Play to the edge this September

Have you ever attended an ICF Annual International Conference? Chock full of education, networking and best practice sharing, the annual conference is something many look forward to. This year is no different—1,000 coaching professionals are anticipated to convene this September at the desert oasis of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA at the Mandalay Bay Resort for Playing to the Edge.

The theme, Playing to the Edge, is about risk, fun and ultimately about taking coaching to the ‘edge,’ according to the Conference Education Steering Committee. The committee has been working diligently since late 2010 to create a conference experience that brings attendees fresh ideas and concepts to apply to coaching.

According to Coachfederation.org/conference, attendees can expect to see these ten features in Las Vegas:

• Opportunity to earn approximately 18 CCEUs.
• Dynamic, upbeat opening general session.
• Three keynote speakers.
• Opening reception with Michael Gelb (CCEUs offered).
• A "gathering place" for meeting with peers.
• Balancing space—a personal care space/place to take a break from a busy day.
• A balance of interactive and traditional (didactic) breakout sessions.
• Global Conversations with a new "reporting out" process.
• Variation in length of breakout sessions.
• Early ending on final day (to allow for easier travel).

Registration for the 2011 conference opens early next week (Monday, April 4). Register early to maximize your savings! Those who register before July 31 are eligible for special savings, known to conference goers as the Early bird rate. ICF members are subject to even more generous discounts as they are offered the special member pricing.

And, anyone who registers for a full conference registration before May 31 will be entered to win two tickets to a Las Vegas show, courtesy of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. ICF will randomly select a winner on June 1. Contest rules are listed here.

As in years past, the conference will feature world class keynote speakers, educational content for coaches of all experience levels, and opportunities for fun. Check out Coachfederation.org/conference for more information on the September 24-27 international conference.

The Bucket List of Fun and Adventure

A couple of weeks ago over dinner, my husband and I compiled our “Bucket List of Fun and Adventure” for the next six months. We do these lists twice a year. We find that there is magic in building them! We get positive emotional hits when we are envisioning, researching, collaborating and then doing enjoying the adventure! This exercise and the list keep us on our toes as we honor our shared values of fun and discovery. We have some really great adventures together as a result. Our energy and vitality at dinner, that night, noticeably increased with our enthusiasm…despite the blizzard raging outside.

Our clients are coming to us to make changes in a positive, desired direction- whatever that may be. We coaches need tools and strategies to access those sweet spots of positive change for ourselves and for our clients. With all that is going on in the world; how do you show up in your life, alive and vibrant, amidst life’s inevitable blizzards?

After a particularly trying time in our family, I looked at my husband and said, “Who am I to life coach anyone when we are running into this problem in our life?”

He looked at me and said, “Who better to share and coach others than someone who has lived it, survived it and thrives in spite of?”

We are all a “work in process.” We have the opportunity 24 hours, 7 days a week for 70-80ish years, if we are lucky, to get this life thing- to live. Our challenge personally and professionally is to learn how the “good stuff” can bubble up to the top instead of sinking to the bottom. Through all my life challenges, I have learned and collected so many ways to do just that. What I am talking about here is resiliency- the ability to bounce back from adversity.

Do you know the question all resilient people ask themselves when they are challenged?

If you want to learn more about this and get the answer to that question then you may want to join me on my webinar, “Rise and Shine Anytime” 5 Steps for Bringing Your Best to Work and Home. Learn more about it here: http://www.annejolles.com/Rise-Shine/Webinars.html.

If you are ready to access more energy, focus, enthusiasm and positivity for increased productivity and success, this webinar series is for you! (Not only that, but it is an easy way to earn CCEUs!) Sign up today to get the specially discounted price (only $125 USD) by calling me at +1.781.878.8589 or e-mailing me at abjcoach@comcast.net.

You won’t want to miss it!
Anne

We Care For…Your Continuing Education

Since late October, coaches have been sharing what it is that they care for…and the answers are as varied as our 17,000+ members! For instance, Tuncel in Turkey cares for “creating better politicians and citizens on this planet by creating more enlightenment and awareness” and Aurora in the USA cares for “supporting coaches as they help their clients through grief.”

Have you shared your story yet? Tell us what you care for at ICFICarefor.org. You can also join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.

Here at the ICF, one of the things we care about is the continuing education of coaching professionals.

To assist in the ongoing development of coaching professionals worldwide, the ICF offers several educational opportunities including Virtual Education sessions, the ICF Annual International Conference and the world-renowned ICF Credentialing program for both members and non-members alike.

If you are looking for a regular opportunity to meet new people, learn new techniques and ideas, and earn Continuing Coaching Education Units (or CCEUs)—to be used toward applying for or renewing an ICF Credential—look no further than ICF Virtual Education (VE).

VE sessions offer coaches personal and practice development through presentations by guest speakers. Several sessions are offered each month and are free to ICF members. Topics range from Coaching Abrasive Leaders to Personal Branding for Coaches and everything in-between. Learn more about ICF Virtual Education here.

Through 2010, the Virtual Education program was expanded—offering more than 45 presentations in five languages across numerous time zones. This has allowed even more people to get involved! In fact…2,156 participants have taken part in VE sessions to date in 2010 (compared to 1,823 total participants in 2009—also in 2009, there were only 31 total VE sessions compared to this year’s 47).

Have you attended an ICF VE session this year? Was it beneficial? What topics or speakers would you like to see through the ICF Virtual Education program?