Greetings from Coach Maria

I have to admit, this is my favorite time of year. I love new beginnings and fresh starts. And January means “New Beginnings”. To me it means clearing out the old to make room for the new. What about you? As you begin a new year, what do you want to prepare for this year?

By reviewing the current year, I can decide what I liked and what I never want to do again. I find it important to take the time to do an inventory. How did you do? What were your intentions for 2006?

I find it helpful to write down my goals for the year, so now I can pull them out and look them over.

Do they reflect what I really want or what others may want for me? Are these my expectations or expectations I think I should have? When reviewing what I wanted last year for myself, what did I find? I found that I talked about things that are important to me. However, was I committed to doing whatever it took to make it happen? Sometimes, yes! Sometimes no! As far as overall fitness goes, yes I was ready. As far as financial fitness, I was not as ready as I thought. As 2007 begins, I am finding myself more committed this year to making permanent changes in my financial responsibilities.

When you review your resolutions from 2006 what did you find? Did you make resolutions that you think you should do? (i.e. losing weight because there are weight loss commercials on TV every 5 minutes) Did you focus too much on your faults? Instead of what’s wrong, look at what’s working. What are your strengths, values and true priorities?

When you made a resolution last year, were you realistic? For example to use fitness as an example, did you expect to go from not exercising at all to exercising 7 days a week for 60 minutes?

As you review what you wanted for yourself in the past, do you think you had the process, tools, support and motivation to be successful?

From my review of past journals and work with my clients, I have discovered that there is more benefit and more likely to be success, if I think of my resolutions as a commitment to transforming my life, one step at a time. In other words, make a life-long commitment to growth and development.

The New Year’s Resolutions Group will provide all participants with the process, tools, support and motivation to be successful. Hope to meet you there!

Coach Maria Teresa Busch

Know Exactly Why you Make your Resolutions

Yesterday, I was interviewed by a reporter from the Washington Post about New Year’s Resolution and our upcoming New Year’s Resolution Coaching Program. All and all it went well and the questions were the same type of questions I’d answered in previous interviews but then, I was asked a question that took me a bit by surprise.

Rachel, the Washington Post reporter asked me: “What is one resolution you have not followed through with?” Seems to be an obvious question to ask, but not one that I'd been asked or had thought about. However, it didn’t take me long to give an answer.

When I was younger and through my years in the Marine Corps, I always made one resolution every year that I never have follow through with: the resolution to learn sign language.

Why did I make that resolution? Don’t know. I think I always made the resolution because I thought it would be something cool and interesting to learn and know. I didn’t need to learn it. I didn’t then and still don’t know anyone who speaks sign language.

This brings us to an excellent point to make about New Year’s Resolutions. Know WHY you are making them. Clearly identify your intentions behind why you want to make any of your resolutions. This includes: knowing the reasons why, what’s the desired outcome, and exactly who does the resolution serve. This can be done by taking the time to have a good internal dialogue about every resolution you make, or asking someone to help you with the conversation.

The goal is to identify a minimum of five strong reasons why the resolution is the right one for you. Be sure to verify that the reasons are connected with what you really want rather than what someone else wants for you, or a way to follow the latest trend. If you can’t do this, you may have to rethink your resolutions or risk not being successful in achieving them like I was with learning sign language!

Coach Ann

Listen to Our Blog Talk Show

We've been writing about Resolutions...Now, come hear about them and learn some valuable pointers.

We've discovered Blog TalkRadio and since what we have to share is easier to listen to, we hope you can join us.

Your New Year’s Resolutions

December 28, 2006 7pm-8pm (EST)

Tired of making the same New Year's Resolution? Got Questions on how to ensure success this year? Join us on our radio talk show for a question and answer session with Ann Bernard, LGS Coaching Agency President.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?host_id=1846

Resolved: A Successful New Year

December 30, 2006 2pm-3pm (EST)

Before putting pen to paper this year, learn how to identify resolutions worth making and keeping. Join us on our radio talk show as we discuss 4 easy steps to follow.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=7871

Throw out or Keep your Resolutions??

January 6, 2007 2pm-3pm (EST)

Now that you’ve made your resolutions; should you keep ‘em or throw ‘em out? Join us on our radio talk show as we discuss a series of questions to ask yourself so you find the answer.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=7872

Intro for Coach Sue

Hello Dear New Year's Resolutionists! We're getting close to the end of a wonderful year and beginning an exciting new one. Hey Ann, I love your movie offer! You mean all I have to do is let LGS know what my New Year's resolution is…oh, can I participat as a Coach? Either way, pretty cool deal, I'd say. I can't wait to meet everyone in January because we're going to have a LOT of fun.

By the way, I'm Coach Sue Copper, I know I talk funny, but my real essence underneath all the laughter and fun, is Peace. It's what I want for myself, what I want for the world, and what I love to coach people around.

How can you get some peace in your life? In all things, peace comes when we make higher choices for ourselves, when we finally decide to allow what may come to come. NOW is the time to uncover and discover that thing inside you that's causing you to be restless and anxious.

January is always an exciting time to reach for new goals and dreams, and when our New Year's program here at LGS gets rolling after the first of the year, you'll have all the excitement, determination and support that you need to get you going. We're not going to let you fail at reaching your goal(s) either, so come prepared to work hard, even if you're not quite sure exactly what your specific goal might be. We're going to teach you the skills to define it.

I'm looking forward to meeting those of you who are joining our program and will look for you here on the blog. What are YOU and YOUR friends resolving to make happen this coming New Year???

Coach Sue

Temperance and Temperaments

With the New Year fast approaching and resolutions on our minds, I would like to open a discussion around the issue of temperance. Temperance, defined as moderation and self-restraint, reigns as an irritating culprit to many of the standard New Years Resolutions. Any goal that requires limitations, cutting back, or defining new boundaries requires varying degrees of temperance for success.

As a Myers-Briggs personality type administrator, I have a passion for helping people understand how their type and temperament preferences influence their approach to working, learning, playing and communicating. You can learn more about the 16 MBTI personality types and the 4 temperament preferences on Wikipedia.org.

I believe that considering your natural temperament while planning your New Years resolution may help set you up for success! I will highlight an example of how to do this using the New Years resolution: “planning and designing a budget to increase savings.”

• The Idealist Temperament (iNtuitive Feeling): NF’s naturally desire to please others and feel motivated by causes outside of themselves (usually idealistic ones!). NF’s will succeed most when they follow a budget for the love of a person or a cause, in the form of a personal mission. Their preference for abstract, big-picture thinking means that they may find detailed charts and number recording tedious and irritating. A budget system allowing some flexibility and creativity (like a monthly Splurge fund!) and recording weekly, rather than daily, would better serve an NF. NF’s generally love emotional support, so they might also benefit from involving their family or a support group in the process.
  

• The Rational Temperament (iNtuitive Thinking): NT’s motivations come from their minds, not their hearts. They need to have an opportunity to compete with either themselves (for Introverts) or others (for Extraverts). The actual money and budget means less than the challenge of mastering the system they’ve designed to “win the game.” NT’s dislike failing above everything, so they will thrive best when they have an opportunity to intellectually understand their end goal and strategically design a custom plan for accomplishing it. An NT’s ideal budget would be one they’ve individually designed, starting from a template, and would involve innovative process strategies to give them a competitive edge.
  

• The Artistan Temperamant (Sensing Perceiving): The SP lives for the moment, enjoying the practical, spontaneous and immediate. Long-term planning and goals will evade this type, so designing a budget strategy requires creativity (which they will probably like!). SP’s need to set tangible, short-term goals that emphasize doing and activity. SP’s need to view temperance one day at a time, setting daily goals for spending, or creating a game they can play each day to record their spending. Daily rewards catering to their senses would motivate them more than the big picture goal of saving money for a greater purpose.
  

• The Guardian Temperament (Sensing Judging): The SJ Guardians are the most naturally suited for the disciplined structure that molds excess into temperance. As sensors, they are focused on facts, details and records, and their judging function lends them to enjoying long-term, goal oriented planning. In fact, most typical budget planning books, Quicken and Excel spreadsheets are designed for the classic SJ. If SJs have problems with temperance, it most likely results from external stress, or one of their two other preferences (extraversion or feeling) causing problems. Extraverted SJs may be tempted more by social pressures and external factors; and SJ feelers, if stressed, might use spending for comfort.
  

We all want to achieve personal success – and it’s absolutely possible for each and everyone one of us. But I have to admit that every little bit that helps us along the way counts. So, I pose the question…

How might you custom design your own temperament-friendly temperance plan for the New Year?

Coach Allison Aboud

Win a Night at the Movies

What’s Your New Year’s Resolutions?

Maybe you'd like to travel more, lose a little weight, spend more time with family, get a better job, or find a better balance between work and play. Whatever your resolution, we'd love to know how you are looking to improve your life in the New Year.

We've already talked about the Top Ten New Year's Resolutions
And What's at the Heart of some of the more common resolutions

Now, tell us about the goals you're setting for yourself in 2007 and you'll be entered to win a night out at the movies for two at AMC Theatres.

It's our way of saying thank you for sharing!

To Enter: http://lgscoach.com/EventsMovieNight.aspx

The Mayo Jar: Making Room in 2007

With the New Year right around the corner and all our talking about New Years Resolutions it seems like a great time for some reflecting and taking the time to look at your life and ask your self some questions, such as:

How did you spend your days in 2006?

Where was your energy being spent?

Was life too full, and if so, what were you filling it with?

As you do this inventory of your time and energy; pay attention to where you were fitting in your priorities, and exactly what your priorities were.

As a coach I aim to help people live their lives with purpose. So instead of doing what they think they should be doing, or what other people expect them to do, they learn to go through the day making choices that will bring them closer to what is most important to them and that is what I wish for you to aim for in 2007.

But what happens when what is most important gets pushed back, put second or third, or off the “list” all together? Sometimes the hours in the day just run out. Or, sometimes what used to be a priority becomes faded and over time we don’t know what our priorities are or what’s happening with our days. So, does simply doing less always help?

I came across this story a while back that offers some great perspective. I’m not sure what the correct title of the story is and the author seems to be unknown, but I call it The Mayonnaise Jar, and it goes like this:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

With 2007 right around the corner, this is indeed a perfect time to reflect on what exactly is in your jar. Have all the important things, things that you value most and the things that bring you joy, been included? Or have they been left out for lack of room? Is that what you want for 2007?

My wish for you is that you find room. Where should you start? I’d love to know your thoughts on that!!

Coach Erin Zielinski

At the Heart of your New Year's Resolution(s)

So what’s really at the root or the heart of your New Year’s Resolution? Let’s take a look at a few of the Resolutions that were on the Top Ten list to understand our Resolutions a little better.

The Resolution: To Stop Procrastinating

At the heart of why you want to stop procrastinating, you find the question: What makes you procrastinate?

At the heart of what makes you procrastinate, you find the question: What is interfering and sabotaging your drive and desire to get things accomplished?

At the heart of what is interfering and sabotaging your drive and desire to get things accomplished, you find: The real issues.

At the heart of the real issues are solutions, there you find: Greater happiness, sense of self, and more success.

The Resolution: To Be More Patient

At the heart of why you want to be more patient, you find the question: Why are you impatient.

At the heart of why are you impatient, you find the question: What do you get from being impatient.

At the heart of what do you get from being impatient you find the answer and the keys that will allow you to be more patient.

The Resolution: To Eat Healthier

At the heart of why you want to eat healthier, you find the question: What are the benefits to eating healthier.

At the heart of what are the benefits of eating healthier, you find the question: What will those benefits mean in your life.

At the heart of what will those benefits mean in your life, you find the motivation and reasons to really eat healthier in 2007.

Coach Ann

More Unveiling

I kinda left you hanging with some things to think about and digest (sorry, I still have a full belly and food on my mind) in the last blog entry. Certainly, they’re interesting key points to discern. Do we set ourselves up for failure every year because of the New Year’s Resolutions we make? Or is it our lack of knowledge, understanding, planning and beliefs in regards to our resolutions that sets us up for failure, not the resolutions?

Let us continue to peel the layers of the New Year’s Resolutions, so we can get some answers and become educated at making our resolutions this year; therefore, sticking with them and achieving real success in 2007.

In about 30 days, you will set and hopefully write your resolutions for the upcoming year…so, I’m wondering, how much preparing are you doing now and in the next 30 days for that?

I can already hear some people say: “Preparation, I don’t plan on doing any preparation. Since I didn’t accomplish last year’s resolution, I’m planning on making the same one again this year”

As a Coach and former Marine I can tell you and pardon the expression but it’s extremely accurate; “piss” poor proper prior planning and preparation will result in…well, I don’t think I need to say it, but here we have one of the top reasons why we fail at following through with our resolutions. We don’t plan to fail, we fail to plan.

Truth is—resolutions are normally made without giving them full thoughts and considerations. Here is a question to ask yourself: how complex is the resolution you’re about to make?

Let’s do some dissecting of one of the top 10 most common resolutions people make from the previous blog, the resolution to find a better job. What does that involve?

1. Having a clear picture of your current status and situation
2. Having a clear understanding of why you want a new and better job
3. Knowing what you are seeking from the new job
1. Better pay
2. Better work environment
3. More challenges
4. Greater Opportunities
5. New career path
4. How are you going to go about finding your better job?
5. Do you need to go back to school first? Get updated certifications?
6. Are you prepared to relocate? What does that involve?
7. Is your resume updated?
8. Do you have financial reserves?
9. Do you have an established and current networking circle?
   

Okay, so that was just from the top of my head…a few things to start thinking about and considering. I’m thinking that perhaps making a New Year’s Resolution to update your resume and re-establish a solid networking circle would get you closer to the ultimate goal of finding a better job. And by the way, I can think of a slew of considerations involved in updating a resume and establishing a solid network.

Dwell on that for a little while. I would love your thoughts and comments. Next, we’ll address what’s at the root of some of those top 10 most common resolutions.

Coach Ann

The Unveiling of New Year Resolutions

Now, that we’ve had a bit of a history lesson about New Year Resolutions it’s time to buckle down and really discuss what we know about them.

Top 10 Most Common New Year Resolutions are:

1. Exercise more/Lose weight

2. Stop smoking

3. Stick to a budget

4. Save or earn more money

5. Find a better job

6. Become more organized

7. Stop procrastinating

8. Be more patient at work/with others

9. Eat healthier

10. Become a better person

Looking at the top 10 most common New Year Resolutions it’s apparent that we, those of us who make resolutions, do so with a goal in mind. There is something we wish to be, accomplish, change or obtain. However, what most of us do, is arbitrarily set our resolutions based on our shortfalls or a desired outcome and end result in mind.

For example, my shortfall is, I spend too much money and can’t handle money so my resolution for this year is, to stick to a budget? Just some food for thought, but if you don’t know how to manage your budget or handle money, what does sticking to a budget mean to you?

So to no surprise, a few weeks (for some it’s just a few days and a selected few, it might be months) into the New Year, we renounce our resolutions and surrender ourselves to the way things are and have always been. Here are 10 reasons why:

Top 10 Most Common Reasons Why People Will Not Succeed:

1. Made too big of a resolution

2. Made the wrong resolution

3. Lacked a plan for success

4. Made a resolution for someone else

5. Lacked support

6. Lacked a genuine commitment

7. Lacked motivation

8. Lacked passion towards the resolution(s)

9. Insufficient resources

10. Had little to no accountability

Hmmm…does this mean that every year we have a tradition that technically sets up for failure? Or, is it our lack of knowledge, understanding, planning and beliefs in regards to our resolutions that sets us up for failure, not the resolutions?

Coach Ann Bernard

Origins of New Year's Resolutions

Funny thing about getting the New Year Resolution Program together, it occurred to me that I don’t even know where the tradition comes from…so I did what every person does nowadays, I googled it and discovered a few interesting things.

Did you know that…

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison. For more information about modern day, New Year festivities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Day

The tradition of the New Year's resolutions also dates back to the early Babylonians. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.

The early Christians believed the first day of the New Year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the new year

(Dictionary.com)Resolution is from the Latin resolutio, resolution- from resolvere meaning "to loosen or dissolve again," (re- + solvere) which was the original meaning of resolve. The meaning "to determine or decide upon a course of action, etc." was first used in English around 1523.

Now, that I think about it, what I read is what I actually already knew. There has always been something about entering “into” the New Year that has appealed to the people of the world, as a time for; considering new beginnings, doing things “right” from this new day forward and setting out towards self-improvements.

Coach Ann Bernard