6 Gold Keys to Win Your Motivational Battle and Make This Your Best Year Ever

Goal Setting Often Gets A Bad Rap

While we may start the year off with grandiose plans to become more healthy and fit (guilty), spend more quality time with family and friends (guilty too), get our finances in order (3 for 3), or hit our business targets, our New Year's resolve often doesn't make it to February.     

Of course, LIFE can get in the way of keeping us from achieving our goals. 

Whether it's freedom from debt, becoming more healthy and fit, improving your important relationships, or hitting those business targets, here are 6 tested and true Gold Key Strategies to keep you on track to achieve what you want and finish on top of your Life List: 

Key #1 ~ Set Stepper Goals

Some of us are wired to plan out our long-term goals, but most of us are more short-sighted and respond to rewards we can enjoy almost immediately.  This is exactly why chocolate cake, providing instant gratification, can distract you from a long-term goal like achieving your desired weight - a distant future reward.  

To overcome our own impatience, we can set ourselves up for success by breaking down the ultimate goal into several frequent, smaller goals, enjoying success along the way, and sustaining our motivational drive with rewards.

Rather than skipping exercise altogether because an hour a day seems daunting, break up your exercise into 10-20 minute sesssions performed more frequently throughout the day.  

Walking just 15 minutes a day

1. Reduces your risk of heart disease
2. Lowers your stress level
3. Increases your energy, and
4. Improves the quality of your sleep  

Those are immediate rewards.

Step it up to 30 minutes a day for numerous physical, mental, and even emotional benefits and you'll be extending your longevity too. 

Key #2 ~ A Clean, Blank Slate

A symbolic transition day like New Years' or a Birthday can provide a motivational boost to get you started toward your goal, but smaller opportunities for a fresh start happen all the time - each month, each week, or even every day.   

How often have you told yourself that you'd start your new diet on Monday?

Fresh starts are awesome, but it's important to avoid procrastination and making excuses for not putting in the effort it takes to achieve success.

We may start the new health plan on Monday and find our motivation waning by Thursday and give up on the week, indulging in pizza, ice cream, and beer saying we'll recommit on Monday again - seeing no gains (as in, losses) on the scale. 

Set yourself up for the win by combining a fresh start with setting achievable milestones and action plans along the way to your ultimate goal - Every Single Day.  

You'll win more often and feel the reward of triumph (rather than failure) more often too - increasing your chances for overall success.

Key #3 ~ Banish the Negative Gremlins in your Ear

Bad-mouth yourself and you'll continue to derail your efforts.  

Commit to Positive Self-Talk ONLY. 

Boost your motivation by switching to only positive messaging about yourself...to yourself.  

If it helps, pretend you're encouraging your best friend to overcome her challenges.

Practicing self-compassion will help you manage setbacks, which are inevitable, and stay on track.  

Do not give up on your ultimate goal.  Invest consistent, daily energy. Your persistence will pay off.

Key #4 ~ Keep Your Goals Realistic

Setting an unattainable goal, like losing 50lbs before your high-school reunion next month, doesn't set you up for the win.  

Unrealistic intentions only reinforce negative belief patterns.  When you set impossible goals and you miss the target, you'll be telling yourself:  

• I'll never make it.  
• I'm a failure. 
• It's too hard.  
• I can't.

What your mind hears you say to yourself, it believes as true.  See how that works against you? That negative thinking only damages your feelings of self-worth rather than boosting your motivation.  

Instead, practice positive self-talk daily (Key #3). Multiple times a day is better.  Out loud and in front of a mirror for extra effectiveness.  

Here's one of my favourites from Nelson Mandela:

I never lose.  Either I win, or I learn.

These last two strategies are something Marie Forleo teaches that I've practiced for years and have found to be invaluable. 

Marie also recommends Purging and Pruning, a super simple, freeing 2-Step process that'll help you move forward and toward your goals: 

Key #5 ~ The Brain Dump (Purge)

1. Take a pen
2. Take a blank sheet of paper
3. Write down ALL that you want to accomplish over the next 12 months  

Don't edit yourself at this point.  

Get it ALL out on paper. 

By writing it all down, you'll be freeing up space in your mind and allowing the creative, problem, and task-solving process to begin.  

Focus on 3 main areas while you're writing everything down:

I.  Yourself

• Health and fitness goals do you have?
• Self-Care plans?
• Mindset Adjustments needed?
• Finances?
• Philanthropy?
• Creative Projects?
• Home Living Space?

How do YOU want to grow this year?
Write it all down.


II.  Relationships

Who are the most important people in your life and what do you want for them?

• Family
• Friends
• Visits or Adventures
• Time and Focus
• Improvements

Write it all down.

III.  Business ~ Career

What projects or goals do you want to work on in your professional life this year?

• Expand your team?
• Launch a product?
• Write a Book?
• Develop a new product or service?
• Website launch or overhaul?
• Set up your processes so everything runs more efficiently?
• Learn a new skill set?
• Hire a new coach?
• Update your resume?
• Find a job you love?
• Create your freedom business?

How do you want to uplevel your career or grow your business?

Write it all down. No edits.  Just get it all on paper in front of you - which sets you up for the next step.

Key #6 ~ Prioritize. Focus. Strategize (Prune)

How does a gardener keep her plantings vibrant and healthy?  

The gardener prunes.  Sometimes aggressively.  By pruning away the excess, even healthy branches and leaves, the plant's energy becomes laser-focused on GROWTH.  

The same thing happens to us.   

Pruning is a difficult process, especially for Type A, driven people who tend to take on the world and want to tick off every box. 

When we focus on what we REALLY want to achieve, we actually achieve more.  

Look at your list.

What do you really want to accomplish?  

Use the 3 Filters to make a new, prioritized list for yourself:

1. What is the payoff for making this project happen?
2. How will this project benefit others - people you love, your team, society in general?  What's the payoff for them?
3. Who will you have to become for this goal to become a reality?

Keep in mind that any project requiring you to stretch and grow, to learn something new, to get up and off your couch of comfort - and INTO ACTION will be the most worthwhile and rewarding.

Focus on the critical few items in each section, rather than the trivial many.  Crossing it off your list doesn't mean you'll never get to it.  You can tackle all of your projects after the priority ones are completed. 

And there you have it.  A stepping stone way to achieve what it is you REALLY want for yourself.  

 This Purge and Prune process is something I do each quarter to help me stay on track with my goals.  I get especially excited about it between Christmas and the New Year.

Would you like some help to put these strategies into place in your life? 

If so, I'd be delighted to chat and invite you to connect with me for a FREE Rapid Results Strategy Session.

We can discuss what you'd like to focus on this year and put together an Action Plan to achieve your winningz results. 

Following our chat, you'll have:

• Crystal Clarity about what you want
• An Action Plan to achieve it
• Some tools to help you along the way

 

About the Author:

Andrea Raco, is a Certified Success and Life Enrichment Coach, Founder of Coach for Life, and the Curator of Gold Key Club ~ a private community for Ladypreneurs, Supermoms, and Sisters making a difference in the world.  

Contact her at andrea@coachforlife.ca.

Find out more about her services:  www.coachforlife.ca

 

Book Review: Manage Money Like A Boss by The Financial Lifeguard, Christine Luken

I was fortunate to receive a pre-publication copy of this book in exchange

for my honest review. The opinions expressed are genuinely my own.

Are you running a business of your own?

Love it or despise it, Money is your partner.  Without it flowing in and out of your business, you don't really have one to run.  

When it comes to managing money, there's always room for improvement.  

Can you find a business owner out there who complains that they're just making too much profit?  

Christine Luken

A Certified Financial Coach, sought-after speaker and author of Money is Emotional:  Prevent Your Heart from Hijacking Your Wallet, Christine is The Financial Lifeguard and understands how our relationship with money can make or break our success in business, and in life.

Following Christine's blog is like having your very own personal financial advisor in your back pocket.  Christine clearly does care about the financial dignity of her readers.  

Several months ago, I reached out to Christine with the intention of getting to know her a little better.  I also wanted to express how much I appreciated her expertise and the value she gives us.  

That connection led to so much more than I could have imagined.  

I was invited to be part of Christine's pre-launch reading group for Manage Money Like a Boss ~ for which I am truly grateful.  I have so much respect for Christine and appreciation for her writing, I was thrilled to be among the first to read Christine's new book.  ABSOLUTELY!

Not Another Finance Guide

So of COURSE, there's a zillion "How To" books out there on just about every finance~related topic and sub~topic you could possibly think of, but here's why I absolutely LOVE Christine's book ~ and what sets it apart from all the other volumes:  Manage Money Like a Boss is specifically written for YOU ~ the Creative Entrepreneur.  

If you're running a business of your own, you are a busy person.  

You're juggling a whole whack of elements from marketing and online promotion to sales, product and program development, enrollment and client service, accounts, employees and contractors...not to mention the kids, the house, the bills... Who on earth has time to read an entire book? Right?

Manage Money Like a Boss is divided into abbreviated chapters, each chock-full of useful information, nuts and bolts, about how to thicken your revenue streams, keep more of your profits and have greater success with your business.  

And this part is awesome too:  At the end of each chapter you'll find simple actionable steps ~ so you can implement your newfound knowledge and make your time investment count while improving your bottom line.  

Christine knows how to Celebrate A Book Launch:  

Enter her Launch Week Giveaway. You can even download the first three chapters of the book for a sneak peek just to be sure this is the right book for you. 

Everyone gets one free entry for the prize: 1 lucky winner will win a $25 Gift Card PLUS a personalized coaching session with Christine where she'll give you specific strategies for applying the principles outlined in the book to YOUR particular business (a $347 value). 

Pick up your copy of Manage Money Like a Boss: A Financial Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs (before SEPTEMBER 25TH) and receive an additional 35 entries for the grand prize draw!! 

How awesome is that?? 

Don't Just Take My Word For It

Here's what other people are already saying about Manage Money Like a Boss:   

Christine knows how to break things down so they're easy to understand and so you won't get overwhelmed. She has a gift for understanding and explaining things. I love her new book! Being a business owner, I feel like Christine has become an asset to my life. She has helped me overcome my anxiety when dealing with money and my business. ~ Nichole Bays 

In Manage Money Like a Boss, Christine has not only dissolved the anxiety and frustration surrounding finances for creative entrepreneurs, she's given us an outlook and tools that are uniquely empowering because of the way we're wired.  She's transformed our sensitivities into magnificent assets. ~ Ashley Peacock, Music Producer and Owner of Soul Foundry      

Manage Money Like a Boss will profound shift the way you think about money and entrepreneurship.  Christine lays out a simple strategy for creative entrepreneurs to succeed financial in business. ~ Barbary Huson, Bestselling Author of Sacred Success: A Course in Financial Miracles

Connect with Christine Luken on Facebook or Visit her Website for more information about how she shares her unique gifts with all of us.

Written by:  

Andrea Raco, Certified Professional Coach, Founder of Coach for Life, Curator of Gold Key Club and Coach for Life Connections ~ Supporting entrepreneurs committed to excellence in service. 

How To Win Your 100~Day Dash!

Annnnnd We're Back!

Back in the saddle, back to routines, and back to reality!

Now that the Big Yellow Bus stops each morning and we've officially bid the summer holidays farewell, it's time to get busy once again.  

With the kids back to school, we can reclaim that time to follow our missions, align our actions with our purpose and shift our focus once again to winning those goals and objectives set way back in January. 

I LOVE this time of the year.  

I feel rejuvenated and ready to dive in again. 

Do you feel the creative energy? 

The inspiration to make things happen and get things done?
  
Deep breath in......Exhale.

Intoxicating.

There are approximately 100 business days between the start of the school year and Christmastime holidays – when we all tend to take another breather. According to Blair Ennes, the Tuesday following Labour Day is when the 100-Day Sprint begins.  

With just 100 days to get some momentum going again, it’s time to re-evaluate our goals and intentions set out at the beginning of the year, refocus on the projects we’ve strayed from during the summer heat, and really make this final quarter (statistically, the most productive one of the year) count. 

To finish splendidly.

Jump Start the 100-Day Dash Gate:

1.  Follow-UP!  

Revisit emails and conversations that began but didn’t finish up.

Is there a way to re-engage? 

Can the conversation move forward to lead to either enrolling a new client or customer OR have they decided to go in a different direction? 

Don’t wait.  

Send an e-mail and get that conversation in motion – even if it’s just to ‘Close the Loop’ as Blair recommends.  

Follow his simple ‘Magic Email’ strategy to make excellent use of those days.

2.  Reach OUT! 

START a conversation with someone you want to partner with, collaborate, align with, or work together with in some capacity.

It’s simple to get swept up in everything that needs to get done and it’s really easy to fall into the social media ‘trap’ where half a day disappears so why not turn that ‘connectivity’ into something truly useful? 

Here’s How:

• When you come across a connection that you know will be a good fit for you in some way,   reach out. Initiate a conversation by asking questions.
• Offer to schedule an actual phone or video call where you can get to know each other and see how you can support one another. 
• Develop those relationships.  They may never become clients or customers, but associating with awesome people we can learn from and grow with has many benefits – personally and professionally.

3.  Schedule IT!  

Community building is a significant part of my daily routine and I follow a 2 step process.  

1. The first, 45 minutes of each day are dedicated to extending and expanding my own community and connections.  
2. Another 45 minutes is dedicated to supporting existing community members in some way.

This step alone has been the most rewarding one for me over the past three quarters and I’m looking forward to expanding on it as we head into the final one.  I’ve very excited about what lies ahead.

Final thoughts as we dash to the finish of the year: 

•         Re-evaluate your goals
•         Adjust your plans
•         Find daily habits that work for you
•         Repeat the process
•     Take inspired action every day
•         Hit your targets  

I wish you success in your dash and would love to hear from you. 

1. What strategies are you using to follow through with your intentions for the year? 
2. What has worked well for you so far?

I'd be delighted if you'd leave a comment below OR if you'd like some help setting up your quarter to finish the year off strong and hit those goals, let's have a chat about it. 

Contact me directly at andrea@coachforlife.ca.

About the Author

Andrea Raco, is a Certified Success and Life Enrichment Coach, Founder of Coach for Life, and Creator of  'Your Masterpiece Life' ~ a program designed to help solution-minded women build the life they love. 

She's also the curator of Gold Key Club ~ a private community for women on a mission to make a difference in the world with their unique talents and gifts.

A Gift For You

Contact Andrea privately to schedule a 'Your Masterpiece Life' Free Focus Session.  On the call, you'll explore what you'd like to create next in your life and you'll come away with some tools and resources and a customized action plan to help you along the way. 

Money Goals? How to Ditch your Debt Monkey and Live FREE

Is ‘More Financial Security' on your list of goals this year?

As with relationships, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to personal finances.

I must confess and I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’ll come clean right here: I am not a money expert.

I did manage to expertly outsmart the Debt-Monkey who was having a party dancing on my back every month. He’d grown so heavy, he nearly crushed the life right out of me.

Until one day, I read Dave Ramsey’s, Snowball Method of Debt Reduction and the penny FINALLY dropped...pardon the pun. There it was... A methodical, stepping-stone process to achieve freedom from debt...and so simple even I could do it. Miracle!

I can confirm this much: the day I became 100% Debt Free ranks right up there with... graduating as an Ontario Scholar, falling passionately in love, becoming a wife, becoming a mom, launching my own business, booking my very first paying client... Yep...THOSE Life Experiences.

Staggering elation.  A feeling of freedom I’d never experienced otherwise to this very day...and I’m nearly a half-century old!

So, here’s the thing... If I could do it...You can too because I’m going to give you the Gold Keys to unlock your debt shackles. The very same ones I followed myself so you too can Ditch your Debt Monkey once and for all, become 100% debt-free and embrace your financial freedom.


Key #1 - Pay Your Credit Card Balance In Full Each Month

The Credit Card Monkey is a wiley one.

Carrying a balance forward will only make him heavier with each month and eventually, he’ll crush the life right out of you too. I know this because he was dancing on my back for years!

Paying the cards off slowly takes massive discipline, but You Can Do It with the Snowball Method of Debt Repayment. (https://davidbach.com/latte-factor-backup/)

Do whatever it takes to make this first Key your new urgent goal and pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible with a methodical plan.

Here are some suggestions to help. I used all of them. 

• Follow the Snowball Plan 
• Apply for a low-interest credit line. 
• Adopt and follow an extreme frugal-spending plan

Paying those cards off is a 20% return on your investment after tax. That is the best-guaranteed return you can get. 

After the six-week interest-free grace period, if you’ve left even a few cents unpaid, you’re charged 20% interest from the date of every purchase.

Stop the insanity. Stop using your credit cards. Switch to a cash-only system until the full balance is brought to zero. It’s possible. Believe it. You CAN achieve it.

Key #2 - Make ‘Frugal’ your new Best Friend

Not forever maybe, but certainly until your Debt Monkey is conquered. People all over try to look rich with the expensive car, designer clothes, fancy trips, and the unattractive attitude that goes with it. 

Most wealthy people become that way by being frugal with their money habits and rarely spend frivolously. They respect money and are low-key about it. They understand that the value of a dollar is much more than just that dollar.

Take, for instance, your daily Tim’s or Starbucks habit.  If you’re like most Canadians, you spend $5.00 a day on take-out coffee.

Consider for a moment what that little luxury actually costs you annually. $1,825 is what it costs over a year, but have you thought about what you have to make in order to spend that much of your household’s disposable income?

I’ll bet you’re dying to know!

You’re going to love David Bach’s Latte Factor tool to find out exactly what your coffee is costing you. Your entertainment and take-out lunches will blow your mind too, but the Gold Key Tip with this one is to spend within 80% of what you make.

Leading us nicely into Key #3 - Pay Yourself First.

Nothing new here, right? Financial advisors and gurus have talked this one to death, but it’s an important key. Automatic Millionaire, David Bach’s Gold Key Tip: set up an automatic monthly investment of 10 to 20% of your before-tax income to keep it simple.

Will it be tough at first? Absolutely.

Will having financial security in your retirement years be worth it?

Well...take a moment to consider NOT having enough financial security.

What does THAT look like for you?

And then...figure out the most you can invest each month. And then... just start. Don’t put it off. Don’t wait. Begin it.

Key #4 - Create Wealth ~ Be an Investor

Financial wealth is created with long-term investment practices rather than short-term savings. Save for a trip you want to take, a car to replace the rattle-trap. Save for a weekend getaway to reward yourself for a goal you’ve achieved.

Invest for the security of your future.

Investing can be a little scary. As a recovered “spend-every-penny-made and then some each month math-phobe” who thought retail therapy was part of growing up and leaving the bills unopened was normal - I completely understand.

Thankfully, there are qualified, trustworthy advisors to help. Find one who’ll create a plan to help you achieve your life goals - including retiring comfortably. They’ll help you grow your assets and manage your wealth. Be a long-term investor.

Key #5 - Develop Your Financial Plan

Creating wealth doesn’t happen on its own and it doesn't happen overnight. 

It takes planning, specific intention, and focused effort. Find a fee-for-service financial planner and pay for a professional financial plan specifically tailored to your needs and goals. This one-time investment will pay off massively.

A good financial plan includes:

• A retirement savings plan - RRSP's
• A tax-free savings account
• A mortgage pay-off plan
• An education fund for your children
• An emergency fund for security

The plan should also consider how to manage and balance it all.

It doesn’t matter where you are with your personal finances. Now’s the perfect time to sit down and sort them out - and get to a better, more organized place.  If you’re married... do this with your partner and set a 'Money Date' once a month. Outline your goals. When you begin talking about what you want to achieve and create for your future, it’s easy to design a plan that’ll lead you there.

If you’d like some help putting together a plan to get that Debt Monkey off YOUR back once and for all - along with a proven process on how to do it, contact me for a complimentary Ditch Your Debt Monkey Strategy Session and learn how YOU can be 100% debt-free.  

About the Author:

Andrea Raco, is a Certified Success and Life Enrichment Coach, Founder of Coach for Life and Curator of Gold Key Club ~ a private community for Ladypreneurs, Supermoms and Sisters making a difference in the world.

For more information about her services, visit www.coachforlife.ca.

Why You Should Be A Canada Proud Canadian Too - Or Happy We're Your Neighbour.

Happy Birthday to YOU, Canada  

Have I told you how much I love my country? 

July 1st marks Canada's Birthday and to honour the birth of our nation,  here are just a few reasons why I feel fortunate to be Canadian.

And if you're not Canadian too, do not despair... here's why it's great to have Canadian friends and neighbours or why you should add us to your 'Must See' list sometime soon.

FEATURES

Canada is the second-largest country in area and has more than 36 million people but we also enjoy the world's fourth-lowest population density per square kilometer.

There are plenty of wide-open spaces and breathtaking views to behold.

We share the world's longest undefended border with our neighbours to the south, stretching an astounding 5,525 miles.

Wildlife and Natural Resources

There are approximately 2.4 million caribou sharing forests covering 30% of the country.

More than 15,000 polar bears find sanctuary within the Canadian border.

Water, Water Everywhere - and plenty to drink!

20% of the world's freshwater can be found in Canada and there are more lakes in our country than the rest of the world combined, not to mention one of the most impressive natural wonders of the world.

Lake Huron's Manitoulin Island is the world's largest island surrounded by freshwater.

Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world.

NOTABLE CANADIAN INVENTIONS

• The telephone
• AM Radio
• Walkie-talkie
• Plastic garbage bags
• Peanut butter
• Poutine (Heaven on a plate!)
• Nanaimo Bars
• Ginger Ale
• Coffee Crisp
• Crispy Crunch
• Alkaline batteries
• The snowmobile
• The snowblower
• 5-Pin bowling
• Hockey
• Basketball

BUSINESS

Incorporated in 1670, The Hudson's Bay Company is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world.  

The Bank of Canada began as a privately-owned institution in 1935 and the Royal Canadian Mint, located in Winnipeg, produces coins for 60 different countries.

Canada is the third-largest producer of diamonds in the world and 77% of the world's maple syrup is produced right here in our country.

Canada has a world-class submarine fleet that is used solely for tourism. Atlantis Submarines of Vancouver, BC owns more submarines than many countries have in their entire naval fleet.

Whitewater West  Industries in Kelowna makes most of the world's water slides and is the largest water park attraction company in the world.

The majority of Halls cough lozenges are produced in Scarborough, Ontario.

McCain Foods makes a third of the world's frozen French fries and 95% of the world's green lentils are exported from Saskatchewan.

We can't forget our National Icon, Tim Hortons.  

Founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1964 by the Canadian hockey player, Tim Horton, this coffee shop has grown to become the largest quick-serve franchise and is known around the world for its coffee and donuts. 

Boasting a total of 4,846 restaurants, today Tim Hortons happily serves loyal customers in 14 countries.  

Canadian maple wood baseball bats are a Major League favourite.

Toronto, Ontario-based Cervelo builds the world's fastest and lightest bikes and New Brunswick-based Sabian produces the world's very best cymbals which are distributed to 120 countries and are the percussion accessory of choice for drummers and band members worldwide.

Peterborough, Ontario is home to the impressive Lift Lock 21, one of 44 locks connecting the 386 kilometers (240 miles) long Trent-Severn waterway from the south-eastern point on the Bay of Quinte on eastern Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

This engineering marvel allows boaters to enjoy pristine waters, breathtaking views, and life at a slower pace.  And who can tire of view s like this one: 

This award-winning shot was taken off the back deck approaching the beautiful anchorage at Beckwith Island, Georgian Bay.

As impressive as our country's landscape is and as innovative as Canadians are, I believe Canada's very best feature is and always has been our people.

Canadians are world-renowned as Peace-Keepers and respected for our kindness, compassion, and politeness and THAT RIGHT THERE makes me one Canada Proud Canadian.

Oh, Canada.  I love to travel, but I'm always so grateful to come home to you.  Happy Birthday to you - our home and native land.

Now it's your turn:

1. If you're Canadian, what do you love about our country?  
2. If you call a different country home, what do you love about it? 

We'd love to learn more about where you live.

andrea@coachforlife.ca

About the Author: 

Andrea Raco, CPC, Founder of Coach for Life, Curator of Gold Key Club & the Coach For Life Connections Community, is passionate about helping women design and build the life and business they love.

Contact her for your Free Masterpiece Life Strategy Chat today.