Author Archives: Linda Yates

Life and Business Planning

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Zen Garden

If you don’t design your life or business someone else will. This past week I made a renewed effort to engage in business planning. It is amazing me every time I set aside time to engage in life and business planning, distractions come flying at me.

These are the strategies I employ that you might want to add in your planning process:

1. Thinking place. Where do you go to think, plan and dream? I have a few spots. The key in picking a spot is that you turn away from and turn off distractions. Perhaps some classical music would help calm you as it has been identified to increase brain activity. This helps me when I need to really focus.
2. Put it on your calendar. Years ago I took a management consulting course and the instructor stressed the practice of scheduling time to plan each month. In that planning time working on your life and business plan makes sense as it gives you time to reflect on your goals, purpose and values.
3. Just start writing. If you haven’t created a business plan in the past and feel a bit intimidated the secret is to just start writing. That is the whole purpose. You can change edit, add, and subtract from your document it is your plan. You are designing your life and business.
4. Break it up. By chunking the process you will feel motivated to tackle one thing and the momentum will breed tackling the next step. Before you know it your plan will be drafted.
5. Remember this is a living document. Once you have it completed and even while drafting keep in mind that it is not set in stone. Circumstances change, markets expand and contract. This plan is a guide and the navigational tool for success.

Your goals, objectives and dreams are possible when you put some focus and energy into planning. The next step: working the plan.

Listening – a dying art?

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listening

Recently I have been speaking to several groups on how to listen more effectively. As I have researched how this skill can be enhanced I have been amazed at the things I have learned. Some researchers have noted that listening is becoming a dying art.

First off, if we want to improve confidence then becoming a better listener is critical. If we are too busy listening to what is going on inside our own heads we will miss the opportunities of progress and fulfillment going on in the world around us.

Here are some tips to enhance your ability to listen:

1. Observe non-verbals
2. Focus on the speaker
3. Give listening cues
4. Don’t interrupt
5. Clarify points
6. Paraphrase
7. Wait for feedback

Listening – just as with anything in life can be learned. We can increase our abilities on whatever we focus on. It takes awareness and practice.

Linda’s Tip: De-clutter Your Mind – Time Management

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Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you wish there were more hours in the day? If this describes you then watch this video for tips on how to de-clutter your mind so that you can conquer the skill of time management. By freeing up mind space you will find that you sleep better at night. Freeing up space in our mind allows us to be more productive and operate at all times “in the zone.” Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

Linda’s Tip: Positive First Impressions

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What is the first impression you give others? Is it the positive first impression that you desire? This week’s tip provide suggestions on how to get feedback about your first impressions. Your first impression could be a last impression – you have the power to craft what that can be.

Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

Disappointments Come

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Disappointments Come
While speaking to my beautiful daughter Summer the other day about the disappointments that have come over the last year she suggested I blog about what was in my heart. Then I attended a training session on mindset and the presenter spoke about vulnerability. After these two instances in a very short amount of time occurred I decided that I would be vulnerable and speak about the disappointments that come.

Hopefully as you have followed this blog the theme you will have noticed is positivity. It will be interesting to see if this particular posts gets more views. This year has been a waterfall of disappointments. It is fascinating because the last couple of years have been full of miracles and blessings. I am grateful for both because they remind me that good things do and can happen while the importance of opposition is needed to cherish the joyful moments.

Not being selected as the final pick for a contract job or thinking I secured a new coaching client only to find out they are not ready to commit is just a sampling of those disappointments that have emerged. My full-time job ending suddenly while being thrust into a sea of crossroads all have been the waves of adversity that I have experienced this year. Through it all some constants have remained.

The sun has continued to shine (most days), my family continues to offer words of encouragement and love, lastly glimmers of hope. I’ve come to treasure these glimmers of hope. I know that through these disappointments I’m being strengthened. Faith has taken on a whole new meaning. Getting back up after being knocked down is the only thing I know to do.

Disappointments will turn into discovery – all it takes is my will and mindset to turn them around. Here’s to turning.

Linda’s Tip: Celebrating Aging

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Celebrating the aging process comes down to our mindset. Just had a birthday this last week and this was on my mind and wanted to share with you. This week’s tip provides suggestions on how to look at and cope with growing older.

Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

Linda’s Tip: Starting Over

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Starting over doesn’t have to be scary. This week’s tip provide suggestions on how to embrace a new chapter. You can decide how to look at the process of starting again. Embracing the process will empower and energize you.

Thanks for watching Linda’s tips. Sign up today for our FREE Newsletter. www.lhyatesconsulting.com

The benefits of being Positive

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smiley face

This past week I read an article from my church’s monthly magazine about a woman that was struggling with a life trial. As I read this article the benefits of being positive when everything around you seems negative came to my mind. Being positive is a state of mind. Turning a frown upside down into a smile may seem difficult but it is possible.

Today I thought I would list out the benefits of being positive. Perhaps this list will help you when you feel discouraged or down.

1. Troubles seem lighter
2. Attract more positive happenings
3. Attract more positive individuals into your life
4. Less stress
5. More money
6. Healthier relationships
7. Fulfillment
8. Better health
9. Clarity of mind
10. Possibility mindset

These benefits are immediate once you choose to embrace positivity. The power is within each one of us. We have the ability to be positive. The benefits of being positive impact us in every facet, stage and season of life. Positivity equates to abundance. Isn’t abundance and happiness what we all are seeking?

Celebrating Accomplishments

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Celebrating Accomplishments

This past week I spoke to an incredible group of professionals that have been hit hard by economic times. It was a great experience and went really well. Sometimes I have a tendency to pick apart my performance and miss the opportunity of celebrating my accomplishments. Celebrating accomplishments is our way of honoring the positive and encouraging more opportunities along our journey.

We can be our own worst critic and quite frankly the goal is to NOT listen to internal trash talk. We have to guard the internal messages and truly celebrate all the good we are and the accomplishments we achieve.

Realizing that we are in control only of ourselves and no one else, this control is best realized by controlling our thoughts and what we let penetrate. Don’t take anything personally! This is a great mantra and will help keep us clear and balanced.

What do you need to celebrate that you have put off?