goals

Set Goals You’ll Actually Achieve in 2017

Tis the season for goal-setting and resolution making, and being the proactive gal that you are, I’m guessing you’ve already started envisioning what 2017 could bring to your life and business.

Which is why I want to talk to you today about how to set goals that you’ll actually achieve in the new year.

According to Forbes, more than 40% of Americans make resolutions at the start of each year, but only 8% actually achieve their New Year’s goals. I want YOU to be a part of the elite 8%, and today we’re going to cover how to do exactly that.

The goal-setting system I’m going to be sharing with you is the one I personally used this year to help me cross 6-figures in sales while working just 3 days a week!

Ok, so here goes…

  1. Create your vision. What do you want life and business to look like and feel like in 2017? As you develop this, aim to find that “sweet spot” between expanding (out of your current comfort zone) into who you desire to become without pushing yourself too hard. It’s a great idea to journal your way through this. Consider your business, personal life, family life, health, spirituality, social circle and any other important categories for you.
     
  2. Find the feelings. Now, reread what you wrote. (Sometimes it’s helpful to let it sit for a day or two before moving into this step.) Is it resonating? Does it feel good to you? Does it excite you? Do you feel a sense of anticipation and eagerness? Or, does it feel overwhelming, uncomfortable or not quite right? If need be, rework your vision. If things are a “go”, then I want you to define the key feelings of your vision. Read what you wrote and notice what it evokes from within you. (Danielle LaPorte’s book, The Desire Map, could prove immensely helpful with this!)
     
  3. Set clear (feel-good) goals. Now is the time to set a few, clear goals that are in alignment with both your vision and your feelings. Oftentimes when people fail to stick with their resolutions it’s because they start here, at step 3, with goal-setting. But, since you’ve already done the foundational work, you’re setting yourself up for goal-achieving success in 2017! The most important thing to keep in mind as you set your goals is that they should FEEL GOOD to you! This isn’t about pushing and putting a ton of pressure on yourself to achieve something you think that you “should” want. This is about getting really clear about the few, simple, eloquent goals that when achieved will deliver the feelings you’re desiring and move you closer to your vision. Depending on your personal preferences, these goals could be as concrete or nebulous as you like. Again, this is about setting goals that feel-good, because that’s the ONLY way you’re going to stick with them. Here are a few of my feel-good goals from 2016 to give you a sense of what I’m talking about here:
     
    • Create space in my life for the things that I desire. (time space, energy space, financial space, etc.)
    • Enroll 8 amazing, perfect-for-me ladies into my 1x1 coaching program by March 2016.
    • Deeply impact and inspire as many women as possible to dream bigger and live bigger.
       
  4. Give yourself permission to revise. This is super important. Sometimes visions change. Sometimes goals need to shift. And that’s OK!!! Just because you said in January that you want to quit your 9-to-5 by April doesn’t mean you MUST if you realize that staying with your steady paycheck will allow you to expand in other ways. Trust yourself. Trust your intuition and if goals need adjusting or revising give yourself permission to make the necessary changes. This is YOUR LIFE for the creating!

This approach to goal-setting is very intuitive. It means you need to trust yourself and your ability to achieve your biggest desires without pushing, pressuring and stressing yourself out along the way. 

Remember, the journey has to align with the destination. If your vision for 2017 is enjoying an easeful, prosperous life and business, you cannot get there by putting a ton of pressure on yourself and feeling crappy every step of the way. It just won’t happen!

Are you ready to set goals that feel good? Goals that light you up and get you truly excited to get out of bed each day? Goals that make you feel aligned with your soul’s purpose, not like you’re crushing your soul to achieve them? Those are the kind of goals I want for you in the new year -- and I hope you want them for yourself too. It’s what you deserve :-)

After you move through this process, and set a small handful of feel-good goals, please share them with me and the other members of our beautiful community here.

P.S. Mindset Reset is coming! If you want to clear any lingering Mindset Blocks that might keep you from reaching your feel-good goals in 2017, click here to be the first to know when the Mindset Reset Challenge launches in early January :-)

What Are YOUR Core Desired Feelings?

Have you heard of The Desire Map? I'm working my way through it right now and LOVING it. (I've been talking about it to everyone who will listen -- so, I guess now it's your turn :-)
It's a fantastic book (and workbook) by the soulful and brilliant Danielle LaPorte. In it, she teaches the importance of identifying our Core Desired Feelings, which are the underlying feelings that we seek out again and again in life, love and business.
They are the driving force (consciously or subconsciously) behind nearly all of what we do/think/say/want at any given moment.
So let's peel the layers back a little more...
Danielle explains that the reason we set goals for ourselves is for the feeling that we think we'll have when we reach them. We push, strive, and strain to attain our goal so that we can then feel capable, joyous, alive, expansive or whatever else it is that we're after.
The Desire Map turns traditional goal-setting on its ear. Instead of hoping the goal will deliver the feeling, Danielle says to let the feeling you want to feel give birth to the goal.
So, instead of setting rigid goals like get 2,000 email subscribers, make $75K in my business, land 4 speaking gigs, etc. etc. etc., she suggests setting "Goals with Soul". (I love that, don't you?!)
Here's what a few Goals with Soul could look like...
*Reach as many people as possible with my life-affirming, soul-stirring message.
*Start writing my book.
*Leave space in my life for inspiration, and ACT on it when it arrives!
Ahhh...don't they just feel better?!
Then, Danielle recommends that we seek out, on a daily basis, all the ways (small and big) that we can start feeling good right now. 'Cause isn't feeling good the point anyhow?!
Want to feel connected?
Maybe that means a lunch date with a friend you haven't seen in a while. Setting up a mastermind with fellow purpose-driven entrepreneurs (You can find them in our Facebook Group!). Or, sitting at the dinner table with your family instead of eating in front of the TV.
Want to feel radiant?
Maybe that means wearing red lipstick (like I'm doing right now!). Putting on a cute skirt and your favorite earrings, instead of wearing the usual yoga pants. Or indulging in a massage or mani-pedi.
Want to feel inspired?
Maybe that means reading The Desire Map! Brainstorming new offerings for your business. Or, going to a museum to be in the presence of beauty and creativity.
Instead of putting feeling good on hold for when the goal is reached, why not do something today, tomorrow, next week and next month that makes you feel good right now! Cool concept, right?!
I invite you to play with this concept. (That's what I've been doing, and it feels ahhh-mazing!) Instead of living and dying by your rigid, make-it-or-break-it goals, maybe seek to simply FEEL GOOD on a daily basis, and let your goals and intentions unfurl from there.
Just a thought. Hope it helps!
Because, more than anything, what I want for you is simply that you feel good each and every day.
Have you read (or are you reading) The Desire Map? Join the discussion in our Facebook Group with the hashtag #ClarityBookClub. We've been talking about this awesome book all month long, and I'd love to know what your Core Desired Feelings are!
Here are mine: Alignment ease Inspired! E x p a n s i v e LOVE <3
Hope you're feeling GOOD today! xo Screen Shot 2015-06-30 at 11.57.56 AM

What's Your Vision for 2016?

23423842764_3fd7e9a639_kHave you given some thought to your vision for this coming year?

Between Christmas and the New Year, I sat down to do just that.

You see, for me, a vision isn’t a dream. It isn’t wishful thinking. It isn’t about setting unrealistic “resolutions” that I’ll forget or give up on. It’s strategic.

And, the more time, energy and planning I put into my visioning, the more aligned my business and life are with it.

Visions are different than daydreams, wishes or hopes. They’re focused, clearly outlined and purposeful. They’re grounded, aligned and feel right in your body.

To put it simply, your vision is your destination.

And, in order to enjoy (and get the most out of) the journey and also look forward to what awaits, your destination has to be compelling, intriguing and enticing. It has to speak to you, call to you and pull you towards it.

If you're like me, and want to get to your destination in the most efficient, most enjoyable way possible, you need to be crystal clear on where you're heading. You need the exact "address".

When you sit down to do your visioning, set out the specifics. Write down the details. Flesh out the nuances. Imagine how it will feel once you’ve reached your vision.

Live in a place of possibility.

Believe me, no person has ever achieved impactful, fulfilling, world-changing success without a vision. Not one.

For our sanity, personal satisfaction, and ultimate success, we need to know what are efforts are going towards, otherwise we'll eventually run out of gas.

If you haven’t done so already, I strongly encourage you to indulge in the creation of your vision. It’s not a waste of time -- it’s an essential. It’s strategic.

And, it will help you bring about all that you desire for yourself and your business this year. I promise you that.

After you’ve developed your vivid vision, share a piece of what you’re setting your sights on in our private Facebook Group! I’d love to hear more about the vivid vision you’re creating for yourself. When you post, use #VividVision2016 :-)

Or, if you’d like 1x1 attention to help translate your BIG vision into a clear + thoughtful roadmap to success, you can schedule a time to discuss it with me here. (FYI -- as part of my vision for 2016, I'm only opening my on-going coaching package 2 times per year. So, if you've been interested in working with me, now is the time. You can submit an application to be considered when I open the doors in late winter 2016. Spots are limited.)

Sending love for a bright + brilliant 2016!

BIG Magic and VIVID Visions

Happy New Year!
I'm making a bold proclamation today, to you before anyone else, and saying that I'm going to make 2016 my BEST year yet -- in business, in life, in love.
When we make bold proclamations, it sets things in motion. Unseen things that start to move in accordance with our desires and visions. But, we first have to be so brave as to say (out loud, on paper, in type) that which we desire!
Before I share, I first want to set the tone with one of my favorite quotes: "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
OK, here goes...
I'm going to offer my gifts unapologetically.
I'm going to strive for nothing less than the best I can deliver (and when I say this, I'm not talking about perfection, I'm talking about authenticity.)
I'm going to relax into my innate power and ease into the flow of life, rather than fight the current.
I'm going to align with the vivid vision I have for my life and business, and allow it to pull me forward.
I'm going to let go of obsessing about things that are beyond my control, don't matter or don't enhance my life.
I'm going to do more of what I love and attach less to the outcome.
I'm going to be more me and less who I think I should be.
I'm going to breathe, feel, and enjoy MORE.
I'm going to stress, push and harden less (and not beat myself up when I inevitably slip up.)
I'm going to do more things that sounds like fun in my life and business.
I'm going to honor creative ideas when they arrive in my life.
I'm going to smile more, kiss my husband more, hug my baby girl more, and laugh more.
And, I'm going to do my best to live each day in devotion to my purpose.
#BoldnessHasMagicInIt
Now, it's your turn :-)
I invite you to join me in making a bold proclamation for yourself. In community with the other amazing, purpose-driven women in our private Facebook groupshare one thing you're going to do (or stop doing!) in 2016 to make it YOUR best year yet. Make your bold proclamation HERE with #boldnesshasmagicinit.
This day, this month, this year is the start of a bold, brilliant new chapter, and I'm delighted to have YOU along for this unbelievable journey which has brought us together.
In case you're wondering, the title of this post was inspired by two things:
(1) The book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love -- recently finished reading it. LOVED it. (Fun Fact: EG lives not far from me and has a quirky shop filled with a unique gifts and global finds.)
(2) The Vivid Vision Workbook + Audio Guide which will enable you to craft a deep, fulfilling, aligned vision for your life and business that will PULL you forward this year. Get your copy here.
VIVID VISION cover
Here's to BIG Magic and VIVID Visions, this year and always.
With love, Screen Shot 2015-06-30 at 11.57.56 AM