Here is the quick and dirty:

People hire a Professional Coach based on 5 Reasons

• They have a plan, goal or dream

• They are unhappy with their current situation

• They are having difficulty accomplishing their goal, plan or dream

• They find a coach who understands their situation & what they are going through

• They feel that the coach can help them overcome their challenges and accomplish their goals.

If you want to know more about how these specific coaching needs are complemented by the benefits of coaching, check out this survey from the  International Coaching Federation or you can dig even deeper and look at a fairly new study about the coaching industry compiled by the American Management Association.

If you want to learn more about life coaching you are welcome to contact me directly Monday through Friday from the hours of 9:00am -5:00pm Eastern Time.

Master your craft. Being the best at what you do is the easiest way to become successful. - Thomas Leonard

I am fired up to be a Team Inspiration partner of Aspire Magazine’s “Mission to Inspire 100,000 Women in 2010” as well as a contributing writer for the February issue!

Aspire is giving away, completely FREE, 100,000 one year digital subscriptions. And there’s more… along with the FREE subscription, I, along with over 50 other conscious entrepreneurs have agreed to offer a FREE downloadable gift with every subscription.

Are you experiencing a significant change in your life?

You can face big changes with courage, self-love, curiosity and contemplation.  Learn how to identify and navigate the 4 stages of life changing transitions when you sign up for your free Aspire subscription. My contribution is titled: Gracefully Navigating the 4 Stages of Transition.

Claim your subscription and free gifts HERE.

Picture yourself walking down the street in a busy urban area of New York, London or Los Angeles.  Moving along you are mesmerized by magnificent architecture, the innocence of a child’s laughter, the fancified shop windows, the smells and sounds of the city.  You are completely lost in thought when by the grace of a complete stranger,  you are saved from being run over by a rogue vehicle blowing through a red light.  Your heart is racing and you are wicked stunned.  You thank the super hero on the street by offering him your first born and stumble off  grateful to be alive.  Your wake up call has been delivered.

What will do with this message?

It’s time to get out of your own way and begin taking action in the areas of your life you deem most important. There is no more time for ego-teasing lip service or negative self-talk. If you need help getting focused,  schedule a no cost coaching session with me or another coach out in the world and move one step forward on the path of your desires.

One of my coaching clients is a brilliant creative visionary. Her vision of idealistic greatness paralyzed her for years from taking action on the small things which bit by bit, drop by drop,  add up to the full life she is desperately seeking. Couple this paralysis with brutal self-talk and we have a smidge of a vision versus reality challenge.

Like the fantastical dreamer meandering through the city,  this bright woman was preoccupied with rich textured dreams and magical notions.  She almost missed the harbinger of a tragic nightmare threatening to suck the life from her extraordinary vision.  We are working together to travel back to the beginning of her story with the commitment of making plans and celebrating incremental actionable steps over a clear and specific time line.

Big Ideas —> Plans Phases —> Action Steps  = Critical Path Time Line

Creative people overflowing with ideas and wacky scenarios love to play. Dabbling here and experimenting there can be big fun and certainly not as scary as stepping into your power to create your life’s dream.  I enjoy experimentation as much as any creative,  but have learned that too many trials lure me away from the laser focus I am finally learning how to surrender to and flow with.

As a personal coach I share my time inspiring creative entrepreneurs to accelerate their journey toward a full and balanced life on their terms. In my opinion, the best way to foster liberation is to live it, breath it and study it.  I am ecstatic to shine a focused stream of dazzling golden sunshine with the purpose of illuminating each bold and interesting plan of the people I play with.

Getting Out of your own way looks like this:

• Learning how to be happy with incremental victories that lead to your BIG VISION

• Being grateful for your experience and talents - There is nobody in the Universe quite like you.

• Reminding yourself daily of all you have accomplished

• Setting realistic daily, weekly and quarterly goals

• Kicking your own ass,  hiring a coach or tapping into a mentor to accomplish short-term plans

• Creating an environment of daily creative productivity

• Communicating with like-minded people who are happy to be a part of your support system

Open your eyes and look around.  You can get out of your own way and honor your creative vision.

It is never too late to begin again.

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

As you flip through your personal calendar of 2009, what do you see?

• Who shared your time?

• What did you create?

• What brought you joy?

• What did you learn?

• What did let go of?

2009 marks the year that Life on Your Terms Acceleration was born. 40 entrepreneurs and loads of coaching clients world-wide have been involved since the soft launch in October. The kindness, humor, honesty, and passion for personal freedom shared by each of these unconventional minds left an indelible imprint on me. Many thanks to all of you who played such an important role in this project and extraordinary year. I look forward to sharing my next book, Life on Your Terms - Stories of Entrepreneurial Freedom with you in the summer of 2010.

2009 also brought about the creation of AnxietySlayer.com. This delightful project has been a blast in the making and I’m blessed to share in the slayer fun with Ananga Sivyer. Our mission is to assist you with creating more peace and tranquility in your life through anxiety release exercises and supportive tools created to slay your anxiety.

As you play through the next decade, imagine yourself a year from now, walking to the end of path of 2010, and looking back at your most memorable experiences of the year.

• What would you like to see?

• How do you feel?

• What are you most proud of?

• How have you changed?

• What will you do to ensure your 2010 is what you visualize it will be?

Best wishes for an “intentionally” extraordinary year!

Between Darkness and Light

It is within the darkness and the silence
That the magic of Christmas starts;
Somewhere between the glimmer of lights
And the first breathless moment
When children come
Stumbling like new-born angels
Into morning light.
Within the darkness and the silence
We sit, watching wonder
Evolve into form; where we
Enter the ringing silence
In which the first bells of Christmas
Sound the music of the soul;
Where the morning joy begins
With a single carol
To a half-forgotten tune.
It is here, between the darkness
And the light,
That we wait, uncertain,
Seeking the moment
That challenges us to believe
In a freshly minted miracle
Born every Christmas Day.

By John Mathews From The Winter Solstice Quest 1998

Winter Solstice

When you startle awake in the dark morning
heart pounding breathing fast
sitting bolt upright staring into
dark whirlpool black hole
feeling its suction
get out of bed
knock at the door of your nearest friend
ask to lie down beside ask to be held
listen while whispered words
turn the hole into deep night sky
stars close together
winter moon rising over white fields
nearby a wren rustling dry leaves
distant owl echoing
two people walking up the road laughing
let your soul laugh
let your heart sigh out
that long held breath so hollow in your stomach
so swollen in your throat
already light is returning pairs of wings
lift softly off your eyelids one by one
each feathered edge clearer between you
and the pearl veil of day
you have nothing to do but live

By Jody Aliesan - Grief Sweat, Broken Moon Press 1990

Just Delicate Needles

It’s so delicate, the light.
And there’s so little of it. The dark is huge.
Just delicate needles, the light,
in an endless night.
And it has such a long way to go
through such desolate space.
So let’s be gentle with it.
Cherish it.
So it will come again in the morning.
We hope.

By Rolf Jacobsen

Warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with friends and family, sharing toasts and smiles …

Merry Merry!

Plan and Create Lists: Prioritize and schedule specific days for shopping, baking, partying and other activities. Creating an actionable plan will make you feel more in control of  your responsibilities.

Acknowledge Your Feelings: You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. If you are feeling blue reach out to a good friend or family member for some laughs.  If you feel lonely or isolated,  seek out community events or volunteer your time.

Delegate: You do not have to do everything on your own. Ask the people who love you for help. It’s amazing how much friends and family are willing to step up and chip in.  People like to feel useful and needed.

Get Real: The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videotapes.

Say NO Thanks: Saying yes when you really want to say no can leave you feeling resentful and totally overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every holiday event or activity.

Continue Healthy Habits: Overindulgence contributes to additional stress and guilt. Plan to enjoy a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t gobble up too many decadent treats. Do your best to to get plenty of sleep,  physical activity and down time.

Breathe: Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Reduce stress by clearing your mind, nurturing your body and finding inner calm. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Reduce stress by clearing your mind, nurturing your body and finding inner calm.

The holidays can be a lot of fun. All you need to do is create a plan, ask for help and honor yourself. You deserve to enjoy this time of year.

If you want more information about overcoming stress and anxiety,   you are welcome to visit www.anxietyslayer.com for additional posts, podcasts and ideas created to help you wipe out anxiety and get on wth your life.

Sound familiar?

When I reached my breaking point I was fortunate to have a great coach in my corner. Our regular coaching sessions inspired me to get clear and remain focused.

You will leave this session renewed, re-energized and inspired to take action to reclaim your focus with workable solutions to accelerate your life on your terms.To take advantage of this no cost 30 minute one-on-one private coaching session, all you need to do is claim your session. This special offer is available to the first 10 people who respond. Click on the link below or comment on this post and I will reserve your your session.

Count me in! I am ready to Get Focused Now.

Together we can discover a clear and productive direction to accelerate your life on your terms in 2010!

My friend and sister entrepreneur wrote a great article about her experience  hiring and working with a professional coach. If you have ever considered working with a transition coach this post will help you make an informed decision.

• I’m stuck. My business has been moving along for the past few years, but I feel like I’m in a rut, doing the same old things the same old way. Or, I’m new at this business, and can’t figure out my next step, but don’t want to (or can’t) take too much time and energy away from my work.’

Why reinvent the wheel? Whether you’re a new business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur who just needs a new perspective, you can benefit from a coach who has direct experience in building a business. A good coach can help you choose your direction and give you action steps to reach your goal.

• I want more; Clients, income, time. These are three things I never seem to have enough of. It’s time to move to the next level!

Who better to help see you toward your goals than someone who has been successful him/herself? Growing your business involves calculated risks and a leap of faith. A good coach can help you assess your readiness for growth allowing you to carefully look before you leap!

• I’m out of ideas. I want to create a new product or program, but I’m not sure where to begin. What are my options?

Not knowing what’s out there, what the market trends are, and what works / doesn’t work is often a hurdle to starting a new product or offering a new service. Why not brainstorm with someone who has their ear to the ground in the online market? A seasoned coach can help you develop your ideas, become more market-savvy and avoid pitfalls.

• I know what to do, but I need a push. I have all the tools and knowledge I need to reach my goal/create and roll out my new product or service. The only obstacle in my way is ME.

You need somebody to answer to besides yourself. A reliable coach can help you set goals and will hold you accountable, so you’ll stop procrastinating and start succeeding.

• I’m burned out! Truthfully, I’m not enjoying myself, and I’m not sure I want to be in this business anymore.

Before you give up all you have worked for, consult someone who has been there. A coach can help you identify what aspects of your business are causing you distress, and do something about it. Whether you need to let go of a few things, or make a radical shift in your business model, it helps to have someone at your side who can help you sort things out,be your biggest cheerleader, and offer workable solutions so you can do what you love, and love what you do.

Hiring a coach was one of the best things I have done to help me navigate my business through growth, change, and some tough economic times.  If you are at a crossroads in your business, it may be time to consider working with a coach. It is an investment that can save you time, money, and sanity as you build your business!

Want to know about Life Coaching and Business Coaching ?  You are welcome to visit the True Balance Website for access to an interesting global study, 101 Things to Work on With A Professional Coach, and a complimentary life on your terms coaching session.

Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. To discover how 1st VA can help your business - visit http://www.1stva.com.

You CAN Live an Inspired Life!

Imagine receiving tips, tools and inspiration to live a deeper, more authentic, balanced and inspired life. Couple this with the shared wisdom from some of the biggest names involved in the conscious thought movement and you have the premiere inspirational magazine for women – Aspire Magazine.

Featuring visionaries such as Mariel Hemingway, Wayne Dyer, Iyanla Vanzant, Louise Hay, Dr. David Simon and many more.

Divine wisdom shared throughout the pages of Aspire Magazine through enriching articles, inspiring columns and so much more … A magazine dedicated to covering all of the interesting facets of a woman’s life journey: Mind, Body and Soul.

Life.     Purpose.    Body.     Soul.
Family.    Life.    Business.    Balance.
Home.    Connection.    Aspired Living.

Aspire Magazine has launched its “Mission to Inspire 100,000 Women in 2010” and has committed to giving away 100,000 one year digital subscriptions in 2010 to women across the globe.

Claim Yours today!

I am excited to be a Team Inspiration partner of the initiative and want to invite you to claim your NO COST one year digital subscription which includes a multitude of complimentary gifts from Aspire’s Team Inspiration partners, including yours truly!

Live an Inspired Life!

Here’s the link to CLAIM YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Aspire Magazine along with your complimentary gifts.

Have a Beautiful Thanksgiving!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melodie Beattie

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been a part of the life coaching hand-book for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from illness.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being.

Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: brilliant sunsets, colorful summer flowers, legs that work, friends who really listen, dark chocolate, garden fresh vegetables, warm jackets, the ability to read, your health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

•  Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

•  Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

•  Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.

•  Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

•  When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

•  Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.

Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself. - Rumi