Are you a control junkie?

“If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention” Tom Peters

Have you got your eye on the ball? Are you feeling confused, overwhelmed?

Over the past few days I have been organising for three of my websites to be prepared and recorded ready to move over to a new hosting provider and onto the WordPress platform. This has been one of those where I have felt resistance and confusion.

Moving and installing Word Press blogs. Updating current and writing new content. Retrieving lost passwords (so many!). Reviewing the fine print to cancel old membership site contracts. At times like this I question whether it is friendly Universe! But if I trust the universe and put my faith in my virtual assistant and my web chik, things go much smoother.

So today I am focusing on being grateful for technology and for the opportunity and technology to get my message out to the world. I choose to see myself as surrounded by supportive people who are all doing their best.

In those moments where I am frustrated and confused and I’m feeling frustrated, I just go and play with my puppy dog girls and delight in the simple pleasures in life.

My need for control and understanding every step of the process is my biggest hurdle. I’ve learnt that letting go and trusting others is the key to a smoother road.

Next time you are stressed and out of control, practice letting go and trusting the universe. You’ll be glad you did – I am.

Live your legacy, don’t leave it!

Heidi Alexandra Pollard

PS - If you want to learn some specific steps to reprogramming get this inexpensive program. It will help you break through your blockages, let go of your challenges and set new goals. Program bookings available from July 2010 http://www.leadingvalue.net/_product_19340/Powerful_Goals_Mini_Coaching_Program

Self-made millionaire entrepreneur and chief executive leader Heidi Alexandra Pollard coaches leaders around the world to inspire and motivate people so they can make a positive impact and live their legacy not leave it! Get her free tips and advice at www.leadingvalue.net

Have you got goal envy?

Did you spend time on 1 January this year setting goals for the year ahead? Have you reviewed them since then? How well have are you travelling against those goals? Are you happy with your progress or are you watching others zooming past on their trajectory with a tinge of envy?

Isn’t it interesting that we get caught in the habit of thinking everything always needs to move forward in a linear direction, a,b,c, 1,2,3, one step after the other. We fall into the trap of thinking that there is only one way to achieve our goals and therefore if we aren’t heading along a straight path we give up and think we’ve made no progress.

In fact, the goals that you set at the beginning of the year may now be quite different to the goals you want today.Don’t be afraid to make changes to your goals as needed. Being flexible and course correcting is a necessary part of success. Reviewing your goals regularly may be just what you need to move forward.

Imagine what goals you could achieve if you took this compound approach and continued on a steady path taking one small incremental step each day towards your intended outcome.Start today by setting up three new goals for yourself that you want to achieve in the next three months. Then add a diary reminder to review your progress and take one small step each and every day - you’ll be glad that you did!

How often does that happen in real life? When have you ever started out on a path and everything has gone along smoothly in a perfectly straight line?

span style=”font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Arial”,”sans-serif”;”>Isn’t it more likely to go up and down, side to side, weaving in and out? For me things often unfold as one step forward, two steps back and sometimes a sideways step.

You see it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking ‘it’s halfway through the year, I should be halfway through accomplishing my goals.’

Should you? Really?

Are you comparing your progress against someone else? Just because they appear to be that far ahead doesn’t mean it may be the right path for you.  And what if your progress was compounding steadily like compound interest?

A common example to illustrate this used in many wealth workshops is the example of the $1 million versus $1 cent gift. Would you rather accept Option A - a one off gift today of $1 million or would you rather be given Option B - one cent that is compounded daily for a month?

At the half way point - 15 days if you chose Option B you would have only $163.84, would you be kicking yourself that you should have taken the $1 million?

What about if you hung out until day 25? If you chose Option A you would still have $1 million (or whatever you hadn’t spend already) but if you chose Option B you would have $167,772.16? Would you still cut your losses and take Option A?

By day 30 the end of the month if you chose Option B - you would be very pleased that you were patient and persisted in adding one small compound improvement each day? Why? Because by day 30 your little bonus would be worth a whopping $5,368,709.12 that’s why!

The simple, slow and steady without quitting and without cashing in along the way really can win the race.

So don’t give up on your goals and dreams. Keep on making progress and moving forward, even if it is a sidestep or two steps backwards - that’s just part of the process.

Course correction better than perfection

One of the reasons that people hold back on their dreams is that they believe that they don’t know enough, they’re not smart enough or they don’t know what they need to know in order to reach their goals.

Many successful people in history have been accused of being uneducated

- of not being smart enough or knowing enough. And yet by most people’s standards, go on to be greatly successful.

Henry Ford is one such person and he rebutted the “uneducated” label by saying that he had a row of buttons on his desk that would summon an expert on any subject that he needed.

Rather than store loads of information and data about his factory away in his own head - Ford only needed to know who to ask and where to get the information. It certainly seemed to work for him at the time wouldn’t you agree?

Today in the modern world connected by the amazing world wide web - we have many of these buttons at our fingertips - on our keyboard. Touch a few letters into that amazing engine called Google and voila, you have the answer to almost any  question without leaving the comfort of your seat.

The key difference I believe that stood Ford and other successful people ahead of the rest is what they do with the information once gathered.  In Ford’s case, he would organize the thoughts, facts, data and information he found into a positive plan of action.

What do you do with the information at your fingertips? Do you read and read and read, analyse and analyse but never put that information into action? Or do you assimilate it quickly, try something new, try again, try something else, make a plan of action, start something, do anything and then course correct along the way?

If you really want to step up to a new level of success then this is the best tip I ever heard - “Course correction is always better than perfection.”

To your success and affirmative action

Heidi Alexandra Pollard

The Living Leaders Advocate

Fellow Mastermind members I highly recommend

I would like to introduce you to an incredibly talented group of entrepreneurs. We work together using social media strategies to push each other to the top of Google. We support each other and learn from one another on a daily basis.

We are the MPC Social Media Tribe!

Please visit a tribe member below…

	Jenny Amon Fenig Jenny Fenig Coaching Description: Jenny is a certified career/life coach, yoga teacher,  new mom support group leader, speaker, and student in the  fascinating journey called LIFE.
	Katherine CHE Life Blossoming Systems Description: Cultivator of Joy, Katherine C. H. E. is an author and expert on the Law of Attraction. She currently works with clients to help them improve any and all areas of their lives — from their health to all aspects of their well-being.
	Phil Dyer Total Business Transformation Phil is a speaker, writer, financial planner, strategic business coach  and recovering workaholic who is dedicated to helping lifestyle entrepreneurs transform their business to support their ideal life,  create conscious wealth and have fun!
	Jessica Eaves Mathews Business Brilliance Blog Description: Jessica is a seasoned business lawyer, advisor and coach for business owners and entrepreneurs. She is also a multi-passionate entrepreneur herself, having launched a number of successful ventures of her own throughout the past 15 years.
	Dr. Robert Fenell Repetitive Strain Injuries Description: Teaching chiropractors how to effectively treat  repetitive strain injuries of the extremities.
	Laura Hollick Soul Art Studio Description: Laura is a soul artist. She has developed a series of Soul Art processes that she teaches and share with others so they can connect with their spirits and transform their lives into the most exquisite version of themselves.
	Linda P. Jones Visionary Wealth Now Linda is CEO and Founder of the Global Institute of Visionary  Wealth and Visionary Wealth Now. She follows her passion for  investing and teaching others how to have investment success  and build wealth.
	Lisa Manyon Creative Writing Services Description: Lisa is a a marketing maniac and press release magician. She helps entrepreneurs take the business message in your head & craft an authentic marketing message to connect with your ideal customer.
	Ellen Marie Martin Conquer Chaos Now!™ Considered a leader in her field, Ellen Martin is a professional  organizer, productivity trainer, motivational speaker and efficiency  coach with a passion for changing lives.
	Christine McIvor Social Media Consultant Description: Christine is a social media junkie. She helps  entrepreneurs and business owners locally get to the top of  Google using simple low-cost marketing strategies.
	Pinky McKay Breastfeeding Simply International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)  and a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Pinky McKay is a  Melbourne based writer and editor specializing in health,  education and family issues.
	Debbie McNeill Assisting Stampin’ Up Demonstrators Description: Debbie assists Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators  with their computer and marketing needs
	Terry Monaghan Organizer of Life Description: Terry has built Organizing For Your Life on 25  years of business and entrepreneurial experience. From  corporate executives to solo-preneurs, she helps them get  the right things done, faster.
	Lynne Moore MLM Relationship Goals Coach Description: Coaching women of independent spirit to achieve their key relationship goals.
	Sue Painter Confident Marketer Description:Sue Painter is the President and founder of The Confident Marketer. Sue is passionate about helping solopreneurs create work that is satisfying and financially successful.
	Melody Park Shin Mommy Chick Join Melody as she explores conscious parenting, applying  Universal Principles, in life and business, and living a fabulously  creative life!
	Trudy Scott Overcome Anxiety Trudy helps women overcome anxiety and other mood problems  naturally (using nutrients and food) – and they love that they also  end up sleeping better, have more energy and less cravings.
	Patricia Selmo Women Spiritual Leaders The International Association of Women Spiritual Leaders was  founded to serve the needs of women who are leaders in their  spiritual communities, women who have independent spiritual  practices, and women who are aspiring to be “spiritual leaders”.
	Mitch Tublin Business Strategist Mitch is a Premier Business Strategist, with expertise in Brand Building and Internet Marketing.
	Anita Wheeler Law of Attraction Diva Author of the soon-to-be-released book “The Law of Attraction is NOT a Secret”. Anita trains and coaches “ENTREPRENEURS” how to  be more proactive in their own lives to develop what she refers to as POWER FLOW™.

Great companies grow their leaders

Results not resolutions

With the new decade upon us, now is the time to review, renew and reignite your plans for what you want the next year to hold in store.

So how can you create results and not just empty resolutions? Simple. Treat the new year as you would any other project and begin with the end in mind.Take a moment to sit quietly and visualize yourself one year from now. What do you want to have accomplished? Who do you want to have become in the process? What kind of relationships do you want have? What kind of experiences will you have had by the end of 2010? 

Allow your mind to paint the picture as vividly as you can - in words, pictures, sounds or feelings - whatever makes it feel most real for you. This will engage your subconscious mind, which is the best way to achieve successful results. 

Write down your visualisation in the form of a letter or story, as accomplishments that have already happened. Doing so will trick your subconscious mind into believing this to be true and it will work for you day and night to make your vision match your reality. 

Another major step to ensure results is the act of writing your vision down and sharing it with others. Doing so propels your subconscious mind make the commitment to reach them. 

My secret weapon to ensure my goals are powerful is to write them in the form of a gratitude letter. As my coaching clients can attest, a key success principle I teach is ‘ink it, don’t just think it’. As an author and teacher I find the narrative form to be very instructive and inspiring as it makes it feel so tangible.

If you are a practical, list writer then you may prefer to use an action plan approach to defining your year ahead. Use quarterly or six month milestones and dot points outlining what you will be do and have at each project milestone along the way.Either way, what matters is that you engage in the process of projecting your future possibility and capturing it on paper. This will give you clarity and focus. 

Working backwards with the beginning in mind will ensure you don’t set yourself up for failure. Many people overestimate what they can achieve when setting goals and end up with so many that they would have to work 20 hours a day, exercise for five hours a day and save 90 per cent of their earnings. Impossible!

This year instead of worrying about resolutions, focus on the evidence of the results you will have achieved by this time next year. And most of all remember, real success is not about having it all, its about being, doing and having those things that matter!

Yours in prosperity, passion and purpose

Heidi Alexandra Pollard
The Communicator’s Coach

Are Your Fears and Fairytales Holding You Back?

The power of communication is what the listener does with the message, not what the message does to the listener. Messages, stories, speeches, movies and advertisements that move people deeply do not do so because they are powerful in themselves. They do so because they touch the audience’s most desired wants, most cherished values or even the things they dislike most. They evoke responses that are already in the listener, they don’t put them there.

The same can be said about your inner dialogue. What are you doing with the messages and stories you tell yourself? Begin to collect information on your own thoughts, observe your behaviour, responses, doubts and fears. Listen to the fairytales and beliefs you have created for your own life: “I can’t sing”; “I’m too old”; “I’ll never be rich”; “I don’t deserve that”; “I’m not smart enough to do that.”

What is your inner voice telling you and how often? How frequently do you allow those negative beliefs and tales show up? How much emotion is behind them? How do they compare to the frequency and strength of your positive affirmations?

The greatest obstacle to your success is probably you. Too often I find coaching clients hold themselves back due to their personal fears and fairytales.

One such handbrake to success is the fear of failure, probably the single greatest barrier to success in adult life. Taken to its extreme, people are totally pre-occupied with not making a mistake, with seeking approval for security. How do you know when you are coming from a position of fear? When you hear yourself saying the words “I can’t”.

Another major fear that can interfere with performance and inhibit expression, creativity and success, is the fear of rejection. Unfortunately it creates a need in us to do what pleases others because we constantly crave approval.

Be honest with yourself - how have you feeling about yourself lately? About your career or business? About your health, relationships and wellbeing? Who’s approval are you seeking? Who’s permission are you waiting for to make a change now? Are you taking chances to grow… or have you been playing it safe?

I ask because it’s where I have been and I know exactly what it feels like to be trying to move ahead with one foot nailed to the floor. It can creep up on you - starting out small and gradually building, that need for certainty, for risk aversion, the fear of making any bold moves.

For many people, this way of being serves them well most of the time, and the very fact that they are surviving makes them want to do it more. But for those of you, like me, who have a burning passion inside you, a desire to do something grander, to fulfil your entrepreneurial drive, to become someone worth becoming, to leave a legacy…this mode will slowly kill your spirit, your career or business - and your soul.

Dreams that you once had get pushed aside. Bold ideas get filed away into the “someday when the time is right” folder. Your spark of creativity gets muffled as the busyness of life, of caring for others and going through the motions take over. Worse still, your generosity of spirit shrinks as you retreat and wait for things to get better.

So what can you do to stop the downward spiral?

Here’s five actions to help you get your passion back on track…

1.     Feel the fear and do it anyway - if you wait for all the fears to leave you’ll be waiting forever. I know the more risks I take, the more confident I become.

2.     Rediscover the passion you had.- get back to that feeling of having nothing but possibilities in front of you. Build the courage to step out in your highest good and to show up every day in a big way.

3.     Move without all the answers - analysis paralysis is a killer (this was my biggest vice), you may always wonder how you are going to find the time, knowledge, money or support to do what you want to do, but without forward motion you will never find the answers.

4.     Chunk it down - this simple but powerful concept is one that has worked from me since my early 20’s. Take just one step, once a week, towards one of your goals and you will be amazed at what you can achieve in one year. Breaking your goals into week-sized chunks will make it feel much more doable and will help you create the momentum that leads to amazing long term progress and success.

5.     Get an accountability buddy - tell someone you trust about the goal you’re committed to (I tell my coach Therese). It may be scary to talk about it, but the spoken word in itself creates energy and accountability.

Don’t settle for a second rate you - decide today that you deserve better.