Welcome to MyPath

I have a client I've been working with in a 1-1 coaching relationship who is a physician.  At the end of last year, she started her own private practice.  Regardless of what profession you're in, starting your own business is a big endeavor. In many cases, there's a large financial outlay initially and there are a lot of systems, processes and new routines that need to be established as the foundation of your success.  This client was very successful working within the structure as an employee. There were clearly defined job duties and responsibilities and work hours as well as a team of resources to help handle other tasks in the office.  On her own, she often feels overwhelmed at the growing list of tasks and responsibilities that fall on her plate. She expressed feelings of frustration at not being able to handle all of her work and personal/family responsibilities on her own.

Working together, we reviewed her strengths and strategies that have worked successfully for her in the past. We used these as a baseline to create a system that will function more effectively for her today.  Starting from optimizing the tools she already has accessible, we began exploring and discovering techniques she could adapt in this new work environment to get more done with less. The key that we're focusing on is to minimize the mental clutter so that as much as possible happens on a routine basis without having to think about it. We’re eliminating procrastination and perfectionism, as well. For example, bill paying had fallen behind because incoming bills had gotten lost in the increasing piles in her home office. By adapting the same technique she was using at her office to keep incoming bills in a manila envelope and take care of paying them on a weekly basis, she was easily able to create a structured routine. In my case, I have made it a habit to pay my bills on the first and the fifteenth of each month to avoid the possibility of late payments, overdue fees, penalties, etc. When I’m traveling, I prepare them either before I go or immediately when I return in order to keep the rhythm going for this routine task.

The point is that there isn't just one right way to manage anything in your work or office and the more you can establish as part of your regular routine, the easier it becomes to manage everything on your plate.  By leveraging your strengths and past successful behaviors, you can adapt to new situations with less difficulty.

Things will continue changing at work—you'll possibly get new work assigned, a new boss, a relocation, different responsibilities, a promotion, a new position, etc.—so, if you re-establish the routines, habits, systems and processes that work for you each time there is a change, you'll be in a better place of managing your full plate with grace, balance and success!

In my last BLOG, I shared some reports about the drastic decline in employee job satisfaction. In this BLOG post I will share some observations and strategies for increasing the prospect of job satisfaction, even in a doom economy.

In my experiences working with people both employed and unemployed, I’ve found that many people have not taken responsibility for their own career growth. When I worked for years in the corporate world, over two decades ago, we were told that the company was no longer responsible for our career growth but rather we were responsible for creating our own. Many employees had a difficult time adapting to this new way of thinking because they were used to earlier times when they created a career plan and followed it within one company.

Strategy: Own your career! Seek out the right opportunities for your interest and abilities both inside and outside the company. Have a career plan.

I’ve also seen people get complacent. They stopped taking continuing training and development and looking for opportunities to expand their skills and network of contacts. They didn’t have an up-to-date resume and couldn’t remember the last time they had a job interview. Often, with training budgets being cut, employees blamed the lack of funding for their discontinuance of learning and professional development.

Strategy: Keep learning & growing. If there’s a skill you want to develop, look for opportunities, to build and demonstrate that skill, even if it’s outside of the workplace. Having new skills in diverse areas may help distinguish you while increasing your job satisfaction. Enroll in classes. Meet new people. Challenge yourself!

Often, people dissatisfied at work are also unhappy at home. People allow their work grind to follow them home. It is possible to improve your life even if you can't improve your work.

Strategy: Instead of letting your work displeasures to invade your home, invest in your private life and create a happiness that can make work more palatable. Consciously create fond family memories, indulge in a hobby, 'date' your spouse or partner, take classes, or enrich your life in other ways! Make laughter a part of your every day life.

Lastly, people feel stuck at their dissatisfying job. They don’t believe they have an out so they don’t look for other opportunities. Unfortunately, whatever you believe becomes true for you based on your thoughts and actions. In this case, it would be the inaction of looking for other career prospects.

Strategy: Seek out alternative job opportunities while you are still gainfully employed. You are more likely to ask the right questions and not take something out of desperation or fear. Also, in the meantime, find ways to change your current job even if your actual job description or boss can’t change. Your perception and your attitude can change and that by itself can make a world of difference with your job satisfaction.

Want to be more satisfied at work?  Then, create more happiness and satisfaction!

   We are sleep deprived as a Nation! When I polled a recent audience during a presentation about “Taming Stress in your Over-committed Life”, less than 60% indicated that they get 7-8 hours of sleep each evening. The remaining 40% reported getting significantly less!  One woman admitted to 2-3 hours of sleep each night on average.

So, what’s wrong with us?  Why don’t we get the sleep we need?Many people argue that they don’t need as much sleep as others.  Some defend their sleep patterns with the excuse of being “too busy”.

Here are some good sleep habits, I’ve adapted from a presentation I delivered for CIGNA Behavioral Healthcare that received rave reviews.  Incorporate them into your life as soon as possible!

• Avoid caffeine within 6–8 hours of bedtime.

• Avoid nicotine close to bedtime or during the night.

• Refrain from using the bedroom for any activities other than sleep and sex.

• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages within 2–4 hours before bedtime.  It may relax you and help you fall asleep but will result in a poorer quality of sleep, and more nighttime waking.

• Abstain from eating large meals or greasy, spicy, or gas-producing foods too close to bedtime.  Select a light snack composed mainly of carbohydrates instead if you’re hungry because it can help promote more sound sleep.

• Exercise regularly but don’t do it within 2 hours before bedtime.

• Minimize light, noise, and extremes in temperature in the bedroom.

• Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath, reading, imagery, repetitious techniques (e.g., deep breathing, counting sheep), or progressive relaxation.

• If you are unable to fall asleep within 15–20 minutes after lights out, leave the bedroom and do a non-stimulating activity such as those above.

• Awaken at about the same time daily – a regular rising time is even more important than a regular bedtime.  In other words, don’t sleep in just because you can.

• Go to bed only when you are sleepy – again, bedtime is less important than rising time.

• Avoid napping late in the afternoon or evening.  If you choose to nap, do so early in the afternoon and limit it to 30 minutes or so.

• Choose a time during the day to think about your worries or concerns and make plans for handling them, so that you can avoid dwelling on them in bed.

• Sleeping pills are intended as a last resort and for short-term use only.  Sleeping pills have many side effects, and can cause drowsiness into the next day.  Their long-term use can actually lead to “rebound insomnia.”  If you have been using sleeping pills for more than a few months, consult with your doctor about how to stop them.

Here’s to a better night’s sleep!  Getting adequate sleep will help you function at your best by enhancing productivity, performance and your attitude towards life.

Those who are tied to their technology so that they can respond immediately to anyone reaching out to them need to better understand what this behavior is costing them...

Are you someone who almost always immediately replies to every phone call, text message or email so that you can demonstrate just how committed you are to your work and family? Do you often provide an immediate response for work-related items while getting around to family, friends and personal matters when you have the chance? Or, do you respond immediately to your family while putting off work-related contacts?

Having the habit of responding immediately, whether for everyone or for just work or personal matters, is unhealthy. Many are fooled to believe that when they respond immediately to work-related matters they are demonstrating their commitment to their job. However, are they? And, does this level of availability really measure true commitment?

Commitment is not synonymous with being constantly available! Operating as if it is contributes to higher stress levels and lower life satisfaction levels.

The advances in modern technology have created a common distorted view of expectations. Commitment to your job in too many cases has become equated with being constantly available. However, just because you can be constantly accessible and responsive doesn’t necessarily mean you should be available 24/7.

Also, you must be willing to turn away from all the available technology if you really want a break from work.  With today's technology, many of you carry beepers, cell phones, laptops, BlackBerry® etc. so that you can constantly be in touch with the office.  You are never "off" work.  As a result, work is non-stop.  Even when you are home with your family, you are still closely connected to work if you never shut off the available technology and fully focus on your family.

Working too many hours jeopardizes you health and well-being, family life and relationships with others.  It can also effect the quality of your work.  You will continue suffering from overwork unless you are willing to make a firm decision to stop.

Are you addicted to your technology?

Does being available and ‘needed’ help you feel important?

If so, take responsibility for your life.  Stop sacrificing the quality of your life. And, stop putting such high demands on yourself.  When your body breaks down because you're pushing too hard, everything will come to a crashing halt.  Take control now; don't wait for an emergency or disaster to occur. Learn more!

If your workload is rapidly increasing, you are not alone! Most people complain that there’s “Too Much on their Plate!”. Each time I visit corporations, associations, or non-profits I hear the same level of overwhelm, frustration and stress. It's funny though that everywhere I go they tell me that they have it the worse, stress is at its highest and they are working under the poorest conditions. Problem is that this issue is widely prevalent!

As downsizing continues, many employees are given additional responsibilities without any being removed. The workday keeps expanding and the expectations are increasing. Deciding what needs your immediate attention may be a huge challenge. Determining priorities is difficult because often they keep changing.

So, what's a super busy person to do to better manage everything on your plate??

Start by doing a quick inventory of all the tasks you perform daily and determine which can be...

·       eliminated

·       combined with something else

·       delegated (upward, downward or laterally)

·       changed in frequency from daily to weekly or even less frequently

·       automated

·       stopped altogether

·       less than perfect

·       avoided

·       covered by someone else who attends

Then, after off-loading or eliminating some of your more mundane tasks, seek opportunities for more challenging assignments, more visible projects, or more critical tasks to the bottom-line. This can boost your career satisfaction and performance!

Energizing programs are available for your workplace or professional association. Contact The Priority Pro for more information.

Ongoing professional and personal development is the most important thing you can do to improve your business or career.

If you want to stand-out as the best-of-the-best, you need to have laser-sharp focus. This will allow you to make purposeful and significant contributions and build higher potential for success.

Many business owners and managers have taken the time to create organizational mission statements. However, few have gone through this process on a more individual or personal level. If you are one of the many who have not created a personal mission statement, now is the time to do so!

Here are five suggestions to help your write your personal mission statement:

1.  Reserve some uninterrupted time to think through and write your statement. Block out at least an hour or so away from the distractions of home and work to reflect on where you are and where you want to be. Determine how you would like to invest your time and energy in the context of work, family, friends and your community. Realize that the feeling of true success comes when you have a balanced lifestyle of success, family, friends, true happiness, personal health and fulfillment.

2.  Identify your main purpose in life. What do you believe your primary purpose on this earth is? How will you be able to achieve this based on how you live your life? How will you empower vision for yourself and others? (Note: your vision is what you SEE) What qualities or attributes do you admire in others and wish to embody in yourself? What principles can you learn from other successful people that could benefit you most in your work? Use a journal to record your answers to these questions as you explore and discover who you are and what’s most important to you. When you’re through with the process of questioning yourself, review your answers to observe patterns and priorities in your life. Seek out the essential elements of your life necessary to write your personal mission statement.

3.  Gather your thoughts and apply your action plan. What are five goals you are committed to achieving in your work in the next year? In the next five years? In the next ten years?  What specific actions do you need to take in the next year to achieve your one-year mission? your five-year mission? your ten-year mission? Now, take a close look at your action plan, primary purpose, empowering vision and the right principles. Begin to write out your personal mission statement and be sure to include family, friends and community as they apply to how you wish to live your life. Your personal mission statement should be succinct and clear.

4.   Once you’re created your draft version, continue working on your mission statement by seeking input from others who can help you refine your ideas.

5.    Use your mission statement as a tool to help guide you, your ongoing development and your key decisions in life and work. Keep it available and visible at all times.

Get professional help writing your statement. Contact Natalie Gahrmann!

The Top 10 Time Wasters

By Natalie Gahrmann, Work & Life Success Coach/Author/Speaker

Time is a very precious resource. The fact is that regardless of how well you manage time, at the end of a day, you will still only have had 24 hours.  In one year there are still only 8,760 hours. The key is using your time efficiently and eliminating time wasters from your day. Your attitudes and behaviors effect how you use your time. Below are some examples of ineffective use of time. By substituting what's not working for you with a more effective behavior and/or attitude you're on the road to managing your time.

1.  Interruptions/Distractions

If you have a constant stream of well-intentioned colleagues, subordinates and/or family members interrupting your concentration and focus, stop them by communicating when it's okay to interrupt and when it's clearly not.

2.  Poor Planning.

Planning is so critical when you want to accomplish something. Planning in advance provides direction before proceeding toward a goal.

3.  Perfectionism

Although perfectionism is a behavior it's also an attitude. By striving toward progress rather than perfection, you will free up a lot of your time and energy.

4.  Procrastination

Like perfectionism, procrastination also is both a behavior and an attitude. Waiting until the last minute or otherwise putting things off tends to create a crisis or problems that may not otherwise exist. In addition, by not doing something you're procrastinating about, you also end up wasting considerable time worrying about how much you're procrastinating. Just do it.

5.   Trying to do Everything Yourself

Taking on the world all by yourself will not serve you or the people around you. Learn to say "no" and to delegate tasks others can do for you (even if it's not up to your standards).

6.  Taking on too Much.

Biting off more than you can chew is a prime example of taking on too much. Not having strong clearly communicated boundaries is another example. You do not need to volunteer to be on every project, organization, taskforce, association, etc.

7.  Crisis Management

A crisis is an unforeseen emergency. By planning and asking yourself whether or not something is truly urgent, what will happen if it's not handled immediately, you will eliminate a great deal of this fire fighting behavior. Remember the old adage, "haste makes waste".

8. Too much Socializing

Although we all love to have friends and enjoy our relationships, by allowing yourself too much freedom in this area you'll wind up spending a large percentage of your 'work' time socializing and will be pressing to meet deadlines.

9.  Not Valuing Your Own Time.

Others will not respect or value your time if you don't send the message that your time is important. Watch your actions, behaviors and commitments--are they communicating the right message?    

10.  Lack of Skills

Organizing, prioritizing, decision-making and problem solving skills are all critical in supporting effective use of time. Strengthen these skills and you'll see a remarkable difference in how you use your time.

For more tips and strategies visit http://www.nrgcoaching.com

We all have hungers (or yearnings) for things in life. The famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow, called these needs and established a hierarchy of needs back in 1943. Theoretically the lowest levels of needs must be achieved in order for us to be able to achieve our highest potential, or what he called “self actualization”.

Taking this a step further, during some of my coach training, needs were referred to as hungers in recognition that they are propelled by a very strong instinctual drive that operates with somewhat of a primitive intensity and compels us to feed them at all costs.

Hungers/needs are the conditions, things, and feelings that we feel we must have in our life in order to be at least minimally satisfied or to be at our best. They go beyond the basics of food, water, shelter, and love. They generally fall into 3 categories: (1) to receive, (2) to feel, or (3) to be, do or have. Unmet needs result in feeling “bound” or “hooked” by people, events or thoughts; we are more susceptible to being sad, depressed, angry or resentful. We can get through life fairly well not having our needs met, but for an effortless, rewarding and successful life, personal needs must be identified, addressed and handled. When personal needs are not getting met, we can slow down our personal growth and development, as well as diminish our quality of life.

We all have emotional hungers, whether we recognize them or not. Hungers drive our behavior and actions.  When a hunger is not being satisfied, it directs all of our available attention towards getting that hunger fed. When a person’s actions are not in alignment with what they say they want, a hunger is likely operating in their life. Realize though that there are both healthy and unhealthy ways to feed hungers, but there’s nothing wrong with having hungers (it’s absolutely normal!). We don’t even need to know how a hunger got there in order to satisfy it; we just need to feed it regularly and healthfully.

For example, if you’re feeling underappreciated, in need of more respect, or anything else—figure out exactly what you want or need and then ask directly for it. Make a list of the things your partner, kids, relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or business associates can do for you that will better meet your needs on a more regular basis.

The key is not to just make a list of your needs, but to begin making requests and asking for what you want and need. It may be hard at first, but the rewards are definitely worth it!

Hungers operate at different intensity levels and even the most deeply ingrained hungers can be more healthfully filled. The Priority Pro provides both 1-1 coaching and workshops to help individuals identify their hungers and healthful ways to feed them. One of my clients had an unconscious insidious need to please and was frequently trying to please others at the expense of herself. Through our work together, she recognized how the need was driving her and created a system to get this need fed effortlessly and more automatically. Although many individuals may have the dreaded Need to Please, the exact nature of this hunger (and other hungers) is unique and has a distinctly personal manifestation in each person.