Working With Power
The online newsletter dedicated to helping you integrate feminine and masculine power for sustainable success with ease.

In this issue:
It’s Not Just Bad Luck: 2 pages
Approximate reading time: 8 minutes


GOALS THAT WORK FOR YOU

JUST RELEASED: JENNIFER LOUDEN’S LIFE ORGANIZER

Meeting with clients, hauling the kids to soccer, supervising the kitchen remodel — we women today juggle so many commitments that it’s hard to find time to focus on our own dreams. Our friend Jennifer Louden, author of “The Woman’s Book of Comfort” and other bestselling books for women like us first created her new book for her own needs. Jennifer’s Life Organizer is a datebook for the soul that helps women create the life they want. Divided into four sections, the first part defines “inner organizing” and explains how to use the book. Next, Jen defines “time monsters,” “minimum requirements,” “shadow comforts,” and other pertinent concepts. Fifty-two two-page spreads, one for each week of the year, include prompts for goal-setting and soul exploration. Stories (including one from Michele) accompanying each section show how other women have used the organizer to make a time for inner play and for finding the soul’s purpose. Most of all, the book helps you hold yourself gently accountable, giving you ideas to explore your inner needs and a place to record the progress you’ve made.
Check out this amazing book at Amazon or your local independent bookstore.
During the waning days of 2005, the two of us met with a small circle of close friends to support one another in creating an amazing 2006. And frankly, we couldn’t wait to do it again this year. See, we know we shouldn’t be left to our own devices to set our goals…so we rely on each other to shed light on what we can’t see and to push us to places we wouldn’t go alone. Truth, is we call this end-of-the-year gathering our “annual new year’s ass-kicking” and we love it!

Now perhaps you think – as many people do at this time of year – that it’s time for new year’s resolutions. Or time to set some honkin’ big goals that scare you. Or time to beat yourself up over last year’s versions of those two. And we’ve certainly done all that in the past, too. But (maybe like you?) we got tired of the cycle of elation followed by deflation that happened when we set our goals that way. “Woohoo! This is going to be an amazing year! If I accomplish all this, I will be SO proud! And skinny! And rich!” Then, just a few months (Weeks? Days? Eek: hours?) later, we’d be saying, “This pressure isn’t fun at all. I’m not even sure I still want what I thought I wanted.”

If you’ve felt the same way in the past it’s because you’ve been “setting goals” in a distorted way. There are four ways we distort our goals:

  1. We pick goals we “should” go after: things that will “fix” us or assuage our guilt.
  2. We pick “gimme” goals: we go for what we think we can get, not what we want. We pick the obvious and safe next step.
  3. We set “déjà vu” goals: You set this goal last year (and the year before that?) and didn’t attain it, so here it is again.
  4. We take on other people’s wishes for us. We call this “SEG”: somebody else’s goal.

What we know is that these approaches to goal setting are as ineffective as they are pervasive. Goals can look REALLY GOOD from the outside (you know, Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-bound), but because of one of the four factors above, we either aren’t motivated enough to achieve them or we reach them and don’t find them satisfying.

2007 is your chance to do things differently. And we’re here to help. Based on the tools Michele’s been using with her private coaching clients for many years, we’re dedicating the month of January to supporting women throughout the Puget Sound (and anyone else within reach of this e-zine and a phone!) to create goals that actually work for us as women. 2007 IS going to be an amazing year… ALL year long!

We’re starting with this e-zine, then continuing with our “Goals that Work for You” sessions on January 16 in Bellevue and February 8 in Seattle. And for any of you that thinks having individual attention would be fun, we’re offering a special one-hour coaching session just for goal setting. You’ll walk away from that session with the right goals for you and a plan on how to go about getting them that won’t burn you out! Meanwhile, in the Practices for Working With Goals That Work section below, you’ll find three ways to create – and attain – goals that work for you. And coming up, just before that, you can learn about all the offerings we’ve designed with you in mind.

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE ELEMENTS OF POWER INTENSIVE TRAINING
Wednesdays at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET, via telephone
January 10 through February 28, 2007
Are you inspired to set a new tone for 2007? To stop doing the things that held you back in 2006, and start some fresh new habits that will make your life and your business incredibly easy?
It is that time of year. And what better way to start off 2007 than an immersion in the 12 Elements of Power? Untapped miracles are right at your fingertips - hidden in your underactive focus, receptivity, providing, and more!
Come join us in Amanda's eight-week teleclass series exploring the dynamics of the 12 masculine and feminine Elements of Power – and learn how to integrate them. You will learn to be strong and soft at the same time – able to leap tall buildings with a single bound, while still allowing friends and family into your heart.

For information and to register, click here

Tuesday, JANUARY 16, 7-9 a.m. at the Bellevue Harbor Club
Goals That Work for You: A Woman’s Way to Getting Real Results
You know you need to set goals, but none of the processes you’ve tried were fun, and they didn’t really work. Sure, you reached some of your goals, but they weren’t always as satisfying as you’d thought they would be. And other goals gathered dust and made you feel like a slacker when you looked back at them. This time, it’s different! At this training, we’ll help you set the right goals and go after them in a way that really works. By integrating both your masculine power and your feminine power, you’ll be more effective and focused, and way less stressed.
$45; includes training, breakfast, materials, and a surprise gift.
To register follow one of these two links:
If you’re a member of the Harbor Club, click here.
If you’re NOT a member of the Harbor Club, click here.

Also offered at lunchtime on Thursday, February 22 at the Columbia Tower Club in downtown Seattle.
Click here for more information.

Tuesday, JANUARY 18, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm lunch at the Columbia Tower Club
Please pre-register by calling the Club concierge at 206-622-2010.
Shifting Out of Overdrive: How Women Can Be More Productive With Less Stress
When you’re at work, you’re thinking about home. When you’re at home, you’re thinking about work. Even on vacation, you have a hard time winding down to truly relax. Like many women, you’re suffering the side effects of overdrive: being constantly “on” has made you successful, but now it’s hard to turn “off”…or even to shift gears very easily. This training will teach you why this common problem plagues successful women and the three key skills that will help you become even more effective without having to work so hard at it.

2007 MASTER BUILDERS ANNUAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FEATURING WORKING WITH POWER
Friday, January 26th 8:30am – 4:00pm, $199 early registration
Redmond Town Center Marriott
Integrate. Influence. Lead.
You’re a leader. You work hard to make things happen and your results show it. Does everyone think you’re put together? Of course. But, are you tired and getting burned out? YES! Join us for this powerful one-day session to learn how you can lead with even more effectiveness and have it be easier. We know that sounds impossible, but just ask the hundreds of female leaders we’ve worked with and they will tell you how much more they get done AND how much less effort they have to put in. We look forward to seeing you there.

To register call 206-451-7920 ext. 241 or email dquach@mbaks.com

SPECIAL OFFER: One On One 2007 Power Session

Remember that ass-kicking we talked about before? Well, so many clients have requested the same kind of tender, loving (direct, no punches pulled) attention that we’ve decided to package just such a session for members of our community.

What you’ll get:

  • an hour (or however much time you desire) of undivided attention from Sara, Michele, or Amanda (your choice… if you need help picking, we can help guide you to the right match)
  • a 10-page workbook to help you revisit 2006, look forward to 2007 (and the next 5 years) and prepare for our session

What you’ll walk away with:

  • deep understanding about what you do that moves you forward with your goals, and what you do that holds you back
  • a set of goals for 2007 that are not only different and better than the goals you would’ve set, but that actually activate your power and will rock your world well beyond the next 12 months
  • a clear plan of do-able actions and support structures that will help you stay focused, sustain your efforts, and reach your goals with ease

Clients have said that this investment paid for itself many times over. Click here to purchase your hour (any additional time or additional sessions will be billed at the same rate after the session)

PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH GOALS THAT WORK FOR YOU

The following practices have helped us and our clients reach our goals in ways that are easy and fun. Please E-mail us and let us know your experiences with them.

1. SKIP THE SHOULDS: Admit it: most of your past goals weren’t even things you really wanted… Ours either! We often pick the “next obvious step” (increase revenue by 20%, lose 10 pounds) or things we think other people want us to do (visit parents, join PTSA) or things we think would make us a better (or better-looking?) person (get organized, get a makeover, meditate or pray more often). Now, we have nothing against any of these goals themselves… the problem is one of motivation. Try setting ONLY goals that make your heart sing, and you’ll find that your motivation lasts longer and the effort is easier to invest.

2. FOCUS ON ACTION, NOT OUTCOME: Especially for goals that take a while to accomplish (like sales targets, health improvements, and relationship changes), it’s so much more productive to focus on the actions that are likely to bring about the outcome. Set little daily and weekly goals, and hit them. After a week or a month or six, you may find you’ve surpassed the outcome you’d hoped for. Make five calls a day. Eat 5 servings of vegetables a day. Take a deep breath when you start to get upset and saying to yourself, “if this still bugs me tomorrow, I’ll bring it up.”

3. INTEGRATE DRIVING AND RECEIVING: As you create your set of goals for the year, double-check to make sure you’ve got as many ways for other people and life itself to bring you blessings as you have determined commitments to make them happen yourself. We burn out on goals when it’s all drive, drive, drive, and no receiving. What’s more, we cut off opportunities for other people and the rest of the universe to have the fun of helping us!

Remember: goals don’t have to be drudgery. And rather than just working for them, THEY can work for YOU. Just follow these tips (and we can’t help but invite you to our other forms of personal support mentioned above). We want a fantastic year for you.

Until next time,
Here’s to your integrated power!

Blessings,
Sara and Michele




© 2006 Sara Harvey Yao and Michele Lisenbury Christensen. All rights reserved. Feel free to forward or re-publish, with the following copyright and contact information attached:
"By Sara Harvey Yao, MA and Michele Lisenbury Christensen, MA, PCC. Please visit www.elementsoffemininepower.com to read more about the twelve elements of feminine and masculine power, learn about events with Michele and Sara, and request a free audio CD introducing the elements."

To make subscription changes, please don't e-mail us; click the link at the very bottom. You can make your change or end your subscription in just a few seconds. Challenged? E-mail support@elementsoffemininepower.com. Thanks!

PRIVACY and Spam Policy: You'll never get an e-mail from a stranger as a result of this list, since we never sell, rent, or give away our subscription list. All privacy, no spam!

TO SUBSCRIBE FREE: Visit www.elementsoffemininepower.com/subscribe.html
Takes about 20 seconds. You'll receive our audio introduction to the Elements of Feminine Power and every month we'll send you fresh ways to activate your power for sustainable success.