How to unlearn a learned behavior

Greetings:

I received a very interesting question today and I thought I would share it with you along with the answer I gave. We all have learned behaviors that at the time we adopted them served some sort of purpose. Now that the situation has changed those learned behaviors might not be supporting who we have become. It would be wise to see what behaviors you have adopted that no longer serve you in a positive way and begin to change them. The good news is any behavior learned can be unlearned.

How do you deal with the effects of learned helplessness?


That is a difficult one for me to answer because I didn't learn helplessness. Just the opposite. I learned extreme self sufficiency. I learned that no one was going to help me and if I didn't take care of it myself it wouldn't get taken care of. I have had to work through this because this causes severe control issues, not trusting anyone and looking for opportunities to be disappointed when people do try to help me and of course it doesn't work out.

I think overcoming anything that we have adopted is a process. The first step is awareness. I have always been a proponent of choices however most recently have come to realize that there is no choice without awareness. Until you are aware that you have adopted learned helplessness, you can't change it. Now that you are aware you can begin to make different choices.

First start noticing where the learned helplessness shows up. For me when I was looking at my extreme self sufficiency I began to notice where in my life I wasn't allowing others to help me, which was in just about every area. Once I realized that I began to let go of the control and let others help. It started out with small things first and then I gradually have built up to larger things.

Keep in mind that the behavior has been learned over time. You are not going to change it overnight. I would also suggest keeping a journal and making notes in it each day of what you noticed and how you will do things differently in the future. Or even a win you had around changing the behavior. This will provide you with increased awareness and feedback.

At times we need to get support when we are changing behaviors. My current coach is working specially on changing my old learned behavior patterns and beliefs. He calls them "the old stories" in our lives. We adopted these old stories, mine being "I can do it myself." It helps to have a different perspective and someone that can point out things I don't notice.

The good news is that anything learned can be unlearned. Indeed you can learn new behaviors that are more positive and reflective of who you have become.

I hope this was helpful.

Rachelle

Book of Possibilities

Greetings:

This week several of my 365 Days of Coaching have been inspired by my new favorite movie, The Last Holiday. The movie stars Queen Latifah as Georgia Byrd. Georgia lives a simple, conservative and predictable life. Georgia keeps a book with pictures in it that she calls Possibilities. The possibilities range from where she will travel, famous chefs she would like to meet, the man she would like to marry and the food she hopes to serve in a restaurant she hopes to own someday.

When Georgia is told she has three, maybe four weeks to live, she decides to turn at least some of her possibilities into realities.

The concept Georgia is using is what I would call a prosperity board, vision board or treasure map. Georgia uses a book to put her pictures in. You could use a poster board, a cork board, which is what I use, or a photo album. Really anything you can attach pictures to. Whatever would work for you. The idea is to put pictures and words that express what you most want. You might put pictures of places you want to travel, people you want to meet, Rachel Ray and Ellen are on my board. You might put symbols of things you want that represent abundance, peace, love... You get the idea. Just like Georgia, when you create the possibility you might just end up living the reality.

This is a picture of my board. It isn't a work of art, I have seen some Prosperity Boards that could hang in a museum. My board conveys the energy and feelings of what I want in my life.



I am going to be launching a class on how to create a Prosperity Board. More on that in a week or so. I have more information soon.

Make it a great week

Here's to taking action
Rachelle

Winner vs Loser

Greetings:

I received an interesting email from John Di Lemme on*The tiniest 1/1000th of a second* In the ezine John discussed how an Olympic Athlete can lose by a fraction of a second. I witnessed that myself when watching the Olympics and was amazed at how close the competition could be. And life is much that way too. There are times when just a little extra effort will make the biggest difference.

John provided a comparison between winners and losers that I found intriguing.


W - The winner is always part of the answer;
I - The loser is always part of the problem;
N - The winner always has a program;
N - The loser always has an excuse;
E - The winner says, 'Let me do it for you;'
E - The loser says, 'That's not my job;'
R - The winner sees an answer for every problem;

VS. - The loser sees a problem for every answer;

L - The winner sees a green near every sand trap;
O - The loser sees two or three sand traps near every
green;
S - The winner says, 'It may be difficult, but it's
possible;
E - The loser says, 'It may be possible, but it's too
difficult.'
R - BE A WINNER

I would add to Winner - they never give up.

I received another interesting email about the concept of abandoning your car at a red light. Something most of us would not do. However how many times have you hit a red light in life and you simply give up. Things like getting a no from a perspective customer or when you ask for a date. The red lights in life tend to trip us up and tempt one to give up. Don't. Just keep going. Keep in mind that no just means "Next Opportunity." Like the red light, it doesn't mean give up, it just means stop for a moment.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Create Your Say "Yes" list

Greetings:

One of my favorite ezines comes from Rebecca Fine. She publishes the Certain Way which is based on the teaching of Wallace Wattles, author of The Science of Getting Rich. In this months issue Rebecca talked about creating a "Yes" list. All those things in life we want to say yes to. I love the idea and of course immediately created one. To find out more about the "Yes" list and how to get a free copy of the little "Yes" list booklet go to SOGR updates (the post is entitled "Prepare to be Amazed")

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

How do you define your dream?

Greetings:

I recently received an email with the question "How do you define your dream?" this is a question that I often get and something I work with my clients on. I thought I would share the answer with you.


Defining a dream can be challenging, and they change. When I was twenty five I had a chance encounter with a person that changed my life. She convinced me I could go to college. Up until then I thought only smart rich people went to college, and since I was neither of those I didn't believe I could go. Because of this stranger I went the next day and enrolled at my local junior college. While standing in line I said to myself, "By the time I am 28 I will have my associates, by the time I am 30 I will have my bachelors, by the time I am 35 I will have my masters and by the time I am 40 I will have my PhD." To be honest I really wasn't sure what a Masters or PhD were, but in that moment a 20 year dream was conceived.

I made the dream come true and actually struggled to find another compelling dream that would engage me like obtaining my education did. So I looked at what my purpose in life is and discovered I am here "to have a powerful and positive impact on the world." What I realized is I can do that by creating a successful business that promotes my writing, speaking and coaching. So my new dream is to have an incredibility successful business that helps others reach their full potential.

You might start with looking at what you purpose in life is and see how your dream could support that. Also look back to when you were young, what did you love to do, what was fun and interesting to you. I realized that as a young person I loved helping others and other people seemed to get a lot out of talking to me. I have always been a curious person and like to ask a lot of questions. I have always been a good listener. I also like to talk! When I looked at all of that I realize that what I am doing right now is what I was born to do.

Give yourself some time to do some soul searching, ask yourself if you could do anything you wanted to do without any restraints (time, money, energy) what would you do?

I had a client that was miserable in her job. As time went by what we discovered is that what she loved to do is sew, design and work with fabric. She wanted to go to college for textile design but was talked out of it by her parents who said there was no money in it. So at forty she rediscovered her dream and opened up a sewing lounge. She cut her hours down at work so she would still have an income and insurance while she was building her business. Her goal is to make the sewing lounge a full time endeavor in the next couple of years.

So when you discover your dream don't think it is all or nothing. You can ease into it.

I would love to hear how you define your dream and how you have made your dreams come true.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

The joy of turning 18

Greetings:

Saturday my family and I celebrated my newphew's 18th birthday. Wow, can't even believe he turned 18. It was great to be reminded of how exciting it is to turn another year older. He is looking forward to all the exciting adventures ahead of him. I remember when I looked forward to my birthday, getting older, and the great things ahead of me. Of course as time goes by getting older doesn't hold the charm it once did. I for one and going to focus on enjoying the years and stop obessing about how fast time is flying by. Getting older is a priveldge, something I am going to start looking forward to.

I heard a great song on the way to the Brad Paisley concert, which by the way was amazing. One of the reframes of the song is, "Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to go right now."

Start enjoying the time you have. The adventure is just getting started.

How do you celebrate your birthday and the fact that you are a year older?

Rachelle

My adventures in Florida

Me at my table at the Expo with Ali the organizer of the event

Greetings:

Had a great time at the K-12 Expo. It was a lot of fun and I met so many great people. I gave two presentations that were well attended and lots of great energy. I just love giving talks because you just never know who you will touch with what you say. The first thing Ali, the organizer of the event, said to me was that I had inspired her to do the expo. She had been at a talk I did in March at another expo and what I said about taking action inspired her to go out and do it! I love that.

Ali did a great job getting amazing people to present at the conference. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jeffrey Brown. Dr. Jeffrey wrote the book "The Competitive Edge" and I am happy to say I am a proud owner of a copy of the book. I took so many notes during his talk. Here are just a few nuggets of wisdom that I picked up.

According to Dr. Jeffrey -

Legacy is the perfect family heirloom

Know the Rules of the game (I always say if you know the rules you can play the game)

Strategies for knowing the rules - Know the details. Know the value of your own integrity - what would you sale out for?

Use growing knowledge to guard your integrity

Be prepared for the rules to change

Search out good role models

Recognize the right decision - and make it

Correct bad decisions before they get worse

Be right minded not just right

When you have made a poor decision don't deny, rationalize, minimize or project.

I would highly recommend getting a copy of The Competitve Edge. This is the handbook we need in today's complicated and confusing world.
Me with Dr. Jeffrey Brown


I am heading back to Denver in a couple of days. Love visiting family and meeting new people and love going home.

Here's to taking action.

Rachelle

Having fun in Florida

Greetings:

Having a great time in Florida. Will be presenting at the Conference Saturday but taking some time to have fun for a couple of days. Last night we watched the movie The Bucket List. You have to see the movie. One of the lessons I learned was about finding joy in life. The Eyptians have a therory that when you go to heaven you are stopped at the gate and asked two questions. The questions are:

Did you find Joy in your life?

Did you bring joy to others?

What great questions to ask yourself now. Don't wait to die to figure out what brings you joy or bring joy to others.

I will warn you the movie is a box of kleenex!

Today we went to Tarpon Springs. A wonderful Greek community on the bay. One of our favorite places. My sister and I had a great lunch with Hummus and a wonderful Greek salad. In this area a Greek salad includes Potato Salad. Yummo.



Tomorrow we are going to go down memory lane - we are going to our favorite resturant and visit my mom and dad's home. And we are going to attend the Brad Paisley concert in the evening.

Vacations are a great time to take a break, recharge, renew and connect with family and friends. I didn't even check my email today!

When was the last time you took a much needed break?






Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Honesty is just an opinion

Greetings:

One thing I learned is that you don't always have to tell everyone everything you think. Yes it is nice to be honest, but honesty is just an opinion. I make a distinction between truth and honesty. The truth is factual and can be proven by scientific methods. Honesty is simply an opinion about what someone thinks is the truth and if you asked the same question to a dozen people you would get a dozen different answers.

In an article by Vicky De Coster on The Spirited Woman's Blog she poses the question "Is honesty really the best policy?" I would say not really. It depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what difference your opinion will really make. Vicky's article is around the question "Do I look fat in this?" I remember I once asked my husband as we were walking out the door to attend an event, "Does this outfit make me look fat?" His answer was really powerful. He said, "If it does what will you do about it?" The answer was nothing but feel bad, there was no time to change and I have no magical skinny clothes in my closet.

I shop with a friend that has the opposite taste as I do in clothing. Whenever I ask her about an outfit I am trying on she replies, "It is you." To this I reply, "You hate it don't you?" And she replies, "I wouldn't be caught dead in it, but on you it looks great." The fact that she doesn't like it doesn't stop her from supporting me in expressing who I am. She doesn't look at the outfit from her point of view, she looks at it from mine.

Honestly, opinions are great but really don't matter all that much. Instead of being honest with your opinion, try coming from the other person's point of view. See things from how they might see them and give your opinion from that point of view. Not always easy but much more supportive.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Great Minds Think Alike

Greetings:

This week in 365 Days of Coaching one of the days was Commit Random Acts of Appreciation. It was all about letting the people in our lives know how much we appreciate them. This could be from the bus driver to your spouse. It is so amazing what a little bit of appreciation will do.

Did you know that the majority of employees would rather receive direct appreciation from their boss than any other type of recognition, including a raise! In fact one of the biggest complaints from employees is the lack of appreciation they receive for the job they do. When I was in corporate I was working on a recognition program for my region. I suggested to one Director that he get involved. His reply? "Why do I have to show them I appreciate them, they get a check every week don't they?" Needless to say he had the lowest satisfaction rating of any unit in the region.

It doesn't take a lot to show appreciation but it sure means a lot. People love to be appreciated. Even just saying "thank you" can make such a big difference.

And Jack Canfield agrees with me. Jack's ezine this week was on of all things Appreciation. (wonder if he got the idea from me :-) ) Most likely not however I found it interesting that this was a theme of the week. According to Jack, "appreciation is such a powerful tool, and when people are appreciated, it brings about a huge sense of accomplishment, value, power, and happiness to their life."

According to me, "You have the power to make someone's day simply by appreciating him or her for what they are doing. People thrive with positive support and compliments. Begin the chain of positive reaction by committing random acts of appreciation today."

Who can you appreciate today? Leave a comment on the blog on how appreciation has made a difference to you or someone you appreciated.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

The Virtue of Daydreaming

Greetings:

I received an email from my good friend Alyson Stanfield of Art Biz Coach with a link to an article and a note that said, "This looks like a Rachelle article." She was right. (Thanks Alyson) The article was on the Boston Globe website and was about one of my favorite subjects, Daydreaming. Jonah Lehrer wrote an article entitled "Daydream achiever - A wandering mind can do important work, scientists are learning - and may even be essential."

I am delighted that scientists are finally figuring out what I, and many, have known for years. Daydreaming is a good thing. When I was working in corporate I had a manager that didn't get the value of Daydreaming, or really even thinking. One day she walked into my office as I was thinking over a project I was working on going over the various ways that it could be done. I essentially was Daydreaming about the success of the project and how I could be innovative. When my manager came into my office she asked what I was doing. I told her I was thinking. Her response? "I am not paying you to think, get back to work."

Luckily my current boss, that would be me, allows me to daydream. In fact encourages it. I take time every day to daydream. Actually I look forward to this time because I find myself doing and accomplishing amazing things in my daydreams. I bring those ideas and concepts back to my work. Not everything is a success but there are times when I strike gold. In the article Lehrer explains that the post-it-note, one of the most successful business supply inventions of all times, was created as one of the inventors Arthur Fry sat in church daydreaming. You just never know when one of your daydreams is going to be a big winner.

I recommend that everyone keep an idea journal, or maybe you could even call it a daydream journal. You won't be able to act on all your ideas or dreams when you have them and you won't remember them. You might think you will but trust me. I have had some great ideas that I don't remember because I didn't write them down. Carry a small notebook with you and when you have an idea or daydream write it down in your notebook. Days, weeks or even months later you can go back over your notes and pick up on a good idea you had.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

The Rules for being Human

Greetings:

As I was reading my recent ezine, All About Energy, from Amy Flynn she mentioned a blog post she had made on the rules from being human. Being curious I went over to the blog and read them. I do believe I have seen them before as Amy says they have floated around the internet for a long time. What I find though is sometimes I know something but I am not applying it. It was great to be reminded about what being human is really all about.

The concept of the rules is to remind us that we are here to learn lessons, that everything is a lesson and that lessons will continue until you are dead. I recently was at a conference and a woman came into my booth and started chatting. I offered her a chance to win a set of CD's I was giving away. She took one look at them and said, "No thanks I already know everything." I just smiled. If you already know everything you would not be here. The lessons would be over. So if you are here you still have lessons to learn!

Enjoy the post on Amy's Blog Wealth, Abundance Joy Now. It is a great reminder of the lessons we all need to learn.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

My personal list of 100+ things to do before I die

Greetings:

Since I got so excited about the list of 100 things to do before you die I thought I would type mine out. At this point it was written out on a big poster board so I decided it really needed to be in the computer. Since I typed it out I thought I would share it with you. Not to impress you but to impress upon you how powerful it is to write out a list, or type one out in your computer, of what you want to do before you die. Some of the things I have accomplished I just decided to leave them on the list. I had already removed several items and I have decided it is better to leave them on the list and just put a check next to them.

100 + things I will do before I die

1. Have lunch at the White House with the President and their spouse

2. Oprah Appearances six times promoting book – being an expert

3. Ellen’s Coach

4. Be a regular on the TV talk show circuit

5. Weight 140 pounds

6. Have healthy fur children

7. Make love with Adrian on the beach

8. Speak in every state in the Union

9. Syndicated Radio Show

10. Host a TV variety show

11. Travel around the world – visit 110 countries

12. Para sailing

13. Snowmobile

14. Jet Ski

15. Have 5.5 million dollars in the bank

16. Create five millionaires

17. Have 3 famous best friends

18. Have a syndicated column

19. Have 3 best selling books

20. Earn $10,000+ speaking fee

21. Live in a 2 million dollars mansion

22. Earn one million dollars a year

23. Create the Muffassa Memorial Foundation

24. Brand new fire engine red convertible sports car fully loaded

25. Win a grand prize in a sweepstakes

26. A cruise to Alaska

27. Have 200 close friends

28. Teach at Harvard

29. Have articles in over 1000 national magazines

30. Appear on the cover of a national magazine as an expert – promoting book

31. Do national book tour

32. Have five full time employees

33. Pay off student loan in 3 yrs – by 2009

34. Have home professionally decorated

35. Win national awards

36. Own ten rental properties

37. Tithe 10% of income

38. Be rich and famous

39. Learn to line dance

40. Yearly Vacations to exotic locations

41. 5000+ subscribers to 365 Days of Coaching

42. Top rated websites

43. Top US Coach

44. Hawaii for 50th Birthday

45. Pierce Belly Button

46. Add more fun and play into my life

47. Have a personal chef

48. Sit at the counter on Emeril’s show

49. Take a stand up comedian class

50. Have a small part in a Major Motion Picture

51. Ride a bike

52. Learn to ride a motorcycle

53. Learn to be a Gourmet cook

54. Safari in Africa

55. Buy a $1000 bottle of wine

56. Have a wine cellar

57. Have a 3-carat diamond ring

58. Win a Noble Prize

59. Have a popular Day Calendar

60. Be considered a Guru

61. Save someone’s life

62. Be a humanitarian

63. Be a philanthropist

64. Give gifts to others for no reason

65. Have successful retreats for large groups of people

66. Have a wall of pictures with famous people and me

67. Snowshoe vacations

68. Home on the beach

69. Finished basement

70. Great neighbors

71. Google results – 1 million new visitors annually

72. Visit New Your City with Adrian and stay at the Ritz

73. Lunch at Tavern on the Green

74. Season tickets to cultural events such as Broadway Plays and the Ballet

75. See the Northern lights

76. Go to London with Adrian and see a play

77. Meet the Queen

78. Go to Paris with Adrian

79. Have 10 designer suits

80. Own 100 pair of designer shoes

81. Visit the top beaches in the world

82. Take wine tours in CA with Adrian

83. Have weekly massages

84. Have monthly facials

85. Have a personal assistant

86. Have a little plastic surgery

87. Have a powerful famous mentor

88. Own my own office building

89. Have 10 million dollars in annual revenue in True Direction, Inc.

90. Laugh 400 times a day

91. Eat healthy fresh organic food

92. Go on annual retreat

93. Have shoes professionally polished

94. Have a positive and powerful impact on the world

95. Make a difference

96. Have my hair done monthly

97. Have a driver

98. Nails done weekly

99. Monthly pedicures

100. Have eyelashes done monthly

101. Speak Spanish

102. Spa Vacations

103. Speak on cruise ships

104. Full time housekeeper

105. Sit at the Captain’s Table on the cruise ship

106. Reiki Training

107. Re-do tattoo

108. Take a ride on a zip-line

Okay now it is your turn. Share some of your list with us. I would love to know what others would like to do before they die.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Once can be enough

Greetings:

I am on a role with this concept of making a list of 100 things to do before you die. I love the idea and hope by now you have read the last two post (see below) and are busy making your list. If not get to it. It really is a fun thing to do and it will inspire you to do things you might not have ever pushed yourself to do. And the good news is you only have to do them once.

On my list of 100 things I want to do before I die I put down Hot Air Ballooning. Mostly I put it on my list because my father always talked about wanting to do it and I thought it would be fun. Not sure why I thought it would be fun because I am deathly afraid of heights and have gotten stuck on a ladder a time or two! But hey I was willing to give it a try.

Well sort of. I actually had chickened out when the opportunity was presented and because of the circumstances and the fact that it was on my list I did it. Do I regret doing it, no way. Would I do it again, NO WAY!

Here is a Day I wrote several years ago for 365 Days of Coaching that tells about the experience and why it is important to at least try something once.

Once Can Be Enough

There are many things that I would like to do. In fact I have made a list of 100 things I would like to do before I die. I have been checking quite a few things off the list in the last couple of months, including a fire walk and a hot air balloon ride. One of the things I am learning is that there are things that doing once is plenty.

When I made my list of 100 things I wanted to do before I die eight years ago, I put hot air ballooning at the top of the list. It was something my father always talked about doing and I thought it would be fun. Although I have a huge fear of heights, I still wanted to attempt the feat. While attending the Albuquerque, New Mexico Balloon Fiesta my dream came true and I was fortunate enough to take a ride with one of the top woman balloon pilots in the world, Cheri White. The balloon ride was amazing, exciting and I would never do it again. I was terrified when I was up in the balloon, but I managed. Being up in the balloon was nothing compared to landing in it. We had a crash landing in the weeds and burrs, and the basket was drug for a distance before we finally stopped. I wasn't hurt, but I was convinced I would never do it again.

It is funny that when I tell people that I would never do it again, most look confused and wonder why. The truth is I wanted to do it just because. I don't have a passion for hot air balloons or being off the ground for extended amounts of time for that matter. I just wanted to try it. And for me that is fine. There are things you only have to do once to know if you want or need to do again. For me the balloon ride was worth trying once, and now I can move on to the other things on my list.

If I had not put taking a balloon ride on my list I doubt I would have done it. I am so glad I did. It is one of those life experiences I will treasure forever. And once is plenty! Don't worry that what you put on your list will be repeated, it might but chances are most of the things on your list are a once in a life time experience. Actually that is what it is all about.

Please share your experience with doing things on your list. I would love to hear how it is going.

Here's to taking action.

Rachelle

One less thing to do before I die

Greetings:

Continuing on the idea of creating a list of 100 things you want to do before you die (see blog post below) I thought I would share with you a Day I wrote for 365 Days of Coaching several years ago. I already shared that I had put traveling to Australia and London, England on my list and I had also included swimming with the dolphins. This day explains the concept of the list a little more and shares my experience of swimming with these amazing beings.

One Less Thing To Do Before I Die

One of the most powerful things I have done in my life is make a list of 100 things I want to do before I die. I have also seen this called a Life List. Actually, when I made my list up eight years ago, I thought it was my idea. I now know that other brilliant minds thought of it as well, and I was just one of the people that the idea got sprinkled on. Although I didn't make the concept up, I still promote it as one of the most powerful processes one can do. I allowed myself to dream big when I made up my list, and one of those big dreams recently came true.

Since making the list, I have checked things off and have added a few items as well. I wanted to travel to Australia and London, which might not seem like a big deal but, considering I had never traveled outside of the United States, it was major to me. I have since traveled to both and have added other locations as well. I believe in the power of the pen, and that writing something down gives it energy. I didn't censor myself or think about how I might do it when I made my list. This is a list where I allowed myself to think and dream big.

Swimming with the dolphins was one of the items on my list. I am not much of a swimmer and in Denver, Colorado there isn't a lot of opportunity to swim in anything but a pool. But, I wrote it down on my list and didn't worry about how it would happen. Last week I had the opportunity, while in Mexico, to visit a dolphin training and research center and to swim with the dolphins. It was amazing. Something I hadn't counted on was my husband sharing the experience with me which made it that much more exciting. By writing down that I wanted to swim with dolphins I planted the seed for that possibility.

Creating a list of things you want before you die plants the seeds of possibility. There is power in the pen and that power will aspire with you to assist you in creating what you put on the list. Writing down what you want and having it manifest isn't magic, but it is magical in the way that it does come into your life. It doesn't take effort or force, just a knowing and accepting. Thoughts are powerful, and once you put them to paper, they take on a life of their own. I have read many stories and have had many people tell me how this process has worked in their lives, so I know it will work in yours as well. You just have to be willing to write it down.

If you don't have your list of 100 things you want to do before you die, write one today or at least get it started. It often takes a few weeks to create the first list. If you already have your list, take time to review it, check off anything that has come to pass and add anything new. The list is dynamic and will change with you as you grow through your life experiences.

Resources

If you need some help getting started there is a book "101 Things to do before you die" by Richard Horne that would be helpful. Also, if you go to Google and type in "100 things to do before you die" you will find lists from other people who have posted them on their websites or blogs. Of course, you want the list to be things you want to do, but, if you are stuck and need some ideas, these resources will help you.

Please share you ideas on the 100 things you would like to do before you die on the blog.

Here's to taking action
Rachelle

100 things to do before you die

Greetings:

For years I have been touting the benefits of creating a list of 100 things to do before you die. I actually thought I had originated the idea however now know I was only one of the people the idea was sprinkled on. Zig Ziggler, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Dave Freeman all had the same idea.

The last person I mentioned, Dave Freeman, I never heard of until today. I was reading an issue of Spirited Woman and it directed me to a blog post entitled "What is your bucket list." The article by Kristin Flannery, focused on the concept of what Dave Freeman, co-author of 100 Things to Do Before You Die: Travel Events You Just Can't Miss, proposed in his book which was to make a list of places you want to travel to before you die.

Sadly Freeman recently died in a fall. He did manage to get to about half of the places on his "100" list. According to Flannery Freeman's idea inspired the creators of the movie The Bucket List. The concept of The Bucket List is to make a list of everything you want to do before you
"kick the bucket." There is a Facebook page where people are sharing their ideas for creating a Bucket List.

The concept for me of creating a list of 100 things to do before you die is to create a list of places you want to travel, people you want to meet, things you want to do and perhaps even things you want to own. When I made my list 12 years ago I put on my list that I wanted to visit Australia and London, England. For a person that didn't even have a passport that was pretty interesting. I have since gone to both places.

It isn't complicated to create your list. You simply start writing 100 things to do before you die and keep going until you reach at least 100. The first 25 or so will come easy, the next 75 might be a tad more challenging. What I find is the first 25 are really just basic simple things and not too much of a stretch. The next 75 force you to get out of your comfort zone and really dream. The things you are writing down are not goals, they are possibilities. Things you would want to do if nothing stood in your way.

Do it. Make your list today. If you already have a list get it out and review it and add to it if you want to.

I would love to know what is on your list. Please share on the blog.

Here's to taking action
Rachelle

Courageous Conversations:

Speak up in ways that build trust, grow influence

THINK BIGGER. LIVE BOLDER. ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING RESULTS

Join me on Tuesday, September 9th, 2009, at 12 noon MT (11am PT, 1pm CT and 2pm ET) for a lively and informative discussion with Margie Warrell.

Margie Warrell is a certified Executive and Life Coach, Professional Speaker, and Best Selling Author who is recognized internationally as an expert on living and leading with courage.

Together with John Gray, Jack Canfield, Richard Carlson, and Bob Proctor, Margie co-Authored 101 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2006. Her second book Find Your Courage! was released in June, 2007, to become a finalist in the 2007 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS and an Amazon Best Seller (www.findyourcourage.com).

Margie's upbeat and down to earth Aussie style, fabulous stories and powerful message will challenge your mind, touch you heart and ignite your spirit.

Margie has an extraordinary ability to get to the heart of the issues that keep you stuck and hinder you from fulfilling you full potential. Margie will empower you with fresh perspectives and practical strategies you can use immediately to rise above your fears and limiting beliefs and step into action to enjoy greater success, more fulfillment and a deeper sense of purpose in your relationships, career, business and life!

Please make sure you reserve your spot early as the bridge line only holds 100 callers.

I hope to hear you on September 9th at 12 noon MT for this exciting opportunity to hear one of the leaders on Courage talk to us about how to speak, live and lead with Courage.

Please click here to reserve your spot today!

Stop It!

Greetings:

Today's Day of 365 Days of Coaching referenced a video on YouTube. The video is a spoof and meant to be funny, however I found it to be profound as well. Many of the problems that are created in our lives are created by our thoughts. The woman in the video was making herself miserable with her own thoughts. The concept of "Change your thinking change your life" applies here. The first place to create change is with your thinking. You can't think the same old thoughts and expect things to be different.

Click here to see the video.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle