Don’t you love when something challenges you to see things in a new way!

When was the last time you challenged your point of view or asked yourself a new question? For example, instead of asking why won’t that employer call me back, ask yourself who would I “BE” if I worked for that targeted employer.  How would I feel if I worked there?  Take time to quiet your mind and see if there is something else in your life that is whispering to be acknowledged.    Have a great week!

62 Ways to Brighten the New Year

I know many of us have new ideas and plans for 2010, but I always appreciate reading Robin Sharma’s suggestions about living a “successful” life, and thought I’d pass them along.

What are my favorites? Well, let’s see…#3, #5, #7, #8….#11, #13 and #15…and certainly, #16 gave me the opportunity to sit down, and reflect. Always a good thing at this time of year!

By the way, I just watched “Man on Wire” this past weekend. Fascinating movie about a man with a dream, while many others (including myself!) found him a bit unstable from time to time. But the thought about living life “on the wire” has resonated with me since then.

Be sure to read Robin’s Bio at the close of this post, and drop by his Web site for more inspiration.

And, as always, I hope you take the time to leave a comment – with YOUR favorites in the list.

62 Ways To Make 2010 Your Best New Year Yet
By Robin Sharma, January 3rd, 2010

1. Remember that leadership isn’t about your position. It’s about your influence.

2. Get fit like a pro athlete

3. Lift people up versus tearing people down

4. Protect your good name. An impeccable reputation takes a lifetime to build. And 60 seconds to lose

5. Surround yourself with positive, ethical people who are committed to excellence

6. Remember that even a 1% daily innovation rate amounts to at least a 100% rate of innovation in 100 days

7. Believe in your dreams (even when others laugh at them)

8. Measure your success, not by your net worth but by your self worth (and how happy you feel)

9. Take an intelligent risk every 24 hours. No Try-No Win.

10. Read “Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist”

11. Watch “Man on Wire”

12. Regardless of your title at work, be a team builder.

13. Remember that business is all about relationships and human connections

14. Say “please” more

15. Say “thank you” more

16. Know your Big 5: the five things that need to happen by the end of this year for you to feel it’s been your best year yet

17. Read your Big 5 every morning while the rest of the world is asleep

18. Read “As You Think”. At least twice this year.

19. Be willing to fail. It’s the price of greatness

20. Focus less on making money and more on creating value

21. Spend less, save more

22. Leave everything you touch better than you found it

23. Be the most positive person in every room you’re in

24. Run your own race

24. Stay true to your deepest values and best ideals

25. Write a handwritten thank you note to a customer/friend/loved one every day

26. When you travel, send love letters to your kids on hotel stationary. In time, they’ll have a rich collection to remember your travels by

27. Read “Atlas Shrugged”

28. Be a problem solver versus a trouble maker

29. Rather than doing many things at mediocrity do just a few things-but at mastery

30. Honor your parents

31. Commit to doing great work-whether anyone notices it or not. It’s one of life’s best sources of happiness.

32. Give more than you receive (another of the truths of happiness)

33. Have your 1/3/5/10/25 years goals recorded on paper and review them weekly

34. Be patient. Slow and steady wins the race. The only reason businesses that went from zero to a billion in a year or two get featured in magazines is because 99% of businesses require a lot more time to win

34. Underpromise and then overdeliver

35. See part of your job as “a developer of people” (whether you work in the boardroom or the mailroom)

36. Wear your heart on your sleeve. When people see you’re real, they’ll fall in love with you

37. Be authentic versus plastic

38. Read “The Alchemist”

39. Remember that life wants you to win. So get out of your own way

40. Consider that behind every fear lives your next level of growth (and power)

41. Eat less food

42. Drink more water

43. Rest when you need to

44. Read “SUCCESS” magazine

45. Write your eulogy and them live your life backwards

46. Demand the best from yourself

47. Remember that the more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand

48. See everything that happens to you as an opportunity to grow (and therefore, as a precious gift)

49. Be obsessed with learning and self-development

50. Become comfortable alone (you are the only person you get to be with your whole life)

51. Smile. It’s a stunningly effective way to win in business and life

52. Reflect on the shortness of life

53. Be bold when it comes to your dreams but gentle with those you love

54. Remember that success is dangerous because it can kill drive/innovation/passion and going the extra mile. Be successful yet stay hungry

55. Read “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”

56. Be of deep value to this world

57. Own beautiful things but don’t let them own you

58. Use excellent words.

59. Laugh more.

60. Don’t complain, gossip or be negative.

61. Plan as if you’ll live forever but live as if you’ll die tomorrow.

62. Feel free to pass these lessons on to those you want to help.

Robin Sharma is a world-renown leader and coach in the personal development world and is the CEO of Sharma Leadership International, which helps organizations develop world-class leaders. He’s also the author of 10 books, including 5 #1 bestsellers, such as The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. And on top of coaching and writing, Robin is a highly sought-after speaker and consultant to organizations all over the world like Microsoft, Nike, FedEx, NASA, KPMG, IBM and The Young Presidents Organization. Visit his Web site at: http://www.robinsharma.com/.

Today in 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. What are you refusing to ‘stand’ for today?

I love music. I have a wide and eclectic collection of music (just ask my husband who gets frustrated sorting through it). But sometimes I find that I HEAR songs more than others. Often I “hear” what I think my intuition is trying to tell me.

“My Way” and Frank Sinatra
There were times I listened to that song and would think, gosh he sounds so full of himself and so unapologetic for being such a cad and breaking all those hearts.

But last week I was visiting one of my favorite ladies as a Hospice volunteer. She LOVES Frank Sinatra! I secretly shared that I do too, especially after I learned that he and I share a birthday. As we watched a VCR recording from the 80′s, Ol’ Blue Eyes stepped up to sing his signature song “My Way”.

Well, I guess I was ready to HEAR it.

“I’ve lived a life that’s full. I traveled each and every highway.” Nice. We all would like to say that.

“Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption”

Well, that sounds like he was clear, intentional, and not apologetic for being so. Not bad.

“I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way”

Being cautious while stepping forward. I’m cool with that.

“Yes there were times I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way”

Ok, so people might have told him to back down a little. He might have been fearful. But he continued confidently moving forward.

“I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing”

How many times have I looked back at something that happened and wondered why did that upset me so much. And many times I even laughed about it.

“For what is a man what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels”

Awkward sentence, but I get it! Authenticity! speaking from the heart

“The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way”

Frank!! Who knew you were a motivational speaker?!

I know there are times I’ve wondered about biting off “more than I could chew” and have had my share of doubts. Certainly there were times I even lost “My Way”.

How about you? Would you like a partner in exploring your “Way”? With no attachment to your process or outcome, a coach can provide that safe place for you to explore or remember.

Let’s have a choir loudly singing “My Way”

It has been difficult for me to “step out” as a career coach into the virtual world.  There are always questions in my mind about whether I will be “good enough” or will people “like me” — or even worse, LAUGH at me.

Well, folks, here I am!  And asking you, how are you not “stepping out” in your career?  In what way are you playing “small” and fearful of showing all of the talents you have?