Groundhog Day

When you think of Groundhog Day, do you think of Punxsutawney Phil or the movie where Bill Murray lives the same day over and over again?

The legend of the groundhog is that if it is sunny when it emerges, and it sees its shadow it will return to the burrow and remain for six more weeks signaling six more weeks of winter.  But if it is a cloudy day, it will leave the burrow, indicating the end to wintery weather very soon.

Sometimes winter can be a time of hibernation, but if you are burrowing in for too long, consider the reasons behind it.

It’s a bit hard to imagine the darkness of winter as I sit here in sunny California.  But I have lived places where it is dark and damp and cold.  And facing those dark winter days you might feel a bit like Bill Murray and begin to think it will never end.  Some people suffer from SAD – Seasonal Effective Disorder.  Get out for a walk in the daylight as often as you can.

Be sure you have something to look forward to.  Start planning a weekend away in the Spring or your Summer vacation.  Create a Vision Board or a mini-collage in your journal.

Are you ready to leave your burrow?  Or are you burrowing in for six more weeks?

Leave your comments or questions below.

Judy Peebles, International Speaker, Trainer & Business Strategist

Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/from-misery-to-motivation/

http://judypeebles.com/creating-a-collage/

Creating a Collage

Collage

You don’t have to wait until you have the time or opportunity to create a full-fledged vision board.  Grab a magazine or two and select a few images, words or phrases and stick them in your journal.  Then write about what they mean to you.

Creating a collage is fun and can give you insights into what is inspiring you at the moment.

What words leap out at you from the page?  What images or colors catch your attention?

Sometimes I just grab one picture or word and a glue stick.  Paste it in my journal and then spend a few minutes writing about what it means to me

It’s a great way to explore new ideas, get creative and it makes your journal more interesting to view when you look back on your entries.

You can also create a virtual collage or vision board, grabbing clipart or stock photos and pasting them into a word document  or powerpoint file.  This is definitely a different process than creating one from magazines, but can create a visual image of your dreams and wishes.  And you can always print it out and stick it in your journal or use it as a screen saver.

If you want to engage the power of creating a vision board, do it in a fun environment and be guided through exercises to help you gain clarity on your goals, join us for:-

Magnify Your Vision 

A 2-Day Event

April 28^th & 29^th 2012

Use Coupon Code – JANSPECIAL before 1/31/2012 and save $900

http://theknowledgeseries.com/events/magnify-your-vision/

Have you created a vision board?  How did it help you?

Leave your comments below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/possibilities/

Making Words Count

 “The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say.”
~ Anaïs Nin

A lot of people think journaling is just for broken hearted teenage girls.  But it is a much more powerful tool and it is literally right at your fingertips.

Grab a journal, some paper and write.  I know what you are saying – “Easier said than done!”  Faced with that blank page – where do you begin?  Even before that how do you choose a journal?  How do you find time to write? 

More questions than answers.  Choosing a journal is a very personal thing.  Sometimes you like the way it looks, or feels, the texture of the paper, or it’s the perfect size to fit in your bag or backpack.

When to write?  Whenever you can find a few minutes.  You don’t have to journal every day or for hours at a time to have a very effective journaling practice.  Carry your journal with you and if you find yourself arriving somewhere early or waiting for someone, take a few minutes to write down your thoughts.

If you want to learn more, join us for this complimentary webinar

Jump Into Journaling with Ann Hawkins and Judy Peebles

Friday, January 27, 2012 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm PT

If you can’t make the live call, register to receive the recording.

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2773580855

“If you’re serious about becoming a wealthy,

powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique

individual, keep a journal.

Don’t trust your memory. When you listen to

something valuable, write it down. When you come across something

important, write it down.”

~ Jim Rohn

Do you journal?  What would you like to learn about journaling?

Leave your comments below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/stuff-on-your-plate/

http://judypeebles.com/list-of-questions/

Money Money Money

When you were little, they probably told you to hold someone’s hand when you were crossing the street.  If you still believed that today, it might be challenging to get around.  Somehow over the years you have learned that this rule or belief no longer works for you.

What we believe leads to what we think, which leads to what we feel.  What we feel creates what we are willing to do.  The actions we take lead to our results.

Beliefs → Thoughts → Feelings → Actions → Results

What does all that mean with regard to money?

Growing up we learn about a lot of things, including money, from our parents, grandparents, extended family, teachers, etc. and we form our beliefs.  Some of these beliefs may still serve us and others not.

So now you are wondering, how do I resolve this?

Awareness is the first step.

Ask yourself three questions – 1 – What do I believe?  2 – When did I decide that?  3 -Is it still valid for me today?

I’ve used journaling to help me discover these beliefs and I also work with a coach.

What if you discover that you have been following an outdated map or belief?

Firstly, don’t beat yourself up about actions and the subsequent results from the past?  This is not about regrets or making wrong.

Just decide what is valid for you now, adopt a new belief and this will subsequently change your future thoughts, feelings and actions, and therefore, your results.

Do you want to uncover your hidden beliefs around money?

If you want to delve into your inner beliefs and thinking that could be in your way; help you see a picture of your financial future and set you on the path to create it, join us for Master Your Money Matters.

http://theknowledgeseries.com/events/money-matters/

Use Coupon Code NEWYEAR2012 and save $800.

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

~ Unknown

What money beliefs have you uncovered and how have you changed your actions as a result?

Leave your comments below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/when-i-was-little-we-had…/

http://judypeebles.com/back-in-time/

Making It Work

At the beginning of a New Year a lot of people make resolutions or goals.  Goal setting is very important and can really be done at any time.

Working with my clients, once they have identified a goal, we work on the “How”.

In order to achieve a goal you have to be taking action and have strategies in place that will compel you towards that goal.

For instance, losing weight or getting fitter.  Last year I decided I wanted to lose weight.  As a busy business owner, the question was – How?

Obviously, I needed to spend more time moving my body.  I decided to walk five to six times per week.  Often I am asked to meet with new contacts for coffee or a meal.  Instead I would suggest a walk.  I also enlisted friends to be regular walking buddies.

Of course, I had to eat less, too.  But the walking strategy really worked.  Having someone else to hold you accountable is a VERY effective strategy regardless of the goal.  There were certainly times when I did not want to go for a walk – it was cold or I was tired.  But knowing that I had made a commitment to someone else got me up and out the door more often than I would have on my own.

Oh, and I lost 37 pounds last year!!  Wooo Hooo!!

What do you want to achieve this year?  What are your strategies to do that? Who will hold you accountable?

Leave your comments and suggestions below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/managing-time/

http://judypeebles.com/top-speaker-top-form-part-2/

http://judypeebles.com/topspeaker/

Making Connections

One of my New Year’s Resolutions / Goals that I actually started late last year was to re-connect with people.  Yes, part of it is an effort to grow my business, but also it feels good.

I know a lot of people / business owners who shy away from calling people, especially if you haven’t talked to them in a while.  But why let the passage of time get in the way of making a connection, renewing a friendship, or possibly generating some business or a referral?

How long is too long?  Personally, I say never.

Recently I called two people on my “list”.

One had come to a workshop about two years ago and for some reason, I had not talked to her since.  We had a nice conversation, catching up and it wasn’t the least bit awkward.

Another I had not spoken to in over four years, but I could still remember the essence of a great conversation we had outside of an event we were both attending in Los Angeles.   We played phone tag and then finally connected.  We had a lovely chat and it felt so good to reconnect and we both vowed to stay in touch.

I intend to continue re-connecting with old contacts.  I highly recommend it.

Who are you going to call today?

Leave your comments and suggestions below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/appreciation/

http://judypeebles.com/who-is-in-your-life

http://judypeebles.com/support-system

From Misery to Motivation

You know those moments when you feel so overwhelmed you just don’t even know where to begin, don’t feel like doing anything or don’t even know what your are feeling.

What to do:-

• Grab your journal – You can begin by just free writing what is going on for you, just letting the words flow onto the page.  Or create a mindmap or list of what’s on your mind.  (See links below for detailed prompts for these)
• Take a shower or a bubblebath – There is something about being in water that clears the mind and frees up the creative juices to generate solutions.
• Go for a walk – Getting your body moving is always a good thing, but taking a break is sometimes the best thing.  You can come back to the tasks at hand refreshed and you also get the added bonus of burning some calories.
• Phone a friend – I know we often don’t feel like bothering our friends with our troubles (that’s were a journal can come in very handy), but sometimes just a chat with a close friend can create a huge shift.

What do you do to move from misery to motivation?

Leave your comments and suggestions below.

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/breathe-and-listen/

http://judypeebles.com/when-a-to-do-list-isnt-enough-mindmap-you-way-out-of-overwhelm/

http://judypeebles.com/ask-for-help

Managing Time

We all get the same number of hours, minutes and seconds in each day. In a year that’s 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes and 31,536,000 seconds.  This year (2012) we get a little bonus since it is a leap year – 366 days, 8,784 hours, 527,040 minutes and 31,622,400 seconds.

Today is January 16^th – so by the end of the day, that’s already 384 hours or the equivalent of over 9 ½ work weeks already in the bag.

Yes, I know some of that time has to be for essentials like sleeping and eating, but how are you managing your time?

Here are some tips:-

• To-do lists rarely get done.  Especially if they are a mile long.  But they can be useful to keep you focused and track your progress.  I like to highlight my lists and then I can see at a glance how I am doing.
• Prioritized list – Take the mammoth to-do list and before you finish for the day decide your priorities for the next day.
• Track time – If you feel out of control, you can track your time and
• Eat that Frog – Brian Tracy’s book http://astore.amazon.com/thejou0bb-20/detail/1576754227 gives tips on how to stop procrastinating.  Imagine you had to eat a frog today, you would want to do that first to get it out of the way.  I even bought some frog stickers and sometimes use them to identify my frog.  Then I tackle that first.
• 30/15 – Sometimes just getting started is half the battle, use this 30/15 technique to stay focused.  http://judypeebles.com/thirty-fifteen/
• Boundaries – Be firm about your boundaries.  Make sure you are getting your priorities accomplished before being impacted by others’ requests.
• 80/20 Rule or Pareto’s Principle – Remember that 20% of what you are doing will give you 80% of your results.  Make sure that the 20% is focused on the important tasks.
• Emails / Social Media – Use a timer to avoid losing hours in emails or social media.

“It’s not the hours you put in your work that count, it’s work you put in the hours.”

~ Sam Ewing

Judy Peebles, Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series – 5 Keys to Accelerate Your Success

Further Reading

http://judypeebles.com/thirty-fifteen/

http://blog.iqmatrix.com/mind-map/time-management-mind-map

http://judypeebles.com/small-changes-big-results/

http://thejournalingjenius.com/books/

Visit TheKnowledgeSeries.com to check out the great workshops and membership plans!

S.T.O.P.

Before the end of the year be sure to S.T.O.P.

Take out your journal and write:-

Successes – Make a list of all your successes and achievements this year.  From major accomplishments to small silly things.  Celebrate everything you’ve done that you are proud of.  If it makes it easier, imagine you are your best friend and he or she is reminding you of what an amazing year you’ve had.  What have you learned this year?  How have you impacted others?

Thanks – What are you thankful for today?  Expressing gratitude for the blessings you received this year.  This is something that you can write every day.  Even keep a separate journal for your blessings or gratitudes.

Opportunities – What are the opportunities you can imagine ahead of you next year and beyond?  What are your dreams?  What will you keep doing?  What do you need to do differently?  Create the vision in your future.  Write down all the things you would like to do – skydiving, singing lessons; places you would like to visit; and people you would like to meet.

Plan – Now that you have your vision – How will you begin to achieve your goals next year and beyond?  Start now to plan your year ahead.  You don’t have to know all the details.  Start at the end and work backwards.  Or at least begin with one small step in the direction of your dreams.

May 2012 bring you all the joy, prosperity and wishes you dream of.

Judy Peebles

Creator of The Journaling Jenius™, Journaling Jems™ and The Knowledge Series