Successful Professionals

2015 Different Than 2014

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

happy new year 2015 on the beach with sunrise2014 is drawing to a close. Don’t turn your back on it until you pause, write your achievements in 2014 (brag), write what didn’t work and, most importantly, why. Success is not a mystery.

When we take the time to honestly assess both what we are good at and how we get in our own way then, we can change. Recognizing why we did not take steps, is important to know.  We can decide how we will be different in 2015. Otherwise, nothing will change.

This past week I conducted two webinars on determination.  I did this webinar because I find when we do not achieve our vision or a goal it is often because we are not determined enough.

From an intuitive perspective, determination is an energy level we have available to us that is so strong and such a high vibration that it pushes through the stuck places in us. If you go into effort when I say this then you are not using the energy of determination. Determination and effort are different.

We start with an idea of what we want in our lives but that is not enough. The next step is to see, in our mind’s eye, our life being this way. This is the vision we have of our life. When we can see it in our mind’s eye, we are a step further than wanting. But visualizing not enough.

Granted you must be able to see your vision manifesting for that to happen but there is another step. That step is determination. Determination means to experience the energy of your certainty and your power to create this vision and make it real.

From here we start to write goals, take steps, push through fears and perceived limits. We are determined!

Try these steps:

  • Know what you want to create.
  • See your life in this way, clearly in your mind’s eye.
  • Feel determined, the energy in the body that says you can and will do this.
  • Write the goals and steps you can take to manifest that vision.
  • Finally, feel more determined because change is about to happen.

I would love to hear your comments, stories and perspectives.

Best wishes in the New Year, Kay

Missing Opportunities We Cannot See

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Moments of a lifeI cannot tell you the number of times I have seen people miss enormous opportunities. They just cannot see it. As a coach for business owners and professionals focused on success, this is frustrating.

Elaine

Elaine is a communications expert who has held many impressive positions, knows persons of influence. She has connections so why can she not achieve her one dream to have a TV show in which she features and interviews incredibly interesting people. Elaine loves people. She has an amazing ability to bring them out which why she knows so many.

My work with Elaine is to work with her to create her interview show. She seems so close to realizing this dream. At present, she is working as a consultant so she has ability to decide how to spend her time. Recently the owner of a small communications firm asked her to take over his company for three months while he took a break. Was she interested? Elaine agreed though running a business was not her skill set, so she wondered how this opportunity came her way. Elaine is a firm believer in creating a vision knowing that vision is always manifesting so how did this fit?

After she agreed Fred told her that, by the way, he also had a weekly TV show in which he interviews people so would she do that as well. Elaine became very uncertain, afraid, did not feel competent and wondered how she could bow out of this piece of the company.

Suddenly Elaine was unaware of her dream to do interviews on TV. It was as if part of her mind went blank!

Lori

Lori runs a growing company opening her third office this year. We have been working on growing her business so that it can run without her. Not that she intends to step out at this time, but strong systems are important for any growing company. The company relies too much on her and with the growth of staff things are getting a bit out of control. Lori was determined to fix this. One of her strategies was to create a practice management system that everyone could use to manage their time, their work, improve billing and more. Lori and her COO spend hours researching the options, bought one that turned out not to work for them so then purchased another system at signification cost. She and her staff invested hundreds of hours in setting, customizing and training. When they launched the system the expected period of transition from the old way of doing things to the new created some set backs.

I observed Lori placing her attention elsewhere as did her COO. It was as if the PMS did not exist. It was as if that part of her mind forgot about her vision, the investment and value to her business. She went back to her old ways.

Why Do We Miss Opportunities?

I could give many other examples of situations when we created a vision of what we want to happen; it begins to manifest, and we don’t see it. Why is that? From an intuitive perspective, there are many aspects. For one, we don’t have enough space to see clearly. When we have a lot of energies, people and concepts in our space demanding one thing or another we cannot see more than six inches in front of ourselves.

Secondly, when we create a vision we are creating something new, and it will require a change. Change is most often uncomfortable. It is in our nature to seek comfort so we back away. As we back away from discomfort in the process, we are also backing away from our vision. We cannot see that happening because we do not have enough space. We have lost our awareness.

What Can We Do?

So how do we not miss opportunities? It begins with being conscious, aware and clear. Taking the time each day to meditate, clear our space and refocus on what we intend to create is foremost. Without clarity, we lose our way, our direction and just work hard.

Next, notice how determined you are to achieve your vision. Some aspects of our vision require more determination (energy commitment) than others. How determined are you?

Finally, be in present time. Being present is the only way you can see in the moment what is before you. When we are not present, we are on automatic pilot doing what we always do.

Our vision and its opportunities are always right in front of us. Always. The goal is to be able to see them and take the opportunities.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

How badly do you want success?

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment

KayakDo you desire success? How much?

What is success for you?  You can stop now and take the time to write that out, and I do mean to write it out. Working with business owners and professionals for 20+ years, I learned that those who write their vision down and share that vision are more successful. Is there magic to writing it down? I believe writing it down is a way of being determined in body, mind and spirit.

Are those who write it down more determined, more focused thus more successful? That statement has value as well, but the real question is “How determined are you?” Before you answer that let’s step back and ask a question that has to be answered first.

Do you enjoy what you do? Are you enthusiastic about what you do? Are you passionate?

If the answer to these questions is not a resounding YES then, you are working hard for something that you want but not something you are determined to achieve. Wanting something means you do not expect it to happen or that you do not have a plan to make it happen. Wanting is passive.

If however, you can feel enthusiasm flowing from within into what you do, stirring your passion and inspiring your creativity then YES, you are creating success.  Each day that you wake up enthused for the possibility in the day is a step in success.

You can’t lose your passion or enthusiasm.  It is there within you. En Theos. Enthusiasm.   Energy can get in our space and in the way of our enthusiasm. Responsibility replaces enthusiasm. Effort replaces joy.   There is a way back to the vibration of passion that you started this journey. Take the time to meditate, clear your space and thinking. Come back to your core. Reconnect with who you are at your core. Remember what stirs your passion.

When we create from enthusiasm it is such a high vibration that it brings us to the creative energy in the world.  That creative energy then supports our success. So step back. Notice where you are. How badly do you want success? Write down your vision. Share it. Reignite your passion and enthusiasm for success.

Best wishes, Kay

You’ve Gotta Feel It To Make It

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment

0082 Adobe ID 044ASP367940For years, as a coach, I have worked to encourage everyone to take the time to stop and see clearly his or her vision of success. Some resist it. Others get it. Over time most of my coaching clients have settled in with the practice of making sure they have a clear vision – but that is not enough.

Now don’t get me wrong. A clear vision of what you are creating is essential for your success but truly it is only a mental image picture in your mind’s eye. Right? When we stop here then, we have a vision that we want to manifest, but it’s not happening.   A vision must be energized to be real-ized.

There are many ways to add energy to a vision so that it shows up in your world. Taking actions or steps are obvious and essential but there is more.

We have to feel successful. We have to feel successful in the body.  When we have a great vision, are taking all the right steps but don’t feel successful then we manifest failure.

Creating a clear vision is not easy for most but with time spent on reflecting, meditating and focusing, it can be created. As for actions, we are taught to create plans, define steps and take action. The key is to take action that will make a significant difference not just keep you busy.

More importantly is how we feel about our vision of success. How do we react emotionally to the idea of it? What are our thoughts about our vision? If how we feel or think about our vision are not aligned then the vision stays in the realm of something that we want versus something we can have.

So here are the steps:

  • See clearly in your mind’s eye your vision of success. Eyes closed. Imagine your success precisely as you would like it to be and see it happening now – not in the future.
    • Write it down.
  • Notice your thoughts about this vision. Clear any thoughts that compete with it, for example, all the reasons why you can’t be successful.
    • Clear your thinking.
  • Create thoughts that support your vision. Have you ever deliberately created thoughts? This is a time to do it. Think of ways to make it happen and steps you can take and reasons why it will work.
    • Write down those steps.
  • Now notice how you feel about it. Does your energy level rise when you focus on your vision of success? Do you feel inspired, excited, creative, enthusiastic, etc.? These are high vibrations of energy when focused on a mental image picture are creative. On the other hand, if your energy drops or you entertain feelings at the lower energy levels, i.e. worry, fear, doubt, tension, stress then your vision will not manifest because that is how you feel about it.
    • Raise your energy level to enthusiasm.

Take the time to align body, mind and spirit around your vision of success. You can change your thinking. You can change the energy level you are being. It takes focus to change old patterns and ways of being. See your vision of success, believe in it and feel inspired as you make it happen.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

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This Moment Creates

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Abstract with heartDon’t blame anyone or anything else. If we step back, pay attention and become conscious of how we are being there is an answer. This has been said many times by many thought leaders.

Working with business owners and professionals focused on success for more than two decades I watch them create what they in front of them. My quick and simple observation, we create our reality. It is not rocket science. Listen to anyone talk about their day, before it begins, and you will hear and see what they have decided to create. They would probably not see themselves as responsible for what is going to happen, but they are. We all are.

Our thoughts about things create. The energy level we bring to our day creates. It is time to be mindful, to be in present time, observe and change it if we do not like where we are at the moment.

Most of us are programmed to create goals, have a vision, create a plan and all of that is fine but more important is how we are being in this moment because it is creative. We can have a vision of the future we desire for our business, our career or ourselves, and that is essential so that you are focused on what you are creating.

That vision stays a vision until we begin to change where we are. Where we are now creates what we have now so if we want something different then we have to change, a lot! When we begin to be conscious and aware of ourselves at the moment and create change starting here, we will experience an impact on everything.

Start each day by asking yourself these questions. The answer is not logical so do not think. Instead tune into yourself and notice how you feel, your thoughts about things and where you are focused.

• What energy level am I right now?
• Is this where I want to be? (If not, change your energy level to enthusiasm or above)
• What do I have my attention on?
• Is this where I want to have my attention? (If not, change your attention to something that serves your vision for yourself today)
• What do I expect from today? (Don’t think just notice where you are. You can change what you expect to align more with who you are and what you value.)
• What is on your mind or in your space? (Other’s stuff probably. Let it go. Clear your mind and clear your space.)

Decide to spend this day being mindful, conscious and aware, deciding in each moment of awareness to adjust and change to how you truly want to be.

Knowing how we truly want to be at the moment is not easy because we are so used to being another way, by habit or routine. This means creating change from within then watching that change manifest in your world.

Have a great day!

Busy or Successful

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

0399 Adobe ID 317ASP844-43339430Staying busy is easy. There is always something to do. Busy gets in the way of our success. One of our greatest challenges is to be strategic about our work.  What can be done today to will help achieve your vision of success?  Notice I did not say meet your goals.

Goals

Writing goals is easy. Writing goals that will move you dramatically toward your vision is more difficult. Goals that make a difference are thoughtfully designed to achieve our 3-5 year vision. In reality, we tend to write goals that are somewhat comfortable and feel doable. We unconsciously (or consciously) avoid writing goals that make us too uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable

In the end, we have a list of goals that may or may not move our vision forward, or certainly not move it significantly forward, because anything that would do that is VERY uncomfortable. How do I know that? If it were comfortable, you would have done it already.

 Hard Steps

The lesson here is, write your vision of success. Next write goals to achieve that vision. Now go back and write goals you did not put on the list in the first place. The hard steps. The high value tasks. Now plan to accomplish those goals first. Absolutely first. Do not  get distracted otherwise you will just keep busy doing what you enjoy or what is easy to do.

Meditation at the start of your day is a sure way to get clear and focused.  Here is a one-minute meditation that may help get you started or a five-minute meditation to be more grounded or use whatever meditation suits you.  Meditation is a way to focus on our vision.

To Do List

Each day decide on the three (no more than three and maybe two) most impactful steps you can take that day to move significantly toward your vision. I say two or three because we will spend time arguing with ourselves, delay getting started, etc., and it will be uncomfortable – but only at first.

Focus

The key is to be grounded in present time to focus on the task. This is the only way to override the pictures and energy that make you uncomfortable. You may be uncomfortable because the task restimulates an unpleasant past time experience, and others may have their energy and expectations in our space.   Maybe it is just hard to focus, or we simply don’t know how to do the task. It is a new experience, so we are uncertain, and we hate to be uncertain.  There are any number of reasons for being uncomfortable.

Once we are grounded, centered and focused on the task in present time we find it moves more easily than expected.

 Time Manifests

When we start our day doing random tasks, we never have time for the hard ones. But when we do tasks that are challenging, but will have the greatest impact then time manifests because we get out of resistance. As for all those random tasks that may be pressing, you will still have time for them after you finish the two or three most impactful tasks. Try it. It is a miracle.

Person or Persona?

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Summer SunflowerSeveral times this month the difference between who we are as a person and our persona has grabbed my attention. I started writing about this, led a meditation on person vs. persona and have discussed with my clients as well. When who we are a person is aligned with our persona we show then we enjoy our lives and our work. When there is a significant difference between the two, the more unhappy, frustrated and invalidated we seem to be.

I observed we spend most of our time being our persona, the image we show to others. Ideally our persona and who we are as a person within would be the same though that is not the case. It is not our fault. We are raised that way. Do we ask teenagers, “Who are you as a person?” “What do you know about who you are at your core?” Not likely. We ask them, “What do you plan to do?” “What do you want to be?” “What do you plan to study?” “What school are you attending?” All these questions and more focus them on their persona. More significantly we mold their persona based on our pictures about what is a considered a good answer or choice. Everyone is intuitive, so they feel and know what we expect or hope for them. This affects their thoughts about themselves and how they mold their persona. They want to be liked, respected and do what others will validate.

Don’t feel bad. This happened to all of us during our teen years, that sensitive time when we were trying to figure who we are, and everyone wants to know what we plan to do. Wow, I wish we could change this pattern but it is pretty engrained. As an adult, we want to go back and answer that original question. “Who am I?” “What do I know about myself at my core?” We want to know so that whatever we are doing or decide to do in the world (our persona) reflects and creates space to be and express who we are – truly.

This awareness of self comes when we are quiet, can stop thinking, go within and say hello to who we are at our core, not once but often, as a matter of routine. The more time we spend time knowing who we are, our persona slowly changes to align with that awareness. How would things be different if this happened or when this happens?

Take the time to meditate, reflect, get quiet, or whatever way works for you to answer the question, “Who am I – at my core?” Let that awareness and vibration flow into who you are in the world.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Work Hard or Ground

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstime_5775817If you are not grounded then chaos reigns. Worse yet success is outside your reach. I was reminded of this working with two new clients this week. When we are grounded we are clear, focused and can think straight. When we are ungrounded we tend to be busy, doing what comes our way, that is simple to do, needs to be done but may not move us any closer to our success.

Two new clients this week are in different industries but in the same place with their businesses. They have been in business for a while, are working hard and making slow progress in their gross revenue. They wanted help, feeling overwhelmed, unfocused and without a plan.

As an intuitive, I look first at their energy. Are they grounded? From which chakra do they work? These two questions tell me a great deal about their business because our businesses are always a reflection of us. Scary but true so the solution begins within us.

Neither of them was grounded. They both operated from their third chakra (a powerful energy center) to work hard, react and respond to whatever comes at them. This is the opposite of being grounded, focused with a plan that determines where we place our energy. Sound familiar?

Both of them are smart, know their business very well but cannot get out of their third chakras (below sternum) and move into the crown (at the top of the centerh). The crown chakra is leadership. Because they work from their third, they do much of the work of their business. For a business to grow the owner has to be able to lead the business (crown chakra) and see the bigger picture, their vision (6th chakra) then communicate that to their staff (5th chakra) for agreement (4th chakra).

Do you find that their story is in some way familiar to you? To be focused, we have to be grounded. Try this today. It only takes a couple of minutes though you can spend longer.

  • Sit in a quiet and comfortable place (once you learn how to do this you can do it anytime and any place, eyes open or closed)
  • Close your eyes and relax into your chair.
  • Take a deep breath, exhale and relax.
  • Bring your attention onto yourself.
  • In your mind’s eye imagine where the base of your spine is (1st chakra)
  • Imagine where the center of the planet is.
  • Now imagine connecting those two points. You can imagine a tree trunk, a beam of light, a rope, etc. Any imagines that work for you to connect the base of your spine to the center of the planet. This is your grounding.
  • Take a deep breath and relax into your grounding. Feel grounded. Let go and allow yourself to be grounded.
  • Let go of whatever you are controlling.
  • Relax and feel connected to the center of the planet.
  • Continue to feel yourself grounding for as long as you want but at least a minute until you feel grounded.
  • Notice your awareness changes.

You can start your day this way. It helps to create focus. Then you can do this several times throughout your day, creating time to stop, ground and get clear again.

Stop and ground when you:

  • Find you cannot think straight or are having a tough time focusing stop and ground.
  • Find you are doing random things and not implementing a plan that moves you toward your goals, stop and ground.
  • Find yourself unsettled by something or someone and want to get your space back.
  • Have a problem to solve and want to get it right.
  • Want to regain perspective.
  • Are feeling stressed or tense.

There are a many reasons to be grounded. Make this part of your routine, and it will change everything.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Meditation

Back Off and Back Up

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment

hWhen we push too long and too hard, we can get off track. It is so easy to lose perspective and move forward in ways that do not serve us. That is not logical, and many of you know it is true.

From an intuitive perspective, we are influenced and affected by the energies we encounter every day. Some of them we slough off easily and others stick with us and we feel ourselves react. These energies most often come from others, their opinions, thinking and reactions to the success we are trying to create. As we experience the energy of each person, it moves us in subtle and sometimes not so subtle ways. We don’t even notice or don’t pay attention how it alters our thinking and changes our energy. Now we are moving forward in a slightly different way. We are starting to get off track slowly over time. We become more controlling and our work starts to feel more difficult.

Meditation is a way to stop before we get too far off track. I see companies and individuals go from a great place of creating success to feeling like nothing is going right, or it is becoming too hard. This is not a coincidence. When things do not feel right that is the time to stop, back up and back off what we are doing to regain our perspective, but more than that to set our energy and vision right again.

Taking the time to meditate each day is a way to stay on track, maintain perspective,  to reset your space and energy. During meditation, you can clear, release and let go of whatever stuck with you from the day before otherwise it stays with us and begins to affect your decisions and actions. We get slowly off course.

Make time each day to back off of what you are doing, to stop and meditate. It will make all the difference. In this way, you do not have to control or be in effort. Your vision can continue to manifest and in surprising ways.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Meditation

How I Spend My Day

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment

Cloud SmileysRealizing that I have two ways I can spend my day, I decided to pay attention to the result of each. How did I feel? What was my mood? What did I accomplish? What did I gain?

One day goes something like this. I get up early. Jump out of bed and begin my morning routine, get dressed without much thought, have my usual bowl of cereal while reading only the headlines on my iPad then I have a cup of coffee as I walk to my home office. I check my email and spend a lot of time responding to what I find there. Organizing my desk and taking care of the obvious To Dos on the top of my desk takes a bit of time as well.

Now I think about the most pressing, urgent, etc. issues. By the way, something being urgent or pressing does not mean that it was important. Typically it is urgent and important to someone else or something I must get done by the due date.

By now, my head is swimming with information from everything I already placed a moment of my attention. I look at my very long to do list that adds more thoughts to my mind. Then other things come to mind. I start doing things I don’t mind doing one after another.

The phone rings and my attention shifts again to that request and so my day goes. I am very busy, doing a lot of work, feeling tired, growing less and less focused. At the end of this day, I can say I was busy, did a lot and accomplished nothing!  I can say that I do not feel good about the results of my day.

Another Kind of Day

Another way that I spend my day, I wake up and lay in bed for a moment to gain my focus and perspective. How am I doing? What must I do today? What would I like to do?  What would help me to take a step to accomplish my vision of success? How would I like to feel today? With that intention, I get up and make sure that I am approaching each step mindfully. My cereal, headlines and coffee are still in the routine but I am more conscious about each step.

Look around my home, I put things away, clean up so that my living space is clear. Now is my time to meditate in a quiet, comfortable space. When I feel calm in my body, have cleared my thinking from the day before and set my space to enthusiasm then I am ready to create my plan for the day. I meditate on my vision and my goals. Where am I now and what can I do today that will have the greatest impact on achieving them? What am I resisting? What steps am I not taking? Who is on my side and can I engage in helping with my goals? With this clarity and feeling grounded I move into my office.

Clearing and organizing my workspace does not take much of my time. I do a quick and cursory scan of my emails, addressing only those that support my goals for this day. The others I will look at later. Now is the time to take on what I call high value tasks and make some magic. I know from experience that focusing on a single high value task to completion moves the dial that much closer to the result I want to achieve. The challenge is not to avoid the task just because it is difficult, pushes my limits or makes me feel uncertain. I take a deep breath, ground, center, focus and begin. It is amazing to me how a very difficult task taken one step at a time unfolds, opens up so that I can see the next step, then the next. None of the steps is as daunting as I expect.

At the end of this day, I am smiling, inspired, assured and energized. I can see the distance I have come. Now I am ready to close the door for the day. Collect up my energy from the days work.  It is time to play.

The first day I described I am justing going through a routine with barely a second thought, doing a lot and accomplishing nothing. The second day describes my way to taking ownership of what I intend to create and making it happen.

If you have ways that you spend your day that support, your vision of success, please share your thoughts.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Help Me Focus

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

0012photonicaMaking sure that we get an important project done can be a challenge. A group of business owners were seeking peer support for issues that challenge us. Christie’s concern is quite common. When she has a project, she finds it difficult to create a time to get it done.

The group offered several great suggestions including creating a workspace conducive to working on the project; start your day working on the project; break it down into smaller projects, etc.

As I watched and listened to Christie intuitively I saw that she is easily distracted, reacts to anything and everything that comes her way.   Her energy and her focus are constantly changing in response to whoever or whatever grabs her attention.   Her attention and her energy changes each time she changes her focus. What I saw is this affected more than this project. It affected all of her efforts to complete something that required focus.

When we want to create something new that requires some planning, thoughtfulness and mindfulness then distractions sabotage that effort. Our ability to create a space of quiet and to harness our attention and energy in one way is critical to completing something new, something we have not done before. An intuitive description would be to create an energy “bubble” around our workspace, not move out of that bubble and not let anything to distract you.

My suggestion to Christie was to start her day meditating because I saw that she had so much going on in her space that it was hard to be grounded and focused. Christie is a healer, an empathic and a problem solver so if anyone places their attention on her needing something she was immediately distracted. By starting her day with meditation, she could clear her space, let go of everyone else’s needs, be clear about what she wanted to do that day and visualize how that would go. In this way, she could start her day with a clear space and the ability to focus on what was most important to her.

I wrote recently about multi-tasking. That is very different from being distracted and responding to everything and everyone who grabs our attention. The ability to focus is the single most important ability to success. Learning to meditate helps a great deal to be grounded, center, own your space (bubble) and to be clear in present time.

If you find you have trouble getting to something or completing a project start you day with meditation and see how that changes things for you.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Meditation

Multi-tasking done right

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

multitaskingRecent have said multitasking is bad, and I rejoiced. Researchers said  that multi-taskers were less successful. This was shocking. I was raised to be a multi-tasker. Wasn’t multi-tasking was a virtue? Everyone valued someone who could get a lot done.  Right?  I was a lifelong multi-tasker and saw this as my chance to stop working so hard. After years of working fast, completing multiple projects at one time, this was my way of saying that I needed to make things simpler. I could relax. What I found was quite the opposite. I was not relaxed. I was not as productive nor did I feel as accomplished so I decided to learn more about this phenomenon called multi-tasking.

To begin, I observed myself multi-tasking and not multi-tasking and the results, accomplishments and how much I enjoyed what I was doing. I observed others in the same way. As a coach and consultant I had lots of opportunities to observe others. As a result I was to ask the researchers two questions. Did you measure the difference between men and women? Did you assess the value to the tasks they were doing?

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Recognize Your Success

In my observation and my experience, women are natural multi-taskers and men are not. Women have by our nature and physiology a higher energy level. Women have a higher energy level in our bodies to create life. We are wired at a high energy level, so multi-tasking is natural, can creative and rewarding when done correctly. Men, on the other hand, do better when singularly focused. This is not less of an ability just different, and the world is better for these two different ways of being. Multi-taskers and persons who are singularly focused are both needed for success.

Multi-tasking of itself does not create success, so I agree with the studies in this regard. Focused multi-tasking does work. Whether you are a multitasker or a single focus person, your success depends on what you spend your time doing. Just being busy doing whatever presents itself is of no value and has no long-term result. On the other hand, when multi-taskers or single focused persons chose high value tasks they create success. High value tasks are those that will make a difference in your efforts to achieve success versus other tasks that are just busy work or someone else’s need.

So men feel free to be singularly focused on high value tasks if that feels right to you. Women, I say go ahead and multi-task focused on high value tasks if that feels right for you as well.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. For me, I have returned to multi-tasking, and I am much happier, getting more done and finding greater success.

Best wishes, Kay

Work fast. Work hard. Really?

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstime_xs_19899077 Working fast, hard and smart is one perspective on success. I recently read a blog on success and the author suggested that the most successful people work fast, fast thinkers, fast decision makers, and they move fast. He also suggested that they work hard, long hours and do the hard work. The third characteristic of a successful person was they carefully selected where they spent this fast, hardworking time. They worked on things that mattered.

This blog grabbed my attention because I have found similar characteristics in the successful people who I work with and others that I observe though I would describe them differently.

From an intuitive perspective working fast is not necessary though you may enjoy working fast.  From my observations successful people have high energy. High vibrations are creative energies. High energies make it easy to be creative, create change, to see more clearly, to move through blocks or limits. So while I would not say working fast is a good approach working at a high energy level which is enthusiasm, creativity and may feel or appear fast is essential for success. When our energy is low, nothing is moving, nothing changes and energy blocks are too hard to unlock. So best practice, be in enthusiasm when you work.

Working hard is not necessary either though we might choose to do that, and it may happen. Working hard, of itself, is not a useful goal. From an intuitive perspective successful people are those who have a clear vision, focus on the vision and are not easily distracted. This might feel like hard work, but the key element is to focus. When we are focused and see the impact of that, we want to focus more, to create more. It is rewarding and so we may in the end work harder but that is not the goal.

The last characteristic is doing what matters. I completely agree. It is so easy to work hard and stay busy without accomplishing anything. We are successful when our time and attention stays focused on high value activities. By that, I mean tasks that will make a difference in achieving our vision of success. It is easy to keep busy doing whatever presents itself. Being disciplined enough to focus on actions that matter to our success makes all the difference.

My formula for success using the three traits mentioned in the beginning would be: With enthusiasm focus on high value tasks that will help you achieve your vision of success.  Sounds simple? Spend this week working in this way and see if it is easy to do and notice the impact of this approach.

Best wishes, Kay

What you don’t know is important

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Adobe ID 164ASP19151002What we are not good at matters most. That may sound counterintuitive, but it is not. In our journey to success, we know what we are good at and the skills we use to push forward enthusiastically. While this is important, it is not the answer.

Doing what we are good at alone will not make us successful. Many business owners and professionals forge ahead disregarding what they do not know, where they are inexperienced or simply don’t have the skills needed as the owner. Others do not know what they do not know. This disregard for our weaknesses gets in the way of our success.

Carol

Lunches is a daytime café that is wildly successful according to the owner. Carol says her café is popular and full every lunchtime so it must be successful. This concept of success is not working for her. She feels that she does everything right. In reality, she does a great deal that is right. She has a great location, great food, repeating customers, happy staff, etc. but she is not making enough money. Carol’s area of weakness as a business owner is finances. As long as she is bringing in lots of money every day she thought it would all work out then she realized that was not the case. Carol’s avoidance of financial planning, reporting, and management was killing her business.

Sara

Sara has an accounting firm, three offices, twelve staff and hundreds of clients eager to use the services of her company. She and other CPAs in her firm have a good reputation. Sara says her problem is she cannot service her customers because she is unable to keep competent, reliable, office staff. As we explored this Sara grew to admit that her weakness is hiring, training and mentoring staff. This is something she did not consider before. She was focused on the reputation of her accounting staff primarily. This was killing her business.

Max

Max has a financial planning firm that he bought from a retiring planner. He has a strong group of clients. He is a skilled financial planner but after two years he is ready to throw in the towel. He feels like he does not have a life. He complained that his staff is not competent, and he is not making enough money to make it worth his while. When we looked at the business, he was very confident and initially unwilling to look at his weaknesses. When we finally opened that door, there was an obvious solution. Max is a doer. His company had no systems or procedures for staff to follow. He simply tells each person each day what they need to do. This was inefficient and resulted in poor customer service. He was loosing business. Max had to admit that he was a good financial planner and a terrible manager.

There is a fear behind not knowing which makes us feel vulnerable. That fear is there whether we admit to our weaknesses or not. When we are willing to be clear about both our skills and our weaknesses, ask for help then we can create success. The fear no longer controls us. When we are overly confident, in denial or only focused on our strengths then we will be frustrated, and our business suffers. It is not easy to step back and look from this perspective and yet it is essential to success. Some do this easily, for others it is a struggle.

While, in this blog, I spoke about businesses, the concepts apply to professionals, as well. Finding out what we do not know is important. Asking for help is next. Making changes is the answer to moving your business or career forward and enjoying it more.

Best wishes on your success,

Kay

Business and Professional Coaching

New Culture of Business

~ Kay Robinson ~ 2 Comments

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A new culture of business is emerging voicing a new set of values, increased self-awareness and businesses with a new definition of success. I am so relieved by the changes appearing in how businesses run, interact, view their staff, vendors and community. Some of the changes are subtle and others not so subtle. In the end, we are moving to a more moral, value based and healthy way to do business. Not everyone is on board with this, but more and more of us are. “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

Here are some differences I see between the old business paradigm and the new.

Old: Be on top. Beat out the competition. Be better than everyone else. Take out the competition. Get the largest share of the market.

New: Be the best you can be. Do the best we can. Build our brand so that people know how we are different. Attract loyal customers who value our brand. Collaborate with other businesses. Share resources.

Old: Get more sales – at any cost. Over promise if necessary. Get the sale. Get more than the next guy.

New: Create customers. Under promise and over deliver. Not everyone is our customer. Don’t sell. Understand our customer and serve them with unbeatable quality.

Old: Money flows to the top. Hierarchy with command and control management.

New: Collaboration. Everyone valued. Share the success. Everyone seen as contributing to the success.

Old: Environmental concerns are ok, but not if it affects the bottom line. The community is important if it is a customer.

New: Prevent impacts on the environment and be profitable. Be part of the community. Give back. Join the sharing economy.

Old: How much money can we make?

New: Create a business that serves everyone’s life, that people enjoy working in, and that has value whether it sells widgets to solar power.

 

What changes can you add to this list? This is just the beginning. In what new ways do you or your company operate? Join the conversation.

Not A Problem!

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstimefree_3680281Problems! Problems! Problems! Or No Problem. Which vibration do you feel most often? What happens most in your life, work or business?  From an intuitive perspective this is a state of mind.

Some vibrate at the energy of “No Problem”. They see every bump in the road as something to solve, fix, create or change. Others see the opposite. That bump in the road is a problem. It is frustrating. It will ruin everything, and they are sure it will get bigger and are overwhelmed by the sight of it. This may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not.

How we react to what seems like a problem defines our success. When a problem presents itself successful people immediately look for a solution so that it does not affect them or their success. They see a problem as something that can be solved and even enjoy solving it. Their vision of success does not change. Their enthusiasm for success does not lower. They do not stop and do not let the problem distract them or take up much of their time or attention. If anything, they use it as a way of getting better at their success.

Those who take two steps forward and two steps back see a problem as A PROBLEM. They stop. Their energy drops. They start to blame who or what they perceive created the problem. They are distracted from the goals they are trying to achieve and focus their life force energy on the problem. So now they are in the energy of the problem, go deeper into the energy of the problem so it grows affecting them in body, mind and spirit.

Claire is successful with three offices and a growing staff. With growth problems appear and Claire is learning to adjust to her fast growing company. When a problem occurs, she takes it on and resolves it immediately. Claire is a quick decision maker and does not want to be brought down by the energy of the problem. In this way, she stays focused on her vision and places her time and attention on that.

Susan has a vision of the business she wants to create but has been unable to move it forward. Susan does not yet see how much she goes into the energy of a problem in all aspects of her life. When a problem presents itself she reacts by dropping her energy to the level of the problem then stays there awhile. Susan often sees an ordinary life experience as a problem. Susan is not ready to change at this time, so she lives at the energy of a problem in her life, not just in her business. Not surprisingly she is not yet successful though she is very capable. When Susan becomes aware of this pattern in her and steps out of it she will be able to move forward.

There are many reasons why we are one way or another in relation to problems. Partly we learn this from our families or from an experience that is still on our mind or in our space. Some of us vibrate at a high energy level as a spirit so it is natural to have a positive perspective and success moving forward. Others vibrate at a lower energy level, attract and stay with their problems.

How we react to a problem is a matter of choice, free will and becomes a state of mind. If we see our life moving forward and don’t drop our energy when a problem presents itself then we find success personally and professionally. No Problem. If, on the other hand, we view our life as a problem then problems appear, and we lower our vibration to the level of “It’s a problem” with success always in the future.

How we react to problems is a matter of choice. We may be in the habit of falling into the energy of a problem, but we can change that. By being aware and mindful in the moment, we can catch ourselves and come out of the energy of a problem and approach problems in a new way with a different perspective and a higher energy level.

Take a look at how you react to a problem. What happens to your body? Do you get tense? What about your emotions? Do you get angry or frustrated? What about your thinking? Do you start creating thoughts and stories about how this problem is going to get bigger?

Another way of being is to keep your energy high. Feel successful. Keep your vision set on the possibilities and be in enthusiasm.  Take ownership of a problem as something you can solve and move on.  In this way problems do not last long, don’t stop or distract you from your success.

Best wishes on your success,  Kay

Hold Your Head High

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Business ManMy grandmother said, “Hold your head high.”  I am sure you are familiar with this phrase as well. When my grandmother said it, I did it and felt better. Over the years I’ve had the same experience. When I held my head high and the more I held it high I felt a significant change in my energy level and my feeling of certainty.

Observing Others

Observing others I noticed I could tell those who held their head high and those who did not.   I also observed how I reacted to each.  I was drawn toward those who showed confidence and did not have a strong impression of those whose head was down.  In fact I hardly noticed them. Finally I decided to look intuitively to see what was going on that made such a difference.

 Seventh Energy Center

We all have seven major chakras or energy centers. The first is at the base of our spine and the seventh is on the top of the head in the area that is the soft spot for babies. It is this seventh chakra that is activated when we “hold our head high”. When the 7th chakra is active we feel certain, have ownership of our space and sense of seniority in our life.  We appear strong, in charge of our space and own our personal power.

How to hold your head high

The power of the seventh chakra is undeniable. Try it for yourself before you read further. Here is a technique I use with my clients. Start by holding your head high but more than that – stretch your neck. Really lift your head up so that your spine is long and the top back of your head is the top. Notice how differently you feel. Take a deep breath and really hold your head high.

This is not magic though it may feel like that. When we lift our head up, stretch the neck we are straightening the spine and at the same time aligning our energy centers. When our energy centers are aligned along the spine and our energy can flow clearly and smoothly. That alone makes us feel better. So this concept of holding your head high is the alignment of our energy centers with our energy flowing and our crown chakra energize.

Crown Chakra & Strength of Spirit

The crown chakra (seventh) is a powerful energy center that is energized when we hold it in alignment with our spine and energy centers. We feel more empowered. Others perceive us as empowered. Watch others. Notice how you react to someone whose head is down in their shoulders versus someone who is holding their head high.

This is an important concept for those focused on achieving their goals. Some create from their third chakra (below the sternum) with hard work and a great deal of effort. Others use their upper chakras (5th through 7th) for success from creativity, clear vision and certainty. This is a lot more fun and validating.

Feel Better in Body, Mind & Spirit

There are more reasons why energizing our crown chakra makes us feel so much better. It is the chakra through which our life force energy flows (chi, prana, etc.) into the body bringing life force energy to the organs. We feel energized.

So hold your head high when you want to feel better, feel certain, to be seen as a leader, to have strength of spirit and to feel in charge of your life.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Manifesting the hard way

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

200469161-001Mandy asked me to work with her to make a career change.  She had a good job that paid well.  She is seen as a leader in her industry but it is not what she wants to be doing.  Mandy was finding it hard to stay focused on her work.  She was distracted thinking about what she would rather to be doing.

When we begin to create a plan to transition to a new career or an old career revisited she got cold feet and worried that she needed the job she had.  Though she wanted a career change she could not imagine making it happen.  Mandy made some attempts to change her career then turned around and tried to find ways to connect with her current job. One step forward and two steps back.

From an intuitive perspective we are always getting our goals.  Mandy never gave up her goal to change careers so I knew it was manifesting.  I also know that goals manifest gracefully when we actively create them. Goals manifest less gracefully when we don’t.  So Mandy wanted out of her job and onto a new career but she could not take the steps to make it happen.  The only way for that change to happen was for her to lose her job. That is exactly what happened.  She was laid off so now she had to create the change she desired in the first place.   She was going to get her goal though not very gracefully.

Mary

This same scenario played out for Mary.  She was top executive in a large organization, was paid well and had a lot of visibility but it was not the job she wanted.  Over and over again she decided to quit and each time she thought about leaving she would get a raise.  As a single mom she could not imagine quitting a good paying job so she stayed all the while visualizing her next step.  Her vision manifested when one day suddenly she was laid off.  At first she was angry then she realized that she had visualized a job change for a long time.  Being laid off was the only way her vision could manifest and so it did.

My best counsel is to take charge of the change you desire.  It is going to happen one way or another.  Remember the saying, “Be careful what you pray for.”   Take a moment to notice the changes you have imagined.  Are you actively working to make it happen?  If not,  be intuitive and notice what would have to happen to move your vision forward.  How do you want to manifest your vision?  Be proactive or have it happen a bit less gracefully.  You decide.

Best wishes,  Kay

 

Stuck on the Wrong Solution

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

HugTrust your vision. It is always manifesting – even when we get in the way. Just because our vision does not manifest in the way we expect does not mean it is not going to happen.   It is so easy for us to get in our way, lose sight of our vision and decide that we are not going to get our goal because of once circumstance or another. That decision is powerful and wrong.  Here is a story of one business owner who thought her vision was not going to manifest.

Sara

A business owner, Sara, called last year at her wit’s end saying she was going to close her business but wanted to check in with me before she did so. After speaking with her it was clear that she did not want to close her business. She just wanted and needed to change her role in the business. Sara’s next step was to move more into a leadership role and not be responsible for the day-to-day operations any longer. This is normal and needed step for the owner and the growth of any business.

Leadership Solution

When Sara called she was vibrating at the energy that her business was a big problem. Not so. Sara just needed to stop being CEO, CFO, COO, CBO and every other c-suite title you could think of. Her real goal was not to close her business but to position her business for sale and to find someone she trusted to buy the business she started. Sara wanted someone to carry on its strong reputation and tradition.

 A New Organizational Strategy

We created a new organizational strategy to grow her business.  We changed her role to CEO/President, made her accountant functionally the CFO. One staff person was promoted to CBO as marketing chief. Another staff person, Carol, was promoted to COO in charge of the day-to-day operations. Carol was also interested in eventually taking over the business. As an intuitive I did not see that Carol as strong nor committed enough to take over the business in the long run but Sara was convinced this would work.

Sara stepped back and let the Carol take over. It did not turn out as well as Sara had hoped and Carol quit within a year throwing the business back into Sara’s lap. Sara was devastated. Her disappointment was overwhelming. She felt like a failure and was unhappy that she was back in the role of CEO and COO once again.

Vision Still Manifesting

Sara called in tears. I had to remind her that she was still getting her goal of finding someone she liked and trusted to take over her business. That goal had not changed.  It was so clear to me intuitively that Sara was still getting her goal. It simply was not manifesting in the way she expected. She had pushed for the Carol to be that person. That was not meant to be. Intuitively I saw that Carol was not the person who could carry on the reputation and tradition of the business so it was inevitable that she would leave. It is not a mistake nor a coincidence.   That does not mean that Sara is not getting her goal. Quite the contrary. She just has not found the person who she trusts and who could run her business with the same quality of service the community had come to know.  Sara could not see this at first because she had too much energy in Carol being the solution.

Not A Coincidence

Not coincidentally the next day Sara ran into a Gail who operated an agency that was her largest competitor. Gail asked how Sara was doing and said she had heard that Carol, Sara’s heir apparent, had quit. Gail asked if Sara was interested in selling her business. Sara was blown over by this.

Vision

Even with this miracle appearing out of no where Sara was still stuck in the energy of disappointment about Carol quitting. She was so much in that energy that she could not see the miracle being presented.  Sara’s focus on the solution rather than the goal is something that we all do. By doing do so we get in our own way. We are unable to have a clear perspective and lose sight of the goal. Sara was so focused on losing Carol who she always believed was the solution that Sara had lost her perspective. Sara’s goal was to sell her business and to someone she trusted and who could continue the business in much the same way.  She liked Gail and respected her. This could be her dream come true. Perhaps this is the right plan for achieving her vision.

Notice for Yourself

Notice for yourself. Have you ever fixated on what you believe is the right and only way your vision can manifest? In your daily meditation take the time to pull your energy out of solutions, strategies, etc. to order to focus on your vision and where you want to be. Your vision is always manifesting. How you get there may surprise you.  Always take steps toward your vision and allowed it to manifest in unexpected ways.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Start Your Day This Way for Success

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment

Adobe ID 164ASP19151002Steve starts his day checking his email. It is easy to be lured into the computer, the latest news, an entertaining story, YouTube video, email, etc. I cannot tell you the number of people who let email direct what they do and focus on each day. Email takes up their time and distracts them from focusing on high values takes that create success. Yikes! It is so easy to be lured into a workday determined by email! The more engrained this habit becomes the less successful a person or business becomes.

To Do List

Frank told me his goal is not to read email or go near his computer until later in the morning or afternoon. His fears about what he might be missing have turned out to be unfounded. Frank has been able to break that addiction. Instead he focuses on his to do list first. Changing that one behavior has made it possible for Frank to focus on changes he needed to make in his business. That is a good step but that is not enough for real success.

Goals, Plans & Strategies

Gail agrees. She starts her day focused on the goals and strategies she wrote for the year. She knows how easy it is get distracted, for others to grab her attention, distract her from her plans, demand that she focus on their issue, etc. so before she begins her day she makes sure that what she has planned, the appointments schedule and her to do list will help her meet her goals. She is determined to have ownership of her time and to make sure that what she does in a day will make a difference in her success. Gail also evaluates if her strategies are producing the results that she wants. That is a good and important approach but it is not enough for real success.

Vision of Success

Charles starts his day reminding himself of his vision of success. Where does he want to be in 3-5 years? Then he makes sure that everything he does that day, in present time, will move him toward his vision. Charles is cautious not to get side tracked by the newest brightest shiniest object or idea. He knows what he wants to create and reminds himself of that before he starts the day. He sets his energy to a vibration that will bring him to that vision knowing that change is important. That is a great approach but it is not enough.

 Setting Your Space & Energy

Claire starts her day by connecting with herself. She wants to make sure that whatever she does, however she communicates and the energy level she brings to her day is aligned to who she is at her core. Claire wants to create success based on who she is and what she values. She begins each day with meditation, quietly going within, clearing her thinking, releasing the energy in her space so that she feels like herself, can see clearly where she is going, setting her energy to the level that feels right to her and regains her perspective. Claire knows that the intensity of her work affects her space, her thinking and perspective so she wants to start each day from a clear space.

 Start Your Day This Way

Each of these professionals or business owners has a handle on one aspect of creating success. If you were to begin in reverse order of how they are presented here you have a formula for success.

  • Start your day with meditation to get back to who you are at your core.
  • Take time to reflect on your vision of success and live that all day.
  • Review your goals, plans and strategies to achieve your vision. Adjust as needed.
  • Make a to do list that is limited to high value tasks that help you achieve your goals. Prioritize. Focus.
  • Finally, break your addiction to email and computer. Stop letting them control your attention. Focus on email as a tool you can use during your workday to meet specific goals.

Having control of our energy, our space and where we place our attention is important to our success. Begin to incorporate these steps and notice the difference this will make.

 

Best wishes on your success, Kay

 

Gut Feelings, Intuition & Decisions

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstimefree_manimaginingCan you trust gut feelings? How is that different from intuition? These are questions that I often get asked. There is a big difference, which is important to note. Intuition and gut feelings are similar in that they are each one of the several intuitive abilities that all of us have. Some of us are more finely attuned to these abilities than others. It is helpful and important to develop these abilities and to use them consciously in our daily life. I know there are those of you who are not convinced though how many times have you said, “I knew that would happen!” Or “I should have listened to myself.”

Energy Centers

There are seven major chakras or energy centers in the body with many minor chakras. Each chakra or energy center has a particular function and ability. For example, the famous gut feeling comes from feeling something with our second chakra located just below the naval.

 Gut Feelings

Gut feelings are the body’s way of saying how something feels to you. It might feel good or not so good. That does not mean that it is or is not good. It is just a feeling. I would never suggest that you make a decision purely from your gut feelings though in combination with other information it is a valuable barometer.

It Doesn’t Feel Right

One of the important ways to use your gut feelings is if something does NOT feel right. I would never go ahead with something that does not feel right. It is often best to stop, gather more information, look behind closed doors, check to see what is not yet visible or known or if not important then simply walk away. If it involves a decision then find out more before you decide on something that your gut feeling says does not feel right.

Knowing for Certain

While we are not going to discuss all seven energy centers in this blog I would like to mention a couple of others that are used most often.

There are times when we just KNOW. We don’t know how we know but we are certain. There is no doubt and we are at a loss to say how we know. This ability to know comes from the crown chakra at the top of the head. It is where our higher awareness is. It is not logical. It is an intuitive ability to know. Decisions are best made from this high knowingness.

Telling the  Truth from a Lie

Finally, clear seeing is ability we experience all the time but may not recognize it as an intuitive ability. Unfortunately we also do not always act on what we see. Clear seeing comes from the sixth chakra in the middle of the forehead, the third eye. It is our ability to read someone or something. We pick up on people. No matter what they are saying we can see what they truly mean or where they are coming from. This is a very reliable form of intuition because it is not emotional. It is seeing clearly. It becomes challenging when we see something clearly but cannot explain logically how we know this information.  As a kid I always wondered why so many people lied.

 Open Intuition

The next step is to listen to our intuition. It can be loud. “Don’t go there!” or it can be subtle, “This does not feel right.”   Intuition is your very first thought or first feeling. It can be fleeting. Within seconds of your intuition your brain kicks in full force to make sense of or be logical about or give an explanation of whatever situation you find yourself it. Far to often we follow our analyzer and ignore our intuition always with a less desirable outcome. “I wish I had listened to myself.” “I knew that would happen.”

Listen

If nothing else start to listen to your intuition – that very first thought or feeling. It lasts a second before it is replaced by logic.   Once you start to listen then it is not replaced and you spend more time connected to your intuition, opening it and becoming more aware of your intuitive perspective. In the ideal world we would use both sides of our brain, using both our logical self and our intuitive self. Until that happens people most often use half their mind and it is unfortunately the logical one, which is not always right. We all know this from life experiences. What is logical is not always the right answer.

Start today and listen.   Become aware of your intuition and how to use it.

Best wishes, Kay

Sacrificing Your Business

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

how-to-fast-forward-your-goals-bkt_9343Frank has a strong vision of the business he is creating yet everyday he does things that sabotage his success.  I met with Frank for the second time yesterday.  Our first conversation was about his business – mostly the facts.  The meeting yesterday was to assess the state of his business and create a business development plan for the year.

Frank was full of bravado that I knew masked a deep fear so I delved.  He kept saying he was moving forward, making changes, etc.  I could see his uncertainty and fear behind this.  He was not going to be successful without being honest with himself.  His wife, partner and bookkeeper told him they need $30,000 per month to survive, pay bills and put food on the table.  They have been generating $15,000/mo. since the beginning of the year. They are at risk of loosing this business and Frank was hiding.

We talk about what it would take to turn this around.  Sales was his answer.  Who does sales for the business? He does.  How much time does he spend doing sales?  Not enough.  Where does he spend his time?  Responding to what comes up.

These answers are not uncommon.  Frank is getting in the way of the success of his business.  He is scared so he does those things during the day that make him feel good and valued.  He is very good at solving customer problems. They love him so given the choice of helping someone who loves him versus making sales calls he choses the former.  He is working within his comfort zone, what feels good and is validating.  I understand why he does this though when we want to create a change it means getting out of our comfort zone, doing something new that will make a real difference and create the change that is needed.

He defended his need to serve his customers.  I challenged him asking if sacrificing his business was worth making his customers happy at this critical juncture.   We created a plan to do both.  The plan included daily sales efforts which he avoids and will find any reason to do otherwise as well as time to work with customers.  Both times of the day are important and cannot replace each other.

At the end of the consultation Frank thanked me for making him get out of his bravado, hiding and helping him face the reality of the weaknesses in his business.  Now he feels he is ready to address them to move his company into profitability.  His next step was to complete the business development plan for 2014 that we started.  This will help him stay focused on the high value tasks and not hide dong what he makes him comfortable and that he enjoys doing.

Frank is not unlike most business owners.  If any of this rings true for you then it is time to get out of your comfort zone.  Take the steps that are uncomfortable but will make a real difference.

Best wishes on your success,  Kay

A Feeling of Success

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

????????????????????????????????????????The feeling of success is a core emotion that drives us from birth.  Where did it go? In a recent meditation series I included a meditation on feeling successful. Most joined the meditation because they wanted to feel successful in hopes of becoming successful. Others were successful but did not feel that way. From an intuitive perspective both of these are off the mark.

In Our Nature

Somehow we are programmed about success in a way that has moved us away from our true nature as spirits in bodies and how we evolve, grow, learn and succeed. From an intuitive perspective the feeling of success is an emotion and an internal drive (energy) that is essential for our growth, development and success from birth.

From Birth

You can see this energy or feeling of success in an infant and their drive to reach out, roll over, sit up, etc. These efforts are supported by a feeling of success (energy or emotion) that inspires and motivates an infant to try what at first seems impossible. Once accomplished they are inspired by the feeling of success to try something new, another skill to accomplish.  There is nothing logical about this.  It is an internal natural drive to succeed.

 Feeling Successful Comes First

This feeling of success is behind all of our greatest successes. When this feeling stops or seems to be gone we feel disempowered.  The drive to succeed is gone or we do not feel successful. We replace the feeling of success with logical thinking. Thinking about success and planning for success absent the feeling of being successful has never worked. We aren’t wired that way.

 Steps to Success

There are steps in our natural way of being successful. This begins with the feeling of success within the body from the second chakra (energy center below the naval). We have a vision or idea of what we want to take on, create, or achieve. The feeling of success energizes our vision.  We take actions toward that success.

Where Did It Go?

So when did that feeling of success stop? Who or what affected our energy or our space in a way that shut down this aspect of the second chakra?   How many times have you seen an infant try a new skill driven by the feeling of success (such as, climbing onto a countertop) only to be reprimanded? How many times has a student proudly displayed their work only to have others invalidate their efforts?   How many times has someone entered a competition, feeling successful then not winning and becoming a loser in our culture?

 Get It Back

The effect of these and other experiences are so strong that we may not even feel successful when we actually are successful. This is how our concept of success becomes distorted. These and other life experiences put out the fire on our feeling of success. We can change that. Taking the time to meditate on the feeling of success in the second chakra. Restimulating that feeling and  increasing our awareness of it is the first step.  Find that feeling and let yourself feel it in your whole body. In this way you consciously and deliberately stimulate an emotion, energy and feeling of success. Feeling then acting successful everyday is a way to renew this emotion and its energy in us. Once this energy is moving it drives us to successful experiences. This is not logical but it is very intuitive.

Don’t Think 

Don’t think about this as it is not logical.  Just try it. Let me know about your experiences around the feeling of success.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Decision Making Is Overrated

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

beautiful thoughtsWe do not always have to make a decision.  We can make a really good decision or be completely off the mark.  While there is no science to decision-making there are ways to make them better.  We make decisions all the time.  Mostly we do not pay attention because the decision is obvious though not always easy.  We make most decisions without a second thought throughout the day in our personal lives and in our work.

Whose Problem Are You Solving?

It is always important to know when we do not need to make a decision.  Others may place their problem in our space demanding that we decide to solve a problem they have.  Knowing what is our problem and what belongs to someone else helps us in many ways.  That is the topic of another blog.  For this context knowing when we need to make a decision and when we do not is critical.  Knowing our goal comes first then knowing if making this decision is moving us toward that goal or distracting us.

Does It Feel Right?

Decisions based on facts, data, information, advice, etc. that make sense are made easily.  We have no doubt and decide.  Other times the facts, data, information, tell us one way to decide while our gut feeling says there is another.  While I never recommend that we make a decision based on gut feeling (second chakra) gut feelings are an important red flag to stop, step back and reflect because something is not right.  In general if it does not feel right then something is off.

Trust Your Intuition

Step back, check the information and take the time to separate your energy from the question so that you can gain perspective to determine why it does not feel right.  There is always a reason for this feeling.  If you know how to meditate us this to clear your thinking.  When we step back, calm the body, clear our thinking, clear everyone else’s energy and thinking out of our space then we can see more clearly. Listening to our intuition is an important to making good decisions.  How many times have we said, “I knew that would happen!” or “I wish I had trusted my intuition on that.”  This is hard with others are pushing you in a different direction.  Being in touch with your clear perspective and in touch with your intuition about the decision guides us in making good decisions.

Don’t Decide

Sometimes the best decision is not to decide.  I know that is not logical but you know what I mean because we have all had that experience.  When making a decision at that time does not feel right then simply not deciding is the best decision.  It is amazing how many things are solved this way.

Be Certain

The best decisions are those made when we are certain.  If we learn to step back, clear our thinking, release the energy in the body and the emotions, ours and others, then we can see more clearly.  Meditation is a good way to find perspective. Gaining clarity and certainty are the prerequisites to making a good decision then trusting your intuition.

Best wishes on your success,  Kay

Meditation

 

It’s Not What We Do

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

B0319623Our perspective on why we do what we do matters.  Feeling like it’s a job, a profession or a business lacks awareness and understanding of our true nature.  Everything we do, every decision we make is part of our calling, purpose or path.  When we step back, take a deep breath, get out of our routine, we open to understanding the why behind what we do.  This simple yet profound shift makes a huge difference on how we view ourselves, our work and our life.  Take a deep breath and release.

I often hear from people the eternal question, “What am I meant to do?” asking as if the answer was some how out there if they could only find it.  Their first solution is to change what they are doing, do something different, etc.  That is never the answer.

Life is not about what we do – our occupation.  It is about what we are bringing of who we are into the world, what we value and what is important to us.  Our purpose, if you will, is to be who we are  in the world, our lives and in our work.  To do this takes inner awareness not seeking something outside ourselves.  So if you find you are busy doing but feel there is more then go within.

Becoming conscious of ourselves and why we do what we do whether it is sorting widgets, manufacturing cosmetics or being a race car driver is the answer we are seeking.  When we are self-aware of what part of ourselves we are being in this moment there is great enjoyment.  When we unconsciously go through our day, in our routine we are not conscious and lack inspiration.  It is not about our future.  It is how we are being in this moment, present time.

Our life is working for us when all of who we are is reflected in what we do personally and professionally.   This means being consistent across all aspects of our lives and showing integrity in each and every way.  Integrity means intuitively to be your true self.   Inspired success comes from this consistency.  When we are not aware, consistent and congruent then we have more problems than we care to have, are frustrated, perhaps in pain and experience more failure than we need.

Take the time to meditate.  Get quiet.  Go within to have inner awareness of who you are at your core and let that energy flow into your life and your work.

Best wishes on your success,  Kay

Meditation

Take the Time to Make Time

~ Kay Robinson ~ 1 Comment
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There is no topic less interesting than time management and yet I was recently part of a discussion on this.  Most of us hate the idea of time management and others seem to manage their time with no effort.  What if I said there is no such thing as time?  That time is simply a construct we create to organize our thinking.  There is science behind this concept but that is not the point of this blog.

Choices

On a practical level one person in the conversation did not understand why people have a problem with time management.  To him it is just about making the right choices each day.  For him it is simple.  For others they just know they do not have enough time.  Still others have the time but time flies without accomplishing what they intended.  I am sure there are other scenarios as well.

Intuitive Perspective

From an intuitive perspective each of us are programmed in our concepts about time.  Our thoughts are often unconscious and so they become a habit.  We react in the same way in relationship to time, each and every time.  During the discussion the organizer polled us on various questions related to time management.  Everyone answered and they summarized the poll.  Intuitively I saw that we would answer those questions the same no matter when we were asked, last week, last year, next year, etc.  We are each programmed to think and react to time in a particular way.

Claire

Working with my client, Claire, I saw she was overwhelmed with the idea of no time or not having enough time.  Granted it is a busy season for her but I noticed that her body was tense.  Her energy was tight.  She seemed stressed.  She was not behind in her plans for the day because it was early morning and it had not started.  I asked her about her schedule for the day.  It was grounded and clear.  She had a well thought out plan for her day.  I asked about her priorities and what she needed to get done.  Claire was clear and knew exactly and in what order she needed to do certain tasks.  So why the tension?  This question caught her off guard.  She was not aware of how stressed she felt then realized that when she thinks about her schedule and her work she reacts in this way in her body.  It is automatic and without thought.

This is true for most of us.  When we consider time management, prioritizing our work, creating a schedule and a plan to get things done we have an automatic and unconscious way of being.  What is that for you?  Is it the way that you want to be? Is it causing you not to achieve your goals or in the way you desire?

Multi-Tasking Distorts Time

I admit I am one of those people who can get tense if I am not paying attention.  As a teenager and young adult I was taught that multi-tasking was a sign of being very capable so I learned to do many things at once, to have my attention divided.  That way of being is very stressful on the body because it requires that you are never present with one thing.

A New Approach

Later I learned that being this way I was busy but not accomplishing my goals so I changed my approach.  Now I focus intently on the most important task first to its completion then on to the next.  This is a very effective approach for me.   I also noticed that though my actions changed my thinking about time and how I felt in my body did not.  I still felt like I was multi-tasking and not having enough time.  I needed to change this as well.

Real Change

Meditation is a great tool for creating change.  I knew my thoughts and reactions were unconscious, automatic ways of being.  In meditation each morning I take the time to stop, get quiet and go within.  From there I notice my thinking and change it.  I become aware of how I am holding energy in my body and relax, release until the tension is gone.  Next I decide how I want to be and feel in my body, in my work and in my life this day.  The idea of present time (this day) is powerful.  How do I want to feel and be right now then feeling that way in my body and changing my thinking to support how I want to be?  Some days it is easier to do than others but I stay quiet until I can make these changes because if I do not then nothing changes.

Next Step

What is your relationship to time and time management?  What do you want to change?  Changing our time management skills happens on several levels so just deciding to change is not enough.  Real change happens in body, mind and spirit.   So create a time management plan to change your thinking (mind) about time then take the time to meditate to create change in body and spirit.  Making these changes in some miraculous way creates time.  This is not logical but it is very intuitive.  So take the time to make time.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Once Again, Do You Have A Plan?

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

GoalsHere it is again.  I know that I already wrote a blog on your annual plan but I know you have not done it so here is another perspective that I hope gets you going. It is never too late to plan.  Do you have a plan?  Are you committed enough that you wrote it down?  Research abounds that supports the notion that those with a written plan fare better than those who don’t.  From an intuitive perspective this is true as well.

Vision

It begins with having a clear vision of what you are creating in the long run.  When we see that clearly in our mind’s eye we are ready to manifest it.  On the other hand if we cannot see clearly what we intend to create, be or do then it is time to go within not a time of manifesting.

Make It Real

Once we know our vision it is time to make it real.  That is where the plan comes in.  I have worked with dozens of business owners and professional since January to write their annual plan for 2014.  Some are eager because they want things to be better but don’t have a vision for 3-5 years so we start there.  Others have the three-year vision but never wrote it down so it is not quite real.  Still others have a written vision but are not sure how to get there.   Do any of these scenarios sound familiar or perhaps your story is different?

Stop Striving

Regardless of where you are there is no need to struggle or strive when you have a clear vision, a plan to get there and it is all written down.  This is the concept of body, mind and spirit.  You have a vision and writing it down is a way of bringing it to the mind and the body.  This is powerful and research supports this very intuitive perspective.

The Hard Part

Now the hard part.  How are you getting in your own way?  To begin take some time, quiet time, to reflect on last year.  What goals did you have?  Which were achieved and why?  Which were not achieved and why?  Write it down.  This exercise brings to our awareness how we are with our goals.  There is never a mystery why a goal is or is not achieved.  What did we imagine would happen?

What Are You Willing to Change?

Armed with that information how do you want to be that is different this year?  How do you want to change your approach to your goals, your thoughts and your energy? What will you stop resisting?  How will you change your energy and your thinking?

What You Are Not Doing

Look at your vision, your goals and your plans to get there.  Notice what you did not write down.  I find that unconsciously we do not write steps that we know we need to take but we do not want to, find difficult, outside our comfort zone or simply resist.  Often these are the very steps that will make the biggest impact.  We tend to write the same old strategies we have used with limited success. Write the tough and scary steps that will make a real difference.

Get Real

Go back and write down the steps you can take that will have the greatest impact.  You may have to stop thinking and sit quietly to reflect or meditate because we get stuck in ways of thinking that do not serve us but keep us comfortable even if it is not where we want to be. What are the big steps, the impactful steps?

In Your Own Way

How are your fears, limiting thoughts, resistance to change, etc. keeping you from creating a plan that will actually achieve your goals and move toward your vision of success.

Do It Now 

Take the time to stop and work on your vision, your goals and your plan to get there.  Then tell me the difference this makes.

Best wishes on your success,

Kay

If you would like help creating your annual plan just let me know.  I am here to help.   Click

Did you do it yet? Do you have a plan?

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstime_xs_34081720January has passed and by all means possible it is my hope that you did it – your plan for 2014.  Whether you are a business owner or a professional focused on success, a written plan is a must do activity.  It is fine to have an idea or even know what you want to have happen but there is magic to writing it down, a level of commitment that most of us need.  Granted there are exceptions to this rule but they are few and far between.  For most of us having a grounded written plan is essential for success.  You can easily tell whether you are in the “most of us” category or the “few and far between” category.  Are you consistently achieving your grandest vision for yourself each year?

We all achieve some of our goals.  Those are the easy ones.  The goals are clear to us.  We have no difficulty seeing them happen.  Most importantly we don’t have any energy, thoughts or beliefs that get in our way that create doubt and so those goals manifest without a second thought.

Beyond Your Reach

Then there are the goals that always seem beyond our reach, challenging to accomplish or simply more difficult to achieve.  These goals take a plan – a written plan.  As an intuitive I know that everything we wish to create begins with knowing what that is then being able to imagine or seeing it happen in our mind’s eye.  These are first and very important, but there is more.

Goals

For that vision to manifest takes concrete actions to bring it into the physical reality.  A vision without action remains a dream or a fantasy.  Translating our vision into goals (small steps) moves our reality from where we are now to where we want to be.  This is where the magic happens.

 Write It Down

Going through the process of writing down our vision, the goals (small steps to getting there) and the plan of how to make this happen is all about making your vision real.  Writing a plan helps us take bigger steps more quickly as we focus our attention and our awareness.   In this way we are not lost in thought, distracted by whomever or whatever grabs our attention.

 Vision & Goals

Often people write goals though achieving only goals may not bring us the result we want.  It is so much more powerful to know your vision for success first, write goals to get you there next then the plan to achieve those goals.

Not Too Late

It is not too late.  You can write your plan at any time so that you can move from where you are now to where you want to be next.  If you find you cannot make yourself write it down you may also find you have difficulty creating change in your life.  You can change everything by sitting down and writing it all out.  It does not have to be perfect.   It should be a living document so that if strategies do not create the results you intended then you can create new strategies until your goals and your vision of success begins to manifest.  Take the time and see how writing out your plan changes things.

Best wishes on your success, Kay

Plan for Success

Be Careful What You Choose

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

Cloud SmileysI just have to ask, “What do you choose?”   Every day I watch business owners and professionals make really great choices and others make the worst choice possible but they do not see it.  Of course, they do not see it.  Who would deliberately make a really bad choice yet it happens all the time.  So today I ask you to look deeper at what is behind choice for you.

Making choices is the most powerful creative act we perform each day.  The choices we make create our reality (spiritually and physically)and yet we often do this with so little regard.  What do you choose to have in your life?  The energy behind our choices is important in understanding the experiences we are creating.  Do we make choices from fear, resistance, anger, etc.?  Wow!  It will manifest from there.  On the other hand do we make choices from enthusiasm, compassion, love, excitement, validation?  If so, it will manifest in that way.

We make choices all day long.   Some are automatic responses made without a second thought.  We might also chose based on the collective consciousness – go with the flow.  Finally, you could choose from your inner awareness of the choices before you and make your highest choice which is not always the easy one.

Making choices to control something never turns out well because we know we do not have control – ever.   We can make choices that set forth how we want to be in relation to someone or somethingbut controlling it is never a reality.

I work with business owners and professionals every day.  Some take responsibility for their choices, understand what is behind them and learn about the impact of the choices they make.  Others do not want to know, to be conscious of themselves or take responsibility for the result of the choices they make everyday.  They just decide and move on.  How well someone understands themselves and what drives their choices is reflected in their personal and professional success.  No one to blame.

There is much to be learned by understanding ourselves and what is driving one choice or another, hopefully before we make it.   The choice itself does not matter nearly as much as the thoughts, pictures, concepts, emotions and energy that is behind it.  Why do you want to make that choice?  What is behind it emotionally, conceptually, etc.?  You have heard, “Be careful what you pray for” or “Be careful what you believe”.  I would say even before that “Be careful what you choose”.

Your first choice here is whether to be aware of what is behind your choices.  This is an important choice.  What is behind this particular choice for you? To know yourself or not to know yourself.  The greatest step we can take to achieve our vision is to stop acting and reacting to everyone and everything but to choose how to be.  This is a choice to be conscious and aware of what we choose in each moment.  This means to be present, conscious and aware of self.

If something is not as you would like it to be – do not judge it.  Take a moment and remember the choice you made that brought you here.  If you do not have something perhaps it is because you have not yet chosen to have itor  you  inadvertently chose not to have it.   For example,  saying that you want something then thinking that it cannot happen is a choice not to have it.

Let’s assume you are someone who understands that the choices you make create  you experiences.  Let’s assume that you are willing to see and know what is behind your choices (fear, grief, anger, envy, control, love, enthusiasm, creativity, etc.).  Once you know thatanswer then make the highest and grandest choice even if it is at first uncomfortable.

All the choices we make come from the body, mind and spirit.  The best choices use all three.  From who you are as a spirit come your highest choices, your grandest vision of who you are and chose to be.  What is more common is for the body to want one thing, the mind to think another way and for you to know intuitively your highest choice.   What do you choose?  When we are aligned in body, mind and spirit our choices create results that will amaze.

Take time to stop and be aware of what is behind the choice you are making in each moment.  Make your highest and grandest choice then see what happens.

Best wishes on your success,

Kay

Same old, same old or something new

~ Kay Robinson ~ Leave a comment

dreamstime_xs_34081720A new year and the same old routine creates nothing new.  We can be so set in our ways and stuck in our own way of thinking that we lock out the possibility of real change.  Sure we will make some changes in the New Year.  We always do – at least for a few months.

Every January my gym is suddenly packed with people and there is no place to park.  I do not stress about this because I know the numbers will go down each day and by the beginning of March everything will be back to normal.

Real change is not easy.  It takes focus and determination.  From an intuitive perspective it means creating a change in your energy first.  Our routines and habits cause our energy to spin in a particular way and at a specific vibration.  It stays this way day in and day out with occasional changes to high and low points.

How our energy is set (vibrates) creates precisely what we have in our lives at this time.  What we have may be great or we may be done with it.  In either case being conscious and aware of how we are being is important to creating success – personally and professionally.

This is a good time to stop, get quiet, go within and reflect on where we have been, where we are now and our vision for where we are going next.  I use the word next because we are constantly growing in our understanding of ourselves and so we finish one thing then imagine the next.

Stuart, the Architect

I was working with a new client this week, Stuart, a successful architect.   He was dismayed with his current work routine, feeling that everything depended too much on him.  He could not see a way out.  When I asked him what his vision was for his business in 3 – 5 years he had no idea.

This is a great story to illustrate the importance of having a clear vision. Without it life continues on the same.   Stuart’s task was to take the time to meditate, to get out of his current thinking about things and open to his vision for where he wants to be.  Once that is in place then every action he takes and decision he makes can move in that direction.   In addition his energy will change from the current spin pattern and vibration to a new level that will allow and create change.

Susan, To Lead or Not to Lead

Susan is client who has a fast growing financial planning business.  Things have gone well for her up to this point.  She has been both a financial planner and a business owner though more of her time is spent managing her business.  This past year we worked to create a new organizational plan that would support the growth of her business, adding new financial planners, a lead CPA and Office Manager.  The goal is for Susan to step out of the day-to-day running of the business and move more into a leadership role guiding the values, vision and future of her company.   Susan is set in her ways.   She does not like managing the day-to-day operations but it is familiar to her and she has done it for a long time.  Being the leader is a new role, unfamiliar and uncomfortable.  To be a leader means to change her energy from the lower chakras (busy doing) to the upper, setting the tone, owning the crown chakra (leadership).

Susan is at a crossroads.  She is resisting creating a business development plan, a financial plan, a marketing plan, etc.  All the tasks of the leader in a business must do. It is her choice.   Her business is growing but will not sustain without a strong leader.  We will see if she can make this change in her space for the New Year.

 Your Vision

What is your vision of 2014?  How does your energy have to change?  Getting out of routines, habits and becoming more self-aware are the starting points for real change.  It is often the case that we cannot see where we are stuck.  Working with a coach is a great way to have someone on your side who can show you what you cannot see.  To work with a coach you must be willing to receive honest communication then be willing to change.  It may not always be easy but it will be enormously helpful in achieving your vision of success.

What is your choice for the New Year? Same old, same old or something new?

Best wishes on your success in 2014,

Kay

Coaching for Business Owners and Professionals