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7-Session Comprehensive
Self-Study
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Got a question for Valorie?
Ask in the comment section of the blog or e-mail her at
lifecoach911@
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Week 1:
3 Must-Ask Questions
to Start the Year
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Welcome and Announcements
Welcome to our 157 subscribers since last week.
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In the News
Join Valorie for a
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January 12th at 1:00
pm EST for
Seven Secrets of Highly
Successful Coaches
- Specific strategies employed by personal and
executive coaches who have profitable, sustainable practices
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coaches make
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Why your technique is more powerful than your
training
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How to attract clients who will pay top dollar
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How to find your most effective and profitable
niche
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How to sustain a full practice over time
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Answers to your questions about the Spring 2010
Coach Training Intensive
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Week 1:
3 Must-Ask Questions
to Start the Year
Dear Friend,
As we start 2010, I am full of energy and optimism. Emerging from a challenging year, I know
firsthand that unwanted challenges force you to dig deep for strength and
courage. But once you surrender to the
process of being stretched by the trials of life, you never go back to the
smaller version of you. You're bigger
now. And wiser. You fear less. You love more. You gain a new appreciation for the depths of
your resilience, and in my case, the source of it: God's grace.
Last week, I challenged you to reflect on 2009 - to clarify
the lessons you learned that you are carrying with you into this New Year. This week, I challenge you to set a goal that
stretches you - and as a result, excites you enough that you are spurred to
action. A stretch goal is like a weight
you use to tone your soul. It brings you
joy. It develops your character. It taps into your strengths. Stretching doesn't always have to come from
unwanted challenges. Stretching also
happens when you choose to challenge yourself to grow and experience untapped
potential.
It starts with asking yourself the right questions. As a
coach, I use the power of questions every day to help clients find their
authentic answers. So I have a few
questions for you this week to help you start the year with a "stretch" goal. - something that excites you and will bring
you pure joy when you reach it:
1.
What vision feels just beyond your reach?
It might be something you see for other
people, but for whatever reason you don't see it for yourself - even though you
want it. Maybe it's an income that
double or triple what you make now.
Perhaps it's exploring your romantic streak or your fun side. It may even be your dream of being disciplined
enough to eat healthy and exercise. The
goal here is not to choose something that's "realistic," but to choose
something that feels beyond your reach - as though it's not really possible for
you. But
it is possible. Do you have the
faith to believe it? A stretch goal is
one that forces you to stretch. If you
don't have to stretch for it, it's not big enough for this exercise.
2.
What
specific, measurable and time-sensitive goal would bring me closer to that
vision?
Now for the fun part. Get specific about the goal. Make it vivid. Describe it in a way that allows you to
measure your progress and know when you have reached the finish line. And give yourself a deadline. You know what happens when there's no
deadline, right? It's always something
you'll start tomorrow. Before you know it, it's 2011 and it's a New Year's
resolution again! "I'm going to have
more fun and truly enjoy my life, rather than treating my life like a burden"
is a great vision. You could break that
down by saying, "I am going to travel for pleasure more - once every three
months I am going to take a fun trip, even if just a weekend road trip
somewhere adventurous. And I will start
the first weekend in February."
3.
Who
will you tell?
Don't keep your vision and goal to
yourself. Tell somebody. In fact, tell multiple people - supportive
people. Negative ones like to throw
water on your passion and excitement:
"Are you sure?" "That sounds
hard." "You've never done that before!" You don't need those comments. Find someone encouraging - someone who may
even want to do this exercise with you.
Don't keep it to yourself so you can quietly drop the goal if you don't
achieve it. Commit. Declare it out loud. Sharing your plans with others makes it far
more likely you'll actually carry them out.
My challenge to you
this week:
Stop playing it safe.
Stretch!
Journaling question:
Answer the three questions in this week's column.
Meditation:
"To Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all
you could ever ask, think or imagine, according to the power that works in
us..." Ephesians 3:20
Until next time...
Warm wishes,
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Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, What's Really Holding You Back?, Why Not You? and her latest, How Did I Get So Busy? The 28-Day Plan to Free Your Time, Reclaim Your Schedule and Reconnect with What Matters Most. Subscribe to her FREE, inspirational e-newsletter at www.valorieburton.com.
Please feel free to forward The Coaching Session with Valorie Burton E-Newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The Coaching Session with Valorie Burton E-Newsletter is written and distributed by Inspire, Inc.
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