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	<title>Delightful Work</title>
	
	<link>http://www.delightfulwork.com</link>
	<description>Tom Volkar ~ Coaching the leap and the landing to small business success.</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:18:36 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>To Hell With What They Say</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/xg_fVWFRtkA/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-discovery/to-hell-with-what-they-say/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:12:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Career Discovery]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic business discovery]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic work]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[right livelihood]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[true calling]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[vocation]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[work life happiness]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[work you love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=400</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003152335xsmall2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-403" title="istock_000003152335xsmall2" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003152335xsmall2-300x225.jpg" alt="istock_000003152335xsmall2" width="210" height="165" /></a> I'm a 270-pound, 59 year old, with two ankle fusions, who is in training to play one more game of rugby.  Often they ask, why subject yourself to the very thing that destroyed all the cartilage in your ankles? ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-discovery/to-hell-with-what-they-say/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-discovery/to-hell-with-what-they-say/</a>.<br /><p>I&#8217;m a 270-pound, 59 year old, with two ankle fusions, who is in training to play one more game of rugby.  Often they ask, why subject yourself to the very thing that destroyed all the cartilage in your ankles?  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003152335xsmall2.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-403" title="istock_000003152335xsmall2" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003152335xsmall2-300x225.jpg" alt="istock_000003152335xsmall2" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>What they may never understand is that while playing rugby I feel most like myself.  Most of my deeply fulfilling flow experiences have come on the rugby pitch.</p>
<p>I wonder, what&#8217;s your one more rugby game?</p>
<blockquote><p>There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.<br />
Howard Thurman</p></blockquote>
<p>There is great value in doing something organic to who you are.  There is great honor in deciding - screw them.  Be.  Stand tall in your own skin.</p>
<p>A life of engaged authenticity carries great benefits and rewards.   Somehow this choice of authentic bliss extends to other areas of our lives.</p>
<p>The demonstration of unique self-honor creates an attractive self-confidence that cannot be created in less genuine ways.  It&#8217;s that bona fide self-confidence that makes us feel competent to life, as though we really fit the game of life.</p>
<p>Somewhere in your life right now is a dream, a passion, a quest or simply an enjoyable pastime that you may have set aside because &#8220;they&#8221; said that you should.  To hell with them!  Be your own bad ass self and dust off your true desires.</p>
<p>True callings need no further explanation.  They don&#8217;t need to make sense to anyone.</p>
<p>Can you imagine how beautifully different our world would be if everybody said? &#8220;To hell with them, I&#8217;m going for it! &#8221;</p>
<p>I talked to a right livelihood client this morning that is terrified of discovering a vocation that would require further schooling.   In my post <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/screw-going-back-to-school/">Screw Going Back to School</a> I talked about this myth that someone else knows better than you do, what’s really good for you.</p>
<p>Ideal careers and businesses are more often created than found.  Creators don&#8217;t need further education because creators credential and qualify themselves.</p>
<p>Sure, really going for it is scary as hell but there is a version of you deep within who does not want to settle in any aspect of your life.  That bold being wants to experience all the necessary bumps, disappointments and scrapes on the way to really living.</p>
<blockquote><p>Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming  &#8216;WOW-What a Ride!&#8217;&#8221;<br />
Robert Wickman</p></blockquote>
<p>There may be a time for caution but from what I&#8217;ve seen, caution is only a self-constructed cage that delays courage and holds back the real freedom of living.</p>
<p>What is your one more rugby game?  Will you commit to playing it?</p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Missing Link To Business Start Up Success</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/sqALHo9ex5I/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/the-missing-link-to-business-start-up-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:11:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Business Startup]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[business ideas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[business launch]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[entreprenuership]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[small business strategy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[starting a business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=399</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/istock_000005716223xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-337" title="istock_000005716223xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/istock_000005716223xsmall-300x225.jpg" alt="istock_000005716223xsmall" width="200" height="155" /></a>
Too often the founders of start up businesses keep things to themselves for far too long. Without the willingness and ability to bounce ideas off the right people, would be entrepreneurs unnecessarily delay a successful business launch. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/the-missing-link-to-business-start-up-success/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/the-missing-link-to-business-start-up-success/</a>.<br /><p>Too often the founders of start up businesses keep things to themselves for far too long. Without the willingness and ability to bounce ideas off the right people, would be entrepreneurs unnecessarily delay a successful business launch.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/istock_000005716223xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-337" title="istock_000005716223xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/istock_000005716223xsmall-300x225.jpg" alt="istock_000005716223xsmall" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>In 1999 I&#8217;d been coaching for a little more than a year and a prospective client was interviewing me to determine how well we might work together.  I can still recall the conversation 10 years later, because Bob understood the value of paying for an objective truth.</p>
<p>Client Bob explaining, &#8220;I just want you to listen closely while I talk though my business challenges.  That will be invaluable to me because you&#8217;ll be the only trusted person in my life without an agenda.  My boss, my wife, my children and my co-workers all want something from me and thus they are all biased towards their own motivations.  I just want you to listen and to occasionally give me a straight, unbiased opinion.&#8221;</p>
<p>Bob and I worked well together for over a year because my only agenda was his success as he defined it.</p>
<p><strong>The Value of Objectivity</strong></p>
<p>The straight up truth is very rare and extremely valuable for <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/finding-your-path-to-a-successful-business-startup/">business start up success.</a> Yet it can be challenging to get someone to tell it like they really see it.</p>
<p><strong>Where do you get your totally unbiased, independent feedback?</strong></p>
<p>Is your source truly objective or do they have a hidden agenda of their own?</p>
<p>Closeness is not always a good indicator of objectivity as this post on <a href=" http://www.delightfulwork.com/relationships/personal-relationships-and-business-support/">spousal support</a> suggests.  The closer one is to you the more difficult it is to remove their personal fears from the advice they offer.  Often unwillingness to leads to diluted, sugarcoated advice.</p>
<p>Survival fears also heavily influence what&#8217;s shared.  I&#8217;ve seen large organizations where everyone is afraid to tell the leader that he&#8217;s wearing no clothes.</p>
<p><strong>Your Business Is Very Personal To You</strong></p>
<p>You and your business start up ideas are separate.  Yet being able to really hear feedback and receive it without getting defensive requires that the source of the feedback be skilled in communicating it.</p>
<p>Truth can be personally challenging to accept, especially when it comes from a close friend or relative.</p>
<p><strong>You Get What You Pay For</strong></p>
<p>Trust and confidence needs to be unquestionable.  In matters of law we have no trouble hiring an attorney to present us with our options.</p>
<p>As a coach I am a fierce advocate for coaching because  I&#8217;ve seen so many potential entrepreneurs die with their music still in them.  Often the death of their initiative can be traced to fearful free advice offered by a friend or relative.</p>
<p>Paying for an environment conducive to start up success along with the trust and confidentiality that only a business coach can provide is essential when faced with crucial career and business start up decisions.</p>
<p>Consider your current source of business advice and ask these questions.</p>
<p>Can I be sure that they are putting my best interests first?</p>
<p>Have they demonstrated a capacity to tell the truth while at the same time unconditionally supporting my efforts?</p>
<p>Do I leave conversations feeling more inspired and much clearer about possibilities?</p>
<p>Am I inspired to confidence after these conversations because I&#8217;m now armed with methods to create what I want to create?</p>
<p>Coaching delivers all of this and much more.</p>
<p><strong>Unbiased Feedback Presents Priorities</strong></p>
<p>What&#8217;s the number one priority for any business?</p>
<p>Delivering a uniquely better product, profitably, to more clients.  That&#8217;s it.</p>
<p>But so many start up entrepreneurs in the planning and pre-startup stage are working on everything but that.   They&#8217;re spending weeks thinking about domain names, business names, tag lines, business plans, brochures, forms, etc, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Instead on concentrating on the main thing – a better service and happy clients.</p>
<p>Could straight up advice delivered in clearly supportive fashion be your missing link to start up success?<br />
<em><br />
If you&#8217;d like to enjoy a truly stimulating exploratory conversation<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/contact-tom/"> contact</a> me to realize the possibilities.   Explore shaking things out in the true spirit of brainstorming, championing, encouragement and unconditional support.  Hire me as your <a href="http://coreu.com">coach.</a></em></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Stop Playing Small</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/DLBpHSzZagM/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/stop-playing-small/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Business Startup]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic business discovery]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[confidence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[decision-making]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[entreprenuership]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[making your dream come true]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[true calling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=396</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rasied-hands1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-398" title="rasied-hands1" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rasied-hands1-300x199.jpg" alt="rasied-hands1" width="300" height="199" /></a> Playing small does not create magnificence.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/stop-playing-small/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/stop-playing-small/</a>.<br /><p>Playing small does not create magnificence. <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rasied-hands1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-398" title="rasied-hands1" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/rasied-hands1-300x199.jpg" alt="rasied-hands1" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<p>Deep down you know this.  Deep down you know that playing small serves no one.  Deep within you resides the spark of a big dream just waiting for your decision.</p>
<p><span style="color: #003300;"><strong>What&#8217;s your one thing that would change everything?</strong></span></p>
<p>If you could make one thing come true that would change everything, what would that one thing be?</p>
<p>If you told the whole truth to yourself – you&#8217;d have to admit that you do have the capacity for <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-discovery/seize-your-greatness/">greatness</a>.</p>
<p>What is your big dream?</p>
<p>Can you at least admit that you&#8217;d be better off with one?</p>
<p>If you can, that&#8217;s where it all starts – imagining the possibilities.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s your overriding dream, objective or guiding desire?</p>
<p>Do you have a blog without a purpose?</p>
<p>Do you run a business without a <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-coaching/how-to-get-on-the-right-track/">clear path</a> to how you want it to end up?</p>
<p>Do you have a desire to feel the <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/seize-the-freedom-of-self-employment/">freedom of owning your own business</a> but lack the insight or<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/fearless-living/"> courage</a> to make it happen?</p>
<blockquote><p>If you have no wish, how can it possibly come true? Seth Godin</p></blockquote>
<p>Indeed, how can it?  After reading<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/ruby-slippers.html"> Seth&#8217;s Ruby Slippers post</a> I am inspired to add to his thoughts.</p>
<p>You know that you&#8217;ll never <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-coaching/grounding-your-small-business-vision/">hit a target</a> you haven&#8217;t identified.  So what stops you?  Is it fear of failing or succeeding with something that really matters to you?</p>
<p>What could you be best in the world at?</p>
<p>I&#8217;m curious, what keeps you from deciding and declaring that thing?</p>
<p>What keeps you from even considering the possibilities?</p>
<p>What is your main thing?</p>
<p>What goal, objective or dream has you aglow in the possibilities?</p>
<p>Ponder that thing.</p>
<p>If you aren&#8217;t yet playing as big a game as you could be,  start here and answer these questions.</p>
<p>Who would I be most inspired to serve?</p>
<p>What realized dream would open my heart the widest?</p>
<p>What could I be doing that would make my life feel like one glorious joyful glide?</p>
<p><em>That&#8217;s my main thing, <a href="http://coreu.com">guiding you</a> to discover and ride your joyful glide.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/contact-tom/">Contact me </a>today to explore the possibilities.</em></p>
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		<title>Five Disturbing Ways To Make More Money</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/N4u37UrXiLQ/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/five-disturbing-ways-to-make-more-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:46:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic business discovery]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic positioning]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[building confidence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[coaching works]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[individuality]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[making money]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[self-employment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[simplify]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=394</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000007398707xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-395" title="istock_000007398707xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000007398707xsmall-200x300.jpg" alt="istock_000007398707xsmall" width="135" height="200" /></a>

If you want to make more money you must radically disturb your current money making methods and disrupt your money earning patterns.

To earn more money you must vigorously shake things up.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/five-disturbing-ways-to-make-more-money/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/five-disturbing-ways-to-make-more-money/</a>.<br /><p>If you want to make more money you must radically disturb your current money making methods and disrupt your money earning patterns.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000007398707xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-395" title="istock_000007398707xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000007398707xsmall-200x300.jpg" alt="istock_000007398707xsmall" width="200" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>To earn more money you must vigorously shake things up.</p>
<p>In this post I talked about <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/double-your-income-next-year/">doubling your income</a>.  By March I had increased my income but I was falling short of doubling it. I knew that I&#8217;d have to adjust to achieve my annual objective.</p>
<p>The thing I love about being a one-man conglomerate is, I am the company. The self-employed can turn things around on a dime, try more stuff, fail faster and adjust.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/seven-things-that-may-surprise-you-about-money/">Earning money</a> is such a wonderfully twisted, emotionally laden experience.  Perhaps you&#8217;ve recognized the futility of trying to figure it all out.  Even those who earn a ton of the stuff are still in fear of it, or more accurately in fear of losing it.</p>
<p>When it comes to making money about the only thing we can count on is confidence.  Somehow income increases along with confidence.</p>
<p>But the part that most folks miss is the <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/money/be-authentic-and-grow-rich/">brilliance of individuality</a> in creating confidence.  Moneymaking methods that universally work well are more hype than fact.  What works for someone else is most likely will not work for you.</p>
<p><strong>So how can you confidently express your individuality to earn more money?</strong></p>
<p>Shake things up.  Disturb the hell out of what&#8217;s not working.</p>
<p>From a state of being shaken you&#8217;ll be more likely to take frequent action, embrace mistake making and choose again.  That doesn&#8217;t happen from a state of certainty.  Certainty encourages us want to stand pat.</p>
<blockquote><p>Trial and error are crucial to unearth your freedom.  As long as you are willing to fail again you are as close to freedom as you&#8217;ll ever be.  Egbert Sukop</p></blockquote>
<p>Here are five agitators that have seemed to work for me.  I can&#8217;t tell you what combination will work best for you – that&#8217;s the <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/stand-up-for-individuality/">beauty of individuality</a>.  But if you want to make more money, begin by engaging the strategy that scares you the most.</p>
<p><strong>1). Triple your service and double your fee.</strong> Step up and play a bigger game.  Increase the value of your service by increasing your commitment to your client.  Increase the value of your service by increasing your consciousness about your client&#8217;s business.  Increase the value of your service by coming up with ways to make your client&#8217;s clients more prosperous.  People pay you what YOU think you&#8217;re worth.</p>
<p><strong>2). Flaunt your individuality.</strong> Really how are you different?  What quirks define you that you can bring forth in service to the world?  Our world is half-empty without the expression of your <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-coaching/finding-your-business-sweet-spot/">sweet spot</a>.  Our world is half-full when you have the balls to even consider coming all the way out.  Being your wild self is liberating as hell and others want to encourage your liberation by supporting you.</p>
<p><strong>3). Carry a flag that rallies your niche.</strong> Understand what that flag represents to those who are drawn to rally round it.   I carry two flags.   I carry the flag of self-employment because self-employment offers the most supportive structure for freedom and individuality.</p>
<p>I also carry the flag of <a href="http://www.coreu.com/">coaching</a> because the essence of coaching is insight discovery.  Coaching accelerates realizations and demands living an examined life.  At least the way I do it.</p>
<p>I absolutely love coaching the self-employed who want to earn more money and freedom by flaunting their individuality.  I also love coaching courageous first time entrepreneurs through the process of <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/authentic-business-discovery/">business discovery, </a>launch and <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/small-business-startup-checklist/">startup.</a></p>
<p>I carry the flag by challenging first timers to leave the slavery of employment and by challenging the already self-employed to express themselves even more boldly.</p>
<p>That is my sweet spot and the world is a better place because I&#8217;m fully engaged and fiercely serving there.  If you can&#8217;t boldly make a statement like that – then you are playing too small.</p>
<p><strong>To make more money – play a bigger game.</strong></p>
<p><strong>4). Ruthlessly simplify.</strong> Simplification encourages clarity.   Clarity empowers focus.  Quit trying to be all things to all people.  Start saying no thank you more often.  Cut down on everything.  Become a missile of destruction to everything that does not serve you well.  Constantly question your activities by asking these questions.  &#8220;Will this increase my earnings?  Does this directly increase the value of my service?&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>The more simple and focused your life is, the more wealth will be created.  Steve Chandler</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><br />
5). Increase your willingness to choose.</strong> Then see what happens, adjust and choose anew.  Delay is always costly.  Delay almost always signifies the victory of fear over choice.  What would increase your willingness to choose?  Do that.</p>
<p>Make your decisions more valuable by seeking out many more options before deciding.  Anything you can see in hindsight was there in foresight; so keep looking and expanding your options.</p>
<p>After deciding then commit with every fiber in your being.  Really <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/project-blastoff/">go for it</a>.  Come alive by backing your own choices until it&#8217;s clear that they aren&#8217;t working and then swiftly repeat the process.</p>
<p><strong>Commitment without attachment to results is empowerment in action.</strong></p>
<p>Quit standing pat.</p>
<p>Shake things up.</p>
<p>Be your bad ass self and earn more money.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #003366;"><em>Ready to make your courageously leap to the prosperity and freedom of self-employment? Then enroll in this<a href="http://www.pittsburghcoaches.org/teleclass_registration.htm"> free coaching expereince</a> to identify your next best step. </em></span></strong></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Too Good &amp; Challenging To Miss</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/hugXd5vNkYE/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/blogging/too-good-challenging-to-miss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[empowerment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[insight]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[realizations]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[truth]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[wisdom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=392</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blondelightbulbistock_000003261829xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-393" title="Great idea!" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blondelightbulbistock_000003261829xsmall-200x300.jpg" alt="Great idea!" width="130" height="200" /></a> Readers of this blog know that I love wake up calls and fresh smacks in the face.  I'm convinced that the most loving thing we can do for ourselves is to tell the whole truth to ourselves about ourselves. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/blogging/too-good-challenging-to-miss/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/blogging/too-good-challenging-to-miss/</a>.<br /><p>Readers of this blog know that I love wake up calls and fresh smacks in the face.  I&#8217;m convinced that the most loving thing we can do for ourselves is to <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/speak-freely-or-die/">tell the whole truth</a> to ourselves about ourselves. <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blondelightbulbistock_000003261829xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-393" title="Great idea!" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blondelightbulbistock_000003261829xsmall-200x300.jpg" alt="Great idea!" width="200" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Realizations are essential to creating the life you want to live.  Never stand pat.   Choose powerful stimulating experiences.  Coaching is really an experience in insight stimulation and engagement.</p>
<p>Fresh realizations come charged with the energy to create.  That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s so important to seize your moment of discovery with bold action.</p>
<p>So here&#8217;s some truth jarring stuff I&#8217;ve come across lately for your reading and listening delight.</p>
<p>Bill Weil has made his powerful relationship book, <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=69553&amp;c=ib&amp;aff=69652">New Earth Relationships</a>, available on audio down load.  It&#8217;s so good I use it as a tool with my relationship-coaching clients.</p>
<p>In the <a href="http://moneybymistake.blogspot.com/2009/05/crappiness-of-happiness.html">Crappiness of Happiness</a> Egbert Sukop will piss you off, shake you up and give you a major case of head scratching.  I love what he says about the &#8220;bitch lag&#8221;.</p>
<p>In <a href=" http://sladeroberson.com/manifesting/are-your-dreams-big-enough.html">Are Your Dreams Big Enough</a>, Slade Roberson asks some wonderfully challenging questions.  Answer them – you could change your life.</p>
<p>Stacey Shipman interviewed some coach you might know in this podcast about self-employment, <a href="http://staceyshipman.com/2009/06/03/podcast-wednesday-is-your-work-delightful-interview-with-tom-volkar/">Is Your Work Delightful?</a> He actually believes that <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/make-your-move-to-the-freedom-of-self-employment/">employment is slavery</a>.</p>
<p>What are you reading or listening too that rocks your world?</p>
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		<title>Back Up One Step and Choose Your Right Path</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/iw48Avqy6OE/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/getting-unstuck/back-up-one-step-and-choose-your-right-path/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:50:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Getting Unstuck]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[decisiveness]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[less is more]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[momentum]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[personal development]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[simplify]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[work life happiness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=388</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003253553small.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-391" title="istock_000003253553small" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003253553small-300x197.jpg" alt="istock_000003253553small" width="300" height="197" /></a>
Success can be very simple.

We needlessly complicate both life and business]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/getting-unstuck/back-up-one-step-and-choose-your-right-path/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/getting-unstuck/back-up-one-step-and-choose-your-right-path/</a>.<br /><p>Success can be very simple.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003253553small.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-391" title="istock_000003253553small" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/istock_000003253553small-300x197.jpg" alt="istock_000003253553small" width="300" height="197" /></a></p>
<p>We needlessly complicate both life and business.</p>
<p>Use this checklist and locate where you are.</p>
<p>Make the necessary adjustment and get unstuck.</p>
<p>1). If you are not <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/getting-unstuck/five-good-reasons-to-celebrate-more-often/">celebrating</a> enough then be grateful more often.</p>
<p>2). If you are not <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/top-five-realizations-about-the-powerful-force-of-gratitude/">grateful</a> often enough then complete more often.</p>
<p>3). If you are not <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-coaching/how-to-create-and-complete-by-using-strategies/">completing </a>enough then act boldly more often.</p>
<p>4). If you are not taking <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/project-blastoff/">bold action</a> often enough then ruthlessly simplify and commit to less.</p>
<p>5). If you are not <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/whatever-sucks-commitment-rocks/">committing</a> to a few consciously chosen priorities then be more decisive.</p>
<p>6). If you are not being <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/daily-decision-strategy/">decisive</a> enough then go deeper within and tell the truth to yourself more often.</p>
<p><strong>If you are not going deep enough to see your truth then what in the hell are you doing here?</strong></p>
<p>Both life and business need your willingness and enthusiasm in order to thrive.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #008080;"><em>Not sure of your next best step to launch your new business? Then join me on June 17 for a <a href="http://www.pittsburghcoaches.org/teleclass_registration.htm">FREE group coaching experience</a> that will guide you right.</em></span></strong></p>
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		<title>Is Your Inner Child Still Running Your Life?</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/3HD8YcACD74/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/is-your-inner-child-still-running-your-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2009 10:46:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Life Coaching]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[building confidence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[conditioning]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[creating your destiny]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[inner child]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[unconditional support]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[your life story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=386</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/em-adn-les.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-387" title="em-adn-les" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/em-adn-les.jpg" alt="em-adn-les" width="183" height="165" /></a>
At six years old, I was a wild little rascal who liked to try out studio wrestling moves on my unsuspecting friends.  I was fearless back then in an untamed kind of way.  But gradually my wild spirit got crushed in my upbringing. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/is-your-inner-child-still-running-your-life/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/is-your-inner-child-still-running-your-life/</a>.<br /><p>At six years old, I was a wild little rascal who liked to try out studio wrestling moves on my unsuspecting friends.  I was fearless back then in an untamed kind of way.  But gradually my wild spirit got crushed in my upbringing.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/em-adn-les.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-387" title="em-adn-les" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/em-adn-les.jpg" alt="em-adn-les" width="223" height="185" /></a></p>
<p>My<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/uncategorized/a-fathers-day-tribute-to-my-dad-tom-on-the-hill/"> Dad</a> believed in the scared shitless variety of psychological punishment.  One time he got me good.  He had a friend with a black sedan pull up the drive way and told me they had come to take me to Morganza, the local reform school.  I believed him and I ran away and hid out I the woods until I thought it was safe to return.</p>
<p>Our conditioning is the cumulative affect of our upbringing and all the applied thoughts that shaped our version of who we think we are.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve talked with hundreds of coaching clients about their upbringing and the norm was a general beating down.  We were not celebrated for the special beings that we are.  Often we were not encouraged to go for our <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-discovery/seize-your-greatness/">authentic greatness</a> but instead cautioned to play it safe.</p>
<p>Even then, as five and six year old children, we tried to make sense of this irrational parenting so we made up explanations.  Often what we made up had us feeling less than capable.</p>
<p>But those events really only had the meaning that we interpreted them to have.  The good news is that now we can go back and give those events new meanings that serve us well.</p>
<p>Now we can honor the little person within so that a stronger and wiser self if running our lives.</p>
<p><strong>Your Inner Child As Hero</strong></p>
<p>It truly is remarkable how you&#8217;ve turned out in spite of your upbringing. Look at the <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/how-to-beat-the-work-life-blues/">four choices</a> we have in any challenging situation.  We couldn&#8217;t really <strong><em>remove</em></strong> ourselves because we were dependent on them.  <strong><em>Change</em></strong> wasn&#8217;t an option either.  Try working with an alcoholic parent to change your relationship.  Good luck there.</p>
<p><strong><em>Acceptance</em></strong> wasn&#8217;t even a concept I could fully understand until my forties and many adults never learn it.  What was left?  <strong><em>Resistance</em></strong>, but even our resistance was thwarted.  It never got full expression, so the only thing we could do was to swallow it and turn it back in on ourselves.  As a result we made a series of false conclusions to try and make sense of things.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why we need to write a whole new story about our childhood.  Your inner child is still influencing your capacity and in many cases right up to the limits of what you set for yourself in first and second grade.</p>
<p>But your inner child was and still is quite courageous.  Don&#8217;t you think it&#8217;s time to honor his or her courage?</p>
<p><strong>Now You Know Better</strong></p>
<p>As adults we are responsible for our destiny and that includes any and all needed adjustments on how we recall our history.</p>
<p>Truly, as tragic as it was, our parents did the best job that they were capable of at the time.  But now that you know better, it&#8217;s time to write a new life story.  It&#8217;s time to tell the truth to yourself about your remarkable capabilities.</p>
<p>Have a dialogue today with that little guy or gal (who is still within affecting your results) and allow him or her to understand what happened.  Talk it all through.  Explain that you made it all up in order to make sense of the world and now you know better.</p>
<p><strong>Essentially recondition your conditioning.</strong></p>
<p>Give it new meaning.  Give a new meaning that serves you well.  Here&#8217;s how to do that.  Your story needs to be strong enough to heal the little boy or girl within.</p>
<p><strong>Give Her What She Needs Most</strong></p>
<p>Imagine a spot where you sat and pondered in your home when you were six years old.  I sit with Little Tommy on the back porch steps and talk with him while he sits on my lap.</p>
<p>So sit with your little gal and talk with her.  Ask her what she needs.  Really get into imagining that you and her are sitting in a place at the home where you grew up.  Invite the dialogue;  she&#8217;ll welcome the opportunity to get it all out.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t judge her, just give her all the time she needs to say everything that comes up.  If you cry, that&#8217;s very good, just let it all flow.   Some folks do well setting the scene and then writing out the questions and answers.  After she says what she needed, that she didn&#8217;t get back then, your job is to reassure her that all is well now.  Then give her what she needs to feel whole.</p>
<p>Tell her that you&#8217;ll give her the support, recognition, <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/getting-unstuck/five-good-reasons-to-celebrate-more-often/">celebration</a> or encouragement that she missed out on all those years ago.</p>
<p>Assure her that you will love her and acknowledge her and give her all that she needs.  Give her a closing hug and be sure she feels like she can come to you to talk things through any time.</p>
<p>Your inner child is still setting limits and running your life.  You might as well give her or him a new script to follow because you are the creator of your destiny.</p>
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		<title>How To Extract Your Waiting Wisdom</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/x7PdHwWXbwY/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/how-to-extract-your-waiting-wisdom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 14:27:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Life Coaching]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic business discovery]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authenticity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[life coaching]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[wisdom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000003366515xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-384" title="istock_000003366515xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000003366515xsmall-225x300.jpg" alt="istock_000003366515xsmall" width="155" height="200" /></a>
You are smarter, more capable and far better off than you think you are, but only when you decide to connect to your deep well of waiting wisdom within.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/how-to-extract-your-waiting-wisdom/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/how-to-extract-your-waiting-wisdom/</a>.<br /><p>You are smarter, more capable and far better off than you think you are, but only when you decide to connect to your deep well of waiting wisdom within. <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000003366515xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-384" title="istock_000003366515xsmall" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000003366515xsmall-225x300.jpg" alt="istock_000003366515xsmall" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Your greatest wisdom exists deep within because as you age layer upon layer of false assumptions, comparisons, judgments and the opinions of others are piled on top of it. For an exploration of this nature you need the proper excavation tools to dig past all of that outside junk.</p>
<p>Yet your beautiful, powerful mind is so protective of past conclusions that you have to resort to trickery so that your conscious mind can step back and allow your inner wisdom to emerge.</p>
<p>The key to authentic business building is to operate more and more consciously and less and less mechanically.</p>
<p>When we look to others to supply our wisdom we are often in misalignment with our own original potential.  By going deep and extracting<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/do-it-your-way/"> your own wisdom</a> you automatically have increased the probability of success.</p>
<p>My greatest service as a<a href="http://www.coreu.com/life-coaching/"> life coach</a>,<a href="http://www.coreu.com/business-coaching/"> coaching new business owners</a> is selecting the right tools to guide the inner journey so that my clients can find and <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/stand-up-for-individuality/">express their authentic selves</a>.</p>
<p>The right tool will facilitate high performance by raising self-understanding, self-esteem and personal effectiveness. This allows us to access wisdom and other resources that normally remain hidden from our consciousness. Without digging deep this wisdom does not normally show up in our behavior.</p>
<p>One of the most powerful tools I use in this work is sentence stem completion.  I first read about it in Nathaniel Branden&#8217;s book The Six Pillars of Self Esteem.  Sentence stem completion is most effective as a tool to facilitate understanding, liberate self-expression and activate self-healing.</p>
<blockquote><p>Sentence stem completion rests on he premise that all of us have more knowledge than we are normally aware of – more wisdom than we use, more potentials than typically show up in our behavior. Sentence completion is a tool for accessing and activating these &#8220;hidden resources.&#8221;  When we intensify awareness, we tend to generate a need for action that expresses our changed psychological state.  Nathaniel Branden</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Sentence Stem Completion Instructions</strong></p>
<p>1). Begin with an uncompleted sentence stem in the area of your exploration. Here are some possibilities that have served my clients well.</p>
<p>If I really wanted to achieve this goal  …<br />
When I apply 10% more consciousness to my activities …<br />
If I truly wanted to create my own unique product I&#8217;d …<br />
My most powerfully productive business decision this quarter would be to …</p>
<p>2). Repeat the stem each time out loud and then jot down the completion. Some feel more comfortable working with a tape recorder and then going back and transcribing. It&#8217;s the speed and lack of self-judgment that lowers repressive barriers and allows the wisdom to emerge. This is a rapid-fire exercise &#8212; do not sit and stew over answers. Just say the stem and complete the sentence as rapidly as possible. No pauses, the game is to answer quickly one after another. Don&#8217;t worry about the validity of what you&#8217;re coming up with while you&#8217;re doing it. Just complete each sentence and then again.</p>
<p>3). For each sentence stem keep adding completions as fast as possible. Work with the same stems for seven days in a row. No pauses to think in between. Just write. Each stem must be a complete sentence. Stems may be repeated on different days but on any one day, all stems need to be different. Complete at least six endings for each stem, each day.</p>
<p>4). At the end of the week reflect on what you&#8217;ve written. Allow yourself to be surprised about what you&#8217;ve written.  At the end of seven days look at all of your completions and select the top three you are willing to act on. This wisdom may need further refinement but it will beat the root of your most optimum and effective actions.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the good news.  The wisdom you seek is seeking you.  Your internal guidance has been trying to get your attention to shine a light on your <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-startup/authoring-your-own-life/">optimum path</a>.  You willingness to go deep and bring it forth will definitely accelerate the process.</p>
<p>Wisdom serves as widening of perception and somehow allows us to see situations and intentions in a new light.</p>
<p>This new light expands possibilities so we don&#8217;t jump to limiting conclusions based on past experience.  Instead we are emboldened to create our very own brave new world.</p>
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		<title>Your Best Career Is Beyond Your Comfort Zone</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/_AAMetZHkBo/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-coaching/your-best-career-is-beyond-your-comfort-zone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 12:17:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Career Coaching]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic work]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[best career]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[career advice]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[career challenge]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[comfort zone]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=381</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000006337803xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-382" title="colorful fireworks show silhouettes" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000006337803xsmall-300x299.jpg" alt="colorful fireworks show silhouettes" width="300" height="299" /></a> Is it inauthentic to do the things that you don't like to do? Just because a career choice is challenging does that automatically mean you've chosen the wrong career?
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-coaching/your-best-career-is-beyond-your-comfort-zone/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-coaching/your-best-career-is-beyond-your-comfort-zone/</a>.<br /><p>Is it inauthentic to do the things that you don&#8217;t like to do?  Just because a career choice is challenging does that automatically mean you&#8217;ve chosen the wrong career?</p>
<p>I&#8217;m writing about our comfort zone because many have confused authentic work to mean something that is such a good fit that it comes easily.  But natural and easy are not the same things.  <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000006337803xsmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-382" title="colorful fireworks show silhouettes" src="http://www.delightfulwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/istock_000006337803xsmall-300x299.jpg" alt="colorful fireworks show silhouettes" width="300" height="299" /></a></p>
<p>This myth of ease has caused more harm than good because it causes many to question themselves.  This self-doubt makes them stop before they can seize their best career.</p>
<p>Some believe that when we have chosen the right career, (when we are living our purpose) doors easily open and everything falls into place.  I know a few who have enjoyed that level of validation.</p>
<p>But what about those who don&#8217;t? Does that automatically mean that they haven&#8217;t chosen their best career?</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Things don&#8217;t necessarily fall into place for us just because we&#8217;ve chosen well. An essential part of choosing well is recognizing the opportunity when we miss the mark and adjusting our aim accordingly.</p>
<p>Until we walk down the hallway of action we can&#8217;t see which doors will open.  In 1998 I thought I&#8217;d found my best career as an inspirational speaker.  But until an audience member asked about coaching, I was blind to the very opportunity that was my best career fit.</p>
<blockquote><p>Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.  William Ellery Channing</p></blockquote>
<p>We can be completely in our element and still be <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/life-coaching-tools/whats-good-about-being-challenged/">challenged</a>.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #000080;">Challenge and authenticity do not exclude one another.</span> </strong></p>
<p>What if things never fell in place for you? Would you quit life? Would you give up entirely?</p>
<p>Consider for a moment, what makes the comfort zone comfortable?  Please just pause and answer this question before reading on.</p>
<p>What make activities fall into a zone of comfort?  I think it&#8217;s because we&#8217;ve already experienced them before.  They are familiar to us.  In other words when we are in our comfort zone we are experiencing another version of the same past that we&#8217;ve already experienced.</p>
<blockquote><p>In bullfighting there is a term called querencia. The querencia is the spot in the ring to which the bull returns. Each bull has a different querencia, but as the bullfight continues, and the animal becomes more threatened, it returns more and more often to his spot.</p>
<p>As he returns to his querencia, he becomes more predictable. And so, in the end, the matador is able to kill the bull because instead of trying something new, the bull returns to what is familiar. His comfort zone.   Carly Fiorina</p></blockquote>
<p>Test this theory.  Go ahead I dare you.  Think about a time when you felt totally alive.  Recall a time when you felt a vibrant pulsing in your body and a real sense of adventure.   Were you challenged or were you comfortable?</p>
<p>Were you taking part in a new activity or repeating something you&#8217;d already done?</p>
<p>I thought so.  So tell me please, what&#8217;s so damned good about comfort? Comfortable isn&#8217;t even that much fun.</p>
<p>The couch beckons all of us when we need relief or rest.  Yet comfort is not what makes life interesting.</p>
<p>Life is to be lived flat out in circumstances that arouse.</p>
<blockquote><p>Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.  Emerson</p></blockquote>
<p>Perhaps you already have found your best career.  Perhaps everything you&#8217;ve ever wanted is just on the other side of your current challenge.  Dare you persist and see?</p>
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		<title>What’s the Truth About Authentic Work?</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DelightfulWork/~3/cehsVSiCOxY/</link>
		<comments>http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/whats-the-truth-about-authentic-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2009 14:23:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tom Volkar</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Freedom of Self-Employment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic expression]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[authentic work]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[drive]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Fulfilling Work]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Hines Ward]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Mike Tomlin]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Pittsburgh Steelers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=377</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.steelertribute.com/mid_ward03.jpg" alt="Hines Ward" hspace="12" vspace="6" width="209" height="211" align="right" /></p> You compensate.  I compensate.  To some degree we all compensate for a lack of authentic work.  Over time we've made stuff up to rationalize our unfulfilling work.  We've pretended, avoided and shirked responsibility in order to make our work fit who we are. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[Copyright &copy; 2009 <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com">Tom Volkar</a>. Visit the original article at <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/whats-the-truth-about-authentic-work/">http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/whats-the-truth-about-authentic-work/</a>.<br /><p>You compensate.  I compensate.  To some degree we all compensate for a lack of authentic work.  Over time we&#8217;ve made stuff up to rationalize our unfulfilling work.  We&#8217;ve pretended, avoided and shirked responsibility in order to make our work fit who we are.  <img src="http://www.steelertribute.com/mid_ward03.jpg" alt="Hines Ward" hspace="12" vspace="6" width="309" height="311" align="right" /></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re an employee, chances are, you&#8217;ve resigned yourself to a fulfillment-starved life.  If forced to tell the truth, you&#8217;d admit that you&#8217;ve settled for far less than fulfilling and delightful work.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t bash employment just because it&#8217;s slavery.  I bash employment because so many employees are lying to themselves.  So if I have to piss off ten of you to wake one of you up, I&#8217;m happy to do it.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s proof why employment is inauthentic for at least 90% of employees.</p>
<p>Your job was not created to give you greater freedom; it was created to restrict your freedom.</p>
<p>Your job was not created to give you greater opportunities for authentic self-expression; it was created to limit your self-expression.</p>
<p>Your job was not created to fit who you are; it was created to serve the needs of your employer.</p>
<p>Your job was not created for your economic benefit; it was created to increase the prosperity of others.</p>
<p>However, it&#8217;s not your suck ass job that&#8217;s killing you.  What&#8217;s killing you is all that compensation.  What&#8217;s killing you is all the time and energy you invest trying to fit a mold that is not a fit for who you are.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s draining as hell to fake it all the time.  When you act like something doesn&#8217;t matter and it does matter, you shrink your soul and smother your <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-coaching/five-tools-to-sharpen-your-authentic-edge/">authentic spirit</a>.</p>
<p>When your job doesn&#8217;t fit, then in order to survive, you must compensate by showing up as a lesser version of yourself.  This lesser, lower self is false and it takes a lot of energy to offset a lack of expressed authenticity.</p>
<p>All of this accumulated faking has diluted the true you so much so that your authentic voice can&#8217;t be heard because of all the excuses you spout.</p>
<p>So how can you find the gumption to live a bigger more vigorous work life?<br />
Do two things.</p>
<p>1). Make space for your<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/the-liberty-of-inspired-self-expression-through-self-employment/"> authentic voice </a>by silencing your fake self.</p>
<p>All of your accumulated compensation is emotional and intellectual clutter and clutter must be cleared.  Without space for your authentic self to express and act, your little, fearful self will keep running the show by avoiding, pretending and shirking responsibility.</p>
<p>2). Create a work environment that brings you robustly alive.</p>
<p>Mike Tomlin, head coach of our world champion Pittsburgh Steelers knows how.  The Steelers are now holding their three-day mini-camp.  It&#8217;s the first time that rookies get to work out and train with the veterans.</p>
<p>A reporter asked Tomlin how he determines that a player has the hunger to be a champion.  Tomlin said he doesn&#8217;t look for hunger, because hunger can be satisfied.  He&#8217;s right; multi-million dollar contracts don&#8217;t guarantee that a player will even make the team.</p>
<p>Instead of hunger, Tomlin looks for drive.  Drive is aggressive readiness along with the energy to undertake taxing efforts. Drive is hustle, initiative, vitality, and get-up-and-go.</p>
<p>Drive is natural when we find or create our authentic space.</p>
<p>Scroll up and look at that picture of<a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/career-guidance/work-as-playwork-as-play/"> Hines Ward</a> again.  At the wide receiver position, Hines is one of the most powerful and vicious blockers in the league.  Whether he makes the hit or gets hit - he always bounces up with that big ass smile on his face.  Hines is in his natural element.  He&#8217;s found his authentic space.</p>
<p>We can apply this lesson in our search for authentic work.  Authentic work isn&#8217;t a craving to be satisfied but an environment in which your natural drive can express itself.</p>
<p>This is so important to understand because fear around not having enough money is the number one reason folks give for not making their move to the <a href="http://www.delightfulwork.com/freedom-of-self-employment/seize-the-freedom-of-self-employment/">freedom of self-employment</a>.  But money is about hunger not drive.  Hunger is only temporarily satisfied.</p>
<p>Fear not, you&#8217;re authentic work is also seeking you.  Create some space and you&#8217;ll be more able to see it.</p>
<p>Find or create an environment where you can naturally speak your truth.</p>
<p>Find or create an environment where you are eager to do the work.</p>
<p>Find or create a work opportunity where you are driven to excel and then both your drive and your hunger will be fulfilled.</p>
<p>If you really want to create space for your authentic work to prosper then join me for this free group coaching experience of <a href="http://www.pittsburghcoaches.org/teleclass_registration.htm">Ruthless Simplification</a>.</p>
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