Greetings!
Have you ever really wanted to do something big, but every time you looked at it, the gap between where you were and where you wanted to be seemed just too big to bridge? It's easy to give up or never even start when the challenge seems so overwhelming.
This month, Barbara talks about what she did when faced with a pretty big challenge of her own. See
if it doesn't give you a renewed sense of what's possible. |
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Walking the Walk ... The Fast Track to First Place
Talk is cheap. I could give you advice that I don't follow myself, but it wouldn't mean much, would it? I could ask you to do as I say, not as I do, but why would you? If I can't practice what I preach, you shouldn't listen to me.
I'm a coach. I believe in the value of coaching, but I have a dilemma. If I suggest that hiring a coach is the fastest, best way to get results in your practice or your life, it sounds like nothing more than self-serving self-promotion. So, what do I do? How do I get through to people that we're talking about the ability to change the outcome ... to do what you didn't think you could do ... to have what you didn't think you could have?
All I can do is tell you my story.
My hobby is fitness, specifically weight lifting with an eye toward bodybuilding. I love to workout and eat right and watch the continual transformation of my body. I enjoy it so much that I decided to enter a figure competition. It's similar to bodybuilding, but without the steroids and with a much softer look.
At the time, I knew how to do one thing ... workout. I knew how to lift weights. But that wasn't enough. It's like having a professional practice and knowing your craft, but not really knowing how to run or grow a business. I needed help.
I needed to have specialized workouts that would focus on building certain parts of my physique in a particular way to meet the judging criteria.
I needed to know how much cardio to do and at what intensity level.
I needed a nutrition plan that produced a slow lean down over 12 weeks while providing enough carbs and protein to build muscle while I leaned down.
And then there are the supplements - which ones to take and when? Not to mention all the "soft" items - posing suits, makeup, hair - all the finishing touches that together make a big impact on the final package presented on stage.
I suppose I could've spent months or years reading books and trying to learn everything on my own, but that wasn't the best use of my time. Instead, I found the experts I needed in all those areas to help me make major strides in a matter of weeks.
This took the worry and stress out of it. My team put together a plan to get me into competition shape in 12 weeks. I was on the fast track. Not only was I able to compete a mere three months after I decided I wanted to do it, but I placed 3rd in my very first show. I shudder to think where I would've come in if I had done it all on my own. And who knows how long it would've taken me to be ready to compete if I hadn't had help.
I may well have given up before I ever got there. Instead, I'm now in my second year of competing and have five trophies.
That's the difference having the right coaches, trainers, and mentors can make.
But there's more to the story.
When I competed in my first competition of this season, I got third place. Not bad, but my trainer said I lacked stage presence. I just didn't have "it."
I was bummed. I'd worked so hard on my body, spending hours at the gym building muscle and perfecting my conditioning. I was so conscientious about my diet ... no cheating whatsoever for 12 weeks. I was exhausted from training so hard. Should I just call it a day? Give up?
But then I thought, I've come this far, maybe there's something I can do to get this "it" factor my trainer talked about. So, I did what I always do when I want to do something right. I found a posing/stage presence coach who could help with the technical aspect of posing, as well as the mental and emotional aspect. She showed me how to connect my mind to my body while on stage. I also found a pro competitor who's a trained hypno-therapist. I listened to her CD on stage presence intently every day for a week and then weekly before my upcoming competition.
The result: I got first place in my division! This was the first time I'd won a first place trophy. I'm so thrilled that I won and so happy I didn't give up. You can see a photo from that competition by clicking here.
The moral of the story: Don't try to do it all yourself. If you want to achieve good results quickly and avoid discouragement, find expert help!
What's next? I've decided to reach for the gold - I'm going for my pro card in Masters Figure. It's probably a two-year goal. I need to put on about five to seven pounds of muscle, and I know I can do it. I've got the plan, the right team, and the persistence I need to reach my goal.
The plan ... the persistence ... and the right team. That's what it takes. And I'm not just talking the talk. That comes from walking the walk.
I know you can have whatever you want too.
Best wishes,
Barbara |
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A Day of Marketing at Columbia University
Talk about a unique opportunity ... and it's coming up this Friday and Saturday, May 16-17, in New York City.
Come learn from marketing and business development experts, including our own Denise Hedges, exactly how to build a thriving practice. Experts will speak on branding/niching, Internet marketing, newsletters and articles, speaking and seminars, e-commerce, technology, product development, public relations/media and more.
And that's not all ... Mastermind Saturday takes the learning from Friday's Day of Marketing and puts it into practice, beginning with a session on how to put all the pieces together into a coherent and actionable marketing plan. Immediately following, every single attendee at Mastermind Saturday will receive a 20-minute one-on-one laser session with an expert.
You know, we've attended, spoken at, and participated in many marketing events over the years, and we think this program is outstanding. In a day and a half, you can create a breakthrough in marketing your business, ensuring your success and profitability even during the toughest of economic times.
Click here to learn more about A Day of Marketing, including bios of all the speakers and descriptions of their topics.
Denise would love to see you there!
P.S. Want to get a feel for the quality of the event? Click here to listen to a recording of a recent amazing Q&A teleclass with the speakers from A Day of Marketing. | |
