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A quiet week in Washington.  Traffic is light.  Email is manageable. The only place where I've seen intense activity is in the Staples store, where people are emptying the bins of school supplies!  I hope you are savoring the last days of August.

Over the years, I've studied how the calendar year produces a consistent ebb and flow of activity.  August is typically a month when the tides of work ebb. It is a quiet month, a month that always begins in deep summer and ends in early fall. This year, we have been blessed with a rare Blue Moon, the fourth moon of summer, making it a special time indeed!

In September, work flows again, though the back-to-school weeks stave off the full tide of work until mid-September, after the Jewish holidays and the intense start-up of school systems everywhere.   It's hard to schedule coaching sessions with clients, plan big meetings or even just maintain a steady focus in the first weeks of September.  We are all ramping up again, a pattern that will continue until the year's end, when, at last, we pause again.
 
Maybe because of this quiet moment, I am really enjoying the conversation about retreats that is taking place on Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Life this month.  Following on from our Frenchtown retreat show, Chris Wahl and I had such fun last week reflecting on the why's and hows of pausing and taking a retreat. 
 
Next Monday, the theme continues with an interview with Karen Ely, a retreat facilitator who invites women to step off of the beaten path to benefit from reflection and a deep pause.  I hope to attend one of Karen's retreats someday.  In the meantime, I can't wait to learn from her personal journey and her expertise.  Please take a break and join me!
 
Warm wishes,



 
 
Kate Ebner
CEO
Nebo Company

Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Life on VoiceAmerica Business  


Monday, August 26, 2013     

11 AM Eastern Time

On VoiceAmerica Business

  

    
 
Listen on Monday. 

 

A Woman's Way: A Conversation with Retreat Leader Karen Ely

  

Karen Ely

 Fifteen years ago, Karen Ely walked away from her life - including her 32-year marriage-to embark on a journey toward a more authentic and stronger sense of herself. Today she helps women create lives of meaning through her company, A Woman's Way.  A Woman's Way programs provide women with a safe space away from the demands of daily life, offering them guidance and tools to navigate through life's challenges and transitions, and supporting them toward the vibrant, meaningful, joyful life of their dreams. Find inspiration in Karen's message of reflection and renewal when she joins Host Kate Ebner for a conversation about finding yourself on August 26. Karen will offer guidance and tips on how to deepen your connection with your highest self and live life consciously and joyfully.

 
  Learn more about Karen and tune into the show Monday! 
 
Be inspired. 
Become inspiring.  

 

Missed the Live Show?

Past Episodes are available on demand and podcast-ready via iTunes or RSS feed.


Would You Like to Plan Your Own Retreat?
by Rachel Wold

Retreats are a necessity for modern leaders.  Leadership coach and retreat facilitator Chris Wahl joined host Kate Ebner on August 19 to discuss the the why, who, where and how's of going on a personal retreat. Discover some of their tips below and listen to the full episode here or via iTunes for more insight. 
Hammock retreat
What are the benefits of retreats:
  • An opportunity to get in touch with your natural rhythms rather than having your schedule drive your actions;
  • A positive sense of timelessness: time expands as you allow yourself to rest, create, explore, and discover;
  • Increased creativity and optimism during and after the retreat;
  • An more open mindset and bigger perspective;
  • More relaxed and inspiring presence for others; and
  • Space to strategize, change your story, or catch up with who you are today and what you really want.
Tips for a great retreat:
  • Pick a naturally beautiful place;
  • Bring a book that you want to read;
  • Ensure you don't need to cook, clean or do any distracting chores during your retreat;
  • Conversation with like-minded people is often helpful but always bring a journal;
  • Do an activity that you love or have always been interested in trying but never before found the time;
  •  Choose something you want to cultivate in yourself like intuition, creativity, awareness or peacefulness;
  • Take care of your physical senses: bring aromatic oils, a soft sweater, your favorite music, etc; and
  • Incorporate physical activity as connecting with our bodies is an important element of taking a retreat.
How can you continue to benefit from your retreat?
  • Set an intention on a daily basis to help you bring inspiration and insights from the retreat into daily life; 
  • Choose a small item to serve as a reminder of your retreat, such as a stone from that beautiful lake or some dried wildflowers that you sketched; 
  • Institute practices that bring you joy on a daily basis and make time for those activities. (Don't expect to find extra free time in which to do them!); and
  • Practice being present in the moment.
Nebo PPT Top of Page  
Nebo Inspiration Corner

What the Nebo team is finding educational, challenging and inspirational this week:
 
A Passion for the Stars

On the Road: Man's backyard planetarium business takes off
On the Road: Man's backyard planetarium business takes off
Frank Kovac couldn't leave his small Wisconsin town to visit or even study outer space. But, using the savings from his job at the local paper mill, he pursued his passion and built a fully functional planetarium all by himself (including hand painting over 5,000 stars into their correct location!) Check out this short video for the inspiration to pursue whatever it is that brings you joy and makes you feel most alive. 
 
What's inspiring you? Send us your ideas! Email [email protected] and you could be featured as the reader inspiration of the week!
August 22, 2013   
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In This Issue
Next Monday: Meet Karen Ely of A Woman's Way
Plan Your Own Retreat!
Nebo Inspiration Corner
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How will you make your vision real this fall? 

Whether you're looking to re-examine and rejuvenate your network to take your career to the next level or want a total reboot, our two online courses offer professional women the knowledge and insight they need to make a lasting impact on their lives and careers in a convenient web format. 

Early bird pricing ends September 1 so sign up today!

Instructor Nancy Lamberton
September 25- October 16

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September 12 - November 21

Radio Show

Missed the last show?    

 
Hammock retreatWondering about the benefits of a retreat? Or perhaps you're convinced you need to get away, you're just not sure what to do once you're there. Listen to the August 19 episode of Visionary Leader, Extraordinary Life with leadership coach and retreat facilitator Chris Wahl for practical tips to inspire your own personal retreat. 

   

Be inspired. 

Become inspiring.
Essential Retreat Question:

"How can I help myself be more alive on a day to day basis?"

-Chris Wahl
Recommended Resources
Breathing space
Breathing Space: Mini-retreats for the Heart and Soul
by Karen Ely

Kate Ebner radio player
6/10/13
Four women discuss the impact of attending a visioning retreat with Kate Ebner and Chris Wahl and examine how they're living into their visions over 2 years later. 
Featured Links

Renewal Through Retreat: How and Why to Take a Power Pause with Chris Wahl and Host Kate Ebner

 Nebo for Women Online Learning