How to Make Better Decisions, with "Supercoach", Michael Neill

Decision making is actually straight forward when you trust in your inner wisdom to find the appropriate answer for you.


In his book, "Supercoach", Michael Neill essentially talks about two questions, to help you arrive at better decisions.


You can apply these questions to decisions you need to make around your career, your relationships, or whether or not you want to buy a pet...



Question 1: Do you want it?


Quite simply ask yourself if you want something:
"I want to be writing this article for you."

"I want to be sipping my coffee."

"I want to ask for a raise this quarter."

"I want to continue being trodden on."

"I want to continue to lie."

"I want to worry about money."

If you do want to, do it. And if you don't want to, don't.





Question 2: What do you think?

Trust yourself and tap into your inner wisdom to guide you in making your choices. As Neill points out:



"Wisdom is ever present and always kind.

Wisdom comes most often in the midst of inner quiet.

Wisdom feels right, even if it doesn't feel good."



What decisions do you need to make today?

Rebecca

SMH: Women Struggling With a Need to Please

I'd love to share Cosima Marrimer's article in this weekend's Sydney Morning Herald 'Sunday Life' magazine.

If you'd like to download the link to the article click here. Otherwise, read on!

JUGGLING careers, family and social lives, women feel stretched in all directions but are unable to say no, a Sunday Life magazine survey reveals.

More than 1500 women responded to the What Women Want online survey, discussing their bodies, relationships, careers, their worries and hopes for the future. While most readers report being fairly content with their busy lives, the survey revealed that managing competing demands remains an ongoing challenge.

When asked what personal quality they would most like to nurture, one-fifth said they wanted to be more assertive and confident. A further fifth said they would like to slow down and take the time to appreciate what they have in their lives.
''I am always doing things for others and rushing around like a mad person,'' said Kylee, 42. ''I would like to be able to slow down and smell the roses but life is too busy and [there is] always something to do or someone to see or help.''

Advertisement Leanne, 47, said: ''I would like to nurture the ability to say 'no' without guilt.''

Sabah, 21, felt similarly: ''I always say yes to people. I need to think about myself for a change.''

A quarter of readers said achieving work-life balance was their biggest challenge, compared with 15 per cent who nominated ageing gracefully, 13 per cent who said maintaining relationships and 10 per cent who cited managing a household and/or finances.

Despite the stresses in their lives, readers are more concerned about the sisterhood as a whole. A total of 60 per cent identified violence against women as the female issue that most urgently needs to be addressed, ahead of more support for at-home carers and closing the gender pay gap.

And while Australian women are paid, on average, 20 per cent less than their male peers, two-thirds of readers feel their work doesn't discriminate against them because they are female. Nearly half of working mothers said their careers had progressed since returning to work. Although money ranks third as a motivation for going to work, 81 per cent said they would choose a pay rise over more flexibility in their jobs.

Most women said they were happiest spending time with their partner, children or friends. They report healthy sex lives, 40 per cent having sex at least once a week. But, given a choice between sex, chocolate, a good book or sleep, more women opted for sleep than anything else.

Body image remains a concern for most readers, 70 per cent classifying themselves as overweight. Seven in 10 have been on a diet but less than half felt it helped them lose weight.

The survey revealed frustration with the fashion industry; three-quarters of respondents said they had trouble finding clothes to fit their body shape and hundreds wrote detailed critiques of modern fashion. Yet not many readers have turned to intensive cosmetic surgery to improve their looks, just 11 per cent going under the knife.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/women-struggling-with-need-to-please-20121117-29iyh.html#ixzz2CdPP4OTd

The Top 4 Reasons Employees Quit

This post, written by Kazim Ladimeji of the Career Cafe, struck a chord with me.

So much so, I wanted to share it word for word with you. It's written with a recruiter in mind but the learnings are just as important for a candidate seeking out a new job.

Here's what Kazim had to say:

"A few years back, PwC published some interesting findings of 19,000 exit interviews within their organization, where one of the key questions that was asked of employees was the simple question, “What was their reason for leaving?” The four most common reasons for leaving their organization were, in order of rank:


1.Limited career/promotion opportunities

2.Supervisor lacked respect/support

3.Compensation

4.Job duties boring/no challenge.

These findings resonate well with a later and similarly expansive Gallup Poll, which took into account the views of employees from 44 organizations and 10,600 business units. Gallup found an almost identical top four reasons for employees voluntarily leaving. Between these two substantial surveys we have a fairly good grasp on why good employees leave voluntarily.

Of course, ordinarily staff retention is a key focus of the ‘at work’ HR Business partners and employee relations team. However, upon knowing these top reasons for employees leaving it becomes clear that there are real steps that recruiters can and should be taking to not only hire staff well, but to hire staff in a ‘sticky’ way so they stay for the long term. Thus, putting recruiters in a strong position to be able to say that they make a meaningful contribution not just to staff attraction, but staff retention. This also raises their profile within the organization they work in or serve.

Listed below are the top four reasons that employees leave and four corresponding actions that recruiters can take during the recruiting process to help counteract these issues.

1. Limited career/promotion opportunities. Recruiters should check that the candidate’s career development and advancement expectations are closely aligned with what the organization is able to offer. That is, can the business meet the career development needs of the candidate? If the answer is no, then this candidate may be a risky hiring prospect who may be likely to leave prematurely.

2. Supervisor lacked/respect support. Recruiters should develop job descriptions with detailed manager profiles so the employee can see their potential supervisor’s management style and team culture – and see if it will be a good fit. Ensure that the candidate’s preferred style of being managed matches up with the manager’s preferred style of management as a mismatch could lead to an early voluntary exit by the employee.

3. Compensation. Be concerned about candidates who are singularly focused on compensation. Why? Because, if, as a subsequent employee, they become dissatisfied with their pay, the fact that they don’t place much value in other areas of the brand offering like culture, training and career development opportunities, means these other perks will not serve as retention devices. This type of ‘money fixated applicant’ will be much more vulnerable to premature departure than a candidate who places value in many of areas of the brand offering.

4. Job duties boring/no challenge. Clearly, recruiters should be encouraging line managers to produce comprehensive job descriptions that accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, scope of the role, flexibility, and key contacts in order to provide an all-round feel of the role. Also, make use of Realistic Job Previews (RJP) which is a process where you give the employee a view of both the positive and negative aspects of the job. Research shows that use of RJPs means the employee will be better able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job and be more satisfied.

I believe that the modern recruiter or talent acquisition professional can add greater value to the organizations that they serve or work for by placing an emphasis on hiring ‘sticky’ employees who are selected to not only be good, but to actually stay for the longer-term and enable the employer to fully realize the investment they made in the new recruit."

Thanks Kazim!

Words I Like: EXPERIMENT

I'm in the midst of reading Timothy Ferriss' "The 4 Hour Workweek" full of ideas and strategies to live life and run a business more efficiently.

The word 'experiment' comes up often. I like it. I think it should be used more often in conversation.

When coaching, the concept of having 'the' right answer rears its ugly head time and time again with different clients:

"What if I don't have the right answer? I'll sound stupid."
"What if I say the wrong thing? I'll look like a monkey."

Fears like these are commonplace so if you see yourself saying either of the above, you can rest safe in the knowledge that you're not alone. That said, it doesn't mean that either statement is likely to propel you forwards.

Let's re-wind the clock.

Think back to being young. Remember how wonderful it was to have no woes. At age 5 the biggest worry you'll have had was whether or not to wear blue or white shoes.

These were days of play. Of experience. Of learning. At this age we were content seeing how things worked, how they could be broken and put back together again.

- We were okay if the building blocks fell over. We just built them up again.

- We were okay if we said the wrong word. We just saw it as an opportunity to learn.

- We were okay if we made chocolate chip cookies with pink icing on top. We just saw it as a means to get more sugar in our bellies.

We were EXPERIMENTING. And not only was it 'okay' - it was also a heap of fun.

Here's a thought: give yourself permission to experiment. To play. To get things 'wrong' and see the funny side.

Life and work are so much more fun when we get curious and choose to experiment rather than seeking the truth or the 'right' answer. Who knows? You might uncover something even better.

Mmmm ... Choc chips cookies with pink icing ... I could be onto something!

- Rebecca

Gorgeous Quote

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."

- William Feather

Asking For a Raise - A Tip from Suze Orman

Suze Orman is the Finance Coach featured on Oprah. She wears snazzy zebra print jackets and has a smile that could dazzle anyone. She also speaks a lot of sense.

In her recent article, "The Smart Woman's Guide to Asking for a Raise", Suze says the following:

"Women have a very bad habit of putting themselves on sale. But tough economic times mean there is little chance your employer will offer a sizable raise — no matter how terrific you are— unless you force the issue a bit. A negotiating tip:

Stand Tall in Your TruthBe confident when you make your case for a raise. If you're tentative and apologetic, you're signaling ambivalence about your own worth."

I like this a lot.

It speaks to me because I firmly believe your mindset has a profound impact on your results. It's vital that you believe in your own value and worth before approaching the question of a salary increase.

If you don't value your own self-worth, how can you expect anyone else to?

- RW

Words of Wisdom: Catherine McDowell, MD of ANZ Private Banking

Today I read an interesting interview in a recent issue of 'inFinance' with Catherine McDowell, who is the Managing Director of ANZ Private Banking.

In it, she talks of her experiences - she says,

"I learnt at an early stage that a lot of your career progression is based on a couple of fundamental tenets: always be good at what you do; make sure that you've got the training and you are performing. And network. You've got to manage your own career and plan."

She goes on to say, "Having a mentor or coach for me was absolutely critical ... I was very committed once I decided I wanted a full blown career."

Here are my learnings from this:

1. To be good at what you do, it's important to know what you do really really well... and then do it.

2. Assess gap areas: for example skills you know you need to develop or knowledge you need to expand - then set a simple action plan for how you want to attack these areas in the next 90 days.

3. It's not necessarily what you know, but who you know. Networking is vital. I'll be sharing some top tips on this soon.

If you need help getting clarity for yourself on any of the 3 tips above, get in contact with me at any time.
-RW

Quotes & Fresh Ideas

"A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't."
~ Jack Dempsey

"A limit on what you will do, puts a limit on what you can do."
~ Anonymous

"There is no such thing as 'failure': only 'success' and 'learning'."
~ Rebecca Wells :)

Love This Quote!

"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." - Kahlil Gibran

Quotes I Love: Some Principles To Live By!

My mum, Linda, introduced me to Regina Brett: a woman who decided at age 90 to write 45 Life Principles, based on her own life experiences. Here are some that I love:


1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

3. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, today is special.

4. And lastly: be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.


Love it! - RW

INTERVIEW: Julie Hamilton, our speaker on 7 July

If you missed our speaker on 7 July: Julie Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief of Omigoddess Magazine, here's my take on Julie's advice for you!

What is the biggest myth around approaching the media?
There tends to be a fear around approaching Editors: will s/he reject me? Will s/he think my idea won't work? The truth of the matter is, Editors are screaming out for content; they’ve lots of space to fill and your idea, if it truly is interesting and newsworthy, could be exactly what makes their day!

What are Editors really looking for?
Apart from newsworthy stories, they are also looking for a personality. Think about how you stand out from the crowd. Think about a positive angle. Look for a punchy statistic to lead with. They’re also looking for experts - one quick way to do this is to start writing a blog, as blogposts can easily translate into a column.

How would I approach a newspaper or magazine?
At all times, approach the Editor. Call the switchboard to get their contact details. Be persistent but polite! Phone first and pitch your idea succinctly. Offer to email your idea to them and do so within the hour. Follow the editor up a couple of days later - but only follow up once; no-one likes a stalker! And keep sending ideas. If you do get a ‘no thank you’ don’t take it personally; it’s more likely to be a case of bad timing.

How about TV or radio?
The same principles apply: contact the switchboard and find out the contact details of the program Producer. Call them and pitch your segment idea. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the program’s content and how your idea can add value to its audience.

What other top tips can you share with us to help us get noticed?
1. Have a detailed email signature - this helps Editors obtain your contact details quickly.
2. If blogging, post regularly - at least weekly.
3. Put short video clips on your site - it improves dwell time.
4. Be prepared to make a mistake - because you will - and you will take positive learnings from them!

If you have an idea you’d like to pitch to Julie you can email her at Julie@omigoddess.com.au or visit the website here.

-RW

Rise Then Shine!

Just so fantastic to see so many of you at Rise Then Shine this morning! Our theme was 'self promotion' whether that be in your business, for a product or for yourself.

Remember Coco Chanel's fabulous quote:

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different!"

Look out for our interview with our speaker from today, Julie Hamilton Editor of Omigoddess Magazine, very soon!

- RW

Quote of the Week

"Conflict is inevitable; combat is optional."

INTERVIEW: Liz Woodgate talks about Ultra Running!

Liz Woodgate, our rousing speaker @ “Rise Then Shine” on 16 June, is a mum, successful small business owner and an Ultra Runner.

Here’s an excerpt from our interview with Liz:

Q: You’ve run over 30 long-distance races, culminating last year in a 240km affair across the Alps - what drives you?

"I believe in setting a good example for my children by setting and meeting goals; my 15 year old son has dreams of riding in the Tour de France and I hope that in some way my achievements have helped him do that. I cherish every training kilometre I put in and spend with friends and feel extremely fortunate to be fit and healthy enough to make it to a race start line each time. I love that I have inspired other women, now close friends, to come running with me and who now have numerous marathons on their resumes. I love that in this sport the girls can mix it with the boys… and you are never be too old. And finally I love that you can win in a sport where ‘winning’ doesn’t necessarily mean coming first; in my book, just crossing the line makes you a winner."

Q: How do you keep yourself focused when racing such distances?

"1. Break it down
It’s essential not to over-think the distance; I don’t stand on the start line thinking ‘I’m about to run 100kms!’ Focus on your first 1km and then the next one. Once you’ve reached 5km you’re almost at the 10km mark and so on. Even a slow jog is faster than walking – the more you run, the quicker you will finish.

2. Don’t try anything new on race day!
Practise your eating plan; wear in your clothes and equipment; get used to running in the bush in the dark; run in the rain; make all the wrong turns and mistakes during your training.

3. Set realistic goals
Make your first goal to get to the start line, fit and healthy. Second, aim to finish and lastly, aim to finish in a realistic time. And if conditions change or deteriorate, simply re-adjust your goals. Only by setting realistic goals will you enjoy the race.

4. Accept factors you can’t change
If it starts to rain, get wet; everyone else will be getting wet too. Just make sure you have appropriate equipment and clothing, that you have already tested, in all conditions. Accept that parts of the race may be congested and that you may need to walk; remember, everyone else will be held back too. Be flexible. Adapt to your changing circumstances and move on.

5. Work as a team
Always!"

About Liz Woodgate: In 1996 Liz completed her first Ironman Triathlon. Since 2003 she has completed 6 Ironman races; 9 road marathons; the 6ft Track Ultra marathon 3 times; Oxfam Trailwalker 7 times; and the North Face 100km 3 times. In 2009 Liz travelled to Germany with her husband to take part in the 5th Gore Tex Transalpine race, a staggering 240km off-road race across 4 countries and climbing mountains with an accumulated ascent of over 15,000m... in 8 days!

A huge thank you to Liz for catching up with us, sharing some phenomenal photos and sharing her experiences! - RW

Quote of the Week

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening the axe.” - Abraham Lincoln

Does Money Really Bring Happiness?

I came across this quote today:
“If you work just for the money, you’ll never make it…
…But if you love what you’re doing, success will be yours.”
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, said that.
No-one can deny that the glorious Golden Arches of McDonald’s represent a phenomenal success story. McDonald’s was only established in 1955 and now serves 60 million customers daily and boasts whopping annual revenues of US$25 billion.



Ray’s philosophy obviously counts for something… but Rays point, of course, is all about our definition of ‘success’.
How about making a couple of nips and tucks to Ray’s quote?

“If you’re chasing the dollar that’s all you may ever get.
But if you love what you do…
Not only will you enjoy deep satisfaction, you’ll probably get the dollar too.”

It even rhymes! Nice.
- RW



© Rebecca Wells, Ask Rebecca How 2010.