Here is the lesson. If you are going to act, make a decision, look both ways and RUN. Be committed to your decisions and only assess when you are on the other side of the road. Too many people (the majority of the population actually) start to do things and then wonder if that is what they should be doing, so they debate in the middle of the road. I am telling you, you are going to get hit!! Whatever you do, do something. When you get to the other side, reflect and learn and then take the next leap. You are on your way.

How balanced is your life? The eight spokes represent a balanced wheel. The less balanced your wheel is the more wobbly will be your ride through life. The more balanced the wheel is, the smoother it will run.

HOW TO USE: Use this tool as you plan for the future.

1. Print a copy of the “Wheel of Life”
2. Consider each area and how fulfilled you feel right now, given this area of your life over the past year.
3. Rate each area on the spoke just below the area title.
   0 is at the center = dissatisfied; 10 is at the outside = very fulfilled.
4. Put a dot on the line, where your rating of this area falls.
5. Consider what each area would look like if it were a “10″.
6. Write a few notes on what would need to happen to make it a “10″.
7. Pick one area, that if you improved it, all the others would also increase in fulfillment.
8. Consider this as an area for focus in the future.
9. Write a goal and set 5-10 objectives to make this area increase in value over the next year.

Use this tool to see the balance in your life and determine where your focus will benefit you most in the upcoming year!

Click here for your own Wheel of Life Assessment Tool!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

As a past counselor, I know that phobias and anything that we start to avoid because of a fear or for whatever reason, are the things that start to create psychological baggage as we spend our energy avoiding things rather than working through them. Anything that you find yourself intentionally not doing that is “normal” for most of the world, stop and look at the fear and how it can be getting in your way (not talking about addictions and non-beneficial activities).

This excellent read will serve you in both your personal and professional life.  We all have fears; they just show up at different levels and in different ways. Empower yourself to find your fears and move beyond them so you can perform at your peak potential!

For you own copy of this book, click here.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer from Minneapolis, MN

2. Business Cards  Take 100 business cards and pass out along the way. You never know who will be so thankful that your paths crossed. A great habit is to pass out 5 cards a day, and while you are on vacation let your journey take your card distribution into new territories!

3. Cd’s and Tapes  There are so many motivational and educational tapes you can listen to as you drive, fly and relax. This is a great time to soak in new information or review old information. You are on vacation, so don’t act on it; just savor it!

4. Books  Take one book and really get it read! Rather than packing five that you “hope to get to,” be serious about one and enjoy reading it.

5. Ideas  Before you go, pick something you would like to discover or get new ideas about. Take the questions with you as conversation starters and gather information from those around you. Pick their brains. They have great ideas and you might be able to glean new resources and information that will be greatly applicable when you return.

6. Perspective  Look at your business from a new perspective. Look at your business from the framework of relaxing on the beach, enjoying the breathtaking mountains, etc. What is possible here? What can you take from this view and apply to or bring into your business?

7. Explore  Look at phone books, ads, posters and businesses around you. Check out the needs and saturation of your market. Is your vacation spot your next target area?

8. Focus  Evaluate your goals and progress. Where have you been and what do you want? Revise your goals and set new ones. While you are away from the office it is a great time to do some longer “thinking” activities that you do not have time for when you are in the chaos and rush of normal schedules and business life!

9. Journal  Spend some time just writing down and capturing your ideas. What are you learning and noticing? What do you want to do differently when you get back? Brainstorm something new. Write a top ten to keep your mind sharp. Writing is powerful. Even if you never look at the entry again, there is an amazing connection in the act of writing thoughts down and remembering them later!

10. Keep Motivation Pieces  Look for an item (postcard, picture, souvenir, etc.) that is motivational to take back with you into your working day. Bring your trip and the inspiration from it back with you!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Remember to allow yourself a true rest, clear up the clutter before you go and have a plan for how you will handle coming back, productively use the slower season in the office, and tidy up loose ends at home. When you are active and intentional during this slower season, employing the strategies that we’ve discussed here today, you too will have a winning, successful year!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

To assist you, I want to give you strategies on how to maximize this “season” when you or others (clients, co-workers, vendors, etc.) are away, so that you are prepared to charge for the rest of the year!

• Rest. The concept of periodicity means that you allow your body a time to rest, re-engage, and recharge (or train) so that you achieve maximum energy and the results that you want during the periods that require you to push harder. If you continue at 150 mph 24 hours per day/7 days per week, you will burn out. More importantly, you will not get the results you want. So, plan time each summer for a period of rest. (For you workaholics out there, rest means no voicemail, no email, no clients, no “work mode”, no initiatives that are not wholly enjoyable. Turn off work 100% while on vacation! If you do, your ability to run full out when you return will be twice as great.)
• Clean up. The days before you leave on vacation are a great time to make a game plan for yourself when you return. Your departure date is a deadline that’s not likely to move. Start by challenging yourself to sort the emails, do all of the follow-ups, and close the open loops before you leave. As you do this, make a list for when you return of what you will do next. If you want to be most productive, schedule what you will do when, so you can resume your working habits quickly when you return.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

An even bigger BONUS is that you get a personal code for an online survey that identifies YOUR “top five inborn talents”! This benefit is worth every penny you spend on the book! Identifying your top five strengths will change the way you look at life. This assessment is unique from the many other assessments out there (i.e. Myers-Briggs, DISC, etc.). With the “strengths” information in hand, you will be able to apply the theories presented in the book on a day-to-day basis.

I HIGHLY recommend this book: it is a refreshing concept that moves you forward by focusing on the positive and teaching you how to maximize your full potential!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Experts including, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Chris Widener, Michael Angier, Tony Alessandra and 50 others from the top of the personal development field have contributed their encouragement to help you live the life you want and finally achieve your lofty goals.

Reader, Eric Garner comments, “I’ve just read ‘Ordinary People Can Achieve Their Lofty Goals’ for the 3rd time in 3 days. The first time, I only got to page 10 before I felt so inspired that I had to stop and finish off some work on some goals I’d let slip. The second time, I just couldn’t put the book down. I read and re-read the articles and learned so much. What an amazing collection. So profound and uplifting. The third time, I decided to cancel everything else and devote a couple of hours to the book and read them all through. It’s like a Masterclass in Motivation. My mood lifted so much, I felt so inspired at the end. It’s definitely going to be a book I’m going to come back to again and again. Brilliant concept, brilliant execution, brilliant results. Thanks.”

Get inspired and motivated and check out this e- book!

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

“I have a focus goal, but I am just too busy to do anything about it. How do I get more time?” The power of passion. WHY did you set that goal? Was it a “should”? Often we set goals, like lose 25 lbs, eat better, make more money because we need to or know we SHOULD do this, but are not really motivated to make it happen. What we are passionate about will get our time and attention. Get connected to the WHY of your goal. Ask yourself “WHY does it matter?” ten times to get to the heart of it.

“I have a goal, but it is not happening yet. What needs to happen?”Post it in three spots. Read it daily. Think about the Laws of Attraction (www.thesecret.tv). Write what you have to do each week to make that goal more of a reality. Do not cancel yourself out with negative or self-defeating self talk. Be positive. Look for opportunities. Assess and make sure it is measurable and know what baby steps you can be taking to move closer to it. An elephant is not meant to be eaten in one bite!

In summary:

1. Have a clear direction and set your goal.
2. Make sure your goal is specific, inclusive of your life and motivational.
3. Set milestones to stay on track and have mini successes.
4. Stay connected to the Big WHY of your goal.
5. Be positive and whatever you do, DO SOMETHING!