Get YOUR Courage ON!

How Do the Little Things Make Such A Big Difference?

eegalley — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:27:37 +0000

Just returning from attending an event hosted by Dixie “Dynamite” Gillaspie in St. Louis this weekend I sat down to catch up on some of my favorite blogs and read the following phrase: “quite often it’s the obscure things that we do…that we don’t even notice…that are meaningful and memorable to others…” this saying, from one of my new favorite blogs by Jane Carroll, a dear and inspiring friend, really got me to thinking about the weekend and an incredible thing that happened. It seemed like such a small thing unfolding, kind of like the phrase above, it really wasn’t a part of the big picture, yet it made a huge impact.

One of the other attendees had spoken with one of the presenters, Tom Ruwitch, who happened to remember meeting him just over two years ago. Tom being the amazing person he is started the conversation by asking about the project he had been working on at that time. Yes, Tom remembered the details of a project of someone he had not seen or spoken with in over two years. In fact, the attendee himself had actually forgotten the project. Today, he was at a point where he was struggling with how to put together what he was doing with what he loved, that was one of his motivations for even attending this event. Once Tom reminded him of the project it was a total lightbulb moment; he now knew exactly how it all fit together and what he wanted to do. His vision had returned, he was excited and completely focused. Amazing isn’t it? Something so small as remembering a detail about the other person totally impacted their life.

This had nothing to do with what Tom was presenting on, his specialty is marketing, yet Tom wasn’t thinking about himself or what was in it for him. Two years ago when he met the attendee he took the time to really listen for a few seemingly insignificant moments and those few moments would eventually make a tremendous impact.

Sometimes it’s the little things we do that make the biggest difference, has this ever happened to you?

I Wanna Make Lots of Mistakes!

eegalley — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:01:19 +0000

I want to make lots of mistakes. I just don’t want to keep making the same mistake over and over.

We are taught or conditioned that we need to get to this place where we make no mistakes. If you are learning, growing and trying things you have never done odds are you will make mistakes. The more things you step out of your comfort zone and try the more you risk mistakes. Keep doing the same thing again and again, going the same places the less risk of mistake.

Being willing to make mistakes doesn’t mean I won’t pay attention, put in hours of practice or try my best at what I do. It means I am willing to risk making mistakes to keep trying to stretch further and go outside my comfort zone in everything I do.

So mistakes are a natural part of the learning process that need not be feared. Learning from them gives you the opportunity to go even further the next time.

What do you think, does learning from a mistake make it worth it?

Are you a Afraid to Standout?

eegalley — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:16:14 +0000

Are you trying to fit in, do it the way everyone else is doing it, the way it “should’ be done, the way that works?

Have you been watching all the expert videos, reading all the blogs, trying to follow all the rules? I am sure you have gotten a lot of great information which can be helpful. There comes a time when you need to trust and follow your own ideas and directions even if they are different than what everyone says “should” be done.

What if Microsoft listened to IBM or Apple listened to Microsoft. What if Facebook listened to MySpace or Google+ to Facebook?

How about the thirty-three year employee at Ford who said of Tesla ”you just cannot do that?” What if Rachel Ray listened to Martha Stewart, do you think she would have told her she would do what she did?

Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in, there is something about you that is different? Do you have the courage to trust yourself? How could you be using your difference to stand out and make an impact?

How have you challenged yourself today?

eegalley — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:05:02 +0000

You can do more than you think you can.

Have you tried this simple exercise before?

Raise your hand as high as you can. (Go ahead, try it.)

Now raise your hand even higher.

Were you able to raise your hand higher?

Most people find a way to do so, especially if they’re in a group of other people who are all raising their hands even higher.

The fact is, we usually can do more than we initially think we can. We underestimate our abilities, or we overestimate just exactly how much effort we’re really putting into things already.

How can you go a little further today? Do something different, step outside your comfort zone in an area you want more today?

Lately, I have been challenging myself when I workout and I always find I can do a little more even when I think I can’t almost every time.

This same concept applies to any area of life we want to change or improve our results in. I am making a commitment to apply it in at least one other area that I want better results in and I will post on this in future blogs.

How can you challenge yourself today?

You Gotta Let Go of the Goal

eegalley — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:23:48 +0000

On Sunday I was rollerblading, I had a goal of how far I wanted to go, I could see my goal destination, it was further than I had ever gone, as most goals are. I was hot, it was a long way and I started thinking about how hard it would be to get there. As I looked at it so far away I decided to focus on the journey. I might not make it all the way but I could do my best, get some great exercise and enjoy the time I had. I started to notice the breeze, the water was gorgeous, runners, walkers, and bicyclists passed and I loved the sunshine. I was enjoying every minute and it didn’t seem like effort.

Before I knew it I was almost to my goal, I got excited, I had made it farther than I imagined and it didn’t seem that hard. I started to glide, I knew I would make it and for a moment, I took my attention off what I was doing and I was looking only at my goal. Then it happened, a big bump between sidewalks caught both my roller blades and sent me down in a front body slam to the sidewalk. My hands went up in time that I landed full on my left hand and chest with the wind knocked out of me. Luckily I didn’t hit my knees or face. It hurt, it hurt bad, but I wasn’t hurt bad.

As I sat there on the side walk I realized this goal was just like any goal, if you focus only on the goal reaching it becomes much harder than it has to be. When you think the goal is so big and hard it will be and you will struggle. When you focus on the journey and just keep doing what you need to do it can become enjoyable and you can get there faster than you thought. When you focus only on the goal and not on what you need to be doing you can miss pitfalls, sometimes big ones that can bring you down.

Goals are tremendously important, but focusing only on the goal can actually keep you from reaching it. Has that ever happened to you?

What Happens When You Fail?

eegalley — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:53:34 +0000

So many things we don’t try for fear of failing. Often getting caught up in the what ifs.

This week Diana Nyad “failed” to accomplish her goal of being the first to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

This was no small goal, Diana is 61 years old, it took two years of planning and training and many people involved to make it happen. Her journey is totally inspiring.

When we imagine failing to reach our goal we often imagine the absolute worst situation. Her attitude after ending this quest is as inspiring as the journey itself. I was brought to tears at the end of this video, when Diana is not at all caught up in what was her journey or goal, she is busy supporting others around her, she is one amazingly courageous woman!

Did she fail? Her goal was to swim from Cuba to Florida and she didn’t accomplish that, she did however accomplish so many things that would not have happened otherwise; it shows just how much success can come from failing. While she may feel disappointment at not reaching the goal, the biggest disappointment would be in never having tried. Accomplishing a goal is not always about just reaching the goal even when you do. It is about the person you become in order to reach it and all the impact you make in working toward it. What will you step out and do?

Seven Ways to Get More Out of Giving It Away Free

eegalley — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:20:40 +0000

The question of why give away information free and how much should be given often comes up for entrepreneurs, coaches and consultants. This week I was talking with a client who was discouraged because she had been doing free workshops and felt too many people were taking advantage of the freebie and nothing more. She was considering no longer giving away anything free, although she was getting paying business from the workshops too. Unfortunately that is the conclusion many draw when they offer something free and it does not work, that they get taken advantage of when they give something away free and they shouldn’t do it.

Giving it away free is a strategy that can and does work brilliantly, just ask Seth Godin who does it with his new Domino Project. He certainly does not have too, he already has many bestselling books, the credibility and the tribe built to sell pretty much anything. It can also work brilliantly for any entrepreneur; it may take time to figure out the best method for you and your products or services.

Here are a few tips that can help you get more out of giving it away free.

It is your sales call – every business needs sales, view your free giveaway as your sales call. It is an easy way to stop making cold calls and generate a lot of warm calls.

You can still sell it – just because you use the information as part of a free giveaway, whether it is a free report, free teleseminar or workshop does not mean you cannot also use that information again. That same information can be used and most likely expanded on in other programs.

Use it as an interest test – test different free offers to track client interest. I have changed free offers and seen interest double in the exact same program. It can help you gauge interest for developing new programs, try something as a freebie, if there is big interest chances are it will do well as a full-blown program.

Always make them want more – Don’t give everything away. Don’t give so much away that the potential client wants no more. Leave them wanting more information.

Always have a Call to Action – this is a BIG ONE! Often I see a freebie intended to get people on an email list which is great but that’s the end of it. Make that freebie more enticing and have a call to action at the end. Keep your prospective client moving through your programs as long as you can help them. If you are giving a free speech or interview that you do not want to make a sales pitch, that’s great too, but don’t miss out on a chance to leave them with a call to action. If you want more specific ideas on this one simply send me an email with CALL TO ACTION in the subject line to edie@getyourcourgeon.com.

Don’t give away junk – giving away your low value items because it keeps your costs down or is easy will be seen as just that. It will not create value for you or the customer. It is a waste of time.

Know your conversion factor – it is great to giveaway a free report or eBook when asking someone to join your email address, bigger returns on bigger giveaways require strategy, planning and tracking. If you are doing a free in-person workshop to sell a five-week program you’re investing more in the giveaway. It may be just as easy to do this with a teleseminar and save the costs.

Giving away free information gives you a chance to reach potential customers in a way nothing else does. It is a great opportunity when used wisely. Will some people take the free stuff and run, absolutely, be ready to accept some will buy and some will not! When you are doing sales calls many people will say no too, it is all a part of being in business. Figuring out your successful strategy for giving it away free is well worth the time, effort and investment.

Get Your Courage On! 7 Things to do When Adversity Strikes

eegalley — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:06:23 +0000

Adversity affects us all at one time or another whether it is financial, business, relationship or health, you can feel stuck and it can be difficult to see beyond. Here are seven things you can do to help you get your courage on and move through the adversity.

Look for your success – you have many success in your life and you have faced adversity before and triumphed. Take a look at your past successes and see your strengths. Find stories of others who have overcome the struggles you are dealing with.

Don’t get caught up in what if – Running over and over in your mind if only you had done something different, if only you could turn back time is only berating yourself and will not lift you up. No matter what you come up with the possibility exists that even if you had done things differently things could be worse.

Do what you can – Do not avoid things that need to be addressed, open mail, answer calls, handle issues. Avoiding things only leads to larger issues and more negative feelings. Even if bill collectors are calling and you have no money to pay, answer the call and be honest, let them know you will take care of it when you can, that’s it. If people want things from you that you do not want to do, learn to say no. The feeling of handling issues allows you to move on much more quickly than avoidance.

Journal – The exercise of getting the feelings and thoughts out of your head and onto paper can start to help you see things more clearly. You can also journal possible solutions, no matter how silly they might seem, it just may lead to one that works that you would not have thought without clearing your mind. Writing out what you desire for the future can get you started in the direction you want to go rather than feeling stuck where you are.

Let go – Once you have handled all the things you can, let go of the need to change or control. Feel confident in having taken care of things and trust in the possibilities of the future.

Be grateful – When facing adversity or heartache it is easy to overlook all the good that are present in your life. Take a gratitude break and look for all the reasons and things you have to be grateful for in your life despite the current adversity.

Reach out – Do what makes you feel good. When things are bringing you down the tendency is to isolate, which can compound the negative feelings. Get out, go to the places where you feel good, play the music you play when your on top, talk to that person that always inspires you, read the books you like. You know what makes you feel good, now is the time to do it.

Get Your Courage On…don’t let adversity stop you!

A Road with No Bumps Please

eegalley — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:32:03 +0000

Where did we get this idea that life was supposed to go smoothly and if it doesn’t something is wrong with us? As if there is a point we get to if we just do the right thing we will experience a life of totally smooth sailing.

I was talking with a friend today who is dealing with some “bumps”. First came the apologies for not being all happy and then the conclusions of all the things they had done wrong and bad decisions they had made. Again, as if they had just made different decisions, life would be totally smooth right now and somehow because they didn’t they were less of a person or had less of a life.

The thing is life is just that way. Some days are sunny, some are stormy. There are ups and downs. Things do not always go the way we plan. We make the best decisions we can at the time we make them and then things change.

The more roads you travel, the more risks you take, the more bumps you are likely to encounter.

It is not about a road with no bumps or a life with no issues, it is about navigating through, over and around the bumps making the best decisions you can and learning as you go. It is about surrounding yourself with friends and mentors that help you navigate the bumpy road and enjoy the ride!

As Louisa May Alcott said “I am not afraid of the storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

What do you think when you hit a bump?

What Obstacle is Stopping You?

eegalley — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:36:05 +0000

Obstacles in your mind are smaller than they seem.

What do you think about that keeps you from doing what you want to do?

Do you remember when you wanted to ride a bike and how hard it seemed like it would be? How about driving a car, big and scary right? Things you do now without even thinking about them.

I bet you can come up with a few things that once seemed beyond your reach that you do with ease now.

When we think about doing things they can seem much bigger and more difficult than when we actually do them.

How about you, do you have something you want to do now that the obstacles in your mind are holding you back from?