If you enjoy reading this week's Personal Growth Gab, please be sure to share it with your friends and followers using the social media icons at the top of this email or via Facebook! And as always, feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, and scroll down for info about my coaching services and featured appearances and articles.

TOMORROW! GROUP COACHING: Thursdays at Three May 17th, 3pm-5pm Click here for more info and RSVP here. *Please note if you would like to receive separate reminder emails(click here for weekly update) about this meeting and other special events, scroll to the bottom of this email, click on the Update Profile/Email Address link and be sure the "Thursdays at Three/Tuesday Talk" list is checked off.

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Scroll down for more Articles, links to Upcoming Events and info about my Coaching and Speaking Services

"...the guidance Kristina provided has been worth over a 1000 books! I am extremely grateful for her help." Andrew L.

"I can honestly say that speaking to you was one of the most important events in my life. It is almost unbelievable how a 2-hour conversation can have that effect." Bozhanka V.

"Listening to you once helped empower me to completely change my life for the better!"

You, Me & Dupree

by Kristina Leonardi

If you are like me, my clients, family, friends and the rest of the world, you've been through some stuff the past six months (well more like past two years, oh heck, since the Fall of 2008!) that has tested, stretched, stressed and made you confront some not-so-pleasant realities about your self, your life and the people in it.

This meant lots of changes, whether forced upon you from the outside, i.e. having no choice but to move, getting laid off from your job, dealing with a divorce, break up, or loss of a loved one - or internally, i.e. you were so sick of yourself or your situation that you had to do something, not the least of which was to change your perspective, or finally accept the reality of how things are rather than how you imagined or wished them to be.

The more challenges you have and the more you resist, the worse things get. This has been a time of go with the flow, so whatever you've been through, know that it is exactly what you needed to make you stronger and get you to where you need to be next.

A lot of my work is about teaching you to trust yourself, have faith in the process and possess the patience to let life unfold as it should, even with those bumps in the road and unexpected twists and turns along the way. As long as you are intimate, honest and honoring with and of yourself while consistently being in action (which is sometimes non-action), whether internal or external, have confidence that things will shake out the way they are supposed to, in time and on time, in whatever form the Universe deems is best for you.

It all starts with knowing and owning who you are, where you're at, what you truly want, and realizing you have the power to be the fullest, deepest expression of yourself if only you make it your responsibility and yours alone. It means we have to grow up.

One of the tools I gave those ninth graders last month (I referred to it as a super power...) was to be grateful whenever things get a little rough. Like those magic words "Open Sesame!," by simply focusing on something you can be thankful for, all of a sudden the pressure is lifted and a metaphorical door or window opens up to let in a cool breeze, provide an answer to that riddle, or reveal a hidden treasure.

So no matter what you've been through recently, make sure you see the gift in the gristle, which is GROWTH. Give it up with a great big letting go of the past, and exhale heartfelt gratitude for whatever life handed to you, having gotten through it, and embrace all the good you've gained and have yet to experience as a result.

Need to survey the lay of the land as the dust settles to sort out who's who and what's what? Give me a buzz and I'll help you thank that unexpected messy house guest who disrupted your home, but in the end left it better off than it was when he got there.

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If you like what I write, you'll love what I have to say in person! Scroll down for info about my coaching and speaking services and contact me today.

This and all past posts can be found on my website www.kristinaleonardi.com

and many are now on Facebook

Thinking about working with me one-on-one?
Here are a few ways my services can help you with your career and life, as most of you fall into one or a combination of the following categories:

Executive Coaching:

Who: Managers, Business Owners, Directors, C-Suite Executives

What: Authentic leadership, motivate staff, cultivate teamwork, facilitate communication, inspire vision and culture, increase employee engagement, manage stress, improve work/life wellness

ROI/Why: Productivity, People and Profit!

Career Coaching:

Who: Career Changers, Career Climbers, Job Searchers, Moms, Dads, Grads

What: Exploration, discovery and attainment of meaningful work and lifepath, improve job performance, professional development and advancement, enter or re-enter job force, time/stress management and work/life wellness

ROI/Why: Purpose, Peace and Promotion!

Life Coaching:

Who: Anyone feeling lost/at a crossroads, unsatisfied, stressed, blocked, confused, passionless

What: Life transitions, identity issues/crisis, body/mind/spirit wellness, authentic expression, improve relationships

ROI/Why: Balance, Bounty and Bliss!

Contact me by email or give me a buzz at 917-816-0834 for more information and to schedule your session today!

Click here to get an idea of what it's like working with me

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If you like what I write, you'll love what I have to say in person, either one on one or in front of your company, organization or group!

Of course your comments and suggestions throughout the year are always welcome and mean the world to me, but any one of these actions would let me know that I should continue writing on a regular basis as we move into 2014; it would demonstrate how much of an impact I'm having, and allow me to receive your gratitude and enthusiasm for my work in a more tangible way. For more on how I write PGG's click here.

THANK YOU for your support and feedback, however you choose to express it!

About Kristina's Coaching

Work with her one-on-one or as part of a group

Kristina Leonardi is a career/life coach who has a proven record of getting "stuck" clients empowered to make changes aligned with their true passions and talents in a short time. She provides a practical framework for each individual to make the most of their personal and professional lives, allowing them to recognize, connect to, and fulfill their role in the world at large and live a life with clarity, balance and direction.

Kristina's holistic, gimmick-free, and minimalist approach has earned her widely diverse and fiercely loyal following from all walks and stations of life, including savvy New Yorkers who have tried other coaches, approaches, and therapy with little or limited results. Click here to learn more

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

She has a laid-back approach, but don't let that fool anyone. Her ability to read people is amazing and her assessments of how a person can enrich their lives/careers are spot-on. After she asked me lots of questions, she was somehow able to give me an assessment that was frighteningly accurate and illuminating.

What's it like working with Kristina? Click here for more info

For more information visit www.kristinaleonardi.com or contact her to schedule a session today.

About Kristina's Speaking

Attend an event or hire her to speak at y0ur company or organization!

Known as a dynamic, 'inspiring' and 'down-to-earth' speaker with unique yet practical perspectives on career development, work/life wellness, and employee engagement, Kristina has been a featured speaker for many corporate seminars, non-profit organizations and conferences, including: UBS, Saatchi & Saatchi, HR Association of NY, Ogilvy & Mather, American Business Women's Association, the Junior League, NYU and the New York's Science, Business & Industry Library.
Click here for more info
Contact Kristina for full bio and a list of topics

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday, June 18th 6-9pm

NYWICI Night of the Coaches

Click here for more details

Click here for video link for a clip of a recent talk

About Personal Growth Gab

Kristina Leonardi's Weekly eNewsletter

Since launching Personal Growth Gab (PGG) in January 2010, Kristina has formed an avid and faithful following ("they're the only emails I read" "they really help me" "they help me start my week" "I save them until I get home and can read them with a cup of tea" "you're such a good writer!" ) of over 1500 who look forward to a 'weekly dose of thought-provoking, inspirational and entertaining helpful tidbits to keep you connected with yourself and make sense of this journey called life.

All past PGG posts can be found on the home page at www.kristinaleonardi.com

NOW YOU CAN BE IN THE LOOP WITH ALL THINGS PGG ON FACEBOOK!

Easily access, like, comment on and share your weekly motivational and thought-provoking posts along with other inspirational and fun tidbits.

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PGG is now on Facebook!

Easily access, like, comment on and share your weekly dose of motivational and thought-provoking posts along with additional inspirational and fun tidbits.

Please tak e a moment today to:

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

I've recently been featured in a few places:

45 Pieces of Career Advice That Will Get You to The Top (The Daily Muse)

(I'm #3 just before Marissa Mayer #4 and Jane Fonda #7, Mark Cuban #42, Steve Jobs #44)

The Ins and Outs of Casual Days at Work (CareerIntelligence.com)

Wherever You Go, There You Are (VidaVibrante.com)

A Body at Rest (Inspire Virtual Mag S.A.)

A More Perfect Union (Inspire Virtual Mag S.A.)

Tiptoe Through the Tulips (Inspire Virtual Mag S.A)

Scroll down for more articles written by or about me and be sure to tweet and share them all! :)

Kristina in The Daily Muse

Check out the new format, including my author page here!

Kristina's Media Mix

Articles and videos by, about or featuring Kristina Leonardi

What I Learned Working with a Career Coach

From Passion to Profit Career Transition Support Group

6 Things You Can Get from a Not-Quite Dream Job (Besides the Paycheck)

Pink Slips: How Losing Your Job is a Good Thing (Video)

5 Simple Steps for Finding Your Life's Purpose.

MORE ARTICLES BELOW:

5 Ways to Kick Start Your Job Search (The Daily Muse)
The Problem with Thinking (Psychology Today)
5 Ways to Reboot & Recharge (AOL Healthy Living)
Are Benders Part of Finding Balance? (WellandGoodNYC)
Thanksgiving Career Gratitude (MediaBistro.com)

The Ins & Outs of Casual Days at Work (CareerIntelligence.com)

Check out my articles in the July/August 2013 edition of Inspire Virtual Mag (Pages 16-17, 18-19, 32-33 and 52-53)

Check out three of my articles in the May/June 2013 Inspire Virtual Mag from South Africa. (Pages 24, 119 & 149 with contributor profile pg 16)

You can also check out these interviews with me:

"Personal transformation is the key to social transformation:" An interview with Kristina Leonardi

Tango Diva: 2007 Visionary Award Winner Interview

Voice x Voice Audio Archives: Inspiring Women & Peacebuilders

Contact

For more information visit www.kristinaleonardi.com

You can also email me kleonardi@mindspring.com or call 917-816-0834

Stay Connected

"Kristina gave me permission to be myself! I can say no other person has empowered me in that way as much as she has - and I am TRULY forever grateful for that.." - Cherise R.

"Kristina conveys really important practical ideas with such passion and in a really accessible way. Thank you! - Andrea K.