Summer is over...hit the ground running

Yes, I know it has been awhile; it has been SUMMER, and so I have been not working whenever possible in preparation for the months and months of monotonous rain ahead now that we are moving into fall. I spent time outside, I camped, I ran, I read BOOKS (wow!), I sat on patios with Man and enjoyed the summertime EVERYTHING. Apologies, but I'm not all that sorry.

I LOVE the fall. It's my favourite season: the smells, the leaves, the crock pot dinners, the crispness in the air....it's all fabulous. I also love the fall because for me, it's about starting fresh. New notebooks, new backpacks, new agendas and plans. I always think of September and the start of school as my unofficial New Year. I'm nerdy that way.

So today I had the day off from my "Day Job" and spent a chunk of time gearing up for the fall and mapping out what it will look like over here at big life. It involved a big fat latte, some big fat lists, a big fat strategic plan, and some big fat spreadsheets. Best meeting ever. And I was the only one there, so I could hog the agenda all to myself. Weeee! Here's what what you can expect soon:

• monthly networking dinners - this will bring together small groups of people from my life that have not yet met and will connect them in a most delightful way. Food will be provided (hopefully, although I am still searching for a partner in this) by an up-and-coming caterer, wine will be poured, and new alliances will be formed. It will be fun to play a bit of a business matchmaker. I am hand-picking attendees for each one, so keep your eyes open for an invitation, and by all means, let me know if you'd like to come to one - I am happy to meet new people whenever they come my way!
• monthly newsletter - this began in the spring, but was pushed aside in favor of, I don't know, sleeping. I have done some restructuring though, and am envisioning a lot more time for writing such as this. The latest and greatest will be sent out on October 1.
• a fun new seminar! I attended a meeting with my Mentor Group in the summer, and lovely Danielle Tatarin was leading the meeting: she ran us through a fabulous exercise around creativity and our businesses and I left so inspired that I have taken the idea and run with it. I will hold this seminar for groups of no more than 10 people at a time; we will explore visions and values for ourselves and create a funky piece of art that will serve to remind you of where you are going and what is REALLY important to you. I expect the first installment to be held in October and perhaps continue on a monthly basis from there. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted.
• a referral program! As a coach, about 90% of my clients come from referrals (that's you, sort of playing match-maker, too!) and knowing this, I was very inspired my Michelle Ward's idea (can you TELL I'm a big fat fan??) - she's the When I Grow Up Coach and sort of stole it (because it's so GOOD and I'm pretty sure she'll forgive me...but I am crediting her everywhere I can think of!) So here's the dirt: you tell someone how wonderful and coachy I am, and you get a $50 gift card to the place of your choosing when they sign up for a package of coaching with me. It's pretty simple: pass the goodness on, and I will send you shopping. Thanks Michelle! This brings me to my next update, and that is that
• my pricing structure is going to change a little to offer more options (read: more affordable options) as well as creative ways for you to get out of your rut while still being able to peruse shoe sales (both are equally important, I believe). This is still a work in progress, but you guessed it, I'll post updates for you to see.

See? I may not have been here at the blog, but I've been busy! I have also been hanging out with clients and watching some lives get bigger right before my eyes. It's been the greatest summer EVER.

On that note, I have to get back to it: I have some more things to take care of it before snuggling up with Man and the animals for some PVR-ed goodness.

Be well, be big, talk to you soon

xo

tara

Perfectionism

Turns out I am one of them. And it's surprising to me. Around the house, especially with house renos, our collective motto around here is "Good Enough" - this makes me the opposite of a Perfectionist. I believe this is mostly true, except when it comes to certain areas of my life. Life clean dishes, and typos (they drive me crazy), and creating things. That's the big one. I fancy myself a painter, writer, creative type, but the truth of it is, I am only good at these things when I have clear direction. I don't trust myself to just let go and create.

So when Michelle at When I Grow Up Coach started wrecking her journal, I got a bit inspired and ordered a copy for myself. It took about a week to arrive...and the whole time it was making it's way to me, I had a little anxious part of my brain worrying just a little about what I would do with it. Part of it was excitement, it was, after all, a new book, and that is always a thrill on its own, but it was also scared anticipation of just letting go and following along. Eek.

So it arrived on Tuesday (yesterday). I flipped through it quickly at work, cracked the spine as instructed, and put it into my bag for later, much like I would a delicious treat for later.

I thought about it all day, but was just too plain exhausted last night to open it. Then tonight, I had an super awesome productive day at work and thought I would try and continue the trend at home.

So here I am.

I told myself I would open to a random page and just do as it said, but then I turned to the page that told me to take the journal into the shower with me, and I won't be in the shower next until the morning. Then I flipped to another page and didn't really want to do what it said, either. I finally ended up on a page that told me to rip out the page (going against my long-ingrained respect for books...you NEVER rip a page!) and crumple it in a ball.

I did it.

Here's the evidence:

Baby steps, right?

This might be fun.

See, even coaches don't have it all together - I'm figuring it out as I go just like you. How are you stretching who you are?

Stay tuned for more journal wrecking!

Women in Wellness Summer '09 is ready to go!

Details: Sunday, June 28> 2pm to 4:30pm> Location TBD> There is room in this workshop for a maximum of 50 women (think of the networking! think of the energy in the room!). Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door - if you get your tickets before the 22nd of June, you can bring a friend for FREE. What you get: an afternoon of group-oriented coaching (a $300+ value) focussing on identifying values and non-negotiables, dipping toes in big, fat dreams, time to network and connect with other fabulous women, some stuff to eat, some stuff to drink, discussion, and inspiration.> You might just leave with a bumble-bee in your pants!> This workshop isn't just for coaching clients, it's for anyone that has said, "Someday I'll...." It's for anyone that knows there might just be more out there, or wants more of what they already have.

I hope you'll join us!

--tara

head coach

A List of Bullets

Here's what I've been working on, playing at, getting all bumble-bee-in-my-pants-about (and not making time to post):

• The next Women in Wellness Event - the plans continue to evolve...I was originally planning a cafe-style gathering where in we could talk to wellness experts (in finance, health etc), but it is morphing as I go into something a little different.  I am keeping a lid on the plans for now as I am still working on it all.  Suffice it to say, the date is still June 28th, and the format will likely be some sort of a Visioning exercise, followed by a guest speaker or two, and wrapped in time for connection and community, with lots of treats and surprises along the way...do save the date.  Tickets will be on sale as of June 1, keep checking back for a few deals I might have up my sleeve.
• Stumbling into technology - I have been using my own Paypal account to pay for things for a long time; everything from on-line courses to items fueling my Etsy obsession...ahem...in any case, I have made it so that clients and workshop guests can pay me via Paypal!  It's very exciting and crazy simple, too.  I can even take credit card payments - look at me, I'm just like a store, without the unflattering lighting and wrangling in and out of clothes.  I might even graduate to a Blackberry one of these days!
• Season finales - it's been fun to see all the shows wrap up in a most delightful (and tearful - thanks Grey's) way.  At the same time, I am looking forward to having zero to tune into and spending more time with my running shoes, yoga mat, and my darling husband.
• Looking ahead - along with my practice with individual clients, I am planning to one day coach/consult with small to medium businesses to help them realize their potential in terms of their human resources - it's something I'm pretty excited about.
• Not sleeping - there is too much to do!  None of it feels much like a chore, though, so I figure I'm following my own wellness rules by building my business and laying the groundwork for the future.

What about you?  What have you been keeping busy with?  Is it stuff that's actually leading you somewhere, or a big scary to-do list you're putting between you and what you really need to do in order to realize your big life?  If you find yourself doing the latter, a coach (like myself) might be able to bring some clarity to the chaos.

Words for the day...

Courtesy of the love shop on etsy...love it!  

I have been feeling overwhelmed, drained, tired, and increasingly frustrated that I don't have time in my life to do the things I WANT to do, because I'm so busy doing all those things I HAVE to do.  I am trying to simplify goals and plans  - it's the nature of being who I am: constantly trying new hobbies, wanting to do it all, all at once.

I am considering the suggestion of tackling only 3 goals this year, which sounds completely absurd to me, but might be worth looking at.  If you had to pick the 3 most important goals for the next year, what would they be?  I'll let you know once I've narrowed mine down.  Eeek!

Hidden Lessons

I went into my Day Job this morning, and was immediately handed a printout of an email stating that one of our salesguys in our Texas office passed away suddenly last night when he had a heart attack.  He was a lovely guy, with a fabulous, generous spirit, who lived his life happily, if not altogether healthily.

It made me cry.  All I had to think of was the wife, daughter and the new grand-daughter he left behind, and I felt so sad.  It bothered me all morning, and by lunch, I was searching for meaning to what had happened: How dare he not take care of himself and keep himself well?  Had he been living his life as fully as he could?  In what ways am I not engaged in my life?  Am I doing all that I can to be well and healthy for the people in MY life?  What's holding me back from getting to where I want to?

I know someone who eats and drinks his way through life with gusto - he loves to entertain, loves food and has been known to say, before taking a bite of decadent cheesecake, that "Life is short - why suffer!"

True, I suppose, but I would assert that because you might not be here for long, that is all the more reason to take care of yourself, and treat your body like it matters to you and is the vehicle to carry you through your big, glorious life.

I want everyone to learn from my co-worker's death - hug your loved ones, be grateful for the abundance in your life, and quit playing small.  You owe it to the world - if something is in your way, health issues, a job you don't like, your fears, or whatever, then MOVE it.  Time is valuable, and it's up to you to use it wisely.

Opposites attract

I have all sorts of reasons as to why I haven't posted here or created the newsletter that I wanted to.  All sorts of projects are on the move, so I have been wrapped up in a lot of that, but at the same time, I have allowed myself to be side-tracked by my to-do lists, and am, in fact, maybe hiding behind them a little. 

I think we all do this - find reasons to just be still.  Part of it is that I simply do want to enjoy the steps to where I am going, but a bigger part of it is fear.  I am taking the advice of a colleague in New York (thanks Michelle!) and look at what Opposite Tara would do here.  This is going to be fun - remember this from when you were a kid?  This is the grown-up spin to it:

Opposite Tara (OT) would just do it.  She'd turn off the distractions, and get it ALL done.  There would be papers flying, and fingers typing, and excitement mounting.  She'd be kicking some ass and taking some names, as new clients!

Opposite Tara doesn't care that things are going to change in short order, because she LOVES that kind of thing.  She THRIVES on it!

I will be walking through the rest of the week thinking in terms of opposites.  I would encourage you to do the same and keep checking your email inbox for that newsletter.  OT is gonna be writing it SOON.

At any given difficult moment, what would the Opposite YOU do?  Might be helpful to think about.

New Baby

Here is a little ritual I perform, well, all the time.  Just ask my husband.  I do this whenever I start a new project, get a fresh start, feel like I have fresh ideas, or just see one I like.  The ritual is combing the local bookstore for a shiny new Notebook!  I finally select one and can hardly wait to break it open and begin my note-making, list-compiling and shameless love-making to a book.  It is a beautiful thing.

The newest addition to my family is this one:

How do you celebrate new ideas and inspiration?

Launch Redux

Thanks to those people that attended Women in Wellness this past weekend!  The day was lovely (outside and in) and the gathering turned into a delightfully intimate affair where we explored Wellness and how we might get more of it.  If you missed, so sad for you, but there will be another edition in June (a few details will be included further down).

I took a few photos when I wasn't busy talking and managed to focus for a minute...

Me and tulips

Our beautiful venue at the Shadbolt Center.  Free parking, nice view, all good.  Kind of makes up for the people that were out enjoying the park and kept poking their noses in the door!

I (perhaps overly-ambitiously) decided to make iced sugar cookies to give away at the end of the launch.  Let's just say that was a Wee Bit of Work.  And my husband thought they looked like ducks.  If you can't tell, they're bumble bees! I find I am anxious to document my journey into my new business, so this is part of it - the last item is my event!  Yay!  

As I promised, here are some more details for the next event - SAVE THE DATE!

Details: June 28th, afternoon

Location: TBC (depending on numbers, we might be able to use the same place)

Ticket price: as low as possible

Description:  

Cafe Style gathering (you will rotate amongst wellness experts in finance, career, health etc and have an allotted time to bombard them with questions), with discussion, connection, networking opportunities, snack, and maybe even some wine (you can guess my position on this one!)

I will keep you all posted as plans are made.

In the meantime, I am working on a newsletter that I will send out later this week wherein I will ask you to spread the word to the world about biglife COACHING (thank you, free advertisers!), and explore the whole dark alley of New Year's Resolutions - whether you're full speed ahead or are they trailing behind you....what resolutions...?  Stay tuned.

Thanks for checking in!

Celebration

This is from the arcataartisans site on etsy. Seems to wrap up the day nicely.

Not only is the site up, but I am closing in on my Women in Wellness event this weekend. I took some time to celebrate and rest this evening, and am looking forward to the next steps. It is incredible feeling to have things I have conceptualized for so long come to fruition. It's a happy day, indeed.

Will see you on Sunday?

Exciting excitement!

Welcome to biglife COACHING! It's been quite a process to get here and while I have been coaching since early last year, it took me a little while to really wrap my head around what it is I want to accomplish as a coach, and what my focus will be. It's all become quite clear, and my focus and intention has driven my new website, www.biglifecoaching.ca, and all that will follow. My coaching practice will have concentration in 3 areas:

• wellness - I will go on and on and on about this if you let me, but for me it means all things around self-care: health, balance, exercise, food, spirit, and JOY
• leadership development - it is my belief that we all have innate leadership gifts, and are obligated to do something with our greatness.  Finding my own leadership talents has been an exhilarating and empowering process, and I am anxious to help others see their potential, even if they don't think they are "leaders" (hint: leaders aren't always outspoken leaders of the pack)
• connection - I have grown addicted to the power I can feel when I get people together in a room.   Ideas are shared, wellness is created, it's nothing but good things.  I believe in making moments of connection possible

Speaking of connection, I am kicking off my launch month (April) with my first quarterly event, Women in Wellness, and I invite you to join in.  

This is what it will look like: 

Women, gathered together in a very UN-Kum Ba Ya way, to meet, connect, eat some yummies, and talk about wellness.  We'll explore this sometimes-elusive creature, and cultivate some of our own.  

______________________

Time, place, and other details that will facilitate you actually attending are here:

Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

Studio 102

6450 Deer Lake Avenue

Burnaby, BC V5G 2J3

2-5pm

Sunday, April 5th 

For more information, I have a ridiculous number of places to which to direct you:

• Comment here (below)
• Call me @ 604.220.7807
• email me: tara@biglifecoaching.ca
• send me a message through Facebook
• see the group and event posting on Facebook
• Find me on Twitter @tarabiglife
• Drive by my house and throw something?

Connection!  Wellness!  Leadership!  Oh my!  

I love being a coach, and I am tickled to be here - hope to see you Sunday!  Please subscribe to this feed - I promise to make it worth your while...