Coach Lee Blog

Burn The Ships

One of the keys to reaching your goals is to eliminate any escape routes. It is tempting to retreat to safety and comfort when challenges and difficulties arise. To avoid turning around and abandoning your goals, you must make going forward more compelling then going back.

When striving towards a goal, you must focus on what you want to obtain and avoid the impulse to go back to what you know and to what is comfortable. When Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortez landed in Mexico, one of his first orders to his men was to burn the ships. Cortez was committed to his mission and did not want to allow himself or his men the option of going back to Spain. By removing this option, Cortez and his men were forced to focus on how they could make the mission successful.

Eliminating an escape route creates a compelling reason to focus on the goal and to keep moving forward. However, it is important to keep in mind that although Cortez had his men burn the ships, he did not have them burn the food and supplies. Cutting off an escape route to increase motivation and create the desire to press on where you might otherwise give up is totally different from throwing caution to the wind and taking undue risks. Reaching your goals still requires prudent planning and managing. All goals contain a certain degree of risk, but it isn’t necessary to create undue risk and stress by not properly planning and thus lacking the necessary tools and supplies to achieve your goal. Take risks, but don’t be careless or foolish and simply hope that everything will be okay.

Before you decide to burn your ships, make sure you have the supplies and tools necessary to achieve the goal. Something like quitting your job might sound like a good way to close the escape route, but it might also be a fast way to bankruptcy if you don’t have resources to carry you through. Creating a savings account balance or having a journey job (a job that is a stepping stone to what you really want) allows you to take the risk of leaving your current job without creating undue risk. I once took a six-month leave of absence from a job while I was deciding if I wanted to move to a different state. Although it was difficult making the transition as I was very homesick, once I found a job in my new location, I resigned from the job I had waiting for me because I knew it would be too tempting to go back.

Close off the escape routes and make sure that you have a compelling reason to move forward. However, at the same time, make sure that you plan for the risk and have the tools, supplies and resources you need to achieve your goals. You can’t eliminate risk but you can plan for it. Don’t just jump in without thinking through the process and having a solid plan for moving forward.

If you are ready to burn your ships and need someone to support you in moving forward and achieving your goals call Coach Lee for a 30 minute complimentary session. 720 352 6980

It’s Never Too Late To Start

I have been having conversations with people who are telling me that since the year is more than half over, they will wait to work on their goals next year. After all, with only three months left, it is just too late to get started on anything now. They couldn’t be more wrong. Yes, the end of the year is fast approaching, which means there is still time to get started!

There is no time like the present, and now is the best time to get started on your goals. Starting when you have some pressure, such as only a few months before the New Year’s ball drops will get you motivated. If you are one of those people who work best under pressure, the time is perfect for you. If you are a person who likes to follow through on what you say you are going to do, you are right where you need to be. And if you are one of those people who like to wait until the last minute, your minute is here. And if you fall into any other category, then you just need to get started and save the excuses for later.

In other words, do not let this be another year like so many other years when you made those New Year’s resolutions only to rehash them the following year. Even if your goal cannot be completed by the end of the year, much can be done before the year ends. This way, when the New Year rolls in, you will have something great to look forward to instead of just another year with regrets.

It may be difficult to get the momentum going. If you find it hard to get started on your own, enlist the support of a friend, colleague, or coach. Someone who can support you in achieving what you say you want and provide some accountability. One of the biggest things missing for many is the accountability factor. Having someone who supports you in achieving your goal and is holding you accountable can help in making it happen. Part of achieving anything in life is about setting up structures that will support you in succeeding.  Having an accountability partner is one of the structures that will support you in your success.

Coaching

It is never too late to begin work on your goals and dreams. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and who cares what a calendar says. Yes, this calendar year is almost over, but in the scheme of things, that isn’t what is important. What is important is that you are focused and working on what matters most to you. Declare today as your New Year and resurrect those goals. It is never too late to begin creating the life you want.

Coaching Question

What goal will you achieve by the end of the year?

Daily Action

If your goal is not written down, write it down now. If you do not have an accountability partner, get one today. Next, take one step towards your goal today no matter how small.  You have time to get started, but you don’t have any time to waste.

Quotes

“Every shot not taken is a goal not scored.” -Wayne Gretzky

“Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.” -Les Brown

Contact Coach Lee now.

Organizing

Don’t despair if you were not born with the organizing gene

I am convinced that in DNA there is an organizing gene. People with this gene are naturally organized. They just get how to set up systems and manage them so that everything has a home and lives there. Doing some research, I couldn’t find any evidence that there is a gene for organizing, however, according to Major Mom, “only 10% of humans are born with the innate ability to create systems and maintain them.” From my unscientific research, I have noticed that some people seem to be naturally organized while others, like myself, are not.

My sister is one of the most organized people I know. Everything is always put where it belongs. She has a home for everything, and it lives there. She doesn’t hold onto things so there is no clutter to deal with. She claims she inherited this skill, however, what I know is she didn’t get it from our mother. I take after mom, she was totally unorganized and totally unabashed about it. She had a sign on her desk at work that read, “An organized desk is a sign of a sick mind.” My mother’s desk looked like a bomb had exploded on it. The claim that she could find anything she was looking for was true. However, as I know, when a person isn’t organized finding something takes time. I pride myself in the fact that I never lose anything, it just may take me years to find it. The reason that I have embraced being organized in spite of myself is I hate wasting time.

For years it didn’t bother me that I was not organized. At times it was embarrassing when people would make comments about my messy car, apartment or desk, however, I would shrug it off and use my “didn’t get the organizing gene” excuse. Finally, after wasting way too much time looking for things I gave in and admitted, being organized has its rewards.

To get organized I read books and hired an organizer (several times throughout the years) to teach me the skills of organization. What I realized is that I indeed was not a born organizer, however, I could learn to be organized. There are processes and structures that set one up to be more organized. Will I ever be at the level of my sister? No. Can I have an organized home and office (most of the time)? Yes.

One of the tricks to being organized is “Everything has a home and it lives there.” My Grandmother, who passed the gene to my sister, was a very organized person and this was her anthem. Turns out this is key for any organized person. One of the organizers I worked with advised that if something doesn’t have a home, it is clutter. The first step to becoming more organized is to find a “home” for everything and keep that thing in the home. If you use something put it back where it lives once you are done using it. This one trick helps me be more organized and clutter free than anything else I know.

For those of us without the gene learning to put things back where they belong is key to being organized. I know this isn’t rocket science but to those of us that were not born with the gene, this doesn’t come naturally. Doing this one thing will make a huge difference.

For those of you who were born with the gene, be patient. You have a gift and that is great, however, don’t hate those of us who don’t. Do your best to teach the unorganized person in your life what you know and if they are not ready to learn, just move on. Screaming at someone who isn’t organized or shaming them or putting them down isn’t going to make them more organized. It is just going to make them resent you.

What I know is that being organized saves me time. I hate wasting time looking for things and because of this, I am willing to stay mostly organized. Find what works for you and work it. There are different levels of organization. Whatever level you are comfortable with is what you should work at maintaining.

What I know: Everything has a home and it should live there.

Let’s Do This,

Rachelle

P.S. For support and help to act and reach your goals please feel free to contact me for a 30-minute complimentary session to help you get started on your goal.

References:

Major Mom (2019) The Organizing Gene, did you inherit it? Retrieved from https://www.majormom.biz/organizing-blog/the-organizing-gene-did-you-inherit-it/

By now the New Year has worn off and so have the resolutions and goals that you made, or not. Some people will manage to keep their goals and resolutions, most will not. According to Ashira Prossack writer for Forbes (2018) “The statistics on how many people actually follow through and accomplish their New Year’s resolutions are rather grim. Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% accomplish them.” Actually, there is a good reason for this. First, there is nothing magical about the first of the year and most people are not serious about the resolutions and goals they set.

The first of the year isn’t special when it comes to goals and resolutions. The best time to make a change is when you are ready. It could be the first of the year, it could be St. Patrick’s Day, or it could even be today. The time is right when you are ready. So be honest with yourself. If you are not ready don’t try to push it, you will fail and get disappointed and stall your progress. When you are ready you will know it and sometimes it takes being pretty fed up until you will be ready. People make changes when staying the same becomes too painful.

Another reason people do not follow through with their resolutions and goals that they make the first of the year is that the goals and resolutions are made more out of obligation and tradition rather than a real desire to do the work and make the change. Also when a resolution or goal is made during “the season” there usually isn’t anything to back it up, like a plan. Without a plan, nothing happens.

The first thing to do in order to make your resolutions and goals come true is to get ready. Do your research, figure out how much time it will really take (losing 30 pounds in 30 days isn’t realistic) what it will cost and what you can expect. With the Internet research is at your fingertips so take your time and do your homework. Part of being ready is knowing what you are getting into and having the tools to help you succeed.

Once you have a plan and you are ready, get started. The first thing to do is the first thing. Follow your plan. Maybe you need to join a gym or take a class or go to bed 15 minutes earlier. Whatever you have decided to start with is fine, the important thing is you start.

Keep a journal of your progress monitoring what is going well and what needs to be tweaked. There are no straight lines in nature or goals. There will be detours and sometimes total derailment. However, the best thing to do when you fall off is getting back on.

The first thing to do is decide what you want to go for. Don’t choose something you think you should want to do, make sure it is something you want and will be committed to achieving. Next make your plan. Take the time to create a detailed plan. The more detailed the plan the clearer the path to success will be.

The goal for this week is to select a goal you can commit to and make a plan to reach that goal.

Let’s do this,

Rachelle

P.S.

For support and help to act and reach your goals please feel free to contact me for a 30-minute complimentary session to help you get started on your goal.

Welcome to Coach Lee’s Blog Site!

Welcome to Coach Lee’s Blog site. Coach Lee will be able to blog about a lot of different topics that can all help you along your journey of meeting your goals. Known as the Action Advocate, Coach Lee can help you take your goals and dreams and help you plan, take the action and reach your goals and dreams. From Planning, communication, life – personal and business, goals, motivation, advice and so much more. Coach Lee’s blog will help you to understand how to take action with your life. Here you can hope to find a more in depth discussion about concepts such as motivation, planning, communication, delegating, planning time for work and home life, success and what that means, and so much more.

Coach Lee has been a Coach since the mid-90’s and is also known as a motivational speaker. She has published books, been cited in articles in magazines, and has helped a great many successful people reach an even higher level of success.  Her advice, assistance and ability to explain what needs to be done in order to reach your goals, is astounding. Be sure to follow her blog for all kinds of helpful advice, stories, and examples on how to better achieve success in your life!