Hi -

New Year, New Me! Fitting well with my intentions, 2009 has launched spectacularly for me. I conducted two 2-session teleclasses with my colleague Tammy Cook, launched my brand-new group coaching program (which you'll find out more about in this issue!), and had five speaking events this month (including my first women's retreat). It's been a GREAT start!

February looks to be even more exciting! I'm celebrating 5 years in business this month and YOU get the gifts (That's me celebrating...OK, it's at my son's birthday party, but you get the idea)! Your first gift is my version of the Oscar Swag Bag with over $300 worth of goodies inside. GET YOURS NOW!

My intention to make 2009 my personal best year ever has already created a lot of momentum in my business AND personal life. Momentum that I want to share with you! That's why I'm excited to also announce I'm launching a brand new group coaching program beginning March 5th with my friend and colleague Tammy Cook.

The goal of the program is to offer coaching to a broader number of people who desire the opportunity to work with a coach at a fraction of the cost of one-on-one coaching. The program is designed so that participatns make SIGNIFICANT improvements in their life and business, and ensure that 2009 is their best, most successful year… EVER! As part of my 5 YEAR ANNIVERSRY, I'm including in the swag bag a one month F.R.E.E. membership to my Best Year Ever Group Coaching program (plus $5 for shipping and handling).

As part of our launch, Tammy and I conducted our Best Year Ever complimentary teleclass. Here's some of the feedback we received so far:

• "The Wheel of Life exercise helped me identify 3 key areas in my life I want to improve...I took a look at what I was trying to do last year and where did I end up. It was amazing to me to see how many of last years goals I actually achieved. That made me feel like I CAN DO THIS and gave me a feeling of self-confidence as I look at what I want to achieve this year. This was a BIG ah-ha!"
• "After participating in the class my goals feel DOABLE! Thank you!"
• "I decided to focus on my business, specifically networking. I was able to break it down and list the people I can connect with and who to contact and how. I'm actually starting to network more than I have been. Thank you."
• "I had an ah-ha moment as a result of the class on the importance of making the decision BEFORE setting the goals."
• "You two are great! I completed the exercise and got moving on my goal. Thanks for all the terrific information."
• "I've been able to better visualize the characteristics of what I want in my career change through the exercises shared during the teleclass."

This month's Guilt-Free article

As a result of the work I do with my clients, and the responses of several participants on the complimentary teleclass, I noticed the idea of taking baby steps has been an invaluable concept. This simple action will enable you to make great progress on your goals. So I'm sharing with you 3 Keys that have helped my clients, and me, get and stay in action. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Victoria Cook, ACC
Your Guilt-Free Coach

PS: A great big "Welcome!" to all the new readers who joined my guilt-free community since January! You're going to love the resources you'll find here to help you create more time and focus to get done what's most important...Guilt-Free! Enjoy!

It’s my 5 year business anniversary and I’m celebrating, but YOU get the gifts!! For the next 5 months, I will be offering you a different gift each month.

Gift #1 - Can I give you a one month F.R.E.E. membership to my Best Year Ever Coaching program (plus $5 for shipping and handling)? That's just ONE of the items in my version of the Oscar Swag Bag Worth over $300 for YOU! This complimentary virtual goodie bag contains amazing values from The Guilt-Free Coach and some of Victoria's favorite business partners. GET YOURS NOW!

One of the biggest challenges in achieving goals is sticking to the necessary action steps with focus and consistency. If that’s been a challenge for YOU and you’re tired of your plans fizzling out before year end, then you've got to check out my Best Year Ever group coaching program.

The purpose of the Best Year Ever Coaching Program? For you to make SIGNIFICANT improvements in your life and business, and to ensure that 2009 is your best, most successful year… EVER! Each biweekly call includes a brief lesson on a relevant topic and expert coaching to keep you focused on creating your Best Year and give you the specifics to get going with momentum. The calls will also provide accountability, support, and the resources to implement strategies that will keep your business and your life continually getting better and better.

I am so sure that you’ll get incredible value from this program that I’d love to give you the opportunity to try it out – for F.R.E.E.! When you sign up for the group program, you will receive your first month for free* along with an audio CD including introductory information and detailed notes to get you started before your first call.

Join now to access my special FREE month membership trial

*$5 for shipping and handling of the CD

Can you take a baby step?
3 Keys to getting and staying in action

This month my colleague, Tammy Cook, and I conducted two 2-hour teleclasses on making 2009 your best year ever. It’s chock-full of meaty content, simple strategies, and some terrific step-by-step information. Despite all the details, almost universally, attendees said they found the idea of breaking things down into “baby steps” to be the MOST useful!

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the big picture or larger goal. Even breaking goals down into milestones and individual tasks can leave you feeling stuck. When you begin to feel that way, just think about taking baby steps.

Take one step and break it down EVEN SMALLER!
One of my clients is working on writing a very large paper for some advanced credentialing in her field. She did her planning and realized she would need to write one chapter each week in order to make her deadline. She broke that down further and identified the subject for each chapter so she knew in advance how to focus her thoughts when she sat down to work. Despite having broken things down, she still wasn’t making the progress desired.

What we discovered was that she felt limited in getting e because she felt she needed large blocks of time to do this work. Due to her long work hours and changing shifts, this was a real challenge.

So, we broke things down into even smaller steps. After doing a chapter she realized she had a 4-step process she followed that includes gathering her current data, research, speaking with colleagues, and summarizing her findings. NOW she had some baby steps she could take throughout the week in smaller increments of time...and she was able to get it done!

Implement one new habit that will help forward your action
A baby step can come in the form of a new habit. For example, if your goal is to take off unwanted pounds and you haven’t exercised in years, a baby step could be taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, you could commit to working out for ONE MINUTE every day like my friend’s sister did. Becky is a mom of three under the age of 3 and wanted to improve her health. So she committed to working out for just one minute. What she’s found is that even she can find one minute each day to exercise and, once she’s moving, she often works out even longer.

The key is not to radically change your entire lifestyle, but form one new habit that is a baby step towards the end result.

Track your progress
Breaking things down and forming new habits is a process. Tracking your action through a checklist, sticker chart (yes, they work for adults too), spreadsheet, or whatever works for you will help you gauge your progress. Notice what’s working and what’s not and CELEBRATE the successes you ARE having! So often my clients will have achieved a really great milestone and gloss right over it. Stop and celebrate, it will help fuel your momentum and keep you going!

Your Guilt-Free Assignment (should you wish to accept it)
You can either stay overwhelmed and stuck or get moving on your goals. Here’s what to do if you really want to get moving:

• Choose one goal and break it down.
• When you think you have it detailed out, pick the first step and break THAT down further.
• Identify one habit that will help you move towards your ultimate goal and implement it
• Decide how you will track your progress
• Review your results in a week and modify your plan if needed

If you’re still stuck and need some brainstorming or accountability to get and stay in action, my new Best Year Ever Group Coaching program can provide just that. Each biweekly call includes a brief lesson on a relevant topic and expert coaching to keep you focused on creating your best year, and give you the specifics to get going with momentum. The calls will also provide accountability, support, and the resources to implement strategies that will keep your business and your life continually getting better and better. You can get this and more through myBest Year Ever Group Coaching program.

© 2009 Victoria Cook. All Rights Reserved.

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine? No problem! But here's what you MUST include:

Victoria Cook, The Guilt-Free Coach, helps ambitious working Moms create more time and focus to accomplish their goals, grow their business, and live guilt-free! To get YOUR F.R.E.E. resources for increasing YOUR time and reducing stress, visit www.TheGuiltFreeCoach.com/gift

Victoria Cook is the founder of The Guilt-Free Coach, a company devoted to helping working Moms grow their business or career in alignment with their priorities at home.

Through her workshops, courses, and coaching programs, Victoria assists her clients in creating the time and energy to get done what's most important so they can live Guilt-Free.

To begin experiencing Victoria's coaching, you can enjoy one month of her Best Year Ever group coaching program at no charge, beginning right now (plus a small shipping/handling fee).

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© 2009 Victoria Cook. All Rights Reserved.