Why bother really, 85% of people make resolutions and by January 20th 80% of those people have failed, the number actually increases and by the end of the month only 8% of people who have made [...]]]> New Year conversation starter

Everyone wants to know what you are giving up or doing more of in 2012.

Why bother really, 85% of people make resolutions and by January 20^th 80% of those people have failed, the number actually increases and by the end of the month only 8% of people who have made a resolution are actually still engaged in the resolution.

The other piece of information that is important to know is that the 8% that have achieved their resolution did so because they were thinking about it long before the hectic sleep deprived holiday sweet filled stupor that happens the week before the big day…that would be January 1^st.

The people that succeed are the people that make changes in September and work on them consistently throughout the fall with an added burst of enthusiasm at the beginning of the shiny new year.

For the rest of the population a new fresh outlook on the New Year and resolutions can make all the difference in whether you will fail by Jan 20^th. Perhaps this year you can achieve a new found feeling of control over the direction of your life in the next 12 months. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”. Perhaps 2012 is the year to STOP the insanity and approach the New Year with a different plan.

SUCCESS steps for achieving RESULTS in 2012

• Stop calling them resolutions…the word is associated with failure. Call it whatever you want but make sure what you name it means SUCCESS for you.
• Pick a few areas in your life that you are not happy with. Think about the five key areas of life for this, they are Relationships, Career, Financial, Health and Personal Growth. Get specific about what is not working, what you are frustrated with and write it all down. This is a very important step, if you miss this you will reduce your chances of SUCCESS…so go now and write it down!
• Once you are clear about what is not working in your life it is time to create clarity around what you DO want.  Take the statements describing the frustrations in your life and turn them around. For example if you stated that you are not happy with your health…ask the question ”What do I want?”. Now is the time to be specific. You need to get detailed and very clear about what it is you DO want. You may say….” I want to be able to fit into a pair of size 10 pants, to be able to go skiing with my children for the day without feeling fatigued, to run a ½ marathon by the spring. Now go and do this step…seriously. Michael Losier will show you in this video how to do the Contrast through Clarity process. Watch it now!
• The final step is to take the clarifying statements and put them into an action plan. An action plan that will be executed over the next three to six months. This is long term strategy, not a quick fix. Small changes over a long period of time will have a longer lasting effect and are key to SUCCESS in your New Years Action Plan.

If is it SUCCESS and achievement you are looking for in 2012 then an action plan is your key to making it happen.

All you need now is some paper, time to think about where you have been and where you want to be and the daily actions that you will do to get RESULTS this year.

It is never too late to make a New Beginning

After an advanced workshop last week with Law of Attraction Book author Michael Losier you would think I would  know better. Not! Some lessons are learned through trial and error.

I think I am getting the evil eye

On our long drive ( long [...]]]> Don’t hurt yourself on the ski hill…

Famous last words

After an advanced workshop last week with Law of Attraction Book author Michael Losier you would think I would  know better. Not! Some lessons are learned through trial and error.

I think I am getting the evil eye

On our long drive ( long if you live in rural New Brunswick) to the Sussex Hospital I was wondering how my words may have impacted my sons night on the ski hill, and his broken collarbone.

In the advanced class with Michael  we learned that;

Words…become Thoughts..which then become a Vibe + or – then a match happens

The words that Michael emphasized in the class were; don’t, not and no.

When we add these words to any sentence we attract that thing that we are actually not wanting. When I said to my son don’t get hurt on the ski hill…what I actually vibrated was ‘get hurt on the ski hill’.

The Law of Attraction works

Whether you believe that this works or not is irrelevant…have a look at the areas of your life that are working and not working.  Stop and be aware of the words you are using, you may be surprised at what you are attracting…positive and negative.

Instead of;

• don’t run through the house, say…walk please
• my client is not going to cancel, say…my clients keep all their scheduled appointments
• No one books business in January, say January can be a busy time of year.

Just for fun, over the next few days take note of the words you are using. When you start using these techniques you can become the ‘Master Manifester’  in your own life.

Asking Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul Author, what Inspires him was scary yet exciting all at the same time.

He was so gracious and his answer is very inspiring.

A plant breaks through the surface of the soil at just the right time.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not [...]]]> Knowing when that Time will arrive is a Mystery

A tree branch grows when it is time to grow.

A plant breaks through the surface of the soil at just the right time.

Every business, business idea and entrepreneurial dream has its own germination time…

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
- Thomas Edison

Quotes help us when we need Inspiration, Please share your favorite Inspirational Quote…you never know who you might Inspire today!

I love what Brene says…”in order to connect we have to allow ourselves to be seen…to be really seen“.

To learn more about Dana and her coaching programs visit her website now.

So many of the happy, successful (well they look it on the [...]]]> This one Word Theme Concept is not new or novel

However if you have never undertaken this Visioning exercise you will thank Dana for suggesting it. Enjoy this video.

To learn more about Dana and her coaching programs visit her website now.

So many of the happy, successful (well they look it on the outside) people I follow use this Vision Board technique.

Mari Smith the Facebook Marketing expert has been using this one word theme technique for the past 5 years and has done just what she has set out to do. Her passion for what she does and how she does it is evident in this passage from her website, “I’ve found that by also selecting just one word as a theme for my whole year, all manner of new opportunities and experiences show up. The Universe responds to your decision.

Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project, the book I am currently reading also thought a one word theme was a great idea. You can watch her Happiness Project video about a word theme here.

Create your Own Vision Board with your one word Theme

Perhaps you would like to create a Vision Board for 2012.

If you live in or near the Rothesay NB area you can join me on Monday January 23rd from 7-9 pm for a Vision Board Workshop.

I will be hosting this event at Crystals & Karma, please follow this link for more details.

For Personalized Vision Board help.

If you do not live in the area and would like some direction with this activity please contact me at elainebusinessmuse@gmail.com

The New Year and all the talk of resolutions(I personally do not use Resolutions but Intentions) paired with the cold wintery days make for a time of reflection and goal setting.

While working on my vision [...]]]> Using the Law of Attraction and Intention for 2012

This is a wonderful time of year for new beginnings.

The New Year and all the talk of resolutions(I personally do not use Resolutions but Intentions) paired with the cold wintery days make for a time of reflection and goal setting.

While working on my vision board for 2012 I was inspired by a friend who picks a one word theme every year for the entire year. 

This word reflects the personal and professional goals for the year. After some meditation and reflection I was excited to have found a word…my theme for 2012. It is not a word that you might automatically think of if you know me, but this word resonated with where I am on this amazing journey we call life.

Are you ready…..the theme for 2012 is Simplify.

Once I had my word I went to my research source, Google, there were many definitions to choose from but this one captured the essence of the journey ahead. According to The Quakers ‘Testimony of Simplicity’ it is…The simplifying of one’s life in order to focus on things that are most important and disregard or avoid things that are least important.

This is a big theme, one that will involve the whole family. They are all in, kind of sort of. I have started a diary to record the details that we tend to forget over time. The diary will highlight the efforts we are taking as a family to Simplify our home, our schedules, our play, our time and all the small details that complicate our daily lives.

So with a large pile of magazines, scissors, tape and a list of Intentions the 2012 Vision Board is complete.

To launch our project we will be tackling our closets first, they are not by most standards overflowing with clothing but it is more than what we need and as I say often, ‘your clutter may be someone else’s survival’. The excess will be donated to local charities, check out my facebook page for a list of charities that you can find locally for your donations.

If you feel compelled to join us on our journey to Simplify please do.

For further help and inspiration I will be sharing our progress as well as tips to simplify in these KV Style articles, on my facebook page, you can download my How To Organize Video resource for only $1.99 at my other website Organizing Connection during January 2012 and if you feel you need personalized help please contact me to take advantage of a January Simplify Special.

The next year will have its challenges, however, having the whole family engaged and participating as a team will certainly make it easier and at the end of the day we will create memories for our children that they will carry forever. I am looking forward to eliminating the things that are no longer useful or beautiful so we can enjoy the benefits of focusing on what is important.

This post is reprinted from my bi-weekly KVStyle column.

Resolutions always end up in failure. In the words of Anthony Robbins, the founder of the coaching movement, [...]]]> New Years 2012 Intention Setting

This last week of the calendar year is an opportune time for reflection of the year past and intention setting for the year ahead.

Notice the word ‘Resolution’ was not used.

Resolutions always end up in failure. In the words of Anthony Robbins, the founder of the coaching movement, “Resolutions only require words, Results require ACTION”. To take this a step further…right action combined with right intention will help you achieve sustainable goals while developing new habits and healthy behaviors.

So what does all of this have to do with de-cluttering and getting organized?

De-cluttering is to remove clutter from.
Organizing is to arrange in working order

As you look back at 2011 identify the areas of your life that you are not satisfied with.

These areas could include; relationships, health, fun & recreation, money, personal growth, career, your physical environment and spirituality.

Ask yourself why you are not happy with the particular areas.

The annoyances that you have identified in each area identified is clutter!

It could be the physical clutter that is there for you to see every day and is a cause of stress for you and your family, perhaps it is conversations with people that leave you emotionally drained, maybe it is the volunteer activity that you are still doing for all the wrong reasons that takes up too much of your valuable time. Clutter is clutter…in your space, in your time in your life.

Now look forward to 2012.

A clean slate, 365 days to live a life with right intention. Now look at the areas of your life again. How do you want them to be? Be specific, write it down. For example a resolution would be to lose a specific number of pounds, which by the end of January has already lost its luster and you are right back to your old habits.

Setting the right intention would sound like this …in 2012 I will be mindful of when I eat, how I eat, why I eat, what I am eating and how much I am consuming so I can have more energy and feel better.

This shift from a static number in the resolution to the imagery of intention setting activates the parts of the brain that support long term success. Stephen Covey says in the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People “Begin with the End in Mind”, in other words putting the elements of your life into working order.

You are now going beyond a resolution; you are setting the right intentions for the New 2012 Year.

Now go and take that clean slate and set intentions for your best year ever.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and encouragement over the past year.
This blog is for you and in order to help you the best way I can I would like to ask you for guidance on topics for 2012.

What are the areas of your life that need de-cluttering and organizing?

Please send me your ideas so the posts of 2012 will help you to achieve YOUR New Years Intentions.

They are not waiting until the children leave to ‘Right Size’ their home, they are doing it now. So the process of selling the beloved family home of 14 years [...]]]> A life Simplified

Over the next 12 months Elaine and  her family are going on a journey to Simplify and Enjoy life to the fullest!

They are not waiting until the children leave to ‘Right Size’ their home, they are doing it now. So the process of selling the beloved family home of 14 years is now in process and when the sold sign hits the lawn the search will start for the ‘Right Size’ home for this family of five.  A home with just enough space to live in but not so much that it can’t be cleaned in less than 1 hour!

They are not waiting for retirement to travel, who knows what life will look like in 20 years. Right now life looks great and with good  health and the children still home they are going to travel to as many amazing places possible. With awesome friends all over this amazing planet and they want our kids to enjoy meeting them too!

They are not waiting for some tragic news to hit so they can live each day like it is their last…they are doing it now. Living each delicious moment of life like it is their last, too many people they love have had the bad news so they thought they would learn from their lessons.