Hi [fname] —

It's month two of my business anniversary celebration and that means a NEW GIFT for YOU! This month I'm excited to share with you a great e-book on how to Reset Your Mindset in 7 Days, written by my friend and colleague Tammy Cook. It's a great tool and easy to use with bite sized pieces for busy parents like me! Look below for more details on how to get yours!

Response to my brand new group coaching program that began on March 5th has been terrific! The topic for our March 16th call is 3 Keys for Long Term Success. It's not too late to join us and get your one month F.R.E.E. membership to my Best Year Ever Group Coaching program (plus $5 for shipping and handling). See below for details.

This month's Guilt-Free article

It's not uncommon for a client to hire me because they are tired of struggling and not reaching their personal or professional goals. When we begin working together, often the client knows what they want but they don't have a concise plan to get there, or if they do, they've given up too soon on getting it done!

This month's Guilt-Free article, titled Are you changing for good?, summarizes the six defined stages of change we must all go through in order to change our habits and reach our goals. The information is from a great book recommended to me. The goal of this article is to share with you a bit about each of these various stages AND encourage YOU not give up too quickly on your changes!

To your continued success!

Victoria Cook, ACC
Your Guilt-Free Coach

PS: A great big "Welcome!" to all the new readers who attended one of the three talks I gave last week and joined my guilt-free community! 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. To see what gifts you might have missed, go to www.TheGuiltFreeCoach.com/anniversary.

Gift #2 - Reset Your Mindset in 7 Days complimentary e-book. This e-book is a simple 7-day program to help you develop a more positive, empowering mindset. Shift from limited thinking to possibility thinking in just 7 days.
GET YOURS NOW!

Our next Best Year Ever Coaching Call is MONDAY, March 16th, 12 pm CST

"Three Keys for Long Term Success"

On this call we'll be sharing details on the three keys for long term success in achieving personal or professional goals. You'll learn:

• The importance of reconnecting with your WHY
• How to overcome obstacles that are sure to pop up
• The importance of developing systems for success

Then get personalized coaching on anything holding you back!

This call is ONLY for Best Year Ever Group Coaching members. Not a member?
Join now to access this call with Victoria's special FREE 1-month Membership trial
(plus a small $5 shipping/handling fee).

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

Are you changing for good?

I´ve been reading the book “Changing For Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward” (Authors James O. Prochaska, PH.D., John C. Norcross, PH.D., and Carlo C. Diclemente, PH.D.). I first heard about it from a colleague who said it would be a good book for me to read to better understand how and why people change. As a coach, that’s one of the BIG things I work on with my clients…CHANGE; whether it´s changing their habits for greater success, changing their marketing for a clearer message and more business, or changing personally for growth, harmony, and greater fulfillment.

I hope to enlighten you, as my reading has done for me, and encourage you to not give up too early on your changes. Below I've summarized the six well-defined stages of change as outlined by the authors:

Precontemplation — Precontemplators resist change.

In this stage there is generally no recognition of the problem or intention to change. On the outside, others may see the problem very clearly, but the precontemplator cannot. Often precontemplators don’t want to change but rather desire those around them to change instead.

Contemplation —In this stage the problem is recognized, but the contemplator isn’t quite ready to move into action.

When in this stage, a person acknowledges they have a problem and begin to think seriously about changing it. They may even have plans for taking action within the next six months, but no actual commitment to do so. When transition begins to occur from this stage of change to the next, a person begins focusing more on the solution vs. the problem and thinking more about the future instead of dwelling on the past.

Preparation — Plans for action are being put in place and being made public.

The person in the preparation phase may appear to be ready for action, but they may still need to convince themselves that taking action is what’s best for them. They are often already beginning to make small behavioral changes. Their awareness of the problem is high and they are anticipating the changes and action to come.

Action — Now habits are modified and fears confronted! This stage is the only time a person makes progress for overcoming their problem.

During the action phase of change, “…a person makes the move for which they´ve been preparing.” Action is visible to those around them. Encouragement and support are critical at this stage. This is the busiest stage and takes a great deal of commitment of time and energy. However, this stage does NOT complete the changes.

Maintenance — For change to be permanent, previous gains attained must be combined and lapses or relapses prevented.

The authors are quick to point out that, “change never ends with action…in fact [maintenance] is a critically important continuation that can last from as little as six months to as long as a lifetime. Without a strong commitment to maintenance, there will surely be relapse, usually to the precontemplation or contemplation stage.”

Termination — This is the ultimate goal for all changers.

In this stage, the problem is no longer present any temptation or threat. There is complete confidence that lasting change has been made without fear of relapse. The key indicator a person is ready for termination is if they are able to maintain their change without any continuing effort on their part. If so, they are ready to exit the cycle of change and have won over their struggle.

Through their in depth research, the authors are quick to point out that every move from one stage of change to the next represents considerable progress. They note, “If, after years of avoiding a problem, you consciously begin to acknowledge it exists, and think seriously about changing it, the transition from precontemplation to contemplation is no less significant than from preparation to action.” Action is certainly important, however, it is not the LAST step in the cycle. The danger here is equating action with change. Remember, there are still two whole stages to completing the change cycle after action takes place.

Over the years I’ve worked on some of my own change, sometimes successfully and other times, not so much. At times this has left me, personally, feeling a bit like a failure. What I’m learning, by reading this enlightening book, is that these stages of change take place over a period of time. In order to successfully change, we actually have to go through each stage. I mistakenly thought you recognize a problem, decide to change it, take the action and you’re done. I hope you now see, as I do, there is much more to it than that!

Your Guilt-Free Assignment (should you wish to accept it)

Now YOU know that change is a process. If you aren't yet where you want to be now you know it's because you haven’t yet gone through each stage. If you’re serious about making some changes:

1. Identify one change or habit you want to make, that will enhance your life or further your goal, you have yet to accomplish.

2. Review the stages of change above and identify which stage you are currently in as it relates to making this change. Be honest with yourself or ask a trusted friend what they see. The authors pointed out that, “Simply identifying where you are in the various stages of change can greatly improve your chances of taking effective action and making long term change.”

3. In a journal, notebook, or on the computer, write out the previous stages you've already gone through and what you experienced in each. Make not of anything that was particularly helpful to you in progressing to the next stage.

4. Look ahead to which stage of change is next for you. Write down your thoughts on that stage and anything that comes to mind that raises your awareness of what’s next or helps you move that direction.

Now we know, change takes time…6 stages in fact! If you’re ready to make some change and could benefit from someone walking along side you through the process, I’m happy to help! This is part of the work I do with my private coaching clients as well as those in my Best Year Ever Group Coaching program. The program can be especially helpful if you are in the preparation stage or further along.

The Best Year Ever Group Coaching program provides biweekly calls which include a brief lesson on a relevant topic and expert coaching to keep you focused on moving forward and creating your Best Year. You’ll also receive specifics to get going with momentum for whatever stage of change you are in. Each call provides accountability, support, and the resources to continue making your changes through, the end of the six stages, so your business and personal life continue getting better and better. Visit www.BestYearEverCoaching.com for details or to register so you don’t miss a call!

© 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 $5 shipping/handling fee).

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© 2009 Victoria Cook. All Rights Reserved.