Acting happy when you don’t feel happy is an important skill to master. Sometimes acting happy can help you get more of what you want out of life. Our culture favors happy faces which is evident by the smiles that greet you on billboards and in advertisements. People are drawn to happy individuals. When you …
Once you take the plunge into retirement you will feel the waves washing over you. Retirement can be like jumping into a pool and forgetting that the water isn’t very warm in June. You are all excited and happy and then you aren’t! I’ve helped hundreds of people of all ages start their own business …
When planning for retirement it is important to consider non-financial factors and how they will impact your quality of life. The three biggest non-financial mistakes are failing to plan for how you will find meaning, being unprepared for how retirement will affect your relationships and underestimating the emotional impact of this transition. Retiring is a …
I help my clients make big decisions regarding their work and business life. Many come to me when they are transitioning from being an employee to being self-employed. Others are business owners who want more and “better” clients. Recently I am seeing more people who are thinking about semi-retirement or full retirement. As part of …
As a retirement and business coach, as well as a professional counselor, I know that retirement today is about more than financial security. In the old retirement model there were fewer years to plan for since people didn’t expect to live to be 90 or older. The focus was on protecting your money and participating …
Encouragement is motivating and inspiring. It propels positive action. When someone you know is feeling frustrated or discouraged it is natural to want to encourage them with suggestions and advice. You may think that you are offering a gift…your concern and your good ideas. The thing is, suggestions and advice don’t feel good to someone …
“You never listen to me”, “You always have to have the last word”, “I never get any attention” are examples of the black and white thinking that not only impedes effective communication, but also indicates that a deeper emotional issue needs to be addressed. “Always” and “Never” statements convey accusation, judgment or self-pity and tend …
Complaining is expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance ABOUT a state of affairs or an event. Judgment is a critical component of any complaint. The secret about complaining is that there is a difference between complaining and expressing YOUR feelings. Expressing your feelings is healthy. Complaining is not. In business and life, many people believe they are …
People in difficult relationships often blame others for their unhappiness. It could be a boss who demands too much, a spouse who doesn’t make time to be together or a friend who isn’t supportive enough. Blaming others impacts your personal power and ability to be in charge of your own happiness. I worked with a …
While managing your emotions is important, so is understanding and learning how to manage your personality. In Business and in Life, getting along with others is necessary for success! No two people have exactly the same personality. Our brains are uniquely wired. When you are a good manager of your personality you bring out the …
Setting Boundaries by saying, “No” can be difficult for anyone. You don’t want to hurt, upset or disappoint. Learning to say no is hard but worth the effort. Many of the professionals I have helped wished they had not taken on certain clients. The client doesn’t take their advice, questions the bill, isn’t responsive; no …
In my professional counseling and coaching business, almost all my clients have struggled with client selection. What tempts you to take on a client when you know down deep it isn’t a good fit? You may be tempted to take the wrong client for “good” reasons. Business may be slow, someone you like referred them …