I’m sitting in a new deli and coffee shop in my neighborhood to write this.  It’s so wonderful – the delicious food is Afghan -and the decor is rich gold / burnished trim, vibrant pink, green, orange, blue and yellow accents.  It’s warm, alive and inviting and it’s the only one of its kind in the city.  Cafe-Rumi at www.cafe-rumi.com.  The owners are delighted to be here, they have wanted this a long time; they have given themselves over 100%.  And they are attracting business.  Read more to explore the idea of 100%.

I just got off a phone call about enrollment with Patrick Ryan of Awakened Wisdom Experiences (http://www.awakenedwisdom.com) and he said the biggest difference in enrollment of clients (or in a marriage or a project or relationship or anything in life) is your enthusiasm.  If you are willing to “throw yourself down on the mat and give yourself over 100%” to what it is that you are engaged in, the people you are talking to will get that about you.  Everything else you say or do will support that when you bring it to the conversation.  There are a hundred ways to throw yourself into it at 100% – aggressively, quietly,gently, intelligently, etc. – whatever is appropriate to you.

Patrick says to ask these questions regarding your commitment to a project, relationship, etc.

* The first step is to check and see if you are at 100%.
* If not, ask if you are willing to go to 100% engaged.
* If you are not willing, then ask what’s needed to be willing.
* If you are willing, ask what’s needed to be 100%, then take action.

These are wonderful questions.  He doesn’t want you to figure out why you’re not at 100% but if you’re willing to go there.  He doesn’t ask you to figure out why you’re not willing, but what’s needed to be willing.  They engage you in forward momentum, not in paralyzing analysis.

This discussion lead me to notice where I am not at 100%, and it’s uncomfortable as well as an opportunity to call me forth.   It’s exciting to see an opportunity for growth.  I’d say my marriage has been fulfilling for 25 years because we both chose to give ourselves over to it 100%.  My business struggles when the 100% enthusiasm sags and erodes in the wake of discouragement or fear. And discouragement and fear are the ideal triggers to throw myself on the mat at 100%.

Mini coaching:

Pick a project you’re doing or a relationship you’re in and ask the questions that Patrick suggests above.  If you’re doing it, isn’t it worth doing at 100%?  Otherwise, why bother?  What would your world be like to “throw yourself down on the mat and give yourself over 100%” to everything that mattered, including your downtime, intimate time, work time, playtime, think time? Great!  Leave a comment-thanks!

I asked a client who was looking for work for months and frustrated to take a day off for her favorite activity, golf. She agreed not to spend any mental energy on her challenge and fears around finding work during the day.  A few weeks later, she had an offer.  I assert that the peace, centering, and rest afforded by a true, deep, fun chunk of time is invaluable for clear and heartfelt thinking, creative solutions, and results.  You all know that, but do you do it?  Do I do it?  No.

So, since I’m the coach here, I’ll ask the questions you’re expecting, and some you may not be expecting, to uncover something new about fun.  What’s your payoff for “keeping your nose to the grindstone”, for staying in electronic communication even when you’re out for fun, for never taking more than 24 hours off?  If we’re doing it, there’s a payoff.  And an underlying belief.

What’s the price you pay for going and going and going and going with the daily commitments?

Since fun leads to relaxing which leads to reduced stress (which is a physical state in your body that wears on it, not to mention your productivity and joy) which leads to increased health and creativity, what do you need to do to take care of yourself  for fun?  Will a few hours do it?  Or will it take a week or two or a month away?  A woman I’ve worked with has her own business.  She took two months off over the summer.  She was afraid she’d lose all her clients.  Many waited for her.  When she got back, she had more business than ever which has been steady for two years.

What brings you pleasure and joy?  Leave a comment. 

On a scale of 0 to 10, how fulfilled and satisfied are you in these eight major life areas? (10 is completely fulfilled, with nothing left out).

Fun and Recreation

Health and Fitness

Career

Money

Friends and Family

Significant Other and Romance

Physical Environment

Spirituality or Personal Growth

Do you have a clear, unobstructed path to getting to fulfillment in these areas and are you are on that path  with enthusiasm, optimism and effectiveness?

Do you know what you are best designed to do and be on this earth?  Are your head and heart are aligned; your soul and ego in partnership as you gloriously do the actions and have the impact that you love, love, love to do and be?

For those of you who are  finding clarity or momentum around career, money, relationships, fun, health, environment and/or joy while simultaneously in your busy life commuting, working, raising a family, or handling problems,  I invite you to consider an alliance with a professional to help you focus on you.  It might be a therapist, group, or coach (believe it or not, I’m partial to the coaching solution!).

Businesses readily hire coaches to ultimately improve their bottom line.  Well, the bottom line for your life is what you call fulfillment. That’s my business.  For a no-cost consultation,  call me (510-886-7374) or email me.  I am on purpose as a coach when I  create a courageous, energetic relationship with you so you can clarify and manifest your vision or dream.

One of my big aha’s this week as I remembered this bike trip with a coach, is that I had a plan for the trip.  It was simple.  Every day I got up and pedaled at least 60 miles down a very clear path – the road – unless it was dangerously hot or pouring down rain.  The road took me east every day.  Not north, south or west.  East towards Boston and the Atlantic Ocean.  As long as I followed the road, and kept safety precautions, I would get to Boston, to Deborah D.s house – my best friend from high school.  Now, the problem with me in my business is that I keep changing plans.  I change marketing plans, I change my goals, I change niches. I doubt my vision.  I worry about money.  I take exits off the road to visit giant balls of string and two headed snakes.  I wander north and south and wonder why I’m no closer to Boston.

The road and my goal focused all of my energies. It kept me true and on task.  Sure, I never saw the two headed snake, but I reached Boston, I accomplished my goal.

Action

Take stock of your plan. What is it to honor it?  What are your two-headed snake detours?  What are three changes you’ll make to your plan or how you honor it?  I invite you to respond in the comments.  Thank you for the courage to invent yourself everyday into your greatness.

The next step is to assess where you are and picture where you want to be at the end of the time frame.  Do you want to be joyfully employed? Making another $10,000 or $100,000? Three sizes smaller?  Then work backwards. Who do you have to be to achieve those goals? What will you learn?  What results will you produce in July, Aug and September?  Each week? What will motivate you?  How will you handle breakdowns this time?  How will you keep your goals fresh in your mind?

Finally, make a plan.   Make it as detailed or general as you need to be successful.  For me, great detail just makes me crazy.  I like broad brush strokes.  For others, details are it.   The plan isn’t over until it’s on your calendar.

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion”. Thomas Hardy

Leave a comment – Did you declare a clean slate?  What is your planning process?