Three years ago, I was introduced to a fellow who changed my thinking and my life forever.
But this blog is not about him. Well, kinda. And don't worry I 'll tell you who it is and give you his name at the end:)
Out of a leap of faith I hired a sales/business coach and paid him a lot of money (to fight with him I think he would say) because you couldn't tell me anything. Im bullheaded. I like to say "committed" but Im just flat out stubborn. Mix that in with not knowing what I didn't know, pride, fear, and paradoxically a burning desire to serve and change people for better and you get a full time job for a mentor!
(I joke with him now that I was pretty sure our 3 hour meeting every 2 weeks was all he could do on our meeting days because I am sure I wore him slap out.)
I was so confused and fearful and dealing with everything in my own head that I was standing so solidly in my own way that I assure you he earned every penny in those hours working with me.
Now we are great friends and he is a valued mentor of mine.
What I learned from him reaches in to every single facet of my life and I call on it daily to make decisions. One of the things he had me do right when we started our work together was answer this question in writing and I came across it the other day and it was so eye opening.
So I wanted to share it. Now its kinda raw and I really wanted to edit it because its pretty personal, but that does no good. Its encouraging to know others are just like you, and we dont get to edit ourselves, so its here in its whole form.
How many people have done this? If you haven't done it, I highly recommend it. There are things on this list I am still after. But the thing that amazed me and brought tears to my eyes when I found it (true story!) was despite all I am still working for, how much of it was realized. I feel that alot of what I was after has been accomplished!!! Its an indescribable feeling! I wrote it 4 years ago when everything in my life was so incredible different. None of this was realized. So when I read it now, in 2013, I couldn't believe the strides that have been made-all while I am busy thinking about whats next, what could be better, what isn't quite right yet. It made me stop and celebrate, truly celebrate what has been accomplished.
So, Whats your long term dream? Here is the question he posed to me that prompted this answer. Take some time today and write your own and put it somewhere. I guarantee in 1 year, 2 years or more....you will be amazed.
"Spend
some time working on your long term dreams, your short term goals (3-12
months), and your intended outcomes for the next 6 weeks."
The other thing this really drives home is that I needed and still need a mentor, a coach. I would say that we all do. I thought I needed no one when I started and I still have to work to be on a team, because of how Im made I think I have to do everything. Part of its fear, a sense of responsibility and some ego but when I started it was mostly ego. I have learned that having a mentor, and being on a team and giving more to others is true success and leadership. Its a servant's heart Im forging and Im grateful to - here it comes - Andy Lowe with Renegade Concepts (cause you all wanted to know) for planting that seed.
I hope this inspires you to celebrate so much of what was once on your "wish list" and keep writing and planning your future!
Committed to your health,
Anna
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Homework:
Spend some time working on your long term dreams, your short term goals (3-12 months), and your intended outcomes for the next 6 weeks.
Long
term dream:
Who
would I be? What would I
have? No limits:
Balanced
life, low on stress, high on gratitude, time with family, being a purposeful
and intentional parent not just a reactive and knee jerk parent. Having space to have clarity, daily
appreciation of all my gifts and daily use of my gifts for my family and
greater good.
Working
enough to be challenged, but not so much I am always working, and making myself
stop to live the life above.
Having a sense of boundaries and goals where the “success=more” doesn’t
hold. Working hard is OK, but I
also want to work smart. Right now
I work harder than I need to b/c of a lack of clear vision and goals for my
work.
Physically: super fit strong body, super clear and
peaceful mind.
Financially,
I fine with the money we have coming in this household since having more
bothers me from the perspective of waste.
However, I’d have Mike working with me on this mission mostly because I
have trouble sharing with him what its like shouldering all the hats and ideas
and tasks and issues I do each week.
Until you’ve done it, you don’t get it. Working together would bridge that gap. Plus, we’d love to work together (we
think!) And I’d like to have a
partner in crime I can trust 100% and who can HELP share the burden in all
ways.
I
would live in line with my values: God, Health, Family, Work/Vocation
The
ways I do that are:
God-daily
devotion, prayer, God based decisions
Health-daily
workouts, superior nutrition, meditation, dr visits
Family-bless
Mike and Ellen every day. I am
here to support Mike and to teach Ellen my love for her and how to manage the
ups and downs of life to teach her the fruit of the spirit and a relationship
with God…now be her best friend or protect her for all discontent.
Work-To
be an out of the box, above average trainer in quality, results, service and
longevity. To continue changing
the lives of my clients. To
continue to be the kind of trainer that does the unexpected, with an unexpected
level of integrity and honesty and goodwill that delivers a whole new level of
service that impacts the lives of those who range from ready to change to scared
to death. To give hope and help
others find their power (responsibility) through fitness.
Also….To
provide a facility full of high integrity trainers who do the same. To provide an environment to clients
and trainers that encourages them to be their best and remove all limits for
what they can achieve and how it cam impact others. To create a culture of superior professionalism yet familiarity
and fun at the same time. A place
full of love for each other, what we do, results, fitness, etc. Where the first inclination is to give. I
To do
any of that, I’ve got to pay the bills and get some money rolling in. So the goal is $11,000 per month which
is over double our current income of $6,000/month. That means 30 new clients or 5 new clients per trainer with
no attrition.
That
equals 10 qualified leads per trainer
That
requires reaching 40 qualified potentials.
3 month goals:
I’ve
achieved the balance part lately by creating a daily system of tasks each week
and that has allowed me boundaries and order vs chaos.
Cooking
dinner and reading to Ellen each night as well as walking her home from school,
all without any other distractions, phones etc. Been taking time to do things for Mike so no goal there
either right now.
Physically,
this is business too, I would weigh 135 by and through Christmas and maintain
that by a solid 6 day a week workout regimen and solid superior nutrition that
were just habitual. Just like
brushing my teeth. I’ve lost 9
pounds and improved the habits in the last 30 days.
Add
$1000 a month (1 client per trainer) over the next 5 months, so in 3 months,
that’s 15 new clients (no attrition).
Monthly
trainer meetings to promote teamwork, communication and education on training
and leadership.
Individual meetings with trainers
talking through marketing and training quality action items and holding each
other accountable each week to reach the 40/10/5 and work on retaining those we
have. Fidel started a
newsletter. Ben attended a
networking event. Matt is doing a
presentation at a local women’s club.
3
initiatives/projects to get in front of 40 people a month (per trainer) in
action and planned for next 3 months-
Some
kind of outside trainer training.
12
month goals
By
October 2010, over $100, annually coming in ($11,000 per month).
Trainers
reaching their goals using the ideas and accountability and training we’ve been
doing.
I’m
still weighing 135.
Having
fun, helping more people, working less, making more. :)
