The celebration of dedication


Happy Holiday Survival Series! Week 5 is all about an alternative meaning of Hanukkah you might not be familiar with - the Feast of Dedication. This got me thinking, "what am I really dedicated to?"

If you're like me, you can list off a ton of things your dedicated to - from your partner to your pet.

But when is the last time you really made good on your dedication? I mean, really showed how dedicated you are to this person or thing?

I start getting overwhelmed during the holidays because I have to go to so many parties, events, and dinners for things I'm dedicated to!

....And then I want to do just the opposite and hide in my house by myself!

Watch this week's video to learn how to avoid the overwhelm and dedicate yourself to 1 thing at a time!


Tells us all about the ones you're most dedicated to! Head on over to the blog or the comments section of the video to share your stories and feedback there!

Find Your Passion!



Their Passion!



So how do you find passion?


Now what?




Already found a passion? Share it below! You never know who you'll inspire!!

Core Desired Feelings: feel the way you want to feel!


As the Holidays come and go, we're left with the aftermath of harried shopping sprees, over eating, and gatherings with those we love and loathe.  So what now? 

It seems that everyone's already talking about New Year's resolutions and I still can't even see straight after the holiday madness! So before you starting trying to formulate how 2014 is going to be "different", I ask you to consider this:

Did you get what you really wanted this holiday season?

No, I don't mean that new video game or tech toy. I mean life wise - do you feel truly fulfilled in your life? When you wake up, do you look forward to your day? Or dread all that you have to do today? Do you love those you are surrounded by? Or do you want a do-over?

Wish that were different? Want to better/fulfilled/desired? Make it happen!

Danielle Laporte does an awesome job of outlining how to get from here to your feeling your best ever! Follow these tips to jumpstart living your core desired feelings now:

- Make word slopof how you want to feel: Take a blank piece of paper and write down your ideal feelings. These should be optimistic, positive, and loving feelings. Go nuts!

- Narrow it down to 3-5 core desired feelings. You will need the focus in order to move forward with this.

- Ask yourself What does ______ feel like? Write down your answers for each core desired feeling. This should give you clarity!

- Activate the feelings! Write down 3 things you can do today/this week/this month to generate [enter core desired feeling here].

- Do it now! What are you waiting for? Take back the control of your life to stop the spinning, feelings of overwhelm, and numbness that all too often stop you for being your best self!

For more details check out Danielle's worksheet for identifying, implementing, and activating those feelings now! Work with me for strategic, detailed, and disciplined approach to making this ideal your reality!

Good News: You can buy happiness!

http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness.html We've all heard that money can't buy happiness - so Michael Norton tested this. And it turns out you can buy happiness! But it all depends on how you spend it. The Harvard professor found that when we spend money on other people, it makes us happier than if we had spent it on ourselves. He also found this carried over into work life and with sports teams.

So who will you spend your money on this Black Friday?

Straight Talk: be honest with yourself


Ok, I'm going to be real with you- I've had a rough week. I was sick, didn't make it in to the gym, and felt completely off my game. I know, I know. I'm the one always posting about health and fitness, discipline, and goals. But you know what, some days I just don't have it. So I spent some time on the couch, eating poorly, and falling behind on my work. But honestly, who hasn't had those days/weeks/maybe months? Sometimes life happens and we don't get to focus on our goals 100%. I'm not telling you this as an excuse. I'm sharing because I think it's more important that we be honest with ourselves and love ourselves enough to allow for the down time when we really need it. My body needed some rest and recovery time last week. So I let it rest. End of story.

We can be so hard on ourselves at times that we don't think we "deserve" a break from the focus, or that we haven't earned a night of relaxation. We try to cling so tightly to our goals that our good intentions end up leading to feelings of self-hatred, disappointment, and anxiety around completing our goals. One thing that helped me these last few ways was a friend's video on "have to-dos" vs. "want to-dos". I realized I'm the one putting all this pressure on myself. So I can be the one to let go a little.

It's amazing the control and strength we can gain from letting go. We regain control of our emotions and negative thoughts that had been plaguing us. We get to take ownership of that to-do list and determine what can be delegated or cut from the list. We understand that allowing for a day of rest may actually give us the strength we need to be 100% focused for the rest of the week.

So I encourage you: let go of the control, give in to what you body needs; and you will come out restored, focused, and clear on how to conquer the goals you determined!

Have you had this experience? What did you learn about yourself? How did you reframe your actions for better long term results?

Excuse me, Discipline, Where are you?!


If it were easy, we'd all do it. If it's worth having, it's worth working for.


Have you ever experienced the joy and elation that comes from real accomplishment? No, no I'm talking REAL, BIG accomplishment. Like that kind that you had to work your booty off for months for! That kind of achievement that could only come from sacrifice and consistency? If you have, you know what I'm talking about !

There's no better feeling than what you get from putting your mind and body to the test and reaching the finish line. But the other side of that? Yeah, that side that results from avoiding our goals, making excuses for not working towards our goals, and totally sabotaging ourselves. Regret. Hate it! But for some reason, I can disappoint myself time and time again. What is this nasty thing that keeps us from achieving what we set out to do? I definitely have good intentions when I set my goals. So what happens?!

So many people have written on self-discipline and what contributes to people's success and failure. Although each person's goals and methods may be unique, there are some common behaviors that can contribute to your success or failure. Here's a few I have found to be most important:

- Pencil in your dreams! If you don't make an appointment with yourself to work toward your goals, you will never find the time to do so!

- Your goals are important too! Treat your appointment with yourself as you would any appointment with a client. Would you cancel on a customer last minute? No. So don't do it to yourself!

Strategize for success. "if you don't have a plan, you plan to fail." Steve Jobs didn't just say he was going to become rich and successful. He had a strategic, structured, and efficient plan to get there! What is your strategy? How detailed is it? Can it guide your day-to-day activity?

- Make SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-oriented. If you can use this acronym to describe each one of your goals, you are well on your way my friend!

Prioritize and Sacrifice as needed! This is the least glamorous of the strategies - yet equally important! If you're trying to make room for something new in your life, then something that's not serving you needs to go! If watching the most recent episodes of Dexter, Homeland, and Breaking Bad aren't bringing your closer to living your dreams, then somethings needs to change! What most importantly needs to get done today? Do that first!

- Stop hoping. "Hope" is the ultimate killer of your dreams. "If I just want this badly enough, it will come to me and I will be successful." Yeah right. Stop hoping and start doing. That is discipline.

What motivates you to act on your dreams and work toward your goals? Have a success story? Comment on it below!