There is no try – for a Happy New Year!

I gave up on New Year's Resolutions years ago.  It's not that I'm a pessimist; it's just that it never worked!

You see, I always thought that New Year's Resolutions was about giving up stuff, and trying to do things differently.

So I would write the list.  Does this sound familiar?

• Stop eating junk food.
• Watch less television.
• Read a book a week.
• Give up smoking.
• Get healthier.
• Get a better job.
• And so on…..

And it never worked.

What's the problem?  Well, this list, or any list like it, is just too general, too negative and not at all easy to follow.

Then I realized that the story I was telling myself was looking at the past critically, but not really creating a new story for the future.   You see, if you want make positive change, you need to create a new story.  And that story needs to be encouraging, specific and uplifting.

Here's an example of a New Year's Re-Story!

2012 will be magnificent.  I will embrace the abundance in my life and welcome a healthy, fulfilled and enriched version of me! This means:

• I will exercise regularly – walk my dog twice a day and go to Zumba classes 3 times a week (fill in your routine here!).
• I will continue to read books that feed and encourage my creativity – (list 5 books here!).
• I will cook with my kids regularly and broaden our healthy choices with more salads and fresh fruit, and home baked cakes and cookies for treats!
• I will explore the following business opportunities (list here those ideas that you haven't looked into fully yet!).

Lisa Bloom, PCC

Do you see the difference?

Most importantly, remember the wise words of Yoda, "do or do not, there is no try!"

Lisa Bloom, PCC is founder of Story Coach Inc. and the Certified Story Coach Program.  Download her ebook ‘Using Stories to Get Great Clients’ at http://www.story-coach.com.

Creating a new habit for the New Year

Some researchers say it takes as little as 21 days for a habit to form (this certainly depends on the person, and perhaps more importantly, on the habit).

Regardless, forming a habit it strictly that: you have the power to start (or break) habits. The start of New Year often has people thinking about changes they want to make in their lives. Many a good-intentioned resolution winds up being lost or forgotten in the busyness of day-to-day life.

However, if you were to do something differently in 2012, and you were to begin today, you could (potentially, or at least be well on your way to…) have a habit made of this action before January is over. Pretty great thought, huh?

What is something you would want to make a habit of in 2012? Maybe it’s something like daily journaling, working on/updating your business or marketing plan one more hour per week, or meeting a coaching peer for lunch at least once a week for accountability purposes.

No matter what it is for you, start today and make a goal to stick with it for the next 21 days—just to see what happens.

Happy New Year!

Take your life from good to great in 2012...

The below post is by Jayne Warrilow, a 2011 ICF Annual International Conference speaker. Watch for posts from other 2011 conference speakers on the ICF blog over the next several months.

Do you know what determines absolutely everything in your life?

Every thought, every feeling, every person, every event is the result of your energetic state of being. Who you are, what you have and what you do is directly linked to how you show up energetically to the world. It is your vibrational state, your energy which resonates out into the world.

Your energy is comprised of your physical body’s energy, your emotional and mental energy and the energetic properties of your soul itself. It is the most precious asset you have. It determines everything you experience. The quality of your energy determines the quality of your life and most importantly you can change your energy and change your world.

Unfortunately, most of us are unaware of this and we just let it all happen unconsciously. We don’t treat our energy with much love or respect. We allow the state of our physical body, our emotions and our thoughts be affected by our external environment. We put other people first. We say what we don’t mean. We impersonate ourselves. We follow paths that are not aligned with our soul purpose, or even what we really want. We can end up in a life we don’t want to lead, surrounded by people who don’t support the truth of who we really are. Our energy becomes blocked and our life reflects this mess.

Don’t let this happen to you. Choose a different path and take good care of your energy. What would your life be like if you took better care of your energy? If you had more energy to invest in your relationships, your coaching business and your life? If you didn’t leak energy on being the coach you think you should be and became authentically who you already are?

You can’t manifest what you want if your energy is a mess. The simple truth is the more you bring your energy into alignment with your authentic self, the easier life gets. You will attract more abundance.You will resonate clearly. You will re-ignite your passion, come out from behind yourself and stand in your truth.

Jayne Warrilow

You are an energetic being. It is time to learn more about your energy so you can come into alignment with your thoughts, emotions and soul. It is time to get out of your head and into your body, to bring your thoughts, words and actions into vibrational integrity. Time to become all that you can be... and take your life from good to great.

Jayne Warrilow is CEO of Resonant Coaching, specializing in advanced level training for coaches. Jayne’s powerful work which she has successfully implemented in the C-Suites of global organizations, integrates a holistic, energetic approach into coaching ultimately leading to resonance, to the next level of mastery and beyond. For more information: www.resonantcoaching.com.

Making the most of the (new) Provisional Member category

Beginning April 1, 2013, all ICF members will be required to have completed at least 60 hours of coach specific training* to be a member (or maintain membership) with the ICF. Unless you hold an ICF Credential or have already completed the obligatory 60 hours of coach specific training*, you should now consider how to fulfill your training hours.

This is a great opportunity for you! ICF has developed a Provisional Member category that will allow current members one year (beginning April 1, 2012) to obtain the 60 hours of coach specific training prior to the policy taking full effect on April 1, 2013.

So now for the tough question, how will you fulfill your hours? If you aren’t already enrolled in a program, now is the time to find the program that best suits your needs. If you are starting at the very beginning, this may seem like a daunting task. For tips on how to choose a coach training program, check out this August 25 post.

You are by no means required to use an ICF approved coach training program, but if that is the route you choose to take, you can search all ICF approved programs by various criteria at Coachfederation.org in the Training Program Search Service. 

Still trying to wrap your mind around the new membership eligibility requirement (MER)? Download the frequently asked questions document and bookmark the MER page at Coachfederation.org for the most up-to-date information. 

*Definition of Training that is accepted as coach specific training:
(These are aligned with the requirements for the ACC Portfolio Application credential path.)  

• Training from an Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or a program that has received the ICF Approved Coach Specific Training Hours (ACSTH) designation.
• Training from a Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Provider, subject to these limitations:
       - All hours approved in Core Competencies will be accepted.
       - A maximum of 12 hours outside of the Core Competencies will be accepted.
• Training that is specifically marketed as teaching coaching skills, that teaches coaching skills or teaches how to apply technical skills in a coach-like manner and teaches coaching skills in accordance with the ICF Core Competencies.

Requirement for 60 hours:
At least 48 of the hours must be:

• Direct interaction with a trainer (voice-to-voice or in-person training; not cyber courses, mail-in courses, or self-study).
• From a program other than ICF conference, SIG, Virtual Education, or chapter events.
• Teaching the ICF Core Competencies (all Core Competencies must be covered).

The remaining hours may be self-study, from an ICF event, teaching coaching-related topics, or a combination. However, all hours must be part of a program with the purpose of training coaches.

The path to better networking

Taking a cue from a November blog post on networking tips, we asked our Facebook fans for their best networking tips. Take a look below to see how our Facebook fans responded:

• “Taking a genuine interest in the one I’m talking to, and make that person feel really special.” (Jacky Chua)
• “CARES which means coming from a place of commitment, abundance, result oriented, excellence, and resilient.” (Johan Van Bavel)
• “Be strategic. It’s not a ‘spray and pray approach;’ it’s a ‘connect with a few and offer value in the process.’” (Tammy Redmon)
• “Connecting, connecting, connecting!” (Katerina Kanelidou)
• “Listen, truly listen. Engage. Be genuinely curious. Always be prepared with something to leave with whomever you’re networking with. If there is a real connection, set up a specific next call of action. (Example: ‘I’ll call you Tuesday at 11 a.m..’)” (iPEC Coaching)
• “Remember you always have something in common. Be inquisitive.” (Nora Whalen)
• “I like BNI. It’s a business network. I’ve got several new customers from there. But, off course, always be prepared with whomever you are meeting.” (Wändell Coaching & Consulting)
• “Smiling and listening.” (Rodolfo Rosales)
• “What intentions do you set before you network? What is your first impression like? What is your 30 second intro? How can you refer business to someone before you ask for business? How fast do you follow up with the people you meet?” (Harvest Sales Coaching Café)
• “Listening, commitment, result-oriented.” (Sercan Savran)

What about you? What are your tips when it comes to networking? We’d love to know—leave a response below or join the conversation at Facebook.com/ICFHQ.