Sometimes just getting up and facing your “to do” list can create doubts and fears. 

There are very few really successful people who have a “to do” list that is initially reasonable for them to accomplish.  It gets longer each day, filled with things they “should” get done and many times they just keep shifting old items to a new “to do” list.  

The truth of it is, your “to do” list will never be done.  The bright side of it is that you can really tell a lot about yourself and your struggles for creating daily success by what you continue to put on that list and NEVER get done.

When you do not complete an item and you continue to transfer it to a new list, it will wear on your confidence and create doubts and fears.  Why do you think that is?

My experience with my clients is that they are adding stuff to their lists that need to get done, but not necessarily by them.  They see a need and add it to their list.  It stays there for a long time; then they get guilty for not completing it; then they get their pants in a bunch cause it is not done; then they begin to doubt their themselves cause they can’t seem to get it done…

Sound familiar.

My suggestion is this:  put on your list what you should be doing. 

World peace may be on your list to solve, but is it reasonable for you to take that on?  You can contribute, pray, discuss etc, but you are not in charge of something quite this big.

It is the same with your list of things you think you need to get done. 

I am suggesting that you do what is within your scope to do; apply your particular talents to; can make a difference completing; adds to the project; creates success.  You get the picture.

If you are taking on items to do that you are not good at and really don’t have the time to do, it defeats you.  It can only create doubt and fear because you will never get it done.  Or if you do, it will not be as good as maybe someone else could do.  And there is the rub. 

Until you really take the time to evaluate what you are best at; should be handling; learn to delegate and be totally reasonable about what is most important to you to accomplish, you will continue to add things to your “to do” list that will never ever get done. 

My most successful clients take time each day and week to evaluate what they should and could be doing to create the life that is most important to them.  It takes confidence to choose what you do well and then do it.  It also takes thinking and evaluating time to get to that place where you can decide what is most important to you.

Ask me about my VIP Coaching Days.  We can dramatically shift your mindset and world in one day by concentrating on what is most important to you and then building a “to do” list that is relevant, achievable and feeds your confidence for creating success.  I would love to work with you.  Success@NatalieManor.com  800-666-2230 

At this time of the year, each day the calendar is adding 2+ minutes of daylight.  In the winter months, that can be such a refreshing bit of news. 

Daylight to me is the gold standard for spring, summer and fall when I can elongate the days, stay outside in my beloved garden and finish the day late in the evening still with a bit of “light” left in the day. 

Plants, people, animals all need the light.  My puppy adores sitting in a sunbeam on a pillow in the lazy morning sun.  Sometimes I join her because the light just feels good.  The sunlight just seeps right through me to my bones.

Each day we get to have 2+ more minutes of light in our day. 

What if we treated our goals that way?  Each day we added just a bit more polish to the ideas and results we want to produce.  What if we did not treat our goals like they were gigantic obstacles needing to be done now, but easily prepared and designed a simple system of doing good work each day?

Goals can be somewhat overwhelming even if they are just what we need to accomplish.  I always have a wonderful strategy for increasing my sales; providing better and deeper service for my clients; learning new material so I can incorporate it all into the content I produce for my books, articles, TV appearances, radio interviews, keynotes with associations etc.  It all makes sense to learn more and offer more.

It is how we do that I think that produces the quality of our lives.  I am going to take a clue from the daylight.  Instead of attacking my goals like there are enemies to be overcome, I am going to visit with my goals; cherish them and feel empowered by them a bit at a time.

My former business consultant/coach built his very successful reputation and practice based on completing his 3 most important goals each day.  Judging from his success, that is a great concept we all could adopt. 

As I was writing this note to you, I’ve decided to prioritize my next day with the 3 top most important items I need to get done.  It feels better already. 

Daylight increasing.  Designing our goals to create confidence, pleasure and terrific results without feeling overwhelmed. 

You know what, I like this.  To our success!

P.S.  Ask me about doing a VIP Day with me soon.  My clients love them and have created a results producing 2012 for themselves filled with clarity and effectiveness.  Write me a note and let’s talk about your VIP Day and designing the results you deserve.  CoachNatalie@NatalieManor.com 

Remember how you needed a permission slip to get anywhere in school?  A slip to the library or the bathroom or the cafeteria. Well, I am going to give you a PERMISSION SLIP to be a new you!

We have so many reasons that we cannot do or be things.  Our parents were mean to us.  We did not get the promotion we wanted.  The BOD we wanted to be on did not want us.  The flight we wanted to be on was full.  We can’t lose that weight because it is cold outside and we don’t have the money for the new cool athletic shoes.

Whatever!

There is not one of us that has not failed big time and often.  I could recount so many times that I failed to do or be…without character or integrity because it was hard or I did not know how.  Of course I made excuses for myself and really and truly believed them at the time.

Well you know what, 2012 is calling and it has your name all over it. Whether you read the Mayan calendar about the end of the world, or listen to the spiritual leaders who say 2012 is the best year for our world, it does not matter.  What matters is taking a good long look in the mirror and liking, maybe for the first time, what you see.

Self-acceptance and self-love have gotten short shrift for too long. 

Take a dance lesson.  Or a singing lesson.  Or offer your talents to a school; mission; church; family member; enemy. 

I am going to be ringing in 2012 with the fullest amount of joy I can find.  I believe a warm fire, my puppy and my gratitude journal will be right there when the year turns from 2011 to 2012.

You are a really marvelous human who may have forgotten just how terrific you are.  Come join me on New Year’s Eve and let me remind you of how you contribute so deeply to life.  We will record the conversation so you can listen to it later when you begin to doubt you again.

If you have difficulty finding anything good about you then turn all the lights off, sit quietly and listen to your breath.  It is the most astounding experience to just sit and admire how your body works with NO  help from you.  Be simple.  Be present.  Be in awe.

May you experience a stunning 2012. 

Tape?  What do you mean there is no more tape?  I have so many more things to wrap. 

What we all really need to wrap up is an adult “chill” out for all of us.  A place where it is quiet, secluded (Costa Rica?) and has no emergencies.  I am thinking a time warp where we can just wander around without interruption or opinion and get stuff done (or not) without any interference.

This is beginning to sound like whining. 

It is 9:00pm and I am still at my home office desk thinking about how I am going to get all my work done before I leave for Christmas.  Yes I will be taking my laptop with me.  Yes I will have my smartphone with me.  Yes I will have several printed pages of notes for me to review during my time off.

That does not sound like time off to me. 

Rethink. 

If I am going to see all my kiddletts in Nashville for Christmas and the purpose of this time is to relax and have fun, why am I fully wired and downloaded for the duration?  I am a Stress Coach telling people to get in touch with their fun and joyful side strongly suggesting they put their technology away and taking some much needed air into their lungs.

As I look around my office, I see remnants and evidence of my business successes from 2011 and the beginnings of my business development goals for 2012.  I think I have done some really good preparing and evaluating in both directions.  Maybe right now that is enough.

OK, I get it!  I am done for the evening. 

Turn the radio up, hum the Christmas tunes, go walk my puppy who has been patiently snoozing by my desk.  I might even do a bit of a jig as I find my coat and gloves.

All done.  Merry Christmas.

Even the very best intentions can bring on stress.  The holiday season is just one huge way that we actually express stress in a compressed timeframe. So much to do and feeling there is so little time to do it in.  Then it “all” feels bigger, more stressful and as if it might sometimes be too much to handle. 

Stress busters for the holiday to the rescue. 

Meditation has been around for thousands of years and eases the characteristics of stress.  I keep running into people that say they don’t know how to meditate and also do not have time to mediate.  Actually you do know how to do both.

The time it takes to shift into a day dream is the time it takes to mediate.  We quiet our thoughts, take deep breaths and relax some of the muscles we have turned into rocks especially around our neck and shoulders.

Meditation and relaxing does not have to take a long time; you do not need a special room or location to meditate and you don’t need any fitness clothes to do this.  One of the most frequent ways I meditate during the day is to set an alarm on my phone.  I respect the alarm and take 10 – 15 minutes of doing nothing in my chair.  I breathe deeply, see where I feel tense and relax that area of my body and then a second alarm goes off to let me know the time has passed.

Do not tell me you don’t have 10 minutes two to three times a day to just stop what you are doing to breathe and relax a bit.

If you can’t find a quite spot to meditate, then just get up from your chair and stretch.  Hands high in the air, lean over and touch your toes, rub your neck and shoulder and concentrate on relaxing your jaw and face.  Breathe, relax, rub, stretch.  2 minutes and you will feel like a new person. 

Stretch.  Breathe.  Rub your neck and shoulders.  Relax your jaw and face.  Meditate for 10-15 minutes.  Breathe. 

And don’t forget to drink some delicious water and hydrate that terrific body and mind of yours.

Happy Holidays.  I mean it!  Happy Holidays. 

For some reason I have become known as the go to person for Holiday Stress Reduction.  That is so funny when you think of all the stress I create in my own life.  However, I do know and do practice some terrific stress reducing habits that have saved me from ditching the holidays and hiding my in basement until it is all over.  Here are some I think you will find beneficial to practice for the next 17 day until Christmas:

·        Do not add one more thing to do to your “to do” list.  You won’t get it all done and why create more stress anyway? Take 3 things from the list and do them each day.  No more and no less.  You will be stunned with what  you get done. 

·        Hydrate with lots of filtered water all day long.  It will help your brain think more clearly, soften your skin and keep you warmer as things get colder outside.

·        Get some rest.  20 minutes here.  A nap there.  It adds up and it helps your emotions cope when things just don’t go as you think they should.

·        Bring some good easy food into your home that will fuel you and be nutritional.  Spinach is a wonderful food for fiber, vitamin C and the dreaded antioxidants/free radicals that seem to be killing us all.  You can wilt spinach, chop it, put it in eggs or a smoothie.  The stuff just works and it tastes terrific.

·        Stretch your muscles during the day.  Just get up and stretch.  Try to reach the ceiling, hang in a doorway, bend over and find those toes.  Stretching helps your blood and oxygen circulation in ALL ways.

·        And breathe.  Deeply.  Often.  Breathing deeply relaxes the body and helps us feel in control and confident.

The holidays become very serious for many of us.  They are supposed to be fun and magical.  You deserve to enjoy your holiday season easily and with as little stress as possible.  Try some of what I have suggested.  You will be writing me thank you notes. 

Happy Holidays.  Merry Christmas.  I hope you find all that you need and want during this full time of year. 

I will be on DayTime TriCities TV Monday December 11^th and Monday December 18^th with more tips for your holiday stress reduction.  www.daytimetricities.com  

Talk about being “dipped” into the holiday season in what I considered an interfering way until I got what the date is today.  I have been deep in thought while producing a brand new product for my organization and clients.  Watch for the announcement soon.  I did not realize that it really and truly was and is the middle of November.  Gads, I am still trying to figure out where May went. 

So what happens when you are absorbed in something?  Time goes by.  Things don’t get done.  Stuff piles up.  And the holidays show up when you least expect them.  There is food to prepare and recipes to unearth and people to get in touch with and and and.

But ya know, Thanksgiving is a one of my favorite holidays even when it sneaks up on me.  It smells good.  It feels good.  It tastes good. 

And then Christmas shows up and then the end of the year…and that is where all the stress is.  The speed at which we experience the holidays along with the closing of the year and ramping up for a new year.

Breathe, Natalie, breathe.  There is always a solution to being stressed. 

My recipe for a stress-free Thanksgiving is the following:

·        Breathe deeply and often – it will work wonders for how you are feeling and maybe even reacting…

·        Stop worrying about the food, it will all work out well, it always does

·        Clean out your pantry and donate all the food you have not eaten this year – there are hungry people out there that will appreciate your generosity – it will make you feel great too

·        Rent a really silly or funny movie for everyone to watch TOGETHER

·        Call a friend – not Facebook – who you really would like to connect with and you really miss  

·        Turn your smartphones off during the Thanksgiving day

·        Take an actual physical walk with EVERYONE together after your dinner  – if you have snow, throw some snowballs

·        Take a nap with a baby or a puppy with a very soft blanket in front of the fire or in the recliner (I can highly recommend the puppy)

·        Only spend the dollars you actually have on Black Friday no matter how good the deals are

Please be safe and warm and happy with you and your Thanksgiving plans.  I hope it is all you need and want.  Don’t forget to snuggle with someone.  It is just the best. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

My love, Natalie 

My best,

Natalie

http://www.NatalieManor.com/bce/free.html

"BCE – Business Communication Etiquette – Leveraging your time and talents to easily communicate in solving your business development and people issues faster than you ever thought possible."

www.NatalieManor.com

423-282-4481

3101 Browns Mill Road

Suite 6-103

Johnson City, TN 37604

coachnatalie@nataliemanor.com

I am about to go to ETSU (East Tennessee’s State University) Women’s Resource Center lunch time workshops and deliver my seminar on “Oh For Heaven’s Sake, Is It The Holidays Again?”

My presentation is quite humorous and I do TV, radio and corporate meetings every holiday season the help people get to the place – stress free – so they can really enjoy their holidays…maybe even for the first time in their lives.

For the next 5 weeks I will be posting holiday stress relieving tips on my facebook and LinkedIn pages.  It is my hope that you not only learn something from these tips that will be valuable for you this season, but the tips help you feel really good about this wonderful holiday time of year.

So…invite me to speak at your club, Rotary, organization, association or group.  You will love the tips and the fun we have is so worth the time.

HOLIDAY STRESS TIP:  Do not go anywhere this season without a source of water.  They say that 75% of our hunger comes from being dehydrated.  Carry a bottle of water in your car; have one at your office and put one in your briefcase or purse.  Also, if you want to carry this to the next “green” step, get yourself a reusable water bottle and save on adding plastic bottles to the landfills.  Water and hydrating yourself just makes you feel good and it is GREAT for avoiding dry skin.  Happy Holidays!

More and more of the highly successful people I coach and consult seem to think they need a time management refresher course.  They are not sure where their times goes, they wrestle with their technology demands and feel breathless at the end of their very long days.

“Have I got all done?”    “I thought technology was supposed to save me time.”    “Whoa, look at all of those #$%^&* emails I need to read.”    “It just never ends.”

The idea of time management is a very good concept when it works to your benefit.  Often though, time slips away from minutes to hours to days and then into weeks.  Do you actually remember May of this year and what you were doing?  Time seems to have accelerated and even the best time management mavens are struggling to get it all done. 

So what is the solution Natalie? 

To solve most issues with time you need to take some of your precious time and evaluate where you are spending it.  Take a true and full look at how you are spending your time and energy.  There are several really simple ways to do this that will not lock you up into a rigorous process.  They can just help you see where it is that you can now LEVERAGE the time you have to accomplish what is most important to you.

Evaluating your time spending habits will highlight where it can be improved and where you can learn some new skills for leveraging your talents and strengths in a way that is again enjoyable and rewarding. 

My business consulting and coaching clients have found time, energy, confidence and leverage for accomplishing what is important and what would create true success for them and their organizations.  I would enjoying sharing some of these ideas with you.  Let’s have a conversation about how I can help you leverage your talents, strengths and skills to freely choose some TIME that finally works for you. 

Cell:  603-493-1435   coachnatalie@nataliemanor.com 

Shift, change, movement, transitions…ever changing and ever shifting we are.  So do you like constant change or do you run from it like a scared rabbit?

Name one thing that has not changed since you were born.  For that matter, name one thing that has not changed in the last year?  Everything has changed.

Maybe you did not move from your home where you have lived for a year, but the structure is not the same as a year ago.  Paint, drains, curtains, pictures on the wall.  Everything has moved or shifted slightly.  Maybe some things have shifted dramatically like when it rained so hard my basement flooded. 

We are always in a transition and it is interesting how vehemently we think we can keep things exactly the same as they were an hour ago.  Last night was cooler than it had been in weeks.  Today is cooler and a relief from the very hot weather we have had this summer.  The problem with the cooler weather is that it means fall is coming, summer is winding down and everything will change again.

So how are you doing with all this change?  For that matter, how are you doing in general with your life, career, family and health?  Are you resisting changes that could serve you in lovely confident ways, but you resist because you cannot guarantee how “things” will turn out? 

A year ago January 2010, I changed my business strategy that I had practiced for 24 years.  Talk about shift, change and transition.  My poor MasterMind group had to listen for a full year about how hard it was to change a strategy that had been successful to something new and not guaranteed.  Lucky me, they were very sympathetic and listened week after week.  Then one day I got it.  I am the issue with this strategy change. I was resisting what I did not know and filling my brain with what I thought I knew and could control.

I would like to report that my new strategy is wildly successful with revenue pouring in and cash flow projections not an issue.  I can’t.  What I can report is that I am happier, healthier, more clever and creative and open to “new stuff” much more easily.  I have produced 5 new products, 3 new signature Keynotes, elevated my marketing to a manageable and enjoyable function and have technology working for me rather than me working for it. 

Oh, cash flow is good.  Business is good.  I have some really terrific new clients.  AND I have stopped worrying so much about the next moment and trying to control my exact outcome at any second in my life.

My garden is growing better this year.  I have less weeds, more birds, a great young 20 something doing the heavy lifting and I use my arbor as a place to read and think.  

My Droid is usually right next to me as it gives me the complete independence to be in my yard, office, car, airport, friend’s house and manage my business my way.  Technology works for me.  I have tamed my fear of new techie stuff cause I have the best technical company supporting me. 

I spent my time doing what I do best.  I am a terrific business consultant and coach. I write my blog.  I am a guest expert to several business outlets.  I speak at conferences and associations that appeal to me.  I work with people who want to increase their influence, confidence and revenues whether as an individual, team, organization or business owner. 

I do this from wherever I am…garden, yard, arbor, office or clients space. 

What I have learned from trying to control the world – as if I could anyway – is to relax into what I do best with a strategy that works for my audiences and clients.  When I do that, I help my clients relax into their talents and strengths and we get lots done, profitably and without that constant harassing stress of pushing so hard we create worry, anxiousness and incomplete results. 

Whatever you resist persists.  Or as Einstein said:  “Doing something again and again in exactly the same way and expecting a different result is INSANITY.”

Shift happens.  Change is constant.  Control is elusive.  Fall is coming.  Enjoy it all without the edge of resistance.  If you would like to work together, let me know.  I am getting really good at this stuff and so are my clients.

To your ease and success, Natalie