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 […]
Retirement: Be Prepared and Be Ready Read More »
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
Smart Retirement Planning Read More »
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
The Art of Encouragement Read More »
“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
A Secret About Complaining Read More »
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
The Power of Personality Read More »
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
Unique Qualifying Questions Read More »
Working toward a challenging and important goal is not easy even if you intellectually understand what needs to be done. Clients have come to me after participating in expensive marketing courses tailored to their specific professions, such as financial planning, law or accounting. These courses provided the essential tips, tools and techniques to attract more
Knowing What To Do is The Easy Part Read More »
Ideal Referral Source Someone who really, really wants to help you and loves making connections is an Ideal Referral Source. They speak with enthusiasm, are very convincing and love to share whatever they are excited about whether it is a good restaurant or a job well done by a terrific professional. Your Ideal Referral source
Robust Referral Relationships: Part Two Read More »
Ideal Referral Partner A strong referral partnership with another professional is the fast track to getting more and better clients. An Ideal Referral Partnership is a mutually beneficial relationship with a complimentary and non-competing professional or someone within your profession who has a complimentary specialty. An Ideal Referral Partner across professions could be a real
Robust Referral Relationships: Part One Read More »