How to Survive Hard Times Put One Step In Front of The Other with Tyler Perry

I am a huge Tyler Perry fan, and his story is such an inspiration to me. I remember that day in 2009 when I realized I had been applying for jobs I was underqualified for, and not even one interview had happened. We were under pressure for money, and I was so depressed. I honestly thought about driving my car into the lake and just quietly fading away. 

Instead, I cried it out and turned back toward home. I decided to level up instead of giving up. I went back to school and got my Masters degree. Got hired at George Brown College as an Adjunct Professor. Started my private practice in psychotherapy. Grew it into a team of seven therapists and staff. Revived Leverage U into a busy speaking/publishing/consulting company. 

But it started with one foot in front of the other. #howyougrow #survival #yougotthis #motivation #inspiration #growthmindset

Enough is Enough - How to Turn Your Life Around

My personal and professional mission is to LEVERAGE people into radical, positive, lasting change. Download a copy of my F*R*E*E E-book titled, Radial, Positive, Lasting Change today!

#changeyourlife #enough #180 #angermanagement #goals #setyourselffree

Goodbye Fear: The Breakup Song

I cannot get enough of Francesca Battistelli's new song, "The Breakup Song". I love that part of the chorus that says, "I ain't got time for you telling me what I'm not, like you know me... well guess what? I know who I am. I know I'm strong, and I am free - got my own identity! So, fear, you will never be welcome here."

Lately, I've been pushing the limits of my comfort zone in a BIG way. And with those efforts to push my own boundaries comes a crate-load of fear and anxiety. That may be why those of you following my Instagram feeds have noticed my obsession with quotes about overcoming fear. It would seem that we need to be reminded, and often, that fear is a liar, and that we have the ability to push through our fears to the rewards at the other side.

I truly believe that everything you want is on the other side of fear. That means, to get to the beautiful outcomes we desire and yearn for, there is work involved. It is the work of pushing through our own limitations, tamping down fear, managing our anxiety, and taking the steps however many or few may be required to take us toward our goals.

In conversation with some friends the other day, we asked one of the ladies about her experience tandem parachuting out of a plane. She reported that the most difficult step was the one that took her out of the plane. She further noted that once she was flying, it did not feel at all like she was "falling". Rather, to her it felt like she was floating, or suspended in animation, and it was only when they got closer to the ground did it feel like falling. That said, the training kicked in, and she landed safely and walked away with an amazing experience that she would always remember.

Life is a lot like that, don't you think? It often feels like achieving our goals is mountains of work, and that it is just too much effort to follow through. But for my friend, all she needed to do was to commit to ONE step. The rest was achieved through momentum, gravity, faith in her tandem jumper, and remembering to follow through on the procedure for a safe landing. We don't realize that the first step towards our goals - saying YES, signing the contract, asking for the job, hitting the "send" button on that email, joining that mastermind group, or purchasing that service - is often the most difficult step of all. It is the step loaded with commitment and finality that is the most difficult to take. The one that takes you out of the safety of the plane and into the unknown - that one... THAT ONE is the one that requires you to push through your fear. The rest, as they say, will become history.

So sing along with me... "Fear, you don't own me..." Take that step and see what amazing outcomes you will achieve.

Here's Francesca's official song video for you to enjoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to All!

I love this time of year because it is an opportunity to share in the joys of the season with those we love. It is also a time for me to reflect on the many blessings I have received and the lessons I have learned. Since my teenage years, I have always taken stock of my life right around the end of the year. Sometimes I didn't like what I saw when I looked back on my year - there were times when I realized that I had allowed other people to dictate my personality and my behaviour, and there were times that I was truly disappointed in myself. BUT - there were other times - that occured more frequently that I looked back and wondered, "How did I ever manage to accomplish that?"

This year I finally completed a task that I set out to accomplish in the fall of 2008 - that is the completion of my Masters Degree. I only wish my Mom could have been here to celebrate with me, but I know she was with me, encouraging me every step of the way. Now that my schooling (at least this stage of it) is finished, I am looking forward to new projects: research, more books, new program development, teaching, and of course, speaking engagements. Lets not forget too - the value of spending time with family and taking time for faith.

Since first going through the process of reflection and goal setting for the year to come, I have become more focused, more confident, and more determined to be the person that I believe God created me to be. My challenge to you this holiday season is to engage in a process of reflection and renewal for yourself. Take a look at what you have accomplished and how you have exceeded your own expectations. Then look ahead and begin to plan today for the life you want to create tomorrow. It was Henry Ford who said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." What will you choose to be right about in this coming year?

From the depths of my heart, I would like to wish all my family, friends, colleagues, and partners the very best this Christmas, and may all the joy of the season be yours.

28 Days Left - The Final Push in the 80 Day Challenge

I'm curious to know how many of you have been sticking with the 80-Day Challenge that I started with you at the beginning of October. We are quickly winding down, and I have another installment in the process to help you continue to build momentum as we approach January 1st, 2009.

But first a review:
Our very first exercise came to us courtesy of Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series as well as several other great works including The Aladdin Factor ( a must read for anyone wanting to set and achieve goals). You will remember that this exercise was about finding your "YOU ARE HERE" dot for your life. You asked yourself some key questions: what did achieve in 2008? Are you healthier? Happier? Wealthier? Wiser? What challenges were you still facing at the time of doing that exercise? What about now? Have you faced and overcome any of those challenges during this process? Have you created any wins for yourself over the last 60 days? What situations still exist in your life that you know you need to address in order to move forward?

Our second exercise was from the brilliant Morgana Rae, and focused on your relationship with money. What did you learn about yourself and your limiting beliefs around money? Have you re-defined what your relationship with money will be like from now on? Have you decided to make money a welcome visitor in your home - perhaps one that will take up residence in your business on a more permanent basis?

Our third lesson in the 80-Day Challenge focused on The Law of Seed and Harvest - and provided you with some tips on how to make the most of the time, energy, and money that you invest into your life or your business. What seeds have you decided to plant? What "gardens" are you currently nurturing, and what kind of fruit will they yield in the harvest? Have you begun thinking about the natural growing seasons in your life, and how you can make the best of the time you have to work with? Remember that the Law of Seed and Harvest relates to all aspects of our lives: work, love, family, pets, money, business, health, spirituality and faith. Nothing happens "instantly". You need to build skills to get that good job. You need to be willing to love and be loved in order for romance to blossom. Kids don't grow up overnight although it seems that way sometimes. Pets need to be trained and acclimatized to your family's routines. Money must be invested in order for it to grow. Businesses all start somewhere - none of them become overnight successes - there was work, planning, and investment of time, energy, and money long before the success came. If you want to be healthy, you have to sow good seeds - if you sow rotten seeds (drugs, alcohol, junk food, nicotine, etc.), you will reap a rotten harvest. And of course with spirituality and faith - to develop a relationship with your creator also takes time and attention on your part. Nothing comes from nothing - you have to plant, water, and nurture the seeds for the harvest you hope to reap.

That brought us to our T quadrant in the most recent lesson: Taking Stock. This is about isolating where exactly you want to plant those seeds as you move forward either in your career, job, or business. I have always believed that one should do what one loves, and the money will follow. I still think this is true. However, I have recently re-framed that concept - if we do what we love by following a proven SYSTEM, and sticking with the PLAN, the money will not only follow, it will FLOW. The Law of Seed and Harvest is about following a universal system that will lead to a harvest every time. The T quadrant is about clarifying your vision so that you can plan ahead to do more of what you really love - the stuff that is FUN and makes you money.

Where do we go from here?
With only 20 something days left in the challenge, it is time to move into action steps. By now you should have a clear concept of what you want to accomplish (work wise) in 2009. You have re-framed your ideas about money, and you know what challenges you are currently facing. You understand that you need to plant something in order to reap a harvest, and that what you plant matters. So I have TWO assignments for you to follow through on in order to get yourself moving into action.

First: Make a list of the things you want to accomplish in 2009. Break your list down into categories -
Work
Love/Family
Money
Business
Health
Spirituality and faith
Intellectual/Education
Community/Legacy

Now - Narrow your focus down to the first 90-120 days of 2009. Which of these goals must you begin working on immediately if you are to reach your major milestones by the end of the year? What seeds must you plant, and how long will it take for them to convert into a viable harvest? For example: if you want to find true love, what steps must you take NOW in order to be able to say, "Happy New Year Honey!" to your dream lover on Dec. 31st 2009? If you want to land that "whale" account for your company, who do you need to contact? How will you build the relationship with that potential customer? What limiting beliefs must you shed in order to make this desired goal a reality?

Lastly - make a list of action steps you can begin within the next 20 - 28 days so that when 2009 rolls around, you will already be on your way to materializing the vision you just described through the goal setting process.

I can't wait to hear from you! Please feel free to post you comments on this site, or email me directly with your results. There will be one final installment in this 80-Day Challenge - the wrap-up. Look for it closer to the end of the month.