When setting goals, it is important to take a hard look at what it is you really want to do.  Searching deep into your experiences, strengths, gifts, talents, knowledge and past can paint a very good picture of what it is you might want to do, and help you define your goals.

Let’s say, for example, your goal is to find your dream job.  You are looking for that position that allows you to display your strengths, shine as an employee and really showcase what you have to offer the profession.  Does that sound familiar?

Do you often ask yourself, “I need a job, but what can I do?”  Perhaps a better approach would be, “I have a gift, and how can I use it to help others?”

As you are all aware, the economy, the job market and the competition are all tough right now.  Typically, when people apply for a job, they highlight their background and experience in their resume to match the job description.  They want to get past the initial screening process and secure an interview.  However, to land your dream job, you need to get in the final group of candidates and reach the top of the list.  To do so requires a change in your perspective.  That is to showcase your strengths.

The employer is looking for that one person who can not only fill a new or vacant position, but can also solve one of their biggest challenges.  Therefore, you must stand out above the rest – you need to sell yourself and your strengths, gifts and talents.  Apply for a position as if you are the answer to THEIR problem, and not that they are the answer to yours.

The first step is having a clear understanding of what you have to offer – your strengths and talents.  Taking a personality type assessment can help you gain perspective on your own strengths and what occupations will allow you to utilize those strengths.  There are many assessments in which to choose, and selecting one can be overwhelming.  The two I prefer are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) and True Colors® assessments.

Both will provide you with valuable information about how you prefer to interact with people, take in information, and make decisions.  Both tools are excellent resources for finding your hidden strengths that can help you land your dream job. These are helpful tools when selecting a good job fit.

Another resource for job hunting is the book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath which outlines 34 different strengths and talents.  By taking an on-line assessment (an access code is included in the book), you are provided a Profile Report and an Action Plan Guide that highlights your top 5 strengths along with job search strategies utilizing your strengths.

You may know what types of occupations attract you; however, assessments can help reveal a list of occupations you might not have ever imagined based on your strengths.  Assessments not only provide you with information about your strengths, but can unlock your job search potential by opening doors to new opportunities.

After you have outlined a list of jobs of interest, research the companies who are hiring.  What are their biggest challenges?  What are their long term goals?  What is their mission, their vision and what are their values?  What strengths, talents and gifts do you have that will fit into their company profile and may help them overcome their biggest challenges?  You are an investment to an employer, and they need to know that their investment will give them a good return (ROI).

The next step is to believe in yourself.  Selling is not easy, especially when you are trying to sell yourself.  Many find it difficult to boast about their successes and their strengths.  You must change your mindset and look at your application as a proposal: “This is what I can do for you.”

Just remember…get creative and be memorable.  Share your gifts and your strengths and they will serve you well.

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

The first day of July is less than a week away, which means we’re approaching the year’s halfway mark.  Now is a good time to ask how you are doing with your goals.  Have you made any progress?  Have you outlined your plan?  Have you committed yourself to abounding success?  Will you reach your goals by the end of the year?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, let me ask you a thought provoking question.  What is getting in your way of achieving your goals?  When you set goals with good intentions, you may face unexpected obstacles along the way that throw you off course.  Without a clearly defined plan, it may be challenging to get back on the path to success.

What are your obstacles? Is it time, money, change in focus, unexpected family matters, health issues, or lack of energy?  All of these can demotivate you, and keep you from following through with your plan.  Believe me…I know.

It’s imporant to stay focused on your goal, no matter what obstacles you face.  By being focused, the solutions to your obstacles may suddenly become clear in the process.

Take a look at the top 1 to 3 obstacles that may be getting in the way of achieving your goals.  With each obstacle, identify three possible solutions to each issue.  Might these be new subgoals to help you reach your destination?

If you are struggling with the solutions to your challenges, have a brainstorming session with family members, friends or a mastermind team.  Think of any and all possible solutions no matter how ridiculous they may seem.  When brainstorming, you may find that one idea sparks another, and another, and, well, you get the idea.

It is important that, when brainstorming, you are surrounded by people who are positive and uplifting.  Those who have their own preconceived ideas or negative attitudes, will serve no purpose and will only create more challenges for you. Engage yourself in the harmony of other thought leaders.  Remember, you are the average of the 5 people with whom you spend the most time.

To reach your goals for 2010, I encourage you to stay focused and address any obstacles you may have that are getting in your way.  This will not only help you clarify your goals, but will help you identify solutions that will allow you to move forward.

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

Do you enjoy having time for yourself? What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you even have “free” time?

You may find that you neglect taking time to relax and to enjoy time away from work, chores and the requirements of daily living. That’s because it often takes a conscious effort to set aside quality time to do what it is that rejunvenates you. That might be sports, reading, meditating, crafts, painting, walking, exercising, playing the guitar, or whatever you prefer doing duriing your “me” time.

Make no mistake that “me” time doesn’t always have to be all about you. It might include spending time with family and friends as well. There are some steps you can take to set aside some personal time for yourself:

1. Decide on what it is you want to do. What is it that you have been wanting to do for a long time, but can never find the time to do it? What is it that makes you feel relaxed, energized or motivated again?

2. Determine the benefits of this activity. Is it relaxing? Is it energizing? Does it promote good health or reduce stress? Does it exercise your mind? Does it help you practice a talent? Does it allow you to spend more time with the ones you love? List all the benefits and how it will help you gain clarity on other aspects of your life.

3. Determine what is getting in the way of you doing this activity. Is time, money or other priorities?

4. Now determine what are the negative aspects of not taking time for yourself. What are you missing out on, or what are the impacts of neglecting yourself? Do you have more stress in your life? Do you have health problems? Does your family feel neglected, too? Have you lost your sense of humor?

5. Decide how much time per day, week or month you want to spend on this activity. If it’s going to your favorite cabin in the woods for a weekend, then you may decide on one weekend per month. But, if it’s reading a mystery novel, you may decide on an hour a day. It doesn’t matter how long the activity. It just matters that you identify the time it takes so you can plan accordingly.

6. Now, plan it! If this is an activity you want to do on a daily basis, find a time when you may be least productive and use that time to rejuvenate yourself. If it’s an activity that you want to do with your family, or one such as escaping to a cabin in the woods, plan your intentions and make time to do it. Write it down in your calendar. Make a commitment, just like any goal, to take time for yourself and reap the benefits.

When you take time for yourself, you are actually creating opportunity and improving your productivity by clearing your mind of negative thoughts and rejuvenating your spirit. You will find that you will be more productive in your daily routines when you take time to relax and enjoy life.

Now, I invite you to take time for yourself and identify what you are going to do to rejuvenate your spirit!

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

The Tipping Point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

~ Malcolm Gladwell

Have you ever wanted to start a movement, or create a trend or make a difference in people’s lives?  Ten years ago, Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, a timeless book about how an idea, social behavior or trend becomes so powerful, that it’s virtually unstoppable.

Gladwell used the examples of Paul Revere’s midnight ride (“The British are Coming”), and more recent trends in children’s television such as Sesame Street and Blue’s Clues.  These ideas work much like a flu epidemic, where in a short amount of time, the idea has spread to astronomical proportions, and are the talk of everyone.

Social media ideas that took off after Gladwell’s book, are perfect examples of how a concept of networking with others over the Internet became the rage in just a few short years.  The launches of MySpace (2003), LinkedIn (2003), Facebook (2004), YouTube (2005) and Twitter
(2006) proved to be the social craze as well as a necessity to businesses and entrepreneurs globally.  After all, who would have thought 50 years ago that people could network and build relationships with people on the other side of the planet without getting on an airplane?

Gladwell outlines three rules of The Tipping Point:

1. The Law of the Few is described as the key people with special gifts, talents and skills that create this epidemic: connectors, mavens and salesmen.  Connectors are those who have a lot of social connections because of their gift of making new friends and acquaintances.  Mavens have a talent of getting the word out about an idea, such as in education and word-of-mouth advertising.  Salesmen, on the other hand, have the gift of persuasion.
2. The Stickiness Factor refers to how memorable the idea is that it creates change and persuades people to take action.  A prime example of “stickiness” is children’s educational television where children are not just watching T.V., but they are engaged in it.
3. The Power of Context, equally important as the first two rules, refers to the optimum conditions and circumstances that allow the idea to span.  Gladwell uses the number 150 to demonstrate this.

Throughout history, in social groups, in hunter-gatherer societies and in organizations, 150 people is the maximum number of people with whom we can maintain social relationships at one time.  Once that number exceeds 150, the conditions change and so does behavior.

Do you have an idea that you want to cross the Tipping Point? Is there something you want to change, create or market that you want to reach millions?  Do you have and idea inside of you that is just aching to get out?  If so, I recommend reading The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell.

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

Money will match your mindset.  Change your mind and you can attract money now.

~ Dr. Joe Vitale

I just finished an amazing book by the legendary Dr. Joe Vitale (AKA: Mr. Fire).  Dr. Vitale, author of many books including Zero Limits and The Attraction Factor, and star of the hit movie, The Secret, has recently released his newest book, Attract Money Now.

Many don’t realize that Dr. Vitale was once homeless and feeling very helpless.  It was then he learned valuable strategies to change, not only his way of thinking, but his life.  His mind shift would prove to transform his finances from poverty to prosperity in a very short amount of time.

I don’t want to give away all the details of this inspirational book, except that it is worth its weight in gold.  I sat down and read it in its entirety last evening, and it was truly amazing!  Now, I have read and watched The Secret many times and continue to use both as ongoing sources of inspiration and motivation in every aspect of my life.  (If you haven’t read or watched it, I encourage you to do so.)  Attract Money Now takes the Law of Attraction strategies and hones in on Dr. Vitale’s 7-step process for attracting wealth and prosperity into your life, while highlighting his real-life stories to prove his methodology.

Attract Money Now is an absolute winner and a must read for all who want to change their life by tapping into the secrets of attracting money.  You will not be disappointed…I guarantee!

Now, I have to warn you.  The book is not cheap.  As a matter of fact, it is completely free if you sign up to receive the downloadable e-book version.  Dr. Vitale’s generosity is truly amazing, and he is providing an opportunity for everyone to tap into his secrets for FREE!

To get access to this amazing book, go to: http://www.attractmoneynow.com and enter your name and email address for instant access to this treasure.  There are additional nuggets you will find throughout this gold mine, so make sure to read it all!

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

~ Dalai Lama

Values are personal or professional beliefs that are important to you.  Values are what drive you to do the things you do.  They come from your personal experiences, your family and your culture.  Your family and cultural values come from how you were raised.

You may not be fully aware of your values – they may lie in your subconscious.  However, once you have identified your primary values and have implemented them in your life, wonderful things will begin to happen.

When you identify your values, you may find that they are very much in line with your personality type, your strengths and your roles at home, at work and in the community.  They are also what drive you to make decisions in your day-to-day life, and may guide you to choose certain occupations or ventures.

Let’s say that freedom, honor, leadership and patriotism are key values in someone’s life.  These are the driving forces behind their goals and ambitions. They may find that a career in the military is very appealing to them because it focuses on their core values.  On the other hand, someone who feels education, family, safety and success are important values, they may find themselves home-schooling their children or grandchildren.

A person’s core values are what is important to them, and not everyone shares the same set of core values.  That person’s family and cultural values may be quite different than the next person; therefore, their decisions in life will be based on different expectations.

Now, I invite you to go to my website at http://powerdrivetosuccess.com/Values.html and review the list of values.  Then follow the instructions on that page to identify your top 5 core values.  See how they relate to your goals, dreams and current responsibilities in your life.

To Your Success!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

How do you stay focused on your goals?  Sometimes it can be a challenge when your life is filled with distractions, which is the case for most people.  It is almost an art form to be able to tune out distractions and keeping a clear head when life is filled with the demands of family, work, home, school and general daily living.

There are some important steps to staying focused on your goals and staying on task.

1. Decide what you want in life.  Whether it is a better job, financial security or health and wellness, you must determine your ultimate desire and connect with your purpose and passion.  What is it that inspires you?
2. Schedule your time for optimal efficiency.  What time during the day are you most creative or most energetic?  How can you best utilize that time to get the most accomplished?  Schedule other mundane tasks during your down time.  It is also beneficial to coordinate with others (at work or at home) time when you are available to assist them.  Communicate your time with others to avoid being interrupted during your productivity time.
3. Determine what daily and weekly tasks you need to complete in order to stay focused on your goals.  Writing down and scheduling your tasks into your calendar can assist you in keeping on track with your goals.
4. Believe in yourself.  What steps do you need to take in order to empower yourself to accomplish your goals?
5. Stop the negative self-talk and remove yourself from negative situations.  Replace them with positive daily affirmations and positive influences or inspirations.  Read motivational or inspirational quotes and books to help you stay positive.  Associate yourself with positive people who will support you and believe in your.
6. Never lose sight of your dreams.  Imagine your dreams of which you need to focus. Ask yourself how badly you want to see your dreams become a reality.
7. Connect with people who can help keep you accountable for your goals.  When you check in with someone to report your progress, you are much more likely to stay focused on your goals.  Think about who you can work with to help you achieve your goals?  What positive people in your life are available to assist you in achieving your dreams?
8. Stop procrastinating.  If this is an issue, determine why you are doing so.  Ask yourself what is holding you back from moving forward.  Then make a commitment to reach your goals.
9. See your goals in front of you daily.  Are you reminding yourself frequently of what it is you want? Can you see your goals in front of you?  Visualizing your dreams will help you stay focused on your goals.
10. Develop daily habits for success? Are you doing things consistently every day so you can achieve your goals?  It takes roughly 21 days to develop a habit, and when you develop habits related to achieving your goals, you will stay focused and on target.

Staying focused requires a clear understanding of your purpose, goals and dreams.  By having a plan or strategy, you are more likely to stay focused so success comes naturally.

My challenge to you is to use this 10 step process to help stay focused and achieve your goals.  For more information on how to put this strategy in place, I encourage you to go to http://bit.ly/powerdrive.

Have a Grand Day!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

Power consists in one’s capacity to link his will with the purpose of others, to lead by reason and a gift of cooperation.

~Woodrow Wilson

It is almost a necessity, when setting and achieving success with your goals, to have some type of a success team in place.  Building relationships, whether in the form of a team, a mastermind group or just having accountability buddies, is essential to your success.

One of my favorite books on setting goals is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  Originally published in 1937, this timeless classic is the epitome of what it means to make a commitment to action. Hill’s book that was written to read over and over again, because of the value of its content and the processes involved in achieving success.  Each time you read it, you will get more value from it as new ideas emerge in the “Thirteen Steps to Riches.”

In his book, one of the 13 steps to riches is building a mastermind group.  He defines a “Master Mind” as:

Coodination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.

The concept of the mastermind group, which has been around for hundreds or even thousands of years under various names, is as essential in personal development as it is in business.  This concept allows people to gather together in a common forum (in a meeting place, by phone, or over the Internet) to share issues, brainstorm ideas and contribute to the overall goal of the mastermind.  A mastermind can used for starting a business, parenting your children or grandchildren, remodeling your home, planning your retirement, organizing an event, getting into shape or just keeping on track with your goals.  Mastermind groups are multi-purpose, multi-functional and valuable to any goal you desire to achieve.

The intent of the mastermind group, is to draw energy from each member of the group since the energy of two or more people is greater than just one.  Hill’s analogy is that of a battery, and how there is more energy with many than just one.  There is significant strength in numbers, no matter what your plan or your goal.

I compare the mastermind group to geese flying in formation.  I am sure that at some point in your life, you have heard Lessons from the Geese, by Dr. Robert McNeish. If not, I encourage you to do so.  It is an example of how important working together for a common goal can be, even for geese.

To Your Success!

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

P.S. If you are interested in being part of a coaching or mastermind group, please complete the very brief (6 questions) survey by following the link below.  It will only take a few minutes, and will be helpful in determining the need to provide you with access to such a group.

http://bit.ly/MastermindSurvey

That’s my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. If it’s not positive, I didn’t hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy.

~  George Foreman

Dealing with negative self-talk can be a real challenges.  We all have those little voices in our heads that prevent us from accomplishing our goals.    It’s worse than listening to dream stealers; those people around us that constantly discount our ideas.  The unfortunate thing is that our negative self-talk often comes from our dream stealers.

Do you hear yourself saying any of the following?

• “I can’t do that.”
• “Who am I kidding?”
• “Everyone is going to think I’m crazy.”
• “No one is ever going to buy into that idea.”
• “I’ll never live up to those expectations.”

If you constantly give in to your negative self-talk, you will never accomplish your goals.  Henry Ford was right when he said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.”

When you are consciously aware of the negative self-talk that goes on in your head, you are more likely to be able to change your thoughts into positive ones.  So, what negative self-talk do you hear yourself saying?

My challenge to you is to turn every negative thought in your mind into a positive one.  So, instead of saying, “I can’t do that,” you are going to say, “I have a big challenge ahead of me, and I am going to do everything in my power to make it happen.”

Instead of saying, “No one is ever going to buy into that idea,” you are going to say, “When I find the right person to buy into my idea, it will be a huge success!”  Get the picture?

Happy Thoughts!

Kay Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.

~ Denis Waitley

As we start winding down  toward the end of the 2010 Winter Olympics, we are inundated with talk of winning – who’s got the gold, the silver and the bronze, and how many medals each country has earned.  There is an art to winning, and it’s not just athletic ability.  It’s about having the mindset to win.

Many of these athletes have dedicated their lives to reaching the Olympics, and have even stated it was a childhood dream.  It became their passion and their focus.

In order to achieve success, the athletes worked long and hard, as their parents did, driving them miles and miles to attend daily practice, balancing work and family and dedicating their time and money to provide them with opportunity.  That indicates commitment, perseverance and habit.

To overcome defeat, as they all have at one point or another, they had to believe in themselves and continue their work to achieve their ultimate reward.  That shows attitude, belief and discipline.

To continue down the road that led them to Vancouver, B.C., they had to face the ultimate challenge – the results.  Would their scores be good enough to win the Gold, Silver or the Bronze?  That is the truth. In the truth lies the bottom line:

The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.

~ Vince Lombardi

These athletes, whether this was their first Olympics or their third, will continue to strive for success each and every time.  They won’t give up, they won’t quit, and none of them will fail.  They achieve success by continuing to compete regardless of their medal status.  They will refine their technique, practice their craft, visualize their goals and continue to practice daily habits for success.  They may even return to the grand event in 2014.  That is the art of winning.

To all Olympic athletes, present, past and future, and all of your families, I salute you.  You are all winners!

Now I invite you to watch this brief 3 minute video, “212°: The Extra Degree.”   I hope you enjoy!

To Your Success!

Kay L. Fontana “The Grandcoach”