4 weeks for you!

We are all born with creativity.   It is the way each of us express, differentiate, and excel at what we do.
Depending upon your cultural, social beliefs, and upbringing,  you have either been encouraged or discouraged to express your creativity. 
Individual challenges occur when we reach cross roads in our journey.
  These are opportunities  to clear away  old bad habits and distractions that we have been tripping over for years.
 Is it time to take on the project that you have been dreaming of?
 Perhaps you have spent a career doing something you were told was a good career  and now you want to  consider how to take all the skills you have amassed and create a "new you" doing something YOU love.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”  ~Oprah Winfrey

This is a 4 week program-  We meet in a one on one session for 1 hour each week.
Depending upon the agreed upon objectives  specific to YOUR individual needs, I will guide our  discussions to address your creative challenges and opportunities  in a structured, safe, environment.
Each week you will be given specific take away exercises to work on during the week which will act as building blocks to  help you  address, barriers, re-engage, or develop your creative self.  This is the perfect opportunity for you to get out of your head, into action, with support when you have a  breakthrough or blockade.

Who should attend?
Artists or creative wannabe's who have the desire, willingness and commitment to connect with themselves and others , develop and nurture your creative self  in a healthy, safe, and supportive environment.

When and Where
Berkeley / San Francisco  locations available. Weekly meetings are generally scheduled between  9a-6pm Mo-Sat.  Dates, times and location will be confirmed based upon schedule availability. *During typical sessions we meet for coffee, lunch, or a walk for 
face to face consultations and workshops.
  
Meetings can  be scheduled ANYWHERE in the world- contact me to discuss details and pricing outside Berkeley / SF area for both face to face and Skye options.

Limited Availability!  
The number of spaces  and discounted pricing  a  limited time offering!

Registration: 
Full Registration is required when you sign up to guarantee your space for: Four- one hour break through consultations.

Registration Fee:  $399   

Do or do not...

When you have committed to a large project- you know that you are going to be faced with multiple challenges.

The biggest challenge is often simply getting started.  
You or others around you may question your motives, and even your sanity for following something that you believe strongly in. 

Once you are under way, you are often diverted with competing priorities and obstacles .  You might even face barriers as you are attempting to finish your project.

The Boston Marathon  is a huge “project” for a individual to take on- without any horrific distractions.

When you compete in marathon distance races, you are committing to hours and hours of running.  26.2 miles is a long enough distance that you can’t “fake it”, meaning  if you were a active and healthy individual you could probably drop into your neighborhood 5- 10k or maybe even a 1/2 marathon, race and finish, It might not be pretty, and you would feel pretty sore to run between 3-13 miles with little training, but you could "fake it".
Running your body for 26.2 miles, that means running four 6.2 mile 10k's in a row. It also means you have worked out the physical stamina needed, your dietary requirements, and often the biggest piece of the puzzle, the mental component. Staying focused, motivated, and listening to your body. Once those big pieces are taken care of what if you  have set your sights on competing at the Boston Marathon?

 It is a championship race  that requires qualifying race  times and requirements for runners to compete. It's too much to "fake it" you have to be prepared and have done the hard work just to get there.  Then you have to face the actual event. Obsticles? yup, hills? you bet several,  your body? the distance, sometimes the weather, all take their toll. Regardless of your finishing time your tired when your feet cross over the finish line.  
With the prolonged mental and physical drain  it is VERY  easy to get distracted, and in the unthinkable instance of the 117^th running of the Boston Marathon bombs were  laid at the finish line.

Bill Iffrig- via London Telegraph

During the first explosion, you see  a 78 yr old runner Bill Eliff being knocked to his feet.  
 I guarentee you this runner, who had 3 Boston's already under his belt did not include bombs exploding on the side of the course when he was preparing for this event.  Despite the tremendous distraction and diversion of 2 bombs exploding, he completed the race.

We run, ride, race, create music, art, and new products to make our lives “better”- while completing our big projects, we like to cheer others like us on!   Together WE push forward. It didn't occur to Bill to not finish the race, he had already come so far. (!!!)

There will always be barriers trying to stop us from what we are driven to do, I can't bear to dwell on the horrific nature of the loss, and to have a beautiful historic tradition used as a platform for some depraved bullies attempt to interupt the successes of others.

I do believe we creatures, try most days to love, protect, and challenge each other, and when things get hard we cheer each other on to be the best we can be.  As a old friend reminds me   “Do…or do not, there is no try”-  Yoda

Today, start something good,

we are here cheering, and celebrating!

May peace be with you- 

Cat Stevens-Peace Train by DoorsOfFeeling

Links and credits:

Boston Marathon BAA.com

Qualifying information

Bill Iffrig: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/15/177393410/boston-blast-man-knocked-over-by-explosion-got-up-finished-race

Photo credits
via London Telegraph:
Bill Iffrig: http://media.kens5.com/images/470*264/0415bill_iffrig.jpg
Start something big: vemo.com
Peace Train: cat Stevens  via dailymotion.com
Lack the courage to start- tamra engle

Tour or travel planning?

During spring time I notice 3 types of people.

Families preparing for a spring break- looking for a get away.
Business Travelers-  Road warriors who are home often enough to collect their bills, then off to the next  client.
Tour Preperation- Artists preparing for summer tours- Local, regional, and North American travel, in cars, vans, busses, planes, and trains.

If you spend any amount of time "on the road" you have certainly experienced a wide variety of places to eat, sleep, while trying to  get to the next location, it can get ugly really fast!

Sometimes we get so focused upon  the destination we forget "la gioia è nel giro " Italian  for "the Joy is in the ride".  

When your planning your next great adventure, whether it is for business or pleasure-  think about the amount of time you are going to be spending traveling?  
What  are your eating? Where are you sleeping?  And what are your physical activity needs are during that time?  When driving,  do you get out and stretch and walk around every few hours? or did you not plan your drive time well, and your racing non stop to get to the next town?
  Are you making good food choices while you are traveling?  Drinking enough water? or are you falling victim to what  ever pre-packaged, motel  fast food that is filled with fat, sugar, and calorie or portion sizes that are enough to feed two people, and your "system" is outta whack for a week. 

Whether you are a artist touring, a business traveler, or your bringing the whole dang family with you for a outdoor adventure.   You are physically hauling more things with you.  Suitcases, food, equipment and everyone's toys. 
Most things are heavier, and shoved into tight spaces requiring you to bend over, or stand in a awkward position reaching above your head. 
If your a woman  are you physically strong enough to lift 30-50 lbs above your head?  Most women can't lift 20 lbs over their heads!   Do you ever come home from a trip and feel trashed or get sick?  

Being trashed or sick totally defeats the idea of "getting away".
 Your supposed to come back home feeling  relaxed not in a deeper hole than when you left! 
  If your traveling for business, you ALWAYS have a pile of work waiting for you when you get back,  If your too sick to get back to it,  then your gonna feel really stressed out, trying to play catch up.
 Stop coming home from a tour or business trip sick, or from a conference with another "bug".

If your new gig is going to put you on the road more often, and your goal is to really "kill it" then get serious and  think about it like you are "training" for your job.   Lifestyle guides can assist you with everything from project management helping with travel planning  to making recommendations for proper meal and exercise planning to insure you get the most out of your travel time by staying healthy!

Some additional reading about travel and health:
 http://bethegarden.blogspot.com/2013/04/human-foie-gras-anyone.html

I'm Coming to your town:

Ready to schedule a planning meeting with you, or your leadership team?

• Private or group consultations
• Short- Mid term project work
• Workshops- to improve and grow your personal and business health.
• Entertainment Consultant: Producer / Branding / Social Media
•   Email me!

Florida:         Clearwater Fl: May 19-22nd-

California:     SF / Central Coast / LA / OC/ SD

Italy:    Sept - Florence, Sienna, Tuscany-   

Your town?

Schedule your private or group consultation to improve and grow your personal and business health!

Meet the new baby!

The past two years the  customers that have been referred to me most, have me individuals and business's who need(ed) assistance re-branding- or transitioning on to the next big thing in their lives.
As I began working with these individuals everyone  had gone through several MAJOR life changing events. 
These are times that I call "book mark" moments, the starting or ending of a relationship, job, or home. 

Re-branding, re-discovery, re-birth,  or mid-life crisis, what ever you choose to call it.  What every label you want to put on it, every human has chapters in their lives, and you as the authors of your story get to decide which path's  and directions you choose to take within the chapters.

When I am in a personal transition time, I  use these times  to assess where I am at, evaluate the tools I know how to use,  and refine how I am using them, or add additional skills to my tool box to help my clients do the same, so they can achieve the goals they imagine.

My ongoing  evolution has branched out into a new Lifestyle Blog titled
 "Be the Garden"  In this new forum, I will share tips, recipes, interviews and articles  each week about people like you who are successful business owners, managing a busy household, and like to play hard!   If your   interested learning ways to keep yourself and your family reclaiming health, sanity and balance to your lives,  then you can "Be the Garden"  and use this as a launching off point for a new way of living!  Greener, with more space for the things that are important to you.  
I invite you to subscribe to the blog, which you can get delivered for free once a week. 

Are you ready to get started on what's next?   Then let's talk!   Most initial consultations are over a walk or coffee-

I'm Coming to your town:

If your interested in meeting for a private or group consultation or workshop let me know:
Ready to schedule a planning meeting with you or your leadership team? Email me!

Coming to:

Washington: Seattle Wa:  March 27-29th- schedule your lunch or post work meeting

Florida:         Clearwater Fl: May 19-22nd-

California:     SF / Central Coast / LA / OC/ SD- Schedule your private or group consultation or workshop

Be the garden direct link:  http://bethegarden.blogspot.com/

Sorry, I've been swamped!!....

How often have you heard or used this "excuse" for not responding to someone?
"I am sorry but I have been swamped!"   Swamped is a   term used to describe a feeling.  It is a feeling brought about by overwhelmed thinking.   When we use this phrase on others,  deep down we feel it will gain us sympathy, and acknowledgement of our stressful situation.

 Have you heard or used these phrases " I'm feeling down" or   " I can't seem to do anything right"?
Have you ever worked on a project with someone that simply complained about the job, the boss, or co-workers? Perhaps they go on to say how they can "never get everything done".   When your surrounded by it, you soak it in and start to believe it, and pretty soon, you find you are also a  "victim" in the "habit" of "being swamped", and find you are never getting things completely done.

Forget your bad habits, Try embracing these terms "Get over it"  Rise above it", even "I'm on top of it!"


 Look at the words you use to communicate.   Make a list of phrases that you use frequently, if your spending your time and energy talking about why you can't do things,  I bet you have a long list of things that are not getting done.

When you create your list of priorities for the day, is there realistically enough time to complete the tasks you have on the list?  Or, do you need to need to make modifications to realistically complete the tasks in a high quality way that you feel good about?

 Communicate with others on your team  who depend upon you to complete the task(s) by a specific time, or if you need help learning how to better manage your time, put your ego aside and bring in a professional to help you move out of this "phase" of not accomplishing.

  Sometimes life  does toss in delays and distractions.  How you choose to handle them will affect your success, and your relationship with those you interact with.

How have you gotten out of "being swamped?" let us know in the comment section-

References: Swamped: http://dictionary.reference.com/slang/swamped

How you gonna love somebody else?

"Honey, if you can't love yourself,

            how the hell you gonna love somebody else?"

- RuPaul Glamazon entertainer  

Do you love your product or service?

Does it excite you?  
Think about the last time you purchased something that really made you feel:  cool, hip, efficient, skinny, smarter, or super excited? 
*Extra bonus if what ever it was made you feel ALL those things!).  

Whether buying the latest technology tool, to having the cool ride you have always dreamed about when you are parting with your hard earned cash, especially for a big ticket item, you are doing so because something has REALLY motivated you to do it. Ideally your motivation isn't because the washing machine has suddenly gone ka-put.

If your product or service doesn't make you feel excited, then it certainly wont make your customers feel that way either.

Some people prefer easy,  you can spot them a mile away, they expect they, their product, or idea will be discovered and wealth will rain down upon them.  When it doesn't, they are bitching,   making a great deal of noise and waste energy, yet never do anything about it. 
 If your not creating-your not moving forward and certainly will be frustrated by staying stuck in the same place day after day, after month, after year...

If your tired of being comfortable and standing in the little circle, labeled "your comfort zone"  
Take action right now by joining others who want to create and move forward and if your ready I can  connect you with someone that provides solutions for creative minds like yours.



Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul's_Drag_Race

Don't forget to unplug tonight!

Starting at Sunset March 1st through March 2nd it is National Un-plugged day.

A day where Americans are urged to "un-plug" from electronic devices.  The news of this latest "holiday"  made me chuckle.  In our home we have had  scheduled "Un-plug" days and weekends, Our vacations are generally speaking "un-plugged" affairs.   Why?    We found ourselves under a constant barrage of  negative and sensationalized news in social media, daily paper, and old school television and movies- Everyone had a microphone and was screaming out the mundane, horrific in a constant wave of information.

We found ourselves stressed out, not sleeping well, our diet and exercise program had kinda been kicked to the curb because we just didn't have time, and were too tired.

As Individuals we often forget that WE control our environments.  We get so distracted by all the crap swirling around us, that we get bogged down in habits and routines that are easy, and don't challenge us.  We become complacent and soon we  find ourselves like gold fish circling the drain.  
 As we stopped and looked around, we realized we both felt like we were trapped in  a environment that we didn't like and really didn't like how we FELT!

With our little electronic iFriends and Droid buddies in hand, we are constantly switching between a variety of tasks, when bing, we are off to the next distraction. 
They have done studies to show that humans are NOT good at multi-tasking. When you are constantly switching tasks, your brain's processing center who's job is to  help you focus and learn new information is being used up by  being constantly redirected  from one task to the next, to another....
Instead of flitting back and forth try finishing something then moving on.
I have a list of items at the beginning of the day, that I need to complete, Finish a task THEN move on to the next, when you complete one thing before moving on to the next  you will find you have more completed tasks vs having several unfinished things on your plate.

Unplug from the madness!  We set some boundaries in our home  to help us reclaim sanity and balance back into our lives.  It has resulted in us losing weight, feeling better, and reconnecting with friends and colleges, which keeps work humming. Get creative, in your home environment you have endless distractions- take a play from Mr. Rodgers, put on a sweater, or jacket that is your "work jacket",  Mentally it is a reminder that you are in "work mode", when you stop to take a break, take off the jacket.

Here are some other tips to help you reclaim some balance in your life, be more productive and enjoy more "unplugged time" 

1) No cellphones, Pads, or computers in the bedroom (ever!)-   Have your phone in any other room and turn your notifications OFF after 9pm.  The bedroom is for resting, and is a intimate sanctuary, respect it and protect it, you will sleep better I promise you!

2) Vacation destinations- Plan your next trip where there is no cell coverage-  Take a day trip, weekend, or vacation with a friend-  We have a country filled with National, State and Regional parks that are beautiful resources to educate you about our local natural resources, learn ways that you can be a better "neighbor" walk through them with a 2 or 4 legged friend, Your soul will thank you.  You may not be able to help yourself from snapping a few pictures to post online LATER!

3) Business meetings-  I schedule meetings  when ever possible as hikes, or walks.
Just the act of getting out of the office and walking to the corner cafe, changes your perspective and gets your body moving.  Re framing who you are is key to your success, when you walk hold your head high, don't look down, take deep breaths and be grateful for being able to enjoy this simple yet beautiful action, it's a free gift you can give a friend too!

4) Diet Re-evaluation- 

• Read your labels- If you have any canned items in your home they should only have the item listed and water, no preservatives, or color enhancers!     

• GMO watch- 70% of packaged foods contain Genetically modified ingredients- do you have cereal, cookies, snack bars, or anything with corn syrup in your cupboard? Corn Soy, and Cotton are the 3 top  Genetically Engineered foods- You will be surprised how many  products you have  in your home that have been modified, get rid of the offenders and make educated decisions about you and your families health.

• Limit how much bread and starch your eating every day-  Most Americans are loading up in this category- and foods like this that quickly break down into a high glucose  or high glycemic index food- which spike your blood sugar then leave you feeling hungry, Notice that you will be hungry  a hour after eating a Big mac and Fry's? 

5) Get up and MOVE!- I don't need to link to a article here for you to know the benefit of exercise.  Make yourself walk at lunch or meet a friend for a walk in the morning before or after work!.  Make yourself do this every day for one month. I promise you will feel better at the end of 30 days and have a healthy habit that will help you feel great!

6) Call someone in your contact list- (before you unplug) Schedule time to get together face to face- for a cuppa joe, or to be your partner in crime for #5.  People are looking for a reason to get out and not be glued to their electronic leash- reconnect face to face.  You will develop relationships and find your personal, professional, and spiritual life are filled in wonderful ways that you hadn't imagined!

Now, if you'll excuse me I have a new client to meet, we are going for a walk to discuss a new project they are excited to get started on and were going to do it with out any electronic leashes.

What are your favorite ways to "un-plug"?  I would love to hear about them, or if you need help figuring that out, let's go for a walk.... Come on, it's a beautiful day out there!

Links:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95256794

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margie-kelly/genetically-modified-food_b_2039455.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95256794