Servings of Stone Soup

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What Will Make Your Heart Sing?

This was plastered all over a website announcing a huge, nationwide initiative.  How would you answer the question?

What does make your heart sing?  Some people may respond:

“To win the lottery!”  Or, “go on a dream vacation.”optical amplifier

 The more I think about the question, I am concluding that our hearts are always singing something:

*excitement

*anticipation

online casino*busy-ness

*disappointment

*awe

*resentment

*fear

*regret

*joy

And the list goes on.  Just take a moment to think about:

What are you singing- today?  This hour?

The people in your life, what do you perceive they are “singing?”

 
Maybe additional questions to ponder are:

Do I like the song my heart sings?  If not, what would I be willing to change in my “tune”?

 Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coachingмаси и столове

Otra preocupacion importante sobre el pacific poker en línea es el sistema de manejo de dinero.

Step 3:  Benefit from Accountability

Once you have developed a SMART plan add a healthy dose of accountability.  Accountability means to be answerable.  In what ways will you be answerable?  What benchmarks can you add to the SMART plan that will help you stay the course?  Who will truly partner with you, with healthy care and concern, to hold you accountable?  Accountability is the ingredient for continued focus when the plan doesn’t work as you thought.  And of equal importance, accountability is a catalyst for celebration in reaching the milestones!

 Making new year resolutions last past January 1^st requires being intentional.  By following these three steps you get to design a unique plan and create a deliberate way for it to happen – that best fits you.  There is margin and forethought given to potential obstacles that can derail the process and celebration of the accomplishments.  By using this process you move past that defeated “why bother, I never keep them” attitude.  With this proven process, resolutions can happen all year round – in your life, business, and career – not only December 31^st!

Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

Step 2  Paint The Big Picture

Once we throw the gauntlet in the sand and commit to do something about our resolution, we are gripped with the fear of “how”?  This is where the rubber meets the road.  The plan needs to be worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of the resolution.  This requires work on your part!  Beware of anyone offering you the “5 Easy Steps” at this point.  Your plan is dependent upon you – where you are in life; what your home, family, and work environments are like; what motivates you; what you can anticipate as obstacles; influence of past accomplishments; how far you are willing to go past your comfort zone; etc.  A plan that follows the SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) is invaluable to making the resolution real.

Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

The wave of sentimentality rolled over you December 31^st.  You reflected upon the passing of another year, the highs and lows, gains and losses.  There is a tugging deep within your heart – “I do want this next year to be the year that I _______” and then you fill in the blank with your list.  And really, you do want it to be the year that it happens.  Then it’s January 1^st, then the 2^nd, and 3^rd – and nothing has changed.  Yet we truly wanted it to change!

 We live in such a paradox – we long for “things” to be different, yet we find ourselves staying close to our comfort zone and near our safety nets.  How do we make the resolutions reality?

 Step 1  Dare to Commit

When we make a resolution, we are resolving to do something, with a firm determination.  Many times our list is the outcome: lose 10 pounds, balance home and work, conquer procrastination, eliminate debt, become organized, etc.  And that’s as far as it goes.  What we omit is the commitment to actually do it.  We resolve that we want something different in our lives, yet we omit a commitment to actually do it.  The saying, “the main thing is to make the main thing the main thing” is true at this point.  By daring to commit, you are saying that you will resolve to make this outcome the main thing – and there is determination to make it a reality.

Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

This quote, by Ellen Goodman, is a great self assessment.  What is the potential you see for 2008?

 “We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.”   ~Ellen Goodman

 Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

FREE (really!) intro teleclasses from Stone Soup Coaching! 

Join us for introductory teleclasses (conference call with a whole lot of content!) to 2 of the most popular programs offered by Stone Soup Coaching!  During each teleclass we will discuss the program and reveal insider secrets!  You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, discover more of the content, and walk away with a few surprises, just for being on the call!

 The call is free (you incur any long distance phone charges).  You must register to attend by sending an email to jan@stonesoupcoaching.com.  Invite a friend to join you!

 Here is the detail of each teleclass:

 Tuesday, December 11, 2007 @ 9:30 a.m. EST

 Goals for Resolution Breakers: A Breakthrough Formula for Keeping New Year Resolutions Past New Years

 Kevin Welch stated, “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ‘em, but all that’s going to matter is that little dash between ‘em.”

This new year will be one portion of that dash.  What changes could you make in this year that will impact the remainder of the dash?  What one change could you make this year that would add momentum to make other changes?

 Discover how to turn un-kept resolutions into attainable, action goals!

 
Thursday, December 13, 2007 @ 2:30 p.m. EST

 Business Gym Basics

 How do you build a business that works predictably, effortlessly, and profitably each and every day?  How do you build a business that works without you?  How do you work on the business and not in the business?

 This teleclass is designed for anyone who is in a business runs that them and for those who want to start (and jumpstart) their own ventures.  Finding and adjusting the focus of your business to produce the results you want is the theme of the Business Gym Basics.  As in any workout, there are essential elements (warm-up, aerobic activity, strength training and cool down) so it is with your business.  During the Business Gym, we discuss key fundamentals of any business: purpose, planning, marketing, and growth.

 
Don’t miss this opportunity for fast-paced, practical tips you can use!

Each teleclass is FREE, and to attend you must register by sending an email to jan@stonesoupcoaching.com.  We’ll send you all the details you need to actively participate in the call!

I hope you will join us on the calls!

Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching 

I guess most Americans have meandered through Thanksgiving. Many of you participated in a family gathering that highlighted the uniqueness of your family (code word for dysfunctional!). There is no Norman Rockwell setting – if there is I want to be invited. Then some of you jumped fully into the frantic of shopping for Christmas and the hectic pace of parties, gatherings and over-eating. Why are you buying all those gifts anyway and attending EVERY event you are invited to?

But wait, where was Thanksgiving? Where was the thankfulness that is suppose to last longer than one day? I received an email talking about our need for an attitude of gratitude. I agree, it needs to be longer than one day, yet for middle America, with all that we have, continual thankfulness can be challenging. I have food, clothes, heat, health, a dependable car, etc. I think I become numb or forget and thankfulness isn’t at my core. In some ways, maybe I expect the very things I am thankful for. I have challenged myself to express more gratitude, BUT how? I can say I am going to do it, think and say 10 things each day that I am thankful for, but that isn’t really changing the core of me into a more thankful person. I have created my own challenge (not surprising since I am easily motivated by a challenge!). I want to express more gratitude by GIVING. Giving without expecting to get. Here are some ways I want to give:

• Give a helping hand to my neighbor in the care of their elderly mother
• Give permission for more laughter and fun
• Give insights to friends thereby using my gifts of wisdom and discernment
• Give more of my heart, not only my hands
• Give more evidence of my changed life
• Give away more and make do with less
• Give more . . .

Instead of an attitude of gratitude, I will be working toward an action of giving.

Warmly,

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

When was the last time you actually looked forward to the holidays?  The upcoming holidays can be some of the busiest, least enjoyed seasons of the year.  What would it take for your holiday season to be stress-free?  Survival skills to the rescue!  Join us for a Teleclass (telephone conference call) beginning November 5.  Each week we will spend 30 minutes reducing your stress level and renewing your perspective so that the 2007 Holiday Season can be enjoyed and not endured!

 The topics include:

            November 5, 12:00 noon – Bah, Humbug!  What holiday spirit?

            November 12, 12:00 noon – Give yourself the best gift

            November 19, *11:00 a.m. EST* – Holiday “Tunes” for perspective

            November 26, 12:00 noon – I survived Thanksgiving, bring on Christmas!

 
Key secrets designed to make the holidays more enjoyable than ever!                              

The teleclass is absolutely free (really!).  However, space is limited, so please reply to this email: jan@stonesoupcoaching.com and I’ll send you all the details! The deadline to register is Friday, November 2.

Yours in Holiday Fun!

Jan Hinton

Stone Soup Coaching

While in graduate school, a professor required us to sit across from our partner and for 2 minutes say “I am” statements.  “I am a student.”  “I am a daughter.”  “I am a teacher.”  And on it went – mostly statements about roles we played.  That was the easy part and took about 20 seconds.  What followed was a painful minute and 40 seconds of silence as I (and my classmates) sat across from each other.  We had quickly run out of things to say once we covered all our roles. 

 This exercise has had a lasting impact on me – who am I, really, outside of the roles I have in life?  In Brian McLaren’s book, The Story We Find Ourselves In, one of his concepts is we find ourselves in our own stories.  What does your story say about you?  Think about that for a moment and move away from the roles.  My story would be more about being a survivor and adventurer, risk taker and humorist.  This takes me out of the typical labels and roles and paints a truer picture of me.  Sometimes the circumstances of my story would paint me as a doubter and questioner.

 It seems like we become so focused on our roles as labels to describe who we are that we forget.  Our society can label you in roles that are challenging to change.  Have you ever been to a High School reunion?  Often, those voted most likely to - didn’t.  And we have a hard time adjusting to who they really are - now.  Many times our families can create roles for us that often ignore a real person living out a calling that may or may not be their expectation. 

 Find someone and for 2 minutes tell them who you are, minus the roles.  What are the results?  Who would you be without your story?  How does your story show up in your every day life?

Jan Hinton

Writer, Blogger, Thinker, Observer of life

www.stonesoupcoaching.com 

I watched portions of the recently televised Women’s World Cup.  The talent of the athletes and the intensity of the competition was thrilling!  I do think that the removal of Hope Solo as goalie was a total bonehead move on the part of the US coach.  Bri Scurry is a talented player, but Hope had the current teams’ heart, knew their moves, knew their support,knew and was critical to the team chemistry, etc.  Sadly, what that bonehead move communicated to the US team was you are not good enough as you are to beat Brazil.  We need something extra, we need an add-on.  That had to rattle the team, the coach doesn’t believe in us as we are . . .

In my work with businesses and individuals, they are constantly looking for the latest, greatest.  The add-on that will make them successful, increase their profitability, make them an effective leader, be able to motivate others, and the list goes on.   In many ways we communicate to ourselves, our families, our organizations, that we are not good enough as we are.  We say there is something missing and we need the latest,  greatest management theory/process or self improvement book.  We focus intensely on the weakness.  My clients are typically stunned when I say let’s focus on the strengths - really?  I often find myself giving them permission to start there.  This in no way conveys that there is no room for improvement - there always is.  Yet, by being focused on the strengths, that alone changes everything.  Often, the perceived add-on is not needed.

We’ll never know the outcome if Hope Solo had stayed as goalie.  She was kicked off the team and now has been added again.  I can’t imagine what the team must be like now.   I would guess it’s like a lot of businesses I see where mediocrity is the status quo because individuals have believed that they are not good enough unless . . .

Celebrating YOUR Strengths,

Jan Hinton

www.stonesoupcoaching.com