flies.  

I write this after an experience this morning that really highlighted how time flies, stops for no one and should be rightly honored. I had a 7am flight from LAX to DC on business and decided to take the airport shuttle. I also decided I didn't want to leave at 3am, so I told the dispatcher I needed to be at the airport at 6am. I figured they'd pick me up early enough-you know how those shuttles are. I got the confirmation call for a 4:30am pick up. Even if we have to pick up more people on the way, I thought, we should be fine.

The first surprise was that the driver was almost 15 minutes late. Dang, that cut right into my buffer. He let me know we had two more pick ups: one at the local university and the other in Malibu.

CSUCI is already off the beaten path, but Malibu? I was not expecting that. While PCH at 5am is pretty clear, it also adds time and miles to the trip, so I knew there was no way we'd be getting to the airport by 6. I saw the driver's GPS was estimating 6:20. I had already checked in online and paid to check a bag. Knowing the 45 minute bag check rule, I figured I'd never get on my flight.

So how are you feeling reading this? A little stressed? Then you can imagine how I was feeling: anxious, a bit nauseous and sleep deprived with absolutely no control over the situation. Two main themes were going through my head: blaming self and blaming other.

"I should have given a 5:30 airport arrival time. 6:00 was too close. What was I thinking? Oh no-I have to pee! I should have gone one more time before leaving the house. I shouldn't have had that other cup of coffee. I might have to ask him to stop. There's no time! " Alternating with, "If the driver hadn't been so late it would have been fine. Does he even know where he's going. He drove right by my house and didn't even see me in the street waving my arms. And why did they put me in a car going to Malibu?"

Feeling better now? Of course not! neither was I; I was just escalating. I knew I had to quiet my mind. This train of thought was nothing but derailing. Ironically I'm doing a 21-Day Meditation Challenge, but I couldn't clear my head. Instead I tried reasoning with myself. "There's nothing you can do about it now. Just relax and rest and see what happens. You'll deal with whatever happens when you get there." "I should have booked a 5:30 arrival. Man, I have to pee." "Just stop. Breathe, relax. There's nothing else you can do."

I was finally able to calm myself and rest a bit. Acceptance was helping and the only thing I could control. I started picturing myself spending hours at the airport (I had in my head there was an 11am flight), writing this post, thinking about how much reading and writing I'd get done in my down time, that if I had to wait even longer I'd call my friend who lives near the airport and try to meet her for a while. Yeah, everything would work out the way it was supposed to (this is something I generally believe anyway-sometimes it just takes me a while to get there).

The driver pulled up to the terminal, and I ran inside. The greeter told me I was too late for my flight and directed me to the full service line. The agent scanned the boarding pass I had printed at home and the luggage tag came out of the printer. "I can still make it??" It was now 6:30. He looked confused. He didn't think so but having checked in online helped. There were no more flights to DC until tomorrow (WHAT?). He'd check if there were any flights from San Francisco, but I'd have to pay to get there. I was seeing my business trip dissolve before my eyes.

"Let me see if he can walk your bag to the plane." I didn't know what that meant, but it wasn't no, so I was hopeful. He came back, told me it was taken care of, gave me a priority security sticker, and off I ran (my version of running anyway).

I made it through security in under 10 minutes, got to the gate, and they were still boarding. I even had time to stop in the restroom (yes, mind over matter- I had held it all that time!). Have I mentioned how much I love Virgin America? I made sure to tweet them my thanks before the plane doors closed.

@virginamerica thx for getting me onto flight against all odds #108 lax-iad

— Gloria Miele, Ph.D. (@GloriaMiele) March 12, 2013

I boarded the crowded plane. To my delight, there was a spot in the overhead bin right above my seat that was exactly the size of my rolling brief case, AND the middle seat between me and the lady at the window was empty.

You see? Everything does turn out the way it's supposed to.

I settled in and took out a book: The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson. One passage after the next resonated: "The laws of time and space are more malleable than we think." LOL, you can say that again! "Mistakes and wrong turns need not throw us off. The capacity for correction is built into the universe." Woah. "Our problem is that we tend to have tremendous faith in the power of our disasters and far too little faith in the power of miracles."

You might say that making my flight was something of a miracle. Maybe getting to that stance of acceptance helped in more ways than I can explain.

But even with my faith in the universe, I can't ignore the fact that I could have done things differently. By not honoring time, I put myself in a stressful situation that could have resulted in inconvenience, lost wages, penalty fees and other unfortunate consequences. Right now I'm feeling gratitude for many people and things: the shuttle driver (he did get me there), the Virgin America staff, my personal resources to handle a stressful situation, Marianne Williamson's timely messages and those mysterious factors in the universe that worked in my favor.

All's well that ends well, right? Especially when there are lessons to learn. And speaking of lessons, I'm going to listen the Victory Circles Radio show I co-hosted last week to remind myself about some of the time honoring concepts we shared. Apparently I need a booster.

What experiences have you had when you didn't honor time and ended up feeling the consequences? Any tips for getting a handle on self-talk or other calming techniques during a stressful situation? Any other travel stories to share?

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She helps entrepreneurs and other business leaders develop the mind set and the skill set to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speeches.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com and sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Strengths-Based Goal-Setting Tool.  We can also connect at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Is It Time to Reinvent?

Financial planner turned café owner, physicist turned financial planner, marketing executive turned astrologer. psychologist turned business consultant. Stories of professional reinvention are inspiring and becoming more common. 

But reinvention doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be subtle. Have you shifted your focus in your career, business or relationships? Taken up a new passion or past time?

Over the last few years, many people have found themselves in situations that might be outside their control and require a quick shift to get some new momentum.

Working in professional development, I hear lots of these reinvention stories from people of all ages, especially baby boomers.

For the past 6 months, I’ve been working with colleagues from the fields of law, finance, mediation, nursing and travel to present a workshop, Reinventing Your Life after 50. Each session has been a full house, another indication of the popularity of the topic. Attendees have been a range of men and women, employed, unemployed and retired, volunteers or just interested in learning more about making a change.

As the keynote speaker, I present the overview of the workshop and considerations in reinventing In the workplace,  First off, there’s good news and bad news for baby boomers (I’ve resisted being considered one for years, but I’m starting to cave). The good news: the unemployment rate is lower in those over 50 than for the general population. The bad news: when people over 50 are out of work, they are out of work for longer. When they re-enter the work force, their salaries decrease by nearly 25%.

Whether or not you’re reinventing, and no matter what your age, here are a few important points to consider. Each has to do with understanding yourself, your preferences and your behavior (I’m still a psychologist after all). In the coming weeks, we’ll look more closely at each. In the meantime, here’s my 3-part recommendation:

1. Know your strengths. Yes, it’s my favorite topic. But as long as you’re thinking of taking a different path, you might as well travel on one where you’re using your key skills and talents as well as doing what you love to do. “Find out what you do well and do more of it.” Sound advice from the founder of strengths psychology, Donald Clifton. 2. Understand your values. Values are important beliefs, attitudes and philosophies that influence the way we live our lives. When you do things that are value-driven, they are more meaningful and ultimately attainable than those that may not match your value system. 3. Consider your unique personality. Also known as your character, traits and temperament, your personality is made up of a set of characteristics that influence the way you see, feel and behave in the world. You might be outgoing, detail oriented, logical, intuitive or a combination of these and a host of others. The important thing is to know your preferences and respect them.

What’s your reinvention story? Share yours below.  Mine can be found on the Bio page of my web site.  And watch for the next blog post about reinventing yourself based on your strengths.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She helps entrepreneurs and other business leaders develop the mind set and the skill set to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speeches.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com and sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Strengths-Based Goal-Setting Tool.  We can also connect at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Who Do You Love?

Ok, so that George Thorogood song is stuck in my head now.  How about yours? Forget George Thorogood.  I'm talking about who you really love.  Especially around Valentine's Day, we think about and celebrate those we love with flowers, candy, dinner and other romantic gifts.  While some people hate it, others love, love, love it.

If you think about it, we can be pretty quick to profess our love for all kinds of things.  "I love you, honey."  "I love my mom," "I love to travel." "I love those shoes!"  Love can take many forms, and we hand it out generously.

But one place we tend to skimp in the love department is with one very special person: ourselves.  Instead, we are often our own harshest critic.

And what happens when we're self-critical?  We can lose our self-confidence (not coincidentally the Victory Circles Master Mind Principle for February).  You might have heard of negative self-talk?  Well, this is a great example.

To get a handle on negative self-talk, start by making a more conscious effort to notice it.  Yes, awareness is the first step.  Then the next time you notice that inner critic coming down on you, just reply, "no thanks" and let it go.

Instead give yourself a break!  One helpful perspective is to think about what you'd say to a friend who was being so hard on herself.  Hmm.  You'd probably be pretty supportive and empathic and try to do something to make her feel better.  You'd be kind, gentle, loving and compassionate, wouldn't you?

Of course you would.  And you can do that for yourself.  Be kind, gentle, loving and compassionate to yourself.  Now that's true love.

How do you make sure you're more compassionate and loving toward yourself?  Share below if you're inclined or leave other thoughts or even a Valentine's Day wish.

Back to George Thorogood.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Gloria

 

More Master Mind Musings

I recently received an email with a question about master mind groups from a person who is starting one with some colleagues.  She asked if I had any materials on the topic, so I forwarded the link to the blog post I wrote last year. I realized that in that post I talked more about the process and less about the content of MM groups.  With a new format MM workshop starting next week, I thought I’d talk about the content and format of a good MM group.

Have a theme.  Most of the MM groups I’ve been involved with have the theme of business development – starting or building a business, supporting entrepreneurs.  However, you could also have a MM group devoted to writing, marketing, developing a non-profit, art or any other topic of your choice.  Just make sure it’s relevant and engaging to all involved.

Have a strong facilitator.  It’s also important to have someone in a leadership role to facilitate the discussion and keep the group on track. Timekeeper, reflector, engager, cheerleader – all of these are the job of a good facilitator.  Depending on the structure of your group, one person takes the reigns.  You may also consider handing off the responsibility now and again to those interested.  

Have a structure.  In the Victory Circles, we start with a check-in (wave the checkered flag to celebrate your victories!), spend the majority of the session covering a specific topic (e.g., how one of the master mind principles relates to your business), then end with intentions for the month/quarter ahead.  Without a structure, the group can lose its focus, momentum and productivity.

In our full day Master Mind Intensives, we spend half the day working on a quarterly Action Calendar for each business owner.  We take a month by month look at your plan for sales, marketing, joint venture partnerships and more so you have a clear direction moving forward for the next three months.

Make the time.  As busy entrepreneurs, we can “blow off” those activities that aren’t right in front of us.  If you’ve read Michael Gerber’s The E-Myth Revisited, you’ll recognize the technician who is always working in the business instead of on the business. 

A great gift you can give yourself and your business is the gift of time for reflection, planning and strategizing to move your business forward.  A master mind group is a great resource for that.  It’s consistent, structured and draws on the expertise of other like-minded entrepreneurs who come from different perspectives and backgrounds.

Entrepreneurs, especially sole proprietors, can get isolated in their businesses.  You need to get out of the office and meet some people,  While MM groups are not networking groups, of course you end up networking with other business owners and creating relationships that can lead to productive, business building collaborations.  You never know.

Unlocking the Power of the Master Mind Workshop

In a continued effort to "give the people what they want" (remember that classic from the 80s?), we've created a new MM format to deliver the benefits of a MM group while delving into the Victory Circles Master Mind Principles in a 3-hour workshop.  

We'll review the 12 principles of success that were inspired by Napoleon Hill's writings, then spend extra time on the first principle:  establishing the Definite Chief Aim of your business.  Why are you in business?  What's your passion?  What do you want to achieve?

This is beyond just your goals.  It's really your purpose of being in business.

You can see why that's the place to start.

It's about developing the mindset and the skill set to build a successful business.

Do you have lessons you've learned from being in a Master Mind?  Questions?  Add yours below.

To learn more about our upcoming in person and online workshops, check out www.victorycircles.com/unlockingthepower.  You can also find a recording of a recent webinar where we further discuss the master mind principles and ways you can put them into practice in your business.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

The Spirit of Giving and Grandma's Beef Stew

It's a wonderful time of year, with the holiday spirit reminding us to focus more on giving than receiving . Whether with our family, colleagues or clients, it's great to feel the joy of being generous with others.

One of the most generous business people I know is the marketing wonder woman Tea Silvestre, The Word Chef and author of Attract and Feed a Hungry Crowd (see my book review here). Tea is always cooking up fun and engaging new ideas to help people with their marketing, often only for the "cost" of your interaction with her. Contests, prizes,  challenges, videos. private groups, awards, hand written cards, MORE prizes (see picture below for one of my faves - a Big Hairy Audacious Goal!!)- her prolific creativity and generosity surprise and delight.  And she's a hoot.  Fun, clever and kind - a great combination.

She also does mentoring, coaching, writing, all things Word Press and offers great online programs  too.  But she doesn't talk about that so much.  She's much busier giving to others and building a really loyal, connected, interested and engaged tribe (she's also a big Seth Godin fan, so you get the drift).

One of her recent challenges was to send her a picture of food, then she would write a marketing blog about it while also promoting the sender's business and web site in the process.

I got Tea's email around the time I was making the family recipe for beef stew this weekend, perfect for the rainy weather.  I had already taken a picture, so I decided to pass it along.  What's the marketing message here?  Maybe something about marketing mix.  Or Slow Marketing?  I'm sure The Word Chef will whip up something fabulous to go along with it.  Thanks, Tea, for all you give and do.  You're the bombe (i.e., something sweet, unique and delish)!

In the meantime, here's the recipe.  Most of the women in my family make stew this way (with some variation, like deglazing the pan with wine, peeling the potatoes, not using bay leaves), but I think the originator was my Grandma, an excellent Sicilian cook.  My mother says it's Italian because of the tomato sauce.  It's definitely great for fall and winter dinners.  Enjoy!

Grandma’s Beef Stew

1.5 lbs stew meat (as the title states, this is beef stew.  However, leave out the beef and you've got a delicious vegetarian stew instead). 1 T veg oil ½ onion 2 T-3T flour 1 8 oz can tomato sauce 1 lb green beans 3 potatoes, in large chunks (peeled or not) 3-5 carrots, in large chunks (peeled or not) Water (add a cup of red wine if you wish) S/P to taste 2 bay leaves (opt.) 1 cup frozen peas

Heat oil.  Sautee onion til soft.  Add meat to brown – season with S/P.  Add flour to coat meat.  Add tomato sauce plus two cans of water and stir, which will create a thick roux.  Add more S/P.  Add string beans, potatoes, carrots and bay leaves.  Add more water, can by can, until ingredients are just covered in liquid.  Add more S/P to taste.  Stir well (it’s nice to season as you go along – it layers the flavors).

Simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally (you can also put everything in the crock pot and let it cook all day).  Add frozen peas about 30 minutes before serving.  Remove bay leaves, taste for seasonings and enjoy!!

Serve with freshly baked biscuits (the kind in the can is fine) or rolls.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Planning Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Don't Follow These Directions

Posted October 5, 2012Filed under: Business Planning, Positivity, Psychology of Success, Strengths, Uncategorized | Tags: blogging, business, business coaching, business development, coaching, focus, positivity, Strengths

Do you get a lot of email (rhetorical question, right)?  I get quite a few from other service professionals:  business and life coaches, marketing consultants, social media gurus and more.  I follow people to see what others in my field and related industries are doing.  It’s always good to learn something new and check out what the competition is up to.

Of course I don’t read them all.  And every once in a while I do a big unsubscribing purge.

But recently I opened one to read a quick tip from a business coach whose advice made me talk back to the computer and write the blog post.  The beginning of her message was great and right in line with my thinking.   Things like, “Clients struggle because they don’t have a plan – a detailed plan that moves them forward.” I totally agree.

The next recommendation was to get paper and pen and sit in a quiet place and start by writing down everything you DON’T want in your business and life.

WHAT??

That is the exact opposite place from where I tell business owners to start.    Here are a few reasons to avoid starting with what you don’t want:

• Negativity narrows your focus.  When you think about all the things that are going wrong, your creativity and breadth of thought decrease. Negativity can stifle your thinking and shut you down.  Why would you start there??
• Negativity decreases your mood.  No surprise here, but negativity leads to a negative mood.  Imagine how you’ll feel when you jot down all those things you’re not liking, not interested in and aren’t working?  What a drag!!
• The Law of Attraction.  I have never seen “The Secret,” but I have experienced the phenomenon of attracting into your life what you think about, imagine and verbalize.  I’m not exactly sure how it works, but I’ve found that “putting it out there” increases your possibilities of getting it back.  Try it for a while and see what happens.

Let me suggest a different exercise.  Sit down in a quiet place for 10-15 minutes with pen and paper and answer these questions:

• What do I love most about my business?
• What are my favorite things to do that are also the things I do best?
• How can I do those more often every day?
• What DO I want in my business?

As seen on Facebook

When you start doing more of what you do well and what you love, there will be less room for the things you don’t want.

Start with your strengths and successes (and I hope you do follow these directions).

What do you want in your business?  Weigh in below.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a business development and leadership coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Planning Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Recent Lessons in Teamwork from Project Runway

Posted September 13, 2012Filed under: Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Strengths, Team Building | Tags: Anna Sui, emotional intelligence, Heidi Klum, leadership, Project Runway, Strengths, team building, team work, Tim Gunn

I can’t wait for tonight’s episode of Project Runway.  Heidi Klum is a glamorous, winning host and Tim Gunn is a warm and talented business man, artist and leader.  I love Nina Garcia and Michael Kors and enjoy the guest judges that contribute their perspective.  Last week, on the team challenge, designer Anna Sui was the guest judge and gave input on the relationship between team work and the quality of the collections.

Teams are (supposedly) randomly selected, but sometimes the matchups seem planned.  Regardless, these are always fun, especially on seasons like this when the personalities of the designers are so prominent.  There’s Elena, who is incredibly volatile.  She has huge problems controlling her emotions, evident on every show and with every designer.  There are the super confident (Ven and Dmitri), the quietly confident (Melissa and Fabio), and the dramatically confident (Christopher, Gunner), each with his or her own unique style and personality.

Each team had three designers.  All had different ways of working as a team that impacted their success.

Team Strength (Christopher,Sanjia, Gunner) started with some conflict between Gunner and Christopher but ended up being very functional and successful.  They each worked on their own garments, complementing each other’s work.  As Gunner described the process to the judges, Sui commented, “Well of course, you’re all using your strengths.”  Later she said, “One of the key things in designing is teamwork.  That was really smart to use each of your strengths too.  They worked together to develop a cohesive collection but they used each other’s strengths.”

Team Hostility (Elena, Alicia, Dmitri, ) was in the bottom two.   They bickered and fought in the workroom and in front of the judges.  Sui summed it up nicely:  “The conversation reflects in the clothes.”   Nina added, “It was an angry coat.”

Team Nice Guy (Ven, Melissa and Fabio) was so agreeable that their clothes were boring and not cohesive.  They were so accommodating, they didn’t challenge or push each other.   In fact, they deleted the strongest piece, Ven’s, which led to a struggle to produce a unified collection.

There are teamwork lessons to be learned here, some more obvious than others.

1.  Use your strengths.  But don’t just use yours – use the strengths of others too.  This is always a sound approach with lots of evidence to support it.  It’s smart and simple.  In the words of Tim Gunn, “Channel your inner winner.”
2. Use your emotional intelligence (EI).  Elena is extremely lacking in EI.  She has little self-control and is not attentive to the feelings of others.  Few people would act that way in a professional situation, but this is Project Runway, so the interpersonal rules, boundaries and expectations are a bit more fluid.  Nonetheless, the teams that exhibit more empathy, self-control and interpersonal skills are more effective.
3. Lack of overt conflict does not preclude problems.  Just as extreme hostility will trip you up, so will extreme agreeability.  Yes, you can be too nice.  Effective teams challenge each other to succeed.

There are other patterns here too.  What did you notice?  What experiences have you had working in teams when people are (or are not) using their strengths?  How do you “make it work”?

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Planning Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching

Guest Blogging on Social Media with Parent Click Ventura

Posted July 16, 2012Filed under: Social Media | Tags: entrepreneurs, Facebook, internet safety, ParentClick, small business, social media, Ventura County

 

I was recently invited to write an article for this cool site, ParentClick.com, an online publisher with its finger on the pulse of local community events for families.  I love this site, which was started by a woman who saw a need.  A new mom who wanted to know what was going on in her community, Rachael Ross Steidl first launched sbparent.com, then went national with ParentClick.com two years later.  I love a good mompreneur success story, don’t you?

One of the editors asked me to write an article about guidelines for using social media in business and with kids.  Well, I tried and tried to make a reasonable, clever and seamless connection between the two, but after a few attempts (and far too many words for one article), I suggested I write two separate posts instead.

Here are links to the articles:

1.  Social Media:  More Than Fun and Games provides a look at how building relationships on social media channels is key to engage with your audience and promote your business. These are some basic tips aimed mainly at social media newbies, but always good reminders for the regular user.

2.  Social Media for Kids discusses general internet safety, as well as specific ideas about keeping your child safe on social media.including some situations I’ve encountered with my own daughter and her friends who is the first generation of kids to adopt social media as a regular part of their social scene..

One area I did not touch on in this article was the issue of cyberbullying, which is a serious problem deserving more than a point in a blog post.  I do emphasize in the article how essential it is to monitor your kid’s social media activity, which would make it possible to detect and hopefully intervene if cyberbullying occurs.

Monitoring and education are so important to keep everyone safe and enjoying the fun of social media.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about either article.  You can register at parentclick and comment there, or comment below.  Enjoy!

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Plan Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

3 Quick Tips for Focus and Clarity

Posted May 2, 2012Filed under: Entrepreneurship, Psychology of Success | Tags: business coaching, entrepreneurs, focus, limit distractions, mental efficiency, mindfulness meditation, multitasking

Did you catch me on Victory Circles Radio last week? Cheri and I celebrated the launch of her new book, Victory One Moment at a Time (see book review in last blog post).  What fun to be part of such a great accomplishment.  The book is a wonderful application of the Master Mind principles to business success.

We also talked about “Priming Your Pump,” or increasing your focus.  I covered a few key points based in what we understand about the way the brain works.  Listen to the recording for the nuances and details.  In the meantime, here are three quick tips to help increase your focus right away.

1.  Minimize multitasking.  With all of our portable devices and demands on our attention, we have become masters at multitasking.  At least we think so.  Studies show that multitasking can decrease our mental efficiency from the IQ of a Harvard MBA to that of an 8-year-old!   Unless you’re doing something a little more automatic, like driving or knitting or cleaning house (ok, that may be automatic for someone), you are at your best when you do one thing at a time.

2.  Limit distractions  (both outside and in).

You can turn off the ringer on the phone, shut down your email program, close the web browser and put a do not disturb sign on your door.  Those are the external distractions that you can control, which will help you concentrate more.  Just do it!

But sometimes those internal distractions can be just as disruptive.  Thoughts about weekend plans, your daughter’s recital, the dry cleaning, your bank account balance, or self-doubt about the quality of your next blog post can distract us from within.  Our thoughts come and go, but you can gain greater control and clarity through practices like mindfulness and meditation.  Don’t be scared – it just takes practice.

3.  Remember to Recharge.  Your energy is not limitless.  You have to take breaks, eat nutritious foods and get some exercise.  Switching up the types of activities you do – writing, planning, reading and analyzing, paperwork – will use different parts of your brain and give the other parts time to cool off.

How do you gain greater focus?  Keith Pillow of Caddy Marketing and Communications weighed in on our Facebook page, “Minimizing distractions, and operating in an environment that offers peace and serenity!”  Nice one, Keith.

Share your ideas below, and your approach may be featured in our next newsletter or blog post.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success through coaching programs, workshops, staff training, executive coaching and keynote speaking.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Plan Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Double Book Launch For Entrepreneurs

Posted April 20, 2012Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: book review, branding, business development, business plan, coaching, copy writing, entrepreneurs, Marketing, master mind, secret sauce, Seth Godin, writing

 

It’s a banner week when two of your go-to business resources launch their books within a few days of each other.  I’m so excited for these ladies and for you readers who can benefit from their expertise as well!  Both of these books are engaging, extremely helpful reads written for any entrepreneur.  Tea Silvestre (aka The Word Chef) wrote Attract and Feed a Hungry Crowd, a marketing book that doesn’t just give you the recipes but teaches you how to cook. Cheri Ruskus, business coach and founder of the Victory Circles, has published her inspirational guidebook for entrepreneurs, Victory One Moment at a Time.

Note:  These authors are two of my favorite people, both of them mentors, teachers and friends.  While the reviews below are accurate, I freely admit I am a little biased.

Tasty Tidbits from The Word Chef

I devoured Tea Silvestre’s new book, “Attract and Feed a Hungry Crowd: How Thinking Like a Chef Can Help You Build a Solid Business,” (available for Kindle and paperback) and savored all the tasty marketing tidbits she serves up in this satisfying read. Tea is a friend, mentor, teacher and constant source of inspiration and outstanding marketing resources, so I was not surprised that she delivered in her new book.

Tea opens the book with a quote by Seth Godin: “The future belongs to chefs, not to cooks or bottle washers.” and you can see the influence, with clear, concise marketing advice founded in concepts like standing out from the crowd, differentiating yourself and building relationships (i.e., your tribe) . Cleverly framed in the cooking metaphor, Silvestre, also known as The Word Chef, is generous with tips and strategies for small business owners trying to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The icing on the cake is the sweet list of readings and resources at the end.

I highly recommend this book for entrepreneurs who need to work on their marketing and are trying to find and share the “secret sauce” that makes them and their product or service unique.  Do not miss the other delicacies at www.thewordchef.com.  You’ll come back for seconds.  Or thirds.

Business Moment by Moment

My last blog post was about Master Mind groups and the principles coined by Napoleon Hill nearly a century ago.  Cheri Ruskus’ new book, Victory One Moment at a Time, goes further in applying the Master Mind principles to business success and serves as a wonderful resource for entrepreneurs to tap into their passion and be fueled by inspiration. She gives the  Master Mind principles a modern refresh, applying them to the current challenges of entrepreneurship.

Cheri has worked long enough with entrepreneurs to know that one principle needed to be added:  that of Honoring Time.  As business owners, we know that time is money, and managing our time becomes a huge issue in managing our businesses.  She has great insights on this topic and more.Cheri describes each principle, then shares her Victory Letters, writings she’s been doing weekly for over 10 years. Cheri creates beautiful metaphors, relating concepts from life to business and back again. Thought provoking questions focus on the spirit, attitude and mindset that bring about success.  Eleven of the original Master Mind principles are included, like leadership, self-confidence, concentration and cooperation in building a business.

The book’s format, with a chapter for each principle, allows you to pick up the book and focus on the topic of greatest need or interest at this moment in time. Taking the time to master your business is essential, and this book can help you do just that.  You can learn more about the Victory Circles program and philosophy at www.victorycircles.com.

Happy reading!  And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog, as more on these books is forthcoming, including book giveaways for our readers.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She works with entrepreneurs and other business leaders to discover, develop and optimize their strengths to achieve greater business success. Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Plan Template. You can also connect with her at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Two Heads (or 6 or 8 ) Are Better Than One for Your Business

Posted February 27, 2012Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: business coaching, business consulting, business development, business plan, entrepreneurs, master mind groups, Napoleon Hill, Victory Circles

 

You know that two heads are better than one, so imagine what it would be like if you had 6 or 8 other minds where you could draw wisdom, knowledge and experience.  I’m talking about the power that like-minded yet diverse people can have in helping you build your business.  As entrepreneurs, we can put our heads down and think we can do it all ourselves, sitting behind our desks and trying to work it out.  But the input of others can be so important to move ahead with an idea.

Napoleon Hill circa 1937

One way to get this input is through a Master Mind group.  It all started with Napoleon Hill in the early 20^th century.  He was inspired by Andrew Carnegie, who built his successful steel business through strategic collaborations with others.  Hill’s books, Think and Grow Rich and The Law of Success outlined the mindset for being successful as well as the process of the Master Mind.  Hill interviewed the likes of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Charles Schwab and other business leaders of his day and found that they all had cooperative alliances with fellow business people (ok, they were all men at the time) that helped increase their energy, power and fortune.

Nearly 100 years later, the model stands the test of time.  Think of a Master Mind group as your personal board of directors – people with diverse backgrounds, strengths, and areas of expertise all focused on helping your business grow.

I became involved with Master Minding through Victory Circles, first as a participant, then a facilitator.  The program started as a stand-alone monthly group, based on Hill’s principles, such as self-confidence, leadership, concentration and establishing your definite chief aim.  We apply these to business development and provide accountability to each other with check ins and celebrations of our success.  

The program has now evolved into customized business development programs that incorporate business planning tools, templates, Master Mind groups and individual coaching to meet each entrepreneur’s needs.  Just last week, I held my first ever full day Quarterly Master Mind Intensive.  Part of the Victory Circles Acceleration Coaching program, the purpose of the intensive is to come up with an action plan for the different aspects of our businesses for the coming quarter.  People came in with questions and a lot of blank spots on the action calendars we provided ahead of time, but each of them left with a clear focus and concrete plans for marketing, sales, customer touch points, financial literacy and more for the next three months.  I was inspired by the quick cohesion of the group, the free sharing of information and resources, and how much we accomplished in a day.

If you’re thinking about joining or starting a Master Mind group, here are 6 things to consider:

1. The Master Mind Principles.  Hill outlined 16 principles of success, some listed above.  Victory Circles focuses on 12 – 11 of Hill’s and one of our own: Honoring Time (so essential for entrepreneurs).  Decide if you want your Master Mind group to use them as a guide.
2. Industry.   Some groups are industry-specific (e.g., realtors, coaches) and others intentionally comprised of diverse business owners.  Do you want greater focus on what you do or a more general approach that benefits from input of people outside your industry?
3. Location.  Master Mind groups can take place in person or by phone.  In person groups are great for cohesion and that face to face contact, but many professionals are busy and prefer the benefits of phone, Skype, or a G+ hangout.
4. Frequency.  I’ve always been involved in monthly Master Mind groups and now have started the quarterly group described above.  I’ve heard of people meeting weekly.  Perhaps a combination is best, and I’m experimenting with that now.
5. Length. When my Master Mind group included lunch, we met for 2 hours.  The full-day Master Mind last week was incredibly powerful, and we ran for the full 6 hours!  If you’re meeting on a more regular basis, especially by phone, 60-90 minutes could be perfect. 
6. How Many Heads??  We’ve had as many as 12 people in a Master Mind group and as few as 3, but I think 6-8 is perfect, allowing for individual sharing and a variety of perspectives to learn from.

Have you ever been in a Master Mind group?  What was your experience?  Please share your comments below.

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success. Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com to learn more about Master Mind groups and sign up to receive helpful business development resources, including a free Business Plan Template. You can also connect with us at www.facebook.com/optimaldevelopmentcoaching.

Put Your 2011 Top 10 to Good Use

Posted December 31, 2011Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2011, 2012, Goals, New Year, resolutions, Strengths, TED, TEDx, Top 10

 

It’s the last day of 2011, and I’ve been enjoying reading a number of Top 10 lists for the year.  I thought I’d put my own together but use it as a guide post to the intentions I have in 2012.

No matter how you look back on the previous year, I highly recommend focusing on those things that went well and using them to guide, inspire and motivate you as you reflect on your goals and wishes for the year ahead.

So, in that spirit, I’ve compiled my top 10 for 2011 (in chronological order) and related intentions for 2012:

1.  Keys to Your Future – Girl Scout Leadership Conference.  As a member of the planning team and then the MC for the event, I thoroughly enjoyed being part of a program that exposed girls to concepts about their own strengths and the strengths and talents of other women who are outstanding career and life role models.  Between the many speakers, self-care activities, practical tips and expanding relationships, the two-day event was a winner.

Intention for 2012:  Continue to play a role mentoring and inspiring girls and young women through the Girl Scout program; coordinate and conduct more retreats and conferences.

2.  Teenage Daughter Milestones.  Our daughter Natalie turned 14, went to Washington DC with her 8th grade class, got a prime scholarship to a summer vocal institute, started high school and is LOVING it, and earned her Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor for her level of scouting.  So proud of the bright, talented, caring young woman she is becoming.

Intention for 2012.  Keep supporting her and nurturing her independence (man, that part can be hard) as she continues to grow and flourish.

3.  Meet and Greet with Cheri Ruskus.  I was delighted to welcome my friend, colleague and mentor Cheri Ruskus, founder of the  Victory Circles, to California this summer. Since we have the only VC group in the state, I was very excited to introduce VC members and others in my network to Cheri while she was visiting from Colorado.  See blog post below for pictures and all the details!

Intention for 2012.  Continue growing the VC program locally and virtually. Write more blog posts (geez).

4.  Family Vacation!  In August, 16 of us, aged 14-83, converged in Lake Tahoe for a rare but very fun multi-family vacation.  My mother, four of her first cousins, spouses and kids, my aunt, two of my first cousins, my husband and daughter enjoyed beautiful Lake Tahoe for the better part of a week.

Intention for 2012.  Stay connected with family all over the country. Travel to beautiful places whenever possible.

5.  Instructor, Women’s Economic Ventures.  When I saw that WEV was looking for instructors, I didn’t hesitate to apply.  Already teaching business planning to women entrepreneurs in Victory Circles, I was excited to align myself with such a great organization.  After a rigorous interviewing and vetting process, I was offered the position and really enjoyed teaching the 14-week class, helping some really inspiring and inspired people get their business plans in order.

Intention for 2012:  I was asked back to teach the Spring course (yay!), so I get to continue teaching, which I love, and helping people get their businesses off the ground (also very gratifying).

6.  NYC High Line.  Every trip I take to NYC is special, because I get to spend time in my favorite city with some of my favorite people:  family and friends who are far away but close at heart.  This year, after a trip a month earlier was cancelled by a hurricane, I made it back to see my cousins and take a walk on the High Line, a beautiful urban outdoor space (hey, I did write another blog post in the past 6 months!).

Intention for 2012.  Make it back to New York at least once.  Make the time and effort to stay close with those who are important to me.

7.  Ventura AIDS Walk.  This year I was appointed to the Advisory Council of Ventura County AIDS Partnership, an organization I’ve volunteered with for the past few years.  I also participated in my first AIDS Walk, which was a very uplifting event that brought hundreds of diverse people together.  We raised nearly $20,000 – not bad for the first time VCAP ran such a large event.

Intention for 2012.  Continue to volunteer for VCAP and raise awareness to prevent HIV and AIDS.

8.  Paper Published.  The first paper from a research project I’ve been involved in for nearly 3 years was published in an academic journal.  It’s always nice to see that work come to fruition.  A number of talks and posters have already been accepted for 2012 conferences.

Intention for 2012.  Continue working with colleagues to publish and present more papers in 2012, including one I’m leading on the use of new media tools in clinical research.

9.  TEDxOjaiWomen Speaker - What I Learned from Being a Girl Scout.  When Jodi Womack announced that she and Darina Stoyanova were organizing a TEDxOjaiWomen, I immediately emailed her to see if she needed any additional speakers.  As a woman who strongly encourages you to ask for what you want, Jodi responded in kind and said she could carve out 5-7 minutes.  ”I’ll take it!”  What a phenomenal opportunity and an inspiring event in the context of dozens of amazing talks and topics (also see www.TEDxWomen.org for the full program).

Intention for 2012.  One public speaking engagement per month; continue working on my public speaking skills; ask for what I want; book another TED talk!

10.  Business Growing.  2011 was the best year yet for Optimal Development Coaching – more clients,  more followers, more trainings, more consulting opportunities, more earnings.

Intention 2012.  Increase 2011 earnings by 50% (I know, it’s audacious, but I’ve got a plan, and I can make it happen).   If you’d like, you can keep track of what’s going on by visiting my web site or connecting with my on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.

What a year!  Now it’s your turn.  What are some of your top accomplishments and how can you leverage and build on them to reach your goals in 2012?  I’d love to hear from you.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous 2012 full of joy and meaning.

All my best, Gloria

Meet Cheri Ruskus, Founder of The Victory Circles!

Posted September 3, 2011Filed under: Uncategorized

 

Right before I went on vacation in August, I had the honor of having my friend, colleague and mentor, Colorado business coach and author Cheri Ruskus, visit us in California.  We hosted a lovely meet and greet event at the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce so that Victory Circles members, current and past, as well as those interested in learning more, could meet the woman behind the program.  Enjoy the photos below.

Showing off this beautiful, handmade purse by VC member Mary Gillette from Sewbella Memory Quilts and More.

Victory ladies!

Cheri reads from her new book, Victory: One Moment at a Time.

People enjoyed an evening of laughter, connecting and learning!

Gloria M. Miele, Ph.D. is a Business Development and Leadership Coach and Victory Circles facilitator in Southern California.  She is passionate about helping others discover and develop their strengths to achieve greater business success.  Visit her website at www.optimaldevelopmentcoaching.com and sign up to receive a free tool to optimize your strengths.