Oct
27

How do you know? Look at the proof.

Cindy Key Focus, Next Level Add your comment

proof

 

In life and in work it is important to challenge what you “know” by searching for proof.  It is easier to look for proof than you might imagine.

You don’t need piles of books or a long study course.  Simply ask yourself the appropriate questions.  One of the most powerful is simply, “How do you know?”

Follow that question with another powerful one:  “Is it true?”

It is one thing to “know,” it is significantly different to experience.

By examining your “knowing” with the simple, powerful question, “Is that true?” you are quickly called to look for the proof of what you know or what you think you know.

(If you want to learn more about the power of uncovering your truth through the process of asking questions, visit Bryon Katie’s website.  Her book, Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life, is great, too.)

As a transformation facilitator, I help others directly experience situations by unpacking and examining their life experiences.  Experience changes concepts, ideas and theories.

The power of experience shifts you.  Your reality shifts with experience.

Each of us has thousands of experiences every day, each one of them different.  Through the course of a day our experiences begin to run together.  Yet, each of those individual experiences has the power to provide irreversible shifts.

Earlier in my life, I spent little of no time even aware of many of my experiences, let alone taking the time to unpack or examine the situation.  Why?  I thought it took too much effort, too much time.

The reality is that experiencing and looking at the proof doesn’t take all that much time and, in fact, can actually provide you more hours in your day.  Awareness can do that.  Simple questions, like those mentioned above, will help you look for proof and change your life . . . now and forever.

If it is time for you to look at your experiences and see the proof, let’s talk.  Ready to align awesome?

Doing the work you love, living your purpose and having impact is fun and amazing!  Contact me to discuss how the power of questions and coaching can transform your life, your results and your impact in the world.

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Oct
20

Transformation or Transition? Is it time?

Cindy Key Action Tips, Career Management, Next Level Add your comment

doubtHave you been asking yourself, “Is it time for a move to the next level?”  Maybe you’ve been wondering what you want to do next or asking yourself, “What do I want to do when I retire?”

If you are restless odds are that you are asking yourself these or similar questions.  And, they are all great questions.

Whether you’re restless or simply seeking a better understanding of your next move, making the shift may be easier than you think.

Here’s a quick tip to help you with the process:  write your question at the top of a blank page of paper, then set aside 10 minutes everyday for the next several days to brainstorm all your possible ideas and write them down.

Don’t evaluate the ideas — just jot them down.  At the end of the week, review all the ideas.  Move the top 3-5 ideas to their own blank page and continue to explore your ideas.

For starters, ask yourself:

  • What would it take to do this?
  • What would be the impact of this?
  • Why do I want to do this?

When you are ready to seriously explore your ideas, discuss them with someone you trust.  Then, formulate a plan and take action to create the transition or transformation you desire.

Have a comment or thought?  Post it below.

Do you have a question about moving to the next level?  Sign up for our next Q & A call to the right.  Join the session in November to ask your question.

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Oct
13

Move through the Drift – Align Awesome

Cindy Key Career Development, Career Management, Next Level 4 comments
exit sign

 Are you where you want to be?  Has your career, team or organization drifted? Do you feel stress, or worse, despair?If you are asking yourself questions like, “How did I get here?” or “How do I change this situation?” congratulations you are aware the “Drift.”  Thankfully, you may also be poised to align awesome and create the amazing results you desire.

What is the drift?  It is a slow personal or organizational shift.  It can be caused by what I call “cloudy and scary thinking” or by market conditions or by operating on autopilot for too long.

Drift occurs when leaders, teams and organizations shift from vision and purpose to operating from conditioning and habits.  Results become minimal.  Engagement, satisfaction and fulfillment drop and impact disappears.  Real issues, problems, and opportunities begin to get overlooked.

The drift may feel like that place of “just doing stuff” or being busy without accomplishing your desired results.  As the drift intensifies you may start searching for an external cause or looking for someone to blame rather than working to get back in alignment.

High achievers are quick to recognize the drift.  Yet not all leaders and high achievers have the courage to shift the focus from a searching for the cause to moving toward a solution.  Simply knowing the cause does not solve the problem or allow you to take advantage of opportunities.

Here are three signs you may be experiencing the drift:

  • You feel overwhelmed or feel your options are limited.
  • No matter what you do, you feel the action is not optimal.
  • You are feeling unsure, uncomfortable or unsafe and you see only limited options to the current situation.

The secret is to experience the drift — like the wind on your face.

To avoid getting caught in the “cloudy and scary thinking,” pause and elegantly move toward a solution.  Be wary of searching for the cause — this small drift can move you into the full force of a storm current.

Here is my favorite example of the drift:

You’re on the highway driving at 65 mph.  You realize you are in the far left lane, traffic is tight and the exit you want is 1/4 mile ahead.   You look ahead, right, and in the rear view mirror.  After looking you think there are VERY limited options available.  Will you make the exit, crash, or be late?

Do you feel the signs above?

Can you pause and stop the “cloudy and scary thinking?”

Will you be honest with yourself?  Will you trust your internal wisdom?

If you do and hit the pause button on your thinking, you will be able to feel your way through the drift.  You’ll realize safely changing lanes is not possible — you will not execute the exit.

Don’t go searching for the cause, you only have a 1/4 mile at 65 mph!

Feel the gentle wind on your face and ask yourself what is the purpose of your drive?

What is your work right now?  What is the impact you want/need?  What are your options?

Pick one of your options and move forward with clarity and purpose.

If you have allowed your drift to move you toward the storm current, the course correction may take a little longer.  If you want something different from your work, select a new option.

When you are ready to align awesome contact us.  We will help you build a team to help you move to the next level and create the success you want.

Remember when you can no longer see your blind spots or your options seem very limited it may be time to find a guide to help you transform your results.

What is your best example of the drift?  Share it below.

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Oct
06

Summer is over! Fall is here!

Cindy Key Career Development, Career Management, Next Level 4 comments
fall tree
 Summer’s over!  Fall is here!  How will you make an impact today?Do you have career plans for the fall?  Are they on purpose?  Will they have the impact you desire?

The difference between top performers and those who are not is a simple secret.  The secret?  It’s all about how they view the work before them — the work of today.  It is about the level of awareness they have regarding their clarity of purpose and the impact they desire.

Fall is a great time of year to assess where you are and to get clear about the impact you want to make.  Whether business, team or individual, use this time to plan for the coming year and beyond.  Where will you be five years from today?

Ask yourself, “Is my business, team or career drifting?”

Ask yourself, “Do I manage my career as a Floater of Paddler?”   What are Floaters and Paddlers?  You can read more about them here.

Come back next week and we will explore the drift.  If you are ready to expand your impact and move to the next level exploring the drift may serve you.

You may also wish to join me at the end of October for an evening conversation on being present and aware of the drift.  Conversations can have amazing impact.

This conversation is for you if you are interested in increasing your awareness of your current environment and how your conditioning and habits affect your impact.

How do your conversations today impact your life and work tomorrow?  Share a thought or comment below.

Drop back by to learn more about the drift and conversations.  Have an amazing week!

 

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