Shera R. Sever: Awakening Leaders™

Success Principles start with taking 100% total responsibility for everything in your life. It’s mid-year, 2010.

Take a look at the goals you set for yourself, your family, community, your business, your employees and clients at the beginning of the year. Where are you in your achievement and level of fulfillment and satisfaction?

All success starts with 100% personal responsibility and accountability.

Here is a great little exercise, that when completed, is a powerful jump start for goal refinement, redefining your direction, taking new action.

This can  be used for personal assessment,  as well as in pair and small group discussions around community building, team building, employee engagement, and more.

I
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my life, I would. . .(state action)
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my happiness,  I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for my health and fitness, I would. . .
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for  the quality of my relationships, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the effectiveness of my business, I would. . .
If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the development of my employees, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for quality of life in my community, I would. . .

If I were to take just 10% more responsibility for the health of this planet, I would. . .

Just think if BP could honestly answer these questions.

Thanks to Jack Canfield for inspiring this exercise

I’m sure many of you have seen Julie & Julia, the film with master actress, Meryl Streep, starring in  possibly one of her very best roles as Julia Child. Streep so rightly earned the Golden Globe Awards for best actress a few nights ago.

And we saw the character of Julie Powell (Amy Adams), offering us an inspiringly candid reminder of self-mastery qualities: Vision, Passion, Focus, Practice, Set-Backs, Failures, Commitment, Discipline, Courage. Julie Powell set a very specific and ambitious 365-day goal, and achieved it- actually superceded it.  She became a master, by self-mastery.

As we enter a new decade, we are all crafting  our vision maps for what we would like to master this year and beyond.

What would you what would you like to master this year? A new leadership role, a published book, a new business, a long forgotten passion, a new sport or language, buying or selling your home,  reducing your footprint, living more simply, or possibly just having more compassion for self and others?

The time of the lone wolf is over- none of us can do it alone. If you need a jump start on your master plan, I invite you to contact me by Feb. 1 to a schedule a complimentary call. Let’s discover how we can best work together this year.

The future is now! What do you want to create?

In 2010, anything you desire strongly will manifest quickly.

We have a chance to reorient ourselves, bring our wishes into manifestation and truly assert what we want to be. We are literally dreaming our new realities into being.

The more creative we are in dealing with what has held us back in the old consciousness, the more healing will take place within ourselves and as a result in the world around us. Continue focusing on your highest truth and reinventing your lives.

There is a quickening and a deepening of our life directions. We are anchoring our dreams into manifestation and becoming more grounded in our own light. This is a time of great reward for those of us who have done our homework.

Happy Holidays!

What a wonderful time of year for giving and receiving, sharing love and reNEWal!

If you survived the last 3-6 months with your sense of humor still intact, take a moment now to CONGRATULATE yourself for your amazing navigation and accepting “what is” skills.

A friend recently shared this wonderful reminder with me:

LIFE is an endless transition. Go with the flow, change the flow, surrender to the flow,

be the flow, create the flow… the essence of the flow is: Transition

When we look at nature (biomimicry) we see how true this is.

It’s been quite a time of transition and reorganization for so many!

Most everyone with whom I speak has commented on the “intensity ” of the times with many of us undergoing, slow, yet massive changes in our homes, careers, businesses, and relationships. I believe we are all undergoing a collective re-organization.

What has changed for you this past year?

How are you reorganizing your life/business?

Any new approaches/attitudes you’d like to share?

The on-going theme for me  is SIMPLIFY. I didn’t realize how complicated simplification could be. It takes tremendous courage and trust to get out of our own way, surrender, and let go! As all manifestors know, the clarity of our intentions along with committed action/discipline is what creates “so-called” miracles.

Now is a wonderful time to move from hoping to knowing/feeling what it is we are creating in these times.

“Everything comes to us that belongs to us when we create the capacity to receive it.” -Rabindranath Tagore

Clarity, love, acceptance, and gratitude are wonderful gifts to give and receive. In this holiday season, I am wishing us all more ease, beauty, moments of peace and rest, more compassion and understanding as we continue to navigate and reinvent our lives, businesses, and relationships.

Change cleanses the soul. Enjoy the ride and be kind to your fellow travelers.

Wishing you warm and happy holidays!

I’ve been a member of  publisher Dave Riflan’s  Self Growth Community for over a year now. He/we just published  a new e-book:

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

I contributed to several sections including “How Do You Keep a Positive Mindset”

A few of my tips:

Turn off the news-or choose Good News for a Change at All-Top

Focus on what you want (rather than what you don’t want).

Take time everyday to tap into your inner wisdom with meditation, yoga, or some other form of body/mind/spirit discipline.

Laugh and Smile more- it’s the second best thing you can do with your lips!

Learn a new skill (or language)!

Do more with less-it cultivates creativity

Practice the Attitude of Gratitude- write down 20 people/things/places you are grateful for- DAILY!

“How to Survive & Thrive During the Economic Crisis”

Download now It’s our gift to you!

An article this past weekend in the NY Times referred to a new phenomena in todays’ economy, what Mark V. Cannice, Executive Director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of San Francisco calls “Forced Entrepreneurship.”

According to the article, the motivation for these new “forced” entrepreneurs (mostly laid off GenY job seekers)  is to produce quick revenue streams, rather than millions of dollars over the long term.  Jerome S. Engel, Director for the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Berkeley Haas School of Business, most of these “forced entrepreneurs” are focusing on serving immediate needs for individuals and businesses.

“Forced Entrepreneurship” . . . maybe, or . . ?

What if this whole economic shift is yet another opportunity for us (personally and collectively) to awaken to our purpose?  What would that look that?  How would it FEEL to be living in purpose with our work while making the contributions and leaving the legacy that we so desire to offer to our communities and the world.

Is the “job” obsolete?

Imagine starting a business, not with “forced” entrepreneurship, but with deliberate intention- a choice that is in alignment with our values, priorities, gifts, and passions. What if we declared “the job is obsolete?” Plenty of other laid-off workers across the country are doing just that- burned out by a merciless job market- they are building business plans instead of sending out résumés. For these people, recession has become the mother of innovation and reinvention.

Reinvent Yourself!

Whether you are looking for a  personal career branding plan (including social media marketing tools)   or ready to lay the foundation for that long-held dream  enterprise (even part-time),

NOW IS THE TIME!

Contact me for a complimentary consultation (through April 10).

Stay tuned for my NEW!

” INNOVATION & REINVENTION“

6-week coaching program starting in April.

THE FUTURE IS NOW!

I think this recession is a phenomena much more exciting than an economic downturn-

It feels more like a planetary upswing, and right now we are on quite a ride!

It’s a collective transformation and a huge opportunity for all of us to not only live more authentically and in purpose, but to live more simply with less consumerism, less waste, and much more attention to the health and wellness of each other and the planet.

Compassion in Action. Intentional Acts of Kindness.

There is an increasing shared consciousness  that we really are all in this together.

By letting go of the cultural influences of “entitlement” and the illusions of what “security” is,

we ‘re growing up!

Would love to hear your comments- include your website.

Commit and Do It!

Action is the anecdote to despair- Joan Baez

In the past few days, I’ve been reading hundreds of posts, messages with warm new year ‘s wishes along with workshop and seminar offerings focused on intentions, resolutions, manifesting miracles, etc. etc. for the New Year.

Yet, how many of us have spent our months or even years with good intentions– intentions to change this or that and find that year after year, like good green citizens, that we keep recycling these intentions?

I am all for intentions-they are the first step for change or transforming any behavior. However, it’s the intentions  that are held with desire, clearly communicated and acted upon, that actually BECOME change or achievements. One of my mentors, Tony Robbins is famous for his “Take Massive Action” mantra.

This year’s theme for me is a COMMITMENT to ACTION!

I have found that actively practicing the following  helps me stay in integrity with myself, others, and my commitments:

• I take responsibility for everything in my life- I let go of being a victim
• I practice the Gratitude Scan ™    (see previous post)
• I engage in on-going Forgiveness- releasing old resentments opens the door to massive flow, new energy, and manifestation.   Forgiveness releases the prisoner- YOU- to Freedom in it’s ultimate form of unconditional love.
• I ask myself daily:  “What made me happy today?”- not Who, but What?  What action did I commit to today that brought me happiness? How do I feel as a result?
• I transform my “To-Do” lists into “To Be ” lists.  What will I become as a result of taking action and achieving my goals?

So who is on your team?

Intentions are only as good as the determination (commitment) to DO IT! Staying committed is an on-going process-and we can’t do it alone.  Fortify your partnerships and strengthen your participation with  like-minded communities, who will support your intentions and hold you accountable for  taking ACTION towards the changes we want this  year.

Let’s make 2009 the year we actually  BECOME our dreams and the changes we wish to see.

This past week has been a wonderful reminder of how good it feels to GIVE, and even more so, to do it, anonymously.

One of the communities that I am part of hosts an annual gathering on Dec. 24 in Sonoma County, CA. In addition to healthy, organic food and chocolate, we participate in a sustainable gift exchange.  No purchases, no additional consumption,  but rather, an offering of a treasure that you no longer use/need. During the “dancing” exchange, we keep passing from hand to hand these wrapped anonymous gifts, until the music finally stops.  It always turns out that each one of us receives the absolute perfect gift!

Here in my neighborhood, I love setting boxes of used “treasures” and clothes out for passerbys to take home. There is a Chinese woman who visits my “boxes” regularly. She also helps herself to the recycling bin before the weekly city pick up, and receives a few cents for each glass container that she recovers from the bin.

Last week, I saw her walking by with her shopping cart. She stopped, pointing to her feet. “Shoes good”, she said with a big smile.  I was delighted to see my pair of black clogs fitting her feet perfectly.

I am a big believer in tithing, and set aside 10% of my annual income to donate to such organizations as Global Exchange, Spirit Rock, Bay Area NVC, IONS, Seva Foundation, and CEO Women among others. 

TITHING

Do you tithe?  For more information on tithing and prosperity, read Catherine Ponder’s works, starting with The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity.  Catherine did not market and sell “The Secret.” Rather, she shared her simple formula starting back in 1958 to groups of business leaders, helping them go from recession to abundance!

 SHARE YOUR ABUNDANCE

In this time of reviewing, reflecting, assessing, and goal setting, take stock of all you have to be grateful for. To whom can you give anonymously?  What can you let go of (behaviors, beliefs, or actual “things” ) to bring in the new?  Share your abundance.  This is the SECRET!

 “Even after all this time,

The Sun never says to the Earth,

You owe me.

Look what happens to a love like that. . .

It lights up the whole sky.”

Hafiz

What we focus on expands. 

Are you going to let this recession determine your fate? 

CABAN by artist Ruby Lee

Now is not the time to retreat, recoil or recede. It’s time to move forward with more confidence and certainty than ever with 100% participation! – John Asaraf

Focus on the  possibilities, opportunties,  what’ s needed.  How can you  as an awakened entrepreneur build your product, brand and services to truly serve others in this time?

My former client of 3 years, McGraw-Hill Publishers, recently released a market study and found that companies that maintained (or increased) their marketing throughout the 1981-82 recession saw an average sales growth of 275 percent through 1987.  But those companies who cut their marketing saw meager sales growth of 19 percent over the next five years.

The truth is, this might be the best time in 70 years to build a really great business. According to other marketing gurus, this is what happens in recessionary times:

The people who maintain their focus and take the right actions, in the right order, come out way ahead. 

And this is where I come in.  Are you a small business owner frozen in fear? Are the phrases “economic crisis or “financial crisis” part of your daily mantra? Or are you the warrior ready to lead the way with a clear vision, strategic action plan, and the right power partners in place?

My gift to you

Contact me  before Dec. 22 for a complimentary consultation where we will look at your strategy for 2009. This is my gift to you along with  a daily e-mail reminder through Jan 1, 2009 of steps you need to take to make 2009 a vibrant year for you, your business and your clients.

I am loving these long nights, and the clarity available in moments of stillness. Visions are birthed in the winter sky. What do you see, hear and feel? I just received the following message:

NOW is a time to speak of great things, to let your heart sing out in your words.  Today is a day that says ‘yes’ to all things, ‘yes’ to the future your soul wishes to create through you, ‘yes’ to your heart that wishes to release all the old burdens of regret and blame, and ‘yes’ to your center of truth that wants to rise up through the clouds of old ways of thinking and being and express itself truly.

NOW is the time to be yourself, but yet transformed into your true self, the self that lies underneath the complaints, fears and doubt, the self that is in love with life, that sees a sparkling future full of exciting adventures, new friends, new situations, new doors and windows to throw open so that the great winds of change can come pouring through, clearing away the cobwebs and the dust.

NOW is the time to talk of a glorious future, to let yourself actually say it in words:  “This is my dream.  Yes, yes, I know it is big, bigger than I could ever have imagined for myself.  But my heart and soul are speaking to me, and this is what they see.”

NOW is the time  to set aside all doubt and to know, absolutely, that you have within you everything that it is required to fulfill the dreams of your heart and soul. 

It is all within you.  All of the talent.  All of the abilities.  All of the courage. It is all there.

And so, today, let the dream hang before you, let the vision shine.  And then, today, take one small step forward from where you are toward where you wish to be.  Take just one small step; do one little tiny thing.

The tree of greatness begins with the dreaming seed and then sends forth a tender shoot, pushing up through the fertile earth, long before it can be seen by others. 

Today, let the seed fill your mind.  And then, with one little action, begin to sprout forth into new life, nurturing that little sprout with the vision you hold in your mind of the fully grown tree.

The Future is NOW!