Top Tips From A Day of Transformation




TOP TIPS
FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION SPEAKERS



How to Become An Architect of Change by Martha Beck, Life Coach & Author

How to Start Your Own Business by Ariane de Bonvoisin, Author & Founder, The First 30 Days

How to NOT Look for a Job by Tory Johnson, CEO, Women for Hire & Workplace Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America

How to Relieve Stress by Dr. Judith Orloff, Author of Emotional Freedom and UCLA Psychiatrist

What It Takes to Be An Architect of Change by Jan Miller, Founder & CEO of Dupree, Miller & Associates

How to Break the Cycle of Stress in Your Life by Seane Corn, International Yoga Teacher & Activist

How to Become a Social Entrepreneur by Karen Baker, California Secretary of Service & Volunteering

Top Tip by Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director, InStyle Magazine


 

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT OF CHANGE
BY MARTHA BECK, LIFE COACH & AUTHOR



#1 Drop all resistance to the situation that already exists—don’t deny it or suppress it, just watch it compassionately.

#2 Note which parts of reality are less than ideal.  Be very specific.

#3 Figure out exactly how you’d like these unsatisfactory things to change. 

#4 Perform one small action to create the positive change.

#5 Repeat steps 1-4 until situation is healed.

Read more about Martha Beck.

 

 

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
BY ARIANE DE BONVOISIN, AUTHOR AND FOUNDER, THE FIRST 30 DAYS

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!


#1 You must do something you love.

It must be your passion, what you most want to do, the thing that tugs at your heart -- no matter what. This is the only necessity, your reason 'why' you want to start a business. It cannot be about ego, significance, money or something else. It must originate in your heart, in the part of you that knows this is what you must do.  Starting a business will reveal so much about yourself, life and other people. There will be good days and really tough days. Yet the most important factor that will guide you, get you off the couch, put you back on the path is the underlying reason why you wanted to start this business.

#2 Find a way to serve, contribute and help other people.
Nowadays, businesses that are sincerely helping others, that have that as one of their core reasons for being, are thriving. Find a way to take away some type of pain in people's lives. You can do that with any type of business. If you are starting a business to make money, to be a success, to get freedom, know that the bigger driver of not only success, but also fulfillment, is always including others in your journey. Power moves through those who serve. You will never feel weak or overwhelmed or a failure if you know without a doubt that you are making a difference with what you do and who you are.
 
#3 Know how your business makes money.
You need to be clear on what the path is to revenue. It doesn't mean the business is going to make money on Day 1. But you do need to know who your customers are, how you are going to rise above the noise and have people know you exist. If you need to distribute something, who is the best at doing that? Also, allow yourself to be flexible. Your business can’t just rely on one source of money, or one big customer or one success factor. Many small businesses, find other ways to make money as they get going.
 
#4 Negotiate everything.
We live in a time where everything is up for discussion. Barter, trade, exchange services, ask for discounts, do whatever it takes. It’s cheaper to start a business now than ever before. Everyone needs some business, so whether it’s a logo, legal advice, PR or web design, go with 50% of the quotes people are offering you. Do not fall into the trap of thinking it costs money to get going. Everything is going for cheap now. Make the most of it. And if you don’t have money, look at what you do have, what you can trade. If you need a website done, perhaps you can offer editorial/copy help if that’s your skill, as an example.
 
#5 Know what to expect.

  • Time - Plan for this little adventure to take at least twice as long as you expect.

  • Teamwork - You really are not supposed to know most things. It’s OK and necessary to ask for help -- early on. Don’t try and go it alone. There's no shame in asking any and every question along the way.

  • Mistakes - You are going to make them, tons of them. It’s part of the journey. Fellow entrepreneurs can tell you things, but starting a business is experiential. You get your own ticket to the party and learn what you need to along the way

  • Friends/Family - Do not ask their permission and do not expect their approval. Very often, pursuing this kind of a change is disruptive for the people around you. They worry, they face their own fears and they don’t relate to you, your choices, or your days anymore. Just know this upfront. Continue to love them, of course. Brand new people are coming into your life who are fellow business leaders, dreamers and agents of change.

  • Be a woodpecker - Pick your tree (your idea) and just get up every day and peck away. Other people may laugh or disapprove, your beak will hurt at the end of the day and you will never know when your tree will fall. But it does and it will. Stay clear and committed to that tree. It is each little action, little chip that makes that business grow. And I can tell you, the days when a tree falls are great days. And they will surprise you. Many times they happen when you want to give up, you're tired and other people are telling you you're crazy. And when one tree falls, pick the next one to focus on. Yes, one little bird can make a giant tree fall. One brave woman can change anything in the world.

Read more about Ariane de Bonvoisin.

 

 

TOP TIPS ON HOW NOT TO LOOK FOR A JOB
BY TORY JOHNSON, CEO, WOMEN FOR HIRE & WORKPLACE CONTRIBUTOR on ABC'S GOOD MORNING AMERICA



When you’re job searching, it’s as important to know what to avoid as it is to know how to do things right.  So here are 12 mistakes to watch out for when looking for work. 

#1 The prolonged pity party. It's natural to experience anger, fear and disbelief upon receiving a pink slip. It's normal to wonder, "Why me?" Go ahead and whine for a week or two (max) to get it out of your system. Then put a lid on it. Negativity will hold you back, especially since nobody likes a bitter naysayer. All of our jobs are temporary—and eventually, whether by choice or circumstance, we all must move on. This is your time.  

#2 Focusing on the curse—instead of the blessing—in a blank slate. Unemployment allows you to move in any direction you wish. It's a chance to finally do what you've really always wanted to do. Don't allow unlimited options to lead to indecision.  Figure out where you want to go, then map a course to get there.  

#3 Assuming being smart and qualified is enough to get hired. People constantly say, "I'm really good at what I do...I just can't catch a break." Lots of people out of work are great at what they do. Big deal. The only way you'll overtake the competition to get hired is to be an exceptional jobseeker who understands how the hiring process works.  That counts for just as much as being qualified to do the job you’re seeking. 

#4 Talking excessively about what you want. It's about what they want. No employer will hire you because of what you want -- such as an "opportunity for growth in a progressive company." Forget that nonsense and recognize that you'll only be hired based on what the company wants. (Ultimately you have to want the same things for yourself, but as a jobseeker, sell yourself based on their needs first, not your own.) 

#5 Failing to embrace the 60/40 rule. Up until a year or so ago I recommended spending 70 percent of your job search time offline and 30 percent online. Now that social media rules the recruiting landscape, spend more time glued to your computer without feeling guilty.  LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, plus industry blogs, are ideal ways to connect with decision makers.  

#6 Spraying and praying. One key caveat to your time online: only a fraction of that time should be spent on the giant job boards because they lead to a false sense of accomplishment. You submit hundreds of resumes and you feel pretty good about yourself. You assume someone out there will respond to at least one, if not more, of your submissions. All logical assumptions—and all wrong. Job searching in a recession is more about quality than quantity. If you're not following up and proactively reaching out directly to decision makers, your chances of being discovered in that big black hole are slim.  (Plus, in this economy, the best jobs aren’t advertised on those big boards anyway.) 

#7 Trotting out the old "nobody's hiring" excuse. By assuming "there are no jobs out there," you're looking for an easy excuse—a crutch—to throw in the towel and give up on your search. When I appeared on Larry King Live earlier this year, a caller phoned in to ask how he could possibly find a job when 90 percent of the local employers in his area weren't hiring. My answer is always the same: Focus on the other 10 percent. You only need one person to say yes. 

#8 Lounging around instead of volunteering, interning or externing every week. Devote a portion of your week to gaining new skills, strengthening existing ones and meeting new people on the job -- even if it's unpaid. When someone asks, which you know they most certainly will, what you're up to while you're out of work, volunteering, interning or externing offers a very respectable response.  

#9 Going it alone. Form or join a job club. The best way not to feel alone is not to go it alone. A job club is just like a book club, but instead of talking chapters, members meet weekly to discuss their careers. When you have a group to whom you are regularly accountable, it motivates you to hustle and it keeps you on track. This leads to success faster.  

#10 Allowing fear of failure to hold you back. If you're totally convinced that nobody's hiring, that the competition is too steep, or that someone won't return your calls, you won't even make the effort. Worry less about potential rejection and focus on what you can control. Make that cold call, send that email, apply for that position, and so on.  

#11 Hiding at home. When my single friends sheepishly ask, "Oh, Tory, when will we get married?" My answer: When you start dating. The world has to know that you exist and that you're interested. That's true with dating and it’s true when looking for a job.  

#12 Failing to recognize the gems. Celebrate the teeny victories. If you wake up each morning assuming you'll get hired that day, you'll go to sleep most nights feeling like a failure. Getting hired is a marathon, not a sprint. To get through the drudgery of job searching, find one thing that went right each day. Your call was returned, the email wasn't bounced back, you met a new contact. Lots of teeny victories keep you motivated and lead to the big success. (It's similar to dieting; nobody wakes up 20 pounds lighter.  Instead, it's about daily choices to eat healthy, avoid the wrong stuff, and exercise, which ultimately leads to the big results.)  

Read more about Tory Johnson.

 

 

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO RELIEVE STRESS 
BY DR. JUDITH ORLOFF, AUTHOR OF EMOTIONAL FREEDOM & UCLA PSYCHIATRIST

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!

 
#1 Protect Yourself From Emotional Vampires

  • Take an inventory of people in your life who give energy, and people who drain it. Specifically identify the energy vampires, and begin to evaluate ones you'd like to limit contact with or eliminate.

  • Set clear boundaries. It’s crucial to limit the time you spend discussing someone's gripes. Remember: the difference between being a bitch and setting boundaries is attitude. Instead of saying, “You’re selfish and self-obsessed, I can’t take you anymore,” which a part of you likely feels, take a breath and shift to your center and heart.  

#2 Practice A Three Minute Meditation to Relieve Stress

  • Settle in a peaceful place with no interruptions - in a cozy chair or in a hot bath with candles all around. Make it as sensual as you like. Get very quiet. Relax your body. Slowly inhale. Then exhale. Your breath will bring you back to center.

  • Gently rest your palm over your heart. Concentrate on a person, place, song, or memory you love. You may want to start with nature. Visualize a sublime dawn. If you prefer, focus on your higher power, whatever your definition. The purpose is to feel love in a general sense, then specifically as a localized energy in your chest.

  • Observe the sensations in your heart, dramatic or subtle. Heat. Coolness. Tingling. Vibration. Expansion. Bliss. Pressure releasing. Compassion. Let it happen. Don’t hold back. With time, you’ll feel calm growing in your heart which spontaneously flows out into your body.

#3 Listen to Your Intuition

  • Take a few minutes to listen to your gut about all decisions. This will give you invaluable information making positive choices and relieving stress.

#4 Take Charge of Your Thoughts

  • Changing your thoughts changes your biology. Making a choice to start the day with positive thoughts instead of worry or fear calms the fight or flight response and turns off stress hormones.

#5 Practice Regular Aerobic Excercise

  • Take a walk, a run--move the body in a way that feels good to you. This increases endorphins, the feel-good neurochemicals in the body and decreases stress.


From her New York Times Best Seller - Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life

Read more about Dr. Judith Orloff.

 

 

TOP TIPS ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN ARCHITECT OF CHANGE
BY JAN MILLER, FOUNDER AND CEO OF DUPREE, MILLER & ASSOCIATES

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!

                           
#1 Contribution – is the only thing in life that gives you peace and self satisfaction.

#2 Passion – creates self confidence to trust your instincts and is a powerful embellishment of who you already are.

#3 Loyalty – is your moral compass and what helps you sleep at night.  

#4 Commitment – is crucial to participate in life, to engage yourself in life, and to follow through in every aspect of your life. 

#5 Enthusiasm – is the way to approach all things with possibility.

Read more about Jan Miller.





TOP TIPS ON HOW TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF STRESS IN YOUR LIFE
BY SEANE CORN, INTERNATIONAL YOGA TEACHER & ACTIVIST

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!


#1 Breathe.

#2 Commit to your relationship with Self.

#3 Heal old wounds through compassion and forgiveness.

#4 Forgive yourself.

#5 Becoming an agent of change is best motivated through good self-esteem and trust in intuition. Develop both by practicing steps 1-4 again and again and again.

Read more about Seane Corn.





TOP TIPS ON HOW TO BE A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
BY KAREN BAKER, CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF SERVICE

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!


#1  You must have passionate faith in your core mission. You will encounter many hurdles, naysayers and challenges and, often, it is your faith and commitment to your mission that will see you through. 

#2  Understand the marketplace and what unique approach that you bring to the issue area.

#3  When faced with challenges, be flexible on the “how,” but firm on the “what.” Truly understand what is critical to your mission and what is negotiable. 

#4  Be thoughtful about the “where” – baby steps are okay. At first, it may make most sense to affiliate with an established nonprofit or start with an online presence and expand from there. 

#5  Clearly define and measure success. It’s about outcomes, not outputs. 

Read more about Secretary Karen Baker.




TOP TIP
BY HAL RUBENSTEIN, FASHION DIRECTOR, INSTYLE MAGAZINE

THIS JUST IN FROM A DAY OF TRANSFORMATION 2009!


When you look in the mirror, stop looking at what you don't like. (You know you do.)

Read more about Hal Rubenstein.